Editing KHWiki:Magazine/Issue 7

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*'''Affiliates:''' The Keyhole has recently undergone a review of its current {{Keyhole|Kingdom Hearts Wiki:Affiliates|Affiliates|#FFD700}}. Inactive sites were removed from the list, and active sites with an unknown status were directly contacted to request re-affiliation. The full list has now been updated! Should your site wish to affiliate with The Keyhole, please contact either {{Keyhole|User_talk:Chainoffire|Chainoffire|#FFD700}} or {{Keyhole|User_talk:FinalRest|FinalRest|#FFD700}}.

*'''Tumblr:''' Our <span class=”plainlinks”>[http://yeoldekeyhole.tumblr.com/ <font color=#FFD700>official_Tumblr_site</font>]</span>  has been continuing its relentless reblogging and posting of ''Kingdom Hearts''-related content in this past quarter! Be sure to head over to the site in order to subscribe and keep up with the latest posts!

*[http://yeoldekeyhole.tumblr.com/post/136284968686/what-does-this-mean '''Tetsuya Nomura and Sora's Hairstyle Coincidence''']

|unlockingthekeyholetumblrtoppost=Our most popular post of the past quarter is...<br><br><big><big><center>[http://yeoldekeyhole.tumblr.com/post/132461096719/when-the-embargo-finally-lifts '''When the D23 embargo finally lifts''']</center></big></big><br>[[File:Magazine Issue 7 Tumblr Updates.gif|center|290px]]

*{{Keyhole|User_talk:TwilightParagon|TwilightParagon|#FFD700}} joined The Keyhole on 1st November and has been very active in the creation of a talk bubble template. They have also created a user page with a list of their top 10 favourite ''Kingdom Hearts'' characters and [[Keyblade|<font color=#FFD700>Keyblades</font>]].

*An update to the "What's New" slider on our {{Keyhole|The Keyhole|main page|#FFD700}} will be made after the English language release of ''[[Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ|<font color=#FFD700>Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ</font>]]''.

*{{Keyhole|User:Aixon|Aixon|#FFD700}} has volunteered to take over the running of {{Keyhole|Kingdom Hearts Wiki:Jiminy's Journal|Jiminy's Journal|#FFD700}}.

*{{KHWiki|User:Lustre|Lustre|#FF8C00}} joined us in October and wrote a detailed user page about himself. He has also added a high-quality .gif to the wiki, which we are all very grateful for!

*{{KHWiki|User:Pennsylvania Jones|Pennsylvania Jones|#FF8C00}} also made an account in December and has been a great help in completing last issue's featured projects on the Reaction Command article. We look forward to more of your edits!

|coliseumfight4r= It's hard to fear the Clawbster when all I could think about when fighting it is, "Why is Sora playing with food?" Fear is even in the Wargoyle's name: War-goyle, a machine bred for battle. That's a much better portmanteau than ''Clawbster''. Claw-Lobster, I'M SORRY BUT LOBSTERS ALREADY HAVE CLAWS - that name tells me nothing new.

Some of you may perhaps remember our [[KHWiki:Kingdom Hearts -3D HD ReMIX-|April Fools' Day]] [[KHWiki:Magazine/Issue 4 - April Fools|joke]], where we wrote about a ''Kingdom Hearts 3D HD Remix''. We thought that such a thing was improbable and warranted a place on our April Fools' repertoire of pranks. And a lot of sites including KHInsider believed us. And we all thought of them as suckers for falling for our well-orchestrated prank.

Back when ''Birth by Sleep'' was released, we thought the PlayStation Portable had absolutely no means of supporting a Final Mix version of that game. We were proven wrong shortly after, when Tetsuya Nomura announced ''BBSFM'' for the PlayStation Portable, and we found out that it was jam-packed with new content, including new boss battles, new collectibles, and even a new Command Style. We were also keen to dismiss the working title of ''Birth by Sleep Volume 2'' when the title drop was given to us at the end of Aqua's Secret Episode. (Clarification here: I personally didn't dismiss it, but I know many users who had.) Nomura dropped ''KH0.2'' on us like a ton of hot bricks, as part of the ''II.8 Final Chapter Prologue''.

