Editing Ansem, Seeker of Darkness

'''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]]".

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}}

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]].

Ansem shortly returns, having shaped Riku's body to resemble his original self, [[Terra-Xehanort]]. Now that the final Keyhole is open from Sora's sacrifice, he plans to kill Kairi now that her purpose in his plans has been fulfilled. Donald and Goofy bravely make a stand against Ansem in order to protect Kairi, but both know that, without Sora, they may not be able to stop him. Before he can dispose of the three, Riku projects himself from Xehanort's stolen body and manages to establish enough control to stop the Heartless in his tracks, allowing Donald and Goofy to escape with Kairi. This leads to an internal struggle between the two that Riku ultimately loses; Riku's heart is sent to the [[Dark World]]{{Storylink|Kingdom Hearts Final Mix}} while Ansem takes complete control. Ansem then allows himself to be enveloped by the darkness flowing out of the Keyhole, and travels to the [[End of the World]] and Kingdom Hearts.

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>

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.

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.

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.

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]].  

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 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.

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

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.