Editing Ansem, Seeker of Darkness

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|journalKH='''First entry'''<br>A researcher who studied the Heartless and delved into secrets of the worlds. He organized his findings into a single volume known as Ansem's report. When he inexplicably vanished, most of its pages were scattered to the winds.<br><br>'''Second entry'''<br>As a researcher and ruler of his world, he studied the Heartless and delved into the many secrets of the worlds. While studying the heart and the darkness within it, he was possessed by darkness and ultimately destroyed his own world. He sacrificed his body to attain great power and later possessed Riku's to regain a physical presence. Failure to stop him means the end of all worlds.

'''Ansem, Seeker of Darkness''', also referred to as '''Xehanort's Heartless''' or simply '''Ansem''' or '''Xehanort''', is the [[Heartless]] of [[Terra-Xehanort]] and a member of the [[real Organization XIII]]. He serves as the main antagonist of ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}'' and the "[[Reverse/Rebirth]]" scenario in ''[[Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories]]'', as well as a supporting antagonist in ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''. His appearance and personality are primarily derived from [[Master Xehanort]], and he usually retains his original form's "[[Dark Figure]]".

Ansem was created when Terra-Xehanort, masquerading as [[Ansem the Wise]], reawakened his sleeping memories and split his [[heart]] from his body, creating a Heartless; this Heartless, also named Ansem, appears to have characteristics of both Emblem and Pureblood Heartless, and it is unclear exactly which category he falls under. However, because Terra-Xehanort did this of his own will, he retained his memories in his new existence and gained the ability to control the other Heartless. With their power, Ansem attacked the [[Realm of Light]], intending to have the Heartless consume the hearts of every world and lead him to [[Kingdom Hearts]].

===Between ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' and ''Kingdom Hearts''===

[[File:Where It Started 01 KH3D.png|thumb|left|200px|Ansem passes on his ability to time-travel to Xehanort's younger self.]]

Terra-Xehanort, at the time using his king's name, "Ansem", willingly gave his heart to the darkness in the pursuit of knowledge, creating both his Heartless and his [[Nobody]], [[Xemnas]]. His Heartless was able to retain its selfhood for uncertain reasons, though it was believed that this was due to Terra-Xehanort's willing abandonment of his heart; <ref>'''[[Secret Ansem Report 10]]''': "But what if one willingly releases one's heart from one's body? Sora and Xehanort retained their selfhood even after becoming Heartless."</ref> even Ansem himself was briefly confused by his sentience. <ref>'''Ansem Report 12''': "The body is gone; the heart should have returned to the Heartless. And yet nothing. This one is unlike any other. Its memories remain and has yet to take the form of a Heartless. A close eye must be kept on this situation. Much is still unknown."</ref> As a result, he could command the lesser Heartless without consequence,<ref>'''[[Secret Ansem Report 5]]:''' "A human's command would be ineffective; the Heartless would easily steal the human's to increase their own ranks. But what if an even stronger Heartless was giving the commands? If he cast aside his own body and soul and became a Heartless, would he be able to control the otherwise intractable Heartless?"</ref> and came to learn of the existence of [[Nobodies]],<ref>'''Ansem Report 13''': "However, I am certain that if your "self" is here, the other by definition does not "exist". The other one, which does not exist, shall be dubbed "Nobody"."</ref> including his counterpart [[Xemnas]]; the two collaborated to fulfill Master Xehanort's goal of obtaining the [[χ-blade]].<ref>'''''The Story So Far: Darkness:''''' "His heart, Ansem, manipulated [[Maleficent]] and [[Riku]] into gathering the seven pure lights he needed: the [[Princesses of Heart]]. His body, Xemnas, founded [[Organization XIII]], who would serve as the thirteen darknesses.</ref>

On a quest from his original persona, Ansem travels back in time to when Xehanort lived on the [[Destiny Islands]]. Ansem entrusted his younger self with the mission to gather ten vessels to house fragments of [[Master Xehanort]]'s heart to create the [[real Organization XIII]] so that they could create the [[χ-blade]] and restart the legendary [[Keyblade War]]. To accomplish this, Ansem gave [[Young Xehanort]] the power to travel forward into the future. Once his mission was done, young Xehanort would lose his memory of the event, although the subconscious memory would lead Xehanort to become a [[Keyblade Master]]. Ansem himself remained on the Destiny Islands until the time the Destiny Islands were destroyed, ensuring a version of him existed across time to allow his younger self the ability to travel to any time period.{{storylink|Kingdom Hearts III}}