We come to understand that Xehanort is found by [[Ansem the Wise]], ruler of [[Radiant Garden]], who takes him under his wing. Xehanort proves to be the most intelligent of Ansem's apprentices, and hastens the pace of Ansem's research on the human heart, and the effects of darkness on it. The Heartless are inevitably created as a result of it, and lives are quite needlessly lost. Ansem has enough of this, and forbids Xehanort from continuing this research. Xehanort bows in fake respect – we all know he's going to disobey Ansem anyway – ''and rips out the hearts of the rest of the apprentices''. Whether directly by his [[Keyblade]], or with some sort of machine, we understand that Xehanort is directly responsible for turning the other apprentices into [[Heartless]].

I do not know whether this happens before or after the others' hearts are lost, but at some unknown point in the story, Xehanort rips out his own heart too. All of them become Heartless and their remaining bodily shells become [[Nobody|Nobodies]], and they all expel their former chef-d'oeuvres from Radiant Garden. Because Ansem the Wise ends up in the [[Realm of Darkness]] for the first time as a result of this, I have reason to believe that he would have been sent there by means of execution, or summoning a [[Corridor of Darkness]] which Ansem himself cannot reopen (the latter seems far more plausible).

If I were to continue on the vein of Xehanort being the satanic figure of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, I should think he certainly has the disobedient and rebellious nature to back this up. In the previous issue I mentioned that Xehanort disobeyed his master while he was still an apprentice at using the Keyblade. I do not claim to know what kind of master he had, but judging by the way [[Eraqus]] and [[Yen Sid]] have turned out, I have reason to believe that this master would not have meant or done any harm. Xehanort, on the other hand, was rebellious because he wanted power. He wanted more power as soon as he felt that little bit of power for the first time. And that is pretty much the allegory I wanted to draw with the Biblical tempter: Satan, the personification of evil, was once an angel, created for the purpose of good, but rebelled against God because he wanted the praise and worship that God was given, and fell into the darkness that he now embodies. (You could substitute the name with “Lucifer,” bearer of light, and perhaps it would make the allegory even stronger considering Xehanort's original purpose was to defend the light, in accordance with his master's actions.) Xehanort, for all intents and purposes, pretty much embodies this too. Xehanort's intelligence is described as superhuman by Ansem, which echoes the kind of angelic intelligence that Satan has.

Xehanort and the apprentices plunge Radiant Garden into darkness – they discover the world's Keyhole and send Heartless into it, breaking down the world's barriers and reducing it to nothing but a twisted castle. At some unknown point in time Xehanort himself sends a girl from Radiant Garden across the sea of stars, to see if his plans would fall into place. That girl is [[Kairi]], and the person he is aiming to target is someone who would have within him a remnant of his foes – [[Terra]], [[Ventus]] or [[Aqua]]. Kairi would be sent to the Lanes Between – the very same place where darkness is prevalent – and yet come out unscathed, due to her heart being filled only with light. It can be presumed that Xehanort did predict this too.

The persons Kairi comes into contact with are [[Sora]] (who holds within him Ventus' heart) and Riku (who was given the power to wield the Keyblade by Terra). Incidentally, she comes into contact with Sora and [[Riku]] at their home island… Xehanort's home island, that which can be compared to an idyllic paradise.

Speaking of “idyllic paradise,” I cannot help but think that Destiny Islands is the allegory of paradise itself. Was Xehanort's decision to never return to the Destiny Islands an equivalent to the fall from heaven of Lucifer and the other dark angels?

