Editing Traverse Town

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{{cleanup|story section needs to be rewritten to be in-universe. In particular, when they only show flashbacks, place the remembered event in chronological order, then give a quick "flashed back to x event" in the game's section.}}

{{About|the World||Traverse Town (disambiguation)}}

'''Traverse Town''' is a world in the [[Realm Between]] introduced in ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}'', where it serves as the game's main hub. It is a unique world that consists of the remnants of worlds which have been lost to [[darkness]], and serves as a haven to those whose worlds no longer exist in the Realm of Light.<ref>'''''[[Secret Ansem Report 11]]:''''' ''"My [[Mickey Mouse|friend]] has been fighting in the realm of darkness. Most likely he found his way there through Traverse Town. Like Castle Oblivion, that village also rests in the cleft between light and dark. It consists of the remnants of worlds whose hearts have been stolen by the Heartless. It is where those who have barely escaped the destruction of their worlds eventually find themselves."''</ref><ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''''', '''Joshua:''' This town has a little secret. It only appears when someone out there has need of shelter.</ref> In order to serve as a new home, it is able to reshape its own layout to meet their needs.<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Ultimania|Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Ultimania]]''''', '''Tetsuya Nomura''': "In the first place, the worlds in the rift between darkness and light have different rules than other worlds. The Mysterious Tower isn't always standing in a fixed place. Traverse Town too reforms its shape every time, which is why the version that appears in this title is clearly different than the version in KH1."</ref><!--http://www.khinsider.com/news/KH3D-Ultimania-Interviews-Translated-2602#Scenario Mysteries--> However, in all appearances it remains a quaint and calm town with a sky of unending night, in which stars can be clearly seen.

Traverse Town is similar to a Victorian-age town in terms of design and layout. It is divided into three major districts along with several minor locations such as alleyways and caves. The {{nihongo|'''{{a|First District}}'''|1番街|Ichiban Gai}} is the most peaceful of the three, without the presence of Heartless (with the exception of the first visit where Heartless briefly appears prior to the fight against [[Leon]]). The First District is where most survivors of the destroyed worlds can be found. The most notable locations include the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Accessory Shop}}'''|アクセサリーショップ|Akusesarī Shoppu}} owned and managed by Cid, the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Item Shop}}'''|アイテムショップ|Aitemu Shoppu}} run by [[Huey]], [[Dewey]], and [[Louie]], and an {{nihongo|'''{{a|Item Workshop}}'''|アイテムアトリエ|Aitemu Atorie|lit. "Item Atelier"}} run by Moogles on the top floor of Cid's store. There is also a shop run by Cid after the [[keyhole]] of Traverse Town is locked; he sells [[Gummi Blocks]] near the gate to the Second District. To the left of the town entrance there is a restaurant with magical self-lighting candles. Later in the game {{nihongo|'''{{a|Geppetto's House}}'''|ゼペットの家|Zepetto no Ie}} appears diagonally to the right behind the Accessory Shop; a green-doored apartment that [[Geppetto]], [[Pinocchio]], and Cleo move into after they escape from [[Monstro]]. The mailbox used in the [[Postcard]] hunt is also found here, close to the door leading into the Third District. Directly across from the Accessory Shop is a large set of double-doors which serve as the entrance to the town and can return the player to the world map to choose another world to travel to.

[[File:Second District (Art).png|thumb|200px|Artwork of the Second District.]]

