Speculation on Dream Drop Distance

I think that game doesnt start with mark of mastery that theres happening something before it. Then mark of mastery begans what could be something like 20% of games length and after that terranorth appear and sora and riku go finding him by worlds and after 1-2 world their paths separate from some reason and after that is fight with terranorth and terranorth "loses" and escape. Then they hear by aqua and they try to save her some kind of way. And when they get aqua back, terranorth appears again and that is final figth and after that something terrible happens to sora. There could be also ghance that terranorth have some comrades.

I think that the beginning of the game to about mid way will be the Mark of Mastery exam, since Nomura said it will be only part of the game. We see Sora and Riku in there KH1 clothes, which we can guess is the Mark of Mastery cause the title of the game has the word "Dream" in it. They will have to face Ansem and Xemnas at the end of the exam, but the only thing is that I think Ansem and Xemnas are an illusion, and that Sora and Riku are really fighting them selves without knowing it. Nomura said that the theme of the game is "trust", so I think Sora and Riku will have to find out that they are fighting each other to pass the exam, but not only that, but go all out(fight) so that they can be ready for Xehanort.

 

Nomura has stated that Sora and Riku will get new clothes, so I can assume that's after they complete the Mark of Mastery and then they will get to the real plot of the game which I'm guessing where they have to save those that need to be saved. Without anymore info, that's all I got.

Since the letter had nothing to do with the exam, I think Sora goes off to try to help those that are hurting first.

Then, sometime later on, Riku or Mickey or both would find him in Radiant Garden and tell him that Yen Sid is summoning them for something.

 

Arriving at the tower, Yen Sid tells them they will be taking the Mark of Mastery exam.

This is where the "dream" in the title and the theme of "trust and reliance" comes in.

To take the exam, Sora and Riku are put to sleep, and they take it in their dreams.

The two must trust and rely on each other to do their part to complete the ultimate objective of the exam.

Whether they pass or not depends on how much they can trust each other.

 

Ultimately, both would pass, and Yen Sid would share with them the secret that keyblade masters learn upon becoming masters.

This secret may be the shocking ending that Nomura mentioned, and the game ends there.

 

*Edited* (Hey, it's my guess. I can change it if I want!)

The suprise ending could be maybe only riku passes and sora doesn't or both of them fail the test.

Eh, I think the ending would be something like, at the end of the game, the original Xehanort appears and does something terrible.

Eh, I think the ending would be something like, at the end of the game, the original Xehanort appears and does something terrible.

 

i dont think that would be the suprise ending cause i think alot of people will see that comming

I really wish people would stop acting like Sora and Riku are confirmed to be getting new clothes. Nomura said they might get new clothes so people don't think it's a remake.

Key word is 'might'

I dunno, I kind of think the MoM test will be the tutorial or something. The distance you fall in your dreams sounds a lot like the falling sensations that can wake a person up. That said, I don't think the game takes place in a dream world or something, I think dreaming has something to do with the Riku and Sora switches. There's also the connection between Sleep and Dreams, so this could have something to do with that. Something I noticed was that when Sora jumped off the Bell Tower in the trailer, the scene switched to Riku, which leads me to believe dropping has triggers the character change.

So I think dropping 'Wakes up' the other player, or something.

I'm personally not going to guess about the ending, I'm just going to reiterate that it's supposed to be shocking.

The return of the main villain is not shocking

The return of fan favourite characters like Vanitas and Axel are not shocking

Riku falling to darkness AGAIN is not shocking

 

Seriously, Kingdom Hearts is well known for throwing ridiculous twists at us, so try and think outside the box, eh?

