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khantipode · 5 years

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The Year Between: Final Mix Changelog

Recently, I went back and updated The Year Between in preparation of getting Antipode rolling again and for the sake of my own satisfaction. In hindsight, there was just a lot that didn’t age well. Plotholes, characterization oddities, and pacing problems that ultimately worked to the story's detriment. So, I have begun going through the fic to tighten and refine elements for the sake of my own personal catharsis. This final footnote will be where I keep a log of what has changed, so those who want to know may look if they so desire. For those who want to see the original versions, I will be working to get a backup uploaded in some way or form. Perhaps some google docs? For now, you can find older versions of Antipode chapters here!

You don't need to read the re-edits to enjoy the current fic, as the core story is the same. This is just a heads up for the curious. :) As of 2/8/19, I have gone over all the major story chapters and made changes where needed. Disney worlds will see some fine-tuning in the future. The Pocahontas climax will likely be the most significant, upping the stakes and delivering a more satisfying conclusion for Kairi's first adventure as Keybearer. The other worlds will feature smaller changes simply to provide another layer of polish (and in the case of Gargoyles, an additional scene with Xanatos is coming!) So, without further ado, here is the current list of changes...

Chapters 2 - 4: DiZ is much more practical with how he treats Xion. He gives her clearer directions on what to do and how to proceed rather than throwing her to the dogs. She is also much more innately competent with fighting, while her lack of social awareness remains. Kairi also has a bit more of a bonding moment with the girl to better establish their friendship to come. In chapter 3, I have upped the overall competence of the folks in Hollow Bastion. Scrooge shows more of his talents in tricky situations befitting his status as adventurer, and the nature of the conversation between Kairi/Donald/Goofy and the Restoration Crew is more in line with the Fragmented Truths re-edits. Overall, I just wanted to make the characterization smoother and better explain certain decisions (like why they'd take an incomplete cloaking chip). Additionally, the Organization scene in Chapter 3 has seen edits as well- they now know Kairi has a Keyblade, as Axel confirmed this during the interrogation scene added to Fragmented Truth's epilogue. Some minor dialogue refinements to the scene as well. Additionally, there is a more extended scene with Xion, Pinocchio, and Geppetto in Traverse Town. Aqua, Sora, and Ven's conversation regarding all that has transpired has also been changed a bit, though they still touch on similar subjects- the worlds, Maleficent, Sora's actions, and the Organization. I just felt Aqua's characterization could use some refining. Chapter 9: I edited the Xion scene to better reflect the changes in previous chapters. DiZ now allows her to mingle with other people across the worlds for the sake of information gathering but asserts that she is not to be distracted.

Chapter 12: There were some minor edits to the Organization scene at the end of the chapter to reflect previous edits (mostly regarding the situation with Kairi, as previously mentioned). I do plan to polish the climax here a bit at a later date to make the monsters Inc. cast a bit more involved and add a bit more tension for both the heroes and Saix, but that will come at a later date. Chapter 13 - 14: Edited to keep consistency with the Fragmented Truths edits in light of Rep's new reasons for fighting Riku (direct blackmail from Xemnas with threats of a killswitch being flipped on his friends.) Chapters 18 - 19: For Chapter 18, I wanted to keep the consistency with the Fragmented Truths re-edits, so Roxas now brings up Xemnas' threat from the previous fic and is a touch more distrusting as a result. In Chapter 19's case, it was more edits to keep in line with Xion's previously edited scenes. Since DiZ has granted her permission to do a limited amount of mingling, this is reflected in her initial Agrabah scene.

Chapters 20 - 25: These will be edited at a later date. For now, I have added a small edit to Chapter 23 to keep consistency with previous edits- namely, Merlin being more direct of the nature of Keyblade Inheritance in the edited Chapter 3. This world on the whole is due for some edits in the future- namely, a more exciting introduction to Hudson, trimming down the exposition dumps, and a new scene at the end with Xanatos and Zexion. I plan to roll out these updates within the coming weeks, so stay tuned! Chapter 26: Consistency with previous edits and the new Fragmented Truths ending. Since Riku was contained in the simulation for his darkness issues as well as his memories, this is reflected here, giving a greater reason for Riku's continued containment. Chapter 27: Similar edit here. It's pretty minor, tbh.

Chapter 30: Just a minor edit to reflect the edits to Chapter 4- since Xion did have tea with Geppetto and Pinocchio, I needed to reflect that here.

Chapter 35: Since the Replica and Kairi parted on more positive terms in the Fragmented Truths re-edits, it's reflected here. Rep is less nervous around Kairi, and the two also have a bit more lighthearted banter before they part ways.

Chapters 40 - 45: Disney Town's arc received minor overhauls, chief among them being a clearer reason for Rep and Namine to stay in Disney Town- not just to evade the Organization, but to give Namine a safe place to continue work on Riku's memories. Additionally, Kairi and co. have a clearer reason to have arrived than just vacation; a "note from Mickey" was planted to urge them to go to Disney Town. Kairi and Namine briefly discuss Riku's heart and the darkness that went wild during FT's climax, with a throwback to CoM where Nami mentions that she could suppress Riku's darkness, but it'd rob him of memories. So she naturally is opposed. In the climax, the heroes do not use their Keyblades but continue to use their replacement weapons so to make a statement to the Organization, and in the end, they agree to attempt a siege on TWTNW even though Riku isn't ready because they still have numbers on their side. Chapter 46: Two significant changes occur here, both to address plotholes. The first is a flashback scene showing the heroes attempting to siege TWTNW and discovering the barrier surrounding the castle as well as getting overwhelmed by Heartless and forced to retreat. As the heroes retreat, the Heartless abruptly stop moving and lightning strikes. Xion hesitates as if she sees something there, but Xiruk pulls her through the corridor. The second new scene reveals that Xemnas and Xigbar have used the fake Kingdom Hearts to draw the Door to Darkness to them, better explaining why the heroes didn't close the darn thing. Rather than flimsy reasoning (no more easy Gummi travel when KH2 proves this is not the case), the heroes simply can't. And the Org now has a good source of darkness to justify the attack on Twilight Town. The DiZ scene also sees new additions. Kairi lets slip that she has a Keyblade, the heroes reveal that Namine is safe and Xion technically did succeed to a degree and even joined them in their failed siege. He is much more reasonable as a result but remains stern and suspicious to a degree. On the whole, this helps smooth out DiZ's arc. He's no longer in a constant state of judgmental assholery.

