Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD
Kingdom Hearts III
Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind
Kingdom Hearts Dark Road

Keyblade Master: Difference between revisions

From the Kingdom Hearts Wiki, the Kingdom Hearts encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
(Undo revision 855960 by 174.192.67.39 (talk))
Tag: Undo
 
(75 intermediate revisions by 33 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{expand|create= More information in general.}}
{{cleanup|More information in general, but remove bits that aren't about the rank; add info about Successor and Seeker}}
{{merge|Keyblade}}
{{Game|BBS|FMB|DDD|DHD|KH3|3RM|DR}}
{{Game|BBS|FMB|DDD|DHD}}
{{nihongo|'''Keyblade Master'''|キーブレードマスター|Kīburēdo Masutā}} is the title given to exceptional [[Keyblade]] wielders who pass the [[Mark of Mastery exam]] in the ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|series}}'' series.
{{nihongo|'''Keyblade Master'''|キーブレードマスター|Kīburēdo Masutā}} is the title given to exceptional [[Keyblade]] wielders who pass the [[Mark of Mastery exam]] in the ''[[Kingdom Hearts (series)|Kingdom Hearts]]'' series. There are a total of thirteen known Keyblade Masters; [[The Master of Masters]], [[Ira]], [[Aced]], [[Invi]], [[Luxu]], [[Gula]], [[Ava]], [[Eraqus]], [[Xehanort]], [[Yen Sid]], [[Aqua]], [[Mickey Mouse]], and [[Riku]]. Yen Sid retired this title and passed [[Star Seeker|his Keyblade]] down to Mickey.


The Keyblade Master who passes the Mark of Mastery exam is given the choice to either travel to many worlds and explore their horizons, or to succeed their mentor and take refuge in their world to protect it from malevolent forces. However, there are also Keyblade Masters who have instead chosen to abuse their powers for their own gain, such as [[Master Xehanort]].
The Keyblade Master who passes the [[Mark of Mastery exam]] is given the choice to either travel to many worlds and explore their horizons, or to succeed their mentor and take refuge in their world to protect it from malevolent forces. However, there are also Keyblade Masters who have instead chosen to abuse their powers for their own gain, such as [[Master Xehanort]].


==Story==
==Story==
===Before ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''===
===''[[Kingdom Hearts χ]]''===
Long before Aqua and Terra's exam, two young men, Eraqus and Xehanort, were both tested for the Mark of Mastery by their master. They both passed, but Eraqus was chosen as their Master's successor.  
The [[Master of Masters]] created Keyblades by studying the [[χ-blade]] and learning to extract Keyblades from peoples's hearts.<ref>'''''{{w|Weekly Famitsu}}'''''<!--If anyone knows which volume issue this is, please add it-->, pg. 198; '''Tetsuya Nomura:''' "The Master knows about its existence. Using the χ-blade as a model, he creates his own Keyblades. Well, by create I don't mean that in the physical sense, such as forging and tempering them, I mean more along the lines of pulling one out from the depths of a heart." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/Famitsu-showcases-Kingdom-Hearts-HD-2-8-Nomura-interview-released-8108 Translation via Saken and Goldpanner].</ref> He bestowed Keyblades to his six apprentices: [[Ava]], [[Ira]], [[Gula]], [[Invi]], [[Aced]], and [[Luxu]], who would become Keyblade Masters.


Years later, they both took in apprentices of their own. Eraqus took in a young man named [[Terra]] and a young woman named [[Aqua]]. Xehanort took in a boy named [[Ventus]].  
[[Ephemer]], referred to by [[Sigurd]] as the first Keyblade Master, founded the city of [[Scala ad Caelum]] upon the ruins of [[Daybreak Town]] after the [[Keyblade War]].


Xehanort abused his young apprentice by forcing him to fight [[Heartless|creatures of the dark]] in order to strengthen his darkness so both his light and darkness could be equal, which would result in the [[χ-blade]], a legendary Keyblade which allows its user to obtain [[Kingdom Hearts]], the heart of all worlds. Ventus refused to fight the creatures, because he knew that he was not strong enough to take them on. The creatures attacked Ventus, knocking him unconscious. Xehanort approached his young apprentice and used his [[Master Xehanort's Keyblade|Keyblade]] to extract the darkness half of his heart, resulting in the creation of a being with a heart of pure darkness, which Xehanort named [[Vanitas]]. This process left Ventus's heart fractured.
===''Kingdom Hearts Dark Road''===
Long before Aqua and Terra's exam, two young men, Eraqus and Xehanort, were both tested for the Mark of Mastery by their Master, [[Odin]]. They both passed, but Eraqus was chosen as their Master's successor.  


