Just Deserts (Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories) in Gamer's Gaming

The Road So Far…

Riki has arrived at Castle Oblivion, brought there by his heart’s connection to Sora to face down and defeat the darkness in his heart, embodied within the walls of the castle by the specter of Ansem. Riku has faced down Heartless, Maleficent, the Guard Armor, and even Ansem himself. Meanwhile, the members of the Organization in the lower levels of the castle have become aware of his presence and have something planned for Riku, though we cannot be sure what. As Sora has just arrived in Castle Oblivion to be tormented by Marluxia, Axel, and Larxene, Riku will have to face down his own trio of Vexen, Lexaeus, and Zexion. What does the Organization have planned for Riku? Can Riku overcome the darkness within his heart? Can Riku find a way to help Sora in his own struggles? We know what Sora has been through, but will Riku suffer the same fate or will he rise above the darkness? As Riku enters Agrabah, some questions may be answered while others are sure to arise in their place…

Now…

As Riku entered the streets of Agrabah, he once again immediately received the Key of Beginnings card. Riku fought his way through the Heartless in this initial room and made his way north, using a Tranquil Darkness card to open the door and move on to the next room. Riku got some more practice with his dark powers before heading east into the next room, using an Almighty Darkness card to open the way. The fights were stiff in the next room and pushed Riku to his limits, but in the end, he managed to come out on top and made his way to the east exit, using a Lasting Daze card to move forward. Though Riku did not make the most of his opportunity to daze his opponents, he still managed to come out on top in battle and made his way farther to the east, using a Looming Darkness card to move on to the next room. Finally, after fighting off an almost limitless wave of Heartless, Riku made it to the final door, the Key of Beginnings door, and opened it to face the darkness inside.

In the next room, Riku came face to face with Jafar in his genie form. Iago flew around the room carrying the black lamp as Jafar launched fireballs, ray beams, and lowered and raised the floors around Riku in an attempt to keep the hero from his assault on the bird and lamp, but it was all to no avail as Riku chased Iago down and put an end to Jafar once more. With his heart cleansed of more darkness, Riku earned the Jafar-Genie card. Back outside the room, Riku made his way back through the previous rooms until he found a new door that led to his own Conqueror’s Respite room. RIku took a look at his new card and readied himself before heading back out into the halls of Castle Oblivion.

Back in the hallway, a black portal opened up before Riku and Vexen, the Chilly Academic, appeared. Vexen said that he took it the boy before him was Riku. Riku asked if Vexen was with Ansem. Vexen said that he was half right. Vexen told Riku that it was not the Ansem with which Riku was familiar. He is Ansem and he is not Ansem. Perhaps a “Nobody” best conveyed the idea. Riku told Vexen that riddles were never his thing and to try again. Vexen explained that the kinda-Ansem belonged to neither the light nor the dark, but walked in the twilight between. Vexen chuckled as Riku started. Vexen asked if he was starting to catch on and commented how Riku also stood in between the light and the darkness. Vexen believed they had much in common. Riku looked down and figured maybe this robed figure was correct. After all, Riku really did have darkness left inside of himself. Suddenly, Riku stood in attack position and drew his winged weapon, saying that it didn’t matter because darkness was his enemy and so was Vexen for reeking of the darkness. Vexen laughed and told Riku that if it was a fight he wanted, he would be happy to take him on. Vexen drew his Ice Shield and attacked Riku. Vexen attacked Riku most by trying to break Riku’s attacks and countering, but he also used icicles and attempted to freeze Riku. However, a strong diet of sleights along with some card breaking of his own left Riku victorious over the mad scientist. After the battle, Riku continued to press the attack while Vexen blocked all of his attacks. He told Riku that he recognized a darkness of formidable power growing that was well worth the trouble of aggravating him. All this excitement had provided Vexen with invaluable data. The comment caused Riku to flinch and Vexen knocked him backwards. Vexen thanked Riku for all he had given him before disappearing into a dark portal. Riku realized that he had fallen for Vexen’s trick, but with the scientist gone, all he could do was move on to sublevel 9. With nothing to do but move forward, Riku approached the room door and used the Monstro world card to synthesize another world from his memories. As the door opened, Riku stepped forward, wondering what Vexen wanted with the information from their battle.

Last updated July 07, 2015