Tbh, one question I want answered in kh4 is how early in kh3 Sora actually knows he's going to die. When he talks to Chirithy, Chirithy pretty much tells him as much, but Sora doesn't react. It seems almost like that isn't new information for him, so I wonder where exactly he figured it out. Was it as early on as when Marluxia suggested he would die, or was it after Ventus woke but before the graveyard?
One thing I see most people agree on is that Sora knew he was going to die long before he went back to save Kairi, so how early on exactly did he realize he was too far gone? I hope kh4 gives an answer for both when exactly he doomed himself (was he truly fine before saving Kairi, or was he already fading at that point, preparing for his punishment?) and when exactly Sora knew himself that it was over for him.
Before you even face the thirteen, every last one of you will be torn heart from body.
Sora had grown used to these sorts of threats that the Organization seemed to give over the years. None of them had ever managed to follow through with it before Sora and friends put a stop to their plans.
Sora had held onto that fact, had had such confidence that, just as they had every time before, they’d blow away the darkness-consumed Terra and swiftly defeat Xehanort and the rest of the Real Organization XIII.
But that confidence began to chip away slowly as each of their guardians fell, as each of his friends fell.
First it was Ventus. He had all been powerless to stop Terra from dealing such a blow.
Then it was Axel. Again, he’d been too slow to stop Terra. How could anyone be so fast?
Then Donald tried to stop him, and even he fell, exhausted and spent with the spell he used to protect them all.
That had been the breaking point, where Sora’s once unshakable confidence and optimism started to come undone, a small tug at the thread that had bound him together.
None of it had felt real to him. His friends were so strong that they couldn’t have so easily been defeated... Could they?
But soon, even Aqua grew hopeless. And then the darkness snatched her from them.
Donald, Goofy, and the King were next, as were Axel and Ventus. Each of them scooped away by the darkness before Sora could even think.
And then the darkness seized Kairi, along with the last of his hope and strength.
He had helplessly watched it all happen. He’d helplessly let this happen. What kind of hero was he if he couldn’t even protect his friends? Whenever he’d been in trouble, he had always leaned on them for support, and they’d never let him down. But when it was his turn to protect them, he failed.
He was worthless. Useless. Weak. A lost cause.
They should have never trusted him to be one of the seven guardians of light. Master Yen Sid should have given the title to someone else, someone who would have actually been able to stand against Terra. Someone who could actually save them all, instead of the broken mess of a failure that he’d become.
It was no wonder the keyblade hadn’t chosen him originally. It was no wonder he had failed his Mark of Mastery exam. He wasn’t deserving of the Keyblade Master title. He didn’t even deserve the keyblade.
All he had left now was Riku, and even he was taken by the darkness.
It was over, they had lost.
And it was all his fault.
‘And so, as foretold, darkness prevailed, and light expired.’
His eyes opened wide, and he gasped as he sat up in a cold sweat. His heart beat in his chest like a hammer, and he looked around to find that he was in bed, back at the makeshift tent he’d set up to camp out at the Islands on the night of the final battle. He crawled over his sleeping bag and poked his head outside the tent, seeing the tents of Kairi and Riku still there.
“So that...was just a dream?” he said aloud, disbelief filling him.
It had felt so real. The helplessness, the despair, all of it.
That was merely prophecy, Sora. That’s what’s to be expected tomorrow, should you still choose to fight as a guardian of the light, came Xehanort’s voice inside his head. His voice was calm and matter-of-fact, mixed with a hint of amusement.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he demanded, his stomach twisting in knots with the fear that Xehanort’s words might be true.
As you are now, your precious lights will fall, one by one until you’re the only one left. You’re too weak for this battle, Sora. You’re going to be the downfall of your friends, and they’re going to hate you for it. You already know it’s a lost cause, so what’s the use in fighting anymore?
