End of the World
First Appearance: KINGDOM HEARTS (2002)
The final showdown arrives. As Sora, Donald and Goofy observe the crumbling, apocalyptic world, Sora voices out a concern: If the End of the World would vanish once all the worlds are restored, what would happen to them? Goofy however reassures Sora: Their hearts will not go anywhere, and despite their circumstances, they will find their friends again. Sora's hope in returning Kairi's lucky charm to her is reaffirmed.
The trek through End of the World proves treacherous as the Heartless are strongest here, and it does not take too long for the team to discover that this world is made up of the remnants of all the worlds which have been consumed by darkness. The way forward is briefly impeded by world's demonic denizen, Chernabog, but even he is no match for Sora, Donald and Goofy's teamwork. His demise opens the pathway into the heart of End of the World.
By going through a door resembling the one in Sora's Awakening, Sora and his friends return to the place where it all started: Destiny Islands, but it is soon clear that it is merely a nightmarish imitation of Sora's once peaceful home. It is here they meet Possessed Riku, whose body has been shaped to resemble Ansem's own. Sora calls out for his missing friend, but Ansem advises him not to bother, for Riku's heart belongs again to darkness. Ansem declares his philosophy: All worlds begin in darkness, and all so end. The heart is no different, for darkness is its truest essence. Sora calls out on it, believing that though the heart may be weak, deep down there is a light that never goes out. Unimpressed, Ansem challenges Sora's naive beliefs in a fierce final battle.
The battle leads everyone present to a tall stained-glass door: The Door to Darkness, and beyond it, the Realm of Darkness with Kingdom Hearts lying within. As hearts are made of darkness, so do too the source of all hearts? But just as Ansem implores Kingdom Hearts to bestow him ultimate power, Sora's hypothesis is proven true. A burst of pure light is released from its depths and destroys Ansem.
With the Door to Darkness opened however, legions of Heartless are about to break free. Riku and King Mickey arrive at the other side of the Door. Two hearts and two Keyblades, one on each side, are needed to close the Door, and what is more, only Heartless can pass through the Door to Darkness. With the fate of the world at stake, Sora is forced to lock it, trapping Riku and the King in the Realm of Darkness.
The sealing of the Door to Darkness restores everything to normal. As the End of the World breaks apart and worlds begin to reform themselves, Sora share one last reunion with Kairi. He knows that he cannot return home yet as he still needs to find Riku and the King, but he'll always be with Kairi, and he promises that he will return home to give her back the lucky charm. "I know you will", cries Kairi, before she and Sora are separated: Kairi is sent back alone to Destiny Islands, while Sora, Donald and Goofy begin a new journey.
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