A Kingdom Hearts χ primer

[malyse]

"Far, far away, in a fairy-tale realm...
The realm was filled with light.
That light gave birth to many worlds, enveloping them.
The source of the light, Kingdom Hearts, and the key that protected it, the χblade...
As long as they existed, it was believed that the realm would be in eternal light.
However, just as strong light will form a shadow, darkness was born.
The darkness called up fear, unease and craving.
Darkness, hidden deep in hearts, began to spread throughout the realm as chaos.
In order to drive back the spreading darkness, those who wished for light created Keyblades in imitation of the χblade, and embarked on adventures that spanned the realm."​

Before we get started you should know two things.

First, Kingdom Hearts χ is absolutely canon. Second, Kingdom Hearts χ ties directly into KH3. Don't assume that because this is a cutesy F2P game that it's not as important as Birth By Sleep or Dream Drop Distance. Also, there will be spoilers.

Kingdom Hearts χ[chi]
Publisher: Square Enix
Developers: Square Enix, Success
Platforms: Web Browser
Price: Free to play with optional micro transactions
July 2013 - September 2016
​

As per the series norm, Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] tasks the player with traversing through various Disney worlds and defeating Heartless. Upon starting the game, players are able to choose one of five factions (Anguis, Ursus, Leopardus, Vulpes, Unicornis) to fight for in the battle for the Light, otherwise known as "Lux." Lux can be obtained by defeating Heartless that you encounter throughout your journey, and taking down a Raid Boss will net you a tremendous amount, giving your team a significant advantage. Every night, the Lux will be tallied in order to determine the winning team, who will receive a great reward, including Moogle Room tickets to exchange for powerful card packs.

Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] is the earliest title in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, taking place before the legendary Keyblade War, when disputes between Keyblade wielders over the Light that created the world sparked a war between Light and Darkness, triggering a calamity that created the present-day layout of the Kingdom Hearts world.

Prior to the war, an unnamed Keyblade Master bestowed a book called the Tome of Prophecy to five of his six apprentices before disappearing. The Tome has the ability to predict and even manifest objects and people from the future. The five apprentices learned to a prophecy foretelling the world falling to Darkness and the Light being destroyed. In order to prevent this, each of the apprentices decided to attempt to prevent the prophecy from coming true.

As part of their efforts, they used the Tome to manifest powerful warriors from the future as the Fragments. Each eventually begins hoarding pieces of Light, called Lux, from the monsters known as Heartless, and each creates their own factions themed around their individual animal icon: Ursus, Anguis, Unicornus, Leopardus, and Vulpes. The story leads into the beginning of the Keyblade War.

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ
Publisher: Square Enix
Developers: Square Enix, Success
Platforms: Android, iOS
Price: Free to play with optional micro transactions
Req: iOS 7.0 or higher
September 2015 - April 2017​

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ is a mobile adaptation Kingdom Hearts χ[chi], a free to play browser based game exclusive to Japan.

While the game is almost identical to that of χ[chi], the two are treated as separate installments in the franchise and will eventually diverge into their own unique storylines. One should not be considered a replacement for the other, but it is not required to play both in order to receive the full experience. That being said, players who do play both versions of Kingdom Hearts X will better understand certain concepts within the games.

Kingdom Hearts Union χ
Publisher: Square Enix
Developers: Square Enix, Success
Platforms: Android, iOS
Price: Free to play with optional micro transactions
Req: iOS 9.0 or higher
April 2017 - current
​

Previously known as Season 2, Union χ adds multiplayer functionality to the game as well as a pet partner character. It also progresses the story past the Keyblade War.

Player

You are a newly awakened Keyblade Wielder. You get to choose to support one of the five factions and work to ensure the chosen faction's supremacy. You can change your outfit, skin tone, hair style, hair color, facial expression, and gender at any time.

Ephemer is a boy from different union. Friends with the player character. He has a desire to know the truth behind the gathering of Lux and the structure of the World. In Union χ, he becomes of the chosen Foretellers.

Skuld is a girl from the same party as Ephemer. Wields the keyblade like a rapier. Has the best character design in the franchise. In Union Cross, she becomes one of the chosen Foretellers.

