Editing Ephemer

{{Images|KH3 screencaps}}
{{Game|KHX|UCX|XBC|KH3}}
{{Suite}}
{{cleanup|Expand on Personality section}}
{{Character
|name=Ephemer
|katakana=エフェメラ
|romaji=Efemera
|de = Ephemer
|java=Yūto Uemura
|enva=Michael Johnston (actor)
|image=[[File:Ephemer KHXBC.png|300x400px]]
|type=Entelechy
|charworld1=Daybreak Town
|game1=Kingdom Hearts χ
|game2=Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover
|game3=Kingdom Hearts III
|journalXBC=A young and outgoing Keyblade wielder. He questions the way the world works and decides to solve its mysteries on his own. 
|journalKH3=A mysterious boy who reached out to Sora's heart in a moment of crisis.
}}
{{Q|We'll go together.|Ephemer|''[[Kingdom Hearts χ]]''}}
'''Ephemer''' is a [[Keyblade]] wielder who appears in ''[[Kingdom Hearts χ]]''. He seeks to discover the truth behind the gathering of [[Lux]] and the structure of the [[world]]. 
He claims to be in a union differing from {{c|Player|khx}}'s, regardless of what they choose.<ref>If the player is in Vulpes, Ephemer is in Leopardus. If Leopardus, then Ursus. If Ursus, then Anguis. If Anguis, then Unicornis. If Unicornis, then Vulpes.</ref>

==Story==
===Before ''Kingdom Hearts χ''===
At an unknown point, Ephemer is chosen by the [[Keyblade]] and joins one of the Unions. Shortly thereafter, Ephemer meets [[Skuld]] and joins her party. For a long time, Ephemer and Skuld undergo missions together alone until more wielders gradually join them in their mission to gather [[Lux]]. Due to their busy schedules, however, Ephemer and Skuld begin drifting apart, putting a strain on their friendship. Eventually, Ephemer decides to leave the group to go his own way.{{storylink|Quest 555: Inside the Clock Tower Pt. 10}}

Ephemer begins to question the secrets of the world and the [[Book of Prophecies]]. One day, Ephemer approaches Ava and asks her why the [[Union]]s compete against each other rather than working together, and Ava explains that it is because the [[Master of Masters]] arranged for things to be this way between the Unions.

===''Kingdom Hearts χ[chi]''===
Ephemer meets {{c|Player|KHχ}} while in Waterfront Park, where he is bested by an [[Invisible]], and Player steps in to help Ephemer defeat it. Ephemer introduces himself to Player, and the two learn that they are from opposing Unions. In spite of this, Ephemer reveals that he is investigating the truth behind the Book of Prophecies and why the Unions compete against each other for Lux.

When Player tells Ephemer about a dream of they had the night before, where the [[Foreteller]]s met with a hooded figure in the Foretellers' Chamber, he suggests that they investigate the Foretellers' Chamber located in the Clock Tower.{{storylink|Quest 362: To Waterfront Park Pt. 3}} Ephemer and Player attempt to sneak into the Clock Tower through an entrance in the sewers, but are mobbed by Heartless along the way and unable to proceed further. Then, he persuades Player that they should continue their investigation the next day since it would suspicious if their Union leaders notice that they were missing for too long. 

[[File:Dandelions 01 KHXBC.png|thumb|left|Ava voices her doubt about the Master of Master's teachings to Ephemer.]]
Sometime later, Ephemer comes across a depressed Ava sitting alone at the Fountain Square. Ava confides in Ephemer about her doubts about the Master's teachings regarding the competition between the Unions, much to his surprise. Ava approves of Ephemer's desire to solve the mysteries of the world, as she believes that people should question things and think for themselves. Ephemer jokingly tries to get Ava to talk about the Book of Prophecies, but she denies him. Ephemer tells her that he had befriended a Keyblade wielder from a different Union, and Ava is pleased that wielders from other Unions could work together. Before Ephemer leaves, he asks Ava to cheer up, which brings a smile to her face.{{storylink|Quest 401: The Clock Tower Pt. 1}} 

Later that night, Ephemer returns to the sewers to continue his investigation alone. Before Ephemer can enter the Clock Tower, however, he is confronted by Ava. Relocating to the outskirts of Daybreak Town, Ava divulges the final entry in the Book of Prophecies, which details the events of the [[Keyblade War]], and recruits Ephemer to join her [[Dandelions]] to ensure the future of the light. Ava selects five people from the Dandelions, including Ephemer, to act as Union leaders in the Foretellers' stead after the war. Ephemer is reluctant about becoming a Union leader, but Ava implores him to rise up to the challenge and provides a book of rules that must be followed once the new Union leaders take charge to prevent future destruction. Moreover, Ava informs Ephemer that the Union leaders must erase the memories of the Keyblade War from their fellow Dandelions and avoid any possible connections between the two worlds, thus the truth about the war must be kept a secret among the new Union leaders. In spite of his misgivings, Ephemer accepts this task and is then sent to another realm to meet the other Union leaders in the Keyblade Graveyard following the war.