He used to be able to answer that question. He used to be able say he fought for his friends, that he fought to save everyone, that he fought to prove he could be a hero. But now? What was the point of fighting against the darkness? If that truly was what was to come, what was the point in having all of his hopes shattered? What was the point in reliving how worthless he was to all of them? He didn’t have the unbreakable optimism that they’d always looked to him for. He didn’t have the strength that he’d once had. He was a washed up hero who didn’t know when to call it quits.
He was feeling colder by the second, and he could feel the darkness building inside of him, crashing against him like waves in the ocean, slowly growing larger and larger until it was ready to consume him. The light in his sapphire eyes dimmed, tears brimming along the edges.
You’re worthless alone, aren’t you? All the major battles you’ve fought, you’ve only been able to win because you had other people to help you. The only way for you to be of use now would be to join me. The darkness would give you strength unlike any you’ve ever known, and you finally would no long have to rely on those friends of yours. You’d finally have purpose again, the voice purred into his mind.
The words stung to hear, and the worst part was that Sora himself couldn’t deny any of it. He couldn’t deny what a burden he was to everyone. Riku, Donald, and Goofy were always coming to his aid to help him in battle. Axel had even sacrificed himself to save Sora multiple times. Roxas had sacrificed himself for Sora. Kairi had saved him too, from reviving him back from being a heartless, to bringing him and Riku back home from the Realm of Darkness. His friends had always been the ones to save him, and what good was he to them?
“But if I joined you, I’d have to fight them, wouldn’t I?” he asked softly, turning his gaze lifelessly toward the tents of Kairi and Riku.
Let the darkness handle that part, Sora. Once you give into it, it won’t be a worry of yours anymore. Think of it as a chance to prove you’re stronger than they think you are.
He didn’t want to leave them, his friends. But maybe this was his chance to protect them, in his own way...this would force them to find another guardian of light, someone who could be of more use, someone stronger, wiser, better. Someone they actually needed, instead of someone they kept around out of pity.
“Fine...I’ll do it. I’ll...I’ll be your vessel.”
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I don’t remember writing this fic, but I thought it would be fun to share!
Ok but if the "sora rewrites time and helps his friends in the graveyard without actively being there (and maybe erasing himself from the timeline to save kairi)" theory is true then sora not having much of an active role in the Disney worlds (other than staying back to fight heartless) would be sorta like foreshadowing and if that ain't the coolest thing ever
(and in the worlds where he does have more of a role? They're all new stories, set after the events of the originals, and possibly qualify as actual alternate timelines or things that didn't actually happen.)
Why Lea and Isa Needed to Heal Each Other’s Pain With the Power of Waking
“The mind forgets, but the heart will always remember. And what is the heart's memory but love itself?” — Twan Eng Tan
Aqua: “It's the power of true love that defeated you.”
Maleficent: “I will not be defeated by something as insignificant as love.”
Aqua: “You don't even know the first thing about it. You're too clouded by darkness to see that there's something greater.”
Besides Lea and Isa, I also really love Terra, Aqua and Ventus. Terra and Aqua’s relationship also felt romantic to me. Along with Axel, she sounds like she’s speaking from experience when she mentions love — romantic love. But that’s just how I personally interpreted it. Since Aqua is one of the wisest and most mature characters in the series, I didn’t have trouble believing her when she talked about the power of love.
“All that’s left in my heart is misery and despair, and I want you to feel it!”
Her love for Terra is so great that it leads her to sacrifice herself. She doesn’t just retrieve him from the abyss; she stays in his place. Unlike Terra, Aqua didn’t have a problem controlling her darkness. She was filled with light. Yet, purely out of love for Terra, she chose to take on the burden of his darkness and despair, instead of letting him suffer alone. She didn’t have to. She wouldn’t have fallen into darkness on her own. She chose to.
Ven: “Whatever it takes. Anything to save Terra and Aqua.”
Vanitas: “Hmph, it's always about your friends, isn't it?”
