Spoilers for Kingdom Hearts 1, Riku's story in Chain of Memories, and maybe slight spoilers for re:coded and Dream Drop Distance:

 

 

Ever since the first trailer for Kingdom Hearts HD II.8 Final Chapter Prologue, we knew that King Mickey met Aqua in the Realm of Darkness.  The question on a lot of people's minds after that was, "Why didn't Mickey save Aqua?"

 

Now, I doubt that Mickey intentionally left Aqua in the Realm of Darkness.  To do that just wouldn't be in his character.  After all, we found out in the secret ending to re:coded that Mickey was looking for his missing friends even before he knew that they needed seven guardians of light to fight Master Xehanort's thirteen seekers of darkness.  So, if he didn't intentionally leave Aqua behind, then he must have either been forced to leave her behind or something separated them from each other.

 

It looks like most of 0.2 will take place before the end of Kingdom Hearts 1, since Aqua is travelling through worlds that were consumed by the darkness, and, at the end of Kingdom Hearts 1, the worlds all returned to normal, except for the Sleeping Worlds.  But even the Sleeping Worlds weren't in the Realm of Darkness anymore.  Therefore, it stands to reason that Mickey will most likely run into Aqua while he is searching for the Kingdom Key D.  However, I have no idea what would cause them to be separated or what would force Mickey to leave her.  Maybe Mickey had to leave Aqua to seal the Door to Darkness, but when he tried to meet up with her again, she was gone.

 

We also know that Mickey spent some time in the Realm of Darkness after Kingdom Hearts 1 and during Chain of Memories.  So, maybe the end of 0.2 takes place after Kingdom Hearts 1, and that is when Mickey meets Aqua.

 

We know that Riku and Mickey were separated after the end of Kingdom Hearts 1.  So, maybe Mickey met Aqua after that, while he was trying to find a way to get to Riku, who was in Castle Oblivion, but when he grabbed the card that appeared in front of him, he couldn't take Aqua with him.

 

Anyway, those are my thoughts.  What do you guys think?

 

Edited July 6, 20169 yr by Dagesh Lene

0.2 takes place around the time KH1 is about to wrap. However, we don't know the exact time since time flows differently in the RoD. We already know Mickey meets Aqua of course. I don't think he left him on purpose, but I think Aqua stayed on purpose. I think she wanted to discover more and see if she can find a way of saving Terra and Ven. That's why soon after, as time progresses, she meets Ansem the Wise, and finds out about Sora. 

 

So I don't think Mickey left on purpose, but probably on the request of Aqua or of some sorts.

I agree with Jake - I think something happened that compelled Aqua to stay.  The question now is, what was it?  I think it may have have had something to do the current threat as Aqua is probably doing what she can in the RoD.

The reason why Mickey didn't save Aqua is because Birth by Sleep, Re:Coded, and Dream Drop Distance all reveal that Sora will have the power to save the people connected to his heart (Roxas, Namine, Xion, Terra, Ventus, and Aqua). 

The only thing I can think off is that they were going through the portal until a boss is holding them.

Then Aqua must had told Mickey that she will take care of him.

Is it possible that he has already saved her? Maybe Aqua is just hidden all these years, not lost. In the secret ending of Re:coded Yen Sid says to MIckey that they have to find Terra, since they have figured out where Ven's heart is. But, he doesn't say anything about Aqua. I believe it's either because they have saved her or generally know her exact location.

Edited July 6, 20169 yr by khsg

Is it possible that he has already saved her? Maybe Aqua is just hidden all these years, not lost. In the secret ending of Re:coded Yen Sid says to MIckey that they have to find Terra, since they have figured out where Ven's heart is. But, he doesn't say anything about Aqua. I believe it's either because they have saved her or generally know her exact location.

But what about Blank Points? We see Aqua in the RoD after KHII. No one has been to the RoD since - they've all been busy.

There is a reason she is staying there and Mickey and Yen Sid probably already know how to bring her back, thus why they are not worried about her. Plus, Aqua is a Keyblade Master and that gives her some more advantage/knowledge on maybe how to get out of there after encountering Mickey. Aqua has an agenda and she's probably trying to find more answers about Terra and Ven, and Kingdom Hearts, the enemies, etc. in general. Her knowledge about the RoD may be used in KHIII and lead to some clues/hints of what Kingdom Hearts truly is...

I think Aqua chose to stay.

But what about Blank Points? We see Aqua in the RoD after KHII. No one has been to the RoD since - they've all been busy.

Maybe the fact that time flows differently in the Realm of Darkness justifies Blank Points

As far as we know it's a good chance that Aqua is already saved.

As far as we know it's a good chance that Aqua is already saved.

 

The end of 2.8? Aqua steps inside Yen Sid's room. Kingdom Hearts III logo appears.

'Cuz Nomura didn't plan that far ahead at the time of KH1.

Don't save her, she don't wanna be saved.