shadowedheart | canon update for kingdom hearts 3

Player: Missy
Character: Riku
Current Canon Point: end of Dream Drop Distance
Updated Canon Point: end of Kingdom Hearts 3

Updated Background:
Lordy, I'm gonna try and summarize this the best I can since you mods have a few of these to read. /o\ Also, that being said LOTS OF SPOILERS TO BE HAD.

We first meet up with Riku here alongside Mickey in THE REALM OF DARKNESS on a mission to find Aqua who Mickey was all WHOOPS and forgot about her for like 10 years apparently. side eyes that mouse forever tbh Riku has a moment of reflection within the dark world and how it should feel all familiar to him and yet it "feels like another life", this showing how much growth he's had from Kingdom Hearts to where he is now. With his being assured this his doubts and fears are no longer a hindrance to him, that he has control of himself and his darkness finally, he teases Mickey about his promise made to Terra years ago ("to protect the things that matter") but is all like nah, can't tell you who, before they set off again to find Aqua.

They end up on the very same beach that Riku had been on back in Kingdom Hearts 2 with Sora where they found their way back to the realm of light and at first Riku's like hey, maybe Aqua did, too? But Mickey is all NOPE she's covered in darkness, don't ask me how I know, I just do. Riku is pretty much like ??? at this but then Heartless appear and the two of them have to duke it out with the little guys. It's during this battle, Riku gets swallowed up by the Heartless and it pretty much looks like he's a goner about to drown since he's underwater somehow now. But that's when a mysterious voice calls out to him in the darkness and, like before, Riku is sort of all ??? because hi, who's there? The voice is like hey, why are you here? Riku explains that somebody (Aqua) needs him and the voice is like welp, you're kinda in a pickle here, bud, want some help? Riku's like yeah I guess but who are you? But before he can really get an answer from the voice, he passes out then wakes up on the beach and Mickey's like GOSH THAT WAS CLOSE and somehow Riku has a new hairstyle. That's when Riku notices his Way to the Dawn keyblade is snapped in half and he's like welp, so much for this, stabs into the sand. Mickey suggests they head back to Yen Sid's tower and get some new gear but Riku is concerned about Aqua still being lost in the realm of darkness by herself. "How long are we supposed to keep her waiting in this awful place?" But Mickey is like don't worry, she's like Sora and Riku literally flips out at the thought before Mickey clarifies that she's STRONG like Sora. So, with that clarified, off they go to Yen Sid.

Riku and Mickey regroup with Sora, Donald, and Goofy at Yen Sid's and they exchange stories about where they're at in terms of their respective "missions" that they're on. They explain that Aqua was dragged down into the abyss within the realm of darkness and how Riku feels that, as someone who's dove down after Sora back in Dream Drop Distance, if they can find someone who's close to Aqua to make the dive, they can probably reach her. Mickey's like welp, Ventus is hidden SOMEWHERE who knows only Aqua does and Terra's been missing for like years so that doesn't leave much hope there. It all seems hopeless and then Sora is like I'll save her because he's the protag and all but the others are like hey, Sora, you don't have the power of waking, remember? Riku and Mickey decide to visit the worlds Aqua once did to hopefully find some clues with helping her and gear up with some new stuff before they head off once more.

Riku and Mickey discuss the last Aqua and Terra had been seen and about how Organization 13 had planned to get thirteen vessels for Xehanort's heart but whoops, they were stopped and how young Xehanort was off in the future picking out new hearts for a new Organization to start. Trip down memory lane aside, Riku questions Mickey about what happened to Terra since didn't you say Aqua saved him?? Mickey is all YEAH ABOUT THAT and explains how Master Xehanort was using Terra's body and Riku is like WHAT??? Mickey is like yeah I know, it sucks, but Riku questions where Terra's body went then since Xehanort is an old man and not young like when he had Terra's body. Mickey figures Terra's still "held prisoner" within Organization 13 so Riku is like well this sucks and decides to tell Sora about this. Funny thing is, Sora ends up calling Riku first and asks him about how he could "complete" Roxas since he's still sort of chilling inside his heart. Riku explains to Sora about replicas since Sora doesn't know about that stuff. They explain to Sora about Terra and to be careful and all that then head off to see Ansem the Wise.