Disguising his actions as a thirst for knowledge, Ansem sent the Heartless to many worlds in search of the [[Princesses of Heart]] to serve as the pure [[light]]s to forge the [[χ-blade]]; many worlds fell in the process. Though in time, he took to observing [[Maleficent]]'s cabal as they carried out the task, unknowingly, for him. Regardless if Xemnas could create thirteen darknesses, Ansem could create the lesser [[Keyblade of heart]] from the seven pure lights to open the [[Door to Darkness]], which leads to [[Kingdom Hearts (world)|Kingdom Hearts]].

Ansem had secretly intended this to ensure Xehanort was put in contact with the right hearts; which could be brought to the future to fill the ranks of the second Seekers of Darkness should the original Organization prove inadequate. {{Storylink|Kingdom Hearts III}}

According to Aerith, Ansem was believed to have died defending Hollow Bastion from the Heartless, despite the seeker of darkness assisting in bringing them there in the first place. {{Storylink|Kingdom Hearts}}

{{Q|Take a look at this tiny place. To the heart seeking freedom, this island is a prison surrounded by water. And so this boy sought out to escape from his prison. He sought a way to cross over into other worlds. And he opened his heart to darkness.|Ansem, about Riku's motivation}}

[[File:This World Has Been Connected 01 KH.png|thumb|200px|Ansem mentions the existence of other worlds and their connections to Sora.]]

Ansem, as the Robed Figure, appears at [[Destiny Islands]]' [[Keyhole]] shortly before its fall into darkness, noting that it has been "connected" and insulting [[Sora]]'s ignorance of what was to come—however, as he is operating as a portal between times, he is not talking simply about how the islands will be consumed by the Heartless, but instead referencing how it will become a [[Sleeping World]]; the Sora and Riku from a year hence will travel back to this moment to follow Destiny Islands into the darkness, and in turn, he will follow them. He vanishes when Sora's back is turned. Later, as Destiny Islands fell apart, Ansem opened a portal to [[Hollow Bastion]] for Riku,{{storylink|Kingdom Hearts coded}} and following that, when the future Sora and Riku enter the Sleeping Worlds, he is there to call upon [[Ursula]]'s phantom to attack them. After her defeat, Ansem again notes that the world has been connected.{{storylink|Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance}}

In control of Riku's body, Ansem meets with Maleficent as the Final Keyhole forms. He informs her that unlocking the Keyhole will allow the Heartless to overrun Hollow Bastion, but she is unconcerned, as she believes that she can use the darkness to rule the other worlds. Sneering, he creates the [[Keyblade of heart]] from six of the Princesses of Heart's hearts. As the Keyhole is not finished yet, Ansem notes it is because Kairi's heart is missing and without its power, they are at a standstill. Maleficent leaves him to guard the princesses, while she deals with Sora, [[Donald Duck]], and [[Goofy]]. After she is defeated, Ansem follows her to a hidden chamber, asking if she needs help. Once Sora sees him and the Keyblade of heart, Ansem tells him it can unlock the hearts and demonstrates by stabbing Maleficent with it, transforming her into her dragon form. When the dragon is felled, Ansem notes that the dark fairy was arrogant to believe she controlled the Heartless when it was the other way around, and takes his leave, waiting for Sora in the [[Grand Hall]].

Sora arrives, finally reunited with Kairi, though she is comatose due to the loss of her heart. Ansem comments that she lacks a heart, and from his impersonal comments and unusual nature, Sora realizes that who he sees as Riku is not truly the friend he knew. Riku introduces himself as "Ansem, Seeker of Darkness". The Heartless goes on to explain that Kairi's heart is in Sora and that his dark Keyblade is necessary to remove the imprisoned heart. Sora refuses to agree with the plan and they battle. Sora wins the duel, and Ansem retreats. However, his efforts are not in vain, as Sora stabs himself with the dark Keyblade, in order to free Kairi's heart as well as the six other Princesses. This ends up opening the final Keyhole and the way to Kingdom Hearts, as well as the loss of Sora's heart and his brief transformation into [[Sora's Heartless]].