Xehanort brought Ventus' nearly lifeless body to his childhood home, [[Destiny Islands]], so he could succumb in peace. However, Ventus' fractured heart was met by a newly born heart of [[Sora|another]], and the two became one; just until Ventus's heart was strong enough to survive on its own. Ventus then summoned his [[Wayward Wind|Keyblade]], which completely surprised Xehanort.
Years later, they both took in apprentices of their own. Eraqus took in a young man named [[Terra]] and a young woman named [[Aqua]]. Xehanort took in a boy named [[Ventus]].
 
Ventus was then taken by Xehanort to his old fellow pupil, Eraqus. He asked Eraqus to take him in, knowing that Eraqus would strengthen his heart of light, while he continued to train Vanitas, to strengthen his heart of darkness, so that one day the two hearts would be able become one again and give him the χ-blade.


===''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''===
===''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''===
After many years of training, Terra and Aqua were ready to take the Mark of Mastery exam. Unfortunately for Terra, he failed, while Aqua passed and was chosen as the successor of Eraqus. Terra could not keep the darkness in his heart in check, a trait that Master Eraqus did not see fitting for the title of Master.
After many years of training, Terra and Aqua were ready to take the Mark of Mastery exam. Aqua passed and was chosen as the successor of Eraqus, but Terra failed because he could not keep the darkness in his heart in check, a trait that Master Eraqus did not see fitting for the title of Master.


Eraqus informed Aqua her new duties as a Keyblade Master, include a "secret" in particular that she should know: as his successor, if anything were to happen to him, and the darkness plundered the world, he wants her to take his [[Master's Defender|Keyblade]] and lock the [[Land of Departure|world]] away. He informed her that generations of Keyblade Masters have been entrusted with keeping the world safe, because the light and darkness are balanced there, and there are people who might want to abuse such a neutral powered world. Their predecessors devised a "trick" that allows the Keyblade to transform the world, so that all who visit the world will be lost to oblivion, as none would be able to solve its mystery, except for the one who transformed it.
Eraqus informed Aqua her new duties as a Keyblade Master, including a "secret" in particular that she should know: as his successor if anything were to happen to him, and the darkness plundered the world, he wants her to take his [[Master's Defender|Keyblade]] and lock the [[Land of Departure|world]] away. He informed her that generations of Keyblade Masters have been entrusted with keeping the world safe, because the light and darkness are balanced there, and there are people who might want to abuse such a neutral powered world. Their predecessors devised a "trick" that allows the Keyblade to transform the world, so that all who visit the world will be lost to oblivion, as none would be able to solve its mystery, except for the one who transformed it.


Meanwhile, retired Master [[Yen Sid]] had allowed his former apprentice, Mickey, to come back to him for more training. Yen Sid discovered that the worlds were being threatened by creatures that feed off of negativity, which he called the [[Unversed]], and that the [[Princesses of Heart]] were in danger from them. Mickey saw this as an opportunity to prove that he is Master material, so he stole his former Master's [[Star Shard]], and left to investigate.
Meanwhile, retired Master [[Yen Sid]] had allowed his former apprentice, Mickey, to come back to him for more training. Yen Sid discovered that the worlds were being threatened by creatures that feed off of negativity, which he called the [[Unversed]], and that the [[Princesses of Heart]] were in danger from them. Mickey saw this as an opportunity to prove that he is Master material, so he stole his former Master's [[Star Shard]], and left to investigate.
Line 27: Line 25:
Yen Sid informed Eraqus of the situation and he called forth Terra and Aqua to investigate. He told Terra, that if he performs well on this journey, he might reconsider to make Terra Master, but he must not rely heavily on his darkness. However, Master Xehanort manipulated Terra into succumbing to darkness and possessed him, transforming him into [[Terra-Xehanort]].
Yen Sid informed Eraqus of the situation and he called forth Terra and Aqua to investigate. He told Terra, that if he performs well on this journey, he might reconsider to make Terra Master, but he must not rely heavily on his darkness. However, Master Xehanort manipulated Terra into succumbing to darkness and possessed him, transforming him into [[Terra-Xehanort]].


