“My Friends Are My Power”
Life Lessons Taught to Me By Kingdom Hearts
Welcome back to my blog! For those of you who missed it, last week I covered my mentor blogs and games that were an escape for me. You also may have recalled me mentioned Kingdom Hearts, one of the games that got me into gaming. Today, I will cover life lessons it has taught me. So, without further ado, let’s begin!
“My friends are my power!” Ah, one of the most common quotes in the series. This saying is usually mentioned whenever friendship is. The very first instance of it being used however, is in 2002’s “Kingdom Hearts”, which was the original. Towards the end of the game, Sora, the main protagonist is talking to his friend Riku who was manipulated by the Disney villain Maleficent (the series cleverly combines Disney’s lightheartedness with the more serious Final Fantasy series of games) into believing Sora didn’t care for him anymore. The dialogue is: “My heart may be weak, but it’s not alone. It’s grown with each new experience 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 again… if they don’t forget me… then our hearts will be one! I don’t need a weapon! My friends are my power!” (Square-Enix, 2002) Even just typing that brings a tear to my eye. It is a very powerful message, and one that has stayed with me. Each one of us is shaped by our friends, and our bonds can become our power.
Up next is the power of the heart. The heart in Kingdom Hearts is more so the soul of a person than an actual, physical, beating heart. Just like in the real world, the two forces constantly at war are light and darkness. And if the darkness overcomes a person’s heart, they become a Heartless, a being with no heart that is drawn to other hearts, seeking to take them. But while there is darkness in every heart, there is also light. This is best shown through Terra, an important character. Terra was possessed by Master Xehanort, the series antagonist, who overcame his heart. But to the end, the power of his light and his Master, Eraqus, fought Xehanort’s influence for over a decade before, through the actions of Sora and Terra’s best friends, Aqua and Ventus, his heart was restored. The heart is a marvelous thing, indeed.
One final life lesson that I’ve been taught from Kingdom Hearts is strength to overcome any trials. This is what Aqua went through. She was stuck in the Realm of Darkness, the realm of the Heartless, for over a decade before she was finally rescued by Sora. Throughout all that time, she didn’t succumb to the power of darkness, even though another very well could have. Her bonds kept her going, gave her strength.
And there’s that! If I had to pick a most important life lesson, I’d say it’s the first one. My friends have shaped me into who I am now. They were my power, and they gave me the power to change myself for the better. I hoped you all learned something, and maybe even check out Kingdom Hearts. Just be warned that the lore is very confusing, even to us long-time fans.
My Gaming Journey-A Retrospective: By Tim G. 