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(358/2 Days manga spoiler below, I guess?)

Since Xemnas pranks Roxas in the manga because of Terra’s memories, I think it’s really funny if Xemnas is thinking “Oh my god, we finally made it to Disney Town together. I’m gonna use my supreme authority to make Roxas wear mouse ears, lol.” And Roxas is just like: ???

Why Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days has Depth: Storytelling with Meaning

It’s not very often that a video game tells a complete and compelling story. But when I played 358/2 Days, I immediately thought it was a “Grand Argument Story”—a type of story that explores a problem and argues for the correct way to solve it, described by the Dramatica Theory of Story. 

If you’re unfamiliar: Dramatica is a framework to understand and construct narratives. Its central idea is “the story mind”:

The Story Mind The one unique concept that sets Dramatica apart from all other theories is the concept that every complete story is a model of the mind's problem solving process. To fully explore any issue, an author has to examine all possible solutions to that issue and make an argument to prove to an audience that the author's way is best. (1)

These stories tend to feel meaningful—you know instinctively that they want to communicate a message to you, even if you can’t verbalize what it is. You learn something alongside the characters. This is the sense I get from 358/2 Days; compare that to Kingdom Hearts III, which is not a Grand Argument Story and has no appreciable message. It feels emptier.

Character Elements

There’s a lot to Dramatica, but we’ll focus on one specific aspect of character in story.

Under Dramatica, characters are the tools used to make the story’s argument as they each take on specific points of view or approaches that your own mind takes while trying to solve a problem. You can argue with yourself: “Do I follow my heart, or my brain? Do I take the easy way out, or think long-term and avoid distractions?” Dramatica takes these possible approaches and spreads them out among characters so they argue among themselves how to approach the problem in a story, just like your mind would.

These approaches are called “elements,” and ALL of them have to be represented in a story for the problem to be fully explored. There are 16 elements that can motivate a character (2):

Dramatica considers characters who have at least one of these elements to fulfill a “dramatic function” in the story—that is, they participate in the argument the story is making. That’s not to say that other characters aren’t important—they can flesh out a world, for example. This is the case in 358/2 Days, which has a large cast, but the consistent dramatic characters are basically only Roxas, Xion, Axel, and Saïx.

The interesting thing about these elements is that they have conflict built straight into them. You can tell immediately that a character representing “control” is going to have a hard time dealing with the character representing “uncontrolled.” Or “faith” and “disbelief,” “pursue” and “prevent,” etc. The diagram below arranges these characteristics into quadrants. Pairs of elements diagonal to each other within each quad have the most potential to generate conflict (2).

The elements can (but don’t have to) combine in complementary pairs to make what are called “archetypal characters.” They’ll sound familiar as characters that pop up in stories all the time. These archetypes each have one specific decision-making element and one specific action-taking element. They will both either be “driver” elements, which serve to drive the story forward, or “passenger” elements, which are more passive.

Protagonist Action Characteristic (Pursue): Pursues the goal. The traditional Protagonist is the driver of the story: the one who forces the action. Decision Characteristic (Consideration): Urges the other characters to consider the necessity of achieving the goal.

Antagonist Action Characteristic (Prevent): The Antagonist physically tries to prevent or avoid the successful achievement of the goal by the Protagonist. Decision Characteristic (Reconsideration): The Antagonist urges the other characters to reconsider the attempt to achieve the goal.

Guardian Action Characteristic (Help): The Guardian is a helper who aids the efforts to achieve the story goal. Decision Characteristic Conscience): It represents conscience in the mind, based upon the Author’s view of morality.

Contagonist Action Characteristic (Hinder): The Contagonist hinders the efforts to achieve the story goal. Decision Characteristic (Temptation): It represents temptation to take the wrong course or approach.

Reason Action Characteristic (Control): This character is very calm or controlled in its actions. Decision Characteristic (Logic): It makes its decisions on the basis of logic, never letting emotion get in the way of a rational course.

Emotion Action Characteristic (Uncontrolled): The Emotional character is frenzied or uncontrolled in its actions. Decision Characteristic (Feeling): It responds with its feelings with disregard for practicality.

Sidekick Action Characteristic (Support): The Sidekick supports, playing a kind of cheering section. Decision Characteristic (Faith): It is almost gullible in the extent of its faith—in the goal, in the Protagonist, in success, etc.

