Because the previous two anniversary images were just asthetic celebrations. Because X is nearing the end of its lifespan, and Kingdom Hearts 2.8 is close to release, I feel as though this particular anniversary image is more than an aesthetic celebration. Plus, Ventus is out of place with the rest of the characters. Roxas was with Namine in the 2nd Anniversary picture because they're counterparts. Sora is with the Destiny Islands trio and Ephemera is with Skuld. Why randomly plop Ventus without Aqua and Terra? Just Aqua would be acceptable because she has her 0.2 Birth by Sleep chapter to be told, but why just Ventus?
We don't really know Ventus true personality before he was split from Vanitas. Maybe he was a dark character during his past and that darkness is what intrigued Xehanort to train Ventus under his wing.
Do we have any reasonable implications towards that this is indeed more than an "aesthetic celebration" (and possible stealth reveal of new outfits) or is this just a gut feeling?
What does Aqua's 0.2 Birth by Sleep chapter have to do with x[chi]'s 3rd anniversary? Strictly spoken she has no more business than Ven to be on this art piece.
Also, Ventus isn't "out of place" with the rest of the characters at all or have you forgotten that he's
very closely connected with Sora?
There
might be a theme going on like this however as we might eventually get another art piece down the line where only Terra is featured with a group of characters he's apparently "out of place" with.
According to Xehanort in his reports Ventus was "too benign for his own good", that doesn't sound like a darkness-fueled rebellious dark character with asshole personality-tendencies.
I'm just thinking, 'cause, the Daybreak Town trio is Player, Ephemera, Skuld, but Ventus is there, so...
I mean, looking at the new story update, something happened to Player.
Ava also mentions that Player may be reaching the state of being Unchained, not that we even know what that means yet...
I'm saying it mostly as a joke but also I think it might happen
Well, this particular "trio" is more of an fan-invention up to now as we never see all three together even once, but theoretically this possibility is indeed there.
It's also maybe something worth of note that so far we know that Ventus had to suffer having his heart shattered
twice in the series, once at the fault of Xehanort when creating Vanitas and another time at the fault of Vanitas when he forcibly tried to merge with Ven and forged the proto-X-blade against his will.
However, it may also be possible that these two heart-shatterings were actually the
second and third time and we haven't even witnessed the first time yet.
Spoiler