The {{nihongo|'''{{a|Second District}}'''|2番街|Niban Gai}} is infested with a variety of Heartless. It includes the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Gizmo Shop}}'''|からくり部屋|Karakuri Heya|lit. "Mechanism Room"}}, on whose roof a bell is eventually rung three times in order to reveal the world's Keyhole. Also present is the '''{{a|Dalmatians' House}}''', where [[Pongo]] and [[Perdita]] have settled due to the destruction of their world. The house consists of the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Dalmatians' Den}}'''|子犬たちの私室|Koinu-tachi no Shishitsu|lit. "Puppies' Den"}}, the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Living Room}}'''|子犬たちの居間|Koinu-tachi no Ima|lit. "Puppies' Living Room"}}, the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Dining Room}}'''|子犬たちの食堂|Koinu-tachi no Shokudō|lit. "Puppies' Dining Hall"}}, and the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Piano Room}}'''|子犬たちの客間|Koinu-tachi no Kyakuma|lit. "Puppies' Parlor"}}. The {{nihongo|'''{{a|Hotel}}'''|宿屋|Yadoya|lit. "Inn"}} is on the west side of the district and is often invaded by Heartless, but can be entered through the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Hallway}}'''|廊下|Rōka}}; in addition, the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Red Room}}'''|赤の間|Aka no Ma}} and {{nihongo|'''{{a|Green Room}}'''|緑の間|Midori no Ma}} are located within the Hotel, where Sora, [[Donald]], and [[Goofy]] are briefed by Leon and Aerith. The east side of town includes the entrance to the Third District, as well as a set of roofs that can be climbed to reach treasures and a hidden entrance to a balcony in the Third District. At the back of the Hotel lies the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Alleyway}}'''|2番街：路地裏|Niban Gai: Rojiura|lit. "Second District: Back Alley"}}; it has passages to the Dalmatians' House and the First District, and its drainage pipes lead to the Secret Waterway.

The {{nihongo|'''{{a|Third District}}'''|3番街|Sanban Gai}} is a plaza also overrun with Heartless but is the smallest of the three main districts. Notable areas include the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Vacant House}}'''|空き家|Akiya}} next to the Second District's door, which [[Leon]] and his crew eventually claim as the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Small House}}'''|小さな家|Chīsana Ie}}, their headquarters. The most notable feature in this district is the golden fountain in the corner of the lower area, which depicts an image from Disney's 1955 film, ''{{w|Lady and the Tramp}}''. Casting [[Thunder]] on some exposed cable wires raises the platforms in the Second District's Gizmo Shop. Finally, a keyhole next to the giant door to First District can also be found and unlocked for faster access to that area. In another corner, a short alley leads to a door with a flame on it that goes to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Mystical House}}'''|3番街：不思議な館|Sanban Gai: Fushigina-kan|lit. "Third District: Mysterious House"}}, and in turn the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Magician's Study}}'''|魔法使いの書斎|Mahōtsukai no Shosai}} and {{nihongo|'''{{a|Magician's Lab}}'''|魔法使いの実験室|Mahōtsukai no Jikkenshitsu|also referred to as the "Zero District" by Merlin in ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]''}}, where Merlin and the Fairy Godmother take up residence. The book that serves as the entry point to [[100 Acre Wood]] can also be found in the study. Below Merlin's house is the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Secret Waterway}}'''|隠された水路|Kakusareta Suiro|lit. "Hidden Waterway"}}, which serves as Leon's secret training ground, as well as a back entrance to the Alleyway.

 

At [[Castle Oblivion]], a version of Traverse Town is constructed based of off Sora's memories. The world can be explored through boxed-in areas resembling the original town, drawing heavy inspiration from the First District and Third District. In cutscenes, areas such as the '''Third District''', '''Vacant House''', and the '''Second District''' are visited, with the Third District being used for a tutorial battle against Leon, and the Second District also serving as a boss arena. In the original ''Chain of Memories'', a mix of both districts serves as the boss arena instead.

[[File:Traverse Town 03 KHREC.png|thumb|right|The bugged version of the Second District.]]

In ''Kingdom Hearts coded'' a data version of Traverse Town is explored. It's quite identical to the first game, but several areas are now inaccessible. The first area is still the {{nihongo|'''{{a|First District}}'''|1番街|1-ban Gai}} and looks the same, though where Geppetto's House once was there is now a ladder leading to some [[Bug Blox]]. Geppetto's House does however appear in cutscenes. The town's shops can no longer be access and the hole in the wall which used to lead to Alleyway is closed off. Cid can be found standing in front of the accessories shop and is later joined by Huey, Dewey, and Louie once they're rescued. Several other residents hang out in this district as well. Next to the item shop is one of the world's save points.

 

At the start of the  {{nihongo|'''{{a|Second District}}'''|2番街|2-ban Gai}} there's another save point and a [[Moogle Shop]] opposite it. The area is mostly the same as it was in the first game, but the three pillars atop of the gizmo shop are now missing. Down by the fountain there's a door which serves as the only entry point for the  {{nihongo|'''{{a|Alleyway}}'''|路地裏|Rojiura|lit. "Back Alley"}}. There, two new ladders has been added to the area on opposite sides of the map, both leading to several Bug Blox that can be platformed. A third save point is found near the Alleyway's exit. To the east side of the Second District is the entrance to the  {{nihongo|'''{{a|Third District}}'''|3番街|3-ban Gai}}. Down the stairs by the entrance is a second Moogle Shop, and other than that the area remains unchanged and still leads back to the First District.