Much later, Aqua returns to the Land of Departure with an unconscious, heartless Ventus. She sees that it was completely destroyed by the darkness and finds the fallen Master Eraqus's Keyblade lying in the remains. She brings Ventus into the castle and places him in one of the thrones. Remembering the "trick" the Master told her about, she uses his Keyblade to completely transform the world. She promises Ventus to return with Terra to wake him up, and leaves him in the newly-formed [[Chamber of Waking]]. As she leaves the castle, she turns to see the new world she created, [[Castle Oblivion]]. She then leaves to search for the missing Terra, but following a brutal fight with Terra-Xehanort, Aqua ends up trapped in the Realm of Darkness.
Much later, Aqua returns to the Land of Departure with an unconscious, heartless Ventus. She sees that it was completely destroyed by the darkness and finds the fallen Master Eraqus's Keyblade lying in the remains. She brings Ventus into the castle and places him in one of the thrones. Remembering the "trick" the Master told her about, she uses his Keyblade to completely transform the world. She promises Ventus to return with Terra to wake him up and leaves him in the newly-formed [[Chamber of Waking]]. As she leaves the castle, she turns to see the new world she created, [[Castle Oblivion]]. She then leaves to search for the missing Terra, but following a brutal fight with Terra-Xehanort, Aqua ends up trapped in the Realm of Darkness.


Meanwhile, Mickey passed his exam under Yen Sid and was named a Keyblade Master.
Meanwhile, Mickey passed his exam under Yen Sid and was named a Keyblade Master.
Line 36: Line 34:
===''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''===
===''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''===
Sora and Riku undergo Yen Sid's Mark of Mastery exam, but only Riku is named a Keyblade Master after Sora drops into the darkness while Riku is the one who rescues him. Despite failing, Sora congratulates Riku, who is then ordered to bring [[Kairi]] before Yen Sid for Keyblade training in order to counter [[Real Organization XIII|Xehanort's new Organization XIII]].
Sora and Riku undergo Yen Sid's Mark of Mastery exam, but only Riku is named a Keyblade Master after Sora drops into the darkness while Riku is the one who rescues him. Despite failing, Sora congratulates Riku, who is then ordered to bring [[Kairi]] before Yen Sid for Keyblade training in order to counter [[Real Organization XIII|Xehanort's new Organization XIII]].
===''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''===
[[Donald Duck]] teases Sora for not attaining the rank of a Keyblade Master.
King Mickey and Riku venture forth into the Realm of Darkness to rescue Master Aqua. Unfortunately, she has been tainted by the darkness and transformed into [[Anti-Aqua]]. Sora arrives and frees her from the darkness and they all return to the Realm of Light.
Keyblade Masters Riku, King Mickey, Aqua join the seven guardians of light to combat the thirteen seekers of darkness that were gathered by Master Xehanort.
After the death of Master Xehanort in Scala ad Caelum, the [[No Name]] Keyblade lands in the Keyblade Graveyard, where it is recovered by [[Xigbar]], the current incarnation of Master Luxu. He proceeds to summon four of the five [[foreteller]]s, and begins to recount his long tale to them.


==Powers and abilities==
==Powers and abilities==
All people on the level of a Keyblade Master share the ability to extract the hearts of themselves or others, this is shown when Master Xehanort extracts the hearts of [[Aurora]] and himself. They can also extract part of the heart as well; for instance, Xehanort extracts the darkness from Ventus' heart, and creates Vanitas.
All Keyblade Masters share the ability to extract the hearts of themselves or others, this is shown when Master Xehanort extracts the hearts of [[Aurora]] and himself. They can also extract part of the heart as well; for instance, Xehanort creates Vanitas from the extracted darkness from Ventus's heart;<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''''', '''Master Xehanort:''' "Empty creature from Ventus riven."</ref> though Vanitas claims he existed already.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind''''', '''Vanitas:''' "I was just hidden deep inside of you, for a really long time. All Xehanort did...was tear me right out of you."</ref>