 

Also, from what I can tell, all of Sora and Rikus interaction with the environment is are completely automatic. It's also worth noting that the drop gauge doesn't change, and the number is constantly 1.5

While Nomura said it was best to think of the Drop Gauge as a timer, I think it'll be more circumstantial than that. I think specific moments or actions drain the gauge (Or fill it up?) perhaps the aforementioned dropping? It is the drop gauge after all. But that can't be it, at least not entirely, Sora and Riku both jump and drop quite high, but the gauge never changes, so I'm predicting that particularly large drops will do it, or the part where it's raining Sora's is an allusion to how Sora and Riku will drop.

The trailer shows Sora and Riku speaking of the raft from KH1. It appears they ARE KH1 Sora and Riku, with he same aspirations and such, but it's not clear to what extent, this trailer was made to show the tone of the game, and doesn't actually show any new story scenes. I have always felt that Sora and Riku being their younger selves was Nomuras idea for getting them back to level 1, but it seems to run pretty deep, and I'm starting to wonder if KH1 Sora and Riku are the real deal at all.

Finally, the Xemnas and Ansem SoD bit. I think this foreshadows how boss battles with unfold. Sora fights one, Riku fights the other. The bosses will probably be opposites, Sora fights Fire, Riku fights ice, Sora fights Disney villain, Riku fights Disney hero and so forth. I also think we'll be fighting Xemnas and Ansem more than once. Possibly every (Or most) world.

That could even be the driving force of the game, track down the clones.

One last note. Did anybody notice how the Drop Gauge gets in the way of the health bar? I doesn't look like it'll be possible to get more health than what was shown in the demo...

I believe the story follows a simulated Mark of Mastery Exam for Sora and Riku. The reason why Sora and Riku are wearing their Kingdom Hearts attire instead of their KHII attire is due to Yen Sid asking them, "What if you hadn't gained the experience you have today? What if you hadn't fought against the Heartless or the Nobodies? What if (Master) Xehanort were to attack you today without your knowing anything about the worlds or the Keyblade?" He would train Sora and Riku to use new techniques using normal(ish) clothes so they learn to fight with the limited skills they have.

 

And so with that new experience and the old experience they gained in the previous games, they would be granted the rank of Keyblade Master, they would be able to fight Xehanort to the best of their abilities no matter how unexpected the outcome will be. However, during the exam, the actual Xehanort (whether it be Terranort or Master Xehanort) stirs chaos throughout the worlds, causing trouble for everyone including Ven, Aqua, Kairi, ect.

 

Once Riku and Sora pass the Mark of Mastery Exam (clad in new clothes) they travel to brand new and old worlds to find out clues of where Aqua could possibly be so they can bring her to Castle Oblivion to find the Chamber of Waking and resurrect Ven to find Terra's body and stop Master Xehanort which could or could not set the stage for Kingdom Hearts III.

 

That is my theory of could happen in Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance even if it isn't fully developed.

Here is my theory:

Yen Sid wants to test Sora and Riku in the Mark of Mastery Exam, but he can't. That is because Sora and Riku don't have their full power. They lost some of it whenever they lost their memories in Castle Oblivion. That being, Yen Sid sends Sora and Riku in a dream, where they must travel through dream worlds and recover their lost power. After they've gained their power, they change back into their KH 1 clothes. But before they can take the test, Xehanort is inside of the dreams, in the form of Xenmas and Ansem. After a big adventure with thrilling subplots, Xehanort is forced out of the dream, although he is still alive. This is when Sora and Riku learn that Xehanort is back, which is why they need to take the exam. The game ends with Sora and Riku awakening and taking their exam at Yen Sid's tower. At the tower, Sora passes the exam, while Riku fails. Riku then grows angry and jealous of Sora always being the hero. Riku then attacks Sora, Mickey, and Yen Sid, and leaves in a Corridor of Darkness. This is when Yen Sid realizes that Riku is dead, and he died while in his dream. Xehanort now posseses Riku. This was Xehanort's plan all along, so he can gain a keyblade.

my theory is that sora and riku are taken back in their memory for the first half of the game to show the journies that they have went on, and to have them fight xemnas and 'ansem' once more to show how strong they are, the second half of the game will be the mark of mastery, after which, Yen Sid tells sora and riku about terra, ven and aqua.