Ven: “At least I have some! I've become a part of their heart, just as they've become a part of mine. My friends are my power...and I'm theirs!”
It was Terra and Aqua who helped Ventus heal after Xehanort failed at turning him into a vessel. Ventus’ heart collapsed the first time. He didn’t fight back and he became a lifeless doll. The second time around, he had the strength to willingly accept the total annihilation of his existence, all to save his two friends. Although Xehanort said he was too frail and benign to be a good vessel, I think he was wrong. His heart just needed someone to fight for.
“Aqua, Ven... One day I will set this right.”
Terra starts off thinking he just wants to be stronger, but as soon as he lets his heart do the talking, his thoughts always turn to his loved ones. The only way Xehanort can make someone his vessel is to fracture their soul, but not break their heart. Most of the subjects he tried this on during his experiments suffered the total collapse of their heart. Only very rare individuals have a heart strong enough to endure that level of darkness. Of course, the heart’s strength is totally dependent on one’s relationships with others. In order for the heart to not break, you need to have a bond that is so strong, it can withstand even the shattering of your soul.
“I’m not afraid of what the darkness holds now. Even if you do wrest control of my heart from me, even if you cast me in the deepest, darkest abyss, you’ll never sway me from the one cause that pushes me to keep on fighting. Whatever the cost, I’m ready to pay it.”
You need to love another so much that you can stare down the deepest, darkest abyss for their sake. You need self-sacrificing love. That’s what Terra, Aqua, and Ven had. Terra had a purpose, a vow he made to his friends to set things right. The strength of his heart is initially what caused him to be used as a vessel, but it was also the strength of his heart that allowed him to wrest control from Xehanort and finally set things right.
Joshua: “By ourselves, we're no one. It's when other people look at us and see someone — that's the moment we each start to exist. All they needed was for someone to see them, connect with them.”
And while I thought the Wayfinder Trio had a mostly (but not completely) satisfying story, I cannot say the same about Lea and Isa’s story arc. The main theme of Kingdom Hearts 3 was supposed to be "ending hurt". But the story never addressed either of them healing their pain. I think Lea and Isa were supposed to have a relationship just as meaningful as Terra, Aqua, and Ven's.
This isn’t even about personal shipping preferences (as much as I do ship them). I believe that the writers had something very beautiful planned for Lea and Isa’s relationship, but it turned out quite differently than how it was originally envisioned. Their relationship seemed to be heavily inspired by the concept of Twin Flames or Twin Souls. Same-sex ones at that, which is refreshingly unique in fiction. Twin Flames are the key to healing each other's pain.
Axel: “Love is what happens when there’s something really special between people.”
Roxas: “More special than friends? Like…if they’re best friends? Inseparable?”
Axel: “Well, you can care about your friends, but that’s not exactly it…”
The concept of having a “Twin Flame” originated in Plato’s mythic dialogue entitled “The Symposium” which wrote that human beings originally had two faces, four arms, and four legs. Under the threat of being overpowered, the gods split them in half, creating the humans we see today. Hence, it is thought that we all have one “twin” soul out there in the world. Twin Flames are a divine expression of Balance, Harmony, and Unconditional Love.
A Twin Flame, or Twin Soul, is a person who you feel connected to not just on a physical and emotional level, but also on a spiritual level. Twin Flames are our friends, our lovers, and our teachers. They are the yins to our yangs, the suns to our moons, and the light to our darkness. Twin Flames are also our mirrors in that they reflect back to us all of our hidden fears and shadows, but also our true inner beauty and strength. In this way, Twin Flames open the door to tremendous emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth.
Put simply, the purpose of the Twin Flame relationship is to help shed away the snakeskin of the ego, face and heal both of their wounded hearts, and transform each other into awakened beings. The love experienced between Twin Flames is said to be like Holy Fire: it burns you to ashes, but it also forges you into a new creature, like a Phoenix emerging out of the dust. Twin Flames have a reputation for coming in and out of your life. Or often some outside force stands in the way of you being together. But it seems like you’re always pulled back to them in one way or another.