His final act of treachery towards his former master involves usurping his former master's name. Xehanort now becomes known as “Ansem,” prompting everyone who once lived in Radiant Garden to remember him as the wise ruler who was responsible for studying the Heartless. Of course, Radiant Garden is not a liveable place now, so the good people who survived the destruction of that world fled and sought refuge in [[Traverse Town]] and elsewhere. In the face of a seemingly insurmountable darkness, Traverse Town becomes a hub for asylum seekers, and the people who are in charge of affairs there seem to be the very same people who left Radiant Garden in the first place. They form a resistance of sorts, which would prove to be successful as long as they have the right people on their side…

It is always said that it is never the will of a benevolent higher being that evil should exist in this world. Religious or not, people have been grappling with this idea for such a long time. In my understanding, it'd be worded more like, “it is never God's will that evil and suffering should happen,” and true to the function of a demonic figurehead in a video game, Xehanort causes suffering not only to the protagonists of this game, but also to thousands more whose names we may never know. The destruction of the worlds, the displacement of thousands of people, the losses of family members, the deaths of so many Keyblade wielders and other people besides, the possessions of Ansem's apprentices, the banishment of Ansem himself, are all the work of Xehanort. And without the knowledge of Xehanort's true intentions, it would be hard to suspect that ''something, or someone'', is behind all this. But like any other evil being, Xehanort would have his downfall…

And now, my final magic <s>trick</s> word: <font color=white>'''<nowiki>{{DISPLAYTITLE:(title)}}</nowiki>'''</font>, where (title) is replaced by whatever you want. This ''magic word'' will let you change the title of the page! So, instead of "User:(username)", you could have something like "My super awesome user page" shown at the top of the page. Keep in mind that this doesn't change the actual name, but only the name displayed.

To kick things off for the new year, I've decided to introduce the basic [[Magic|magics]] of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series! Why you may ask? Because I thought that an exploration of the magical properties would be perfect to begin a magical year! <s>Or I clicked the “Random Page” button on the side and it brought me to the magic page. </s>

When casting Blizzard in Kingdom Hearts, it shoots as a burst of ice crystals that can hit multiple enemies at a time. It is best utilized when wanting to damage that large crowd of heartless that's charging towards you.

While its name is “Thunder”, the actual effect of this magic is more reminiscent of lightning. One of the more unique forms of magic found throughout the ''[[Kingdom Hearts (series)|Kingdom Hearts series]]'', Thunder is most certainly a fan favorite! From bolts cascading from the sky to a surrounding field of lightning around the protagonist, thunder is one of the most variable magic out there.

The most loved magic among players, Cure comes in handy just when players wish they hadn't spent that last potion. Cure is there to prevent yourself from dying by restoring some of your HP gauge. The higher the spell, the more of your HP replenishes. After casting this spell, Sora looks above seeing the flower rain down. Despite Cure being one of Donald's most prominent abilities, he never seems to cast it at quite the right time. When potions don't quite do the trick, Cure is always there to save the day!

Like every short person's dream, Gravity is ideal for obtaining those hard to reach items that are floating high above Sora's head. (Like those chests in [[Hollow Bastion]].) Gravity takes the form of a giant orb of darkness that rains down on unsuspecting enemies and squashes them right to the ground. Higher forms of Gravity can even do some damage to those darkness-flavored pancakes! No matter the intentions of this ground-breaking magic, Gravity is sure to bring down the house!

Another defensive magic, ''Kingdom Hearts''<nowiki>'</nowiki> Aero provides a temporary wind shield to Sora that halves any damage he takes. Other levels of Aero can also deal damage to enemies if they are close enough to Sora. ''Chain of Memories''<nowiki>'</nowiki> version utilizes the power of wind can be used to literally blow enemies away and deal some damage. In ''358/2 Days'' and ''Birth By Sleep'', Aero calls the wind around the user to lift up any enemies and send them flying. Any form of wind you choose to use will surely exceed your expectations and blow you away!

Magnet employs the power of the force to suck in enemies and bring them closer to Sora. If you're ever surrounded by enemies and the horde seems endless, this swirling vortex of polarity may help you cut down the danger. Like some of the other spells, the higher the tier, the more damage it can do.

