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The World That Never Was: Difference between revisions

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{{Game|KH2|FM2|358|DDD|DHD|KH3|MOM}}
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{{About|the Dark City and the World That Never Was as a whole|the castle above the world|Castle That Never Was}}
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'''The World That Never Was''' is a [[world]] featured in ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', ''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]'', and ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''.
'''The World That Never Was''' is a [[world]] featured in ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', ''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]'', and ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''.


The world of [[Organization XIII]], it is home to a seemingly endless supply of [[Heartless]] and [[Nobody|Nobodies]]. The Heartless seem to spawn more here due to how close The World That Never Was is to the darkness of [[Kingdom Hearts]]. The Organization controls the world from the [[Castle That Never Was]], a massive fortress that floats weightlessly over the expansive '''Dark City'''.  
The world of [[Organization XIII]], it is home to a seemingly endless supply of [[Heartless]] and [[Nobody|Nobodies]]. The Heartless seem to spawn more here due to how close The World That Never Was is to the darkness of [[Kingdom Hearts]]. The Organization rules the city below from their massive castle.


==Settings and Areas==
==Settings and Areas==
===''Kingdom Hearts II'' and ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''===
===''Kingdom Hearts II''===
[[File:Memory's Skyscraper (Render) KHII.png|thumb|120px|left|The Memory's Skyscraper.]]
The World That Never Was is a world located in the [[Realm Between]], and serves as Organization XIII's stronghold. It's separated into two parts, the expansive Dark City filled with vacant buildings and neon signs, and the contrasting white and massive {{nihongo|'''{{a|Castle That Never Was}}'''|存在しなかった城|Sonzai Shinakatta Shiro}} which floats weightlessly above the city, with [[Kingdom Hearts]] at its peak.
The {{nihongo|'''{{a|Alley to Between}}'''|狭間につながる路地|Hazama ni Tsunagaru Roji}} hides a portal to [[Betwixt and Between]]. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey used this portal to get into the world, thanks to Axel's sacrifice. The alley way connects to the main route that leads to the Castle That Never Was. The first [[Save Point]] of the world can be found here.
 
[[File:Castle That Never Was (Art).png|thumb|180px|left|Artwork of The World That Never Was.]]
Arriving from the [[Betwixt and Between]], Sora and party find themselves at the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Alley to Between}}'''|狭間につながる路地|Hazama ni Tsunagaru Roji}}, where the first [[save point]] of the world can be found. Exiting the alley leads to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Fragment Crossing}}'''|断片を紡ぐ道|Danpen o Tsumugu Michi|lit. "Fragment-Spinning Road"}}, a long series of winding streets. Hordes of [[Shadow]]s appear here, but in ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'', they're replaced with Nobodies. Following the Fragment Crossing is the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Memory's Skyscraper}}'''|記憶の摩天楼|Kioku no Matenrō}}, an imposingly tall building - filled with television screens at the top - which presides over the city. In the right corner of the plaza is a wrecked truck, flipped on its side, while in the left corner is a road leading up to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Brink of Despair}}'''|絶望を望む断崖|Zetsubō o Nozomu Dangai|lit. "Cliff Overlooking Despair"}}. A save point can be found there near the edge of a gigantic crater, in which the world's castle hovers above.
 
Through a path created by the Keyblade, the castle can be entered at its bottom floor, named {{nihongo|'''{{a|Nothing's Call}}'''|虚無への誘い|Kyomu e no Sasoi|lit. "Introduction to Nothingness"}}. From here the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Crooked Ascension}}'''|歪みを貫く柱|Yugami no Tsuranuku Hashira|lit. "Pillar Piercing Distortion"}} is entered, which is a giant elevator that'll transport the group up to {{nihongo|'''{{a|Twilight's View}}'''|黄昏から望む場所|Tasogare kara Nozomu Basho}}, which is a small stairway located inside a huge and hollow part of the castle. The bottom exit leads to a very long tunnel way to the outside of the tower, and the top exit leads to the mini tower towards the top. Massive windows in the shape of the Nobody insignia are found here, with a great view of the city outside. Below is what looks like an endless pit. Sora can meet a [[moogle]] here and [[synthesize]] new items before heading to the next part of the castle. Following Twilight's View is the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Hall of Empty Melodies}}'''|虚ろなる旋律の空間|Utsuro-naru Senritsu no Kūkan}}, which is composed of a large platform over an indefinite abyss, with a recessed second floor accessible via Naught's Skyway and multiple high balconies overlooking the room. The domed glass ceiling provides a view of the castle's highest tower. This is also where [[Xigbar]] is fought and defeated. The aforementioned {{nihongo|'''{{a|Naught's Skyway}}'''|虚空を辿る道|Kokū o Tadoru Michi|lit. "Road Following Empty Space"}} is what connects the Hall of Empty Melodies' two floors, and is a small outside path in a high section of the castle. It overlooks the eerie red-tinged clouds of the city far below.


Exiting the alley leads to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Fragment Crossing}}'''|断片を紡ぐ道|Danpen o Tsumugu Michi|lit. "Fragment-Spinning Road"}}, a long series of winding streets that lead to Memory's Skyscraper. It is full of neon signs attached to vacant buildings as well as a power plant which seems to power some or all of the city. Many Shadow Heartless are here, but in ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'', they are eventually replaced with Nobodies. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey took this route on their way to the [[Castle That Never Was]]. [[Pluto]] also had an encounter with Axel here.
[[File:Hall of Empty Melodies (Art).png|thumb|right|200px|Artwork of the Hall of Empty Melodies.]]
Continuing on from Hall of Empty Melodies' second floor leads to {{nihongo|'''{{a|Proof of Existence}}'''|存在の証|Sonzai no Akashi}}, a smaller area with white, pink, and light-blue pipes shaped like thorns piercing out from the room's exit. It initially contained twelve portals, though nine of them have been destroyed, making the area almost resemble a graveyard instead. The portals are arranged by the rank of each member from left to right then top to bottom, with digital panels on the floor in front of the portals, acting as epitaphs depicting the member's title and weapon. Demyx's portal is incorrectly numbered as XI instead of IX. The digital panels indicated whether a member is still alive or not, with Roxas's panel, in the end, being the only one which remains active as he's a part of Sora. Luxord's portal leads to {{nihongo|'''{{a|Havoc's Divide}}'''|混沌の狭間|Konton no Hazama|lit. "Valley of Disorder"}}, a downwards sloped area with a steep drop at the end, situated on a tower next to the main one, but cannot be seen from afar. The next portal leads to {{nihongo|'''{{a|Addled Impasse}}'''|惑わしの空間|Madowashi no Kūkan|lit. "Space of Deception"}}, a large chamber with a clear view of the Kingdom Hearts moon, and appears to be where Saïx spends a large amount of his time. Defeating Luxord and Saïx allows access to {{nihongo|'''{{a|Naught's Approach}}'''|虚空を目指す道|Kokū o Mezasu Michi|lit. "Road Heading Towards Empty Space"}}, an exterior passage which is located on the outside of the main tower. Eerie red and blue vapors leak out from the castle's next room, and above the tower, the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Ruin and Creation's Passage}}'''|破壊と創造の回廊|Hakai to Sōzō no Kairō}}, which is one of the biggest areas within the castle, with several platforms floating in the air. Invisible paths can be used to reach each platform and eventually navigate towards the exit. The room is filled with swirling red and blue smoke, with some collecting in a spiral at the top of the chamber. There are also numerous windows at the sides of the room, and neon lime colored bars of light hanging across the air.