“Go on, you just keep running. No matter how many times you leave, I’ll bring you back. Every time.”
Twin Flame relationships are notorious for what is called the “runner and chaser dynamic”. The chaser waits for the return of the runner, having the patience of a saint while working on their own issues as each day goes by. During this period, the chaser is hoping that the runner wakes up to their spiritual call, while at the same time healing their own past wounds. Twin Souls may share only a brief moment in time, but the chaser keeps the faith that one day their counterpart will reach out again. Months or years go by…and then… one day...they call.
Rhyme: Aw, it's no big deal. You know what they always say — "Sometimes memories just need a little help getting out."
The runner does not understand what’s happening to them on a spiritual level. They feel like they’re losing control over their own emotions. They don’t know what to do, so their natural reaction is to run away, and chasing after them only makes them run even more. Inner healing is crucial for this type of journey to even have a chance of working out. Reuniting with your Twin Soul requires patience, and lot of inner work is necessary to be ready for them.
“And if the darkness gets ya, I promise I'll bail you out. "Dark Rescue" is my middle name.”
Well, Lea is definitely the chaser. And what could possibly be considered more “running away” than going to the Realm of Sleep? Soul fragmentation is the ultimate form of running away. You literally leave material reality because you cannot handle the pain of conscious awareness anymore. Someone else has to enter the darkest parts of your subconscious and chase down all the broken pieces of your soul just to bring you back. The main theme of Lea and Isa’s relationship is “memory”. I think Lea was going to be the one to heal Isa by using the power of waking on him and in doing so, he would be healed as well. Bringing back a person’s fragmented soul is all about healing and unconditional love.
Naminé: “Some people think pain is something you can just wipe away — and sometimes, maybe, you can. But not all pain can be erased. The only way to deal with it is to accept it head-on. And if the hurt is too great for you to bear it alone — well, then you turn to a friend close to your heart.”
Saix has two weapons of the same shape called Light Year (a reference to Axel’s famous quote about red light) and Luminary, which is how the ancients referred to the Sun and Moon. Luminary is one of only two weapons he can upgrade to ++ status. And it is shaped like common depictions of Reiki, one which looks like an angel. Reiki is a Japanese healing technique based on the principle that someone can channel their energy into the afflicted person by means of touch, activate the natural healing processes of their body and restore their physical and emotional well-being. In Reiki, the color of a person’s aura has a specific meaning and so do colored healing gemstones.
The aura is gold, which is the strongest color to help cure all ailments. It nourishes the whole being — body, heart, and soul. It is useful for healing and mental clarity. It is simple and gentle. Gold also represents awakened spiritual power and energy. When an abundance of gold is found in the aura, the person radiates and glows, becoming like the Sun. Spiritual masters who achieve this level of enlightenment see their auras fully restored and they are able to radiate energy to heal others as well. Just like Kairi did for Sora. The weapon has a red tip. Red jasper stones are about protection, stability and security. I have no doubt that this weapon represents what Lea is to Isa.
Xaldin: “To hold something dear is to let it hold you. His heart is in thrall to it, don't you see? And that, Roxas, is ample weakness.”
In 358/2 Days, the Mystery Gear’s description is: “A weapon that draws forth its wielder's personality.” Saix’s version of this weapon is called Moon Rabbit. The story referenced by Saix’s weapon is called The Hare on the Moon.
Morals from The Jataka: The Hare on the Moon
Long ago, the Buddha was reborn as a hare. The hare had three friends–a monkey, a jackal, and an otter. The Lord of Heaven was watching the four friends from his great palace on the peak of Mount Meru, and one day, he decided to test their virtue. The Lord of Heaven took the form of a priest, and he went to the otter and said "Friend, I am hungry. I need food before I can perform my priestly duties. Can you help me?” And the otter offered the priest the seven fish he had gathered for his own meal.