Regrouping with Sora, Donald, and Goofy again, they chat about how the Organization claims to have thirteen darknesses and are after "seven new hearts" which they think to be seven new princesses of heart but Yen Sid isn't so sure about that. They figure Kairi must be a new seven heart even though she's wielding a keyblade, Terra still hasn't been found, but Ventus is inside Sora's heart according to Vanitas so hey, let's rescue Ventus because that's probably the easiest thing to do. But Riku is like hold on guys, Aqua's the only one who knows where he's hidden in there, remember? So, they need Aqua first before they can find Ventus. Sora gets all huffy because he wants to go find Aqua but can't until he has the power of waking so Riku reassures him that he's got this and to go find that power then they'll meet up together. So off Riku and Mickey go to find Aqua again in the realm of darkness.

Enter the realm of darkness, fighting happens with the heartless, then Aqua appears after Mickey's been sucked up and Riku is all !!! because Aqua! But also bad because Aqua has been changed. Aqua explains how she had been abandoned by Mickey for over a decade and this is what happened to her as a result of that. Hearing Aqua explain how lonely it is within the realm of darkness, how frightening it is to have no one, Riku is touched by this, having been there himself. Riku takes on the demon tower and right when things get bad, he calls out for Sora and Sora appears just like that, wow. They use their combined keyblade to defeat the demon tower, Mickey gets spit out, and just before Aqua can attack Riku, Sora intervenes and takes on Aqua while Riku tends to Mickey. Sora ends up saving Aqua then her, Sora, Riku, and Mickey are all reunited within the realm of light, Aqua finally being free after over a decade.

After Ventus is saved by Sora, everyone regroups back at Yen Sid's and Riku speaks to Aqua about how he had been told that she had saved him in the realm of darkness once upon a time. He apologizes for not having been able to go help her right away back then but Aqua doesn't hold it against him and when hearing that he's a keyblade Master, she's proud of him, knowing it's no easy task to accomplish. So with seven guardians assembled (Riku, Sora, Aqua, Ven, Lea, Kairi, Mickey), everyone takes a bit of a break before the big battle tomorrow and Riku chooses to spend it alone on the beach... or is he alone?? Turns out Riku Replica is there with him, Riku being the only one able to see him. Riku explains that he knew Riku replica was with him and had been the one to save him in the realm of darkness in the beginning and in turn, Riku replica explains what had happened to him in the realm of darkness, how his mind and body fell to the darkness and he had been about to give up before Riku came along. "I'd rather face my end with you than in darkness." Confirming that's what Riku replica wants and how there's something he needs to do, Riku agrees and tells his replica to take as much time as he needs, supporting and keeping him with him in his heart.

SO ONTO THE KEYBLADE GRAVEYARD. Everyone heads there for the big battle and old man Xehanort strolls on out of the sand with a smug ol' grin on his face all 'sup kids. He goes on with a speech as a villain does, completely obsessed with the Keyblade War legend, and that's when the battle starts. Heartless fall from the sky, keyblades get drawn, fight fight fight, heartless defeated. But whoa!! Terra suddenly appears?? Except not. It's Xehanort being Xehanort like he does and Aqua sees through that super quick. Terra's confirmed as the 13th vessel for Xehanort, attacks Ventus, Sora's like don't be rude!! and goes after Terranort, is stopped by darkness, Lea shields Kairi from Terranort, Donald messes Terranort up, it's a grand display of protecting each other. But then more heartless come because it's not over yet kids and Riku tells Sora to pull it together when he starts to falter some. The heartless literally become a giant tornado of, well, heartless and everyone gets picked off one by one until it's just Sora and Riku left standing. Sora drops his keyblade, SCREAMS, Riku is like oh my god are you ok?? Sora starts to have a moment of despair, claiming he's worthless without his friends, we've lost, game over man and Riku is like oh hell no. "Sora, you don't believe that. I know you don't." Riku walks off from Sora like the Master that he is and takes on the heartless tornado himself, shielding Sora from it and gets eaten by the darkness before Sora has a moment of pulling himself together with a little help from the light of the past and everyone's let go, yay. But did you think that was the end? Because it sure isn't. SWEATS.

