Community Kingdom Hearts 10th Anniversary: Contest Winners!

Stardust · Dec 1, 2012

Hey everyone! KH-Vids' Kingdom Hearts 10th Anniversary Celebration has come to a close, as the staff has now finished judging your contest entries! Thank you for your participation and patience -- we really enjoyed looking at the wonderful submissions everyone made for the competitions!

Our Winners:

Nonfiction Writing Contest: Cutsceneaddict

Cutsceneaddict said: ↑

5 Lessons that Kingdom Hearts Has Taught Me

There’s a special something about Kingdom Hearts. For years I’ve tried to put my finger on the definition of this something, but I’ve never come up with a satisfying answer. One thing I know for sure is that—personally—no other video game franchise has been so influential and thought-provoking as this one. A deceptive depth underlies its simplistic, Disney-esque feel. Its characters have grown on me—and almost grown up with me—to the point where I regard them as “old friends.” The lessons I’ve learned from this franchise as a whole can’t all be listed here, but I’d like to highlight some of them, none-the-less. They have touched my life and influenced my convictions, and for that I believe they deserve recognition.

Lesson 1: Even Nobodys are Somebodys
I want to highlight Xion in particular for this point. Xion’s story is easily the most heart-breaking in the franchise. She comes into existence as nothing more than a tool to further the Organization’s schemes. In the most literal sense of the word, Xion is a true “nobody”—a being who never really existed at all—just a physical embodiment of Sora’s memories.

And yet Xion makes an impact on those closest to her—Roxas and Axel. These three form an unbreakable friendship—so strong, in fact, that Xion is willing to sacrifice her existence in order to see it protected.

One of the most misunderstood scenes in 368/2 Days shows Roxas cradling a dying Xion. Just before her death, Roxas gasps out, “No! Xion… who else will I have icecream with?” Fans often joke about the naivety of this line, not realizing just how powerful it is. Xion has made such an impression on Roxas that, without her, Roxas can see only an empty hole in his life. Those simple memories of sharing icecream together on the clocktower have become more important to Roxas than anything else—his accomplishments, his standing in the Organization, even the truth about his existence, perhaps. After all, it was Xion that encouraged him to find the truth behind his unanswered questions. With her death, that encouragement has also ceased to exist.

And yet, even whilst dormant in Roxas’ memories, Xion still manages to influence him. During Roxas’ final battle with Riku, Xion telepathically interacts with both combatants, ultimately setting her friend on a path to rejoining Sora and discovering his ultimate purpose. In the end, Xion lives on—in the heart of Roxas, which is truly the heart of Sora. Her influence helps to shape Roxas and grow him as a person. In this way, Xion is far more than a collection of embodied memories. She had more “heart” than most of the Organization. Her memory will forever linger in the mind of the one person that was closest to her.

All that to say this: I find Xion highly inspirational. She stands out from the cast because she proves a powerful point—that everybody has a purpose… even if it seems that that individual was “never meant to be” or “never should have been.” Without Xion, Roxas would have probably never struck out on his destiny to rejoin Sora, and Axel may have developed in a dramatically different light—one that did not expand his heart and emotions quite so much.

Lesson 2: Your Past is not Your Future
From the moment that Riku discovers the Darkness, he sets himself on a shadowy path to redemption. He stumbles between the Light that is his friends and the Darkness that lies buried in his heart. His personal journey is filled with self-regret, anger, and mistakes, and yet Riku never lets himself give up on reestablishing himself as a true friend to Sora and Kairi.

Looking at the latest installment in the series, Dream Drop Distance, it’s incredible to see Riku’s unwavering dedication to his friends—especially near the end, in which he takes up the Keyblade and goes to Sora’s aid. Looking at Riku’s early years, in which he openly humiliated, and even turned his Keyblade against, Sora, it’s difficult to believe that he’s even the same character.

It’s obvious that Riku has regrets about tampering with the Darkness, but he accepts his past and moves on. By the end of the Mark of Mastery exam, Riku realizes that his future doesn’t have to reflect his past. Does he still struggle with Darkness? Of course. Xehanort’s Heartless seems to haunt his every step, and yet Riku acknowledges this as his personal demon and grows stronger each time he does battle with it. His heart eventually becomes so powerful that when Xehanort’s Heartless approaches him for the final time, Riku is able to ward him off, simply by raising his Keyblade. In the end, his mistakes and his painful road to redemption give him a quiet strength that even Sora cannot understand, having never gone through the same experiences.