I think the plot of the game will focus more on Sora and Riku's teamwork than just having them take the Mark of Mastery Exam. Since the theme of the game is "trust" it could most likely mean that Sora and Riku will have to rely on one-another to perform certain tasks. I also think that the title "Dream Drop Distance" will become very important to the game. That title could possibly tell us that Sora and Riku may have illusions that will test them on their strength, as well as their trust upon each other. As we've seen in the trailer, we've seen raining Soras falling from the sky. So that could have something to do with the word "Drop" in Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance.

 

Now, as for Sora and Riku having their KH1 outfit in the game. Master Yen Sid will probably change them to their KH1 attire throughout the whole Mark of Mastery Exam. As Nomura stated, Sora and Riku are supposed to obtain new clothes at some point of the game so that it won't feel like a remake of KH1. That could possibly happen after they have taken the Exam. Which might be a little close to the end of the game. Plus, Nomura has said we will play as KH2 Sora again in the game. So here's what might happen. At the beginning of the game Sora and Riku will have their KH2 outfit on up until some point of the game where they change to their KH1 attire. Then probably Yen Sid changes them onto their KH1 attire as a part of the Exam. Then, after the Exam which will probably be close to the end of the game we will see Sora (and maybe Riku) in some new outfit. Now as for the worlds. Nomura has said there supposed to be all new, never before seen worlds in KH3D. So I think that Destiny Islands, Traverse Town, and other new worlds will probably be some sort of ilussion Yen Sid made. Kind of like with Mickey during his training back in BBS. This could alll be quite possible during the game as well as the story.

 

As for the "shocking ending" at the end of KH:DDD. It could be about maybe Master Xehanort and Terra. As we all know, the ending will have connections to KHIII. So the ending could be about Master Xehanort's new plans to take over and cover the worlds in darkness. As well as have the somebodies of the Organization return. So it might show us the other members of the Organization former selves. As I remember correctly, Nomura did say Axel would return in a different form. So that could be PART of the KH3D ending as well. But Nomura has a reputation for messing with our heads. So who knows what Nomura has cooking up for us.

wow! the trailer looks very interesting and, well 3D! still can't wait for the game to come out

I support all of the theories that are mentioned so far. Of what I can tell is that this game will be the final one in the timeline before Kingdom Hearts III. My theory is that the game will start out with Sora and Riku about to set off for their journey once more and Mickey comes out of nowhere and tells them that Yen Sid needs them. Yen Sid tells them that before they can start on their new journey, they must get stronger to face Xehanort once more by going through a huge thing on training. So Yen Sid puts them to sleep and Sora and Riku wake up in Destiny Island to do some basic tutorials of what to do in the game like the basic attack stuff and the new action commands. Throughout the game, Yen Sid would problably be talking to them like of what went down on Re:Coded with Mickey talking to Digital Sora.

 

Soon, both of them encounter Xehanort in their memories and they get separated to deal with their own different routes along with losing contact with Yen Sid for the majority of the game. They will be going to Tranverse Town, Destiny Island, Paris France (Hunchback of Notre Dame world), and other worlds from the Disney Universe that has never been used in the series so far. By going through each of these worlds, Sora and Riku will get a whole lot stronger and get more information of what happened in the past maybe and be able to learn of where Aqua and Ven are at. Around the end of the game, Sora and Riku are battling Xehanort in his different forms like in the previous games and then Riku reconizes Terra in one of the cutscenes. When that happens, Riku reminds Sora of that person that talked to Riku when they were kids and of knowing that they need to save him. Once the final boss battle is over, Sora and Riku wake up and tell Yen Sid of what they have found out when they were asleep. Yen Sid gets suprised on some of the information and fills in of what Sora and Riku don't know. From here, Yen Sid will soon tell them that the reason why is not only to help train them in their sleep, but to see if they have passed the exam. Once this is over, there will be a secret cutscene of some sorts to finally get into Kingdom Hearts III.

