(no subject)
You guys remember when Kingdom Hearts came out, right? It was eight years ago, now. I'm almost seventeen, meaning I was about eight years old then, but I still remember the commercial. It didn't show any of the plot, and it was only thirtys second long. Some kid with spiky hair was jumping around frantically and Mickey Mouse and Donald and Goofy were there, and the theme song would play. Then the announcer would come on: "Kingdom Hearts, for the Playstation 2."
I was watching tv with my mom, but at that point, I stood up and pointed at the TV. "I want that," I said, "I want that." Mom looked at me, grinned and said, "Me too." I smiled back, because I knew that meant she was going to get it.
A month later, Mom and Dad said they had a surprise for me, but I had to wait until after dinner for it. Dad went to the Hollywood Video right afterwards. He came back with a bag, and put it on top of the fridge so I couldn't get to it. I knew it was in there, whatever my surprise was, and waited patiently. We ate dinner, or rather I scarfed my dinner down, and then Dad took it down. He put it behind his back and teased me for a minute or so, until I screamed I hated him. Then he pulled it out-- it goes without saying he'd gotten Kingdom Hearts.
Mom brought the PS2 out from my room, and hooked it up on the big screen. We all huddled around, and we watched the opening. My eight year old mind was blown. Mom, Dad and myself all fell into a stunned silence; we didn't know what to say. Between the amazingly catchy song, the graphics and imagery-- we were blown away. Dad was the first to speak.
"This is gonna be good."
Mom and I nodded silently in agreement, but we had no idea what we were in for. I remember crying and holding the control as the darkness wrapped around Destiny Islands. Manovuering Sora around, looking for Riku and Kairi was difficult for me. I had no friends, then, just my family. I wanted what the Destiny Trio had, I wanted it so bad. The monotony I lived made their lives look so glamorous.
"I'm not afraid of the darkness!" When Riku was suddenly gone, I cried harder. It felt like my best friend had left me. I continued playing, but it hurt. It hurt a lot.
When Sora met Donald and Goofy, I was so happy. Not because it was Donald and Goofy, but because they were friends. Yes, they were kooky Disney characters, but suddenly, the innocence of the game was back. I wasn't so hurt anymore.
It was like that with every new world. I jumped up and down when I got to Halloweentown; it was and is my favorite movie ever. I was giddy when I got to Atlantis; I was obsessed with the Little Mermaid. I cried when I got to Hundred Acre Woods; the death of my grandmother was still fresh and seeing Winnie the Pooh talking about death so freely was difficult. I screamed when I got to Beast's Castle; Belle was my role model. And with each world, Sora made a new friend. It made me happy-- Kingdom Hearts sent the message to me that anyone and everyone can be a friend no matter where they're from. It touched me. Granted, I was barely ten years old, so YMMV.
But there was magic in that story. Magic. I firmly believe that.
When Sora beat Ansem, I was happy. So happy-- he had his friends back. But then they were seperated again. I was sad again, but Sora smiled and moved forward. He went to find them.
Seeing Sora doing what he had to do like that... gave me a lot of courage. When times are tough or difficult, fix it. Move forward with a big stupid smile on your face-- life is meant to be enjoyed. Don't hesitate. Be determined, strong, and passionate.
Kingdom Hearts gave me the fiery passion I have today. It gave me an amazing time with my family. It gave me amazing memories. It was, and is, magic.
Lightning doesn't strike in the same place twice. Kingdom Hearts II was a let-down. I liked the characters, but the magic and heart was gone. It wasn't that I didn't like the new characters, but they weren't my trio. They weren't my three best friends, who I'd watched go through so much, who I'd watched grow.
But when I finished that game... I cried. I cried and cried and cried. That ending was beautiful. Riku and Sora swimming to the shore. Sora and Kairi smiling at each other. That shot of all three them together still makes me tear up. I smiled, watched the credits, then shut my PS2 off. I was satisfied.
Years later, Re:CoM came out. I had played the DS game, but this was a chance for all of us to play it together. Dad looked at me like I was nuts.
"You're too old for that kiddie stuff."
...I was dumbfounded. I didn't get it, at all. I just kinda shrugged and walked away. But it felt wrong-- to play it without my parents. So I didn't play it.
As you all know, I went to Disneyland for my birthday last year. I went and stood with my family who I had not seen for about eight years. We stood until after the Fantasia show, so we saw the fireworks. I had brought my Zune with me and decided to listen to some music.
I put on the orchesta version of Hikari.
I'm not gonna lie, it was beautiful. The fireworks against the night sky was amazing, and the music enhanced it that much more. There was pause in the show, and I looked around at the people around me.
My parents.
Alex, my younger brother.
My aunt and uncle, Eric and Tammy.
My cousins, Adam and Ashley and Ginger and Taylor.
My uncle and I looked at each other. He looked me up and down, tears in his eyes, and said I had grown. He looked around too, and then he said something that made me cry.
"This is probably the last time we'll all be together like this."
Two weeks ago, he was caught with my aunt Fuffy, cheating on his wife.
We'll never be together like that again.
