Canon + Headcanon

[dawnward]

Everyone has their own interpretations of the events of Kingdom Hearts, Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II, and 358/2 Days. There's certain elements and allusions that people interpret that changes the way they play a certain character. Here's just a few of mine, just so if anyone has any questions on it, they can refer here. Most of them are minor, but this is just to be safe. This will contain spoilers for all of the games.


» "There was a man who left the Islands, once." - In Birth by Sleep, we learn of someone who once lived at the Islands who disappeared one day. This is the beginning of Riku's understanding of the "outside", and that there's the potential to leave. He wants to visit worlds and become stronger.

» "Let's take the raft and go, just the two of us!" - What Kairi said in jest to Sora may have been cute, but to someone who liked her, that'd be a crushing blow. This is probably the "straw that broke the camel's back" when it came to Riku; with Kairi clearly favoring Sora, he had no more reason to hold back.

» Meeting Xehanort at Destiny Islands - According to Coded, Riku briefly met Xehanort's Heartless at the Islands, who opened a portal for him to pass safely into Hollow Bastion. How he got there, why he didn't meet Riku sooner, or even if he did, is anyone's guess.

» Xehanort's Possession - When Riku's body was taken over, it was as if he became a back-seat driver on himself. Xehanort had every ability to control his body, but Riku was still aware of what was going on. As the possession became stronger, he began to lose that awareness, slipping into a limbo of consciousness ("Your voice can no longer reach him where he is."). When the Heartless is destroyed, Riku is deposited in Kingdom Hearts.

» First Death - The first official "death" of Kingdom Hearts comes from Riku's hand. All of the opponents Sora faces he "defeats". Riku, once possessed by Xehanort's Heartless, stabs Maleficent and unleashes her darkness. When she fails, he kills her. Even Sora is appalled at this cruelty; Riku's true reaction is never shown, nor does he ever apologize (and she returns in KH2), but Replica Riku's distress after killing Zexion is a good idea of how much Riku doesn't care to kill others.*

» Gone for Good? - DiZ pretends to be Xehanort's Heartless throughout Chain of Memories so Riku will finally face the darkness in his heart. When Lexaeus dies, he's submerged in the darkness and the real Xehanort's Heartless taunts him and even tries to take control in his weakness (Re: CoM has him take over completely to kill Lexaeus himself).

[Also this part of Chain of Memories sounds extremely wrong. Let me quote:

"You called my name, Riku... You're thinking about me...
You're afraid of the darkness I command. Good... The more you think of
me, the closer my return draws. And when I awaken..."

If that doesn't sound horrible, then nothing does. Thank you, original CoM.]

Xehanort attempts to control Riku twice. DiZ, as Xehanort's Heartless, only speaks with him three times: in the opening, when he gives him the Castle's trademark card, and in Twilight Town. When Riku defeats the Heartless, the next dialogue happens:

Mickey: So, Riku...what's next? Are you going home?

Riku: I don't know if I can. It's still there. His scent...it's faint, but not
gone. I can't go home until it is. His darkness may still have a hold on
me...

Mickey: Your darkness belongs to you. Just like your light.

He still has Xehanort's Heartless in his heart at this point, but he's being assimilated into Riku's own power. More on this later.

» Replica Riku - Riku's replica is like him in almost every way, with a few minor exceptions. Replica embraces the darkness (since it is an integral part of his being), is more arrogant, and represents Kingdom Hearts' Riku more than the one that enters Castle Oblivion. While Riku struggles to accept himself and make his way out of the Castle, his replica is too busy trying to be strong enough to beat Sora and impress Namine.

When all is said and done, Replica is manipulated by Axel, killing Zexion, taking his powers, all in trying to be his own person. When he next meets Riku, he's breaking apart at the seams and is desperate enough to kill Riku to get what he wants. Riku kills him instead and watches him die, a rather traumatic experience...all-in-all.

» The Road to Dawn - Riku leaves Castle Oblivion and heads down the "Road to Dawn", as he puts it. In the manga, DiZ follows him as well and leaves Namine in the castle. In the game, all that's seen in the credits is Riku and Mickey in the gorge of Hollow Bastion. Riku presses a hand to his heart in pain, pauses, and then keeps walking. Clearly, Xehanort's not really gone.