#I haven't seen people post about the Coded novel which is. understandable but it needed correcting

[descendant-of-truth]

Just remembered that I have the Coded novelization, and while it doesn't add that much in the way of depth I thought it'd be fun to share some bits from it that I found notable

For example, here's some moments of Data Sora actually thinking about his real-world counterpart:

The other world with another Sora, data, bugs - Sora still didn't really get it all, but he felt just the tiniest bit of warmth in his chest when he was with these two. "Well, that right there is a sign you've found true friends!" Donald crossed his arms and said with a nod. "It's kinda fun to make the same friend twice," Goofy added. That did sound like fun. Sora wasn't sure what his counterpart in the real world was like, but he had to thank him for friends like these. I'm me, so that other Sora is and isn't me, I guess. What's he like, I wonder?

"Gosh, you sure went through a lot of trouble." "I'm sorry." Namine bowed her head. "I wish I could have told you all this in person. But the real me is gone now." The "real me"...? So where's the real Namine? Um, and if this is a world inside some data, then... huh? Then where - who is the real me? I'm this guy Sora, and Sora is me, but then this is a world made from memories, so...? Sora let out a long sigh, then smiled. "Um... guys? This is all way over my head... Am I dumb?"

Then there's this scene that might have been in the DS version? I haven't played it yet, but either way it's different from the movie in the collections:

"It's so... empty," Sora whispered uneasily, looking at his feet. Suddenly, a shock ran through him, as if something very heavy had been dropped onto his shoulders. "Aaah!" Sora cried as a ball of light shot out of him. The burden on his shoulders remained. His knees felt like they were about to give out under him. "Wh-what's going on? I feel k-kinda funny." It was like the energy had been sucked right out of him. What just happened? "Sora! You okay?" Riku came running up. "Riku! What about you? Are you all right?" Sora was still worried for his friend, though his legs were so wobbly he could barely stand. Riku gave him a small nod in reply. "You shouldn't be here. I can fight the bugs off a little longer... but they're spreading. Pretty soon they'll take over all my data." The bugs were starting to win. What would happen once their control was complete? "You feel weak, right? It's because the bugs have stolen your data. You won't last long in here. Take this and escape while you can."

I think it makes sense that there would be some kind of complication with Sora while trying to save Riku; it gives his warnings some more weight.

Speaking of Riku, they added a cute little high five between him and Sora when he clears out all the bugs in Riku's datascape:

"Thanks!" Sora held up his hand, and Riku gave him a high five. "The bug tried to use my power for itself, didn't it?" "Yeah... How'd you know?" Sora asked in return.

In general, characters are more prone to physical contact with each other in the novels compared to the original versions; Donald and Goofy give a few different hugs in this book alone. But because I'm a simple person who likes Soriku, this scene in particular made me happy:

"Wait, Sora! Where are you going? Sora!" Riku grabbed Sora by the arm as he started to run off. "The datascape won't hold together much longer! Sora, stop!" Sora had no intention of doing that. "Sora, are you crazy?" Riku urged, still with a firm grip on his friend's arm. "We can't just leave them! You heard Mickey. I'm going to find them!" "Find them where?! Do you have any idea where they are?" "Somewhere!" Sora snapped. Riku took hold of Sora by both shoulders and gazed into his eyes in an effort to get through to him. Sora stared right back. "Aren't you afraid?" Riku asked softly. "We're not just talking about losing some memories here. We could get erased. This whole world could get erased!" "Sure I'm afraid. Weren't you?" "Hmm?" Sora slowly removed Riku's hands. "You've been in my shoes. You've gone up against the impossible alone. Because you knew that was less scary than just sitting around and waiting for the end."

Like what was the REASON for this. Did the author realize that she omitted the specific detail of Sora holding Riku's shoulders like in the movie version and decide to make up for it here. That would be hilarious

We also get Sora threatening Pete, which was way funnier to me than it should've been:

"This is where it ends, Pete!" Mickey brandished his Keyblade. "It ain't fair! Sproutin' a new Keyblade is cheating. Better make a strategic retreat, before--" "Not so fast! First, hand over Riku... or else." Sora readied his Keyblade, too. "Uhmmm... Now let's talk about this..."

And finally, the scene that shook my perspective the most:

"Don't ever talk about Sora like that. He's our friend in this world and every other one, too!" Donald shouted, wriggling in the tiny space between his body and the wall to strike the blocks with his staff. the wall didn't budge, though. "Donald..." I'm so happy to hear you say that, but... I really am useless now. "Hmph, maybe on the outside, but he's just an empty shell. The kid don't got a heart," Pete continued. A heart? What's a heart?

Guys. No one's explained to Data Sora what a heart is. This automatically makes him one of the funniest characters in the series, because it means he's been dodging all of the emotional turmoil that's been the driving force of the series through a simple lack of information.

He has his own struggles of course, but out of every character that's been a protagonist in one of these games, he understands Heart Lore the least, and I find that incredible