don't see how being involved with the Foretellers can help their characters grow, especially with Roxas and Xion who action wise, feel like they have peaked. But who knows? Maybe one of the Foretellers will be their new personal enemy and spark something new? I need more info before I can even begin to speculate where they fit in the next saga.
It doesn't help that Roxas and Xion didn't have any potential storylines set up for them with future unlike Lea and Isa. And what with how little their characters were actually used in KH3 (barely getting much personal diologue between the two of them), it's difficult for me to even judge how the writers would go about characterizing them in a future title. How does Nomura see them at this point? Sora and Kairi 2.0 (which is honestly how KH3 framed them), or the unique and complex characters they were previously established to be? The answer to that question would be necessary for me to confidently guess how they'd be utilized going forward (assuming they would be at all, because again, they have nothing really set up for them), and whether or not that would constitute having a game centered around them.
Ideally for me, I'd love a game where they start off still seeing the Keyblade as a burden, and desperately try to preserve the normal lives they worked so hard to obtain (in an alternate universe, cause they barely did anything in KH3) as things fall apart around them. Over the course of the game, they'd grow to understand the responsibilities that come with being a Keyblade weilder, Xion likely being much quicker and more readily accepting of them than Roxas, and start embracing their larger role in the universe while still being content with normalcy should that be where their paths lead them back to.
I can imagine Roxas starting off being afraid of venturing into the unknown and once again abandoning his safe haven, and early on he has to muster the courage to go on the journey fate has layed out for him. Interestingly enough, I actually imagine this happening in a Disney World, with a premise that revolves around embracing adventure and overcoming fear, while still following ones heart. The motivating factor he'd take away from this first world would be: "
It's because one cherishes life that they have to protect it." A new philosophy of this nature would be very important in keeping Roxas motivated throughout his journey; no longer letting his fear box him into a state of stagnation (unless it's specifically done to help put him at a hypothetical "low point" that he eventually overcomes in order to help re-affirm his growth).
To expand on that, I feel what Roxas
really needs in order to grow as a character is primarily to become more open-minded and accepting of change (like Sora and Xion did before him), so I could imagine that, in addition to overcoming his fear of the unknown, he starts to gradually develop a curiosity and appreciation for the greater universe outside of the small bubble he cares about. Perhaps even growing a mild taste for adventure in the process. And by making new friends and connections along the way, suddenly his small circle grows to be a size he never anticipated it would be, and in the end, because of those new connections, he would be compelled enough to end his journey by making a truly selfless decision and putting the needs of the greater universe before his own for the first time (though, he really should've started taking steps toward this in KH3). He'd probably be bitter and somewhat spiteful about it, but ultimately satisfied with the safety of his friends. Roxas would essentially develop into a genuine hero who understands what it means to act for the greater good, while retaining his marked capacity for selfishness (he wouldn't suddenly become some sort of saint), a jaded view of the world, and his impulse to resist destiny (preferring to carve out his own path). He'd be the kind of hero who doesn't necessarily
enjoy being a hero, but understands his duty to the world (a world that, for as cruel as it is, was generous enough to accept him back), and finds solace in finally having the agency to protect his loved ones.
Xion's arc would start off in a similar place to where Roxas' ends. She'd be content with normalcy, but when destiny comes calling, her greater sense of duty would compel her to set out on her journey with relatively little hesitation. Though, if she was pressured enough, I could definitely see her being a bit more spiteful toward the situation. In terms of her new arc, it's a little harder to say. As said before, I could see her growing to accept the responsibilities of being a Keyblade wielder the same way she did with her role in 358/2, and ultimately becoming more confident in herself and her self-worth. As a mirror to Sora, I could see Xion adopting a version of his "my friends are my power mentality" (granting her the will to press onward when feeling insecure about her own capabilities), and this could be thematically represented through her skilled copy abilities. Similar to how Sora uses Summons to metaphysically bring his friends into battle with him, or how Aqua created D-links to gain access to their strength from afar, Xion would copy/manifest the powers of her comrades through mimicking their abilities to perfection. Using her nature as a mirror as proof of her connections and, by extension, her existence, rather than as proof that she's some sort of "sham"/"imitation." So essentially, her arc would be about turning that deep-rooted insecurity into her most powerful strength, which could boost her confidence and help re affirm her own existence.
With all that said, I can't stress enough that this is how I would
ideally imagine their arcs going, but I highly doubt something like this will ever truly come to pass. There's little reason to assume Nomura even
knows what he wants to do with them as it is, or if he has actual plans for them in the first place.
with how KH3 was treated, how can I be excited for the possibilities? Why even be excited for the sequel bait or whatever the future games will build toward knowing Nomura could just drop it like it's nothing again?
Exactly. It's
extremely difficult, and honestly, hardly worth getting invested in the future of this series when you know all the things set up for you to anticipate could be dropped at the snap of the fingers, and everything else is just wishful thinking at best (provided you don't have exceptionally low expectations).