 

This is what I think of what the outline of the game will be like and I hope everyone would like it.

Here is my theory:

Yen Sid wants to test Sora and Riku in the Mark of Mastery Exam, but he can't. That is because Sora and Riku don't have their full power. They lost some of it whenever they lost their memories in Castle Oblivion.

Riku never lost any memories

That being, Yen Sid sends Sora and Riku in a dream, where they must travel through dream worlds and recover their lost power. After they've gained their power, they change back into their KH 1 clothes.

What? Why? If anything, wouldn't they get new clothes, to signify they haev mroe power than before?

But before they can take the test, Xehanort is inside of the dreams, in the form of Xenmas and Ansem. After a big adventure with thrilling subplots, Xehanort is forced out of the dream, although he is still alive. This is when Sora and Riku learn that Xehanort is back, which is why they need to take the exam. The game ends with Sora and Riku awakening and taking their exam at Yen Sid's tower. At the tower, Sora passes the exam, while Riku fails. Riku then grows angry and jealous of Sora always being the hero.

I'm pretty sure Riku would be over that by now... and what do you mean 'always'? Riku has been the hero for his fair share of adventures as well

Riku then attacks Sora, Mickey, and Yen Sid, and leaves in a Corridor of Darkness. This is when Yen Sid realizes that Riku is dead,

Dead? Are you kidding me? How would that ever happen in a Disney game?

and he died while in his dream.

How does dying in a dream kill a person?

Xehanort now posseses Riku. This was Xehanort's plan all along, so he can gain a keyblade.

 

I think the plot of the game will focus more on Sora and Riku's teamwork than just having them take the Mark of Mastery Exam. Since the theme of the game is "trust" it could most likely mean that Sora and Riku will have to rely on one-another to perform certain tasks. I also think that the title "Dream Drop Distance" will become very important to the game. That title could possibly tell us that Sora and Riku may have illusions that will test them on their strength, as well as their trust upon each other. As we've seen in the trailer, we've seen raining Soras falling from the sky. So that could have something to do with the word "Drop" in Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance.

 

Now, as for Sora and Riku having their KH1 outfit in the game. Master Yen Sid will probably change them to their KH1 attire throughout the whole Mark of Mastery Exam. As Nomura stated, Sora and Riku are supposed might to obtain new clothes at some point of the game so that it won't feel like a remake of KH1. That could possibly happen after they have taken the Exam. Which might be a little close to the end of the game. Plus, Nomura has said we will might play as KH2 Sora again in the game. So here's what might happen. At the beginning of the game Sora and Riku will have their KH2 outfit on up until some point of the game where they change to their KH1 attire. Then probably Yen Sid changes them onto their KH1 attire as a part of the Exam. Then, after the Exam which will probably be close to the end of the game we will see Sora (and maybe Riku) in some new outfit. Now as for the worlds. Nomura has said there supposed to be all new, never before seen worlds in KH3D. So I think that Destiny Islands, Traverse Town, and other new worlds will probably be some sort of ilussion Yen Sid made. Kind of like with Mickey during his training back in BBS. This could alll be quite possible during the game as well as the story.

 

As for the "shocking ending" at the end of KH:DDD. It could be about maybe Master Xehanort and Terra. As we all know, the ending will have connections to KHIII. So the ending could be about Master Xehanort's new plans to take over and cover the worlds in darkness. As well as have the somebodies of the Organization return. So it might show us the other members of the Organization former selves. As I remember correctly, Nomura did say Axel would probably return in a different form. So that could be PART of the KH3D ending as well. But Nomura has a reputation for messing with our heads. So who knows what Nomura has cooking up for us.

