Kingdom Hearts: Keyblade Masters
(sometimes known as just Keyblade Masters) is a completed Kingdom Hearts fanfiction written by Joey 245. The series sells itself on intense action, romance, and humor.
Set several months after Kingdom Hearts II, Sora, Kairi, and Riku are approached by an ancient being called Gummi and told of the return of Organization XII. In an effort to stop the Organization, Gummi gives them the ability to summon armor, gives them new abilities, and gives them a new mission: Defeat the Organization, once and for all.
New members are quickly introduced, with Gummi giving Roxas superhuman strength, giving Xion telekinetic powers, and eventually a character with fire powers and a silver tongue.
At first, the Keyblade Masters' mission is simple enough. Defeat the Organization, once and for all. Eventually, though, the Keyblade Masters find themselves in over their heads. Several complications arise such as personal loss, super-powered Organization members, and the growing suspicion that Gummi is not telling them everything.
The fanfic is unique in its style. The story is set up like a TV show, with every four chapters making up one "episode" of the "show". The chapters are split up by where the commercials would air if it were an actual TV show, enhancing the TV analogy. The plot of Keyblade Masters lends itself very nicely to this format, with chapters ending at crucial moments, and the next chapter picking up where the last left off...just like a real TV show!
The story is told mostly in these self-contained episodes, with a larger, overarching story arc in the background. Each episode contains character development, crucial plot info, and at least one fight scene. Some episodes are more character-centric, with no action scenes in them. Otherwise, Keyblade Masters sticks to a formula: heroes arrive, villain of the day shows up, heroes defeat bad guy, resolution. Like any rule, though, there are exceptions.
The series has reached a grand total of 120 chapters. It has received praise for its well thought out scenarios, detailed fight scenes, sharp humor, and a well-rounded cast of characters.
There have been a few multi-chapter short stories set after Keyblade Masters, and an ongoing sequel called Kingdom Hearts: Sentinels of Chaos. The short stories can be read here, and Sentinels of Chaos can be found here.
Kingdom Hearts: Keyblade Masters provides examples of:
- Anime Hair: Wouldn't be Kingdom Hearts without it.
- An Ice Person: Sora, utilizing Blizzard Magic.
- Vexen and Oogie Boogie qualify as well.
- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: The Kraken is fifty feet tall.
- Though it's actually ten stories tall, or 100 feet, the Death Bloom qualifies.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Axel is very fond of sea salt ice cream, makes obscure references, and even breaks the fourth wall every now and then. He also is one of the best fighters in the story, even taking out Sephiroth!
- Beach Episode: An interesting case. The Keyblade Masters only spend a few paragraphs at the beach (and even then, it's sort of an overview, consisting of Sora seeing Kairi in a bikini and Riku and Xion kissing underwater). Then Larxene shows up. Cue Curb-Stomp Battle and
Tear Jerker. - Berserk Button: Under NO circumstances should you say anything bad about OR do anything bad to friends, relatives, or lovers of Sora and Roxas. Vexen, Larxene, and Zexion learned this the hard way.
- Black Magic: The summary for Riku's attributes. He utilizes Darkness, Gravity, and Time.
- In the Final Fantasy sense of the word, then it could also apply to Sora as well.
- Blow You Away: Kairi, once she trains for a bit.
- Xaldin qualifies too.
- Don't forget Ventus.
- Charles Atlas Superpower: Most of the Keyblade Masters exhibit this.
- Chekhov's Gun: Ye gads, there's a lot...
- Chekhov's turret in the form of a mass accelerator cannon made specifically for Xigbar. Xion uses this to mortally wound the giant Twilight Thorn in the Grand Finale.
- Chekhov's charms show up in the form of the Dimension Link Conduits Aqua gives to Sora. Sora uses them to distract and wear down Xemnas while the Keyblade Masters heal.
- Chekhov's bracer in the form of the bracer Zexion gives Demyx, which allows him to copy the powers of the Keyblade Masters. He uses this to stop Saix.
- Cold-Blooded Torture: This is how Xion is introduced. Serves as a Kick the Dog moment for Xemnas, shows Larxene's sadistic nature, and foreshadows Axel's Heel–Face Turn.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Just like in the games, Demyx is someone you do not want to make angry.
- In part 47, he almost causes Kairi to drown on dry land.
- In part 76, he manages to hold his own against Saïx pretty well, holding him steady while Sora uses Nothing's Bane.
- That last one, he did borrow Roxas's super strength.
- Dishing Out Dirt: Terra, though he only does this in the battle with the Guardians in the finale.
- Fastball Special: Roxas is pretty fond of doing this. He used this with Xion to knock Luxord off his feet, and threw Sora up to Oogie Boogie during their fight.
- Finishing Move: Nothing's Bane, in spades.
- Fire, Ice, Lightning: Sora's core powers.
- Also the components for the Blade of Aegis.
- An infusion of these three elements can create a heart.
- Grand Finale: Chapters 109-120 are all meant to be read together. It's really the only way a long-running series like this could end.
- Gravity Master: Riku and Xigbar.
- Heroic Sacrifice: The Aeons in the fight with Xemnas, and ultimately Gummi in the fight with Xantos.
- Light 'em Up: Kairi, and eventually Roxas.
- Making a Splash: Demyx and Aqua, though neither is featured prominantly.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: If a Nobody is not killed by Nothing's Bane, they will come back more powerful than ever before. Roxas, Xion, and Sora all did this to Vexen, Larxene, and Zexion, respectively.
- Also, Sora knocking Marluxia off the Death Bloom caused the Death Bloom to go berserk.
- Lampshaded. Marluxia actually says, "Nice job breaking it, hero," to Sora.
- Also, Sora knocking Marluxia off the Death Bloom caused the Death Bloom to go berserk.
- Nice Job Fixingit Villain: Larxene did not kill Xion with Nothing's Bane. Xion coming back was the only thing that saved Sora and his friends.
- Playing with Fire: Sora, Axel, and Sa'luk.
- Plucky Comic Relief: Axel, upon joining the Keyblade Masters. This carries over into the side stories, as well as Sentinels of Chaos.
- The Power of Friendship: It's revealed later that this is what Nothing's Bane really is. Sora uses this method twice; once on Zexion, and again on Xemnas.
- And of course, the usual Kingdom Hearts themes of friendship overcoming everything is prevalent throughout the story.
- "Ride of the Valkyries": Axel hums this during the Flight of The Light Cycles.
- Shock and Awe: Sora and Larxene, as well as Queen La with the Thunder Head.
- Sword of Plot Advancement: Played straight with the Blade of Aegis.
- Water Wake Up: Sora is on the receiving end of one from Kairi in chapter 13. He takes it remarkably well, considering that it's, y'know, Kairi. Note that this is before the two of them become a couple.
- Weaksauce Weakness: The Keyblade Masters are severely weakened when magically separated from their Keyblades, and lose their powers altogether when they're completely afraid. It seems like it' made worse when they deny their fear, as Kairi demonstrates in the Halloweentown story arc.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Xion, the powerful telekinesis-wielding Keyblade Master, is afraid of water. Needless to say, she's not happy whenever water shows up. Which happens to be quite often.
