OK, so the forums have been kind of slow lately, what with work and school and stuff. So I decided to do a thread on my views as to the identities of each of Xehanort's Vessels. Rather than just doing a list, I will name each one, how they are able to be in that room, and some theories for the few we do not know. I also arranged them in order of where I'm pretty sure each member will sit: for instance, MX is #1, because he sits in the seat where Xemnas used to be. Then, similar to the Organization, the numbers are even on his right (our left when facing him) and odd on his left (our right). Also, I tried to make sense of the time-travel mess.
So, here we go.
Boy, that was a lot! So...tell me what you think. Are these good guesses, or do you have better ideas that have info from the series to back it up? If so, let me know!
So, here we go.
Spoiler ShowMaster Xehanort of the present. He is Reborn from the destruction of Ansem SoD and Xemnas. However, he should have returned as Terranort, for that was the form he had before splitting. Also, MX reformed in Where Nothing Gathers, even though he is supposed to have split at Radiant Garden, and returned there. From this, we can list 4 possibilities why he returned where and how he did:
-His old body was still alive, but in a state of sleep similar to when Kairi and Ventus lost their hearts. It is to this body that MX's Heart returned to. However, why MX would then reform in WNG instead of the Keyblade Graveyard where he discarded this old body, is a mystery.
-Because Xemnas was destroyed, he became two seperate bodies for Terra and MX, the opposite of the split of Sora to two Nobodies, Roxas and Naminé. MX's new body was tailored in MX's image because of the influence of his Heart on the body. How he appeared in WNG would appear to be due to Terra actually splitting himself there, though that goes against the info we have.
-The MX we see in WNG is Terranort, but has become the image of MX due to the additional MX heart of Xemnas pushing Terra farther in. Again, he would appear in WNG only if Terra actually split himself there.
-(NEW THEORY) Ansem SoD and Xemnas recombined to make Terranort, but MX decided to leave Terra's body and leave it in the control of Xemnas' Heart. He then went to WNG, where he waited for the other Darknesses, all carrying versions of his heart, to join him. Then, he formed a Psuedo-Body due to the forced Heart Connections he has forged with each of his Vessels. This means the MX we see is a similar existence to ASoD: a floating heart, or Existence of the Heart, only able to retain his shape due to the power of his Heart. ASoD was a Brown-robed Figure, until possessing Riku and gaining a human-shaped form. MX is also the Brown-robed Figure, but is able to gain a form by connecting to all his other hearts in the room. If this is true, then it means Xehanort may not have a physical form unless the other Darknesses are present. This explains why he dissappeared along with the others in the room: his Psuedo-Body dissappeared.I would have to say that last one is pretty good. I'm going to stick with it.
#1 is MX, a floating Heart who is orchestrating everything.
Spoiler ShowXemnas is the Nobody of Terranort, consisting of Terra's Body, and a growing Xemnas heart. This Heart bud has been nurtured in a way so as to become the same as MX. However, he does have his own personality that makes him unique. He was time-travelled to the present by YX. When he returned, he forgot the future. But, his destiny was now written in his heart, and lead him to his destruction.
Spoiler ShowAnsem Seeker of Darkness is the Existence of the Heart made of the hearts in Terranort. These hearts are MX, Terra, and Eraqus. He developed his own personality, making him unique. He time-travelled to the present.
Spoiler ShowXigbar/Braig is the first non-naturally-Xehanort to be a Vessel. As Braig, he was implanted with a Xehanort heart, changing his eye color to yellow and turning him into a Vessel. Later, Terranort removed the non-Xehanort heart from Braig, turning him into the Nobody Xigbar, which kept the MX heart and began to grow a new heart of his own. Then, upon defeat, the Nobody recombined with the Heart and reformed Braig, who was now doubly under the influence of MX. He reawoke before the others in Radiant Garden, and left to prepare the way for the Darknesses.
He exists in the present time, though the one in WNG is not the present one. The one we see was time-travelled to there when he had first awoken (or when he was still Xigbar).
Spoiler ShowYoung Xehanort from the most distant past. Standing on the beach of Destiny Islands, he met a strange Brown-robed Figure (either Ansem SoD or MX from the future), who told him of the power to travel through time. YX was then sent forward, to gather the many forms of Xehanort on the way to the return of the Most Future One.
After his alotted time in the future was up, he returned to his body on the beach, and forgot everything of the future. However, his destiny was engraved in his heart, leading him to leave his homeworld and eventually become MX.
Spoiler ShowTerranort, the being made when MX entered Terra. He was time-traveled to the present, when the failed χ-blade in BBS exploded.
After his alotted time in the future, he too returned to the past, where he lost his memories of the future. Again, however, the future was engraved in his heart, leading him to eventually split into ASoD and Xemnas.
Spoiler ShowSaix/Isa, the second-in-command of the old Organization. Seeing as we only ever saw Saïx with yellow eyes, I think we can presume a similar fate to Braig. Terranort removed Isa's heart and implanted a MX heart into the newly-created Nobody, Saïx. Saïx would then grow a new heart under the influence of MX's.
When the Nobody recombined with his heart, it placed Isa under the full control of MX. He too exists in the present, but like Braig, the Isa we see in WNG was time-travelled from either when he reawoke, or when he was still Saïx.