You need to stop spreading possibilities as fact

 

Comments in bold

i think sora and riku go with mickey donald and goofy who picked them up (it's sora and riku's only means of transportation) they take them to mysterious tower (and from there, twilight town as the first world after that) yensid informs them of where aqua and ven are but . . . alas! he says they are not yet ready so they have to take the mark of mastery to have the power to save everyone riku says "we don't need that, we can take whatever comes are way!" then sora says "all those people are hurting, and if we're the only the only ones who can save 'em . . . . . WE CAN'T WAIT" donald: "but sora . . . " sora frowns. goofy:" don't worry! we defeated ansem, er uh, i mean xehanort's heartless!" donald again: "and you and riku worked together to defeat his nobody!" mickey looks over at yensid who calmly says "but you must, to become TRUE keyblade masters, wich is needed to save them and confront master xehanort." so sora and riku go their seperate ways going to many worlds, starting with twilight town, later traverse town, notre dame, etc. heartless and nobodies are everywhere and sora keeps thinking he sees xemnas, and riku keeps thinking he sees ansem SoD, but they are both teranort in disquise (explaining "dream")who is ALSO testing their streingth if they are the suposidly "saviors of the worlds" yensid is worried and mickey wants to do somthing but yensid says this can become a part of their test but just in case he sends mickey donald and goofy out to investigate and follow terranort all the time. mean while the main part of sora and rikus test is about trust, and nomura said you will grow with another character, not so much sora, and i beleive this will be riku. riku keeps wanting to use dark powers and even though he flussed it out in kh2, he still has the will to use darkness (and fake ansem is telling him to) but keeps telling himself to keep going, he thinks of the whole thing as a contest,and is jealous of sora (wich is why he sees so many soras in the sky, all illutions happen often) and sora starts to not trust him so much, eventually they are pitted against each other in a fight but they decide that's not what's important, they have to save everyone. they've come this far, they can't get like this, immediatly they are telleported back to myserious tower and yensid congratulates them, gives riku way to the dawn and sora the abillity to get keychains from various worlds (he couldn't before, it would prove unfair). NOW they go out saving ppl and confront terranort once and for all!

 

Here is my theory:

Yen Sid wants to test Sora and Riku in the Mark of Mastery Exam, but he can't. That is because Sora and Riku don't have their full power. They lost some of it whenever they lost their memories in Castle Oblivion.

Riku never lost any memories

That being, Yen Sid sends Sora and Riku in a dream, where they must travel through dream worlds and recover their lost power. After they've gained their power, they change back into their KH 1 clothes.

What? Why? If anything, wouldn't they get new clothes, to signify they haev mroe power than before?

But before they can take the test, Xehanort is inside of the dreams, in the form of Xenmas and Ansem. After a big adventure with thrilling subplots, Xehanort is forced out of the dream, although he is still alive. This is when Sora and Riku learn that Xehanort is back, which is why they need to take the exam. The game ends with Sora and Riku awakening and taking their exam at Yen Sid's tower. At the tower, Sora passes the exam, while Riku fails. Riku then grows angry and jealous of Sora always being the hero.

I'm pretty sure Riku would be over that by now... and what do you mean 'always'? Riku has been the hero for his fair share of adventures as well

Riku then attacks Sora, Mickey, and Yen Sid, and leaves in a Corridor of Darkness. This is when Yen Sid realizes that Riku is dead,

Dead? Are you kidding me? How would that ever happen in a Disney game?

and he died while in his dream.

How does dying in a dream kill a person?

Xehanort now posseses Riku. This was Xehanort's plan all along, so he can gain a keyblade.

 

I think the plot of the game will focus more on Sora and Riku's teamwork than just having them take the Mark of Mastery Exam. Since the theme of the game is "trust" it could most likely mean that Sora and Riku will have to rely on one-another to perform certain tasks. I also think that the title "Dream Drop Distance" will become very important to the game. That title could possibly tell us that Sora and Riku may have illusions that will test them on their strength, as well as their trust upon each other. As we've seen in the trailer, we've seen raining Soras falling from the sky. So that could have something to do with the word "Drop" in Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance.

