The Kingdom Hearts: Antipode Blog

Antipode is an ongoing Kingdom Hearts AU project that began with the simple premise of Riku obtaining the Keyblade and explores the consequences and aftermath of the choices he makes as a hero. While Riku must overcome his hubris and grow into the hero the worlds need, Sora grapples with his own kindness being exploited by malicious forces. Their choices and the consequences therein have radically altered the course of destiny for better and for worse. This blog will provide information on the universe as well as progress updates. If you would like to know more, feel free to shoot me an ask! Kingdom Hearts: The Antipode | Fragmented Truths | The Year Between | All That's Left | Side Stories FAQ | Timeline

[khantipode]

Hey, guys. It's been a while. Antipode isn't dead, but obviously I haven't touched it in a while. To make a long story short, I'm just kinda burned out. I got up to the end of Neverland remastered for the first fic and outlined Hollow Bastion's remasters but then I got really into Persona again after playing Persona 5 royal and growing to adore Akechi, thereby starting a Persona longfic as just a way to refresh and start something new. Now, this doesn't mean I'll never come back to Antipode. However, time away's made me realize that a big problem as things currently stand is... ambition. I had considered making another set of fics after All That's Left. Upon further evaluation, I think I may genuinely need to rework my plans for Act 3 to serve as a conclusion, at least in the event that I don't have any motivation to make another saga. Then there's Hurricane Heartbeat, which despite promising a sequel years ago, still hasn't come to pass. My co-writer at the time had done a lot of brainstorming and spitballing to try and help me work up the motivation. At some point, I should really go over those notes and figure out what I wanna do. Now's just not the right time. Maybe KH4 or Missing Link will rekindle that spark. Right now, my head's just not in the best place. But Antipode has gone on long breaks before. I'm sure I'll eventually sort this out.

[khantipode]

Hey, folks! I have been nominated for the Million Dreams Award for Reconnect. I know I've been kinda inactive lately, but thank you to whomever nominated me! You can vote here, if you so desire! I was also nominated for video essay. c:

[khantipode]

I love what you did with Xemnas, and his identity. That was a GENIUS twist that works so well.

Thanks so much! It was a twist I waited so many years to get to, and now that the cat's outta the bag, it's gonna be fun exploring the repercussions of it.

...when my hands feel better because RSI suuucks.

[megaderping]

For years, the Kingdom Hearts fandom has argued that Terra is the dumbest character in Birth by Sleep. That he’s too trusting, too gullible, and that Aqua has to clean up after his messes. Both he and Aqua tend to get boiled down to flat archetypes without regard for their actions in the story or the complexities to their characters.

In this video, I hope to challenge that perspective by really digging into Terra as a character, his actions in the story, and the context behind those actions. Through it all, I also wish to emphasize the tragedy of Birth by Sleep on a more personal level than the broad, macro plot elements.

This video has been a long time coming, so it’d be super awesome if you could reblog it to help it reach a wider audience!

[khantipode]

While you wait for more updates, here’s a video I did all about Terra! :)

[khantipode]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Aqua woke with a jolt. Sweat trickled down her cheeks. She gasped for air, eyes darting around. She remembered Marluxia and Terra’s double-betrayal, Larxene intercepting Terra’s blade, an explosion of lightning as Aqua threw up a desperate barrier, and… darkness. Lots of darkness.

But now… ah. It was still dark, save for the incoming starlight, yet even in her dim surroundings, she made out the shape of picture frames. Squinting, she leaned forward, and… hm. Extending her palm, she formed a small orb of light, which illuminated the wall and revealed colored pencil sketches of chalk drawings in a park, a castle surrounded by jagged stone spikes, and a clock tower bathed in starlight.

So this was Naminé’s room, and… Aqua glanced to her right, where Ven lay nestled in blankets. On the wall parallel to him, several more sketches hung, including one of Xiruk with an arm looped around Naminé, Xiruk and Naminé joined by what looked like a smaller Pete and Goofy surrounded by arcade machines, and four young ducklings. One in a green hoodie, another with a blue T-shirt, and a third with a red baseball cap, holding a hardback book. A fourth wore a small pink bow in her feathers and grinned wildly as she aimed a handheld grappling hook overhead.