The ability to perform the [[Bequeathing]]<ref>'''Kingdom Hearts 3D Reports - Keyblade Masters''': Through the "Bequeathing," they choose the next generation of Keyblade wielders, training their bodies and tempering their hearts so that they, too, might one day be Keyblade Masters.</ref> is another thing that all people on the level of a Keyblade Master share. The Bequeathing is a ceremony in which a [[Keyblade]] wielder chooses someone to inherit a Keyblade. The Bequeathing causes a Keyblade to choose the person being Bequeathed,<ref>'''[[Kingdom Hearts Ultimania#Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania|''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' Ultimania]]''', '''Interviewer:''' "This time we saw a "rite of succession" - is that a required condition for becoming a Keyblade user?" / '''Tetsuya Nomura:''' "That's essentially correct. In terms of the rite itself, the successee just has to make the successor grasp their Keyblade - if this rite is performed by a Keyblade Master, and if they have suitable power, the Keyblade will choose that person as a Keyblade user, and appear before them. Terra, Ventus, all have passed this rite. Sora is the only exception." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/Birth-by-Sleep-Plot-Mysteries-Interview-1364 Translation via krexia].</ref> and it only works if the person performing the Bequeathing is on the level of a Keyblade Master<ref>'''[[Kingdom Hearts Ultimania#Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania|''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' Ultimania]]''', '''Interviewer:''' "The Keyblade succession can only be performed by a Keyblade Master, but we see Terra performing this rite with Riku - does this mean we can consider Terra a Keyblade Master?" / '''Tetsuya Nomura:''' "No. Terra was not awarded that title by his Master Eraqus, so no matter how Master Xehanort flatters him he is not a Keyblade Master. But that's just a matter of whether or not he's achieved the official title. Even Eraqus recognised that Terra possessed suitable power to be a Master, which is why he was able to perform the rite for Riku." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/Birth-by-Sleep-Plot-Mysteries-Interview-1364 Translation via krexia].</ref> and if the person being Bequeathed has a strong enough heart to be able to wield a Keyblade.<ref>'''[[Kingdom Hearts Ultimania#Kingdom Hearts Series Memorial Ultimania|''Kingdom Hearts Series'' Memorial Ultimania]]''', '''Tetsuya Nomura:''' "After completing the Keyblade Inheritance Ceremony, one must also be chosen by the Keyblade itself. The Keyblade Inheritance Ceremony involves simply coming in contact with a Keyblade owned by a Keyblade Master, and the new Keyblade wielder will then receive a new Keyblade different from the one of the Master. The Keyblade choosing a wielder is based upon the strength of the heart of a person with no concern regarding good or evil." [https://www.kh13.com/news/information-from-the-kingdom-hearts-series-memorial-ultimania-translated/ Translation via CharismaticCreator].</ref> This is shown when Terra performs it on Riku, and when it is accidentally performed on Kairi when she grasps [[Rainfell|Aqua's Keyblade]]. Although Terra does not have the title of Master, he is on the level of one, therefore he is able to perform this rite.<ref>'''[[Kingdom Hearts Ultimania#Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania|''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' Ultimania]]''', '''Interviewer:''' "The Keyblade succession can only be performed by a Keyblade Master, but we see Terra performing this rite with Riku - does this mean we can consider Terra a Keyblade Master?" / '''Tetsuya Nomura:''' "No. Terra was not awarded that title by his Master Eraqus, so no matter how Master Xehanort flatters him he is not a Keyblade Master. But that's just a matter of whether or not he's achieved the official title. Even Eraqus recognised that Terra possessed suitable power to be a Master, which is why he was able to perform the rite for Riku." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/Birth-by-Sleep-Plot-Mysteries-Interview-1364 Translation via krexia].</ref>
Keyblade Masters also have the ability to perform the [[Bequeathing]], a trial in which a person is chosen to inherit the power of the Keyblade by clutching the Keyblade in their hand and allowing it to accept them. This is shown when Terra performs it on Riku, and when it is accidentally performed on Kairi when she grasps [[Rainfell|Aqua's Keyblade]].<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania]]''''', '''Interviewer:''' "Why can Kairi use a Keyblade?" / '''Tetsuya Nomura:''' "Because she was touched by Aqua's Keyblade. The Keyblade inheritance ceremony is performed with a Keyblade Master touches someone using a Keyblade. When Kairi was running away from the Unversed in ''Birth by Sleep'' she grabbed Aqua's Keyblade, which performed the ceremony. That is why she is able to use a Keyblade in ''Kingdom Hearts II'' to help Sora." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/BBS-Ultimania-20-Mysteries-Solved-2546 Translation via Lissar].</ref> While not officially a Keyblade Master, Terra is on the level of one and can therefore perform the rite.<ref>'''[[Kingdom Hearts Ultimania#Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania|''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' Ultimania]]''', '''Interviewer:''' "The Keyblade succession can only be performed by a Keyblade Master, but we see Terra performing this rite with Riku - does this mean we can consider Terra a Keyblade Master?" / '''Tetsuya Nomura:''' "No. Terra was not awarded that title by his Master Eraqus, so no matter how Master Xehanort flatters him he is not a Keyblade Master. But that's just a matter of whether or not he's achieved the official title. Even Eraqus recognised that Terra possessed suitable power to be a Master, which is why he was able to perform the rite for Riku." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/Birth-by-Sleep-Plot-Mysteries-Interview-1364 Translation via krexia].</ref>