Skeptic Action Characteristic (Oppose): The Skeptic opposes—everything. Decision Characteristic (Disbelief): It disbelieves everything, doubting courses of action, sincerity, truth—whatever. (2)

Plenty of stories don’t use these specific element combinations to make the archetypal characters above; instead, they combine the elements in different ways to make more complex characters. You can pile as many elements as you want into a character, or only have one.

Now, there aren’t eight archetypal dramatic characters in 358/2 Days. We have only four characters to work with. Which is where things get interesting. All of these motivation elements ARE present in the story, but they’re distributed among Roxas, Xion, Axel, and Saïx to make some complex characters.

Axel

Pursue Axel pursues the story goal by making plans to keep the group together and survive in the Organization. He’s the one who makes the plan to cover for Xion when she can’t summon her Keyblade, despite not really wanting to get involved. He also proposes the plan to Roxas to look for Xion after their missions.

“C’mon, Axel, think of something!” Roxas insisted. Why can’t you think of something? The retort nearly left Axel’s mouth, but he gulped it back down. Roxas was the only one of them who could use the Keyblade. It wasn’t like Xion could take it… “Like I said, there’s just no way to— Wait.” Axel paused, looking back at Roxas. He noticed the look and blurted in excitement, “You thought of something?” Beside him, Xion was still hunched over, hidden under her hood. “Roxas, what if you worked double duty?” Axel suggested.

Temptation Axel almost always takes the path of immediate benefit. A natural improviser, his approach is to solve the problem now and deal with the consequences later—even when he is well aware the consequences will be serious, as in this scene.

“This is right,” Xion said firmly. “It’s better this way.” Axel hated that argument. Nothing was better any which way. All it came down to was what you wanted to do and what you didn’t.

Uncontrolled Axel agonizes over what to do, but ultimately, he acts impulsively and outside the rules to solve his problems. My favorite way this is shown is in his relationship with Saïx.

Axel kept pace with him. “Nah, this is about Riku. There’s something I want to look into. So I figured I should probably ask you first.” “Hmph. I’m sure you’ll look into whatever you want with or without my permission.”

Also, Axel is constantly being pulled in all directions, so his focus is all over the place. Xion and Roxas need him. The organization needs him. Saïx needs him. He needs a nap.

Feeling Axel is absolutely driven by his emotions. He does a whole lot of justifying his actions to himself, and it invariably comes down to his heart.

I just did what I thought was the best thing at the time. For Roxas, for Xion, for the Organization—and for Isa. But most of all for me.

He acts directly against the logical course of action, and even acknowledges it.

”Xion, what are you gonna do?” She answered plainly. “I’m going back to where I belong. That’s all.” ”You know, I always thought that’d be for the best. But it still bugs me. Something about this is just wrong.”

“You both think you can do whatever you want!” He summoned his flame-wreathed chakrams to his hands. “I’m sick of it. Go on, you just keep running. But I’ll always be there to bring you back!” It was a plea, a cry, a bitter lament, and a vow. No matter how many times you leave, I’ll bring you back. Every time. Both of you. For my sake and for yours.

Disbelief Axel is suspicious by default. He questions Saïx all the time.

There was no one else in the vicinity. Why was Saïx delivering his message so evasively? Axel’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

He also counters Roxas’ naïve optimism.

“Relax. We’ll be fine,” Roxas encouraged, but she didn’t look up. Sensing her anxiety, Axel turned away. “I wouldn’t be so sure. They’re not that stupid.”

And, most importantly, he doesn’t believe that he, Roxas, and Xion can stay together forever. To him, their separation is inevitable.

“Well, nothing lasts forever,” Axel mumbled, looking off to the side again. “Least of all for a bunch of Nobodies.”

Roxas

Help Roxas participates in achieving the goal of staying together by implementing Axel’s plans, like when he teams up with Xion. He doesn’t take initiative himself.

Consider Roxas is the character who makes the case for staying together.

“I hope we’re always together like this,” said Roxas. Xion nodded. “Yeah… Me too.” Axel scratched the back of his head. “What’s gotten into you two?” “I just…want these days to last forever,” Roxas murmured, slow and pensive. “Hanging out after the job’s done, eating ice cream, watching the sunset…”

He sticks to his guns when he’s faced with the reconsider element.