Brain is a Keyblade wielder who appears in Kingdom Hearts Union χ. He is a member of the Dandelions and was chosen by the Master of Masters to lead a Union after the Keyblade War. Like the other new Union leaders, he was given a book with laws set by Master Ava.

Strelitzia is a Keyblade wielder who appears in Kingdom Hearts Union χ. She is a member of the Dandelions and was chosen by the Master of Masters to lead a Union after the Keyblade War. Like the other new Union leaders, she was given a book with laws set by Master Ava. However, Strelitzia was struck down by someone who stole her book of laws and took her place as Union Leader.

Ventus was chosen by the Foreteller Ava to become a Dandelion and one of the five members to be a replacement Union leader. Ava informs Ventus of these events and commands him to meet the other members at the Keyblade Graveyard once the Keyblade War was over. As instructed, Ventus heads there and meets with Ephemer and Skuld.[/spoiler]

As the new Union leaders grow impatient, with Ephemer and Skuld deciding to search the area for the final Union leader. As he was the last of the new Union leaders to arrive at the Keyblade Graveyard, as per Ava's instructions, the final Union leader apologizes to Ephemer, Skuld, Ventus and Brain for making them wait, as he had been looking for something, introducing himself as Lauriam.

Chirithy - cat-like, anthropomorphic companions that accompany the player through the various worlds. They were created by the master of the Foretellers and oversee the players' progress, putting them through trials but also offering advice and help so that they may get stronger. The Chirithy support all five Unions, and though they are not subordinates to the Foretellers directly, they work together with them to drive back the darkness. A Chirithy is bound to its player. In the event that the player succumbs to the darkness or vanishes, so does the Chirithy. Later it is discovered the the Chirithy are Dream Eaters and have Nightmare equivalents.

Anguis - Invi - "But, that isn't the balance we were expected to keep. If everyone's collecting light solely for themselves, Keyblade wielders will soon turn against one another, which will lead to… the Keyblade War."

One of the Master's disciples who receives a copy of the Book of Prophecies.
She is a virtuous Keyblade Master and leader of the Union Anguis. She holds the Master in high esteem.
Her role is to watch over the others with a fair eye.

Invi is an individual with high moral standards. She obeys the Master of Masters without question, and she remains neutral when acting in accordance with the role assigned to her.

Invi's name is derived from the word invidia, which means "envy" in Latin and is represented by a snake in the Ancrene Wisse.

Leopardos - Gula - "The only way to get him back is to break the rules! If things don't change, the entire world is doomed!"

One of the Master's disciples who receives a copy of the Book of Prophecies.
He is a coolheaded Keyblade Master and leader of the Union Leopardus. He prefers to keep his distance from the others and doesn't regard them as comrades.
His role is to solve the mysteries of the Book of Prophecies.

Despite his young age, Gula is a coolheaded and serious individual, though he also shows a more playful side when he teases Aced for his scary demeanor when the latter suggested that the Foretellers should eliminate Nightmare Chirithy they come across. Unlike most of the Foretellers, Gula displays a pragmatic attitude in regards to the Master's teachings, as he willing to accept alliances out of convenience, despite it being forbidden, but would also leave these alliances out of convenience as well.

He is highly scrupulous and finds himself in much need of guidance, particularly in interpreting the contents of the Lost Page. In a most extreme show of this behavior, he states his intention to summon Kingdom Hearts to prompt the Master's return. He can be quite rash as well, when he confronts and attacks Aced and assumes he is the traitor.

As he is bearer of the Lost Page, Gula becomes distrustful of others around him and believes that he can only trust himself once he was given his role. This may have been exacerbated by him being told by the Master of Masters to trust no one but himself. The distrust he builds between himself and others finally withers away as the Keyblade War looms upon the residents of Daybreak Town, when he shares an excerpt from the Lost Page with the Player and their friends, but only because he believes that it would make no difference anyway.

Gula's name is derived from the word gula, which means "gluttony" in Latin and is represented by a leopard in the Ancrene Wisse.

Unicornis - Ira - "It isn't our place to try to change the events of the future; that is not our mission. We're here to make sure that light lives on. With only five lights, we can't afford to lose any."

One of the Master's disciples who receives a copy of the Book of Prophecies.
He is a reliable Keyblade Master and leader of the Union Unicornis. The Master often makes fun of his serious nature.
His role is to become the new leader of the foretellers after the Master vanishes.

