Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

Selected cutscene translation by CaT

devils-lair.org

1 – Got It Memorized?

Marluxia:

How was it? Did you enjoy the encounters from the illusions of your memories?

Sora:

Of course I’m glad to see them.

So, what do you want with us?

Marluxia:

We’ll see about that.

Axel:

Yo.

Marluxia:

What is it?

Axel:

Don’t hog them all for yourself. / Don’t tell me you’re hogging them for yourself.

Marluxia:

Try them if you’re that interested.

Axel:

So as you see, key blade master.

Me? That’s right. I’m Axel. Got it memorized?

Sora:

Uh… yeah…

Axel:

Good. You learn fast.

Well then, Sora. Now that you’ve memorized it, don’t disappoint me eh?

2 – Reunion

Sora:

You are… Riku??

So you’re here too??

Riku:

What do you mean ‘too’?

It sounds like you’re only looking for me along the way.

Sora:

Huh? I don’t mean that…

Riku:

Hrmp! Don’t give me excuses. You actually forgot all about me, didn’t you?

Sora:

There’s no way I’d do that!

I came here looking for you!

Riku:

But that’s no longer true.

Right now, all you want is to see Namine.

You don’t care about me anymore, do you?

Besides, Namine’s feelings…

Sora:

Namine?

Riku:

Hmph! So I was right. You didn’t even think of it.

You may want to see Namine, but Namine does not necessarily feel the same.

Namine, she doesn’t want to see you.

Sora:

But why?

Riku:

Ask your memories, why Namine disappeared from the island…

You’d know if you remembered.

Sora:

Did I… do something? Was that why?

Riku…

Riku:

Go back, Sora. I will protect Namine.

Those who try and get close… are my enemies!

Sora:

What are you thinking? We just finally met!

Riku:

Sora, you didn’t think about how I feel did you?

Namine’s not the only one who doesn’t want to see you. I don’t either!

Sora:

Riku, stop this!

3 – Battle With a Friend

Riku:

You’re persistent. Just go back already.

Sora:

I won’t go back until I save you and Namine.

Riku:

I don’t remember asking you to save me.

Sora:

Did you forget? Kairi’s waiting for you to come back too.

Riku:

Didn’t you forget something? I told you when the door to Kingdom Hearts closed.

“I’m counting Kairi on you.”

That’s what I mean.

I’m never going back to the island. It’s what I’ve decided.

Sora:

But it’s not just Kairi! Many of our friends are---

Riku:

I’ve long forgotten those I don’t give a damn for.

Sora:

What did you say?

Riku:

What about yourself? Do you remember the faces of every single one of them from the island?

Sora:

Isn’t that ob---

Riku:

Don’t worry. In this castle everyone experiences the same.

That’s right. It’s only after you forget about the things unimportant do you start remembering those that are important.

I remember mine, Sora.

I know what’s most important to me now.

I will protect Namine here. I don’t care for anything else.

Sora:

Say, Riku.

Think we’ll remember if we fight?

Riku:

Try it.

4 – Words Unreached

Riku:

That’s too bad. I don’t remember a thing even after fighting you.

Sora:

Riku, let’s stop arguing and save Namine together instead

Riku:

Together…? That’s so like you. Just like now, you always trample all over my heart!

Sora:

Wait a minute. Since when did I…?

Riku:

You probably forgot it anyway.

How unimportant it must mean to you!

Sora:

I’ll definitely save you…

5 – Us Nobodies

Axel:

Feeling hurt, Namine?

Thanks to you, both your childhood friends are fighting each other.

You have my sympathy, from the bottom of my heart.

Don’t even think about it

Us nobodies can never be anybody.

6 – The Name’s Vexen

Sora:

Who’re you?

Vexen:

The name’s Vexen. I’m here to collect your debt, Sora.

Goofy:

Debt? Sora, did you borrow anything from this man?

Sora:

Of course not.

Vexen:

What are you saying?

Didn’t I reunite you with your old friend?

Sora:

Don’t tell me…

Vexen:

Exactly. I was the one who brought Riku here.

Sora:

So... you’re the one…

You must be the one manipulating Riku! Where did you take him??

Vexen:

You’ll never learn of his whereabouts for eternity. As for why…

There’s no longer any future in you.

7 – Forbidden Memories

Vexen:

As I expected, this is not going to be easy.

Sora:

Like I’ll be defeated by you!

Vexen:

I wonder bout that.

Haven’t you realized? I was probing through your memories as we fought.

And then I found this.

It’s a card I made from the depths of your memories.

Sora:

Wait!

From the depths… of my memories…?

8 – Marluxia the Graceful

Larxene:

How’s it going, Vexen?

Your boy Riku who’s supposed to be intercepting Sora, where is he and what’s he doing huh?

Axel:

He must be hiding in order to lure Sora in.