Following the Fragment Crossing is {{nihongo|'''{{a|Memory's Skyscraper}}'''|記憶の摩天楼|Kioku no Matenrō}}, an imposingly tall building that presides over Dark City, in a plaza near the cliffs surrounding the [[Castle That Never Was]]. At its feet lies a plaza staircase leading to glass doors, and on its face is a massive television screen, which displays memories of those nearby in ''[[Another side, Another story...]]''. In the corner of the plaza is a wrecked truck, flipped on its side. During his battle with Xemnas, Sora was pulled into an area that included Memory's Skyscraper, called [[Memory's Contortion]], in a battle similar to the one Roxas and Riku had. In ''Dream Drop Distance'', Memory's Skyscraper is accessible only for Riku. However, this is where Sora first landed when he dived into this world before being put to sleep.
[[File:Where Nothing Gathers.png|thumb|180px|left|Where Nothing Gathers is the Organization's meeting room.]]
Deep inside the castle is also the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Soundless Prison}}'''|無音の牢獄|Muon no Rōgoku}}, a small and purple cell used by [[Saïx]] to imprison [[Kairi]] and [[Pluto]]. The area only appears in cutscene. Another cutscene exclusive area is {{nihongo|'''{{a|Where Nothing Gathers}}'''|虚無が集う場所|Kyomu ga Tsudou Basho}}, a circular room containing throne-like chairs ranging in height, where the members of Organization XIII gather to discuss developments, and for Xemnas to give out orders. There are thirteen throne-like pillars for each of the members, with Xemnas' chair being the tallest one.


The left road behind Memory's Skyscraper leads to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Brink of Despair}}'''|絶望を望む断崖|Zetsubō o Nozomu Dangai|lit. "Cliff Overlooking Despair"}}, a cliff with a clear view of the hovering Castle That Never Was. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey arrive here and access the castle via a path using the Keyblade. It has the second Save Point of this world in ''Kingdom Hearts II''.
At the end of the Ruin and Creation's Passage is a pathway leading to the top of the castle, the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Altar of Naught}}'''|虚空の祭壇|Kokū no Saidan|lit. "Altar of Empty Space"}}. The altar is a giant tower peering out of castle, with Kingdom Hearts radiating in front of it. The Dark City below is impossible to see from here due to all the swirling smoke leaking from previous area. During his first fight against Xemnas, Sora is transported to {{nihongo|'''{{a|Memory's Contortion}}'''|記憶の歪み|Kioku no Yugami}}, which is platform in the middle of nowhere with a strange and wavering illusion of the Memory's Skyscraper. After Sora returns to the Altar of Naught, Xemnas summons a huge door which leads to Kingdom Hearts.


{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
Entering Kingdom Hearts leads the party to The World of Nothing. The first area they arrive at is called {{nihongo|'''{{a|The World of Nothing—End's Beginning}}'''|ビル街|Biru Gai|lit. "Building District"}}, which is a passageway resembling the Dark City where skyscrapers suddenly erupt from the ground in order to repel Sora. Powering through a tunnel at the end leads to the next area where Xemnas' colossal [[Game:Xemnas|Dragon Ship]] can be seen from the distance. From here, Sora can ascend the falling skyscrapers, eventually leading him to the Dragon Ship's massive cannons at {{nihongo|'''{{a|The World of Nothing—Twin Cannons}}'''|ユニット砲身部|Yunitto Hōshin-bu|lit. "Unit Gun Barrel Area"}}. Once the cannons are destroyed, Sora swings his way up to the ship's Energy Core, which is kept in a room appropriately named {{nihongo|'''{{a|The World of Nothing—Energy Core}}'''|エネルギーコア前|Enerugī Koa Mae|lit. "Energy Core Front"}}. After disabling the ship's energy core, he ascends to {{nihongo|'''{{a|The World of Nothing—Xemnas's Throne Room}}'''|ゼムナス(ドラゴン)頭部|Zemunasu (Doragon) Tōbu|lit. "Xemnas (Dragon) Head"}}, where Xemnas sits in his [[Keyblade Armor]], enthroned in a chamber atop the Dragon Ship's head, equipped with several of the deceased Organization members' weapons.
!Area Map in ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''
 
|-
Sora and Riku battle Xemnas's Dragon Ship from their [[Sidecar Glider]] in the {{nihongo|'''Sky'''|空中|Kūchū}}. Afterwards, they face Xemnas once more in his Keyblade Armor, in an area called {{nihongo|'''Within Xemnas (Dragon)'s Barrier'''|ゼムナス(ドラゴン)の結界内|Zemunasu (Doragon) no Kekkai-nai}}
|
 
[[File:Minimap (The World That Never Was) KHD.png|404px]]
After completely destroying the gigantic Nobody, Sora and Riku find themselves inside a nearly-empty void of shifting greys and whites, the {{nihongo|'''{{a|World of Nothing}}'''|謎の空間最奥部|Nazo no Kūkan Saiō-bu|lit. "Innermost Area of the Mysterious Space"}}, where Xemnas is fought for the last time.
|}
{{-|left}}


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[[File:Minimap (Dark City) TWTNW KHII.png|500px]]
[[File:Minimap (Dark City) TWTNW KHII.png|500px]]
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====Castle That Never Was====
===''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''===
{{main|Castle That Never Was}}
[[File:Grey Area KHD.png|thumb|right|200px|Roxas in the Grey Area.]]
The {{nihongo|'''Castle That Never Was'''|存在しなかった城|Sonzai Shinakatta Shiro}} is an enormous white castle that floats above the city, dominating its skyline. It is decorated all over with Nobody symbols. It serves as Organization XIII's main base of operations.
In ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', The World That Never Was serves as the game's hub world. The world's main room is the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Grey Area}}'''|闇と光を紡ぐ庭|Yami to Hikari o Tsumugu Niwa|lit. "Courtyard Interweaving Darkness and Light"}}, which serves as a lounge for the Organization's members, as well as the place where they'll receive their mission briefings from [[Saïx]]. The room is wedge-shaped with one wall being just a giant window, out of which [[Kingdom Hearts]] can eventually be seen floating in the distance. The room has couches and tables spread around it, and Organization members are often seen lounging about between missions. There is also a [[moogle]] here wearing a [[Black Coat]], whom offers [[Roxas]] to synthesize panels as well as using the gained heart points to shop.
 
[[File:Quietude 01 KHD.png|thumb|225px|left|Xion using the Organization's computer.]]
The castle is shown to have a large computer room which seems to contain information regarding all the various Organization XIII related projects, including the [[Replica Program]] and [[Castle Oblivion]]. The castle also contains a library filled with literature on various subjects. In here, Axel finds a book titled "The Truth about Naminé," authored by Vexen. All of the members have individual bedrooms across the castle, which are white with metal-like walls and lots of pipes across them. There's a single bed with the headboard in the shape of the Nobodies' symbol, and a window showing the heart-shaped moon of Kingdom Hearts. The Organization often gather at the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Round Room}}'''|円卓|Entaku|lit. "Round Table"}}<ref>'''''[[Roxas's Diary#Day 7: Entry 1|Roxas's Diary, Day 7: Entry 1]]''''': "Today they told us to go to the Round Room, where we met our new member, No. XIV."</ref> to discuss plans and other developments. Each member has a throne-like chair at top of a pillar here, except for Xion. These pillars can move up or down at the user's, or at the leader's will<!--The possibility of the thrones changing heights is also seen in ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]'', when the throne where Sora's body is sitting lifts up.-->, though they all keep their thrones below Xemnas out of respect.<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ Ultimania]]''''', pg. 502; '''Interviewer''': "During the meetings, the members of Organization XIII are sitting in chairs. Is the height of these chairs determined by things like their skills and abilities?" / ''' Tetsuya Nomura''': "No, the height of the chairs is not fixated, they move. That is to say, the height is up to each person. The leader, Xemnas, is always the highest and to be at the same height as him would have a pretty bad feeling, so the other members wouldn't do that." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/New-Nomura-Interview-Hoards-of-new-Information-388 Translation via TheWertle and Xaldin].</ref><!--explain as out-of-universe:  Mission Mode of 358/2 Days shows that the thrones change height based on how well the members of the Organization do on missions.--> The remaining members also gather at the '''Altar of Naught''' on the ninety-third day, to watch as Kingdom Hearts finally takes form.