Ira is a dependable individual with a no-nonsense attitude. As leader of the Foretellers, he displays this attitude when he rebukes Aced for raising his Keyblade against another. He is a mindful individual; he takes care to preserve the events that lead to the future, and tries not to upset the the balance between the Unions when Gula starts collecting more Lux.

He can, however, be quick to make assumptions about people and about the state of affairs. He is quick to assume that there is a traitor among the five Foretellers, and he is also quick to assume that the traitor is the person in possession of the Lost Page.

Ira's name is derived from the word ira, which means "wrath" in Latin and is represented by a unicorn in the Ancrene Wisse.

Ursus - Aced - "We need to defy the Master's teachings to protect the world!"

One of the Master's disciples who receives a copy of the Book of Prophecies.
He is a fearless Keyblade Master and leader of the Union Ursus. Though he tends to rely on his physical prowess, he has a pure heart and strong sense of justice.
His role is to support their new leader, Ira.

Aced is an honest and fearless individual with a strong sense of justice. Prior to the Keyblade War, Aced wanted to take over for the Master of Masters someday and expresses great disappointment when he is not elected to lead the Foretellers in favor of Ira. However, it is because of his straightforward nature that the Master assigned Aced to be Ira's right-hand man and directs him to guide Ira on the right path, a role he gladly accepted at the time.

In spite of this, Aced is arrogant, short-tempered, and self-righteous, openly defying the Master's orders against creating alliances and later plotting to usurp Ira as leader of the Unions. He is rather puritanical in his behavior, and assumes the worst about people and Unions, thinking that Ava gathering the Dandelions, or the Unions collecting more Lux, are obscene displays of power which bring about disunity, and need to be stopped. His philosophy and mindset are that of bloodlust, holding an adamant belief that the righteousness of a person or a Union was proven through battle, and he is quick to shut down anyone who opposes his mindset.

Aced possesses an unforgiving nature, declaring that he will never forgive Gula standing by while the Foretellers fought amongst themselves while withholding knowledge of the traitor and attacking him when Gula assumed that he was the traitor. When he learns that Invi persuaded Gula to dissolve their alliance, Aced vows that she would pay for her interference and assaults her a year later as payback.

Aced's name is derived from the word acedia, which means "sloth" in Latin and is represented by a bear in the Ancrene Wisse.

Vulpeus - Ava - "When the time comes, and there is war, you mustn't fight, but instead you must fly away from here to the world outside."

One of the Master's disciples who receives a copy of the Book of Prophecies.
Despite being a Keyblade Master, she is often treated as a friend by other wielders due to her age. She is the leader of the Union Vulpes.
Her role is to find exceptional Keyblade wielders regardless of Union and create her own organization.

Ava is a kindhearted individual whose youth enables her to befriend the members of not only her Union, but others as well. Despite her young age, she is prudent and diligent, fulfilling the role the Master of Masters assigned to the letter, despite her own personal misgivings in regards to some of his teachings. She is very forthcoming in most matters, able to tell Ephemer about her doubts as a Foreteller, and able to personally invite others to become members of the Dandelions.

Ava's name is derived from the word avaritia, which means "greed" in Latin and is represented by a fox in the Ancrene Wisse.

Luxu - "The Master's intentions are not concerned with the longevity of the world. I will act in order to carry out my mission, and watch."

The only one of the Master's disciples who does not receive a copy of the Book of Prophecies.
He is bestowed with a Keyblade and a black box before setting out on his journey.

Luxu's name is derived from the word luxuria, which means "lust" in Latin.

Master of Masters - "'May your heart be your guiding key.' I say it all the time; you ultimately need to do what your heart feels is right."

The Master of Masters, also known simply as the Master, is a Keyblade Master who appears in Kingdom Hearts χ. Gifted with the power of foresight, he writes the Book of Prophecies and trains six apprentices: Ira, Aced, Invi, Gula, Ava, and Luxu.


​

Current Worlds:

Added in Union Cross:

​

A Q&A with Tetsuya Nomura

1. Please explain where in the KH series the story takes place.
   
   This is the story of the "beginning" of the KINGDOM HEARTS series; in other words, it falls into the earliest part of the narrative.
   
