The Kingdom Hearts series begins with a young boy named Sora having a strange dream. In a dark void surrounded by stained glass pillars, he is offered a choice to choose two of three weapons, one being the path he will walk, the other the path he will rejectnote . After choosing, he is forced to fend off dark creatures before being transported to his homeland, the Destiny Islands, where he is asked a series of questions by his friends Tidus, Wakka, and Selphienote . Sent back into the void, Sora is eventually confronted by a mysterious black monster. Though he manages to fight it off, he is ultimately swallowed by it.
Sora awakens on the Destiny Islands. Ever since a girl named Kairi arrived on its shores one day, Sora and his best friend Riku have been working with her on a raft to explore other worlds in the hopes of finding her home. After gathering supplies to work on the raft, the three friends rest on the beach, discussing the possibility of worlds beyond their own. As they leave, Riku offers Sora a paopu fruit, which is said to intertwine people's destinies if shared.
Meanwhile, in Disney Castle, King Mickey Mouse has gone missing and left a letter behind. When court magician Donald Duck discovers the letter and reads it, he awakens Mickey's Captain of the Guard, Goofy, and tries to tell him there's a big problem brewing. Despite Donald's wishes of keeping it secret between the two of them, Queen Minnie and Daisy happen to be eavesdropping...
Back on the Destiny Islands, Sora continues to help Riku and Kairi find food and supplies for their journey. Sora's mission takes him to the Secret Place, where he had once drawn an image of himself sharing local paopu fruit with her. As he begins to edit the drawing, he meets a mysterious hooded figure, who cryptically warns him that the world is tied to the darkness. However, Sora takes his leave, wondering about the encounter. During the sunset, Sora and Kairi have a moment to themselves, where she voices her desire to explore the many worlds that are out there.
In Disney Castle, Donald and Goofy learn from the letter that Mickey is investigating the encroaching darkness, and that the only hope to save the universe is a person with the key to their survival. To this end, Donald and Goofy need to go to Traverse Town to find a man named Leon. Joined by Mickey's dog Pluto and Jiminy Cricket, the two set forth to Traverse Town.
That night on the islands, Sora reflects on Kairi's words, but as he rests in bed, he notices a storm approaching. Worried about the raft, Sora leaves his house to investigate. On the island's shores, Sora encounters dark creatures, which his wooden sword is utterly useless against. He notices Riku waiting, telling him to go help find Kairi, but Riku embraces the opportunity to leave the islands, slowly sinking into the darkness. Just then, Sora is gifted the Keyblade, a key-shaped sword that allows him to cut through the shadows.
With the Keyblade in hand, Sora fights his way to the Secret Place and finds a catatonic Kairi, who flies through him. The island begins to crumble, and Sora encounters the same monster he had encountered in his dream. He vanquishes the beast, but the island collapses, and he is sucked into the vortex...
Tropes:
- Early-Bird Cameo: In Final Mix, there's an additional cutscene in which Kairi is seen making a trinket. This trinket is the Keychain of the Oathkeeper Keyblade.
- Easing into the Adventure: This is what Sora spends most of this mission doing.
- The Ghost: Sora's mom is only heard in a cutscene, and is never seen.
- Heads I Win, Tails You Lose: Even if Sora ends up losing the Dive to the Heart Darkside battle, he'll still sink into the darkness.
- Hello, [Insert Name Here]: Not Sora, obviously, but the raft the three are planning to use to explore the worlds; Riku intends to name it "Highwind", while Sora intends to name it "Excalibur" or whatever the player chooses. Whoever wins the race determines the raft's name, and eventually the Gummi Ship's.
- Sword of Plot Advancement: The Keyblade appears right after Riku fades into the darkness.
- Tennis Boss: Wakka. The key to this fight is that Sora must parry his Blitzball back at him to stun him, allowing for a combo.
- Tutorial Level: The Dive to the Heart and Destiny Islands.
- Weapon Jr.: Before getting the Keyblade, Sora mostly wields a wooden sword.