====The World of Nothing====
The {{nihongo|'''{{a|Hall of Empty Melodies}}'''|虚ろなる旋律の空間|Utsuro-naru Senritsu no Kūkan}} is accessed during a few of the missions, and serve as a training ground for Roxas. When Roxas decides to leave the Organization he'll begins his escape at top of the second floor located here, and quickly reaches the lower floor by running through {{nihongo|'''{{a|Naught's Skyway}}'''|虚空を辿る道|Kokū o Tadoru Michi|lit. "Road Following Empty Space"}}. Leaving the hall Roxas briefly enters {{nihongo|'''{{a|Twilight's View}}'''|黄昏から望む場所|Tasogare kara Nozomu Basho}} before entering the elevator at {{nihongo|'''{{a|Crooked Ascension}}'''|歪みを貫く柱|Yugami no Tsuranuku Hashira|lit. "Pillar Piercing Distortion"}}. Taking the elevator to the bottom takes Roxas to {{nihongo|'''{{a|Nothing's Call}}'''|虚無への誘い|Kyomu e no Sasoi|lit. "Introduction to Nothingness"}}, where he battles Saïx before finally making his escape.
[[File:In the Writhing City 01 KHII.png|thumb|right|200px|Sora and the others standing in the door leading to The World of Nothing.]]
After Xemnas's first defeat within Memory's Contortion, he flees into his Kingdom Hearts. However, a door appears that leads Sora and his friends within that Kingdom Hearts to an area named "The World of Nothing"<!--, where the Dark City stretches to the horizon and a black hole sits in the sky while a gigantic dragon-shaped Nobody patrols the area.


are the endless Dark City and the World of Nothing visible from outside the door?-->. The first area inside the door is '''{{a|The World of Nothing—End's Beginning}}''', a passageway resembling the Dark City where skyscrapers suddenly erupt from the ground in order to repel Sora. A strange black-and-white tunnel leads from this room to a platform looking out on the gigantic Nobody that Xemnas is riding<!--what is this room named?-->. From there, Sora can climb falling skyscrapers to walkways surrounding the lower cannons of the Nobody, '''{{a|The World of Nothing—Twin Cannons}}'''. Once he destroys those, Sora swings his way up to the ship's Energy Core, which is kept in a room appropriately named '''{{a|The World of Nothing—Energy Core}}'''. After disabling the ship's energy core<!--which does what, exactly?-->, he makes it up '''{{a|The World of Nothing—Xemnas's Throne Room}}''', where Xemnas sits in his [[Keyblade Armor]], enthroned atop the dragon Nobody's head in a chamber equipped with the weapons of the defeated Organization members.<!--describe cast back into space portion: What is that room called? What is Sidecar portion called?--> After completely destroying the gigantic Nobody, Sora and Riku are left in {{nihongo|'''{{a|The World of Nothing}}'''|虚無の世界|Kyomu no Sekai}}, a nearly-empty void of shifting greys and whites where Xemnas makes his last attempt to destroy them. He fails, however, and the boys are deposited at the '''[[Dark Margin]]'''.
When Roxas returns to face Xemnas, he arrives at the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Fragment Crossing}}'''|断片を紡ぐ道|Danpen o Tsumugu Michi|lit. "Fragment-Spinning Road"}}, where he's attacked by a horde of [[Neoshadow]]s. He eventually makes it to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Memory's Skyscraper}}'''|記憶の摩天楼|Kioku no Matenrō}}, where he's confronted by Riku.
 
{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
!Area Map in ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''
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[[File:Minimap (The World That Never Was) KHD.png|404px]]
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===''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''===
===''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''===
In ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'', only Memory's Skyscraper, the Brink of Despair, and the real Castle That Never Was are visited in the realm between. Sora visits a dream of a dream of the Dark City of The World that Never Was, which appears more contorted and ethereal than the city initially appeared in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', similar to the World of Nothing within Kingdom Hearts, while Riku visits a dream of the Castle That Never Was.  Whether or not the locations they visit exist in the real world version of the world is not yet known.
In ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'', only Memory's Skyscraper, the Brink of Despair, and the real Castle That Never Was are visited in the Realm Between, while the rest of the areas appear within a dream version of the world. The dream version of The World that Never Was' Dark City appears a lot more contorted and ethereal than the city initially appeared in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', much similar to The World of Nothing within Kingdom Hearts, while the Castle That Never Was's areas seem to be located at specific parts of the actual castle.


====Side:Sora====
[[File:Contorted City KH3D.png|thumb|right|225px|Buildings sliced by Sora at the Contorted City area.]]
The {{nihongo|'''{{a|Avenue to Dreams}}'''|夢境の街路|Yumesakai no Gairo}} is a large urban area beginning with an enclosed alley featuring a save point and a Moogle hologram. Up a long flight of stairs lies a piece of destroyed building, blocking the path into the city that must be scaled to advance. Beyond is an area of twisting alleys surrounded by skyscrapers that can be scaled with [[Flowmotion]]. Several buildings are adorned in blue stripes with a geometric pattern and when stood upon, they rapidly elevate, throwing Sora into the air. Another building has similar white stripes and can be destroyed by using a [[Reality Shift]]. Perhaps the most notable feature of this area is a stream of blue-green mist that falls from the roof of a massive tower extremely similar to Memory's Skyscraper and flows through the streets. Beyond this tower, the pavement is revealed to be floating and broken, away from the rest of the city and leads off into a more urban area.
Sora first arrives at the Memory Skyscraper, but is quickly sent to sleep and eventually wake up at the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Avenue to Dreams}}'''|夢境の街路|Yumesakai no Gairo}}. The place is a large urban area beginning with an enclosed alley featuring a save point and a Moogle Shop hologram. Up a long flight of stairs lies a piece of a destroyed building, blocking the path into the city that must be scaled to advance. Beyond is an area of twisting alleys surrounded by skyscrapers that can be scaled with [[Flowmotion]]. Several buildings are adorned in blue stripes with a geometric pattern and when stood upon, they rapidly elevate, throwing Sora into the air. Perhaps the most notable feature of this area is a stream of blue-green mist that falls from the roof of a massive tower extremely similar to the Memory's Skyscraper. The Castle That Never Was can be seen from this area, but instead of floating above a giant crater, it floats above several tall buildings. The next area is the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Contorted City}}'''|歪みに満ちた街|Yugami ni Michita Machi|lit. "City Filled with Distortion"}}, which seems to emerge from a strange canyon. The area is similar to the previous one, though many of the buildings float of their own accord. Beyond several overturned buildings, a path of broken pavement and destroyed buildings form an upward spiral, and neon strips and signs on the buildings can be traversed with Flowmotion. Several floating buildings marked with red symbols will hurtle towards Sora and must be destroyed with [[Reality Shift]] to avoid damage. Unlike the previous area, the castle cannot be seen from here. Pressing on leads to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Nightmarish Abyss}}'''|凶夢の深淵|Kyōmu no Shin'en}} which features a large open plaza surrounded by three skyscrapers, with a crashed truck blocking access to a side-street. The fourth side drops off to an abyss that is spanned by floating skyscrapers laid on their sides, forming a mostly straight path between two cliffs, and leads toward what appears to be the bottom of the Castle That Never Was seen from the left side, with the tower of the Verge of Chaos visible from down there. The largest floating building in the area is where Sora fights Xemnas.


The Avenue to Dreams directly leads to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Contorted City}}'''|歪みに満ちた街|Yugami ni Michita Machi|lit. "City Filled with Distortion"}}, which seems to emerge from a canyon of strange blue-green rock. This area does not have a save point. Much of the architecture here is coated in blue-green mist. Many buildings float of their own accord, attached to chunks of rock separate from the road, and several shake and swing. The blue markings appear again on the shaking section that is able to launch Sora skyward. Beyond several overturned buildings, a path of broken pavement and destroyed buildings forms an upward spiral. Neon strips and signs on the buildings can be traversed with Flowmotion. In several places, floating buildings marked with red symbols will hurtle toward Sora and must be destroyed with a Reality Shift or they will cause damage.
[[File:Walk of Delusions KH3D.png|thumb|left|225px|The Walk of Delusions after destroying the devices.]]
Riku arrives at the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Delusive Beginning}}'''|幻想のはじまり|Gensō no Hajimari}}, the lowest known area of the Castle That Never Was, situated just inside the large spinning ring at the base of the castle. It is comprised of four hallways connecting to a circular central chamber, two connecting at the ground floor, two high above. In the central chamber rests an energy beam housed in an impenetrable shield that'll damage Riku; destroying it is required in order to access the top hallways, which are currently closed by translucid walls. Destroying the energy beam requires to go inside the shield, which can be accessed through the hallway on the left leading to a teleport hole and inside said shield. Once shut down, the shield disappears and it creates a walkway to the upper levels with one hallway leading to an open space yard, with a red wall that cannot be climbed with Flowmotion; instead, Riku must use the platforms that appear to go up and open the treasure chests, while avoiding the eventual lasers that are fired if within range. The other hallway leads to the next area, that is the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Walk of Delusions}}'''|幻惑の歩廊|Genwaku no Horō|lit. "Gallery of Entrancement"}}, which initially appears as a shifting maze. Scattered throughout the maze are devices which can be destroyed with a Reality Shift. Once disabled, the layout of the area changes, with new pathways opening up leading to the next device. Once three devices have been destroyed, the maze disappears entirely and reveals the area to be a long, straight bridge leading from the outer edge of the castle to the castle itself, across the open crater beneath it.