Why don’t we just leave it at that?

Larxene:

Oh yeah? Is that so?? I’m sorry I didn’t realize it at all!

Vexen:

Silence!

Larxene:

An expected reaction. This won’t do. Those without hearts are no fun at all.

Vexen:

Now that you say it, aren’t you all just the same?

Marluxia:

Stop it.

Vexen:

Marluxia?

Marluxia:

Vexen. It is a fact your plan failed.

Don’t let us down anymore than you have.

Vexen:

Let you down?? Don’t get ahead of yourself!

You are but number eleven in the organization! How dare you say that to a number four—

Marluxia:

Our leader entrusted this castle and Namine to me.

If you’re going to oppose me, we will regard you as a traitor.

Axel:

Traitors are to be eliminated. That’s the rule, isn’t it?

Larxene:

We don’t need a half-assed useless member anyway.

Marluxia:

Vexen. You cannot beat Sora.

Vexen:

Ignorant and pitiful.

You don’t see beyond the surface of things. There’s no way you would understand my power.

Marluxia:

Oh? In that case, I’d like for you to prove it.

Vexen:

What?

Marluxia:

I do not wish to doubt the strength of a comrade.

Vexen:

Look who’s talking…

Axel:

If you encourage him that much, Vexen might really kill Sora you know?

Marluxia:

That would be bad.

So, what are you going to do?

At this rate your hero is going to get killed.

However, he should have made a promise to you.

Isn’t that right, Namine?

9 – A Traitor’s Scheme

Axel:

If Sora dies, the organization’s plan will go to waste huh?

Marluxia:

You know what to do.

Axel:

Not really. I want to hear it from you.

Marluxia:

Vexen’s actions are evidently a sign of betrayal towards the organization.

Traitors are to be eliminated.

Axel:

There’s no canceling, I tell ya.

10 – Memories Bound by a Distorted Heart

Goofy:

What’s wrong?

Sora:

I… I have a bad feeling.

I don’t even know this place but as we proceed I start feeling nostalgic.

Donald:

Then you must have been here, right?

Sora:

That’s shouldn’t be…

Goofy:

Just as with Namine, we lost a lot of our memories up to this point—

Sora:

Hmm… it’s a little different. With Namine, how should I put it…

The memories of her are like fragments floating back to me, but this is different.

Even though I have no memories of it, the feeling of nostalgia keeps growing.

Vexen:

I see. “Nostalgia”, huh?

Sora, let me ask you just one thing.

Which is the truth to you? That ‘nostalgia’ or the memories of Namine?

Sora:

Of course it has to be Namine!

I may feel nostalgic but I’m sure it’s an illusion you set up.

Vexen:

How bitter are memories.

Not only does it disappear, it also contorts and binds the heart.

Sora:

What are you talking about?

Vexen:

I told you.

This is a world created from the depths of your memories.

The memories of this place exist somewhere in the depths of your heart.

Your heart knows of this place.

Sora:

That’s not true. I have no such memories!

Vexen:

You are bound by the chain of memories. If you don’t believe in your own heart, it is the same to say that you’ve thrown it aside

In which case, you’re no longer a hero.

You’re just a doll controlled by your memories.

That’s right, just like my Riku.

Your existence is worthless!

Sora:

My Riku….? Worthless…?

Don’t you say it!

You were the one who changed Riku!

Everything you say is a lie!

I didn’t throw away my heart!

I’ll defeat you, and then I’ll save both Riku and Namine!

That…. is my heart!

11 – Vexen’s End

Vexen:

How could you have this much strength when you are bound to your memories…

Sora:

I don’t care about that! Turn Riku back to normal!

Vexen:

Turn him back to normal?

That Riku will only fall into the empty darkness.

You will too, Sora.

As long as you go forth with Namine’s lead, you’ll be bound to your memories and lose your heart

and soon you’ll be become Marluxia’s tool!

Sora:

Marluxia? What does he have to do with Namine—

Axel!

Axel:

Yo, Sora.

Did I intercept you at a bad time?

Vexen:

Axel, what are you—

Axel:

I’m finishing your unnecessary chat

along with your existence.

Vexen:

wa- wait!

Axel:

We’re nobodies who simply exist.

But your memories and existence are going to end here.

Aren’t you happy?

Vexen:

Do-don’t do it!

I don’t want to di--

Axel:

See ya, bro.

Sora:

What is this…

What are you people???

Axel:

Beats me. I’m not sure myself.

12 – Clashing Memories

Sora:

Riku!

Riku:

If you proceed Namine will get hurt.

Sora:

Are we fighting again?

The one who controlled you is already—

Riku:

This has nothing to do with him. I will stop you and protect Namine. That is my heart.

That’s right, I’m the one to protect Namine. I promised her a long time ago.