However, only Keyblade Masters can conduct the Mark of Mastery exam upon potential Keyblade Masters. Although Yen Sid is a retired Master, he is still able to conduct the exam.
In addition to performing the Bequeathing, Masters can conduct the Mark of Mastery exam upon potential Keyblade Masters. Although Yen Sid is a retired Master, he is still able to conduct the exam.


Also, Aqua is able to sense that the ceremony has been performed on Riku, although it is not known whether all Keyblade wielders can sense this, or if it is a Master's ability.
Also, Aqua is able to sense that the ceremony has been performed on Riku, although it is not known whether all Keyblade wielders can sense this, or if it is a Master's ability.
Line 49: Line 56:
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Master of Masters KHXBC.png|[[The Master of Masters]]
File:Master of Masters KHXBC.png|[[The Master of Masters]]
File:Foreteller Ira KHXBC.png|[[Ira|Master Ira]]
File:Foreteller Aced KHXBC.png|[[Aced|Master Aced]]
File:Foreteller Aced KHXBC.png|[[Aced|Master Aced]]
File:Foreteller Ava KHXBC.png|[[Ava|Master Ava]]
File:Foreteller Gula KHXBC.png|[[Gula|Master Gula]]
File:Foreteller Invi KHXBC.png|[[Invi|Master Invi]]
File:Foreteller Invi KHXBC.png|[[Invi|Master Invi]]
File:Foreteller Ira KHXBC.png|[[Ira|Master Ira]]
File:Luxu KHXBC.png|[[Luxu|Master Luxu]]
File:Luxu KHXBC.png|[[Luxu|Master Luxu]]
File:Foreteller Gula KHXBC.png|[[Gula|Master Gula]]
File:Ephemer KHXBC.png|[[Ephemer|Master Ephemer]]
File:Foreteller Ava KHXBC.png|[[Ava|Master Ava]]
File:Odin KHDR.png|[[Odin|Master Odin]]
File:Master Eraqus KHBBS.png|[[Eraqus|Master Eraqus]]
File:Master Eraqus KHIII.png|[[Eraqus|Master Eraqus]]<br>(deceased)
File:Master Xehanort KHIII.png|[[Xehanort|Master Xehanort]]
File:Master Xehanort KHIII.png|[[Xehanort|Master Xehanort]]<br>(deceased)
File:Yen Sid KHIII.png|[[Yen Sid|Master Yen Sid]] (retired)
File:Yen Sid KHIII.png|[[Yen Sid|Master Yen Sid]]<br>(retired)
File:Aqua KH0.2.png|[[Aqua|Master Aqua]]
File:Aqua KHIII.png|[[Aqua|Master Aqua]]
File:King Mickey KHIII.png|[[Mickey Mouse|Master Mickey Mouse]]
File:Mickey Mouse KHIII.png|[[Mickey Mouse|Master Mickey Mouse]]
File:Riku KHIII.png|[[Riku|Master Riku]]
File:Riku KHIII.png|[[Riku|Master Riku]]
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}
{{BBS}}
{{BBS}}
{{DDD}}
{{DDD}}
[[de:Schlüsselschwertmeister]]
[[de:Schlüsselschwertmeister]]
[[Category:Keyblade Masters| ]]
[[Category:Keyblade Masters| ]]