The {{nihongo|'''{{a|Nightmarish Abyss}}'''|凶夢の深淵|Kyōmu no Shin'en}} features a large open plaza surrounded on three sides by skyscrapers, with a crashed truck (identical to the one near Memory's Skyscraper) blocking access to a side-street. The fourth side drops off to an abyss that is spanned by floating skyscrapers laid on their sides, forming a mostly straight path between two cliff faces and leading toward what appears to be Memory's Skyscraper and the Castle That Never Was. Several neon strips appear here that can be traversed through Flowmotion, as in the Contorted City area.
Passing through the Walk of Delusions lead to {{nihongo|'''{{a|Fact within Fiction}}'''|虚実を紡ぐ回廊|Kyojitsu o Tsumugu Kairō|lit. "Corridor Spinning Fact and Fiction"}}, a large open-air level at the top of the castle's spinning ring, giving a view of the mechanism that spins it. It consists of several high-walled passages and thick metal pipes. Along one passage, beams of purple energy move back and forth that damage any enemy who crosses them. Near the end of the area is a large circular platform where many enemies spawn. After a flight of stairs, there is a lift that'll take Riku to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Verge of Chaos}}'''|混沌を見下ろす場所|Konton o Miorosu Basho|lit. "Place Overlooking Chaos"}}. The area is primarily a large and slightly curved balcony. By using Flowmotion Riku can traverse the massive pipes attached to the walls, which will eventually take him through several smaller balconies. At the last balcony is a narrow bridge connecting to a multi-turreted tower, where Riku fights the [[Anti Black Coat]] Nightmare. The appearance of the ground of the arena is identical to that of the small pillar-shaped platform in the middle of Where Nothing Gathers. This tower can be seen from afar, and is located on the castle's left side.  


====Side:Riku====
After defeating Anti Black Coat, Riku will be summoned by [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness]] to {{nihongo|'''{{a|Darkness's Call}}'''|闇への誘い|Yami e no Sasoi|lit. "Invitation to Darkness"}} to battle. The area is a dark arena with a spiraling violet vortex below, and streams of darkness rising around the central area. A platform may appear if Riku uses Reality Shift on Ansem. After the first battle, Riku is further brought to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Darkest End}}'''|闇の果て|Yami no Hate|lit. "Edge of Darkness"}}, which is a long corridor-like arena with huge dark pillars on each side, resembling the ones found in the [[Realm of Darkness]]. At the end of the room is a violet spiral where Ansem resides within a transformed [[Dark Figure]]. During their second battle, Ansem can manipulate the space within the area at will, by either stretching it to pull his enemies to the back or by compressing it to pull them right in front of him. Wherever the areas are located in the World that Never Was is unknown.
{{see also|Castle That Never Was#Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance|l1=Castle That Never Was}}
{{nihongo|'''{{a|Darkness's Call}}'''|闇への誘い|Yami e no Sasoi|lit. "Invitation to Darkness"}} is an arena-shaped area with a spiraling violet vortex below. Streams of darkness rise around the central area. This is where Riku fights [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness]] the first time during his Mark of Mastery exam. A platform may appear in the area if Riku uses Reality Shift on Ansem.


{{nihongo|'''{{a|Darkest End}}'''|闇の果て|Yami no Hate|lit. "Edge of Darkness"}} is a long arena that has huge dark pillars that resemble the ones found in the [[Realm of Darkness]] and a violet spiral in front of the place. In the back, there is a bottomless abyss. This is the place where Riku fights [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness]] in his second form.
[[File:Power Over Time 01 KH3D.png|thumb|right|225px|The Sanctum of Time arena where Young Xehanort transports Riku to battle.]]
{{-}}
After the battles against Ansem, Riku arrives back in the real The World That Never Was at the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Memory's Skyscraper}}'''|記憶の摩天楼|Kioku no Matenrō}}. From here the [[Link Portal]] is the only way to for him go to the World Map, that is Sora's dreams. Once Sora has defeated Xemnas, Riku can press onwards to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Brink of Despair}}'''|絶望を望む断崖|lit. "Cliff of Despair's Desire"}}, where he must activate [[Dreamline]] between his [[Komory Bat]] and Sora's [[Meow Wow]] to enter the real Castle That Never Was. Riku then finds himself at the '''Where Nothing Gathers''', before he's attacked by [[Young Xehanort]], who pulls him away to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Sanctum of Time}}'''|時の祭壇|Toki no Saidan|lit. "Altar of Time"}}. The sanctum is a large circular arena with several cogs and clockwork devices integrated below the floor as well as atop pillars on either side of the battlefield, and is surrounded by six different colored hourglasses. The area as a whole resembles a fractured {{w|Sundial#Universal equinoctial ring dial|ring dial}}. Peculiarly, at certain times during battle, the poles sticking out of the ground cannot have Flowmotion used on them. Beneath the glass is a red Nobody insignia.
{{-|left}}


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[[File:Minimap (Dark City) TWTNW KHDDD.png|404px]]
[[File:Minimap (Dark City) TWTNW KHDDD.png|300px]]
[[File:Minimap (Castle That Never Was) TWTNW KHDDD.png|404px]]
[[File:Minimap (Castle That Never Was) TWTNW KHDDD.png|250px]]
|}
|}
{{-}}


==Story==
==Story==
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===''Kingdom Hearts II''===
===''Kingdom Hearts II''===
[[File:In the Writhing City 01 KHII.png|thumb|225px|left|Sora and his friends standing at the entrance to The World of Nothing, ready to fight Xemnas.]]
Sora arrives in the Dark City, with the help of the Organization's traitor, Axel. Fighting their way through large numbers of Heartless, [[Sora]], [[Donald Duck|Donald]], [[Goofy]], and [[Mickey Mouse|King Mickey]] reach the center of the city, Memory's Skyscraper. Here, [[Samurai]] Nobodies materialize in front of Goofy and Donald. Roxas then appears, challenging Sora to a fight. The two disappear to duel on the [[Dive to the Heart]]. Sora defeats Roxas, who departs, calling Sora "a good other."
Sora arrives in the Dark City, with the help of the Organization's traitor, Axel. Fighting their way through large numbers of Heartless, [[Sora]], [[Donald Duck|Donald]], [[Goofy]], and [[Mickey Mouse|King Mickey]] reach the center of the city, Memory's Skyscraper. Here, [[Samurai]] Nobodies materialize in front of Goofy and Donald. Roxas then appears, challenging Sora to a fight. The two disappear to duel on the [[Dive to the Heart]]. Sora defeats Roxas, who departs, calling Sora "a good other."