Chapter 47: I trimmed some of the exposition here and made this chapter more consistent with the new scenes. Sora and Aqua learn of the failed siege, that they can't corridor straight into the castle, and this further motivates Sora to try and wake Ventus. Overall events are the same otherwise.

Chapter 49: Namine is much more helpful toward Xion, at least trying to look into her memories to figure out why she's experiencing so much of Riku's life. The results are inconclusive, but she promises to keep looking into it.

Chapter 50: Xion finally snaps at DiZ, standing her ground and airing her true feelings toward him over the course of the story. After she storms off, the meeting with Marluxia reveals that he was there at the failed siege and assisted in thwarting the Heartless to let the heroes escape. This gives Xion more of a reason to trust him, and he also reveals where she can find him later.

Chapter 51: This is, by far, the most significant change in the entire remaster. While Xemnas still goes to meet with Aqua, he brings Zexion with him. The confrontation between Xemnas and Aqua is more tense, with Aqua showing much more of a backbone and Xemnas dropping some... dubious hints. Midway through, Xemnas seems to ripple/distort ever so slightly, but it's too brief for Aqua to worry about it. The confrontation then escalates to a battle, but Aqua is struck down by a surprise attack from Xigbar, who had been eavesdropping on the entire ordeal. It's revealed that midway through the confrontation, Zexion had taken Xemnas' place, partly as a precaution, and partly to utilize his powers of mimicry if negotiations failed. Xemnas heals Aqua and bluffs that he's going to send her to the Realm of Darkness, but in reality he plans to send her to the Chamber of Repose. Before this can happen, DiZ appears and threatens Aqua's life (Xemnas sees through the lie). Things escalate further as the rest of the heroes arrive, Kairi nearly kills Xemnas, and Aqua defies expectations by healing him. As the Nobodies flee, the heroes try and fail to reason with DiZ, who storms off in fury. Aqua is taken to Mysterious Tower to heal.

Chapter 52: The beginning is altered to reflect the changes to Chapter 51. Aqua awakes in bed, still sore from the battle. The heroes and Aqua are forced to grapple with the fact that they nearly killed Xemnas, but Aqua's lapse in judgment spared his life. Roxas is pissed. Everyone contemplates how to proceed going forward, especially since Zexion and Xigbar were there as well. Aqua admits that her sentimentality toward Terra was the cause for her actions and that, for a moment, she thought she saw a sliver of Terra within Xemnas. Chapter 53: Minor edits to tie into the edits to Chapter 46. The heroes talk about the DTD situation with the new reason for their inaction and there are minor edits to the Xemnas scene at the end. Chapter 54: Further consistency with previous edits. Namine is more direct with her concerns about fixing Xion and there's follow up to their conversation in Chapter 49. DiZ also apologizes for his outburst in the new Chapter 51.

Chapter 56: The opening narration addresses the fact that the heroes had failed to adequately warn Twilight Town in light of the presence of Xemnas, Zex, and Xigbar. Additionally, the Xion and Roxas confrontation with DiZ has become much more heated. Consistent with Xion's growth to this point, she is much more assertive, and now she is the one who attacks DiZ. This gives DiZ a stronger reason to open a corridor, and to better justify her slow return, she hits her head as she lands in the Realm of Darkness and is knocked unconscious. Additionally, she remembers Marluxia's words form before, which lead to her landing in the Dark Margin.

Chapter 57: Mostly minor edits. Worth noting is that Xion's reasons for staying in the dark margin differ now- she contemplates if Marluxia will find her, and he does.

Chapter 58: Unlike the original version, Kairi doesn't merely stand outside a closed door while talking to Ansem. Instead, she uses her Keyblade to open it, only to get attacked by a digital version of the Demon Tower. She fights her way through it while speaking to Ansem SoD but ultimately rushes into the digital DTD to make her way to Riku.

Chapter 59: Kairi manages to fight her way to Riku toward the end of the final battle. The two work side by side (with some support from the digital Twilight Town kids), and Riku's final confrontation with Ansem on his Station of Awakening has been refined to be more reflective of Riku's struggles thus far, how his friends have at this point surpassed him, and how he isn't really the hero anymore. He ultimately doesn't care, however, hoping to do his best to aid his friends, even if it means using the full force of Ansem's darkness to do it. After all, it's his heart, and he's taking it back! Riku and Kairi work together to finish Ansem, though Riku delivers the final blow.

Chapter 60: Minor changes here. Axel has been punished for his wishy washy behavior over the course of the fic and been branded with a Sigil (though he doesn't yet realize what this means). Xion and Marluxia's scene has also been refined due to the previous smaller changes leading up to her trust in the Nobody.

#kingdom hearts #kh au #kh antipode #riku #kairi #changelog

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