Part 23: Day 74: Trio

Music: Sacred Moon


Sorry... I was up late. Couldn't sleep.
I asked Saix about Xion.
And?
Your friend was sent out on a mission but never RTC'd.
But...why not? Shouldn't the mission be done by now?
I dunno. But we'll find out what happened soon enough.
Why's that?
You and me get to track Xion down. That's our mission today.
You mean it!?



I don't think Saix will let him do that.

...Yes, I mean it! Hurry up and get ready, will ya?



Each backpack panel gives an extra 2 items that can be collected.



We're running out of space for the abilities on the top screen. And we finally have something to link to Block.



Take this, just in case. (Obtained: Hi-Ether)
We'll go when you're ready.

Hi-Ether restores 2 casts for each equipped magic. Not bad.





See if you can cook something up out of two Potion panels. Lemme know when you're through.



This is an easy request. Those Potions we've been getting are useful for something, at least.
Mega-Ether restores 1 cast for each equipped magic for all characters. Like Mega-Potion, it's useful only on multiplayer.

Hey, you did it! Synthesis is real handy. Keep it in mind. Here you can have this. (Obtained: Combo Tech)
Would it kill them to give us a day off now and then?

Combo Tech is a synthesis material. We didn't have any, so this is a nice reward.



Hahahahhahahahhahahahahhahaha Zip Slaher

Music: Lazy Afternoons
Music: Sinister Sundown




Well, the mission in question was to take out a giant Heartless.
That could be anywhere.
Let's start by digging up info around town.
If we can find that Heartless, there's a good chance we'll find Xion, too.
Right.



This is a long mission.



This chest contains a Heartless. Wait, what?



Oh. This one attacks with a sound wave. It will attack immediately after opening the chest. Blocking immediately will kill it instantly.



Normal Heartless otherwise.



NO.



Blazing Shard, Moonstone and Cure Recipe (synthesis material).



There's no barrier at all this time, but there's a gate preventing us from going to the Tunnel.



Ether here. And yes, we're back to where we started. We've been to Station Heights, Station Plaza, Underground Passage and back to Side Street. Let's continue exploring.



Yes, I'm sure. I told you!
And you heard it from where again?



This sounds familiar...

Did ya see what was making it?



Looks like someone is missing. And no, it's not Xion.

A low moan?
Could be our Heartless.
Or it could be Xion-injured, unable to make it back to the castle...
I'm sure Xion is just fine. C'mon let's go check it out.





You can immediately go here, which means that I wouldn't have to make the round trip earlier. Oops



There's Posion Plants in Tram Common. The other one is in another part of the area.



The Backpack isn't enough to hold all the items.

We then go to the Tunnel. We'll leave The Woods and The Old Mansion since we'll explore them later. The gate isn't there anymore.



No Heartless, either.
Huh? What are you guys doing down here?



Oh, that's the missing person. Isn't the mission supposed to be covert, though?

You could say that, yeah. We heard rumors of a strange moaning sound.
Strange moaning...
Oh! Are you talking about that vent up there?



Oh, I remember now! It's one of the Seven Wonders of Twilight Town. But it was Vivi that was heard in the KH2 version. Guess they had to remove his influence in this game for some reason. Poor Vivi...

What? Ugh, for crying out loud...
So...you guys lost something?
Some-ONE. A friend of ours.

I'm very sure this bit of foreshadowing is accidental.

Oh, I'm sorry. Hope you find them soon.
Thanks.
So what's your story? Why are you down here?
Me? Heh heh, that's a secret.
Hey, I don't think we've been introduced.



We already know your name. It's in the dialog box.

Um, thanks.
Sure, I'll catch you later.
Well, that was a dead end.
Yeah, all we really learned was that guy's name.
Time to hit the town again...



Back to wandering aimlessly again, I guess.



Just keep this picture in mind for later.



He said he was off on another of his "investigations" today.
He's been acting pretty dodge lately-all this sneaking around? I wonder what he's up to.
Beats me. He freaked out when I swung by the usual spot yesterday. Whatever he was looking at, he hid it in a hurry.
Hmm, now why would he do that?

There's an obvious joke to be made here but I'm not going to make it.

I wonder where their "usual spot" is.
Guess we'll have to hunt around.

We know where the usual spot is from KH2 (and I mentioned it in an earlier update). There's plenty of things to examine there.









Somebody's scribbled some notes on it.
"Spooky Steps"? "Friend from Beyond the Wall"? Hey, this one about a moaning tunnel...
Sounds familiar, huh?
There's more. "The Doppelganger"... "The Animated Bag"...
A ghost train, a haunted mansion... There's seven altogether.

Remember that bit in KH2? The padding for the already-long prologue?

What's it all mean?
I think we know just the guy to ask. If nothing else, he seemed to know a lot about the town.

And back to the Tunnel. I guess the mission that references a filler is also a filler.



Pence... Are you sleeping? (I didn't notice the blink animations in this game

Yeah, actually. We had a question.
Okay, shoot. Let's see if it's something I know.
Is anything...weird happening here? You know, in the town. I mean, there are lots of little quirks and mysteries, right? Like, say...the Spooky Stairs...
Ooohhh... So you guys are like me, investigating the town's Seven Wonders?
Uh, yeah, something like that.
Hmm...
I wasn't planning to talk to anyone about it until I'd finished up my investigation, but...
All right. I'll tell you what I've got so far.
That is, IF you can answer the following questions!
What?
They're about the town. I want to see how serious you are about investigating this place.



This one is extremely easy. Tram Common and The Sandlot are located at the bottom of Station Heights.