Perhaps on another day, Aqua might have admired the artistry, but for now, she slid from the edge of the bed, and… thankfully, no aches or strain. Whoever healed her did a good job, but despite her physical wellness, she moved sluggishly, as if someone had strapped a boulder to her back. She recalled the look of hope in Ven’s eyes as Terra made his peace offering and hoped, allegedly, to discard his Xemnas identity once and for all… only to become Xemnas again and risk all their lives in the process. Previous Chapter | Full Chapter | FFN Mirror | Read from the Beginning | Series Timeline Sorry for the delay in posting this. I got it up on AO3 a while ago, but was having motivation issues and never got around to posting it on FFN. That changes now! Chapter 76 will also be posted today in honor of Bravely Default’s 10th anniversary. Then I’m out of chapters to post and will need to resume outlining. I’ve just been very busy with Inverted Fate, but we hope to have more content soon, including the Act 1 remasters eventually.

[khantipode]

Excuse me, Dorked, I'm wondering which chapters have been remastered. I haven't started reading and want to read the chapters with your best foot forward!!!

Hey, thanks for asking! The first fic hasn't had the remaster treatment quite yet- I have the first 14 or so chapters ready but still need to do more before I can post them. Fragmented Truths and The Year between have been more thoroughly remastered, as well as parts of All That's Left (namely its first big arc). I've been busy with Inverted Fate but hope to get back to the remastering soon.

[khantipode]

Musing on the Pocahontas arc

I’m starting to wonder if maybe I should just replace the Pocahontas arc with another one entirely. The more I look back on the film, it’s just.... it has a lot of problems and it’d be a nightmare to untangle it all. I could TRY, certainly, but I wonder if it might be more pertinent to pick a “better” film. I just dunno. Input appreciated.

[khantipode]

Hey, all! Sorry for the lack of updates lately. Chapters 75 and 76 are basically ready but are pending input from one of my prereaders still. The Destiny Islands - Traverse Town 2 arcs of the first fic have had their remasters drafted but I’m still unsure how I wanna handle releasing them. The Ducktales re-edits for The Year Between and All That’s Left are done. That means Chapter 3, Chapters 13 - 17 and 40 of All That’s Left, and Chapter 15 of All That’s Left have all seen updates on AO3 (i’ll get to them on FFN later). I’m thinking of moving Love’s Vagrant into The Year Between, given how important Ringabel has become to the series. Maybe a remaster but leaving the original in Side Stories. Unsure, tho! Input appreciated. Lastly, I think... after the Act 1 edits, I’m gonna rework the Pocahontas arc in TYB. I really feel like it could benefit from a rework that takes a harder stance on colonialism being bad, actually, and exploring one of the few genuine cases in favor of World Order since Antipode is generally critical of it.

[khantipode]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

The explosion rocked the barrier. Smoke spewed through the forming cracks. The gaps between the crevices amplified Aqua’s once muffled cries, and then it hit Ven. This was just like the Cyclops. The giant barrier over Thebes, shattering under its fist. Aqua grunting, shrieking, and staggering from the pain. Which meant… Ven flinched, then leaned into the barrier, watching as Aqua hobbled back up.

But it wasn’t just Aqua. Larxene’s fist burst through the scattered rubble, her fingers igniting with sparks. She chuckled under her breath as she shook off the dust and glanced between Aqua and the barrier. Ven gulped, backing away just as Larxene threw her body against the fracturing shield.

“So. Breaking the bubble breaks her. Good to know.”

That was her only warning before she slapped both her hands on the barrier and overloaded it with a surging tidal wave of lightning. The cracks widened. A constant flickering of yellow to bluish white accentuated everything in deep, haunting shadows. Ven raised his Keyblade with trembling hands to block whatever came next. Then the barrier shattered like glass just as Aqua shrieked so loudly, it made Ven’s ears ring.