Support A lot of times, Roxas is more of a cheerleader and emotional support for Axel than he is useful in terms of actual help. I think if 358/2 Days were told from Axel’s point of view, it would be pretty easy to see Roxas as the sidekick. Or like... pet.

Even in his mission with Demyx in the manga, Demyx is the one who steps up to the plate to solve the problem while Roxas just rolls with it.

And he’s got so many “thanks, Axel”’s. Lots of appreciation and support!

“The two of you are friends, right? Tell you what—I’ll pick Saïx’s brain and see what I can find out.” Roxas nodded eagerly. “Thanks, Axel.”

Faith Roxas is the only character who actually believes their group can always be together. Xion even says that Roxas isn’t ready to know the truth, and Naminé then muses about his childishness.

“I know. I’m ready. I just don’t know how. That’s why I came to see you.” Xion exhaled. “And Roxas should be going back with me, shouldn’t he?”

She looked away, as if that was the only part that upset her.

“But I don’t think he’d understand that... not yet,” she went on.

Xion seemed to reflect all the best parts of Sora. And maybe Roxas carried the more childish parts of his nature—so Naminé suspected, although she had yet to meet Roxas.

This panel is late in the game, but Axel never believed they would be together forever, and Xion doesn’t either pretty early on. Roxas keeps believing loooooong after it’s clear that it’s only a dream.

Xion

Hinder Xion is constantly in the way of keeping the group together. Constantly. She’s always a problem Axel has to solve to get everyone together again, whether she’s passed out, lost the ability to use her Keyblade (thus putting herself in danger), running away, learning the truth about herself, or hiding from Axel and Roxas because of her problems. Of course, it’s never her intention to do this, but it happens nonetheless.

Conscience Conscience is about putting more weight on long-term consequences over immediate benefit. This is at the center of Xion’s major decisions in the story. She loves her friends, but she can’t be with them anymore.

She heard Roxas pleading, “No, wait!” I’m sorry, Roxas. Axel knows what I am, and he’s going to tell me to come back. Riku gave me this chance, but…I can’t take it. Not like this.

She even acknowledges her conscience element is going to cause conflict with Axel’s temptation. Conscience is what drives her to run away and also to fight Roxas at the end, once Axel has exhausted her other options.

Saïx

Prevent Saïx (and the Organization, really) makes it impossible for the trio to stay together. He doesn’t just hinder, like Xion does.  He’s involved in the plan to have Roxas and Xion fight and destroy each other. He’s specifically driven to prevent to them being together, permanently.  

Reconsider Saïx argues with Axel about him spending time with Roxas and Xion, urging him to reconsider his goal on multiple occasions.

“Or put it this way,” Saïx said, as if he’d heard himself. “Which one would you rather suffer the loss of? Some idiotic charade of friendship or Roxas himself?”

Saïx had no response for that. A moment went by before he spoke again. “You’re letting yourself get too attached to them.” “Right, sir, of course, sir.”

Oppose Saïx opposes everything, all the time. He makes sooooo many oppositional comments.

“You have your own mission, Roxas,” Saïx told him before Xion could answer.
 “I can’t trade with Xigbar or something?” “What an extraordinarily childish notion. Do you need Axel to walk you everywhere now?”

Logic Saïx is cold and logical in everything he does, to an extreme. He delivers some very cold lines that reflect his reliance on logic.

“Look at you…” Saïx shook his head faintly. “All up in arms over a creature that shouldn’t exist.” “What, like a Nobody? We’re all Nobodies!” Why won’t Saïx understand? Is it because he’s a Nobody? But so am I! “You have nothing to worry about,” said Saïx. “Xion may be beyond repair, but that does not affect your standing with us.” “My sta—? Argh, you’re like a broken record!” Roxas fumed. “I’ll do my mission later.”

Icy. Like he has trouble understanding emotion at all.

Controlled

Saïx is quite robotic in his focus.

“Things are finally right again,” Saïx went on. “Of course, we’re better off this way.” Axel had no retort for that. Maybe because he didn’t want to alienate Saïx anymore. “Xemnas is exasperated from all the ‘fixing’ we’ve had to do. We have to set things right. There is too much on the line…Lea.”

