Editing Ephemer

{{Images|KH3 screencaps}}
{{Game|KHX|UCX|XBC|KH3}}
{{Suite}}
{{cleanup|Revise story section - reduce fluff, fix grammar, etc.; 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 go on missions alone until more wielders gradually join them in their mission to gather [[Lux]], but due to their busy schedules, 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 work 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 01 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. He 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 he is pushing himself too hard since becoming a Union Leader. When asking what Lauriam is planning on doing, Ephemer was reminded 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. As Lauraim is absent, Brain informs them that, whatever the agenda is, Lauriam asked to side with Ephemer. He and Brain votes in favor for the Shift Pride, while Ventus and Skuld reject the notion. 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.{{storylink|Quest 846: More Heartless in Daybreak Town Pt. 1}}

Soon, Lauriam joins the Union leaders in the Foretellers' Chamber to ask Skuld about his younger sister [[Strelitzia]]'s whereabouts, as Skuld was last seen going into the same building Strelitzia had entered just prior to the Keyblade War. After listening to their conversation, Brain theorizes that Strelitzia was looking for a Keyblade wielder that was going to fight in the Keyblade War and 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. {{storylink|Quest 851: More Heartless in Daybreak Town Pt. 6}}

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. After Lauriam departs, Ephemer spends the rest of the day completing missions with Player to take a break from being a Union leader. {{storylink|Quest 856: Daybreak Fun with Ephemer Pt. 1}}

Later, as Ephemer bids farewell to Player, he notices a glitch circling above the Clock Tower and asks that Player help him investigate it. {{storylink|Quest 861: Trouble at the Tower? Pt. 1}} On their way there, their path is blocked by Heartless born from the glitch. {{storylink|Quest 865: Trouble at the Tower? Pt. 5}} Ephemer and Player make it to the the tower's center where he introduces Player to Ventus after a Heartless attack. Surprised to see that he's here, Ephemer is told by Ventus that he saw an apparition of Ava and went looking for Brain, to which Ephemer confirms that he is in the control room. The trio are then ambushed by Darklings, but they able to fend them off and make their way to the control room to check on Brain. {{storylink|Quest 870: Clock Tower Investigation}}

Once he and the others are inside, Brain tells them about the discovery of other worlds, but due to the Keyblade War, the worlds became scattered. In doing so, to create a new future world by using data and that everyone including them were moved from the real Daybreak Town to a data copy of it. Ephemer believes they are in the real world, but Brain retorts that data anomalies would not be happening if they were. Ephemer and the others are shocked to learn from Brain that their world is connecting to another world that does not exist in time. He agrees with Brain's idea to conduct more research and volunteers to explore the other world. As it would be too dangerous for him to go alone, Ephemer and Player decide to go together. When they enter portal, they discover that the corridor is different from the other ones and fight Heartless as they make their way to the new world.{{storylink|Quest 871: The Control Room}}

They continue to fight and chase the Darkling through the tunnel arriving at [[Game Central Station]], the two marvel at the sight of the new world.{{storylink|Quest 875: To a New World Pt. 4}} But sightseeing would have to wait when the pair saw both the Block Noises and the Darkling. Ephemer proposes that they split leaving him to go after the Darkling while Player handles the Block Noises.{{storylink|Quest 876: To a New World Pt. 5}}

Ephemer meets up with Player again finding them cornered by little Cy-Bugs saying that he was chasing after the Darkling which led him to Player and soon were up against a giant Cy-Bug but manage to destroy it.{{storylink|Quest 898: Ralph! Pt. 6}} He and Player manage to corner the Darkling defeating it but upon hearing it say "Not you" same as before Ephemer begins to wonder what does it means. Afterwards the duo sees the Darkling get swallowed by a Cy-Bug and fly off believing the two fused together, needing to stop it before it's too late they chase after it.{{storylink|Quest 900: Darkling Distress Pt. 2}}

They find the Darkling Cy-Bug attacking the commander and expressed confidence on beating it and after doing so he learned from the commander that a soldier had gone MIA until being informed by Felix that the soldier was Ralph. {{storylink|Quest 905: The Threat}}
Once brought up to speed, Ephemer asks Player to keep looking into the glitches and the link between them and Ralph while he heads back to Daybreak Town to inform the others. Seeing Player sad that they have to continue alone Ephemer assures that Player was given the task out of trust and be fine on their own when Player perks up he says that their hearts will always be connected before leaving. {{storylink|Quest 906: The Investigation}}

Just getting back Ephemer and the others meet up in the Control Room, where he and Brain explain the situation and added that they'd pursued Darklings into this new world, and soon after enemies from their world began appearing in this new world, suggesting that the Darklings were responsible. Ventus mentions that they've also seen Noise of Ava's meeting with the Master of Master, while Lauriam mentions having seen Noise of Strelitzia as well. With all of the evidence presented, he hears Brain conclude that they must be in the data Daybreak Town, causing him to ask whether or not there even was a real Daybreak Town, while Ventus wonders if it had been destroyed. Brain assesses that there is no way of knowing as they have been completely cut off from their original world, with no possible way of returning; suggesting this all to have been someone else's plan.

Soon he was talking with Brain on the hill overlooking Daybreak Town. Then, Ephemer was told by Brain that only one of the five new Union leaders was supposed to have the Book of Prophecies, but he hasn't had to use it until now, as all the worlds were replicated in data as insurance. After having read Ava's memo, they both realized that the book was meant for Strelitzia not him and that she was meant to be one of the new Union leaders. Following Brain so far, Ephemer was also informed that despite Ava having been the one who had changed who received the Book of Prophecies, but didn't have the intention to change the new Union leaders. Just then, they were met by Chirithy, Ventus, and Skuld he listens to Brain asks them where Ava had told them she intended them to become Union leaders then arrive. However upon hearing that Ven's answer being different having what happened with Ava near the clock tower, rather than on that very hill, after reading the list of those who were meant to be Union Leaders everyone's name appeared on the list all but Ventus's leaving everyone shocked. Still believing that his friend's innocence, Ephemer thought Ava did this on purpose until being informed that the reason why Ventus was here was because of Strelitzia's disappearance and if Master Ava really did intend for this to happen then she would have told someone. Realizing what Brain said make a lot of sense Ephemer was still stumped on who talked to Ventus, with that Brain realized that Darkness may have something to do with this.  

Pushing Ventus for more information, they find out that the he first met Master Ava he was told the same thing as them, then he recalled meeting her first in a dim light house and left together heading to the tower. But not recalling much else together, Ephemer, Brain, Skuld, and Ventus plan to tell Lauriam about his sister's intended role.

===''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 cyan-colored 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>
<!--move to synopsis under canon template
==Trivia==
* In the ''Kingdom Hearts χ'' novelization, Ephemer was initially in the Anguis Union (the same Union as Skuld and 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]]