From this other realm, Ephemer attempts to reach out to Player by showing them his conversation with Ava in a dream. Around the same time, Ephemer also visits Skuld in a dream and tasks her to seek out Player, warning her about the impending war.

When the Dandelions cross over to the new world, Ephemer is reunited with Skuld, who had accepted Ava's invitation to join the Dandelions. They venture back to the Keyblade Graveyard following the conclusion of the Keyblade War and find Player unconscious on the battlefield. When Player awakens, Ephemer happily reunites with Player and convinces them to join the Dandelions. Ephemer and Skuld bring Player to the new world, where Player's memories, along with the memories of the other Dandelions, are erased upon arrival.

===''Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross]''===
[[File:The Third to Arrive (KHUX).png|thumb|right|Ventus meets Ephemer.]]
As per Ava's instructions, Ephemer goes to the Keyblade Graveyard and is shocked to learn that Skuld is one of the new Union leaders, as the identity of the Union leaders was meant to be kept secret until they all met after the war. They are soon joined by the third Union leader, [[Ventus]].{{storylink|Quest 665: Target: Blitz Spear Pt. 5}} While waiting for the other Union leaders to arrive, Skuld and Ephemer bond with Ventus, who admits that he is envious of their close relationship because he has always been alone. Ephemer and Skuld assure Ventus that they consider him a friend.

When the fourth Union leader, [[Brain]], arrives, he asks if Ephemer is their leader, and Ephemer denies this, as the decision must be made once all of the Union leaders are present. When the others begin expressing their discomfort with lying to everyone about the Keyblade War, Ephemer thinks about the pain that Player endured because of the war and states that no one else should have to carry the burden of the past.{{storylink|Quest 675: Master Aced}} 

Later on in Daybreak Town, Chirithy reports to Ephemer and Skuld about Player's persisting nightmares about the Keyblade War. While Skuld encourages that Chirithy to protect Player from the truth, Ephemer mentions that he senses a different darkness that he plans to investigate with Skuld. Once Chirithy leaves, Skuld questions Ephemer's wisdom about telling Chirithy about the darkness, as they likely just made Chirithy worry, but Ephemer argues that it affects everyone. Ephemer mentions that he detects something strange about Union χ, though Skuld reminds him that the rules dictate that they lead the Union χ.{{storylink|Quest 670: Target: Chill Ripper Pt. 5}} 

After the final Union leader, [[Lauriam]], arrives, the Union leaders go to Daybreak Town and enter the Foretellers' Chamber. When Skuld proposes that they begin choosing which Union each of them will lead, Ephemer recommends that they maintain the Union χ in order to prevent the conflicts of the past world, with the other Union leaders agreeing to reconstitute the old system later as stated in the rules. Brain suggests that, while the Dandelions are reliving the events of the past, they collect the necessary ingredients to create new Spirits and sends Ephemer, Skuld, and Ventus to collect the ingredients while he and Lauriam stay behind to make the necessary preparations.{{storylink|Quest 735: The Shiny Hammer Pt. 5}}

While mulling over the [[Shift Pride]], a friendly competition detailed in the rulebook in which the Dandelions would compete against one another, Ephemer is joined by Lauriam. Ephemer reveals his reservations about the Shift Pride, not understanding why Ava would want them to do such a thing. Lauriam suggests that Ephemer take it easy, believing Ephemer has pushed himself too hard since becoming a Union Leader. When Ephemer asks what Lauriam is planning on doing, Lauriam reminds Ephemer that the Dandelions are reliving their experiences within data, meaning that they all have data recorded of themselves, admitting that there is someone he's looking for, someone meant to be among the Dandelions, so he's intent on searching the data for her. Ephemer offers his help, but Lauriam wants to do it on his own, as it is a personal matter.