 

Now, as for Sora and Riku having their KH1 outfit in the game. Master Yen Sid will probably change them to their KH1 attire throughout the whole Mark of Mastery Exam. As Nomura stated, Sora and Riku are supposed might to obtain new clothes at some point of the game so that it won't feel like a remake of KH1. That could possibly happen after they have taken the Exam. Which might be a little close to the end of the game. Plus, Nomura has said we will might play as KH2 Sora again in the game. So here's what might happen. At the beginning of the game Sora and Riku will have their KH2 outfit on up until some point of the game where they change to their KH1 attire. Then probably Yen Sid changes them onto their KH1 attire as a part of the Exam. Then, after the Exam which will probably be close to the end of the game we will see Sora (and maybe Riku) in some new outfit. Now as for the worlds. Nomura has said there supposed to be all new, never before seen worlds in KH3D. So I think that Destiny Islands, Traverse Town, and other new worlds will probably be some sort of ilussion Yen Sid made. Kind of like with Mickey during his training back in BBS. This could alll be quite possible during the game as well as the story.

 

As for the "shocking ending" at the end of KH:DDD. It could be about maybe Master Xehanort and Terra. As we all know, the ending will have connections to KHIII. So the ending could be about Master Xehanort's new plans to take over and cover the worlds in darkness. As well as have the somebodies of the Organization return. So it might show us the other members of the Organization former selves. As I remember correctly, Nomura did say Axel would probably return in a different form. So that could be PART of the KH3D ending as well. But Nomura has a reputation for messing with our heads. So who knows what Nomura has cooking up for us.

You need to stop spreading possibilities as fact

 

Comments in bold

 

May i ask why you're trying to correct people when they are just theories?

Well I'm just trying to get you to stop saying thing will happen, when they only might happen.

Kronos' theory conflicts with KH continuity.

Well I'm just trying to get you to stop saying thing will happen, when they only might happen.

Kronos' theory conflicts with KH continuity.

 

 

The topic is about what you think/hope might be possible storylines, you don't have to piss over everyone's thoughts...

 

As the title says: speculation.

The Mark of Mastery could be a look at what could happen to Sora and Riku in the future. As it prepares them for battle, they discover things relating to the past, present and future.

Plot:

After the events of Re:Coded, Sora and Riku are summoned by Yen Sid (who knows that Xehanort will return) to take the Mark of Mastery Exam, even though they're not ready there's no option. While the exam is taken strange circumstances begin to happen and the two heroes must dream to discover the secrets of a new enemy, a mysterious figure who seems to lurk in darkness and will cause trouble to more than one world. What does this mysterious figure want? Is he related to Xehanort somehow?

 

Well I'm just trying to get you to stop saying thing will happen, when they only might happen.

Kronos' theory conflicts with KH continuity.

 

 

The topic is about what you think/hope might be possible storylines, you don't have to piss over everyone's thoughts...

 

As the title says: speculation.

 

As a general rule, speculation is analyzing information, and creating a viable theory about what could happen. There's as far as I'm concerned, Kronos' theory is as viable as any other in this topic, but I pointed out Riku never lost any memories, and that Disney wouldn't want the murder and possession of a main character (Which is ironic given their track record)

I dunno, I've always felt that a theory with flaws should be criticized, in the pursuit of BETTER theories. For example, take Kronos' basic idea, but instead haev Riku missing some of his power because of Ansem SoD, and instead of Riku dying and being possessed, there could be some sort of metaphorical end to Riku. It creates the same end result, but with a more accurate tint to it.

Also I like how you say everyone. I pointed out two things about one persons theory, and didn't complain about any aspect of KingdomHearts125's theory.

somone said: 'hey joby's theory was pretty good'

aw you guys . . . . but any way, yeah. quit arguing over theories. lemme tell you why: T-H-E-O-R-Y. so please. be nice to other people.