When I think of Kingdom Hearts, I think of all things it's given me.
A strong, vibrant personality.
An openmindedness I'd never have in this household otherwise.
Beautiful moments with people I love.
No other material thing has given me that. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
I was watching tv with my mom, but at that point, I stood up and pointed at the TV. "I want that," I said, "I want that." Mom looked at me, grinned and said, "Me too." I smiled back, because I knew that meant she was going to get it.
A month later, Mom and Dad said they had a surprise for me, but I had to wait until after dinner for it. Dad went to the Hollywood Video right afterwards. He came back with a bag, and put it on top of the fridge so I couldn't get to it. I knew it was in there, whatever my surprise was, and waited patiently. We ate dinner, or rather I scarfed my dinner down, and then Dad took it down. He put it behind his back and teased me for a minute or so, until I screamed I hated him. Then he pulled it out-- it goes without saying he'd gotten Kingdom Hearts.
Mom brought the PS2 out from my room, and hooked it up on the big screen. We all huddled around, and we watched the opening. My eight year old mind was blown. Mom, Dad and myself all fell into a stunned silence; we didn't know what to say. Between the amazingly catchy song, the graphics and imagery-- we were blown away. Dad was the first to speak.
"This is gonna be good."
Mom and I nodded silently in agreement, but we had no idea what we were in for. I remember crying and holding the control as the darkness wrapped around Destiny Islands. Manovuering Sora around, looking for Riku and Kairi was difficult for me. I had no friends, then, just my family. I wanted what the Destiny Trio had, I wanted it so bad. The monotony I lived made their lives look so glamorous.
"I'm not afraid of the darkness!" When Riku was suddenly gone, I cried harder. It felt like my best friend had left me. I continued playing, but it hurt. It hurt a lot.
When Sora met Donald and Goofy, I was so happy. Not because it was Donald and Goofy, but because they were friends. Yes, they were kooky Disney characters, but suddenly, the innocence of the game was back. I wasn't so hurt anymore.
It was like that with every new world. I jumped up and down when I got to Halloweentown; it was and is my favorite movie ever. I was giddy when I got to Atlantis; I was obsessed with the Little Mermaid. I cried when I got to Hundred Acre Woods; the death of my grandmother was still fresh and seeing Winnie the Pooh talking about death so freely was difficult. I screamed when I got to Beast's Castle; Belle was my role model. And with each world, Sora made a new friend. It made me happy-- Kingdom Hearts sent the message to me that anyone and everyone can be a friend no matter where they're from. It touched me. Granted, I was barely ten years old, so YMMV.
But there was magic in that story. Magic. I firmly believe that.
When Sora beat Ansem, I was happy. So happy-- he had his friends back. But then they were seperated again. I was sad again, but Sora smiled and moved forward. He went to find them.
Seeing Sora doing what he had to do like that... gave me a lot of courage. When times are tough or difficult, fix it. Move forward with a big stupid smile on your face-- life is meant to be enjoyed. Don't hesitate. Be determined, strong, and passionate.
Kingdom Hearts gave me the fiery passion I have today. It gave me an amazing time with my family. It gave me amazing memories. It was, and is, magic.
Lightning doesn't strike in the same place twice. Kingdom Hearts II was a let-down. I liked the characters, but the magic and heart was gone. It wasn't that I didn't like the new characters, but they weren't my trio. They weren't my three best friends, who I'd watched go through so much, who I'd watched grow.
But when I finished that game... I cried. I cried and cried and cried. That ending was beautiful. Riku and Sora swimming to the shore. Sora and Kairi smiling at each other. That shot of all three them together still makes me tear up. I smiled, watched the credits, then shut my PS2 off. I was satisfied.
Years later, Re:CoM came out. I had played the DS game, but this was a chance for all of us to play it together. Dad looked at me like I was nuts.
"You're too old for that kiddie stuff."
...I was dumbfounded. I didn't get it, at all. I just kinda shrugged and walked away. But it felt wrong-- to play it without my parents. So I didn't play it.
As you all know, I went to Disneyland for my birthday last year. I went and stood with my family who I had not seen for about eight years. We stood until after the Fantasia show, so we saw the fireworks. I had brought my Zune with me and decided to listen to some music.
I put on the orchesta version of Hikari.
Click to viewI'm not gonna lie, it was beautiful. The fireworks against the night sky was amazing, and the music enhanced it that much more. There was pause in the show, and I looked around at the people around me.
My parents.
Alex, my younger brother.
My aunt and uncle, Eric and Tammy.
My cousins, Adam and Ashley and Ginger and Taylor.
My uncle and I looked at each other. He looked me up and down, tears in his eyes, and said I had grown. He looked around too, and then he said something that made me cry.
"This is probably the last time we'll all be together like this."
Two weeks ago, he was caught with my aunt Fuffy, cheating on his wife.
We'll never be together like that again.
When I think of Kingdom Hearts, I think of all things it's given me.
A strong, vibrant personality.
An openmindedness I'd never have in this household otherwise.
Beautiful moments with people I love.
No other material thing has given me that. And I wouldn't have it any other way.