"Riku from the past" shows up and Riku is like this guy because boy, was he a jerk back in Kingdom Hearts and just seeing him makes Riku annoyed. So "Riku from the past" unleashes a big ol' darkness monster out, taunts Riku some because he's a little shit, and the heartless come yes again to surround them. Mickey is about to use time magic to help everyone but Riku is all NOPE and grabs his keyblade, telling him not to or else he won't have any strength for the final battle. Reluctantly, Mickey is like sadface ok. Basically, too many heartless, what do, then suddenly a giant ball of light drops down from the sky and it's... Master Yen Sid!! He grants the guardians a way out, Donald and Goofy stay behind with him, and off the others go to make their escape, thanks, Yen Sid.

So, Keyblade Graveyard. Literally it's a bunch of keyblades in the ground everywhere and then guess who appears? That's right, old man Xehanort with his 13 vessels/darkness/whatever you wanna call them. Old man Xehanort gives another villain speech, is all time to forge the x-blade, and everyone heads off to meet old man Xehanort because he made walls and things to get to him as villains do. Riku ends up fighting "Riku from the past" and defeats him and as he's ~disappearing~ that's when Riku Replica slips out of Riku's heart and explains that no, that's not "Riku from the past", it's another replica but hey, that's just what he's been waiting for. So, Riku Replica literally punches the other replica out of that body, makes it an empty vessel, and takes it... but starts to fly off and Riku is all UM?? ARE YOU GONNA USE THAT OR?? But Riku Replica says he won't because "the world already has you" which shocks Riku and has him ask then... what are you doing?? Riku Replica explains it's for someone else, someone Riku knows and that's when it clicks that he's taking the vessel for Namine. The last Riku sees of Riku Replica is him smiling down to him with a genuine good luck before he disappears with the vessel.

After going after Ansem on his own, Riku meets up with Mickey and Sora and surprise, old man Xehanort is there. Sora is all WHERE'S KAIRI?! and Riku, confused, is like what happened to Kairi? Sora explains Xemnas took her and Xehanort is just all troll laughter. Cue another Xehanort speech, Riku all if you summon Kingdom Hearts, we'll defeat you old man, another battle happens and Riku says a sort of "goodbye" to Ansem as he "dies" since they've had a wild ride together over the years (he's even like I think I might miss you). Here comes old man Xehanort though with bringing Kairi out of nowhere and strikes her down to get Sora riled up for that darkness VS. light battle he's got it bad for. Riku's like oh shit?? and goes after Xehanort when Sora gets smacked down but Xehanort gotta Xehanort and Riku gets frozen along with Mickey. Xehanort gets that x-blade and opens up Kingdom Hearts, leaving Sora just sort of lost with what to do. But don't worry, EVERYONE shows up which includes Terra and Roxas now (that's all Sora's doing, Riku wasn't there for any of that) and everyone is like let's go get that old man. Riku explains how Xehanort can transcend space and time, making him a portal which they can use to trap him. The original plan is to have Aqua and Riku go ahead since they're the Masters but Sora insists he do it and so they're like welp, ok then Mr. Protag. Sora asks the others to keep Kingdom Hearts shut while he goes after Xehanort and so off he goes with Donald and Goofy at his side.