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During the extensive final battle with Xemnas, much of the Dark City and the Castle That Never Was is destroyed. Chunks of building are ripped up and thrown at Sora and Riku, and the main tower collapses off the castle. What ultimately happens to The World That Never Was following Xemnas's defeat remains unknown.
During the extensive final battle with Xemnas, much of the Dark City and the Castle That Never Was is destroyed. Chunks of building are ripped up and thrown at Sora and Riku, and the main tower collapses off the castle. What ultimately happens to The World That Never Was following Xemnas's defeat remains unknown.
{{-}}


===''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''===
===''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''===
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The still-dreaming Sora sees illusions of Kairi, Riku, Aqua, and Terra, while Sora takes on Ventus's appearance. Upon the dream's end, Sora asks Xigbar whether everything he had seen was implanted by the Organization. Xigbar clarifies that the visions were a dream, as it was impossible for the Organization to insert false memories and visions into his head. Xigbar then leaves Sora to battle with Xemnas, whom Sora defeats. Sora proceeds to collapse from exhaustion, and is then consumed in darkness. Young Xehanort appears and reveals his plan to turn Sora into the thirteenth member of the true Organization. Sora falls unconscious shortly after and is then taken to Where Nothing Gathers.
The still-dreaming Sora sees illusions of Kairi, Riku, Aqua, and Terra, while Sora takes on Ventus's appearance. Upon the dream's end, Sora asks Xigbar whether everything he had seen was implanted by the Organization. Xigbar clarifies that the visions were a dream, as it was impossible for the Organization to insert false memories and visions into his head. Xigbar then leaves Sora to battle with Xemnas, whom Sora defeats. Sora proceeds to collapse from exhaustion, and is then consumed in darkness. Young Xehanort appears and reveals his plan to turn Sora into the thirteenth member of the true Organization. Sora falls unconscious shortly after and is then taken to Where Nothing Gathers.


Riku ultimately prevails against Ansem and travels to Where Nothing Gathers, where Riku finds the unconscious Sora. The cloaked members of the True Organization XIII materialize on the thrones, and Young Xehanort prepares himself to become Master Xehanort. King Mickey interrupts and freezes the group with [[Stopza]], but Young Xehanort recovers and knocks him away, and summons a [[Young Xehanort's Keyblade|Keyblade]] to battle Riku. Riku defeats Young Xehanort just as Mickey's spell breaks, and Master Xehanort reforms.
Riku ultimately prevails against Ansem and travels to the true Sleeping World version of Where Nothing Gathers, where Riku finds the unconscious Sora. The cloaked members of the True Organization XIII materialize on the thrones, and Young Xehanort prepares himself to greet the recompleted Master Xehanort. King Mickey interrupts and freezes the group with [[Stopza]], but Young Xehanort recovers and knocks him away, and summons a [[Young Xehanort's Keyblade|Keyblade]] to battle Riku. Riku defeats Young Xehanort just as Mickey's spell breaks, and Master Xehanort reforms.


Master Xehanort announces his plans to create the [[χ-blade]] again, after his experiment with Ventus and Vanitas proved a failure. Master Xehanort then prepares to turn Sora into his final vessel as Xemnas and Ansem restrain Riku and Mickey. However, [[Lea]] arrives and protects Sora from Xehanort's attack. Riku, Mickey, and Lea escape from The World That Never Was with the timely aid of Donald and Goofy. The members of the Organization then fade into darkness and return to their proper places in time.
Master Xehanort announces his plans to create the [[χ-blade]] again, after his experiment with Ventus and Vanitas proved a failure. Master Xehanort then prepares to turn Sora into his final vessel as Xemnas and Ansem restrain Riku and Mickey. However, [[Lea]] arrives and protects Sora from Xehanort's attack. Riku, Mickey, and Lea escape from The World That Never Was with the timely aid of Donald and Goofy. The members of the Organization then fade into darkness and return to their proper places in time.
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File:Samurai KHII.png|[[Samurai]]<br>{{KHD}}{{KHII}}
File:Samurai KHII.png|[[Samurai]]<br>{{KHD}}{{KHII}}
File:Xemnas (Dragon) 2nd Fight KHII.png|'''{{ns|Game|Xemnas|Xemnas (Dragon Form)}}'''<br>{{KHII}}
File:Xemnas (Dragon) 2nd Fight KHII.png|'''{{ns|Game|Xemnas|Xemnas (Dragon Form)}}'''<br>{{KHII}}
File:Xemnas KHII.png|'''{{ns|Game|Xemnas}}'''<br>{{KHII}} {{KHMoM}}
File:Xemnas KHD.png|'''{{ns|Game|Xemnas}}'''<br>{{KHII}} {{KH3D}} {{KHMoM}}
File:Xigbar KHII.png|'''{{ns|Game|Xigbar}}'''<br>{{KHII}}
File:Xigbar (Sharpshooter) KHII.png|'''{{ns|Game|Xigbar}}'''<br>{{KHII}}
File:Saïx KHD.png|'''{{ns|Game|Saïx}}'''<br>{{KHD}}{{KHII}}
File:Saïx (Berserk) KHII.png|'''{{ns|Game|Saïx}}'''<br>{{KHD}}{{KHII}}
File:Anti-Saïx KHD.png|'''[[Anti-Saïx]]'''<br>{{KHD}}
File:Anti-Saïx KHD.png|'''[[Anti-Saïx]]'''<br>{{KHD}}
File:Luxord KHII.png|'''{{ns|Game|Luxord}}'''<br>{{KHII}}
File:Luxord (Fair Game) KHII.png|'''{{ns|Game|Luxord}}'''<br>{{KHII}}
File:Roxas (Dual Wield) KHII.png|'''{{ns|Game|Roxas}}'''<br>{{KHII}}
File:Roxas (Dual Wield) KHII.png|'''{{ns|Game|Roxas}}'''<br>{{KHII}}
File:Bomb Bell B KHII.png|[[Bomb Bell B]]
File:Bomb Bell B KHII.png|[[Bomb Bell B]]
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===Dream Eaters===
===Dream Eaters===
*''Note that the Ghostabocky Nightmares appear in the Walk of Delusions only until Riku has unlocked the entire bridge.''
{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
!
!
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File:Cera Terror (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Cera Terror]]<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Cera Terror (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Cera Terror]]<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Skelterwild (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Skelterwild]]<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Skelterwild (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Skelterwild]]<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Electricorn (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Electricorn]]<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Electricorn (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Electricorn]] (Riku only)<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Majik Lapin (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Majik Lapin]]<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Majik Lapin (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Majik Lapin]]<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Ghostabocky (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Ghostabocky]] (Riku only)<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Ghostabocky (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Ghostabocky]] (Riku only)<br>{{KH3D}}<ref>Do not appear anymore once all Illusion Generators in the Walk of Delusions have been destroyed.</ref>
File:Thunderaffe (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Thunderaffe]]<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Thunderaffe (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Thunderaffe]] (Riku only)<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Ryu Dragon (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Ryu Dragon]] (normal and rare)<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Ryu Dragon (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Ryu Dragon]] (normal and rare)<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Halbird (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Halbird]] (normal, Riku only; rare, both sides)<br>{{KH3D}}
File:Halbird (Nightmare) KH3D.png|[[Halbird]] (normal, Riku only; rare, both sides)<br>{{KH3D}}
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==Trivia==-->
==Trivia==-->
<!--incorporate into story section, this is pretty directly referenced as story by Chip and Dale
<!--incorporate into story section, this is pretty directly referenced as story by Chip and Dale
*The World That Never Was cannot be accessed via the [[Gummi Ship]] until after you enter the world via the [[Simulated Twilight Town]].-->


*The World That Never Was cannot be accessed via the [[Gummi Ship]] until after you enter the world via the [[Simulated Twilight Town]].
==Notes and references==
-->
{{Reflist}}
 
{{KH2}}
{{KH2}}
{{358}}
{{358}}

Latest revision as of 08:26, 21 October 2024

The World That Never Was

The World That Never Was KHII.png
The World That Never Was Logo KHII.png

The World That Never Was KH3D.png
The World That Never Was Logo KH3D.png
Japanese 存在しなかった世界

Romaji Sonzai Shinakatta Sekai
Games Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory

Allies Riku[KH II]
Themes Header.png

KHII tracks
Field theme - Sacred Moon
Battle theme - Deep Drive
KHD tracks
Field theme - Sacred Moon
Field theme - Mystic Moon
Battle theme - Critical Drive
KH3D tracks
Field theme - Sacred Distance
Battle theme - Deep Drop
Other worlds
Introduced in Kingdom Hearts
Dive to the Heart | Destiny Islands | Disney Castle
Traverse Town | Wonderland | Olympus Coliseum
Deep Jungle | Agrabah | Monstro
Atlantica | Halloween Town | Neverland
100 Acre Wood | Hollow Bastion
End of the World | Realm of Darkness
Introduced in Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
Castle Oblivion | Twilight Town
Introduced in Kingdom Hearts II
Mysterious Tower | Radiant Garden
The Land of Dragons | Beast's Castle | Timeless River
Port Royal | Pride Lands | Space Paranoids
The World That Never Was | End of Sea | Keyblade Graveyard
Introduced in Kingdom Hearts coded
Datascape
Introduced in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Land of Departure | Mirage Arena
Dwarf Woodlands | Enchanted Dominion | Castle of Dreams
Disney Town | Deep Space
Introduced in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
La Cité des Cloches | The Grid | Symphony of Sorcery
Country of the Musketeers | Prankster's Paradise
Introduced in Kingdom Hearts χ[chi]
Daybreak Town
Introduced in Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross]
Game Central Station | Niceland | Cy-Bug Sector | Candy Kingdom
Introduced in Kingdom Hearts III
The Final World | Secret Forest | Olympus
Toy Box | Kingdom of Corona | Monstropolis
Arendelle | The Caribbean | San Fransokyo
Scala ad Caelum | Quadratum

The World That Never Was is a world featured in Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.