Around this time,<ref>'''''Riku, gummiphone post''''': Ansem didn't have a form until he possessed me.</ref> Young Xehanort collected Ansem's heart to serve as a member of the second Organization XIII. However, his time ran out as he could not coexist with Master Xehanort at the time,<ref>'''''Secret Reports'', ''Vexen''': The old man's humanity prevents his Heartless and Nobody, others vanquished in the last from existing.</ref> and Ansem was forced to return to the past with his memory erased.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind''''', '''Xigbar''': "Are you sure everyone made it back to their own times?"/ '''Saïx''': "The hearts of Ansem, Xemnas, Vanitas, Riku Replica, and Young Xehanort returned to the past and have been completed once more."</ref>

[[File:A Light within the Darkness 01 KH.png|thumb|200px|Ansem talks about his views on darkness to Sora on Destiny Islands.]]

As Sora, his humanity having been restored by Kairi's light arrives at the remnants of Destiny Islands at End of the World, Ansem appears, bearing Riku's form. He explains Riku's fall to darkness, that he desperately sought to escape the island "prison" enough to open his heart to the darkness. Afterward, Ansem explains his philosophy: that worlds and hearts begin and end in darkness. Thus, darkness is the heart's true essence. Sora denies this, in words and in battle, with Ansem. During the battle, Ansem summons both his familiar, the [[Dark Figure]], and a [[Darkside]] Heartless to assist him. As the battle rages on, Ansem leads the trio to the endless abyss where the [[Door to Darkness]] resides. This time, Ansem transforms into the [[World of Chaos]], a monstrous Heartless ship, which he creates from darkness and captures Donald and Goofy, though Sora rescues them.

[[File:The World of Darkness 01 KHRECOM.png|thumb|200px|Ansem tries to assert control after Lexaeus weakens Riku.]]

Ansem again attempts to turn Riku to the darkness completely and tries to defeat the young boy so that he can take possession of his body once more. Though this succeeds in destroying Ansem's consciousness, his power still lingers in Riku's heart. Riku sets off with King Mickey to rid himself of the Seeker of Darkness forever.

[[File:The Beginning of Everything 02 KHIIFM.png|thumb|200px|Riku opens himself to Ansem's darkness in order to defeat Roxas.]]

Having been unable to find a way to rid himself of Ansem's remaining essence, it began taking over him and transforming Riku into a copy of Ansem. Riku kept it bay by blindfolding himself, and relying on his other senses to keep Ansem from completely taking over him. After learning Sora's memory cannot be completed without his Nobody [[Roxas]], who holds the memories of Kairi in him, Riku knows that he might have to use the darkness to capture the Nobody and bring him to [[DiZ]].<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]''''', '''Riku''': "I have to face one of the Organization's members soon. I might not survive the fight. And if I do, it might only be because I gave in to the darkness."</ref>

Riku catches up to Roxas at [[The World That Never Was]], but Roxas proves to be too powerful and Riku is left with only one way to overwhelm the Nobody: unleashing his inner darkness. This allows Riku to manifest the Dark Figure, who seizes Roxas and knocks him unconscious but also forces Riku to take on Ansem's appearance. Feeling that he has sacrificed his identity, Riku takes on Ansem's name.

During the [[Battle of the 1000 Heartless]] at [[Hollow Bastion]], King Mickey reveals the truth about "Ansem" to Sora, Donald, and Goofy—the Heartless wasn't the real king of Radiant Garden, but the Heartless of an impostor. While the trio is shocked and dismayed to learn this, Mickey pacifies them by telling them that Ansem was still a powerful enemy that needed to be stopped.

{{Q|Ever the fool boy. And forever, a pawn of the darkness!|Ansem and Riku face-off again}}

Ansem returns to become part of Master Xehanort's new Organization XIII, thanks to Young Xehanort's doings while time traveling. Accompanied by Young Xehanort, Ansem appears before Riku in [[La Cité des Cloches]], stunning the young Keybearer, and offers him to become part of the darkness again, but Riku protests, reminding Ansem that he now walks the road to dawn. Undaunted, Ansem merely takes his leave.