Latest revision as of 08:16, 6 December 2022

Oh no! The water! I'm in big trouble if I don't fetch it!
Fantasia Mickey B 6★ KHUX.png
This article requires cleanup or improvement.

Please help out by editing this page. Please see the Manual of Style and editing help before getting started.

Issues: More information in general, but remove bits that aren't about the rank; add info about Successor and Seeker

Keyblade Master (キーブレードマスター Kīburēdo Masutā?) is the title given to exceptional Keyblade wielders who pass the Mark of Mastery exam in the Kingdom Hearts series.

The Keyblade Master who passes the Mark of Mastery exam is given the choice to either travel to many worlds and explore their horizons, or to succeed their mentor and take refuge in their world to protect it from malevolent forces. However, there are also Keyblade Masters who have instead chosen to abuse their powers for their own gain, such as Master Xehanort.

Story[edit]

Kingdom Hearts χ[edit]

The Master of Masters created Keyblades by studying the χ-blade and learning to extract Keyblades from peoples's hearts.[1] He bestowed Keyblades to his six apprentices: Ava, Ira, Gula, Invi, Aced, and Luxu, who would become Keyblade Masters.

Ephemer, referred to by Sigurd as the first Keyblade Master, founded the city of Scala ad Caelum upon the ruins of Daybreak Town after the Keyblade War.

Kingdom Hearts Dark Road[edit]

Long before Aqua and Terra's exam, two young men, Eraqus and Xehanort, were both tested for the Mark of Mastery by their Master, Odin. They both passed, but Eraqus was chosen as their Master's successor.

Years later, they both took in apprentices of their own. Eraqus took in a young man named Terra and a young woman named Aqua. Xehanort took in a boy named Ventus.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[edit]

After many years of training, Terra and Aqua were ready to take the Mark of Mastery exam. Aqua passed and was chosen as the successor of Eraqus, but Terra failed because he could not keep the darkness in his heart in check, a trait that Master Eraqus did not see fitting for the title of Master.

Eraqus informed Aqua her new duties as a Keyblade Master, including a "secret" in particular that she should know: as his successor if anything were to happen to him, and the darkness plundered the world, he wants her to take his Keyblade and lock the world away. He informed her that generations of Keyblade Masters have been entrusted with keeping the world safe, because the light and darkness are balanced there, and there are people who might want to abuse such a neutral powered world. Their predecessors devised a "trick" that allows the Keyblade to transform the world, so that all who visit the world will be lost to oblivion, as none would be able to solve its mystery, except for the one who transformed it.

Meanwhile, retired Master Yen Sid had allowed his former apprentice, Mickey, to come back to him for more training. Yen Sid discovered that the worlds were being threatened by creatures that feed off of negativity, which he called the Unversed, and that the Princesses of Heart were in danger from them. Mickey saw this as an opportunity to prove that he is Master material, so he stole his former Master's Star Shard, and left to investigate.

Yen Sid informed Eraqus of the situation and he called forth Terra and Aqua to investigate. He told Terra, that if he performs well on this journey, he might reconsider to make Terra Master, but he must not rely heavily on his darkness. However, Master Xehanort manipulated Terra into succumbing to darkness and possessed him, transforming him into Terra-Xehanort.

Much later, Aqua returns to the Land of Departure with an unconscious, heartless Ventus. She sees that it was completely destroyed by the darkness and finds the fallen Master Eraqus's Keyblade lying in the remains. She brings Ventus into the castle and places him in one of the thrones. Remembering the "trick" the Master told her about, she uses his Keyblade to completely transform the world. She promises Ventus to return with Terra to wake him up and leaves him in the newly-formed Chamber of Waking. As she leaves the castle, she turns to see the new world she created, Castle Oblivion. She then leaves to search for the missing Terra, but following a brutal fight with Terra-Xehanort, Aqua ends up trapped in the Realm of Darkness.