I showed it earlier this update.



This too. This one is actually very hard because the train only shows up sometimes.

Answer any of the question wrong

Ooh, sorry! That's not right. It's not too hard to go check, though. I'll be waiting here.

Answer all questions correctly.

Correct! All right, a promise is a promise. I'll tell you what I know.
So, I've been digging around, and I've learned that the town's Wonders are all linked!

Ooh! This is new!

In...the sense that they're all made-up. Nothing but stupid urban legends and rumors.

Oh.

What?
Like those stairs you mentioned? Total sham. The truth about that one is just embarrassing.
Just another sleepy town, huh?
Sorry, guys. You're wasting your time. Well, except maybe for the Eighth Wonder...
There's an Eighth!?
The one about the tree. Out in the woods?



...Weird, huh? I still haven't seen it firsthand, so I can't tell you much. But people have said they feel like they're being watched there-even though it's deserted.
Pretty strange.
Wouldn't be much of a Wonder if it wasn't! I'm planning to go figure out the trick behind it later.
Good luck with that.
Thanks! Well, I should get back to my investigation. Try to keep this to yourselves, yeah?

*Pence leaves*

That was uninformative.
Maybe, maybe not.
Huh?
He said people have been feeling some kind of presence in the woods outside of town, right?
Maybe that's Xion's target.
Right... Let's go check it out.

And into The Woods we go.



There's nothing in The Woods and The Old Mansion. You can't really see it, but leaves are falling from this tree, so we strike it.



*The tree shakes*

Is...is something there?
Heh, looks like we got a live one here.



Hurry, Roxas. Don't let it get away!
Right!

But before we chase the invisible Heartless, you remember about the Zip Slasher mentioned in the briefing, right? The one we haven't seen this mission?



It's in the Tunnel, even stronger than before with even more HP. I beat it before, so I'm going to beat it again, right?



Nope. Absolutely not. This isn't even required to fully complete the mission so fuck that. Let's just chase after the invisible Heartless.

Music: Destiny's Force


Hey, it's that boss from Deep Jungle! Sadly, no Clayton this time.



No wonder Xion had trouble. It was blending right into the scenery.
So, where is Xion?
Still out trying to find it, probably. Well, a target's a target. Doesn't matter who takes it out. I say we do it now, before it vanishes again.
Right.
Here we go!



The Veil Lizard has several attacks. The first one is a spin attack. It's hard to dodge but deals little damage.



It can also become invisible and shoot lasers from its eyes. Just jump to avoid the light.

The invisibility can be undone by hitting it with a finisher, blocking its tongue attack, or just waiting for it to become visible again. Turning invisible would be more effective if we can't still see the Heartless in the bottom screen, though.



Yes, it can do a tongue attack while invisible.



If it's blocked, the Heartless will be knocked down, so at least Axel managed to actually help in this mission. When the Veil Lizard have 3.5 bars of HP left...

Music: Sinister Sundown




Roxas!?



Great job, Roxas.

Focus, Roxas! We have to take that thing out first!

Music: Destiny's Force


And it's restored to full health. Roxas!



At least you get to see Axel's Limit Break. And how little damage it does.



Music: Lazy Afternoons




That looked like it hurt.

*Roxas helps Xion get up.*

I'm fine... Thanks. It's just...
You can tell us all about it-but first, let's find a place to sit down.

Music: At Dusk, I Will Think of You...


KH 358/2=179 Days of Falling Salty Diabetes
Twilight Station Tower: 15
Sea-Salt Ice Cream: 24

Thanks.

This is the start of Xion's hood acrobatics. Xion's hood is up whenever Axel (or anyone except Roxas) is in the same shot. It is also reflected on the portrait.

Eat up. It's gonna melt.
I know.
What's wrong? Not hungry?
......
You wanna talk about what happened?
......
We're here for you if you want to get it off your chest. Right, Roxas?
Yeah. That's what friends are for.



And without it, I can't do my job.
What happened?
I don't know. But if I don't defeat Heartless with the Keyblade...the hearts they release just find their way into other Heartless instead. I swat them in one place and they just pop up in another.
I'm supposed to be collecting hearts. Those are my orders.
Without the Keyblade...I'm useless.
Is there anything you can do, Axel?
Wish there was. But...it's just like Xion said. No Keyblade, no can do.
They're gonna turn me into a Dusk once they find out they don't need me.

You can do that?

C'mon, Axel, think of something!
Hey, I'm racking my brain here, and there's just no way to- Wait.
What? Tell us.
What if you worked double duty, Roxas?
Huh?
What do you mean, Axel?



This is why most missions in this game will be with Xion. For a game that's advertised as fleshing out the Organization members, it didn't really add that much to most other members.

Then, he can collect the hearts...
...and nobody will ever have to know that you're not doing the same.
Axel, that's brilliant!
Ah ah ah, BUT...Roxas, that also means you have to collect twice as many hearts.
I can do it.

Thankfully this doesn't affect gameplay.

You don't mind?
Of course not!
But-



Yeah! Friends have to be able to mooch off each other!

Thanks... So...Axel, does that mean you and I can be friends?
Well, yeah. Was there ever any doubt? Any friend of Roxas's is a friend of mine.
Thank you... Roxas, Axel, thank you!



You're cheating, game!

Music: Crossing the Finish Line


Air Slide is just like in other games. It lets you slide in the air.

New reports:




Extra:
Turns out that in the holo-mission version Pence has different questions.



The first two should be obvious if you've been exploring while the third can be checked easily.