When Sora is captured in The World That Never Was, Riku rushes to his rescue and runs into Ansem again. Ansem reveals that Riku had been traveling within Sora's dreams like a [[Dream Eater]], and asks Riku to join him now that the boy has accepted his darkness. As they fight, Riku counters by asking Ansem to become part of his light, but Ansem ignores him and is eventually forced to retreat.

[[File:Seven Lights, Thirteen Darknesses 04 KH3D.png|thumb|200px|Ansem tackles Riku to keep him from rescuing Sora.]]

Once Riku finds Sora in the throne room with Mickey's help, Ansem appears before them along with Master Xehanort, Young Xehanort, Xemnas, [[Xigbar]], [[Saïx]] and the rest of the new Organization. Master Xehanort proceeds to reveal that Ansem's possession of Riku's body, along with overseeing Maleficent's gathering of the Princesses, was all part of his master plan with Riku meant to become the vessel to complete the Organization. Ansem restrains Riku from trying to save Sora from becoming Master Xehanort's final vessel, but [[Lea]]'s unexpected intervention distracts Ansem long enough for Riku to break free. Ansem summons the Dark Figure and has it grab Riku and Mickey, but the Dark Figure is defeated by Donald and Goofy. As the heroes advance, the Organization's allotted time expires and its members, including Ansem, retreat to their rightful points in time.

Ansem first appears alongside his Nobody counterpart, Xemnas, outside of the Old Mansion, waiting for Sora. Seeking to use [[Roxas]] as a possible 13th member of the [[Real Organization XIII]], Ansem and Xemnas tell Sora to give his heart to darkness, to recreate Roxas. They don't humor Sora's plan to recreate Roxas in the virtual Twilight Town created by [[Ansem the Wise]], claiming it is just data. After breaking Sora with their words, both leave through a [[Corridor of Darkness]], after summoning a swarm of [[Neoshadow]]s and [[Dusk]]s for Sora, Donald, and Goofy. After this, they watch Sora leave [[Twilight Town]] from a rooftop, just as [[Xigbar]] arrives to berate them. Ansem defends his choice to be direct with guiding Sora, due to the boy being slow with hints.

Later, Ansem goes to the [[Dark World]] to retrieve his old master, as he wishes to know of the whereabouts of [[Subject X]], a mysterious amnesiac girl who had become his favorite test subject before her disappearance. Assuming she was taken away by Ansem the Wise, this brings him into conflict with [[Aqua]], who kept Ansem company. Despite her resistance, Aqua could do nothing without her Keyblade, and was cast into the ocean by the [[Dark Figure]], which causes her transformation into [[Anti-Aqua]].  

Bringing Ansem the Wise back to his old HQ at the Old Mansion, Ansem begs his treacherous apprentice to cease, as he doesn't wish for more victims. Xehanort's Heartless is not convinced by Ansem's act, reminding him of all the children sacrificed in their research on the heart, as well as his treatment of Roxas and [[Naminé]]. Suddenly, [[Hayner]], [[Pence]] and [[Olette]], who had been watching all along, enter into action. While Hayner distracts Xehanort's Heartless, Olette helps Ansem escape. The group is able to evade pursuit by Ansem thanks to a small troop of [[Dusk]]s sent by [[Vexen]], whose true loyalties lie with Ansem the Wise.

Ansem shows up for the last time in the [[Keyblade Graveyard]], accompanying Master Xehanort alongside Xemnas, Young Xehanort and [[Vanitas]], while he welcomes the [[Guardians of Light]]. Much later, he drops into [[the Skein of Severance]] for the final battle. Ansem, now without his [[Black Coat]], fights against Riku alongside [[Dark Riku]] and Xigbar. Once Sora joins the fight, it doesn't take long for Ansem to leave.  

[[File:More to Seek 01 KHIII.png|thumb|200px|Ansem reflects on his journey with Riku as he fades into darkness.]]

Ansem appears for the last time alongside Xemnas and Young Xehanort, as the last line of defense before Sora can reach the elderly Master Xehanort. Defeated by Sora, Riku, and Mickey in a battle alongside his aforementioned incarnations, Ansem voices his final thoughts on his relationship with Riku, stating that Riku's might is "vaster than darkness" and showing he is proud the boy he chose as his vessel has grown into such a powerful [[Keyblade Master]]. Riku even states he is going to miss his nemesis. After their parting words, Ansem's replica body fades away into darkness and his heart returns to its proper place in time.