Then the priest went to the jackal and said "Friend, I am hungry. I need food before I can perform my priestly duties. Can you help me?” And the jackal offered the priest the lizard and curdled milk he had planned to have for his own meal. Then the priest went to the monkey, and said “Friend, I am hungry. I need food before I can perform my priestly duties. Can you help me?” And the monkey offered the priest the juicy mangoes he had looked forward to eating himself.
Then the priest went to the hare and asked for food, but the hare had no food but the lush grass growing in the forest. So the hare told the priest to build a fire, and when the fire was burning, he said “I have nothing to give you to eat but myself!” Then, the hare threw himself into the fire.
The Lord of Heaven, still disguised as a priest, was astonished and deeply moved. He caused the fire to go instantly cold so that the hare was not burned, and then revealed his true form to the selfless little hare. “Dear hare,” he said, “By your great virtue you have been spared! The earth will forever remember you and this act of sacrifice you have committed.” And then The Lord of Heaven painted the wise hare’s likeness on the pale face of the Moon for all to see.
The Lord of Heaven returned to his home on Mount Meru, and the four friends lived long and happily in their beautiful forest. And to this day, those who look up at the Moon can see the image of the selfless hare.
Xemnas: “The strength of the human heart is vast. Soon, though...we will have gained power over it! Never again will it...have power over us.”
Since this weapon in particular is said to represent the wielder’s personality, let’s examine it. The rocket and the rabbit are emanating an indigo aura, conveying integrity, devotion, deep sincerity, and wisdom. But the rocket’s occupant has a black aura. A black aura is one of the few auras that is predominantly negative. Typically, having a black aura means your natural aura is being stifled. The black aura consumes your natural aura and suppresses it, making it easier to feel hopeless and trapped. It is not the "real" you.
But the path to the moon is white. And so is the space inside the crescent moon where the star (representing the sun) would go. White represents purity and is the color most resistant to corruption. The aura on the moon is pale yellow, meaning renewed hope for the future. The rocket is taking off straight from a heart gemstone that is pink, implying that the rocket was launched by an act of love. Even the bottom of the rocket is a turquoise stone, offering protection from corruption. So much meaning in one design. And the design matches the story perfectly.
Why would the writers choose that as the weapon representing Saix’s personality unless they had a vastly different story in mind for him originally? It sounds like it would have nothing to do with him in canon. It would make sense if Isa had been “Subject X”, though. The sole test subject who didn’t have his heart collapse, causing him to become Xehanort’s unwilling vessel. I think the last thing on Isa’s mind before his soul fractured was his friend. And he was willing to sacrifice himself for Lea, out of love. And I think this is the reason that, unlike everyone else who was experimented on, his heart didn’t break. The moral of The Hare on the Moon is that unselfish love will be rewarded with a joyful rebirth. And that’s an important theme in KH3 as well. It’s how Rapunzel brings Eugene back and how Elsa brings Anna back.
A promise… We’ll meet again…in the next life. We did say that. I remember. I remember our promise.
Which is the exact same message that Lea’s Keyblade has. The Flame Liberator is based on the Phoenix. It builds its nest, which at the same time is its funeral pyre, and then it cremates itself. But it arises anew from the ashes transformed. In alchemy, the solar bird represents the idea that the end is only the beginning and is a symbol of the Philosopher’s Stone.
“As long as we remember each other, we'll never be apart. Got it memorized?”
According to ancient lore, the process of death and rebirth happens in four stages, called Magnum Opus. The process of creating a Philosopher’s Stone involved taking a White Stone (the Moon) and turning it red. The stages are called Nigredo, Albedo, Citrinitas, and Rubedo. Both Axel and Saix have weapons that are based on these stages, going along with their respective character arcs.
“I don’t want to disappear…But still, it wouldn’t be so bad if I did. Not here.”