When the time comes to discuss the matter of the Shift Pride, Ephemer calls a meeting between the Union Leaders. Lauriam does not attend, with Brain explaining that, whatever the agenda is, Lauriam asked to side with Ephemer. Proceeding, the group discusses the nature of the Shift Pride. Having not understood what the Shift Pride was, Ventus rejects the notion, not wanting to see wielders fighting one another again, to which Skuld concurs. Brain affirms that it is a law, and thus they should follow through with it, also believing that a little recreational contest would be fun for everyone. When Ephemer admits that he wants to follow the rules, the vote is in favor of the Shift Pride. Ephemer then explains that he intends on having wielders compete against the data versions of their comrades to avoid a clashing of hearts, admitting that Lauriam had given him the idea. The group wonders about who Lauriam could be looking for, but on Brain's suggestion, they decide to wait for Lauriam to come to them rather than pry.

Soon, Lauriam joins the Union leaders in the Foreteller's Chamber, but rather than discussing the Shift Pride, Lauriam wants to ask Skuld about his younger sister, [[Strelitzia]], revealing that she was searching for someone and was last seen going into the same building Skuld had entered just prior to the Keyblade War. Although Skuld doesn't offer much insight, Lauriam accepts this and worries that Strelitzia may have ended up fighting in the Keyblade War after all. Brain notes that the entire situation seems odd, since Strelitzia was seeking this wielder, it would have meant that they did not join until after the bell tolled. As well, since Strelitzia was hesitant to join the Dandelions herself, but still ended up joining them, then she would likely have seen this wielder at Ava's speech in the Fountain Square. Since she did not, it likely meant that this wielder still fought in the Keyblade War, meaning that Strelitzia likely wanted to induct this wielder to the Dandelions. This reminds Ephemer of Player, and so he and Lauriam leave to ask Player about Strelitzia.

Ephemer finds Player in the Fountain Square and the two reconnect, with Ephemer apologizing for having been so busy lately with his duties as a Union Leader. Ephemer then introduces Player to Lauriam, who asks about his sister. Unfortunately, Player does not offer much help, but his insight helps Lauriam better understand something. Lauriam excuses himself, thanking Player, while Player admittedly does not know how helpful he's been, Lauriam asks that he try to remember Strelitzia. Taking Lauriam's advice to heart, Ephemer enjoys a day of missions alongside Player in order to take a break from being a Union Leader. 

Later, Ephemer thanks Player for helping him relax a bit. Chirithy then invites Ephemer back to hangout with them again, which Ephemer happily accepts. As Ephemer is about to leave, he notices a glitch circling above the Clock Tower. Concerned, he asks that Player help him out, and the two draw their Keyblades and make their way toward the Clock Tower. On their way there, their path is blocked by Heartless born from the glitch—which then attack Ephemer, making him wonder if they were in the Clock Tower as well.
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===''Kingdom Hearts III''===
Ephemer aids Sora in defeating [[Master Xehanort]]'s Heartless cyclone at the Keyblade Graveyard.

==Personality==
Ephemer is kind and curious as he wishes to solve the mysteries of the world, the Book of Prophecies and why the Unions are fighting against each other. He can be a bit cocky as he fought an Invisible Heartless on his own. Similar to Sora, Ephemer is caring and considerate towards others, as he wishes to help those in need, such as Player, Skuld, and Master Ava.

However, he is also known to be hesitant seen when he is unsure about the task of being a Union leader, but slowly starts to grow into the role.

==Design==
Ephemer has curly, silver hair and blue eyes. He wears a white shirt under a black vest with grey accents, dark grey pants, and black boots. He has a red scarf around his neck. Ephemer wears a tan pouch around his waist.

"{{w|Ephemera}}" refers to things that are short-lived or transitory.

==Abilities==
{{Main|Starlight}}
Ephemer wields the third upgrade of the Starlight Keyblade.

<center><gallery>
File:Starlight (Upgrade 3) KHX.png|Ephemer's Starlight Keyblade
</gallery></center>
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==Trivia==
* In the ''Kingdom Hearts χ'' novelization, Ephemer was initially in the Anguis Union (the same Union as Skuld and the Player) but switched to the Unicornis Union after he left Skuld's party.
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==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}
{{XChi}}
{{KH3}}
[[Category:Kingdom Hearts χ characters]]
[[Category:Daybreak Town]]
[[Category:Keyblade Wielders]]