Editing Squall Leonhart

{{InfoCharacter

|name=Leon

|image=[[Image:KH2Squall.jpg|300px|Leon as he appears in Kingdom Hearts II]]

|game=Kingdom Hearts  

|kana=レオン (Reon)

|world=Traverse Town

|role=Ally

|first=[[wikipedia:Final Fantasy VIII|''Final Fantasy VIII'']]

'''Leon''' is a supporting character in the ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' series and leader of both the Heartless Resistance and the Radiant Garden Restoration Commitee. Originally he went by the name '''[[finalfantasy:Squall Leonhart|Squall Leonhart]]''' but due to his world being destroyed by the Heartless he changed his name in an attempt to amend for his mistakes.<br>

===''Kingdom Hearts''===

''A swordsman who wields the gunblade. His real name: Squall Leonhart. He escaped to Traverse Town when the Heartless raided his home world. To part with his old self, a man who had been helpless to stop them, he changed his name. Since meeting the king, who has been so vigilant against the Heartless, Leon has sought the truth behind the "key".

===''Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories''===

''A cool and collected swordsman who wields a gunblade. His real name: Squall Leonhart.''

''Leon once fought with Sora against the Heartless, but the Leon we met in Castle Oblivion is a product of his memory, so he can't remember much of what happened before.''

===''Kingdom Hearts II''===

''A swordsman who carries a gunblade. His real name is Squall Leonhart. He took the name Leon to distance himself from his past self - the man who stood helpless as Heartless invaded his home.''

''For some time he took refuge in a different town, but thanks in part to Sora's help, Leon was able to reclaim this, his hometown. Now he works tirelessly towards its restoration.''

[[Image:Leon KH 1.jpg|200px|thumbnail|right|Leon as he appeared in Kingdom Hearts]]

Squall Leonhart grew up in the paradise world of [[Radiant Garden]] until it was consumed by darkness. Ashamed and angry that he was unable to defend his home and his loved ones from the Heartless, Squall assumed the name of ''Leon'' in order to distance himself from his past, vowing never to use his real name until the Heartless are defeated and his world restored.<br>

One of the few survivors from [[Radiant Garden]], Leon awakened in [[Traverse Town]] along with fellow Radiant Garden refugees [[Yuffie]], [[Aerith]] and [[Cid]]. Leon formed the Resistance against the Heartless, effectively keeping an area of Traverse Town safe against [[Maleficent]] and the growing tide of Heartless. He was also known to travel between Worlds in his gummie ship, assisting other refugees in peril and relocate them to Traverse Town. His actions did not go unnoticed, eventually gaining the attention and confidence of [[King Mickey]] who was watching the growing battle warily.

Nine years after Radiant Garden's fall, when the Wielder of the Keyblade was revealed King Mickey ordered [[Goofy]] and [[Donald]] to find Leon, trusting that Leon would inform them of the circumstance and help them find the Wielder; Sora. It turned out however that Leon had already found Sora within the safe First District of [[Traverse Town]], challenging and defeating the boy in a duel before dragging him back to the resistance's hideout; a room in one of Traverse Town's motels. There Leon and Yuffie explained to Sora about the Heartless and his destiny as the Keyblade's chosen one. Uniting Sora with newly arrived Donald and Goofy Leon then sent them on their way.

Leon also gives Sora the Earthshine Gem which contained Simba, for luck. Later after they move to the newly accommodated base; a previously abandoned house deep in Heartless territory, Leon and co. tells Sora about Maleficent and about [[Ansem]] and his journal before once again seeing Sora, Donald and Goofy off.

When Maleficent is defeated Leon, Yuffie and Aerith can be seen wondering the Hollow Bastion Library, reading the books. Leon gives Sora the remaining pieces of Ansem's Journal expressing his disappointment in the man. Later, in the Grand Hall after Sora seals the World's keyhole Leon and co. stands waiting to bid their farewells for after Sora seals the keyhole at World's End the two groups may never see each other again.