   It takes place in the world of fairy tales talked about throughout the series, during an era before the Keyblade War.
   
   There are many different keyblade wielders in the world, and you, the player, are one of them.
2. How does Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ relate to the upcoming Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue?
   
   All three titles within KINGDOM HEARTS Ⅱ.8 has a link to KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χ in some way. You can see it most prominently shown in KINGDOM HEARTS χ Back Cover – a brand-new, approximately one-hour long cinematic piece, which is depicted from the perspective the Foretellers, who gather the Keyblade Wielders. On the flip side, KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χ is seen from the player's perspective. By watching KINGDOM HEARTS χ Back Cover, the player will be able to get a glimpse of what kind of motive these supposed leaders are operating under behind the scenes.
   
   And in KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance HD, which is the HD remastered version of the Nintendo 3DS game KINGDOM HEARTS 3D: Dream Drop Distance, you may noticed the Dream Eaters were a sort of foreshadowing. And the title that would act as a bridge between these two titles would be the latest installment in the series, KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth By Sleep, which is developed utilizing the technology behind KINGDOM HEARTSⅢ. It is a sequel to KINGDOM HEARTS: Birth By Sleep, and a short episode that follows immediately after the events of KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance HD, but it's a title in which players can get an early feel for KINGDOM HEARTSⅢ.
3. You mentioned this before at E3 2015, but what was the inspiration behind the character Chirithy?
   
   When we realized we needed some kind of character that navigates the players due to the nature of the game, I didn't want a character that's too self-asserting considering that they would accompany the players throughout the journey. Once that idea got rolling, then I thought a cat would be great, since you can't tell what it's thinking, but can still get along fairly easily with humans, so I went with my favorite, the Scottish Fold as my motif.
   I liked the Meow Wow from KINGDOM HEARTS 3D: Dream Drop Distance, too, but I designed the eyes the way I did to make sure you do not get a sense of it being self-asserting. Some people might have the wrong perception that because I own Scottish Fold cats, I modelled the character after them, but it's actually the other way around; a while after we began developing, I started to own two Scottish Folds. By the way, their names are not Chirithy.
4. Aside from characters and world that appeared in the Kingdom Hearts series, what are some new characters and worlds that are unique only to Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ?
   
   The game is currently progressing under a certain rule, so the only brand-new world would be "Daybreak Town," the home town in which the players first start out, but there may be a possibility [of other worlds] should we continue providing service through the app.
   
   In terms of new characters, there are not only the five Foretellers and Chirithy, but there are also key new characters named Ephemer and Skuld that appear and move the story.
5. What aspect of the game do you think will appeal to fans? What do you think fans will get hooked on? (i.e. collecting medals, events, etc.)
   
   One of the biggest pillars would be the sense of playing live, which is very different for existing KINGDOM HEARTS series titles thus far. You may have communication and cooperation, as well as the occasional competition, but the sensation of going somewhere and realizing there are people there and the world is moving is very unique to this particular KINGDOM HEARTS.
   
   Along those lines, various events are being held frequently depending on the occasion, the medal collection element is key to your battles, we also offer a ranking element, and a unique story told only in this KINGDOM HEARTS, so I'm sure there is some kind of element that would pique your interest.
6. What kind of costumes are included in the game? Is there a particular costume of a character that you particularly love?
   
   There are so many different costumes already; of course you have the original designs, then Disney characters, KINGDOM HEARTS characters, and seasonal/special occasion designs, all for both male and female avatars respectively. Plus, you can mix and match the outfit elements, so I think the players can really bring out their individuality.
   
   From what I've seen, the hairstyle of the KINGDOM HEARTS 3D: Dream Drop Distance version of "The World Ends with You" Neku matched up with the black coat of Organization XIII seem to be popular. Also, the KINGDOM HEARTS version of FINAL FANTASY VII Cloud costume and King Mickey's costume are popular as well. If I were to choose, personally, I'd like the Cheshire Cat costume.
7. Do you have a special message for the fans?
   
   As mentioned in the beginning, this is the story of the start of KINGDOM HEARTS. In other words, there is no need for any prior knowledge of the series.
   