I really wish people would stop acting like Sora and Riku are confirmed to be getting new clothes. Nomura said they might get new clothes so people don't think it's a remake.

Key word is 'might'

 

The thread is called speculation, as in I speculate what might happen in the game, which throughout my post, I said "I guess, I assume." I know what I said. I'm using the info I have gathered to speculate what might happen, since Nomura said "he's looking into the idea of changing Sora and Riku's clothing so people won't think this is a remake." That probability is very high, knowing the fans who always think and complain why Sora and Riku are always in their KH1 outfits so I added that to my post, along with him "changing they're clothes midway", which I assume is after the exam. The thread is about telling your theories to what might happen, and that is what we are doing. No need to act like that.

alright this might be short because im good at makeing long wrightings short so here goes!

 

~STORY~

ok so it starts off by sora and riku being brought to yen sid's world and then they undergo the keyblade mark of mastery test. both pass witch leeds them to get their next assigenment to look for terra as they leave they get effected by terranort. this calses sora and riku to become younger and younger as time goes on as time goes on and they become younger they begen to lose trust in one another and begen to drift apart finialy they confront eatchother (kinda like at the keyblade graveyard in bbs with ven aqua and terra) but befor they can make up they fight terranort. sora and riku make up in the battle and are able to defeat terranort and micky comes and tells them that is terra they then free terra from xanhort and xanhort excapes and sora and riku become older again..... and that leads into KH III

 

~game play~

as for game play i feel it will be like mario and luigi partners in time you can use the babies or mario and luigi sepretly i feel this is how u will use both riku and sora so u press 1 buttan and become sora and then press it again and become riku and go back to where riku was. this will make haveing diffrent story lines posible.

 

(sorry for bad spelling/ grammer)

After recieving the message in the bottle from Mickey, Riku and Sora go to YenSid for guidance for where to begin. YenSid says that before going off to save those needed, they might encounter a great enemy that could stop them from rescuing them (Master Xehanort), and in order to defeat him, they need to become stronger; becoming Masters.

Expected from Sora, he is determined to pass the Mark of Mastery, claiming to be ready; Riku as well, feels he is strong enough to pass the Mark of Mastery. This is when 'Dream' from Dream Drop Distance comes; in order to pass the exam, they must overcome their greatest obstacle, Riku defeating Ansem SoD, and Sora Xemnas, but since they are 'gone', YenSid puts them to sleep, where they'll struggle against them inside their own minds. While travelling the new worlds YenSid placed as setting, they search for Ansem SoD and Xemnas, while needing to accomplish certain things in each world in order to continue, but needing to work as a team though in their own separate ways; that's where Trust comes, since there are moments of doubting the other, and themselves. The more they doubt, and do not trust, the deeper they will 'fall' thus not completing the Mark of Mastery.

 

For what I saw in the trailer, I believe Sora begins to doubt himself, realizing the big burden he now carries, feeling too pressured if he is capable of passing the Exam, and if he does, been capable of rescuing those that need him, because he fears he will fail, and so he needs Riku as support, that's why Riku gasps in the trailer when he sees all the Soras falling, because he realizes how much Sora needs him (Or at least that's what I think).

For distance, I think it'd be the distance doubt can create. If you doubt of someone, you get away from him or her, right? To work alone, and make it on your own.

 

I think the rest of the game is pretty much that, Sora struggling on his own to pass the Exam, Riku going his own way, and looking out for Sora, in the end, both defeating their obstacles with the support of the other, and passing the Mark of Mastery.

 

As for the huge and great shocking ending... I think, but I don't believe is very probable, that when Riku and Sora wake up, now as full Keyblade Masters, and informed by YenSid of what to do, Mickey comes in with a hooded figure in the Organization coat, and YenSid says that 'that person will aid you in your new journey'. The figure removes the hood, to reveal Aqua.

That would be the ending, or at least that's what I think.

 

But still, is all speculation right?