Riku is my favorite character for this very reason—he is relatable. I’m sure that, like me, a lot of fans look to him as a beacon of hope—that no matter the opposition, it can be overcome; no matter what the past holds, it does not have to dictate the future. Each day is a new opportunity to set things right. Each opportunity is a challenge to grow. Each growing pain makes you stronger as an individual.

Lesson 3: Trust Until Given Reason to Doubt
Sora’s name has all but become synonymous with naivety, and yet a closer inspection of his seemingly reckless behavior reveals something much deeper beneath the surface: trust. No matter who Sora encounters—whether it be angsty Neku or imperiled Alice—his automatic response is always either: “Can I help?” or “Let’s be friends!” Sometimes it’s both. In the same mouthful.

This default trust is shocking, especially when you consider the amount of deception that Sora has encountered in his lifetime. In Kingdom Hearts, Riku—his best friend—betrays and fights against him. In Chain of Memories, Sora learns that Namine has been deceiving him all along, and yet he still chooses to protect her at the risk of his memory being lost. Unlike Roxas, who experienced similar deceptions his entire life, Sora never loses his faith in others. I believe that the answer to this miraculous trust lies in the fact that Sora holds deep-rooted friendships with those that he meets. He stands on a belief that a true friend is someone that you can trust unconditionally—and accept unconditionally. In that light, Sora finds it easy to trust and even easier to forgive a fault.

It is because of characters like Sora that I’ve begun to give others more trust and more benefit of the doubt. I hold a faith in my friends that says, “I trust you because you’ve never given me reason to doubt.” But, like Sora, I also understand that we are all imperfect human-beings. Forgiveness is a necessary ingredient, and it is certainly the fastest way to mend a broken or strained relationship.

Lesson 4: Love is the Strongest Weapon of All
Kingdom Hearts is full of love, although if you’re searching for it in a romantic sense, you’ll be looking in all the wrong places. Let me clear up my definition of love in order to explain this point. By my definition of love, I mean a selfless, unconditional, accepting love—not a boyfriend/girlfriend romancey-kind-of love. In Kingdom Hearts, this kind of love fills the game. When Sora proclaims that, “I don’t need a weapon. My friends are my power!” he’s speaking of this unbreakable bond of love that he shares with them. Sora realizes, long before any other characters does, that the power of love is stronger than the Keyblade itself. Through his concern—his love—for his friends, Sora is able to heal the mental and emotional wounds of many characters, and even aid in the redemption of Axel and Riku. Though a mighty weapon, the Keyblade could never perform such acts.

The power of love presents itself in the father/son relationship that exists between Terra and Master Eraqus in Birth by Sleep. Although we are told little about either characters’ pasts, it is quite clear that Terra views the Master as his own father, even going so far as to call him such during his final battle with Xehanort. Perhaps Terra was an orphan, brought in—like Ventus—to Eraqus’ care when he was young. Whatever the terms of their first meeting, the results were magnetic.

Unfortunately, Eraqus suffered from excessive worry and lack of trust, having been betrayed by his friend Xehanort in the past. This fear leads to his strict aversion of Darkness and an almost scrutinizing surveillance of Terra the moment that his pupil shows outer signs of his inner Darkness. Though his love for Terra never comes into question, Eraqus’ fears eventually lead to a severe misunderstanding and a deadly Keyblade battle with Terra, in which Eraqus is mortally wounded. As the Master’s life fades away, a strange phenomenon occurs. Both Terra and Eraqus simultaneously come to terms with each other, recognizing their personal faults and silently asking the others’ forgiveness.

After Terra’s own demise at the hands of Xehanort, his heart proves stronger than the evil one thought possible. It soon becomes apparent that someone new is residing in the former pupil’s heart—Master Eraqus. Even in death—even in the face of personal failure—Terra and Eraqus never lose the love that they have for each other. It is this act of love that gives Terra the strength to face years of helplessness, imprisoned in the confines of Xehanort’s dark existence.

“I'm not afraid of what the darkness holds now. Even if you do wrest control of my heart from me--even if you cast me into the deepest, darkest abyss--you'll never sway me from the one cause that pushes me to keep on fighting. Whatever the cost, I'm ready to pay it.”

With those words—and only the spirit of his beloved Master to guide him—Terra prepares for the battle ahead. He knows that he can win. The power of love has shown him that.