Sora:

Promise?

Riku:

When we were young, there was a night where lots of shooting stars fell.

Namine was worried what would happen if the stars fall on the island, and I told her.

If the stars do fall, I will protect you.

Sora:

You promised her? With the wooden sword?

Riku:

Wh-why do you know about this?

Sora:

Because… I promised her the same too that day.

On the night of the shooting stars, I said that I will protect her.

Riku:

Don’t lie to me!

You weren’t there that day!

Sora:

You were the one who weren’t there!

I received a gift from her that day.

Riku:
A gift?

Sora:

See?

Riku:

Why?? Why do you have that…

I see… I know now…

Sora:

Riku?

Riku:

That’s a fake! I have the real thing!

Sora:

What’s going on?

Riku:

I’ll rid the fake one!

13 – The Only One Who Can Save Him

Axel:

He’s got no one else but you.

That’s right. You’re the only one who can save him.

Namine:

But it’s too late…

Axel:

It’s too early to say that.

Hey Namine, aren’t you aware? Marluxia’s not here now.

Namine:

What do you mean by that?

Axel:

I’m saying there’s no one to stop you.

Good luck.

Well then, it’s gonna start, Sora.

Do your best and let me have some fun, won’t you?

Hey hey, now this is really fun.

You guys are really something, aren’t you?

14 – Most Treasured, Yet…

Sora:

Namine, umm… Is the one important to me… not you?

Namine:

No… The one important to you… The one you’ve been together with all the time…

isn’t me… but that person.

Sora:

But who’s that person? I can’t remember the name.

If it’s someone important, why is it that I don’t remember?

Namine:

That’s because I…

Riku:

Let me tell you instead.

It’s easy. Your memories are nothing but nonsense.

I’m the one who’s supposed to protect Namine…

and you stepped in between us!

You are the one manipulated by false memories!

15 – Axel Vs Marluxia

Marluxia:

You have the nerve showing up at my face, traitor.

Axel:

Traitor? Whatever are you talking about?

Marluxia:

Why did you let Namine go?

If you hadn’t done something foolish, the key blade master would have become our servant.

Axel:

Oh right. That was the plan.

To have Namine use her ability and alter Sora’s memories so that he becomes as she pleases.

And then, through Namine you’ll control Sora and take over the organization along with Larxene.

Am I wrong? The traitor between us is you, Marluxia.

Marluxia:

Since when did you suspect us?

Axel:

We don’t have the hearts to believe in people now do we?

Marluxia:

So you erased Vexen in order to find evidence of our betrayal?

Axel:

I didn’t want to do it but since it was your order…

Marluxia:

Oh?

Axel:

Remember? Traitors are to be eliminated.

So won’t you let me do my job, Marluxia?

16 – Larxene Sneers

Sora:

Riku!

Riku:

You fell for it!

Namine:

Sora!

Sora:

Riku…

Riku:

I have won.

Namine:

Riku, don’t do it!

Riku:

Die, you imposter!

Namine:

Stop it!

Sora:

Riku… Riku! Riku!

Did you do it, Namine? What did you do to Riku??

Larxene:

In short, that boy’s heart is broken.

Sora:

His heart… broken?

What’s going to happen to Riku??

Larxene:

What are you so flustered about?

There’s nothing to worry about Riku.

You see, this boy isn’t even him.

Sora:

What do you mean??

Larxene:

So you want me to tell you? You really do?

Oh what should I do~~

Sora:

Don’t play around with me!

Larxene:

All right, I’ll tell you.

Since you’ll probably suffer more knowing the truth.

That boy on the floor is just a toy created by Vexen. A doll.

Isn’t it funny?

That the one who called you an imposter is the imposter himself.

Sora:

Riku… is an imposter?

Larxene:

His body, heart and memories. All of it.

He’s just someone’s creation, there’s no way he’d have a past.

So we helped this little guy by planting memories of him with Namine inside.

In other words, all that he tried so hard to protect are nothing but lies.

Isn’t that right, Namine?

You really are mean under that cute face of yours, aren’t you?

Sora:

Namine?

Larxene:

This is too hilarious! Don’t you get it? That is Namine’s power.

The power to step inside people’s memories, twisting them and even adding nonexistent ones as she pleases.

This girl you’re trying to protect, she’s a witch binding people’s hearts with the chain of false memories.

Sora:

Does that mean… my memories are also…

Larxene:

Bingo. They’re all lies - illusions Namine created.

It was a trap to rope you in using the chain of memories.

And you fell right into it so easily.

We were so close though…

We were so close to making the key blade master our puppet!

Damn that Axel. How dare he let Namine do she pleased!

I guess right now I have no choice but to kill you.

Sora:

You…!

Namine:

Wait!

Larxene:

Huh? What are you thinking?

Are you trying to protect Sora?