He’s also depicted as calm and expressionless. It’s intentionally in contrast to his berserk state, where he temporarily embodies “uncontrolled.”

Depth from Complexity

The combination of elements that each character has is complex (as opposed to archetypal), giving depth. One reason that Axel is so fascinating in 358/2 Days is that he has both the pursue and disbelief elements. He doesn’t even believe the goal he’s pursuing is possible! It’s such a powerful way to communicate his emotional desperation. Mixed with feeling, uncontrolled, and temptation, he’s a total spiraling disaster.

Roxas’s elements sum up his character: help, consider, support, and faith. He is naïve (faith), but that’s why he’s the only character who can argue with Axel to find ways to keep everyone together (consider). Despite this, he takes no initiative himself, only supporting Axel’s plans like a cheerleader (support) or by following his directions (help). He’s immature, but earnest. Because he has both consider and support, he has this childish dynamic where he asks Axel for help and then cheers him on while Axel solves all his life problems. But it’s cute. No wonder Axel adopts him.

Xion comes off as much more mature than Roxas with the conscience element. She knows that she knows the right thing to do. And that’s why it makes narrative sense for her to have the hinder element—the “right thing” is in conflict with pursuing the goal to keep everyone together. She should get in the way. I love how she is constantly a problem for Axel throughout the story because of the interplay between these elements. She is regularly more of an obstacle than Saïx himself. It’s quite a refreshing combination since she’s taken elements from the helpful “guardian” archetype as well as the subversive “contagonist” archetype.

Saïx has both of the classic antagonist elements (prevent and reconsider) as well as the reason characteristics (logic and controlled). He’s a cold and calculating bad guy, turned up to the max with his literal lack of emotion, as well as his perfectly composed demeanor that’s contrasted with his wild berserk state. He gets extra stubborn jerk points for having the oppose element as well—he’s constantly an obstacle for everyone all the time, doesn’t matter what it is. It elevates him from villain to complete bastard. You love to hate him.

Interpersonal Conflict

Besides character complexity, the multiple, diametrically-opposed purposes between each character weave a spiderweb of conflict.

Of course, Saïx is the main villain of the story and naturally there’s conflict with him. He has three elements opposed to Axel. Most of this conflict occurs with Axel in a surprisingly subdued fashion, however. For example, Axel is constantly approaching Saïx from an emotional angle, getting a detached logical response, and absorbing the impact (feeling vs logic).

“Can’t you just let things run their course?” Saïx complained. “What course? Whose plans am I ruining, exactly?” Axel retorted, still staring at the empty space where Roxas’s portal swirled into nothing. “The Organization’s. I trust you.” Axel let out a low chuckle. “Yeah? Because your heart tells you to?” “Just the memory of it. But if you continue to interfere, I’ll have to overwrite that memory with everything I’ve learned as a Nobody.” “…Should I take that as a threat?” “More or less. Keep it in mind.” Finished with the conversation, Saïx walked away. Axel didn’t move for a while.

He might only snap once?

And this short interaction illustrates the subtle conflict between Axel’s uncontrolled and Saïx’s control:

Axel kept pace with him. “Nah, this is about Riku. There’s something I want to look into. So I figured I should probably ask you first.” “Hmph. I’m sure you’ll look into whatever you want with or without my permission.”

Axel and Saïx’s prevent and pursue elements come into conflict through actions, such as when Axel stops Roxas and Xion from fighting each other in Halloween Town. 

Saïx’s other two elements conflict with Roxas. For example, Roxas’s confrontation with Saïx is a physical fight as much as it is a battle between consideration and reconsideration. This feels like the most “traditional” conflict in the game to me—the fight where the villain and hero argue about what’s right and wrong. It’s because consideration and reconsideration are elements in stereotypical roles here (those being the main character and the villain, respectively).  

Xion faces so much trouble in the story because (in addition to having her hinder element mercilessly employed), the most active character, Axel, who has the pursue element, also has temptation that’s in conflict with Xion’s conscience. The conflict between those two elements is the obvious driving force behind this confrontation:

“This is right,” Xion said firmly. “It’s better this way.” Axel hated that argument. Nothing was better any which way. All it came down to was what you wanted to do and what you didn’t.

Her hinder element also creates conflict with Roxas’s help element. That’s what “flipping the switch”/“the wrong button” was.