In alchemy, Nigredo, or blackness, means putrefaction or decomposition. Axel’s weapon is called Blaze of Glory. It represents the Phoenix’s self-immolation and also the idea of leaving behind a lasting impression before your departure.
Axel: We just exist. We are Nobodies. But your memories and existence end here. Aren’t you happy?
Vexen: S-Stop! I don’t want to-
Axel: Well, see you.
It represents the moment of maximum despair a person experiences; the dark night of the soul when everything seems hopeless. That darkness is a prerequisite to personal development. His words to Vexen are, in a way, referring to himself. Lea has lost everything he ever cared about. The past is gone forever. Like Aqua, he was trying to share that misery and despair with others.
“That's absurd. He won nothing, and IS nothing. He couldn't stand the emptiness of being without a heart. And THAT led to his demise. He was foolish and weak.”
Saix’s weapons are emanating a purple aura, the most sensitive and wisest of colors. This is the intuitive color in the aura, and reveals psychic power and attunement with the self. But, like the bunny’s rocket, these weapons also have a black aura. Black draws energy to it and in so doing, transforms it. It captures light and consumes it. A black aura can indicate possession by a negative entity as well as unreleased grief. The stone on the tip is black tourmaline, which is used to release negativity and blockages and gives powerful shielding and grounding.
The weapon called Orbit has a sun symbol ☉ in the middle with a Recusant’s Sigil over the sun. The Moon and Earth orbit the Sun. Like the Phoenix, the lunar phase symbolizes the constant alternation of birth and death, creation and destruction. This weapon represents the death stage.
"Do you know what happens to those who lose their true purpose? Inevitably, they destroy themselves."
The other weapon is named Balsamic Moon. This is the symbol that Isa wears on his jacket. It is the final stage of the moon, symbolizing the death of Isa himself. Something is subconsciously gnawing away at Saix. Deep down he is utterly miserable. He thinks it's because he has no heart. I think it’s because Isa’s captured heart is wounded and in a lot of pain. It can’t stand the emptiness of losing its purpose. There’s a yellow stone on the weapon, called citrine. It carries the energies of sun as well as radiates warmth and comforting energies.
Axel and I talked for a while about the things we can't bear to lose. Axel thinks that for Nobodies, it's our pasts, because that's all we have to remember the pain of losing something.
The second stage is Albedo, meaning "whiteness". The goal of this portion of the process is to regain the original purity and receptivity of the soul. Burnout is the name of Axel’s weapon.
Xemnas: “About Axel. The poor fool. How long will he keep chasing the illusion of friendship, when he himself lacks emotion? Trying so hard to retrieve what he has lost, when it may never have existed in the first place. He deserves nothing more than our pity.”
Burnout is a state of chronic stress that leads to physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism, detachment, feelings of ineffectiveness, and a lack of accomplishment. I think this fits Axel pretty well after he becomes a complete person again. So often, it seems like things will never work out for him. But he never gives up.
Xigbar: Xemnas and Xehanort formed the Organization for a specific reason--round up a bunch of empty husks, hook them up to Kingdom Hearts, then fill them all with the exact same heart and mind. Translation — they were gonna turn all the members into Xehanort.
Saix’s weapons are Crescent and Gibbous. Both are shaped like the Phoenix’s wings. The crescent phases are about letting go of the past and turning one’s thoughts and attention to the future. Crescent is shaped like ⚸, the symbol for Black Moon Lilith. Technically speaking, the Black Moon Lilith is a mathematical point that's exactly in between the earth and the moon. Essentially, it's empty space. Isa has been turned into an empty vessel for Xehanort.
Xehanort: "X"... A most ancient letter. Some say "kye," but the meaning is the same. Death... A letter that spells endings.
The gibbous moon is the final stop before the full moon. It’s the homestretch. It symbolizes a time when you are so close to achieving your goal. This phase is about refinement and gratitude. The stones on the weapon are gray agate. Agate raises self-awareness, stabilizes the aura, transforms negative energy, and is a powerful conduit of spirit. This stone heals anger and lack of self worth, and enhances emotional stability.
