Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Part #26

Part 26: Day 94: Hearts

We're skipping quite a bit again.

berryjon posted:

And here Saix is internally cheering that plans are coming together without him needing to knock some heads together.

This explains why Saix the asshole would let them work together for 3 weeks.

Music: Sacred Moon

This scene is pretty much pointless. I don't know why they didn't just skip to the meeting.

New Music: Organization XIII

I don't know which is funnier: Xemnas intentionally hamming it up to avoid suspicion about his goals or Xemnas just talking normally (based on his standards).

See the countless hearts that have gathered? Hearts full of rage...hate...sadness...and bliss.

There, in the sky, hangs the promise of a new world.

Remember why we have organized-all the things we hope to achieve. The strength of the human heart is vast. Soon, though...we will have gained power over it!

Never again will it...have power over us.

4 of the Organization members aren't even seen up close in this scene. Sums up the main problem in this game's story.

Music: Sacred Moon

Anyway, we can put both Triplecast and Dualcast now, so I don't think we'll be short on magic.

How about a little friendly competition? I've got 80 chests opened by now. If you can match that, I'll give yu a prize. You game?

We opened all the chests we can, so I think we're well past 80 chests.

How goes the treasure hunt? Hey, looks like you've hit 80! I guess you just won yourself this. (Obtained: Lightning Shard)

You play nice with Xion, now!

Immediately after Saix told Roxas to collect hearts he sends Roxas on a mission to kill a Pureblood Heartless. You know, the kind that doesn't release hearts?

Music: Waltz of the Diamond
Music: Dance of the Darling

Let's head out through this hall.

Just the usual Heartless. Xion is really helpful in the last few missions, using plenty of magic. She's the one who ignites the Sergeant. Much more useful than a certain other member who can use Fire.

The chest has a Frost Shard. We then go to The West Hall.

See that tiny yellow dot in Roxas' right? That's Lumiere.

It's that candelabra.

Yeah, the one we saw before.

If they don't...I shall be a table decoration forever! No-I will speak to Mademoiselle Belle. Perhaps she can talk some sense into him...

I don't get it. The candelabra doesn't want to be a candelabra?

So this Belle person lives here in the castle.

He said something about getting her and the master to forgive each other. I guess they've been arguing.

She'd have to be brave to stand up to a beast like that.

Or stupid. One of the two.

You're assuming Belle's human. So far nobody else seems to be.

Or that. One of the three. We already know which one.

Good point.

Well, we're not here to worry about her. Let's find the Heartless we're after.

Right.

Notice how there's nothing about Lumiere leaving?

Because he's right there. And if you get caught...

(Uh-oh!) *runs*

How strange... The light-it must be playing tricks on me... Heh heh.

Whew... He almost spotted us. We need to be more careful.

Roxas... I don't think we'll be able to sneak past him this time.

Yeah, maybe we should look for another route.

A castle this big must have a few secret nooks and crannies.

Which is well and good except for the fact that there's two chests on the other side of the hall. I guess the intention is to make the players wait until they have superglide to sneak past quickly, but by ~~savestates~~ persistence I managed to sneak past him anyway.

To sneak past him, you just have to pick a side based on the direction Lumiere's rotating. And then hope he doesn't change directions while you're sneaking past him.

The left chest has a Combo Tech while the right one has a Valor Gear (2). The Valor Gear has an extra 10 strength compared to our current weapon but 18 less magic, so I won't be using it. I guess it could be worse. They could just put two Potions here.

The actual way forward is thankfully not in Lumiere's range. So we go there and...

We're greeted by two of these guys. The chest contains a Heartless (any time I mentioned a chest with Heartless, it's always Cymbal Monkey). You actually have to kill all 3 of them before you can proceed because the game quietly made a barrier.

Potion, Potion, Frost Shard.

Just walk a little further...

Music: Destiny's Force

Let's take it out.

The Neoshadow has 2 attacks.

The first is a claw attack that can be blocked (unlike what I did here).

The second is the shockwave it creates after it reemerges. So basically it's just a more dangerous Shadow. Not too hard to deal with.

Music: Waltz of the Diamond

Yeah.

Ready to head back? We can stop

Graaaaaaugh!

Beast to the rescue!

The Heartless do not beling here-not in my castle!

Music: Waltz of the Diamond

Beast then leaves. I'm actually more concerned about how he didn't notice Roxas or Xion.

Whoa...

So he has been fighting the Heartless.

Apparently.

Guess this castle plays by different rules than ours.

What do you mean?

Xion: Beside the talking and walking furnitures?

The beast is the master here, right?

Right.

And Xemnas is our master, right?

Right...?

But if Heartless showed up in our castle, we'd be the ones to get rid of them, not Xemnas.

Well, yeah. That's our job.

Exactly. I figured it worked like that everywhere. I thought that's what being master meant. After all, he's got servants here. He shouldn't have to fight.

That's...actually a very good point, Roxas.

I think we can all agree that most Organization members (except Xigbar, Saix, the traitors and probably Axel) are basically Xemnas' servants. And also that Xemnas is extremely lazy.

But you're right. If he's taking the Heartless on himself, he must have a good reason.

Like what?

Like...maybe he has something he wants to protect.

Hmm...

Let's call it a day, Roxas. Axel's probably waiting.

Yeah.

Lumiere is still there on the way back, but since he only patrols the way to the 2 chests he's not a problem anymore.

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

So far so good.

Roxas took today's Heartless out in no time flat.

Xion: I mean there's a Beast who took down 2 of them in one hit each, but details.

I guess the game isn't putting on Xion's hood for Axel anymore.

Well, great. Keep it up.

KH 358/2=179 Days of Falling Salty Diabetes
Twilight Station Tower: 17
Sea-Salt Ice Cream: 30

Sure you do. We have to finish Kingdom Hearts.

We finally got our first glimpse of it today, remember?

Yeah, but what is it? "The heart of all hearts"?

I don't think anyone can answer that question. Not even Nomura.

It's where all the hearts you and I collect wind up.

That doesn't really answer the question, but thanks for trying.

Exactly. It's because of you two and the Keyblade that we're finally making some progress.

Axel: We're just sitting around listening to Xemnas' voice until you showed up and actually make some progress on it.