Roxas and Axel come into conflict because Roxas’s faith that they can always be together opposes Axel’s disbelief. Axel avoids confronting Roxas with the truth about Xion for so long to delay this very conflict. 

Many of the clock tower conversations also involve this tension between faith and disbelief.  

“I just…want these days to last forever,” Roxas murmured, slow and pensive. “Hanging out after the job’s done, eating ice cream, watching the sunset…” Axel peered at his profile as he did just that. The sunset’s glow touched Roxas’s face and Xion’s with warm red. “Well, nothing lasts forever,” Axel mumbled, looking off to the side again. “Least of all for a bunch of Nobodies.” At that, both of their expressions fell.

I think this conflict is part of why Axel is so difficult for Roxas to understand. Axel seems like he cares, because he’s pursuing the goal of keeping everyone together… but Roxas is the one who believes in it, not Axel, and Roxas interprets this as indifference. They never reconcile over this difference in the end.

“You can’t turn on the Organization!” Axel cried. “You get on their bad side, and they’ll destroy you!” Now Axel was upset—nothing like before. Roxas smiled thinly and paused a moment. “No one would miss me.”

In short, the conflict that emerges is so natural and interesting because the characters represent all the problem-solving approaches, giving them depth. This full exploration of all possible sources of conflict between the characters’ motivation elements makes stories meaningful. The tension within the sea-salt trio is part of what makes 358/2 Days so emotional compared to simpler stories where conflict is reserved for heroes vs. villains only. Hopefully, future entries return to this approach to storytelling to successfully communicate the beliefs about love and friendship that Kingdom Hearts has at its core in a sincere way.

(1) https://dramatica.com/about (2) https://dramatica.com/theory/book/characters

Well... what else can he do if he’s too flustered to say something witty?

(Also, where else would Saïx have gotten the diary idea from but Isa?)

Pre-Remind KH3 isn't great, but at least Sora isn't severely autistic like the one in DDD.

Well... I think there are a a couple things here. First, I agree that pre-Re:Mind KH3 isn't great. But I also think post-Re:Mind KH3 isn't great, or any better than pre-Re:Mind. I think the only thing it "fixed" for me (sort of) was being able to play as other characters in the Keyblade Graveyard battles. It's my opinion that KH3 irreparably damaged the KH storyline and no DLC could fix that.

As for Sora's behavior, I found him a bit annoying in KH3, but I didn't feel that way in DDD, so it seems we had opposite experiences. DDD is a bit foggy in my mind, but I had the impression in KH3 that Sora had to constantly be lectured and kept on task. In every world I thought, "Does Sora even know what he's doing here?" First he goes to Olympus to get his power back. Then he throws that out the window and decides he's going to help Roxas, but ends up doing... nothing. He felt aimless at a time when the stakes were the literal apocalypse. I think he felt irritating because of this, like he wasn't taking anything seriously. I kinda felt like Donald comments on this in a self-aware way... lol.

I don't think I ever found Sora so careless like this in DDD. He followed the goals he had pretty much. Sora is childish, but I felt there was a marked difference in understanding reality and consequences that made him feel like an actual child in KH3. I'd love to hear what bothered you about him in DDD exactly, though.

Vexen, Ace Icon

Honest question and KH3 spoilers: Thoughts on Xigbar getting revealed as Luxu?

It was lame and undermined Xigbar's character. His whole arc was totally derailed because Luxu had nothing to do with Xigbar and basically he got hijacked as a way to insert Luxu into the story.

Pre-KH3, I thought he was one of the most interesting KH characters. He's batshit crazy! He's willing to voluntarily become half-Xehanort in BBS, even though he is afraid of Xehanort and lost his eye thanks to him. Can you imagine giving up half your capacity for self-determination to a homicidal maniac? WHY?

What would possess you do to something so insane?

Presumably, he was going to get his hands on a keyblade (maybe Xehanhort's?). That seems to be the implication of the above conversation in the Re:Coded secret ending (but Young Xehanort doesn't know). He tells Terra he plans to get a keyblade in BBS too:

“That thing right there. It’s called the Keyblade, isn’t it? Yep, it seems like these days everybody’s got one of those…even grandpa there.” Braig cast a glance at Master Xehanort behind him, then continued, “When I nabbed him, he told me all about it—what a weapon like that can do. How could I not want one?”