The world of Organization XIII, it is home to a seemingly endless supply of Heartless and Nobodies. The Heartless seem to spawn more here due to how close The World That Never Was is to the darkness of Kingdom Hearts. The Organization rules the city below from their massive castle.

Settings and Areas[edit]

Kingdom Hearts II[edit]

The World That Never Was is a world located in the Realm Between, and serves as Organization XIII's stronghold. It's separated into two parts, the expansive Dark City filled with vacant buildings and neon signs, and the contrasting white and massive Castle That Never Was (存在しなかった城 Sonzai Shinakatta Shiro?) which floats weightlessly above the city, with Kingdom Hearts at its peak.

Artwork of The World That Never Was.

Arriving from the Betwixt and Between, Sora and party find themselves at the Alley to Between (狭間につながる路地 Hazama ni Tsunagaru Roji?), where the first save point of the world can be found. Exiting the alley leads to the Fragment Crossing (断片を紡ぐ道 Danpen o Tsumugu Michi?, lit. "Fragment-Spinning Road"), a long series of winding streets. Hordes of Shadows appear here, but in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, they're replaced with Nobodies. Following the Fragment Crossing is the Memory's Skyscraper (記憶の摩天楼 Kioku no Matenrō?), an imposingly tall building - filled with television screens at the top - which presides over the city. In the right corner of the plaza is a wrecked truck, flipped on its side, while in the left corner is a road leading up to the Brink of Despair (絶望を望む断崖 Zetsubō o Nozomu Dangai?, lit. "Cliff Overlooking Despair"). A save point can be found there near the edge of a gigantic crater, in which the world's castle hovers above.

Through a path created by the Keyblade, the castle can be entered at its bottom floor, named Nothing's Call (虚無への誘い Kyomu e no Sasoi?, lit. "Introduction to Nothingness"). From here the Crooked Ascension (歪みを貫く柱 Yugami no Tsuranuku Hashira?, lit. "Pillar Piercing Distortion") is entered, which is a giant elevator that'll transport the group up to Twilight's View (黄昏から望む場所 Tasogare kara Nozomu Basho?), which is a small stairway located inside a huge and hollow part of the castle. The bottom exit leads to a very long tunnel way to the outside of the tower, and the top exit leads to the mini tower towards the top. Massive windows in the shape of the Nobody insignia are found here, with a great view of the city outside. Below is what looks like an endless pit. Sora can meet a moogle here and synthesize new items before heading to the next part of the castle. Following Twilight's View is the Hall of Empty Melodies (虚ろなる旋律の空間 Utsuro-naru Senritsu no Kūkan?), which is composed of a large platform over an indefinite abyss, with a recessed second floor accessible via Naught's Skyway and multiple high balconies overlooking the room. The domed glass ceiling provides a view of the castle's highest tower. This is also where Xigbar is fought and defeated. The aforementioned Naught's Skyway (虚空を辿る道 Kokū o Tadoru Michi?, lit. "Road Following Empty Space") is what connects the Hall of Empty Melodies' two floors, and is a small outside path in a high section of the castle. It overlooks the eerie red-tinged clouds of the city far below.

Artwork of the Hall of Empty Melodies.

Continuing on from Hall of Empty Melodies' second floor leads to Proof of Existence (存在の証 Sonzai no Akashi?), a smaller area with white, pink, and light-blue pipes shaped like thorns piercing out from the room's exit. It initially contained twelve portals, though nine of them have been destroyed, making the area almost resemble a graveyard instead. The portals are arranged by the rank of each member from left to right then top to bottom, with digital panels on the floor in front of the portals, acting as epitaphs depicting the member's title and weapon. Demyx's portal is incorrectly numbered as XI instead of IX. The digital panels indicated whether a member is still alive or not, with Roxas's panel, in the end, being the only one which remains active as he's a part of Sora. Luxord's portal leads to Havoc's Divide (混沌の狭間 Konton no Hazama?, lit. "Valley of Disorder"), a downwards sloped area with a steep drop at the end, situated on a tower next to the main one, but cannot be seen from afar. The next portal leads to Addled Impasse (惑わしの空間 Madowashi no Kūkan?, lit. "Space of Deception"), a large chamber with a clear view of the Kingdom Hearts moon, and appears to be where Saïx spends a large amount of his time. Defeating Luxord and Saïx allows access to Naught's Approach (虚空を目指す道 Kokū o Mezasu Michi?, lit. "Road Heading Towards Empty Space"), an exterior passage which is located on the outside of the main tower. Eerie red and blue vapors leak out from the castle's next room, and above the tower, the Ruin and Creation's Passage (破壊と創造の回廊 Hakai to Sōzō no Kairō?), which is one of the biggest areas within the castle, with several platforms floating in the air. Invisible paths can be used to reach each platform and eventually navigate towards the exit. The room is filled with swirling red and blue smoke, with some collecting in a spiral at the top of the chamber. There are also numerous windows at the sides of the room, and neon lime colored bars of light hanging across the air.

Where Nothing Gathers is the Organization's meeting room.

Deep inside the castle is also the Soundless Prison (無音の牢獄 Muon no Rōgoku?), a small and purple cell used by Saïx to imprison Kairi and Pluto. The area only appears in cutscene. Another cutscene exclusive area is Where Nothing Gathers (虚無が集う場所 Kyomu ga Tsudou Basho?), a circular room containing throne-like chairs ranging in height, where the members of Organization XIII gather to discuss developments, and for Xemnas to give out orders. There are thirteen throne-like pillars for each of the members, with Xemnas' chair being the tallest one.

At the end of the Ruin and Creation's Passage is a pathway leading to the top of the castle, the Altar of Naught (虚空の祭壇 Kokū no Saidan?, lit. "Altar of Empty Space"). The altar is a giant tower peering out of castle, with Kingdom Hearts radiating in front of it. The Dark City below is impossible to see from here due to all the swirling smoke leaking from previous area. During his first fight against Xemnas, Sora is transported to Memory's Contortion (記憶の歪み Kioku no Yugami?), which is platform in the middle of nowhere with a strange and wavering illusion of the Memory's Skyscraper. After Sora returns to the Altar of Naught, Xemnas summons a huge door which leads to Kingdom Hearts.

Entering Kingdom Hearts leads the party to The World of Nothing. The first area they arrive at is called The World of Nothing—End's Beginning (ビル街 Biru Gai?, lit. "Building District"), which is a passageway resembling the Dark City where skyscrapers suddenly erupt from the ground in order to repel Sora. Powering through a tunnel at the end leads to the next area where Xemnas' colossal Dragon Ship can be seen from the distance. From here, Sora can ascend the falling skyscrapers, eventually leading him to the Dragon Ship's massive cannons at The World of Nothing—Twin Cannons (ユニット砲身部 Yunitto Hōshin-bu?, lit. "Unit Gun Barrel Area"). Once the cannons are destroyed, Sora swings his way up to the ship's Energy Core, which is kept in a room appropriately named The World of Nothing—Energy Core (エネルギーコア前 Enerugī Koa Mae?, lit. "Energy Core Front"). After disabling the ship's energy core, he ascends to The World of Nothing—Xemnas's Throne Room (ゼムナス(ドラゴン)頭部 Zemunasu (Doragon) Tōbu?, lit. "Xemnas (Dragon) Head"), where Xemnas sits in his Keyblade Armor, enthroned in a chamber atop the Dragon Ship's head, equipped with several of the deceased Organization members' weapons.

