Xehanort's Guardian

[ChibiHearts249]

I think that the Guardian is the physical, outer-world manifestation of Terra's darkness that Eraqus is repelling. I mean, we already know that the two are collaborating within Terra's heart; so it's not far fetched to believe that Eraqus is somehow repelling the darkness to protect his Apprentice from being consumed by Xehanort.

This is possibly why the Guardian seems closed-off. Its mouth and chest have seals on them because Eraqus is trying to keep it away; therefore sealing it. But in the heat of battle, the Guardian just...manifests.
Notice how passive the Guardian's wielders are to it even BEING there? Sure, they use it, but they hardly seem to acknowledge it. Just as one doesn't always notice their shirt or how to breathe. Since its always been there, it feels natural.

 

[Samhain]

The guardian is Xehanort's darkness extracted to a humanoid type figure

 

[Gram]

I think that the Guardian is the physical, outer-world manifestation of Terra's darkness that Eraqus is repelling. I mean, we already know that the two are collaborating within Terra's heart; so it's not far fetched to believe that Eraqus is somehow repelling the darkness to protect his Apprentice from being consumed by Xehanort.

This is possibly why the Guardian seems closed-off. Its mouth and chest have seals on them because Eraqus is trying to keep it away; therefore sealing it. But in the heat of battle, the Guardian just...manifests.
Notice how passive the Guardian's wielders are to it even BEING there? Sure, they use it, but they hardly seem to acknowledge it. Just as one doesn't always notice their shirt or how to breathe. Since its always been there, it feels natural.

Oh that's a unique take on it. I mean I've seen the "manifested darkness" part before but it being cause of Eraqus repelling darkness is rather interesting. =3

 

[FudgemintGuardian]

A thought I just had was what if the Guardian is Ansem's real form, and the sexy guy we see after possessing Riku is a dummy body of sorts. This one might have some holes, though, but I like the sound of it.



I like Chibi's theory.

 

[Gram]

^ Perhaps not Ansem's true form (since Terranort had the Guardian as well) but maybe Xehanort's form?

 

[mjejr1]

I think it's Eraqus because the guardian is trying to protect Ansem wich is Terras heart taken over by xeanort, and Eraqus is a charachter that would want to protect Terra's heart.

 

[Master Ultima]

You might be right. I never thougt of it like that but it could be terra.

 

[FudgemintGuardian]

^ Perhaps not Ansem's true form (since Terranort had the Guardian as well) but maybe Xehanort's form?

That could work as well, though at the time Terranort was still Xehanort and since you mentioned it already earlier, I didn't want to repeat.

I completely forgot to mention why I thought of it to begin with. It's not much, just that I was re-watching the fight with giant Ansem and noticed (for the first time) the dark cord thingies attached to him and all that floating around gave him a puppet/not the real body vibe to me.

The Guardian could be a Heartless of both Xehanort and Terra...
...Then maybe it became Ansem later? Eeeeeeeh...*shrugs*

 

[Gram]

If you notice the dark cords, namely the large one that gives the Guardian a Genie esque lower half, points towards Ansem slightly when in use as if tethered. ;3

 

[Master Sora]

Ansem's guardian could be the heartless of Xehanort and Eraqus being merged together from terra's own heart.

 

[ChibiHearts249]

Well, the Guardian HAS to have something to do with "heart," logically speaking.

I say this for a couple reasons:
1) Ansem SoD uses the Guardian, but Xemnas does not. When a Keyblade destroys a Heartless, the captive heart is released; so Ansem obviously has the "heart" part of the equation.
2) The Guardian didn't even exist until the hearts of Terra, Eraqus, and Xehanort were occupying the same space. So the Guardian must be a bi-product of that chemically unstable mix somehow.

I also originally thought the same thing as Fudgemintguardian, but as an opposite. I thought of Ansem's body as the angler fish, and the Guardian as the lure. Mostly because you can't really harm the Guardian and he's just there to distract you. But I see how one can think that Ansem's body is a trick, and the Guardian is the true visage.

 

[Gram]

^ It's also important to note that the Guardian appeared first with Terranort which was before they became heartless which makes it being a heartless iffy at best. ;3
The angler fish is a good analogy. xD

 

[morgancb35]

I think it's eraqus. It sorta looks like him.