But on the way to his plan, he commits atrocities that haunt him.

Day 117: Him and Roxas

Author: Xigbar

Roxas is maturing at an impressive rate. His face, the way he handles the Keyblade, it's all exactly the same. The worlds seem so divided and alone, but there's always that steady thread there to connect them. And we Nobodies can never escape the things we did as humans. So it goes.

In the Days secret reports, Xigbar writes that Roxas reminds him of Ventus and he can't escape what he did to him. There's always a steady thread there that won't let him forget.

“Pa-ha-ha! Talk about a blast from the past!” Xigbar let out a bark of laughter as he got to his feet. “Of all the faces… Why do I see yours?” ... “Do you always have to stare at me like I just drowned your goldfish?” Xigbar remarked.

Also in Days, Xigbar sees Xion's face as Ventus and mentions "the glare." He complains about Sora doing that in KH2 and KH3 too. It genuinely bothers him because it reminds him of the terrible things he's done.

So he's super selfish and destroys other people's lives for his own ambitions, but he increasingly feels guilt over it. That growing tension has to go somewhere. I think at the end of his arc, he should have learned that he was wrong about this KH3 quote below:

"No good will ever come from putting other people first." Sora is proof that Xigbar is wrong about this. One of the only times Xigbar is openly freaked out is when Sora forces him to confront this belief in Dream Drop Distance:

Sora: I know the Keyblade didn't choose me, and I don't care. I'm proud to be a small part of something bigger--the people it did choose. (Xigbar gasps) Sora: My friends. They are my power! (Behind Sora stand the images of Riku, Kairi, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Roxas, Xion, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus. They hold their weapons out, facing Xigbar) Xigbar (nervously): Those are just words. You've lost.

Because in KH, friendship is power. Xigbar doesn't do friendship though. He chose to murder and torment people instead. He feels haunted by that. He should have wished he followed Sora's path at the end. Maybe he would be consumed by his guilt, or he would show he changed by putting someone else first for once. Or both.

But instead it was all for funsies because he was the REAL guy in charge the whole time, Xehanort wasn't scary, Luxu set everything up for Xehanort to find him in Radiant Garden I guess, and he did all the murder because he was bored. He lied in his Days reports to be dramatic. He learned nothing and did not develop as a person.

Trying to do therapy but also have kingdom hearts brain rot???

“In addition to wearing a dress, the male main character is named after soft and feminine clouds, which is an affront to masculinity,” Gov. Bill Lee explained during Thursday’s press conference.

This isn’t exactly a joke because the UX story is inspired by Christianity but like

Guys, I’m baking, I’m just like Aqua wowwww

Nevermind I dropped the blender blade in the filling. She would not do that

Guys, I’m baking, I’m just like Aqua wowwww

Why does Terra get an unfair number of interesting relationships in KH?

Terra and Ven? Little brother but focused on the little more than the brother until it’s too late

Terra and Riku? Oops, I gave you the darkness, sorry. didn’t know it was contagious

Terra and Aqua? Eternal loyalty but also jealous rivalry

Terra and Xehanort? Prey and predator

Terra and Eraqus?? Never good enough for dad

Terra and Stitch??? Loneliness pity party

Have I shown you all my Kingdom Hearts pin collection? :)

Theory: Sora was supposed to use the Power of Waking on Xehanort at the end of KH3

I am pretty certain that the final battle from the Keyblade Graveyard onward in KH3 was altered late into development. The whole sequence feels off and at times even confusing. Nomura also described having difficulty writing this part of the story:

—The story's endgame where all your friends and foes gather at the Keyblade Graveyard was a masterpiece. Nomura: I know each fan has their own different beloved character, so I wanted to give each one an appropriate moment. But in the end there was too much story that had to be told then, and I ended up being restricted to the minimum necessary to move Sora forward. The truth is, the Keyblade Graveyard was the toughest part I faced when writing the scenario. [...] At the end of deep worry and thought, I narrowed my aim and ended up with the way it is now, which prioritizes rhythm.

