Editing Villains

The '''Villains'''<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Series Memorial Ultimania]]''''', p. 29; "'''Maleficent'''": "Leader of the bad guys in each world (Villains). She led the army of darkness and tried to conquer the whole world with the power of Kingdom Hearts."</ref> are a group of scoundrels from various worlds who seek to harness the power of the [[Heartless]]. They are led by [[Maleficent]], and originally had the goal of capturing the seven [[Princesses of Heart]] and taking control of [[Kingdom Hearts]], to rule all worlds. After their first defeat at the hands of [[Sora]], they are much less organized, and while they occasionally cooperate on a one-on-one basis, they no longer work in concert and follow their own goals.

The track "[[Villains of a Sort]]" serves as the group's theme and is used for most cutscenes involving the Villains. However, it is also used for a few other Disney villains that are unaffiliated with Maleficent's group, such as [[The Queen]], [[Shan-Yu]], and [[Gaston]].

Maleficent was contacted by [[Master Xehanort]] at some point before [[Terra]], [[Aqua]], and [[Ventus]] left the [[Land of Departure]]. He told her about other worlds, the Princesses of Heart, and Kingdom Hearts,<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''', '''Maleficent:''' I presume you are familiar with Xehanort, the one who lead me to learn about worlds outside my own? [···] Yes, he shared much with me. How to go about winning a heart over to the darkness. And most gloriously, the seven pure lights that when brought together to allow one to rule all worlds!'''''</ref><!--and time travel--> explaining how they could be used to rule all worlds. Identifying [[Aurora]] as a Princess of Heart, Xehanort takes her [[heart]] for Maleficent on the condition she tricks Terra into thinking he had taken it.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''', '''Maleficent:''' To think, that all he said was and will be true.'''''</ref> However, Aurora was saved by the combined efforts of Ventus, Aqua, and [[Prince Phillip]].  

Realizing the search for the Princesses would take a while, Maleficent resolves to gather others to help.<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''', '''Maleficent:''' Seven hearts of the purest light. Such a search will take some time.'''''</ref> Finding [[Pete]], who had been banished to another dimension by [[Queen Minnie]], she decides to free him and make him an ally.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''', '''Maleficent:''' Heed my words and I may just free you./ '''Pete:''' Really!? Well, just let me out and you can tell me what to do./ '''Maleficent:''' A wise decision. Now proceed. With your help, soon all the worlds will belong to me.'''''</ref>

Maleficent spends the next decade gathering potential allies to aid her in their search for the Princesses of Heart. She eventually recruits Captain Hook, [[Ursula]], Hades, [[Oogie Boogie]], and [[Jafar]]. The group also learns about the power of the Heartless and use them as minions in their quest. However, while the group was aware of the dangers posed by using the Heartless, they failed to realize they were just puppets of the Heartless who only obeyed them in an attempt to gain control of Kingdom Hearts.

They gathered ten of the thirteen {{storylink|Kingdom Hearts Final Mix}} pages of [[Ansem's Report]]<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts''', '''Aerith:''' "Take this. [··] It's the rest of Ansem's Report. Maleficent must have collected it."</ref>, making use of the Heartless Manufactory in the basement lab of [[Hollow Bastion]] to create custom Heartless for unique worlds<ref>'''''[[Ansem's Report 8]]''''': "As a start, I have built a device that artificially creates Heartless. By recreating the conditions that spawn the Heartless naturally, I should be able to produce them artificially. This device is the culmination of all my research thus far. The machine's test run successfully created a Heartless."</ref> and command lesser Heartless for them.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts''', '''Leon:''' "Ignore the smallfry. Look for the leader."</ref>

The Villains have two main goals: find the Princesses of Heart and send the Heartless into the [[Keyhole]]s of many worlds, destroying them in the process. Using the Heartless, the group makes Hollow Bastion their base and successfully imprisons [[Aurora]], [[Belle]], [[Cinderella]], and [[Snow White]] there while destroying their Worlds.

Countless worlds have fallen in their quest for the Princesses of Heart. After the destruction of [[Destiny Islands]], [[Riku]] ends up on Hollow Bastion, where Maleficent takes him in. The Villains send [[Guard Armor]] to Traverse Town to draw out the [[Keyblade wielder]]. After discovering Sora, the Villains keep an eye on him; unfortunately, he begins sealing keyholes to keep the worlds safe from destruction. After [[Clayton]] became a puppet of the Heartless, they watch him perish.