   I would love for people who have not yet played KINGDOM HEARTS to take this opportunity to casually jump right in with a blank slate. And of course for our fans, you can approach and play this KINGDOM HEARTS in any way you like, so through collecting medals of your favorite characters, collecting costumes, and moreover becoming a part of the KINGDOM HEARTS world and experiencing the enjoyment of weaving your own story that leads to one of the biggest mysteries in the series, which is the "Keyblade War," I hope you can further enjoy the upcoming release of KINGDOM HEARTS Ⅱ.8 and KINGDOM HEARTS Ⅲ, as well as the KINGDOM HEARTS that will continue beyond that.

• KHχ/KHUχ subreddit
• KH Chiblade
• Chi Union
• KHUχ Guides
• KHInsider's Chi boards
• KHUχ North America Twitter
• KHInsider KHUχ page
• KHUχ Party
• KHUχ wiki
• Kingdom Hearts Community
  
• Kingdom Hearts Community Discord

Message from Tetsuya Nomura: "I hope fans and newcomers alike will find themselves absorbed in this brand new adventure that reveals the origins of KINGDOM HEARTS."

 

[malyse]

Kingdom Hearts χ[chi]

In Dive to the Heart, the Player is asked a question: "What appearance takes the heart that guides you?", signifying the Player's choice between the five Unions: Anguis, Leopardos, Unicornis, Ursus and Vulpeus. Once the Player has chosen, darkness surrounds them - though they summon forth a Keyblade, which is described to them as being "the power of light meant to drive away darkness". The Player is enveloped in light and suddenly finds themselves in Daybreak Town.

Daybreak Town appears to be a quaint place, with its pastel-colored mosaic streets and peaceful atmosphere. However, the world actually exists as the site of a massive conflict between the five Unions.

Each Union is led by powerful Keyblade Masters known as the Foretellers. Before they become Foretellers, the five were apprentices, together with a sixth student, under the tutelage of the Master of Masters. Before the Master disappeared, he gave the five new names and a tome known as the Book of Prophecies. This tome possesses the power to predict the events of the future and conjure worlds and beings that has yet to exist, and on the final page of that book, the they discovered a passage that shocked them to their core.

"The war in that place will lead to the defeat and destruction of the Light.
The World will be enveloped in eternal Darkness."

Desperate to prevent that from happening, the Foretellers decided to use the Book of Prophecies to utilize the power from the future, and gather elite Keyblade wielders to travel throughout the worlds in order to gather as much light, called Lux, as possible. However, even though it may appear as though they share the same goal, the Foretellers do not all share the same intentions. Any one of them could be intending to use the light to benefit the darkness, so you will need to determine who you can actually trust.

This is a huge responsibility, and one that you're very clearly not suited to handle on your own. For this reason, you are gifted with a Dream Eater, a Spirit familiar of your very own. His name is Chirithy. Every player has their own Chirithy to whom they are closely connected to. They accompany their players to every world, introducing them to the colorful people they meet and instructing them on what needs to be done to maintain balance.

Chirithy's sole purpose is to lead you towards the truth, but when he cannot show you the right path, he sends you messages through dreams. In one of these dreams, you witness a meeting between the Foretellers and a mysterious figure in a Black Coat within the tower in the Foretellers' territory. Though you don't know the meaning of this dream, you are aware enough to realize that something greater is at play. The question is, where do you start looking? It's impossible for you to uncover the mystery on your own...

Upon the Player's arrival in Daybreak Town, a massive Corridor of Darkness opens, releasing a Darkside Heartless into Daybreak Town. Although the Player summons their Keyblade to defend themselves, they are easily overcome by the large Heartless. Before the Darkside can finish them off, the Player is saved by their respective Foreteller; who forces the Darkside back into the Corridor of Darkness and follows it in suite in order to destroy it.