No shade to Nomura for dealing with creative restrictions imposed on him... but yeah, it shows. I think the very end was also a casualty of these sorts of restrictions. One of the most nonsensical scenes to me in KH3 was this:

Riku: It's Xehanort. During the Mark of Mastery exam, we learned that he can transcend space and time. He's a portal. And we can use that to trap him. (Mickey nods)

Followed by this when Sora does a little Keyblade zippy zap:

I know we learned a little about portals in 3D but there was no foreshadowing that it was a way to trap someone like this. And the idea of portals was totally absent for KH3, but suddenly it's the way to beat the Big Bad?

And then we are magically in... Scala ad Caelum? Not sure how that would trap him because he can just Keyblade Scooter back...

Xehanort says this about it:

Master Xehanort: Of all the places to be sent.

Master Xehanort: Here, I and my other selves can be one. United…in Scala ad Caelum.

Okay? Why can he be one with his other selves? Why does he even care? He was about to win, he was opening Kingdom Hearts!

Everything that follows remains almost entirely unexplained. Like, I am bewildered that they kept any of this in because it's so bizarre. We aren't told who these creepy dudes are, we don't know why they merged, we don't know what Xehanort being a portal means or how that can be used to trap him.

But what if Riku's explanation was retroactively applied over a different, original intention? What if Sora--who believes in the light in every heart--decided to use the Power of Waking on Xehanort and rescue him as well?

Consider how Riku uses the Power of Waking in Dream Drop Distance:

He opens up a portal which is visually identical to the one Sora opened for Xehanort to dive into Sora's heart

2. He collects Soras

3. He fights the nightmare imprisoning Sora, which takes the form of armor of darkness surrounding him

4. He is suddenly in Sora's heart's Destiny Islands and gets a pop quiz on the meaning of the Power of Waking from Sora's heart & co.

Then Sora's heart wakes up.

The entire sequence is really similar to the Xehanort battle:

Sora uses a portal to trap Xehanort somehow, which ends up being in Scala ad Caelum

2. Sora sees several Xehanorts wandering around, which Xehanort identifies as his "other selves"; they morph into the creepy darkness things, which Sora defeats

3. Sora then defeats this Xehanort, whose armor shatters

4. Sora talks to Xehanort in Scala ad Caelum

Basically, all the ingredients for the Power of Waking are there. But in KH3, it's not explained that is what's happening. The whole thing makes far more sense if Sora was opening a portal to Xehanort's heart, not trapping him in the real Scala ad Caelum. That's his home world--the world that would be in his heart, just like Destiny Islands is the world in Sora's heart. It also explains how he is able to bend the physical space--it's not real. And it explains why he could be his "other selves" all together.

Okay, but WHY would he need the Power of Waking used on him? Well... what if everyone realized he was possessed by Darkness--namely, Superbia?

Sora first sees the heart-Xehanorts normally, but then they morph into the creepy darkness things: the twelve Darknesses that were released from the other just-defeated Organization XIII members. (You see the streams of darkness leaving their bodies as each is defeated.) Darknesses as in, Darknesses whose desire is to possess bodies with strong hearts, of which there are thirteen in total.

Reconsider what Xehanort says after all the Darknesses merge into him:

Master Xehanort: Here, I and my other selves can be one. United…in Scala ad Caelum.

It is somewhat weird for Master Xehanort to say (he never cared about uniting himself into one--he was about to achieve his goal after he opened Kingdom Hearts). But it's not weird for Darkness, which can act separately or as a hive mind, to say at all. And of course Xehanort would be Superbia since he actually believes he is entitled to direct everyone's fates. Sora would have learned about this if Scala hadn't been cut as a world.

So, the reason that the Xehanorts would "glitch" and turn into Darkness is because of his possession. More speculatively, it was probably a willing possession like Xigbar's which allowed him to keep his sense of self, but become half Darkness. It just got removed from the story.

With Xehanort's heart freed from the clutches of Darkness, he would now be free to converse with Sora in his heart. Sora would reawaken his heart by reminding him of his old friend Eraqus, his light and what matters most to him. Then back in the real world, he would voluntarily give Sora the χ-blade and more understandably live happily ever after with his boyfriend Eraqus.

It really sends the message that you can light the way back for any heart in the darkness out of love. It's why Xehanort has that happy ending--it was necessary for the meaning of the whole story. But with this part stripped, it ends up uncomfortable because it was unearned.