I am a strong believer in “overcoming evil with good” through the power of love, and Kingdom Hearts has served to reinforce this theory in my mind. No matter the fault and no matter the wound, love cures and makes right. Even the most wicked evils do not stand a chance in the face of it.

Lesson 5: We Are All a Part of Each Other
I thought it would be appropriate to close with this point, as it is one of the strongest underlying themes of the series: we are all a part of each other, and together we form something greater. “The three of us will always be one,” says Aqua, and even when she, Ventus, and Terra, are separated by death, Darkness, and deception, they never lose sight of this belief.

Sora sums it up in a climatic pre-battle speech with his best friend Riku: “Although my heart may be weak, it’s not alone. It’s grown with each new experience, and it’s found a home with all the friends I’ve made. I’ve become a part of their heart just as they’ve become a part of mine. And if they think of me now and then… If they don’t forget me… Then our hearts will be one.”

This network of friends—linked through the power of love—leads to one individual sharing hearts with many others. In this way, nobody is an island unto themselves. With each contact made, a piece of one individual forever connects with another—influencing him, healing him, or harming him. When hearts grow strong, they form legacies, and those legacies keep friends and memories eternally alive. Axel Lea had a thing or two to say about this topic in Birth by Sleep, “I want everybody I meet to remember me. Inside people's memories, I can live forever.”

This undying legacy creates a sort of immortality for the individual. It gives him purpose and assures him that—even in the most trying of times—he or she is never alone. The minds and hearts of his friends are ever with him, and, because of that, he has nothing to fear. In almost every Kingdom Hearts game, the main characters become separated from each other—forcefully or otherwise—for an extended period of time. Yet, throughout this separation, they never forget that they are together in spirit. Sora first realizes this after his reunion with Kairi, “I looked everywhere for you, but you were with me all along,” he says.

For me, this has served as a reminder to influence carefully. With each contact I make, I am—in some way—shaping each person I meet, and I want to shape them (or become a part of them) in only a positive way. Understanding this concept brings a huge responsibility into focus. I can say with certainty that Kingdom Hearts has given me a lot to chew on in this particular area.

More importantly though, I have been reminded that I’m never truly alone. I have people and friends who I have impressed and been impressed upon… People who care about me and want the best for me. People that I can open my heart to, or simply sit on a clocktower and eat some Seasalt icecream alongside. It’s a good feeling, and it’s truly comforting to know that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life, just because you were in it.

Closing
I feel like I could expand this list forever. Kingdom Hearts has been a major part of my inner influence map, and it’s prominence only grows with each new installment to the series. I owe this franchise for a lot of things—expanding my creativity, getting me into Disney, introducing me to an amazing story filled with vibrant characters…

…But most of all, perhaps, I owe Kingdom Hearts for simply being a part of my life. It’s taught me lessons about friendship, purpose, destiny, and love that I will never forget.
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Runner Up: Saxima

Cover Contest: Chevalier

Runner Up: libregkd

Fiction Writing Contest: Saxima

Ｊａｃｋ ❄ said: ↑

A short story through the mind of Riku, and his thoughts on what has happened since he left his home.

The glossy surface of the white pod was clear and pristine, and made it easy to not only see the sleeping hero within, but the darker stain in its reflection. Silent steps echoed through the white and cylindrical room, moving away from the pod, and it became clear and untainted once again. With just a few steps, the snowy surface would become filthy once again.

How amazing it was that something so corrupting could exist, that with one careless move, it could eat you up, tear you apart, destroy you. It was a kind of poison, one that was not to be taken lightly. A killer? Not so much.

As he saw it, it was like curiosity's partner; that's what happened with Xehanort, right? He was curious, and so he experimented. It didn't turn out very well; now he was the threat of all worlds, but he'd been curious, and he had influence from the poison.

There it was, that familiar feeling; ice filling his veins, circulating through his body rapidly. Within the last year, he had gained a deep sort of intimacy, if you will, with this feeling. His gloved hand went over his heart, his whole body now feeling sickeningly cold.

Riku had been curious, too.

During the times when he had solitude, which were extremely few and far between these days, he pondered on his decision to explore world away from his home, from his small island. He knew they were out there, and he wanted to see them, but thinking back on it, maybe a raft set into the middle of the ocean with little supplies wasn't his best idea.

Then again, neither were a lot of his decisions within the last year and a half.