After exploring the area and defeating several Heartless, the Player is approached by their Foreteller, who tells them that they should be able to defeat weaker Heartless with their Keyblade, but for strong Heartless the Player will need to call upon the help of others who had the same will in order to be victorious. Just then, another Darkside appears, though this time numerous other Keyblade wielders from the Union arrive to help take down the powerful Heartless. Following their victory, the Foreteller warns the Player that there are others who appear to be collecting Light in order to fend off the darkness, but that doesn't mean that their will is the same. To elaborate, the Foreteller states that these other Unions don't necessarily strive for peace across the worlds - instead gathering the Light for their own selfish desires; however, it's up to the Player to figure out whose darkness is hiding behind a facade of Light for themselves. Once the Foreteller leaves, Chirithy voices its understanding of the Player's confusion, but reminds them that darkness continues to spread, and has in fact spread to other worlds. Revealing that it wants the Player to go to these other worlds to fight the darkness, Chirithy then informs the Player that the Lanes Between had been opened and they could use them to access these other worlds.

The Player visits Dwarf Woodlands, Wonderland and Agrabah, where they interact with the locals and help defeat the hoards of Heartless that are as they attempt to consume the world with Darkness. The Player is brought to each world under Chirithy's direction, as Darkball Heartless continue crossing over from other worlds and it's the Player's job to source their origin. While in Wonderland, Chirithy also detail his origins: "The world was in Darkness. But, the world where I came into being was full of a very bright Light. The person who bore me from this world was smiling and looking at me from within the Light." Ultimately, the Player manages to help the locals, but when Darkballs appear in Agrabah, Chirithy is unsure of where they came from and wonders whether or not "he" knew something about it - heading back to Daybreak Town alongside the Player.

Upon returning to Daybreak Town, Chirithy reveals to the Player that the power they use in the Cards is from the future, intended to protect the light from darkness and to change the future that's engulfed in darkness. Chirithy reminds the Player that even though the five Foretellers have the same goal, their wills differ, which is why the Player mustn't lose sight of who they are. Later, the Player seeks out Chirithy again, who claims to have been doing research on his own about the Darkballs that appeared in Agrabah. As he'd thought, the Darkballs had come from yet another world – and so Chirithy sends the Player to Olympus Coliseum in order to further fend off the Heartless.

Afterwards, the Player returns to Daybreak Town and helps several other Keyblade wielders fight off Heartless and later meets another Keyblade wielder named Ephemer, who is from a different Union.

He reveals that the worlds you've been to and everyone you've met there are all fake; a simulation conjured up within a singular world for the sole purpose of collecting light without facing the difficulties of interstellar travel, and the powers you use to do so are summoned from elsewhere. And at the same time, you've never questioned anything that's happening around you, whether it be your goals, or the Foretellers you serve.

Ephemer has been trying to make some sense of the matter, but he hasn't been able to find any leads. Perhaps the dream you've witnessed may hold some answers? The first place to search would be the tower in the Foreteller's territory, in the room where your dream took place. You somehow manage to find a path to it after scouring the town, and the two of you make a promise to venture forward together. However, Ephemer decides to return to the waterways without you and ultimately encounters a figure in a Black Coat. He is never seen again.

Ephemer's disappearance gives you another reason to uncover the truth behind what's going on. Perhaps out of the grief of losing your friend, you even experience dreams of him, motivating you to probe deeper into the truth. By investigating various rumors through the network of players, you learn that he met with the Foreteller of the Vulpes Union, Master Ava, just before he vanished. Ava had been gathering elite Keyblade wielders without any connection to the Unions for unknown reasons, making her a prime suspect.

You track down Ava and confront her, but rather than give you an answer, she raises her Keyblade at you in battle. Needless to say, you are easily overwhelmed and fall back. But in truth, Ava has no intention of fighting and merely wants to show you just why you should not allow your sadness and rage to get the better of you. Doing so proves that you are not yet ready to learn the truth. The reckless behavior you exhibited by demanding a confrontation with a vastly more powerful opponent led to a quick defeat, but next time, you may not even be so lucky.

That night, Ava pays you and Chirithy a visit. She reveals that Ephemer has been transported to another plane known as Unchained and is attempting to communicate with you through the dreams you've had recently. The connection you share draws you closer to Unchained, but whether or not you can or will proceed to it depends entirely on you.

The Player visits a new world: Beast's Castle, and meets another Keyblade Wielder named Skuld, who is from the same Union as Ephemer and also wants to explore the Foretellers' lair. They are suddenly shocked to see two Foretellers fighting each other and encounter strange Heartless. After the two defeat them, they also encounter a dark, evil vision of Chirithy, who reveals that the Heartless they defeated are Keyblade Wielders consumed by darkness, much to the shock of the Player's Chirithy.