“So you don’t need a heart to have something that you can’t bear to lose then. If that’s true, then I guess the closest thing that we Nobodies have would be memories of our past. It’s the memories that create the things that we don’t want to lose.You know, memories of the stuff we couldn't bear to lose, back when we couldn't bear to lose it.”
Citrinitas, is the third stage, meaning "yellowness." In alchemy it stands for the "transmutation of silver into gold" or the "yellowing of the lunar consciousness." The dawning of the "solar light" inherent in one's being. The weapon is named Outbreak — the sudden or violent start of something unwelcome. The final battle. I think the real reason Lea kept wearing his Organization cloak is because he could never be truly free of Organization XIII until Isa was free, too. They joined together, and Lea would only leave if it was together.
Roxas: I found out about love on today's mission — that it's something powerful.
Axel: That's true. It is. But I'll never get to experience it.
Just like with Aqua, I got the feeling that he has been in love before. Axel was optimistic when he spoke about cherishing memories of the past. But when Roxas brought up love, his attitude darkened. It depressed him to think he’d never experience that special kind of love again.
“Inside people's memories, I can live forever.”
The two weapons of Saix are Crocea Mors and Werewolf. Crocea Mors means “Yellow Death” in Latin. It was the sword of Julius Caesar, which was said to kill anyone it struck. Citrinitas is the “dawning of the solar consciousness”. The weapons have a yellow aura, the color of awakening. That’s why I think this is the scene where Saix would have remembered his true purpose. The irony of Xemnas calling Axel a fool shows itself here. The gemstone on Crocea Mors is azurite, which promotes insight, justice, and concentration. The one on Werewolf is red jasper again.
Sora: “...No. The hurt is what reminds me I've forgotten. It's proof there's something there, something...important. I won't run from it. It'll stay in my heart until the day I remember again.”
Axel spent all of 358/2 Days thinking Isa forgot him, but the only reason his heart never collapsed is because he didn’t forget him. Saix may remember Lea with his mind, but he doesn’t with his heart. With Berserk Saix, it’s the opposite. His heart had a purpose; a reason to keep existing. That was the very reason he was used as a vessel in the first place. But just like the selfless hare, that act of selflessness is also what saved his heart from breaking.
“Bet you don't know why the sun sets red. You see, light is made up of lots of colors. And out of all those colors, red is the one that travels the farthest.”
Rubedo or "redness", is the final stage of magnum opus. Both gold and the Philosopher's Stone were associated with the color red. It’s the point when a person discovers their true nature. The Phoenix symbolizes the Rubedo stage and it represents the freeing of the spirit from the bounds of the physical.
Saix’s red (er, pink — close enough) weapons are Moonset and Horoscope. Moonset is the weapon that is shaped like ⚶, the astrological symbol of Vesta. She was a Roman Goddess known as “The Keeper of the Sacred Flame”. The ⚶ is a symbol of the creative flame encompassing sacred sexuality, chastity, devotion & vigilance. The eternal flame that she protected never diminished, for she was guardian of hearth and home, family and community.
Horoscope combines the astrological symbol for Cancer ♋ with the astrological symbol for Venus ♀. Cancer is “The Sheltered Crab” of the zodiac represented by the Moon. Those born under this sign are very modest, shy, and extremely emotional individuals. Venus was the Roman goddess of love, sex, beauty, and fertility.
The silver gemstone represents protection. Both of these weapons radiate a pink aura. In Reiki, pink light represents the energy of love and has a very high vibration. It is tender, sensitive, sensual, affectionate, pure, and compassionate; it is associated with a new or newly revived romantic relationship. Pink light is soft and brings about gentle yet powerful healing. Red is the color of light that travels the farthest. This color heals Isa’s pain. But pink is the color of light that can heal Lea’s pain. The pain of losing something that’s important.