 

[gamerobber7]

I can't believe I haven't posted in this topic yet considering I've been curious about the Guardian since it appeared in BBS.
But as for my thoughts I've always liked the Eraqus theory. Like it was mentioned before the thing is called and acts like a Guardian which Eraqus was to TAV. As for the against its will part the bandages are a clear sign. They cross over the Guardian's head (so that it can't think for itself), mouth (so that it can't speak for itself), and its heart (so that it can't feel or remember its old self). Then in DDD it sees Riku's Keyblade, this combined with it sensing Terra's influence (which is why it didn't react to Sora in KH1) causes it to show the first sign of its own will. That's what I think but you guys have come up with some crazy good theories.

I think that the Guardian is the physical, outer-world manifestation of Terra's darkness that Eraqus is repelling. I mean, we already know that the two are collaborating within Terra's heart; so it's not far fetched to believe that Eraqus is somehow repelling the darkness to protect his Apprentice from being consumed by Xehanort.

This is possibly why the Guardian seems closed-off. Its mouth and chest have seals on them because Eraqus is trying to keep it away; therefore sealing it. But in the heat of battle, the Guardian just...manifests.
Notice how passive the Guardian's wielders are to it even BEING there? Sure, they use it, but they hardly seem to acknowledge it. Just as one doesn't always notice their shirt or how to breathe. Since its always been there, it feels natural.

I really like this theory. Eraqus is using his power to keep Terra's darkness away so that he doesn't lose himself but where does that darkness go? It manifests into a physical being and the bandages are keeping it in check. I like it.

Well, the Guardian HAS to have something to do with "heart," logically speaking.

I say this for a couple reasons:
1) Ansem SoD uses the Guardian, but Xemnas does not. When a Keyblade destroys a Heartless, the captive heart is released; so Ansem obviously has the "heart" part of the equation.
2) The Guardian didn't even exist until the hearts of Terra, Eraqus, and Xehanort were occupying the same space. So the Guardian must be a bi-product of that chemically unstable mix somehow.

I also originally thought the same thing as Fudgemintguardian, but as an opposite. I thought of Ansem's body as the angler fish, and the Guardian as the lure. Mostly because you can't really harm the Guardian and he's just there to distract you. But I see how one can think that Ansem's body is a trick, and the Guardian is the true visage.

Your second point interest me. Since the Guardian didn't emerge when Eraqus's heart entered Terra it couldn't have been soley because of those two but when Xehanort takes over Terra it emerges later against Aqua. Perhaps Terra and Xehanort's darkness is too much to keep inside and like your previous theory Eraqus repels it and the Guardian manifests.

Ah it's topics like this that make me love the KH series.

 

[FudgemintGuardian]

Just realized none of us has said that the Guardian could be a Lost Master, because, ya know, Lost Masters.

Well, I think that finally covers everythi-well wait it could be Xehanort's repressed anger (which is like it being Xehanort's darkness, but totally different.)
Okay, now that covers all possibilities.

 

[Gram]

That still leaves the question of why it only appears after Xehanort has stolen a body...plus I fear that if it was a Lost Master that they'd try to play the tragic villain card. >_<

 

[ChibiHearts249]

Well, I'm gonna suggest that it's...
A guardian of the knowledge of Kingdom Hearts!

But seriously: I got nuthin. I still say it's got something to do with Terra or Eraqus being a volatile mix with Xehanort.

 

[:::A Hex Torn:::]

CONTAINS SOME SERIES SPOILERS!

I'm far too lazy for a full theory, but I've always thought that, prior to Terranort losing his heart to darkness, Master Xehanort himself was the byproduct of another similar transformation. Quite literally, Another. As we know, Xehanort's name has two Xanagrams (officially coining that term) that have been officially pertained to in the Kingdom Hearts universe. We have 'No Heart' seen as the name of an extra boss donning Keyblade Armor identical to that of Xemnas and wielding Master Xehanort's Keyblade. then we have 'Another', something seen entered into Ansem the Wise's (Ansem's the Wise? No...) computer by Xemnas as a password to the hidden Chamber of Repose.

