Kingdom Hearts Story Recap
Birth By Sleep
Terra, Aqua, Ventus
Birth By Sleep takes place a decade before the first game and it stars three young Keyblade Masters; Terra, Aqua, and Ventus.
They train under Master Eraqus, while a second master, Xehanort, travels the world to investigate the influence of darkness. Terra and Aqua take the Mark of Mastery exam, but because Terra yields to the darkness only Aqua passes.
Xehanort’s Travels
Terra and Aqua are sent out to investigate a trend of dangerous new creatures called the Unversed, and Terra sets out after Xehanort who’s looking for the Princesses of Heart. Ventus goes off in pursuit of Terra, and Aqua is sent out to keep an eye on Terra.
Handing Down the Keyblades
All three characters end up on the Destiny Islands at some point, and interact with young Sora and Riku. Terra senses the latent power within Riku and hands the Keyblade down to him.
Ventus, Vanitas, and the “Chi-Blade”
During the three’s journey, Ventus’ past is revealed, as he used to be a pupil of Xehanort, who drove him to use darkness.
Unable to do so, Xehanort split Ventus in two, leaving his light half as the comatose Ventus that he took to Eraqus while the dark half formed a new being known as Vanitas.
Xehanort’s ultimate goal is to fuse Ventus and Vanitas to create the X-Blade, the mythical weapon that protected Kingdom Hearts, and thereby summon Kingdom Hearts to claim its power.
Xehanort Tricks Terra
Along Terra’s quest, Xehanort constantly tricks him into using the darkness and aiding Disney villains, until finally Xehanort convinces him that Eraqus is holding him back.
After being told that Eraqus plans to end Ventus, Terra travels back to the Land of Departure and ends up fighting and killing Eraqus. Only after does he realize his error.
The Final Battle
Terra, Ventus, and Aqua confront Xehanort at the Keyblade Graveyard, the site of the ancient war, and do battle with him and Vanitas.
Terra is defeated by Xehanort who possesses his body and becomes “Terra-Xehanort,” but Terra’s Lingering Will in his armor strikes Terranort down.
Ventus is defeated by Vanitas who successfully forges the ” Imperfect X-Blade,” however, with the help of Mickey, Aqua manages to defeat Vanitas. Ventus is put into a permanent comatose state from the battle.
The Fates of the Three Heroes
Aqua takes Ventus to the now destroyed Land of Departure and unlocks the Keyhole, transforming it into Castle of Oblivion.
She lays Ventus in a throne room to keep him safe until his heart can awaken. Ventus’ heart, meanwhile, was touched by that of Sora, and found refuge hidden away in the young boys heart.
Finally, Aqua goes to confront Terranort at Radiant Garden. After a fierce battle, Terranort sinks his body into darkness to try and stifle the remnants of Terra, and Aqua dives in after him.
Aqua sacrifices herself to send Terra out of the darkness, dooming herself to wander the Dark Realm, while Terranort ends up back at Radiant Garden, with a completely wiped memory.
