bro. you’re weirding me in

For reference: the scene in question is titled Journey's Reward in the Kingdom Hearts Dark Road theater mode.

I'll circle back to when it's set in a moment, but first, relevant quotes:

Xehanort: "It made me realize that one lifetime is too short" Eraqus: "Okay, then how many lifetimes would you want?" Xehanort: "[Twelve. No,] thirteen." Eraqus: "Th-th-thirteen?!" Eraqus: "Why so many?" Xehanort: "That's what it'll take to rebuild the world." Xehanort: "Scratch that." Xehanort: "One more to explore the new world." Eraqus: "Fourteen?!"

I did cut out some of the fluff and character work from the scene to fit them into a more concise post, feel free to check I didn't cut out anything essential.

Now, this scene is set two years after the main events of Dark Road (as a reminder, the game does a lot of flash forwards to various points in Xehanort's life). Specifically, before this conversation, they talk about their respective journeys across the worlds pre-Mark of Mastery Exam.

This means the scene is set, in particular, after Xehanort has met the Master of Masters who nudged him towards his "realization" about the darkness in people's hearts, a.k.a., the thing that pushed him to lay out his plans that would lead to the main Kingdom Hearts series and in particular Kingdom Hearts III. So this is definitely hinting at that. But wait! There's more!

I mentioned when this scene is set within Dark Road, here is the ending shot of the scene:

The scene opens the Last Episode of the game. Peak climax of the main story, and here we are flash-forwarding to this exchange. The writers in the Dark Road finale update were very economical throughout for obvious reasons (dying budget, they had to make it all count) but they are especially telling you to pay attention to this scene.

And what is that episode title? "The Seven Lights and Thirteen Darknesses"

Now, we know since 2012 and Dream Drop Distance what this phrase refers to: the fragments of the χ-blade needed to summon the true Kingdom Hearts. You might go "oh, in the Dark Road finale, characters attempt to summon Kingdom Hearts, that's why this is the title" and this is…somewhat true. The upperclassmen attempt to do this.

But crucially: they don't do it. They stop before they even start. What does happen in the episode is Baldr attempting to inverse this process and eliminate thirteen lights instead (and very nearly succeeding, asterisk, I don't know if Bragi would have counted). Really, the only event involving the 7 lights and 13 darknesses is, well, the one Xehanort alludes to in this scene: his eventual plan in Kingdom Hearts III.

The game is firing on all cylinders to tell you what Xehanort just said about wanting thirteen lifetimes to enact his plan is tied to what he does end up doing. And what else does he want?

One more to explore the new world.

Now, foreshadowing is a literary device— I'm just kidding I think it's clear enough.

But just in case. Just in case! You need more. Keep in mind that accompanying the finale came interviews and communications from Tetsuya Nomura, and what does that include?

This artwork.

Artwork of Xehanort in modern looking clothes, carrying an umbrella, in front of Miyashita Park in Tokyo (according to people more knowledgeable than me LOL)