Sora finally comes to, having grown noticeably older and taller, and reunites with Donald and Goofy. They are confused towards their surroundings, and Jiminy Cricket investigates his journal to find only one message: "Thank Namine." They simply shrug off the message and decide to investigate their surroundings and look for Riku and Mickey.
The trio find themselves in Twilight Town, where they meet Hayner, Pence, and Olette. When asked about Mickey's whereabouts, Hayner and company explain that they saw a hooded figure with large ears heading towards the train station. Sora and his group follow the advice and head to the train station, where they are ambushed by a group of white creatures. The creatures overwhelm them before King Mickey arrives, defeating the creatures and ordering Sora to go to the Mysterious Tower. He pulls out the pouch that Ansem previously took from Roxas in the data world and gives it to them before departing.
Sora orders tickets to the Mysterious Tower, and is bid farewell by Hayner's group. Although Sora has just met them, he feels like he has known them for an awfully long time, and subconsciously cries during the train ride.
Meanwhile, it is revealed that Axel survived his battle with Roxas, and that he and Naminé have been apprehended by Ansem. Naminé learns that DiZ wants to have the two of them eliminated, but Ansem tells them that he will let them live. He explains that the two of them helped him in Castle Oblivion. They aren't sure what Ansem means, but they're more than willing to accept his offer, so they take their leave.
At the Mysterious Tower, the trio meets Pete, a troublemaker from Donald and Goofy's homeworld who was banished years ago. Pete is seeking to turn the tower's sole resident, Mickey's mentor Yen Sid, into a Heartless for Maleficent, but Sora informs him that Maleficent is dead. In rage, Pete orders his Heartless minions to attack and flees.
Sora and company fight their way up the tower, defeating more and more Heartless along the way. Eventually, they meet Yen Sid himself, whom Sora is unfamiliar with and innocently acts insensitive towards. Yen Sid explains that the new creatures are Nobodies, the remnants of someone's body when their heart becomes a Heartless, and are under the orders of a new group known as Organization XIII. To this end, Yen Sid offers a book for Sora to study before the next adventure and directs him to a wardrobe to change clothes.
Inside the wardrobe, Sora meets Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, who ultimately change Sora's clothes into a brand new outfit. Unlike Sora's old clothes, these ones contain special powers: Drive Forms, which change Sora's fighting style and even grant him a second Keyblade. With these new vestments, the trio finally leaves on a new adventure.
Meanwhile, the fairies notice a familiar-looking raven carrying familiar-looking robes. They cannot put a finger on the robe's owner, but realize that it is Maleficent's, and their memories end up bringing the evil fairy back to life...
Tropes:
- Foreshadowing: In the Wardrobe, where Sora first gets his new clothes, there are several mirrors that, when investigated, reveal hints towards the existence of the Drive Forms. To wit, these mirrors show images of Sora using his strength to the fullest (Valor), using his magic to the fullest (Wisdom), possessing all abilities (Master), unleashing the Keyblade's ultimate power (Final), and consumed by darkness (Anti), with Final Mix adding another mirror showing Sora using past abilities (Limit). Of course, Sora gains access to Valor and Antiform right off the bat, but the others are obtained across the story.
- Gameplay and Story Segregation: Gameplay-wise, Drive Forms are said to consume party members and remove them from the battlefield- Valor Form consuming Goofy, Wisdom Form Donald, Master, Final, and Antiform both, and Limit Form none. When Sora first activates Valor Form, Goofy is still present.
- That Makes Me Feel Angry: On the train ride to the Mysterious Tower, Sora mentions that he feels sad. That's somewhat reasonable, since he has no idea that Roxas's heart is stirring inside his.
