SPECULATION: Who Are the True Organization XIII?

WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS MAJOR KINGDOM HEARTS: DREAM DROP DISTANCE AND KINGDOM HEARTS SERIES SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

For those of you who have played through the entirety of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, you will now know the extent of Master Xehanort's plan.

The initial Organization XIII was created in order to do two things: reform Kingdom Hearts and become hosts to fragments of Xehanort's heart, essentially becoming "copies" of the mastermind himself.

Of course, Sora, Riku and Roxas saw to it that Xehanort's initial plans for Organization XIII were ruined, but now Xehanort has begun reforming Organization XIII using variations of himself from different time periods. So who could this new Organization XIII be?

Confirmed Members:

Master Xehanort

Obviously, the mastermind behind this plan, Master Xehanort, is a member of his own team of 13 Darknesses and acts as their leader.

Xemnas

Another confirmed member of the True Organization XIII is the original's leader: Xemnas. Series Creator Tetsuya Nomura has stated that Xemnas is the most powerful character in the series, as Nobody counterparts tend to be more powerful than their complete beings. This gives Xehanort a giant upperhand when he adds his most powerful incarnation to his arsenal.

Ansem Seeker of Darkness

Naturally because his Nobody is a member of the new Organization, Xehanort has also recruited his Heartless: Ansem. For fans of the series, you will recognize Ansem as the very first villain introduced in Kingdom Hearts, and if you remember correctly, he is not a force to be taken lightly.

Xigbar

Fans of the prequel game Birth By Sleep will know that Xigbar made a deal with Xehanort a long time before the events of Kingdom Hearts, the contents of which were not entirely revealed until Dream Drop Distance. Xigbar agreed to allow Xehanort to possess him so that he could wield the most powerful weapon known to man: the Keyblade. With Xigbar under Xehanort's control, he will definitely be a deadly foe.

Saix

The second-in-command of the original Organization XIII and former best friend of the fan-favorite character Axel was also revealed to be a member of the True Organization XIII at the climax of Dream Drop Distance. It is evident in Saix's now-yellow eyes that he has been subdued by Xehanort's possession. How will this affect Axel and can Saix ever be redeemed after this?

Young Xehanort

Introduced in Dream Drop Distance, the younger incarnation of Xehanort was tasked with forming the True Organization XIII by moving forward through time and collecting the most powerful incarnations of the villain in order to form the ultimate team of thirteen darknesses. As shown at the climax of the game, Young Xehanort, while young, is still extremely powerful and definitely a big threat to our heroes.

Speculated Members:

Terra-Xehanort

It is highly speculated that a 7th member of the True Organization XIII is the body of Terra that has been possessed by Xehanort post-Birth By Sleep. This would seem to be the most obvious choice for another member of the team, as Xehanort did spend a great deal of time in this form and it was also the form in which he discovered the Heartless and the Nobodies. 

Possessed Riku

Fans of the first game will remember that for a great deal of the game, Riku was possessed by Ansem Seeker of Darkness and wore this strange Heartless suit. In Dream Drop Distance, we see Riku speaking with Young Xehanort and wearing an Organization coat. Some fans speculate this to simply be a dream that Riku had, but others believe this to indicate that the Possessed Riku is a member of the True Organization XIII.

Vanitas

Another familiar villain that was seen talking to Young Xehanort in Dream Drop Distance is the secondary antagonist of Birth By Sleep: Vanitas. Vanitas is actually made up of half of Ventus' heart, which means he is not entirely whole. If Xehanort could slip a fragment of his heart into this being, he would have an extremely powerful ally.

Potential Members:

Ventus

Ventus seems like a likely candidate to be a member of the True Organization XIII. At the end of Dream Drop Distance, Xehanort attempts to possess Sora in order to have a powerful Keyblade wielder as his 13th member, but fails. Ventus's body was left sleeping in Castle Oblivion after Birth By Sleep with his heart having retreated into Sora's body. This empty vessel seems like the perfect place for Xehanort to stick a fragment of his heart to create another member of his team.

Roxas

Roxas was once the powerful thirteenth member of the original Organization, so if Young Xehanort could get his hands on a naive, helpless version of this boy, they could potentially turn him into a willing servant of Master Xehanort.

Xion

Similarly to Roxas, Xion is a copy of Sora's memories and abilities. Since she is lacking a complete heart, it is very possible that Xehanort could use her as a vessel for his own, making his own "copy" of Sora after capturing the original failed.

Marluxia

Marluxia was the first and only member of Organization XIII to successfully rebel against Xemnas, only to be thwarted by Sora. While being a traitor may hinder his chances, there is no doubt that Marluxia is a powerful being. Should Xehanort be able to use him as a vessel for his heart with little resistance, Marluxia would likely be one of the most powerful allies Xehanort could obtain for his team.

Master Eraqus

Chances are, this one is definitely not happening, but I like to imagine twists in the series. Master Eraqus is Master Xehanort's former friend, who later opposes him before he is killed by Terra. Evidence has shown that Eraqus' heart still lives within Terra-Xehanort, so if somehow Xehanort could create a Nobody out of Eraqus and possess it, he would definitely have a powerful ally.

So which of these characters (or others not mentioned) will join the current six and make up the thirteen darknesses that Sora and his friends will face off against in Kingdom Hearts III? Only time will tell and I'm sure fans will not be disappointed.

Join me later as I examine who the potential Seven Warriors of Light will be that will face off against the Thirteen Darknesses.

Article By:
Giuliano V.