Sora and Riku battle Xemnas's Dragon Ship from their Sidecar Glider in the Sky (空中 Kūchū?). Afterwards, they face Xemnas once more in his Keyblade Armor, in an area called Within Xemnas (Dragon)'s Barrier (ゼムナス(ドラゴン)の結界内 Zemunasu (Doragon) no Kekkai-nai?)

After completely destroying the gigantic Nobody, Sora and Riku find themselves inside a nearly-empty void of shifting greys and whites, the World of Nothing (謎の空間最奥部 Nazo no Kūkan Saiō-bu?, lit. "Innermost Area of the Mysterious Space"), where Xemnas is fought for the last time.

Area Map in Kingdom Hearts II

Dark City Minimap minimaps

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days[edit]

Roxas in the Grey Area.

In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, The World That Never Was serves as the game's hub world. The world's main room is the Grey Area (闇と光を紡ぐ庭 Yami to Hikari o Tsumugu Niwa?, lit. "Courtyard Interweaving Darkness and Light"), which serves as a lounge for the Organization's members, as well as the place where they'll receive their mission briefings from Saïx. The room is wedge-shaped with one wall being just a giant window, out of which Kingdom Hearts can eventually be seen floating in the distance. The room has couches and tables spread around it, and Organization members are often seen lounging about between missions. There is also a moogle here wearing a Black Coat, whom offers Roxas to synthesize panels as well as using the gained heart points to shop.

Xion using the Organization's computer.

The castle is shown to have a large computer room which seems to contain information regarding all the various Organization XIII related projects, including the Replica Program and Castle Oblivion. The castle also contains a library filled with literature on various subjects. In here, Axel finds a book titled "The Truth about Naminé," authored by Vexen. All of the members have individual bedrooms across the castle, which are white with metal-like walls and lots of pipes across them. There's a single bed with the headboard in the shape of the Nobodies' symbol, and a window showing the heart-shaped moon of Kingdom Hearts. The Organization often gather at the Round Room (円卓 Entaku?, lit. "Round Table")[1] to discuss plans and other developments. Each member has a throne-like chair at top of a pillar here, except for Xion. These pillars can move up or down at the user's, or at the leader's will, though they all keep their thrones below Xemnas out of respect.[2] The remaining members also gather at the Altar of Naught on the ninety-third day, to watch as Kingdom Hearts finally takes form.

The Hall of Empty Melodies (虚ろなる旋律の空間 Utsuro-naru Senritsu no Kūkan?) is accessed during a few of the missions, and serve as a training ground for Roxas. When Roxas decides to leave the Organization he'll begins his escape at top of the second floor located here, and quickly reaches the lower floor by running through Naught's Skyway (虚空を辿る道 Kokū o Tadoru Michi?, lit. "Road Following Empty Space"). Leaving the hall Roxas briefly enters Twilight's View (黄昏から望む場所 Tasogare kara Nozomu Basho?) before entering the elevator at Crooked Ascension (歪みを貫く柱 Yugami no Tsuranuku Hashira?, lit. "Pillar Piercing Distortion"). Taking the elevator to the bottom takes Roxas to Nothing's Call (虚無への誘い Kyomu e no Sasoi?, lit. "Introduction to Nothingness"), where he battles Saïx before finally making his escape.

When Roxas returns to face Xemnas, he arrives at the Fragment Crossing (断片を紡ぐ道 Danpen o Tsumugu Michi?, lit. "Fragment-Spinning Road"), where he's attacked by a horde of Neoshadows. He eventually makes it to the Memory's Skyscraper (記憶の摩天楼 Kioku no Matenrō?), where he's confronted by Riku.

Area Map in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

minimaps

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance[edit]

In Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, only Memory's Skyscraper, the Brink of Despair, and the real Castle That Never Was are visited in the Realm Between, while the rest of the areas appear within a dream version of the world. The dream version of The World that Never Was' Dark City appears a lot more contorted and ethereal than the city initially appeared in Kingdom Hearts II, much similar to The World of Nothing within Kingdom Hearts, while the Castle That Never Was's areas seem to be located at specific parts of the actual castle.

Buildings sliced by Sora at the Contorted City area.

Sora first arrives at the Memory Skyscraper, but is quickly sent to sleep and eventually wake up at the Avenue to Dreams (夢境の街路 Yumesakai no Gairo?). The place is a large urban area beginning with an enclosed alley featuring a save point and a Moogle Shop hologram. Up a long flight of stairs lies a piece of a destroyed building, blocking the path into the city that must be scaled to advance. Beyond is an area of twisting alleys surrounded by skyscrapers that can be scaled with Flowmotion. Several buildings are adorned in blue stripes with a geometric pattern and when stood upon, they rapidly elevate, throwing Sora into the air. Perhaps the most notable feature of this area is a stream of blue-green mist that falls from the roof of a massive tower extremely similar to the Memory's Skyscraper. The Castle That Never Was can be seen from this area, but instead of floating above a giant crater, it floats above several tall buildings. The next area is the Contorted City (歪みに満ちた街 Yugami ni Michita Machi?, lit. "City Filled with Distortion"), which seems to emerge from a strange canyon. The area is similar to the previous one, though many of the buildings float of their own accord. Beyond several overturned buildings, a path of broken pavement and destroyed buildings form an upward spiral, and neon strips and signs on the buildings can be traversed with Flowmotion. Several floating buildings marked with red symbols will hurtle towards Sora and must be destroyed with Reality Shift to avoid damage. Unlike the previous area, the castle cannot be seen from here. Pressing on leads to the Nightmarish Abyss (凶夢の深淵 Kyōmu no Shin'en?) which features a large open plaza surrounded by three skyscrapers, with a crashed truck blocking access to a side-street. The fourth side drops off to an abyss that is spanned by floating skyscrapers laid on their sides, forming a mostly straight path between two cliffs, and leads toward what appears to be the bottom of the Castle That Never Was seen from the left side, with the tower of the Verge of Chaos visible from down there. The largest floating building in the area is where Sora fights Xemnas.

The Walk of Delusions after destroying the devices.

Riku arrives at the Delusive Beginning (幻想のはじまり Gensō no Hajimari?), the lowest known area of the Castle That Never Was, situated just inside the large spinning ring at the base of the castle. It is comprised of four hallways connecting to a circular central chamber, two connecting at the ground floor, two high above. In the central chamber rests an energy beam housed in an impenetrable shield that'll damage Riku; destroying it is required in order to access the top hallways, which are currently closed by translucid walls. Destroying the energy beam requires to go inside the shield, which can be accessed through the hallway on the left leading to a teleport hole and inside said shield. Once shut down, the shield disappears and it creates a walkway to the upper levels with one hallway leading to an open space yard, with a red wall that cannot be climbed with Flowmotion; instead, Riku must use the platforms that appear to go up and open the treasure chests, while avoiding the eventual lasers that are fired if within range. The other hallway leads to the next area, that is the Walk of Delusions (幻惑の歩廊 Genwaku no Horō?, lit. "Gallery of Entrancement"), which initially appears as a shifting maze. Scattered throughout the maze are devices which can be destroyed with a Reality Shift. Once disabled, the layout of the area changes, with new pathways opening up leading to the next device. Once three devices have been destroyed, the maze disappears entirely and reveals the area to be a long, straight bridge leading from the outer edge of the castle to the castle itself, across the open crater beneath it.

Passing through the Walk of Delusions lead to Fact within Fiction (虚実を紡ぐ回廊 Kyojitsu o Tsumugu Kairō?, lit. "Corridor Spinning Fact and Fiction"), a large open-air level at the top of the castle's spinning ring, giving a view of the mechanism that spins it. It consists of several high-walled passages and thick metal pipes. Along one passage, beams of purple energy move back and forth that damage any enemy who crosses them. Near the end of the area is a large circular platform where many enemies spawn. After a flight of stairs, there is a lift that'll take Riku to the Verge of Chaos (混沌を見下ろす場所 Konton o Miorosu Basho?, lit. "Place Overlooking Chaos"). The area is primarily a large and slightly curved balcony. By using Flowmotion Riku can traverse the massive pipes attached to the walls, which will eventually take him through several smaller balconies. At the last balcony is a narrow bridge connecting to a multi-turreted tower, where Riku fights the Anti Black Coat Nightmare. The appearance of the ground of the arena is identical to that of the small pillar-shaped platform in the middle of Where Nothing Gathers. This tower can be seen from afar, and is located on the castle's left side.

