Kairi and Darkness [speculation thread]
!Find the original thread HERE on my twitter! (Sorry if any of the images are absolutely fried, they were all moved from twt since I didn't have them saved on my pc anymore lmao)
In BBS, we are introduced to Terra, Aqua and Ventus as parallels to Riku, Kairi and Sora, respectively. However, as the story of Kingdom Hearts continues to evolve, parallels between Aqua and Sora, Aqua and Riku, Terra and Sora, and Ventus and Kairi, are established as well.
I'd like to focus on the parallels between Ventus and Kairi, because it's possible that a terrible accident from the distant past may end up happening again.
Kairi and Ventus were both forced into a comatose state due to unfortunate circumstances, with someone close to them fighting to restore their hearts. Both are also associated with sleeping princesses.
Neither one of them remember their past, and they experience immense pain when they try to remember, or when they have a flashback.
Both were originally from another world until they were plucked and moved to another by Xehanort. Kairi was taken in by the mayor of Destiny Islands, while Ventus was taken in by Eraqus, the master of the Land of Departure. These worlds become their new homes.
Kairi's heart and Ventus' heart were required to complete the Keyblade of Heart and the X-blade, respectively, which both have the ability to summon Kingdom Hearts. (The Keyblade of Heart summons the door to Kingdom Hearts).
Both are pure hearts of light that were crystallized/frozen by Xehanort in order to "motivate" another Guardian to fight so the Keyblade War would reach its climax. (Literally in the same spot too, oof).
Oh, hey, this looks familiar! (Below, a demonstration of their light dispelling darkness through will alone).
They were both experimented on by Xehanort.
Xehanort used Kairi as a backup, which led to Sora's disappearance, just as he used Ventus to manipulate Terra into succumbing to darkness (which led to Aqua getting trapped in the Realm of Darkness).
Ah, and then there was this callback in ReMind, meaning the parallels between Kairi and Ventus are still relevant and important. Be sure to keep an eye out. 👀
Now, what does this have to do with Darkness? Well, in khux Ventus is depicted as a loner with a longing for friendship and a hidden desire for power. His complicated emotions attracted Darkness, which led to his "possession." (He was controlled like a puppet, more like).
After deciding that waiting wasn't good enough, Kairi got herself caught in the middle of another one of Sora's adventures. Kairi resolved to joining the fight, and openly expressed her irritation with being left behind.
She actively tried to help in any way she could, but it ultimately led to her getting used and destroyed by Xehanort and his many incarnations. We see this cycle eventually come to a point in Melody of Memory.
Kairi literally trembles with rage as she tells Xehanort, "because of you, my fate is at your mercy -- Sora and everyone got hurt because I wasn't strong enough!" But...her guilt, frustration, fear and lack of confidence causes her to get overpowered by illusion Xehanort.
Constantly getting left behind, not being strong enough to keep up with Sora and Riku, repeatedly getting used to endanger and hurt those she cares about, getting taken from her home world only to have her fate toyed with...
Kairi may be a Princess of Heart, but that doesn't mean she's resilient to trauma and the darkness that comes with it. Even Cinderella, another Princess of Heart, attracted the Unversed with her sorrow. If the emotions are real...darkness will respond to it, no matter who it is.
Kairi being a heart of pure light already puts her at risk of encountering darkness, because darkness is drawn to light and vice versa. And with her desire to become powerful enough to fight alongside Sora and Riku...it's just adding more bait to the trap.
"I really want to go with you... But, I can't do it now. I'd be a liability. I'm going to keep training to get more powerful so I can fight alongside you and Sora!"
And...with Melody of Memory's cover referencing the album art Nomura drew with the premise of "something that makes people want to know what's going to happen next, something that expands the imagination" where every keyword in the commands has a meaning...
"And, as one waits for Utada to perform again, there is a double meaning in this content. What happens if she starts to move again?"
It's implying Utada, as a performer, only has partial control of themselves. That, in this "game" they're in, they're at the mercy of the audience. After they're done recharging, what will happen next? Will they break free? (Of course, this is all up to interpretation).
I think Nomura wanted those same feelings to come across with Melody of Memory's cover; Kairi surrounded by memories of everyone smiling - even though, in reality, some of them weren't smiling - while sitting in Sora's empty throne, sleeping. What will happen when she wakes up?
It's rhetorical. We know what happens when she wakes up, but what we don't know is how she'll handle the guilt of seeing everyone so tired and worn out from searching endlessly for Sora for an entire year.
Would she think "if I was more powerful, I could fix everything"? Or maybe "once I'm strong enough, I'll fix it all since it's my fault"? And with her going to train under Aqua, her getting close Ventus is inevitable. It's the perfect set up.
"But she's a Princess of Heart and has a pure heart of light! She can't fall to darkness!" Yeah. You're right. I'm not saying she'll fall to darkness, but the probability of her being used like a puppet is high and not impossible.
What did Darkness say in ReMind again?
"He is too pure. It's because he's so pure that he has many gaps."
Pure...as in "untainted by darkness," and because darkness is half of everything - even people - it leaves those with hearts of pure light full of "holes" that darkness can easily hide in.
Which is exactly what happened to Ventus.
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