He was fifteen when he left Destiny Islands, and within all of that time, it felt like so many more years had past, like he should be older. Only five times did he interact with Sora that the latter was conscious of, but every time was just as bad as the last, when he looked back on the memories. The rest of the time he had seen Sora was when he was traveling, and when he had been asleep. He had matured so much since then. It seemed . . . unfair.

He looked back up at the egg-shaped pod with his friend inside of it. His clothes were growing a little small on him. While mulling over his hero-friend, the sick feeling was melting away and his muscles were growing relaxed from their previously tense and tight state.

Sora was the type of person who would smile no matter what bad was taking place. He was a pure entity within the universe, a source of strong light. Unbeatable, really, because Sora was something special. During these times, he had to be strong; they all did. He looked away from the pod.

It wasn't some sort of game – the threat of the darkness enveloping the universe was very real, and every being was at risk. With that sort of knowledge, it would take a toll even on Sora, strong as he was.

The first time they met in Traverse Town after separation, it was surprising. It wasn't a very obvious difference to spot, either, but he had known Sora long enough . . . His spirits had fallen a little since then and he looked of slight sleep deprivation. That's when Riku knew, at that moment, despite the differences that they had discovered after, that they were no longer children, and this was no longer just a game.

How could he have let himself be manipulated so easily? By a woman like Maleficent, no less. The strain of a leather glove quietly filled the room. The feeling in his stomach was deep, twisting . . . He felt sick. A woman like her, she was the most vile kind, but clever. Oh, was she clever. He could never blame anyone but himself, but she had a part to play for his having to wear a blindfold in order to not be stuck in that . . . form.

The pacing started. By now, he was already used to that body, but it wasn't too great. Being too tall, having too long limbs, a deeper voice, and different skin, eyes, and hair . . . It was a testament to no longer being himself, to no longer being the real him. A feeling of heaviness began to reign over him and he stopped. An ugly coldness filled his body again, but it wasn't the poison, it was his own feelings; he wanted to be away from that body, be back to normal.

He couldn't do that, however – not that he would let himself. This was his punishment. They are such vulnerable things, after all. Hearts . . . So easily damaged, stolen, broken – if one doesn't have the proper defense or strong will.

He didn't have a strong will. A swell in his chest started to augment, his throat began to tighten up. Although all he could see was black, spots began to spawn, and his head grew light. He needed to leave this room, before he got sick.

For the longest time after the events of being trapped on the wrong side of the Door to Darkness, his mind and memories were the bane of his existence – not to mention Ansem, Seeker of Darkness' continuous torture and provocation. It all plagued him, and the amount of Riku's regret was magnanimous. He was in constant wonder if he would ever be forgiven by anyone, or by himself.

Were it not for a particular King, he would have given up to the darkness long ago. At the thought, he steadied up, took a deep breath, and began to slowly pace again.

To say the least, it was . . . difficult to continue going, but to stop, he knew, was selfish. His friend would never give up, not even after the last breath, and in as a friendly manner as possible, he wasn't going to to let that goof show him up. Before he could get caught up in the days of the past, his mind rotated to the future.

Now his task had been set before him; one very important Nobody was the last piece needed to awaken the hero to save all of the worlds from the looming threat that was Organization XIII. It was his job to bring said Nobody home – the reason for his wearing a coat of the enemy. He had observed his and the other members of that group, and there had been a time or two when he actually fooled one of the them; a blonde one named Demyx. He was just about as dense as Sora could be.

He would be a real piece of work to deal with. From what he could tell, unlike Sora, he was pessimistic, stubborn, and very, very feisty. Still, he had to admit there were similarities, and since he was his Nobody, it almost seemed like he possessed real emotions – and Riku wouldn't have doubted it if he really did, despite DiZ constantly reminding him that Nobodies were not human, and therefore could not possess emotion for lack of a heart.

He didn't know what would happen after he was finished with the job, but from the little that DiZ told him, he would be ejected into a digital simulation of Twilight Town, and would then reunite with Sora.

A sigh quietly sounded; he felt bad for the Nobody named Roxas; when one finds that all of their memories are a lie, and that they weren't supposed to exist, what are they supposed to say, think?

But it would all be for the best, in the end. He stopped, just feet away from the pod, having no desire to be closer. His stomach even churned at the thought, and his head tilted down. A heaviness fell on his shoulders, weighed in on his mind; shame.