Meanwhile, Mickey passed his exam under Yen Sid and was named a Keyblade Master.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded[edit]

Aware that the destruction of "Ansem" and Xemnas will lead to the reconstruction of Master Xehanort, Yen Sid commands Mickey to summon both Sora and Riku to him, so that they can be tested for the Mark of Mastery in order to become Keyblade Masters themselves and finish Xehanort once and for all.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance[edit]

Sora and Riku undergo Yen Sid's Mark of Mastery exam, but only Riku is named a Keyblade Master after Sora drops into the darkness while Riku is the one who rescues him. Despite failing, Sora congratulates Riku, who is then ordered to bring Kairi before Yen Sid for Keyblade training in order to counter Xehanort's new Organization XIII.

Kingdom Hearts III[edit]

Donald Duck teases Sora for not attaining the rank of a Keyblade Master.

King Mickey and Riku venture forth into the Realm of Darkness to rescue Master Aqua. Unfortunately, she has been tainted by the darkness and transformed into Anti-Aqua. Sora arrives and frees her from the darkness and they all return to the Realm of Light.

Keyblade Masters Riku, King Mickey, Aqua join the seven guardians of light to combat the thirteen seekers of darkness that were gathered by Master Xehanort.

After the death of Master Xehanort in Scala ad Caelum, the No Name Keyblade lands in the Keyblade Graveyard, where it is recovered by Xigbar, the current incarnation of Master Luxu. He proceeds to summon four of the five foretellers, and begins to recount his long tale to them.

Powers and abilities[edit]

All Keyblade Masters share the ability to extract the hearts of themselves or others, this is shown when Master Xehanort extracts the hearts of Aurora and himself. They can also extract part of the heart as well; for instance, Xehanort creates Vanitas from the extracted darkness from Ventus's heart;[2] though Vanitas claims he existed already.[3]

Keyblade Masters also have the ability to perform the Bequeathing, a trial in which a person is chosen to inherit the power of the Keyblade by clutching the Keyblade in their hand and allowing it to accept them. This is shown when Terra performs it on Riku, and when it is accidentally performed on Kairi when she grasps Aqua's Keyblade.[4] While not officially a Keyblade Master, Terra is on the level of one and can therefore perform the rite.[5]

In addition to performing the Bequeathing, Masters can conduct the Mark of Mastery exam upon potential Keyblade Masters. Although Yen Sid is a retired Master, he is still able to conduct the exam.

Also, Aqua is able to sense that the ceremony has been performed on Riku, although it is not known whether all Keyblade wielders can sense this, or if it is a Master's ability.

Gallery[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ Weekly Famitsu, pg. 198; Tetsuya Nomura: "The Master knows about its existence. Using the χ-blade as a model, he creates his own Keyblades. Well, by create I don't mean that in the physical sense, such as forging and tempering them, I mean more along the lines of pulling one out from the depths of a heart." Translation via Saken and Goldpanner.
  2. ^ Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Master Xehanort: "Empty creature from Ventus riven."
  3. ^ Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind, Vanitas: "I was just hidden deep inside of you, for a really long time. All Xehanort did...was tear me right out of you."
  4. ^ Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania, Interviewer: "Why can Kairi use a Keyblade?" / Tetsuya Nomura: "Because she was touched by Aqua's Keyblade. The Keyblade inheritance ceremony is performed with a Keyblade Master touches someone using a Keyblade. When Kairi was running away from the Unversed in Birth by Sleep she grabbed Aqua's Keyblade, which performed the ceremony. That is why she is able to use a Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts II to help Sora." Translation via Lissar.
  5. ^ Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania, Interviewer: "The Keyblade succession can only be performed by a Keyblade Master, but we see Terra performing this rite with Riku - does this mean we can consider Terra a Keyblade Master?" / Tetsuya Nomura: "No. Terra was not awarded that title by his Master Eraqus, so no matter how Master Xehanort flatters him he is not a Keyblade Master. But that's just a matter of whether or not he's achieved the official title. Even Eraqus recognised that Terra possessed suitable power to be a Master, which is why he was able to perform the rite for Riku." Translation via krexia.