Now, beyond those two facts the rest is speculation, but that's the fun part! I speculate that Master Xehanort is (okay, was) a Nobody. 'No Heart' may have been someone who lost their heart, becoming the first Heartless. Their body, then becoming the first Nobody is somehow given a new name, likely in a similar ritual to Xemnas' names for the member of Organization XIII. 'No Heart's Nobody, takes on the moniker 'Another', describing his connection to his counterpart. Note the wording used to describe a Nobody int the first research they were discussed in.

Spoiler Show

Where does the body go when it separates from the heart? If the soul remains within the body, is it still
considered to be deceased?
When the heart returns to the Heartless, the physical form disappears. But that is merely true in this world.
Perhaps the body exists in another form in another world.
If that is the case, then it is possible for one to exist in two worlds.
A being that is neither darkness nor light; belonging nowhere; abandoned by its heart; a mere shell of its
former self.
The relation between the heart and the body is complex. However, I am certain that if your self exists here,
then by definition the other cannot truly "exist." The other, the one which does not exist, shall be dubbed,
"Nobody."

So we have 'No Heart' and 'Another'. The latter of the two is essentially the prototype for the Master Xehanort we have all grown so fond of. After a while of experiencing his new existence, sans heart and purpose, 'Another' begins to gain his own identity and grow more self-aware. Yadda yadda yadda, he eventually sheds his purposeless shell of a name in some existential journey of self-discovery (likely including the discovery of some life-altering source of purpose - the χ-blade). In some sort of surely story-filled and epic way, the young man previously known as 'Another' finds his new heart's calling in the pursuit of this χ-blade and devotes his life to unlocking it's mysteries. He forges his new name. χehanort.

Now, how does this bring us to the events of Birth By Sleep? Well, somewhere along the line young Xehanort, in his obsession, crosses a line. Perhaps a similar thing is done to him as was done by him later to Ventus. Perhaps someone extracted his hearts darkness or otherwise locked it away inside his heart out of fear, rendering him comatose. With his heart in a state of slumber, and his master fearing it too dangerous to unseal the darkness in his heart, Xehanort is essentially exiled to Destiny Islands, and there remains in slumber... Until the heart of a boy reaches out and mends Xehanort's heart. A resident of Radiant Garden. Braig (Xehanort's future accomplice who might be the one who discovers the Chamber of Repose in the basement laboratories of Radiant Garden's castle and brings it to Xehanort's attention).

This brings us to a young Xehanort standing on the shore, where he receives a mysterious visit from a man in a brown robe.

So, recap and other stuff...
- A man loses his heart to darkness. Heartless = No Heart. Nobody = Another.
- Another grows a heart, becomes obsessed with χ-blade. Becomes Xehanort.
- Xehanort's obsession grows darkness in his heart. His darkness is sealed away, breaking his heart, rendering him comatose, and damaging his memory.
- Braig's heart mends Xehanort's.

- Perhaps -and quite likely- the Chamber of Waking can return a sleeping heart to it's body for awakening, in collaboration with the Chamber of Repose. Maybe after possessing Terra's body, Xehanort was able to access certain memories inside Eraqus' heart (as it resides in Terra too) and discover information of a second Chamber, residing in the former Land of Departure (or he already knew of it somewhat, since he had the same Master as Eraqus did). And after discovering hat Aqua holds the key to that place, he tries to use her armor to find her. Maybe Xehanort is trying to find a way to rejoin himself, 'Another', with 'No Heart'.

Oh, and Guardian would be Xehanort's sealed darkness, released after Xehanort stabbed himself. Kind forgot what miy point was in writing this... Haha.

 

[Kaweebo]

That Eraqus theory is actually kind of horrifying, tbh. I mean, his entire character is basically being completely abhorrent of darkness and then to turn into a creature like that...

 

[FudgemintGuardian]

That still leaves the question of why it only appears after Xehanort has stolen a body...plus I fear that if it was a Lost Master that they'd try to play the tragic villain card. >_<

....Yeah I wouldn't want that either.
...Wait! I think I've got a better one. Ya know how the X-Blade appeared when Vanitas and Ventus merged, right? Terra has Eraqus' heart in him, Xehanort merged with Terra. Eraqus' Light, Xehanort's Darkness, with Terra being...mmmostly darkness, but still.
What if the Guardian...IS THE X-BLADE?! Or, at least, some part of it, like one of its dark shards.