To further understand the mysteries of the Foretellers and the future, the Player, Chirithy, and Skuld re-enter the Foretellers' tower, where they are caught by a Foreteller. They are also told that Ephemer is a traitor to his union and that he has disappeared. The Player then challenges the Foreteller to a duel, assuming Ephemer has been captured, but is easily defeated. The Foreteller reveals that she is, in fact, Master Ava, and that the Player's quest was a test of their character to see if they are worthy of leaving this world before the Great War between light and darkness. Keyblade wielders that can resist the darkness and fight for what they believe in, like their friends, are worthy of becoming elite Keyblade warriors known as Dandelions and going on to the Realm of Light and avoiding the coming universal war. All who stay will become a part of that war and must face an uncertain future. Skuld accepts the offer, but the Player's character is uncertain if they should join Ephemer, who has gone on to the Unchained realm, or stay and fight to save the future. Later, they encounter two Keyblade warriors accusing each other of stealing Lux from their unions, and the Player is forced to fight Master Aced, who defeats them. Ira arrives to stop the fighting. Aced claims that he is collecting more Keyblade warriors to prepare for the upcoming war before leaving. Ira informs the Player, Skuld, and Chirithy that the war cannot be avoided and that there will be no victor. The only Foreteller who may have a solution is Gula so the trio go to look for him.

When Gula is found, he reveals that the only one who can alter these predicaments is the Master of Masters, the Foreteller's mentor, who had disappeared recently along with the sixth apprentice, Luxu. Meanwhile, Ava tracks down Luxu, who had been ordered to watch the place by their Master. He reveals that he wants to move forward to see the end of the upcoming Keyblade War after discovering what happens in the "Lost Page" in the Book of Prophecies. Once Luxu reveals the truth about the events that have been occurring and the identity of the true traitor, a shocked and furious Ava engages Luxu in a duel, ringing the clock bell and starting the war. Meanwhile, Skuld returns to her union and the Player encounters Nightmare Chirithy, who is surprised that the Player is choosing to stay out of the war. He then summons the corrupted Keyblade wielder Heartless from earlier, forcing the Player to fight them. After they are defeated, Nightmare Chirithy fuses them and himself in a giant Heartless. After the Player defeats it, Nightmare Chirithy dissolves into darkness, but vows to meet them again.

A few days later, the Keyblade War begins and the Player battles four Foretellers before collapsing in exhaustion. The war ends with numerous Keyblades planted in the ground, forming the Keyblade Graveyard and with the Player's character laying in the middle of the graveyard (presumably dying) while Chirithy, Skuld, and Ephemer approach them.

Some time later, the Player wakes up to Chirithy at a simulation of Enchanted Dominion. Chirithy claims that the events of the Keyblade War have really been a dream the Player has had ever since accepting down Ava's offer to join the Dandelions, and the two decide to rest after confronting a wall of thorns. On the other side of the thorns, Maleficent (who is heavily implied to have found the Book of Prophecies) congratulates herself with what she has accomplished while wondering where Pete is. Confident that Sora and company cannot meddle in this world, she contemplates on conquering the new world that she has entered in.



Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover

In Daybreak Town reside seven individuals who wield Keyblades to protect the realm's light: the Master of Masters and his six apprentices. A devastating conflict has been foreseen, and the world's end is imminent. In order to heal it, the Master of Masters gives his disciples unique roles and instructs them to form Unions comprised of other Keyblade wielders. Soon afterwards, the Master vanishes. One apprentice, Foreteller Ira, is left in charge.

One day, Ira discovers a dark Chirithy. This suggests someone has submitted to darkness and a traitor is present. Foreteller Aced is the primary suspect, and it is soon discovered this was not foretold in the Book of Prophecies written by the Master. Aced convinces Foreteller Gula to form an alliance with him, but Foreteller Invi dissolves this. Suspecting Invi is the traitor, Aced clashes with her, but their battle is stopped by Foreteller Ava and Gula.