This would be, too. He would have to hide from Sora in an dubious manner, watch his progress from world to world, and manage the side-battles when he had to . . . It would all be necessary for Sora to keep going. At least, that is how DiZ explained it.

Sora's first goal of many was to see his friends again, he said, and that was enough drive for him to get past the Heartless and Nobodies that he would be confronted with, for him to put himself in greater danger with every step he took.

His face contorted into a heavy frown, his fists tightened up. He knew that DiZ was using Sora to his own advantage because he had that air of him; the one clouded with revenge.

He relaxed now; as far a he was concerned, so long as Kairi wasn't dragged into the mess and Sora wasn't going to die, he was just a servant to all. He was a worker behind the scenes as the main characters played their roles and said their lines right, and so long as they did their jobs, he would do his.

He went up to the pod again and raised his hand to touch the glass. Even through the glove, could he really connect? Just before his fingertips met the surface, the heaviness returned and he stopped immediately. His stomach dropped and he withdrew his hand. He couldn't touch it.

The hood of the black cloak raised over his head, the body turned away from the pod, and footsteps carried it out of the room. There was quite a bit to do, and even though he was in pain, it wasn't undeserved, and he would not let it get in his way.

They were going to meet the end that was set before them.

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Runner Ups: Jaxter01 & . : tale_wind

AMV Contest: lillovedoctor

Runner Up: khfan1661

Congratulations to the victors -- we got lots of really fantastic submissions, so kudos to all who entered!

Winners and runner-ups will get to choose between a gold or silver usertitle, pictured below:

Giveaway winners can expect to be informed via PM between the weekend and mid next week, with a request for shipping details. Contest winners may contact me with their color preference, or will otherwise be contacted when the giveaway winners are contacted. Thank you to everyone for helping to make these events a success!

TitanTX · Dec 1, 2012

Congratulations to everyone :)

Peace and War · Dec 1, 2012

Nice work guys, lovely submissions from everyone, sometimes it's so hard to decide the best with all this close competition!

Can't wait for next time!

Sonja Taylor · Dec 1, 2012

Way to go, everyone! :DDD

Cutsceneaddict · Dec 1, 2012

Congratulations to all the winners! :) So many wonderful submissions. I enjoyed reading them. Looking forward to what you write up next time.

Do you think you could post the winning entries here so that I could see them all? I'm having a hard time going back and finding some of the entries and I'd like to see the winning submissions. Thanks!

. : tale_wind · Dec 1, 2012

Cutsceneaddict said: ↑

Congratulations to all the winners! :) So many wonderful submissions. I enjoyed reading them. Looking forward to what you write up next time.

Do you think you could post the winning entries here so that I could see them all? I'm having a hard time going back and finding some of the entries and I'd like to see the winning submissions. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes, this, please.

But safdhggfdgsgkj I actually got runner-up? Thank you guys for thinking my story was good enough. ; u ;

Um um uh I don't know what color usertitle I want. Can I pick later...? o.o

Plums · Dec 1, 2012

Cutsceneaddict said: ↑

Congratulations to all the winners! :) So many wonderful submissions. I enjoyed reading them. Looking forward to what you write up next time.

Do you think you could post the winning entries here so that I could see them all? I'm having a hard time going back and finding some of the entries and I'd like to see the winning submissions. Thanks!
Click to expand...

. : tale_wind said: ↑

Yes, this, please.

But safdhggfdgsgkj I actually got runner-up? Thank you guys for thinking my story was good enough. ; u ;

Um um uh I don't know what color usertitle I want. Can I pick later...? o.o
Click to expand...

I can add the winners' entry in a spoiler tag and link to the runner up's stories, if that works okay. xD

ShibuyaGato · Dec 1, 2012

Congrats to the winners and runners up. All of you did great.

Cutsceneaddict · Dec 1, 2012

Plums said: ↑

I can add the winners' entry in a spoiler tag and link to the runner up's stories, if that works okay. xD
Click to expand...

That's perfect. Thanks, Plums! :)

Loxare · Dec 6, 2012

Whoa, those are impressive. Congrats to all the winners, you guys are awesome!

Cloud4012 · Dec 7, 2012

That was a pretty good amv

Jaxter01 · Dec 8, 2012

Ah, sorry I'm late. Good job guys! This stuff is really something. I totally agree with all the winners, incredible entries.

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Community Kingdom Hearts 10th Anniversary: Contest Winners!

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