Riku and the others fly their way through Kingdom Hearts to meet up with Sora, Donald, and Goofy where they find old man Xehanort defeated. Terra's like hey, Master Xehanort and Aqua's like HOW ABOUT NO?? but he's like it's ok, I got this and it turns out Eraqus had been inside Terra all along!! Eraqus tells Xehanort to seriously CHILL and just give it up, you lost and, after much reluctance, Xehanort is like fine, whatever. Eraqus is like it's ok, I'm here with you like I said I would be, and they both turn young again and float off together. Mickey is then like time to close Kingdom Hearts up and everyone does together.

So Kingdom Hearts is closed, Xehanort has gone off somewhere with Eraqus, it's all over. OR IS IT?? Oh right, Kairi. Riku suggests they go back to Yen Sid to figure out where Kairi is but Sora is all no and insists he knows what to do. Mickey is like that's great and all but the power of waking is kinda dangerous and he risks not coming back home to them even if he does find Kairi. Sora's like nah, it's cool and despite Mickey insisting DON'T DO THIS CHILD, Riku steps up and tells Mickey to let Sora go, asking that Mickey believe in Sora and with that, Sora disappears off to find Kairi.

Everyone ends up reunited with who is most precious to them and Riku heads off to Radiant Garden in the gummi ship to retrieve a newly born(??) Namine thanks to the vessel Riku Replica took for her. He brings her back to the beach where everyone is seen together having fun and just being happy for once. And it's here that Riku will be taken for canon update and I'm so sorry you had to maybe read all this. Forgive me.

Updated Personality:
Is this enough of an explanation??

Ok, but really, Riku has finally matured to the point of being the most chill and supportive of the group. Where he was once jealous of others, he now feels pride. Where he was once lost in darkness, he now controls and knows to not fear. Where he was once in the state of mind of not believing he deserved to wield a keyblade, he does so now proudly to protect the things and people that matter to him. Riku has become a Master and it's in the way he's now so sure of himself and his abilities, how there are no more fears or doubts to hold him back, that really make him stand out and shine as a potential leader.

The biggest "change" to him is that Riku has now become the support whereas before he had always needed the support of others, of Sora. Sora (finally) has moments of breaking down and being unsure of himself, something that is so STRANGE and even heartbreaking to see of him that Riku is now the one to gently support and stand up for him. Riku is the one with faith in him. Riku is the one to tell him not to give up. Riku is the one to let him go his own way, knowing that he can handle it himself, believing in him and asking others to believe in Sora. He also becomes both a physical and emotional support for his replica aka Riku Replica in allowing him to remain within his heart and, not only giving him thanks for the help, but telling him to stay with him for as long as he needs. To those he cares for and shares a bond with, they have his support and he'll support/help them in any way that he can.

He'll still wander off to do his own thing, Riku is still Riku like that. But he doesn't mind the company of others, doesn't shy away from asking for help, and doesn't intend to leave anyone behind. His care and concern for those he considers his friends and those important to him is something he's also not so shy about voicing anymore like with being so determined to save/find Aqua and Terra.

Updated Abilities:
Riku pretty much has the same abilities he acquired in Dream Drop Distance but he'll also be coming in with

• THUNDAGA: Lightning will strike an enemy and create a large charge that will affect other nearby enemies

and

• CURAGA: Greatly restores HP of target and surrounding friends. Healing depends on MP.

Other:
He broke Way to the Dawn and I'm mad that he can't use that keyblade anymore?? But he's going to be bringing in a new Keyblade with him which is Braveheart because, yeah, broken Way to the Dawn and all. Also, with his own gummiphone which is like a smartphone just KH style.

Riku will also be disappearing the first week of March, probably sometime after Sora, for a few days to a week.

Questions:
I'm cool with the gummiphone not working in emp or being able to be modified with emp emotion tech. Just let me know either way since some other characters might want to be bringing these in as well. o/