 

[[File:A Dark Proposal 01 KH.png|thumb|Maleficent tells Riku to forget Sora.]]

To turn Riku against Sora, Maleficent takes him to Traverse Town to see him with his new friends. With Riku bitter, Maleficent promises to help him find [[Kairi]] if he helps the Villains. While [[Jafar]] is defeated, Riku kidnaps [[Jasmine]]; Maleficent rewards him by having Hook take him to find Kairi. Riku appears in [[Monstro]], planning to kidnap [[Pinocchio]] to find a way to restore Kairi's heart.

While Riku keeps Sora busy, Maleficent attempts to open the Final Keyhole with six of the princesses' hearts; however, as Kairi does not have her own, the keyhole remains in an unstable limbo. [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness]] possesses Riku and uses the six hearts to create a [[Keyblade of heart]], which he uses to unlock Maleficent's heart, leading to her defeat and heart traveling into the past. With the Villains out of the way, Ansem takes over their plan and tricks Sora into helping him finish the keyhole.

{{canon|In the [[Kingdom Hearts (manga)|''Kingdom Hearts'' manga]], Maleficent and the other villains offered the [[Cheshire Cat]] a spot in their alliance. However, the Cheshire Cat refused, leaving the group to debate whether he should be eliminated or not.{{storylink|Episode 13: Keyhole}}}}

Pete searches [[Agrabah]], shortly after the [[Antlion]]-induced sandstorms end, to find the Cave of Wonders; inside is Jafar's lamp. He encounters [[Roxas]] and [[Xion]] when they investigate the cave, believing they want the lamp and attacks. Their scuffle causes a cave-in, scaring off Pete.

Captain Hook comes across treasure maps, which only lead him to buried junk and Heartless. Unknown to him, the maps are fakes created by Pete, who is trying to create a powerful Heartless from his greed. After the defeat of [[Ruler of the Sky]], Pete realizes how much the [[Organization]] is interfering with the Villains' plans.

Sora and Riku's respective memories of Hades, Jafar, Oogie Boogie, Ursula, Captain Hook, and Maleficent are given life within the recreations of their respective worlds. When Sora encounters them, they are involved with plots that deal with memory, either directly or indirectly. [[DiZ]]  tampers with the recreations he gives to Riku, so that only the Villains and boss Heartless like [[Trickmaster]] and [[Parasite Cage]] appear. <ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories''', '''D Report:''' "It appeared as a token if the undeniable darkness within Riku's heart."</ref>

The machinations of the Villains, along with their failure and respective fates are known to the Organization. Only Maleficent is specifically mentioned in conversation, due to the brief presence of her copy that was slain by Riku.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories''', '''Vexen:''' '''Don't be absurd. The witch is gone!'''</ref>

Pete attempts to bring Hades back into the fold, but he is more focused on defeating Hercules. Having failed to find Jafar's lamp, along with Oogie and Ursula gone, Pete returns to Maleficent without any additional allies.

<ref>'''Maleficent:''' And where is everyone else?/ '''Pete:''' Beats me. They musta had some other matters to deal with./ '''Maleficent:''' "Matters"? You mean they have more important affairs to attend to than my return?</ref> After Pete explains the numerous setbacks to the Villains caused by Sora and the Organization, a furious Maleficent dismisses him. However, she quickly takes him back when he conjures a portal to the past. They attempt to turn [[Disney Castle]] into the Villains' new base by destroying the [[Cornerstone of Light]] in the past, but Sora seals their portal.

Undeterred, they attempt to rebuild their forces by recruiting new members like [[Barbossa]] and [[Scar]], while trying to turn Jafar into a Heartless and bring back Oogie Boogie. However, Barbossa, Oogie, and Scar meet their demise, and Jafar is sealed away, leaving the Villains a duo.

Maleficent and Pete launch a full-scale war to retake Hollow Bastion castle after the [[MCP]] causes some destruction. However, the Organization sends [[Nobodies]] to swat them back. Pete flees, while Maleficent confronts [[Saïx]] on the Organization's claim on Kingdom Hearts; however, she forced to retreat when [[Dusk]]s overpower her. The Organization takes control of the Heartless from the Villains, ending the battle.