It is revealed Gula possesses a Lost Page from the Book of Prophecies. This confirms the presence of a traitor amongst the Foretellers. Gula is struck down by Aced, but Ava saves the former's life. Aced is then accosted by Ira, but the two reconcile. Ira then seeks out Gula in an attempt to see the Lost Page. He is sent away by Ava, who is tending to Gula's wounds. Gula reveals his intention to summon Kingdom Hearts in order to lure the Master of Masters back to Daybreak Town, but Ava dissuades him from doing so.

Realizing conflict between the Unions is inevitable, Ava acts in accordance with her role and gathers Keyblade wielders who must go into hiding instead of fighting, dubbing them the "Dandelions." Meanwhile, in the barren wasteland of the Keyblade Graveyard, Luxu pauses with the No Name and a mysterious box engraved with the words "χ Super", and intones his master's mantra, "May my heart be my guiding key."

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ

In the realm of the Unchained, the Player goes through the story of Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] once more, but with subtle differences. Your Foreteller doesn't save you from the Darkside, as the darkside never appears. Instead of using the power of Cards, you use the power of Medals instead. You spend some time searching for missing keyblade wielders. But you quickly return to the climatic decision decline the Dandelions when:

Kingdom Hearts Union χ

"This secret must stay wit the five of you. When all is said and done, you must come to the fated land."
"You'll be joined by four others."

Flash forward: The Keyblade War has ended and the Foretellers are no more. Ephemer arrives at the Keyblade Graveyard.

Flashback: the Master of Masters is instructing Ava on her role in selecting the Dandelions and also selecting five new Union Leaders from among them.

Flash forward: Skuld joins Ephemer at the Keyblade graveyard the second of the new Union leaders. They are soon joined by a third.

Flashback: Ava is explaining to Ephemer that the new union leaders can work together to protect the light.

Flashback: The Master of Masters explains to Ava that one of the five is to receive a copy of the book of prophecy, but only one. It will be risky if the other four get their hands on it.

Flash forward: The third union leader is shown to be a much younger Ventus from Birth by Sleep. He's jealous of the friendship of Skuld and Ephemer, who clearly know each other and reveals that he's been alone up until now. Ephemer reassures Ven that he's now alone anymore and that they are now friends as the fourth leader arrives.

Flash forward: Skuld, Ephemer and Chirithy are talking about the Player. Chirithy is upset that he has to lie to the Player about what happened after the keyblade war and how they are in the Dandelions, but Ephemer tells Chirithy that the Player is better off this way. After Chirithy vanishes, Skuld expresses her concern about the new world, which Ephemer shares. They agree to "let their heart be their guiding key".

Present: The Player is continuing to have nightmares about the events of the Keyblade War, particularly remembering when they had to break up a fight between two wielders and then fight Foreteller Aced.

Flashback: Ava explains that the Dandelions will live through their lives once more, but without the threat of the Keyblade War hanging over them. But in order to avoid the war, they would all have to forget the war. Ephemer objects, saying the the past makes the future and it would be better if they remember. Ava responds:

"I thought you might say that. But I wonder if you would feel the same if you were there to witness the end."

Flash forward: The fourth introduces himself as Brain. The four leaders discuss things, including whether or not they should trust Ava, since she is having them lie to the rest of the Dandelions. Ventus is also uncomfortable with lying, but Skuld and Ephemer convince the rest to go with it as they await the final leader.

Flashback: We spend some time with Strelitzia, a shy girl who has been quietly watching over the Player from after since the very beginning of their journey. One day, Ava approaches her and tells her about the looming darkness and her ultimate plan for the Dandelions. She also tells Strelitzia that she is to be one of the five leaders. Later that night, she's discussing what Ava told her with her Chirithy when she startles him by sitting bolt upright in bed. She's remembered that the Player isn't a Dandelion and resolves to invite them to join first thing in the morning. That next morning, Strelitzia is waiting for the Player in Daybreak Town's Fountain Square when her Chirithy tells her that the Player had just went down an alley. They look together but are unable to find the Player, so Strelitzia decides to go back to the Square. Before she can return, an unknown people strikes her down with a keyblade and steals her union leader book. Strelitzia laments that she never got a chance to talk to the Player as she hugs her Chirithy and succumbs to her wounds, fading away and releasing her heart into the sky.

Flash forward: The fifth leader finally arrives at the Keyblade Graveyard.

"I do apologize for keeping you all waiting. There was something I needed to find. I'm Lauriam. Nice to meet you."