 

A bugged version of the Second District temporally appears during the visit. It differs from the usual version with the gizmo shop being mostly covered with the Bug Blox pattern, as well as several of its walls spinning in circles. Shortly after the Second District has been fixed, the world's  {{nihongo|'''{{a|Keyhole}}'''|鍵穴|Kagiana}} becomes accessible, containing four two-dimensional and linear areas named  {{nihongo|'''{{a|Keyhole / 1st District|1st District}}'''|鍵穴:1番街|Kagiana: 1-ban Gai}}, {{nihongo|'''{{a|Keyhole / 2nd District|2nd District}}'''|鍵穴:2番街|Kagiana: 2-ban Gai}}, {{nihongo|'''{{a|Keyhole / 3rd District|3rd District}}'''|鍵穴:3番街|Kagiana: 3-ban Gai}} and {{nihongo|'''{{a|Keyhole / Terminus|Terminus}}'''|鍵穴:最深部|Kagiana: Saishinbu|lit. "Keyhole: Deepest Part"}}.

 

Across Traverse Town's four areas are a bunch of Bug Blox appearing both on ground and in air. The world also contains six [[System Sector]]s. The two first are found in the First District, one on the large door to the south, and the another on the second-floor door to the accessory shop. Two more are found in the Second District. One on the ground, next to the west wall on the bottom level of the area, and a second one on the northwestern door to the hotel. In the Alleyway one appears on the red door, on the second balcony from the north. And the last one appears on the door with the flame found in the Third District.

===''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''===

[[File:Fourth District (Art).png|thumb|left|150px|Artwork of the Fourth District.]]

In ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'', Traverse Town has now relocated to the [[Sleeping Worlds]]. Only three areas return, the  {{nihongo|'''{{a|First District}}'''|1番街|1-ban Gai}}, the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Second District}}'''|2番街|2-ban Gai}}, and the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Third District}}'''|3番街|3-ban Gai}}. All three areas have received minor changes. To the west of the First District there is now a new door leading to the Back Streets. On the bottom level of the Second District there are now a couple new lamps near the gizmo shop, and the lamps in the Third District are missing their flags. The broken electric wire has also been removed and replaced by a pile of planks and some crates. Generally, a lot of crates are placed around town blocking previously accessible entrances. There's also an abundance of barrels around town which can be used in combat. For Riku the doorway between the First and Third District is blocked, and for Sora, the doorway to the Back Streets is blocked. The Third District also serves as a battle arena for the fight against the Nightmare Bosses summonned by [[Spellican]] for Sora to fight in the second visit.

The aforementioned {{nihongo|'''{{a|Back Streets}}'''|裏通り|Uradōri}} is a twisting mass of streets interconnected by a long series of waterways, and can only be accessed by Riku. At the of the Back Streets is a passage that leads up to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Fountain Plaza}}'''|噴水広場|Funsui Hiroba}}. Through a narrow and long alleyway you reach a huge open area wherein a massive eponymous fountain lies. On one of the walls is a huge graffiti taken straight from ''{{w|The World Ends with You}}''. Parallel to the long alleyway is another shorter and wide alleyway leading to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Post Office}}'''|ポストオフィス|Posuto Ofisu}}, a massive area filled with boxes and letters and many contraptions, both animated and still. A circular elevator in a small room of the Post Office leads up to the mailbox in the First District. The Post Office is an area that can only be accessed by Sora. There is in front of the Fountain Plaza a huge manhole cover, beneath which [[Julius]] sleeps. Once the game has been cleared, it is required to take him down once to access the plaza and traverse it. Behind the Fountain Plaza's massive fountain is a door which leads to the Fourth District.

[[File:Fifth District (Art).png|thumb|right|200px|Artwork of the Fifth District.]]