Previous Chapter | Full Chapter | FFN Mirror | Read from the Beginning | Series Timeline

---

I have an important inquiry to go with this chapter! The A/N has full details, but the tl;dr is that we are remastering the first Antipode fic in order to address many criticisms over the last ten years and bring it up to the same standard as its sequels. However, there’s been some debate on whether it should be posted as a NEW fic or if we should do what we’ve done w/ previous remasters and simply replace the chapters on the current posting w/ a changelog at the end (and links to old versions).

I would love to hear what people think, as I want to make sure this is handled in a way that is accessible to new readers but without alienating longtime ones.

[khantipode]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

The sight before him petrified Terra. His breath hitched as he soaked it all in. His Master’s emblem spanned the rounded walls, suspended by chains. A solitary throne resting at its center, and as Terra circled around, there he was. That spiky, side swept blonde hair. The short-sleeved jacket, half black and half white, without a long coat in sight. Swallowing the lump that had lodged itself in his throat, Terra crept ever closer, but as he moved, the walls reflected pictures of the past.

Ven pushing away his and Aqua’s hands, giving them a heartbreaking look. “I’m asking you as a friend. Just… put an end to me.”

Terra offering Ven a sad smile after ruffling his hair. “When I really need you, Ven, I know you’ll be there.”

Outside their home, still a castle bathed in gold, he’d ruffled Ven’s hair before donning armor and blasting off into the sky.

Curse this place. Terra’s vision blurred through… no. He clenched his teeth and averted his gaze. He would not show weakness near the Replica, of all people… And besides, he was still a Nobody.

Full Chapter | FFN Mirror | Read from the Beginning | Series Timeline

We also released a new Side Story recently, focusing on Ven and Sora!

[khantipode]

It was a tricky situation, to be sure. Best friends, mortal enemies. The Superior of the Organization and a Keyblade Master, both desperate to reclaim that lost piece of themselves. An uneasy truce, with an uncertain future. Neither one could fully lower their guard, nor turn a blind eye…

Then, smashing Aqua's focus, Xiruk blurted from behind, "...You know, I'm really starting to feel like a divorce counselor here."

They both gave him a look, equal parts perplexed and annoyed.

One of my patrons, Joel, requested a version of the divorce selfie meme because of this excerpt from All That’s Left. Xiruk (Riku Replica) is very exasperated by these two.

Oh, and Ringabel is here, too.

You can read Antipode here!

[khantipode]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

 Waiting was the hardest part. Knowing that soon, it’d all end. Sora paced around the cell, stopping every few minutes to glance between the bars. Was he waiting for Aqua to come back? Xem… no, Terra? How would they know when it was time? And…

 What would happen next?

 It was… weird to think about. A part of Ven had longed for freedom, deep down, for a while. After being unheard by the world around him for so long, stuck in the back of Sora’s mind and in the depths of his heart, how could he not pine for more? His own body meant he could take more direct action, after all. His Keyblade, his presence, his voice… He’d be useful, wouldn’t he? And, he and Sora could maybe…

 Sora stopped, blinking, and scratched at his cheek.

 Huh. That’s weird. 

“What is?” Dang it. The woes of a shared body. But then… where was Ven going with that, anyway? Maybe what?

 Well. There were a lotta things they could do, in a perfect scenario, where both had their own bodies with no risk to Sora’s safety or his sanity. Sparring, racing, fighting side by side. Stargazing… Maybe going off, exploring the worlds on their own terms. Some solo time…

 ...Even though they’d had plenty of it before. They literally shared the same heart space. You couldn’t get much closer than that! But… well. It’d be different if they weren’t stuck like this.

Full Chapter | FFN Mirror | Read from the Beginning | Series Timeline

[khantipode]

@colorfromspace8 did some really neat fanart of Xigbar in his vacation outfit, back in The Year Between! Hawaiian shirt Xigbar is a gift and a treasure. So fun to see it visualized, and big thanks for the fanart! :) They asked that I post it here, so here we are!

