Ansem

Origin

Xehanort's journey through darkness and identity shifts was quite complex. Initially, he fused with Terra to extend his life, a decision driven by a desire for longevity. However, when the X-Blade shattered, he lost his memories and was discovered by Ansem the Wise in Radiant Garden. In this state of amnesia, Xehanort began to piece together his past and rekindle his thirst for knowledge. Unfortunately, this newfound drive led him to wreak havoc on his world, ultimately resulting in his self-sacrifice. This sacrifice gave rise to the Heartless Ansem and the Nobody Xemnas.

Concurrently, four others—Braig, Dilan, Ienzo, and Even—also became Nobodies. As Ansem, wearing a cloak, delved into the mysteries of time travel, he encountered a young Xehanort and granted him the power to traverse time, with the aim of assembling a group of 12 future versions of himself. Alongside Maleficent, Ansem sought the seven princesses of heart, while Xehanort and Xemnas aimed to locate 13 vessels of darkness to reforge the X-Blade.

Later, Ansem emerged in Hollow Bastion (Radiant Garden) following Riku's retreat. He explained to Sora that the Keyblade had chosen him over Riku due to the strength within his heart. Ansem then urged Riku to embrace darkness fully and become the 13th vessel, rendering him susceptible to possession. Ansem harnessed the power of the seven princesses to forge a keyblade capable of unlocking others' hearts, using it to eliminate Maleficent.

When Sora discovered Kairi in a comatose state, Ansem revealed that her heart resided within Sora. He tempted Sora to unlock his own heart to free Kairi and complete the keyhole, as sealing it required completeness. Sora, making the ultimate sacrifice, struck himself with Ansem's keyblade, allowing Kairi's heart to be freed, the keyhole to be sealed, and Ansem's keyblade to be destroyed. Ansem retreated into the darkness, transporting himself to another world known as the "End of the World."

Upon Sora's return and the sealing of the keyhole, Ansem ventured into the darkness to enact his sinister plans. When Sora confronted him, Ansem espoused the belief that darkness was the true essence of the heart, a notion that Sora vehemently disputed. In a climactic battle within the endless abyss where Kingdom Hearts resided, Ansem transformed into the World of Chaos, a colossal Heartless ship connected to him through his earlier attempt to unlock Kingdom Hearts. However, this formidable entity was ultimately vanquished by the light, disproving Ansem's claims about darkness.

Following Xemnas's demise, Xehanort resurfaced, with Ansem selected from the past to be one of the 13 vessels, continuing the intricate web of darkness and destiny.