{{Q|We may never meet again, but we'll never forget each other.|Leon}}

===''Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories''===

After the defeat of Ansem, while skirmishing through [[Castle Oblivion]] Sora, Donald and Goofy later meet Leon and his friends in a memory-based version of Traverse Town. However, like the town itself, little did Sora and his party realized that Leon and his friends are actually the product of Sora's memories that were being manipulated by [[Naminé]]. Due to that, the Leon and his friends that Sora encounter have no memories of ever meeting Sora, but somehow they know his name which they could not explain how. Like the Leon from the first game, he nonetheless decides to help Sora and co., such as by teaching Sora the card-based system as well as providing the [[Simba]] and the Key of Guidance cards in order for Sora to proceed. Before Sora leaves, Leon ensures him that he'll be okay, no matter what shape reality takes, and that while he may not remember Sora, he knows that he is in his heart.

In ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', Leon is seen to be slightly more cheerful than he was in the original Kingdom Hearts, as he and others are rebuilding their home with Leon being the leader of the "[[Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee]]," which is composed of the returning Final Fantasy cameos from the first Kingdom Hearts and of Merlin. He actually fights alongside Sora in one of the fights near the beginning of the game. Sleeping Lion, a Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts II, is another reference to Squall. He also, along with many other characters, including Tifa and Cloud, help Sora fight the Heartless on the Ravine Trail in the Hollow Bastion (later named, the Radiant Garden). Leon also plays the largest role for any Final Fantasy character in Kingdom Hearts II storywise, the only Final Fantasy character that has relations to King Mickey, and works very close to Sora and company. Leon is also the only Final Fantasy character in the game to come face to face with the Organization and fight the Nobodies. He seems to be a good friend to both [[Cloud Strife]] and [[Aerith Gainsborough]].

==Appearance and Personality==

Leon's physical appearance consist of shoulder-length brown hair and blue eyes. A scar runs diagonally across the bridge of his nose. He wears a short leather jacket with small red wings on the back, as well as the red Griever symbol on the left sleeve. He also wears a silver pendant with the Griever symbol. In Kingdom Hearts II, his jacket has a fur along the collar.  

When Sora first meets Leon, his personality is that of a withdrawn and quiet loner. Eventually he opens up to become a more caring person, as seen as when he is worrying about Sora, Donald and Goofy's safety in the aftermath of the 1000 Heartless battle in Hollow Bastion. Although appearing as sullen and brooding in Kingdom Hearts, after returning home to Hollow Bastion in Kingdom Hearts II he seems to be more cheerful and is seen to be smiling more often. Leon has also good leadership qualities which he displays throughout in both games, mirroring the character development of the original Squall of Final Fantasy VIII, who himself began as a brooding and unconcerned loner but eventually became a caring friend and leader thanks to his friends.

==Battle==

The key to fighting against or alongside Leon effectively is to listen to his catchphrases and prepare for the appropriate action to that phrase.

"It's over!" (when using Rough Divide)<br>

"Now you've got my attention!" (when using "Blasting Zone")<br>

"You don't stand a chance against me!" (taunt)<br>

"What's the matter? Had enough?" (taunt)<br>

"Hey, gimme a break." (taunt)<br>

"No way...I can't lose..." (defeat)<br>

===Kingdom Hearts II===

*Immune to Magnet and Fire<br> Leon's main advantage is his wide range. Even able to hit things that are standing directly behind him this range increases when he ignites his Gunblade's 'Lionheart' form using "Blasting Zone". When a target is far away he will use "No Mercy", where he shoots a fireballs that can be deflected but, due to his immunity to the Fire element, they will do nothing to him.

The best way to defeat him is with Blizzard, Thunder or Reflect. If you don't have any MP, you can always dash to him between his attacks or simply parry and counter-attack.

"It's over!" (When using "Blasting Zone".)<br>

"I'll help out!" (When entering battle.)<br>

"I'm better, give it up..." (Taunt)<br>

"So that's it..." (When defeated.)<br>

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The gummi ship blueprint 'Leon' becomes available at Geppetto's house after 4000 Heartless are defeated.

''For more information on other appearences by Leon/Squall Leonhart, please refer to his [[finalfantasy:Squall Leonhart|Final Fantasy Wiki article]].''

===Kingdom Hearts Manga===

Leon appears in this manga adaption of the first Kingdom Hearts game in the same role he possessed in said game.

==Trivia==

{{FA}}

[[Category: Allies]]

[[Category:Hollow Bastion]]