Don’t make me laugh.

You were the one who toyed with Sora’s memories.

Namine:

But…!

Larxene:

Sorry but I’m in a real bad mood right now.

Cause of you our plan went to waste!

Sora:

Namine!

Larxene:

What’s this? You’re worried?

You guys are merely strangers.

Sora:

Maybe… but I promised her

Larxene:

Huh?

Sora:

That’s right. I promised that I’d protect her.

Even if the memories were lies… the promise still remains in my heart.

That’s why… I’ll protect her.

Larxene:

Hmph! Am I supposed to laugh?

That promise is plainly an illusion, all of it make-belief.

So what now? Are you playing hero by yourself?

Well, whatever.

Since you say so, then die alone!

Donald:

Who did you call alone?

Sora:

Donald! Goofy! You came!

Goofy:

Of course. We were worried about you.

Donald:

And we promised that we’d protect you.

Goofy:

We won’t let you be alone. The three of us have traveled all this way together after all.

Donald:

We’ll be together no matter what!

Larxene:

Fine. It’s way more fun killing three off anyway!

17 – Winds of Dancing Flames, Axel

Axel:

Larxene has died and paid for her sins.

You had better do the same!

In the name of the organization, I’m gonna end your existence.

Marluxia:

That doesn’t sound like you.

Axel:

I’ve always wanted to say it once.

Is that your shield?

She’s only gonna go with you.

Marluxia:

I wonder about that.

Did you hear that, Sora?

Axel:

Oh?

Marluxia:

It seems that Axel plans to kill both Namine and I.

Try and stop him with your power.

Axel:

Oh? Have you become his puppet already?

Sora:

He’s next after you!

Axel:

Sora, you and I share a wee bit of fate.

I don’t wish to fight you if possible…

but it’ll be bad for the organization’s reputation if I retreat now won’t it?

18 – Axel Disappears

Axel:

You’re stronger than I expected.

I guess it was worth saving you after all.

Sora:

Saved me? What do you mean?

Axel:

It won’t be fun if I told you now would it?

19 – Even If It’s An Illusion

Marluxia:

So you beat Axel?

The power of the key blade… I must obtain it by all means.

Sora:

Let go of Namine!

Marluxia:

You have no chance of victory.

Namine, erase his memories.

Namine:

If I do that…!

Marluxia:

That’s right. His heart will crumble.

Goofy:

Sora’s heart…

Donald:

…will crumble?

Marluxia:

I wanted to do it without hurting you.

But now time will eventually turn you into my servant.

Do it, Namine.

No. It was all my fault, but Sora still forgave me.

There’s no way I can destroy his heart!

I don’t care what happens to me.

But I definitely don’t want to hurt Sora!

Sora:

Do it, Namine!

Just do it. Erase my memories.

Goofy:

Sora, what are you saying?

Sora:

I can’t protect Namine if something happens to her.

That’s why you have to do it!

Even if I lose my memories, even if my heart is broken

I will protect you as I promised. Trust me.

Namine:

Sora…

Sora:

I’m sure I can defeat Marluxia even without my memories.

Donald:

That’s right! We won’t forget even if Sora does!

Goofy:

We can just remember Sora’s part.

Sora:

Yup. We can always gather all the fragments of memories and make a new one.

Marluxia:

Looks like you’re forgetting something.

If Namine erases your memories, you will become an empty shell.

You won’t have the heart to feel nor think, just like Riku.

Riku:

We’ll see bout that!

Marluxia:

You!

Sora:

Riku!

Riku:

No. I’m just an imposter.

Marluxia:

You… you should have lost everything. Why are you…

Riku:

Both my body and soul are fake. There’s nothing for me to lose to begin with.

But there are memories I don’t want to lose, even if they’re lies.

I don’t care if it was just an illusion.

I will protect Namine!

Marluxia:

Bastard…

So you’re going to bind yourself to a chain of memories born of lies…

Are you saying that you’ll throw away the freedom of the heart that you have?

Turning your back at reality… what weakness.

In that case you’re not worthy as my opponent!

20 – Towards the Final Battle

Donald:

Did we beat him?

Marluxia:

Exactly. Only, the one you defeated is none other than my dummy.

Riku:

So what if that’s it??

This one’s a dummy too?

Sora:

Is the real one inside?

Namine:

Yes.

Sora:

I knew it. I can feel the power within.

A power so strong it can crush the heart.

Goofy:

But we’ll be just fine!

Donald:

Sora, let’s go!

Sora:

Riku, I’m counting Namine on you.

Riku:

Is it really okay?

Sora:

Is there a problem?

Riku:

Understood.

21 – Scatter Your Heart Empty

Marluxia:

A world of nothingness where all hearts perish…

Your heart… scatter it empty!

May you be devoured by the blooming darkness and sink into oblivion!