The {{nihongo|'''{{a|Fourth District}}'''|4番街|4-ban Gai}} is a shopping area infested with Dream Eaters. It is largely populated by Moogles, who run both the [[Medal Shop]] and the district's main feature, the [[Flick Rush]] Colosseum. The district also houses the entrance to the Fifth District, which is framed with red and white cubes and has handles shaped like the face of the [[Hockomonkey]]. The district is embellished with many bright lights and decorations such as streamers. It houses multiple shops, including a Dream Eater shop which has a balloon in the shape of a paw hanging outside the door. The largest and most prominent feature within the district is a large tower similar to a lighthouse, to which various streamers are tied.

The {{nihongo|'''{{a|Fifth District}}'''|5番街|5-ban Gai}} lies beyond the door in the Fourth District. The majority of the district is taken up by the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Garden}}'''|植物園|Shokubutsu-en|lit. "Botanical Garden"}}, which is filled with many varieties of plants. The Garden is a large, three-floor greenhouse surrounded by a small waterway that can be entered by crossing a bridge to its front entrance, which holds a sign that reads "Flower & Plant." The surrounding alleys of the district are mainly empty. Those areas also serve as battle arenas for both incarnations of [[Hockomonkey]].

Donald and Goofy first arrive in Traverse Town with [[Pluto]] on a mission given to them by [[King Mickey]] to look for Leon and the person who holds the [[Keyblade]]. They arrive in Traverse Town at the same time that the [[Destiny Islands]] are being destroyed, which they observe by seeing the world's star going out in the sky. Donald and Goofy continue searching for their objectives while Pluto finds a sleeping Sora in the alleyway of the First District. After being woken up by Pluto, Sora begins to wander around the town, hoping to find his friends from the island. When he reaches the Second district, he sees a man lose his [[heart]] and become a Heartless. While exploring the world, Sora defeats many Heartless and he barely misses encountering Donald and Goofy several times as they independently explored the town. Eventually, Sora meets Leon, who challenges him in a battle for the [[Keyblade]]. After the fight, Sora passes out from exhaustion, and Leon and Yuffie bring him to a room in the Hotel, while Aerith finds Donald and Goofy and brings them to a separate room. There, they independently explain the Keyblade, the [[Heartless]] and they tell of the [[Ansem Reports]].

Heartless attack the Hotel, and Leon and Sora take off to fend them off. Before going ahead, Leon tells Sora not to worry about the attacking [[Soldier]] and [[Shadow]] Heartless and to find their leader. As Sora enters the Third District, Donald and Goofy are blown off a balcony above by an attack from a Soldier and land on him, this is when Donald and Goofy first see the Keyblade and realize Sora is the person they are looking for. The three battle and defeat a battalion of Soldiers before the [[Guard Armor]] comes out, the trio beats this giant Heartless and Upon its defeat, Donald and Goofy explain their mission to find the [[Keyblade wielder]], and they ask Sora to come with them, Sora is hesitant at first but when Leon tells Sora that going with them would provide the best chance to find his friends Sora agrees to accompany them on their journey. Before they leave, Leon and the others give Sora [[munny]] to spend in preparing for his journey, and Donald and Goofy teach Sora [[magic]] and [[Dodge Roll]], respectively.

Sora returns to town with a [[Navi-G Piece]] that he got from [[Deep Jungle]] and asks [[Cid]] to install it in the [[Gummi Ship]], while he delivers the [[100 Acre Wood]] book to [[Merlin]] in exchange. While Delivering the book, Sora meets Merlin and the [[Fairy Godmother]], the former helps Sora improve his magic and the latter shows Sora how to [[Summon]]. On the way back from Merlin's, Sora is briefly reunited with Riku, only for him to mysteriously vanish again shortly after. At a house in Traverse Town, Sora, Donald, and Goofy meet with Leon and company, who tells them about Maleficent and her forces of darkness. While Leon is warning them, Maleficent is actually watching outside with Riku and she slowly starts to turn him against Sora, saying Sora now values Donald and Goofy more than Riku and [[Kairi]]. Sora defeats the Guard Armor a second time and seals the world's Keyhole shortly after. Before leaving, Sora and the gang also encounter [[Pinocchio]] in the accessory shop.