After defeating Anti Black Coat, Riku will be summoned by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness to Darkness's Call (闇への誘い Yami e no Sasoi?, lit. "Invitation to Darkness") to battle. The area is a dark arena with a spiraling violet vortex below, and streams of darkness rising around the central area. A platform may appear if Riku uses Reality Shift on Ansem. After the first battle, Riku is further brought to the Darkest End (闇の果て Yami no Hate?, lit. "Edge of Darkness"), which is a long corridor-like arena with huge dark pillars on each side, resembling the ones found in the Realm of Darkness. At the end of the room is a violet spiral where Ansem resides within a transformed Dark Figure. During their second battle, Ansem can manipulate the space within the area at will, by either stretching it to pull his enemies to the back or by compressing it to pull them right in front of him. Wherever the areas are located in the World that Never Was is unknown.

The Sanctum of Time arena where Young Xehanort transports Riku to battle.

After the battles against Ansem, Riku arrives back in the real The World That Never Was at the Memory's Skyscraper (記憶の摩天楼 Kioku no Matenrō?). From here the Link Portal is the only way to for him go to the World Map, that is Sora's dreams. Once Sora has defeated Xemnas, Riku can press onwards to the Brink of Despair (絶望を望む断崖 lit. "Cliff of Despair's Desire"?), where he must activate Dreamline between his Komory Bat and Sora's Meow Wow to enter the real Castle That Never Was. Riku then finds himself at the Where Nothing Gathers, before he's attacked by Young Xehanort, who pulls him away to the Sanctum of Time (時の祭壇 Toki no Saidan?, lit. "Altar of Time"). The sanctum is a large circular arena with several cogs and clockwork devices integrated below the floor as well as atop pillars on either side of the battlefield, and is surrounded by six different colored hourglasses. The area as a whole resembles a fractured ring dial. Peculiarly, at certain times during battle, the poles sticking out of the ground cannot have Flowmotion used on them. Beneath the glass is a red Nobody insignia.

Area Maps in Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD

Minimap (Dark City) TWTNW KHDDD.png Minimap (Castle That Never Was) TWTNW KHDDD.png

Story[edit]

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days[edit]

When Roxas abandons the Organization, he wanders for a short time through the streets of the Dark City. Here, outside one of the many locked stores, Roxas meets Axel, who tries to stop him from leaving, warning that the Organization would destroy him. Roxas leaves a saddened Axel behind, and continues along the streets to Memory's Skyscraper.

After defeating Xion, Roxas returns to the city, hoping to engage Xemnas and the other Organization XIII members. Instead, he discovers multitudes of Heartless, sent to attack the Keyblade wielder. Roxas fends off the hordes of Neoshadow Heartless, but is ultimately outnumbered. Riku appears from atop a skyscraper, and assists Roxas in slaying the Heartless using Roxas's Oblivion Keyblade.

The two then turn on each other. Roxas nearly defeats Riku, who had not yet mastered himself or control of the Keyblade. In desperation, Riku releases the darkness in his heart, assuming the form of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, with his guardian, and subdues Roxas. DiZ promptly arrives to find Riku-Ansem with his hood up. The two take Roxas back to their secret base in Twilight Town.

Kingdom Hearts II[edit]

Sora and his friends standing at the entrance to The World of Nothing, ready to fight Xemnas.

Sora arrives in the Dark City, with the help of the Organization's traitor, Axel. Fighting their way through large numbers of Heartless, Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey reach the center of the city, Memory's Skyscraper. Here, Samurai Nobodies materialize in front of Goofy and Donald. Roxas then appears, challenging Sora to a fight. The two disappear to duel on the Dive to the Heart. Sora defeats Roxas, who departs, calling Sora "a good other."

The group then continues on to the Castle That Never Was. They ascend through the many levels of the castle, meeting up with Riku and Kairi, and finishing off the remaining members of the Organization.

After the group runs into Ansem the Wise on one of the upper floors of the castle, he sacrifices his life in an attempt to destroy Xemnas's Kingdom Hearts, the blast returning Riku to his original form. The group make their way to the top floor, where they confront and defeat Xemnas, leader of Organization XIII.

During the extensive final battle with Xemnas, much of the Dark City and the Castle That Never Was is destroyed. Chunks of building are ripped up and thrown at Sora and Riku, and the main tower collapses off the castle. What ultimately happens to The World That Never Was following Xemnas's defeat remains unknown.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance[edit]

After Sora and Riku successfully unlock all seven sleeping Keyholes, Sora arrives at The World That Never Was, where he is then greeted by Xigbar. Xigbar explains that the Real Organization XIII has been guiding the still-sleeping Sora through the Sleeping Worlds to The World That Never Was since his exam began, and that the Robed Figure was present the night when Destiny Islands was swallowed by darkness in order to be there when Sora entered the Sleeping Worlds. Xigbar then puts Sora into a second sleep.

Meanwhile, Riku arrives in the Castle That Never Was, wondering why he has not awoken yet with the exam supposed to be over. He travels through the castle to find Sora trapped in a sphere of darkness. Riku tries to awaken Sora, but the darkness around the sphere turns into the Anti Black Coat Nightmare, who Riku engages and defeats in battle. Riku is then swallowed by darkness and confronted by Ansem before he gets a chance to wake Sora.

The still-dreaming Sora sees illusions of Kairi, Riku, Aqua, and Terra, while Sora takes on Ventus's appearance. Upon the dream's end, Sora asks Xigbar whether everything he had seen was implanted by the Organization. Xigbar clarifies that the visions were a dream, as it was impossible for the Organization to insert false memories and visions into his head. Xigbar then leaves Sora to battle with Xemnas, whom Sora defeats. Sora proceeds to collapse from exhaustion, and is then consumed in darkness. Young Xehanort appears and reveals his plan to turn Sora into the thirteenth member of the true Organization. Sora falls unconscious shortly after and is then taken to Where Nothing Gathers.

Riku ultimately prevails against Ansem and travels to the true Sleeping World version of Where Nothing Gathers, where Riku finds the unconscious Sora. The cloaked members of the True Organization XIII materialize on the thrones, and Young Xehanort prepares himself to greet the recompleted Master Xehanort. King Mickey interrupts and freezes the group with Stopza, but Young Xehanort recovers and knocks him away, and summons a Keyblade to battle Riku. Riku defeats Young Xehanort just as Mickey's spell breaks, and Master Xehanort reforms.

Master Xehanort announces his plans to create the χ-blade again, after his experiment with Ventus and Vanitas proved a failure. Master Xehanort then prepares to turn Sora into his final vessel as Xemnas and Ansem restrain Riku and Mickey. However, Lea arrives and protects Sora from Xehanort's attack. Riku, Mickey, and Lea escape from The World That Never Was with the timely aid of Donald and Goofy. The members of the Organization then fade into darkness and return to their proper places in time.

Kingdom Hearts III[edit]

The World That Never Was appears in various flashbacks when Riku and Mickey recall their encounter with Xehanort at Where Nothing Gathers.

Characters[edit]

Enemies[edit]

Heartless[edit]

Nobodies[edit]

Dream Eaters[edit]

Other[edit]


Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ Roxas's Diary, Day 7: Entry 1: "Today they told us to go to the Round Room, where we met our new member, No. XIV."
  2. ^ Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ Ultimania, pg. 502; Interviewer: "During the meetings, the members of Organization XIII are sitting in chairs. Is the height of these chairs determined by things like their skills and abilities?" / Tetsuya Nomura: "No, the height of the chairs is not fixated, they move. That is to say, the height is up to each person. The leader, Xemnas, is always the highest and to be at the same height as him would have a pretty bad feeling, so the other members wouldn't do that." Translation via TheWertle and Xaldin.
  3. ^ Do not appear anymore once all Illusion Generators in the Walk of Delusions have been destroyed.