Spoiler ShowVanitas was the dark half of Ventus created by MX to attempt to forge the χ-blade. MX implanted a MX heart in him, and YX then arrived to take him through time.
When his alotted time in the future was done, he returned to the past and forgot the future. But, like YX and BBSTerranort, the future was engraved in his heart, leading him to his doomed destruction with the failed χ-blade.
Spoiler ShowNeo-Terranort is the returned form of Terranort, Reborn after the destruction of ASoD and Xemnas. MX left Terra's body after Terranort reformed, leaving Terra under control of the Xemnas heart. This put Terra back under the control of MX. He reawoke before the others in Radiant Garden (along with Braig and Isa), and then helped prepare the way for the Darknesses.
The Neo-Terranort in the room is not the present one: he was time traveled to the room the moment he reawoke (the same way Braig and Isa were).
Spoiler ShowDyme/Demyxis a Nobody that joined the Organization after Terranort became Xemnas. This means he did not recieve a MX heart before becoming a Nobody, like Braig and Isa. In fact, this means he would have had to become a Darkness in a similar way to Xemnas: the Organization attempted to slowly Xehanortify him, by sending him on battle missions and such to "toughen him up". He still retained his laziness and overall disgust of work, which were purely a part of his Nobody heart.
We have seen an example of a Nobody's disposition and personality being different from the original person already: Zexion (who was more withdrawn and quiet)-Ienzo(who is a bookworm and apparently likes to talk), Terranort (more thoughtful/studious)-Xemnas/ASoD (power-hungry), and Sora (loud and happy)-Roxas (quiet[er] and moody). It's not too much a stretch of the mind to believe that while Demyx is lazy and loud, Dyme may have been quiet and hard-working.
Anyway, the Organization attempted to grow a MX heart bud in Demyx. He never truly developed a Heart connection to anyone in the Org., he played his Sitar in solitude most of the time. This gave the Org. ample time to develop Demyx's heart.
He showed signs of anger towards Roxas for leaving ("Silence, traitor!", completely out character), and he even hinted at knowing that Nobodies grow hearts, even though the only people supposed to know were the ones who were Xehanort.
This also explains his strength (he was arguably one of the hardest Org. members to beat), considering he's supposed to be weak and lazy. Make of this what you will.
Spoiler ShowLuxord/Rolud is even more likely than Demyx (not that THAT is hard to pull off). A similar case to Demyx: he became a member after Terranort became Xemnas, meaning he did not directly recieve a MX Heart. The Organization had to grow a heart bud and mold it into a Xehanort. The interesting thing about Luxord, though, is that his personality was that of a gambler: he looked at everything merely as pieces in a game (fourth-wall breaking ), which includes himself and everyone around him. He secluded himself: besides the few missions with Roxas in 358/2 Days, he only ever played with his cards. In other words, he sid not form heart connections very well. This allowed the heart bud to be shaped to the Organization's will.
Ironically, his last step for Xehanortification was probably Sora defeating him. Feeling as if Roxas had betrayed him, his heart bud succumbed to MX's darkness. Upon recompletion, Rolud would then be a Xehanort.
This, as well as the facts he is Nomura's favorite character and he was at the Castle That Never Was at the end of KH2 (all the other members you fight there just so happen to all be Xehanorts), almost guarantees him as a Darkness, even more so then Demyx.
Spoiler ShowDiZ is an interesting case. Another user (Nayru's Love) posted a theory that stated he was a Nobody. It was backed up by a lot of info, and I agree. Sadly, he is actually more likely than either Demyx or Luxord.
Terranort released AtW's heart, which was sent to the Realm of Darkness so as not to hinder his plans. The Body, DiZ, retained the memories of AtW. But, without the actual heart to resist, Terranort inserted a MX heart into him. This heart gained immediate dominance of DiZ.
However, AtW's heart made its way out of the RoD and reentered the body, gaining back control. He then started a crusade against Xemnas and the Organization, putting a lot of innocent lives in harm's way. To atone for this mistake, he tried to absorb KH into his machine, but it exploded, destroying the Xehanort heart and sending AtW back into the RoD, where he meets Aqua.
But, before, when his heart was thrown into the RoD for the 1st time, DiZ was momentarily a full Xehanort, which YX brought to the present. After his alotted time in the future was up, he returned to the past, and forgot the memories of the future. But, like YX, BBSTerranort, and Vanitas, his destiny was engraved in the MX heart, leading to it allowing AtW's heart back in, giving it control, and eventually being destroyed by the KH Encoder, so that ASoD could be destroyed, setting up MX's return.
Spoiler ShowThis one is interesting. It is the one I want to have open discussion about. They apparently tried Riku first, then followed who the Keyblade chose next, Roxas and Xion, then followed it back to Sora. He was a failure as well, so now who will they choose?
If they do the same thing as before, and follow who the keyblade chooses next, then their next attempted conquests should be Data-Sora and Data-Riku, followed by Lea, and then Kairi. After that, they will either go with someone else, or a new character. (or bring a between YX- and MX-aged Xehanort to the present.
Of course, it could always be a random curveball, for instance, the Guy who lost his heart in Traverse Town when you first enter the 2nd District in KH1.
Boy, that was a lot! So...tell me what you think. Are these good guesses, or do you have better ideas that have info from the series to back it up? If so, let me know!