Gummispace
Gummispace is the space between worlds. Worlds in this case are defined as single congruent area such as ‘The World of Ruin’, ‘Traverse Town’ and ‘Phantasia’. Each world is surrounded by a Barrier of Light, which protects them both from being invaded by Heartless or from traveling to other worlds.
Barriers Of Light
A Barrier of Light has three general states. Locked, Unlocked, and Broken. When ‘locked’, a Barrier of Light prevents all travel to or from a world. Exceptions to this are few and far between.
A Barrier of Light can also become Unlocked through the actions of Keyblade Wielders or various forms of high-level sorcery or science. This allows travel to other worlds, and tends to create ‘meteor showers’ both upon the world unlocked and nearby worlds. These ‘showers’ are Gummi Blocks, which are tiny fragments of the Barrier of Light around that world. While unlocking a Barrier allows for travel out, the door swings both ways, and allows Heartless to interact with the world. When not unlocked with a Keyblade, the opening can often create what is called a Void Point. This is a point in which Darkness often can begin streaming into the world. The forces brought to bear to create such a break are often signs of great tragedy.
An unlocked barrier still has a thin veil of protection that keeps the ship sized Heartless away. Those only come into play with the next variation, which is the broken barrier.
There are also situations wherein the Barrier of Light can be severely damaged through catastrophic actions, which can expose a world to a massive invasion of world-consuming Heartless. This usually results in the world falling into the Darkness in short order unless steps are taken to stop them and repair the breach.
Portals And Corridors Of Darkness
The Portals that people use to pass from world to world are functionally quick-travel methods to pass through Gummispace without the need of special equipment. However, portals do not reach all worlds. Worlds which Portals do not connect to have to be reached by traveling through Gummispace the hard way.
Corridors of Darkness can, on the other hand, reach almost anywhere, but travel through them is an extremely dangerous proposition for anyone who even knows the method to do so, usually secret knowledge given only by the Shadow Lords or other entities of Darkness. It is rare for someone with significant light in their heart to survive such a passage unaided, as one is exposed directly to the ravages of the Heartless who roam the spaces between worlds.
Another term for Gummispace is the Realm Between. As such, other space vehicles such as Montressor’s Treasure Planet or Lilo and Stitch’s Galactic Alliance ships function normally in said spaces.
Travel through Gummispace is possible through Gummiships, but how do you know how to get somewhere?
The Darkness is almost infinite. Gummispace can hold a seemingly infinite variety of wonders and terrors... And the eternal threat of the massive, world-consuming Heartless which dwell outside the Barriers.
However, between established world, Lanes of Light connect worlds to another, allowing support between them and a speedy travel. The Lanes themselves can prevent some of the worst of the Heartless incursions, but this is not to say that it is safe. Far from it, but compared to Deep Gummispace, it is far easier to find one’s way.
Gummiships, when properly constructed, will travel down the chosen path to the world without fail. Difficulties can arise, however, if one’s Gummi Blocks are not properly configured. Sometimes, one might find themselves going somewhere else entirely... Or into a situation they never expected.
Lanes of Light are most often created when a Keyblade Wielder connects one world to another using their powers. However, sometimes worlds are not so fortunate. Other ways exist to forge those connections, one of which is held in the Magic Kingdom within Disney Castle itself. Other methods may also exist for those who are light of heart.
Those of the Darkness, of course, need no such things.
Any Port In A Storm
Gummiships cannot easily interact with areas outside of Gummispace. Generally, only specialized areas (such as Void Points or where a Keyblade Wielder was able to unlock a part of the Barrier of Light) can be used as a place to allow a Gummiship to launch into Gummispace or land for maintenance, modification, or repairs. Some of these areas are natural. Some have major ports built around them. When removed from these areas, Gummi Blocks shrink a great deal. Most areas with ports control exposure to Gummispace to prevent accidents with ship transport from occurring.
Currently known areas with access to Gummispace are:
- Void Point: The Golmore Jungle (World of Ruin, Central Isles)
- Void Point: Giza Plains (World of Ruin, Northern Isles)
- Port: Montressor Spaceport (Traverse Town, District 3)
- Port: Magic Kingdom (Cornerstone: Hangar)
Without a Void Point, a Gummiship can teleport a person into a specific location, and teleport them back up. Thanks to the Magic Kingdom, Moogles have set up small glowing shops near those points to regulate people entering and leaving. One can /only/ teleport from and to those very specific locations. And in general, Shadow Portals are a /far/ safer method of travel. These points are fueled by strange glowing crystals of light which are found only in the Magic Kingdom.