After learning from [[Captain Hook]] that Riku took Kairi to [[Hollow Bastion]], Sora, Donald, and Goofy return for their third visit so they can have Cid install a Navi-G Piece that would allow the trio to journey to Hollow Bastion. While waiting on Cid, Sora becomes slightly depressed at not being able to save Kairi on Hook's ship, and he asks Donald and Goofy how they can remain so cheerful despite not having seen any sign of their king throughout their journey. Donald and Goofy respond to his question by saying everything will be okay as long as they continue to believe in themselves, which manages to cheer Sora up. Sora then proceeds to see a vision from the past where [[Kairi's Grandma]] tells her the story of [[light]] and darkness, and she assures a young Kairi that even in the deepest darkness, there will always be a light to guide her. Sora wakes from the vision confused, but Cid returns with the news that the Gummi Ship is ready, so Sora, Donald, and Goofy depart for Hollow Bastion.

Sora returns for a fourth visit after saving Kairi from Hollow Bastion. After discussing it with Leon, Sora decides he has to go back to Hollow Bastion to save Riku and the other six [[Princesses of Heart]] as well as seal the [[Final Keyhole]]. Before he heads out, Sora has a conversation with Kairi in the Secret Waterway where he thanks Kairi for saving him when he was a Heartless. Kairi gives him a [[Wayfinder]] for luck and makes him promise to return it to her after he gets things fixed, which he agrees to. The powerful bond between Sora and Kairi that the Wayfinder represents gives it the power to act as a [[Keychain]] token for Sora's Keyblade, transforming it into the [[Oathkeeper]].

{{Canon|In the manga, Sora never leaves Hollow Bastion. Instead, Leon's group arrives to help destroy the [[Behemoth]] blocking the Keyhole.}}

Sora continues exploring the town, and he encounters Cid, who also recognizes Sora, but doesn't remember him. He tells Sora about the giant Heartless that appears when the Gizmo Shop bell rings. When the bell does after Cid leaves, the Guard Armor appears, and Sora fights and defeats it. After the battle, Sora says goodbye to the others, ready to continue on his way through the castle, but Aerith tells him that the town and its inhabitants are figments of Sora's mind and that he should careful about trusting his memory.

While Sora's memories are being restored, Roxas continues to dream of his memories from Traverse Town, including his meeting Leon, Yuffie, and Aerith and teaming up with Donald and Goofy.

While searching the town, Sora encounters the [[Data-Riku|black-coated figure]], and after he finds the last of the triplets, the figure gives him one last piece of the Keyhole. From the [[Disney Castle]] library, Mickey tells Sora that the Keyhole probably leads to the source of the bugs. Inside the Keyhole, Sora traverses a strange space filled with bugs and Heartless. In the end, he encounters a Guard Armor, fights, and defeats it, clearing the town of bugs.

In order to save the existence of his friends, [[Joshua]] takes the last remnants of their dreams and searches for a safe place for them. Traverse Town appears before him in the Realm of Dreams, and [[Rhyme]]'s dreams open a portal to the town. Joshua is surprised to discover that dreams take physical form in that world, and he decides to try restoring his friends' existence by piecing their dreams together.

Riku sees [[Shiki]] being chased by Dream Eaters into the First District. He saves her, then agrees to accompany her through the town. They arrive in the Fifth District, where they encountered the hooded figure, who tells Riku he will wander in sleep forever. Beat arrives to take care of Shiki, and he tells Riku the hooded figure had told Shiki he could send her home if she brought him Riku. The mysterious youth reveals his face, then summons the [[Hockomonkey]], which enters the Garden. The youth disappears in a [[Corridor of Darkness]], and Riku follows the Hockomonkey into the Garden, leaving Beat to watch over Shiki.

By the time Sora and Riku return to the town, the partners are reunited. As Joshua explains to Sora, they continue to play the Reaper's Game in order to save themselves from being erased from existence and return to their homeworld. In their new mission, they must defeat the [[Spellican]], which has the power to summon many Dream Eater minions. Joshua asks Sora if he and Riku can help them out with their mission, and Sora agrees readily and goes to assist Neku and Shiki in the Fountain Plaza. After Sora beats the Spellican's minions, it escapes to Riku's side. While Sora is meeting Shiki, Joshua arrives and tells them his plan to corner the Spellican in the Third District.

File:Mysterious Figure KHFM.png|'''[[Game:Marluxia|Unknown]]'''<br>{{KHCoM}}

File:Spellican KH3D.png|'''[[Spellican]] (Sora only)'''<br>{{KH3D}}<ref>Is intangible during the whole fight.</ref>