We all wish we could stop the flow of time, whether it's to finish that {{hover|last page of a 5 page report you forgot to do until the last minute|or this page of the Twilight Times}}, or just to take a breather from life. While stop magic doesn't quite work that way, it still can be rather useful.

However, this magic can be extremely tedious when attempting to do the Hades' Cup time trial mode, and Donald won't stop casting this on enemies, causing the match to be elongated, and ultimately fail the 50-seed cup by three seconds. (I still hold a grudge to this day.)

Now that you're aware of the various types of magic, be sure to see if an enemy you come across  is susceptible to a certain element and use what you now know about magic to overcome them. Keep in mind that if you use the wrong element on the wrong bad guy, it can spell disaster for you and your friends.

In conclusion:'''''If you use your elements correctly, you're sure to have a magical journey.'''''

'''<font color=darkgreen>Neumannz:</font>''' Hey there, guys! This is your friendly neighborhood Neumannz, welcoming you to Round Room Corner! ... What do you mean a round room has no corners?! ... ''You get outta here!'' ... *door slam* ... Okay, guys, now that Chain is gone, let me say a few words. I've been kicking around on the Kingdom Hearts Wiki since Fall 2009, back in the days of ''Days'', and I've been bureaucrat since February 2011, when we decided our landlord was being kind of a jerk and moved out. When we decided we were doing a podcast, I jumped at the chance to get involved on this kick-awesome project!

'''<font color=maroon>Chainoffire:</font>''' Hey Hey! It's your friendly neighborhood Ch- HEY! NEZZY TOOK MY LINE! Well, it's Chain! I was “coded” onto the Keyhole back when ''Re:coded'' was the latest game to hit the shelves in April 2011. I became an admin back in December 2013, and have been going back and forth between The Keyhole and the KHWiki ever since. When I heard about the podcast, I happily decided to volunteer my efforts to get more acquainted with some of the other users. Thus… here I am!

Ansem is the darkness-wielding, Heartless-commanding, teenager-possessing antagonist of the original ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}''. He's one of the few villains with a unique costume rather than the standard Organization coat, and that makes him appear powerful and intimidating. If he's still not scary enough, watch out for the demon that sprouts out of his back like good guardians do. He also has some nice fatherly conversations with [[Riku]], despite the revelation that Riku finds Ansem to be quite smelly. To top off, Ansem is one of the few dark-skinned characters in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, which helps to balance a cast of predominately-white characters.  

The events which Master [[Eraqus]] and his pupils had tried so hard to prevent have now taken place. The χ-blade has been forged, and ''Kingdom Hearts'' has been summoned. [[Terra]], [[Ventus]] and [[Aqua]], our three heroes, are just a hair's breadth away from letting all worlds fall into darkness under [[Xehanort]]'s grasp. By this point, Terra's body has been possessed by Xehanort, Ventus' body has been possessed by [[Vanitas]], and Aqua is almost despondent.

[[File:Magazine Issue 7 TopFive1.png|thumb|200px|Ventus-Vanitas facing Aqua, holding the newly-forged χ-blade in his hand.]]

[[Ventus-Vanitas]], as this entity is officially called, enters into battle with Aqua, the only one who can physically stop him. She seems outmatched, having only her own Keyblade, a mere shadow of the χ-blade in her opponent's arms. Meanwhile, the light within Ventus' heart does battle with the darkness of Vanitas' heart. No one but Ventus knows what is going on inside his heart.

Aqua is easily bested by Ventus-Vanitas, and he takes to taunting her in order for her to give up hope. However, if there is one thing Aqua has that Vanitas does not have, it is the strength gained from friendship. Aqua pulls out her Wayfinder and calls upon Terra and Ventus to lend her strength. It feels almost like a desperation move, as there is no sign of their whereabouts, or how conscious they are. Yet, as soon as the Wayfinder glows in response to Aqua's invocation, we know that Terra and Ventus are as alive as ever.  