Before possessing Riku, Ansem was little more than a wandering heart and could only appear as a figure in a brown hooded robe. This robe has two dark brown straps crossing over his shoulders and chest with five metal studs lining either strap. In this form, Ansem is significantly shorter than he'll later be once he gains a proper body.

Ansem gains a body by possessing Riku, though at first, his presence is only evident from the change to Riku's voice. In his physical form, like his [[Nobody]] counterpart Xemnas, Ansem's skin color varies by being depicted as tan in the game to quite dark in official artwork. He shares Terra-Xehanort's long white hair, as well as the three spikes on the top and sides of his head, but he lacks Terra-Xehanort's bangs.

File:Ansem, Seeker of Darkness (World of Chaos) KH.png|Ansem while attached to the World of Chaos.  

Ansem is, thus far, one of only three Heartless with human-level intelligence, the others being Sora's Heartless and [[Scar]]. His knowledge of the worlds and hearts shows that Xehanort's keen intellect has survived the transition into a Heartless. However, the few shreds of humanity that remained in the researcher have been obliterated. Ansem is cold, calculating, and utterly ruthless. He treats people and their hearts as either tools to be manipulated and disposed of, or as cattle for his ravenous Heartless legions. He reveres power and knowledge above all things, and he despises ignorance.

The only times when Ansem's voice rises above a cold, monotonous drone is when he is berating [[Sora]] for his foolishness, or when he is reveling in his latest triumph. However, Ansem's scientific genius is blinded by an obsession with the darkness. His arrogance ultimately leads to his destruction when the door to Kingdom Hearts is opened, and his greatest thesis is, in the end, proved wrong.

Ansem prefers to not fight hand-to-hand. Rather, he prefers using his dark powers and the Dark Figure.

''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'' reveals that Ansem is essentially the Heartless of [[Xehanort]]. This is why he appears to share most of his personality traits with the elderly Keyblade Master, demonstrated by his choice of words when facing Sora, Donald, and Goofy; this is also reflected in his desire to find, open, and become one with Kingdom Hearts itself.

In ''Kingdom Hearts III'', Ansem shows pride in Riku's development since their first meeting, seeing Riku gain true strength as a Keyblade Master surpassing the power of darkness. At the very end, Ansem shows that he still values learning about the World, telling Riku to expand his horizons by going to seek more. He also demonstrates a fatalist attitude, expressing that initially wished to defy his fate, but found himself no longer caring after other Organization members betrayed them.

{{main|Game:Ansem, Seeker of Darkness|Game:Riku#Riku (Keyblade)|World of Chaos}}

As a Heartless, Ansem has control over darkness, which he can use to attack others, steal hearts, and create Corridors of Darkness. He can also possess other beings and has command over the Dark Figure.

Ansem can time travel without aid, as he is just a heart. However, he is limited to points in time where he existed; additionally, he can only briefly exist in those times he is not native to unless a vessel is provided for his heart.

When Ansem takes possession of Riku's body to procure a physical form, his fighting capabilities increase greatly, and he gains the ability to fly. His new body allows him to fight alongside the Dark Figure by having it possess others to trap them while he utilizes an energy shield to both protect himself and damage foes.

Most of the time, Ansem does not wield a weapon, instead opting to use the power of darkness and the Dark Figure, when present, to attack opponents. Contrary to his Nobody counterpart [[Xemnas]], he specializes more in magic-based attacks than melee attacks.

While possessing Riku in ''Kingdom Hearts'', he wields the [[Keyblade of Heart]], forged from the six captured hearts of the Princesses of Heart. Later, in his World of Chaos form, Ansem wields a dual-bladed [[Soul Eater]] halberd<!--薙刀 per ultimania--> as big as he is. When he briefly possess Riku to take down Lexaeus, he wields Riku's Soul Eater. In ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'', Ansem briefly wields Frollo's sword to threaten Riku but does not actually use it to fight.

Despite being the Heartless of Master Xehanort, a Keyblade wielder, Ansem is unable to wield a Keyblade because, according to Riku, he gave his heart to the darkness.<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''''', '''Riku''': "You used to be a Keyblade wielder. But darkness stole your heart, and the Keyblade with it."</ref>

File:Keyblade of heart KH.png|The [[Keyblade of Heart]], wielded by Ansem while he is possessing Riku.