[khantipode]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

The first thing Xion heard was the sound of Roxas—no, Ven’s laughter. So soft. So…almost squeaky, like his voice hadn’t fully…settled? Boy voices got deeper, didn’t they? And it wasn’t as though it was shrill. Still somewhat familiar…nostalgic, in a sense. It’d been so long since she got to hear Roxas laugh, see him smile, or just…spend time with him. And sure, Ven was smaller, but that vague familiarity grounded her in this otherwise perplexing place, with its big gears and purple hues. Never mind the strangers, like Skuld and Ephemer beside him at the table, and Brain back at that desk with his cool hat tilted to cover his eyes in shadow for…no reason other than to remind everyone that he was wearing a cool hat.

And now she really wanted one too...

As Xion and the others wandered further into the room, Ven looked to them with a big smile. “Hi there.” It made Xion’s heart do a little flip. Why was he so cute?

Of course, it probably wasn’t Xion he spoke to, was it? Xion turned and stepped aside, as did the others, when Lauriam entered the room.

Previous Chapter | Full Chapter | FFN Mirror | Read from the Beginning | Series Timeline

[khantipode]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Once upon a time, in a humble, provincial town, a proud, heroic man stood above all the rest. A hunter by trade, he’d stride through his home, carrying his latest kill over his shoulders. Men would cheer! Women would swoon! All but the one, far more beautiful than the rest. Clad in blue with her nose always buried in a book, she strode through the town without giving this hero a second look.

But it didn’t matter, for deep within his heart, Gaston knew the day would come where he would capture that maiden’s heart! Yes, it was all just a matter of time before she closed that book and saw what was right in front of her…

Or so he thought.

It all happened so fast. One night, the very night that crazy, old Maurice threw himself into the pub, the air crackled with lightning. Thunder bellowed. At the time, Gaston had chalked it up to nothing more than odd weather…

Then came the Heartless.

Full Chapter | FFN Mirror | Read from the Beginning | Series Timeline

Also known as: How Gaston got punched by Miss Piggy and why he deserved it.

[khantipode]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Xion wished she never opened the door.

The dark laboratory’s closet was barren, save for the thing that sat at its center: an utterly featureless…human mannequin, it looked like. Just…an unfinished doll, about her own height and devoid of all life. …Robbed of all life, going by the hideous cracks sprawling from what should’ve been its heart. Dried stains of red-and-black, liquid data—like what Xion bled when Xaldin shallowly stabbed her—were smeared along the body’s white, broken surface from the imploded heart-cracks. The sickening realization hit her immediately as to what this must have been.

A dud replica body. Perhaps Vexen’s previous attempt at a Riku Replica. And now the poor thing registered less like a life-sized doll and…and more like…a lifeless body, limply sitting there as the killer left it. Not a dud replica…a dead replica.

“Another dead end,” Marluxia said from somewhere behind. Xion tried not to shudder at his word-choice. She only turned away from her lost kin and toward the Nobody poring over more of Vexen’s research journals. For someone who’d never been to the basements of Castle Oblivion, Marluxia seemed to know exactly where to look.

Larxene, meanwhile, sat at the computer monitor against the wall between them, mindlessly tapping away at the keyboard to guess the password.

Previous Chapter | Full Chapter | FFN Mirror | Read from the Beginning | Series Timeline

[khantipode]

Good news! Chapters 71 - 76 have all been outlined. ...Surprisingly, this all happened while I was at a convention (for 73 - 76, anyway). The outlines are so thorough that it’ll be very easy to get the chapters out, and my friend chickenscrews was a big help in getting things together on con days as we spitballed ideas awkwardly while I was on mobile.

There’s a lot of fun stuff on the way, so stay tuned! ...I also may have stayed up past midnight on some nights to work on these outlines. And 2 AM on one because... uh.

This guy.

It’s always freaking Ringabel. Keeping me up at night because he’s so fun to write and he and Aqua are so cute. :| Thanks, Ringabel. Real cool.

Anyway, cool Marluxia, Xion, and Larxene stuff next time. Woo!