With Aqua's physical strength, and the wills of the three heroes, the χ-blade is damaged, against all odds, and is destroyed in a massive explosion. As it turns out, Ventus has also won his internal conflict with Vanitas, destroying all the darkness in his heart. Vanitas' grip on Ventus finally loosens, and Ventus loses the bodysuit that came with Vanitas. The explosion blows Ventus far away, and Aqua follows him, hoping to take his hand. The two of them wind up in the Lanes Between, and Aqua manages to grab hold of Ventus.

''The Key'' evokes a mixture of emotions. It begins solemn and awe-inspiring, and at the same time, frightening. The inclusion of the pipe organ and choirs makes this piece sound apocalyptic too. Contemplating being in a situation like this is not pretty, to say the least. As soon as this piece breaks out with the ''Dearly Beloved'' fragment, I put myself into the characters' shoes and I begin to fear that now that Kingdom Hearts has been summoned and the χ-blade forged, Armageddon is drawing near.

I think it memorable, by virtue of it featuring a twisted fragment of ''Dearly Beloved''. Perhaps others may remember it for the same reasons as I do. I've had this piece playing in my head for a good half-hour…

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|flickrushmailbaganswer4=STAR WARS. STAR SODDING WARS. NO. There's been enough hatred for George Lucas taking it away from its original path; I don't want Tetsuya Nomura to do worse.

While I have seen fan art of Riku in Jedi costume, I will only accept Star Wars in ''Kingdom Hearts'' if it is actually well done and Abrams-esque in feel. But this is going to be a tall order anyway, considering Sora's and Riku's first order of things is to meddle in the affairs of the worlds if Xehanort is going to be defeated.

|flickrushkhwikitask4=Nominate a {{KHWiki|KHWiki:Votes for featured articles|Featured Article}} or {{KHWiki|KHWiki:Votes for featured media|Featured Media}}.

|flickrushkhwikitask5=Enhance an {{KHWiki|Category:Articles in need of improvement|article in need of improvement}}.

|flickrushgametask2=Defeat [[Sephiroth]] in ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}'' or ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'' without equipping scan.

|flickrushkeyholetask2={{Keyhole|Kingdom Hearts Wiki:Votes for featured articles|Vote for a featured article}}.

|flickrushkeyholetask3=Offer your help to finish off the {{Keyhole|Kingdom Hearts Wiki:Helping Out|treasure chest lists}} for ''Kingdom Hearts II'' and ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''.

|flickrushpoll=<br><br><br><font color=red><big><big><big>'''We asked...'''</big></big></big></font>

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{{!}} colspan="2" style="background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #E0FFFF 50%, #E0FFFF 50%); background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #E0FFFF 50%, #E0FFFF 50%); background: -o-linear-gradient(top, #E0FFFF 50%, #E0FFFF 50%); border-radius: 10px; margin:20px; padding:5px; border:solid 2px #000000; color:#000000;" width="500px"{{!}}Welcome to 2015's [[KHWiki:End of Year Event 2015|End of Year Event]] results page, brought to you via a special one issue only page!

After a month of drawing, writing, and playing, here is the breakdown of this year's contest:

:”I adore the concept of a strange old lady taking up a Keyblade 'because it's good exercise'.”

{{!}} colspan="2" style="background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #E0FFFF 50%, #E0FFFF 50%); background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #E0FFFF 50%, #E0FFFF 50%); background: -o-linear-gradient(top, #E0FFFF 50%, #E0FFFF 50%); border-radius: 10px; margin:20px; padding:5px; border:solid 2px #000000; color:#000000;" width="500px"{{!}}<center>'''<big>Now we conclude the End of Year Event 2015! With twelve users involved and a month of team conversation, I'd call it a success! Special thanks to {{KHWiki|User:TheFifteenthMember|TheFifteenthMember}} for coming up with the wonderful idea and applause for everyone who took part! All of us at the KHWiki and the Keyhole wish you a happy 2016!</big>'''<br>Let's look forward next year's conte-*mic suddenly turns off*</center>