Maleficent and Pete break into [[The Castle That Never Was]], intending to make it their new base. After Sora's team take down [[Xigbar]], [[Luxord]], and Saïx, a swarm of Heartless attack the castle, attracted by the heart shower from the broken Kingdom Hearts. Maleficent and Pete offer to take care of the Heartless if they destroy [[Xemnas]]; they would take the castle afterward.

Data versions of Hades and Jafar appear in their respective worlds. Hades takes advantage of the [[Blox]] warping his world into a labyrinth, sending [[Cloud]] after [[Hercules]], but both team up with Data-Sora to slay [[Cerberus]], the source of the Blox and knock Hades for a loop. Jafar is granted a copy of [[Genie]]'s lamp by the real Pete, granting him unlimited power. However, Data-Sora traps him inside the very lamp that empowered him.

Taking advantage of the King, [[Donald]], and [[Goofy]]'s absence from [[Disney Castle]] to oversee the [[Mark of Mastery Exam]] at [[Mysterious Tower|Yen Sid's tower]], Maleficent takes Queen Minnie hostage. She sends Minnie's crown with her raven, [[Diablo]], along with a letter demanding the King return.  

[[File:The Worlds' Data 04 KH3D.png|thumb|Maleficent and Pete attempt to take Minnie hostage.]]  

During a standoff in the library, Maleficent reveals Xehanort once told her of other worlds and the seven hearts of pure [[light]] that would enable her to rule them. However, due to the complexity of the worlds, Maleficent decides to take a different approach, using the worlds' data; Pete explains they want the datascape. When Mickey refuses to yield, she attempts to attack him with her magic. However, the magical flames are blocked by one of [[Lea]]'s Chakrams, while the other surprises Pete and allows Minnie to escape. With her hostage gone, Maleficent declares she will take the data someday before retreating with Pete.

Maleficent and Pete begin searching for the [[Black Box]], which she believes holds the [[Book of Prophecies]]. Their search brings them to [[Olympus]], where a miffed Hades tells them he no longer wants to be part of the Villains. However, he does direct them to Pandora's Box<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts III''''', '''Maleficent:''' "All I need to know is there is a distinctive black box somewhere in this world." / '''Hades:''' "Let's see. Black box. Black box. Wait, don't tell me. You're after the one Zeus hid on Earth?" / '''Maleficent:''' "Perhaps. If so, where may I find it?"</ref> buried in Thebes' garden, believing it to be the box they're after; however, it's not.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts III''''', '''Pete:''' "Yessiree! This has got to be that Pandora's Box he was talking about." / '''Maleficent:''' "Leave it." / '''Pete:''' "After all that hard work?" / '''Maleficent:''' "That is not the box I seek."</ref>

 

Concluding that the [[Real Organization XIII]] must also be looking for the Black Box, Maleficent and Pete begin following them around the worlds. <ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts III''''', '''Maleficent:''' "Come with me." / '''Pete:''' "Where to? Those bozos ain't gonna help us. Sora's sure not lookin' for the box." / '''Maleficent:''' "Who said anything about following them?" </ref> Getting spotted in [[San Fransokyo]], Maleficent pays no mind to [[Dark Riku]]'s warnings about overstepping her bounds and getting consumed by [[darkness]] again.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts III''''', '''Dark Riku:''' "Why are you snooping around?" / '''Maleficent:''' "That would be none of your concern." / '''Dark Riku:''' "Overstep, and darkness will consume you again." / '''Maleficent:''' "What an interesting thing to say. I shall do anything I please. As should you." / '''Dark Riku:''' "Oh. I intend to."</ref> The eve of the next [[Keyblade War]], Maleficent decides to end the search; the box does not exist, yet.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts III''''', '''Maleficent:''' "You cannot find the unfindable; the box does not exist. [···] I mean the box does not exist ''yet''. A Keyblade War is upon us. Light and Darkness are destined to clash. All we have to do is wait for that fated moment. No matter who wins, the box will be revealed."</ref>

After the war, Maleficent and Pete arrive at the [[Keyblade Graveyard]]. There, they observe Xigbar with the Black Box meet four of the [[foreteller]]s. Not wishing to risk it, the Villains retreat.

Jafar KHREC.png|[[Jafar]]<br>{{KH}}{{KHII}}{{KHc}}

Oogie Boogie KHII.png|[[Oogie Boogie]]<br>{{KH}}{{KHII}}

Captain Hook KH.png|[[Captain Hook]]<br>{{KH}}

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