Ventus: “What is the one thing you care about more than anything else?"
Riku: “Hmm... My close friends.”
The Red King and White Queen are another symbol of the Philosopher’s Stone, along with the Phoenix. Their union is called the alchemical marriage. In alchemy, 🜍 sulfur represents Sol, the fiery male element. The counterpart is ☿ mercury representing Luna, the female element. Their marriage represents the spiritual goal of alchemy. Saix has a weapon named King of the Night shaped like a combination of 🜍 and ☿. The weapon has a silver base, the color of mercury. It has an indigo aura, indicating sensitivity to others’ energy, clarity and communication. The tip is aquamarine, meaning determination, courage, enlightenment, spiritual awareness and success. Perfect for using the power of waking on someone he cares about, like a close friend.
Xion: “Riku. What do you wish?”
Riku: “More questions... All right... I wish...to recover something important that I lost.”
Saix also has another weapon called Queen of the Night. The weapon has a yellow aura; the color of sulfur. It is aquamarine, also representing courage, determination, strength, communication, and success. The gemstone is aragonite for peace and calm. The name refers to a white flower that is part of the cactus family. It is one of the rarest and most expensive flowers in the world. It only blooms for one night a year, then it closes again when the sun rises.
This flower tends to bloom on days of a full moon, and thus is sometimes called the Flower from the Moon or Flower from the Heavens. It has a rich history in Japan, where it is known as the “Gekka Bijin” or “Beautiful Woman Under the Moonlight”. It is said that any wish prayed for while the flower is blooming will be fulfilled. Well, all Lea really wished for was to go back to the past. To once again experience the happiness that only existed in his memories. To recover something important that he lost.
Ansem the Wise: “Then, you came here, and you were questioned by three young people. That was the final key to awaken him. Sora is awake. You can go home now.”
The three questions were a test. Love is the key to use the power of waking. In the Realm of Sleep, time does not flow. The individual’s consciousness is forever frozen in time, until they are healed by someone who loves them. After their “birth by sleep”, a person is restored to exactly the same state as when they fell asleep. Like the hare on the moon, Isa’s selflessness would never be forgotten and he'd be reborn, just as he was before. And this is exactly how Isa would heal Lea’s pain. Simply by being the same person Lea remembered him to be. Or at least, that’s what I think should have happened.
Ansem the Wise: “So many are still waiting for their new beginning. Their Birth by Sleep.”
Isa’s entire character arc was meant to be about being brought back to life by Lea. When he was a kid, the symbol on his jacket was a waning crescent, the final phase of the moon symbolizing death and endings. In the ending, the new symbol on his jacket is a waxing crescent which is the first phase of the moon symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings. The star and crescent is a symbol signifying the union of the sun and moon, complementary opposites.
His role was to go and train a worthy apprentice and pass down No Name. Xehanort and Eraqus are old by the time we first met them and Luxu got a new younger body for an unknown amount of time. But I was thinking what if Luxu in his last body before he was known as Braig WAS Xehanort and Eraqus's teacher. Eraqus does mention as kids that their Master's favorite story was the Keyblade War and prophecy. When that body got too old their Master "died" and Luxu just got a younger new one and took on a new identity. With Xehanort trained up for what was to come and No Name passed down to him it became a waiting game.
I wonder, does rage form trigger from overusing drive like it did in kh2? Is it something thag you unlock after some sort of event? Does it trigger after an event during battle?
More importantly, does this mean that this dark form may be addressed in the plot or as a part of Sora's character? It's also interesting that this is Sora’s "rage" when he's using this darkness, which reminds me of Terra.
The UI also looks interesting for it.
With an interesting dark verion of the classic kh heart and dark waves. Kingdom Hearts has used waves as a metaphor for darkness before (Riku in the kh1 opening), so it may just be showing Sora's darkness.
