Theory Essay: Yozora is using Riku as a Host

[TrinityXaos# 25]

Yozora, the mystery man of the fictional “Verum Rex”, holds an appearance similar to Riku's. However, Yozora himself and the Nameless Star both have implied that he was originally a very different person in looks. So, why does Yozora look like Riku in Kingdom Hearts canon? Perhaps Yozora's heart has somehow found refuge in Riku's body? If Yozora is indeed inside Riku's body, then he maybe in control and carrying on Riku's mission.

       When he first appeared in Kingdom Hearts III, he already had the Riku-like appearance in the promotional material for “Verum Rex”. He has this form again Secret Ending “Yozora”, when he was looking down on Riku. However, this was only a recurring dream Riku had as mentioned in the end of the Limit Cut episode. Finally, before you fight Yozora, he made a claim that the appearance he has was “not what [he] really looks like.” This is backed up by the Nameless Star's claim in her meeting with Sora:

“[Yozora's] been changed beyond recognition – his heart replaced with another's.”

       If Yozora is inside Riku's body, it should not be surprising given previous cases of multiple hearts inside other people. Sora and Xehanort are the most well known in this field, only in different directions:  Sora has hearts inside him, while Xehanort put his heart or pieces of said heart inside others. Riku has also had a record of possession and hosting other hearts inside him; from Xehanort's Heartless possession of him in Kingdom Hearts I to Riku's Replica's heart residing with Riku during Kingdom Hearts III.

       There also is a case of dominance, most cases of hosting don't have outside hearts possessing their hosts, like Sora's hearts. Hostile takeovers, however, tend to take control of the body or at least has some physical indicators. Either way, each method does hold influence to the host's physical or mental traits. Yozora may be a special case as he could be unintentionally in control of Riku's body because he has a stronger heart than the latter. The two may be exchanging influence on the other. While Yozora is the one acting for both of them, Riku could possibly be influencing Yozora's memories.

       Not much is known to why Yozora wanted to “save Sora”, but it could be related to Riku's goal after Melody of Memories: finding and saving Sora in Unreality/Fiction. Yozora mentioned that he had wondered into the location where he would fight Sora by chance and was eventually told to “save Sora”. While most of his abilities and weapons are his own, the one skill Yozora has that could be from Riku: controlling Sora's Keyblade. In Kingdom Hearts I, Riku took temporary possession of Sora's Kingdom Key at Hollow Bastion. In his own boss battle with Sora, Yozora temporary steals Sora's Keyblade but it is absorbed and added onto his laser sword.

       We may not know yet what happened to Yozora or whether he and Riku crossed before Yozora fought Sora or not. Due to their similar appearances, the clues to Yozora's current state, and the ability to use Sora's power briefly; it can be implied that they are connected to each other. Finally with the possibilities of heart and body possession, Yozora could be inside Riku's body. Only he is unintentionally the dominant heart. Yozora may ultimately be possessing Riku's body, but he is being influenced by Riku to reach the latter's goal of saving Sora.

Edited February 19, 2021 by TrinityXaos#
Incomplete. Had to get rid of the old incomplete version.

[Double OKP 171]

This overall is plausible, except what explains Yozora's appearance in Toy Box? Why would he look like Riku then, when it was impossible for him to have possessed him at that time? If your theory were true, then they wouldn't be able to coexist. But they did, which is what contradicts everything.

[TrinityXaos# 25]

I'm not fully sure but the two realities, like the worlds, could be on different timelines. Riku may have ended up in Quadratum in an earlier time than when Verum Rex took place.

Some of the Kingdom Hearts community have found Yozora to be talller than Riku via Data Greeting photo comparisons. So Riku's body could have grown up to not only be Yozora's height but also his age by the time "Verum Rex" and Sora happened.

Not only that, time placement is tricky, as Union Cross started to show with Maleficent going back to the future of Kingdom Hearts II while Ventus somehow (via unknown means) ended up 4 years before Birth by Sleep.

Also, Dream Drop Distance played around with time displacement with the two Traverse Towns and the TWEWY cast. Some characters had more or less time than their partners once they were reunited. Of course, that is related to dreams, so this may subtract from my evidence.

[Double OKP 171]

Hmm....I suppose that makes sense. 

22 hours ago, TrinityXaos# said:

Also, Dream Drop Distance played around with time displacement with the two Traverse Towns and the TWEWY cast. Some characters had more or less time than their partners once they were reunited. Of course, that is related to dreams, so this may subtract from my evidence.

Oh yeah, forgot about that. I think that actually will be relevant in the next saga. Dreams and unreality.....when you go deep, you can see there's a heavy connection between them.

[FadedSparkle 18]

This theory makes me wonder. Back when they were little kids in Birth By Sleep Riku sounded like he was talking from experience when he told Sora "Maybe there's someone out there who's really hurting and they're waiting for you to help them." "Hm, maybe they just need you to open your heart and listen." Is it possible that Yozora had been with Riku since he was that young? We don't have a lot of context for how long the Nameless Star and Yozora's plight has been going on after all. If Yozora's heart has been to Riku what Ven's was to Sora all kinds of things could've already happened or be waiting to happen.

Also if Yozora is more of a malevolent heart than a benevolent one possession or attempted possession could be in the cards. Might explain attacking Sora. Riku's heart wanting to save Sora while Yozora's wants the opposite for whatever reason. Yozora also doesn't seem to recognize Sora for who he is. If he's seeing Sora as someone else or believes him an imposter that'd definitely explain attacking him to "save" him. "I can't save Sora with You (whoever Yozora might be visualizing in Sora's place)/Fakes (imposter wearing Sora's appearance) in the way." thus striking them down/immobilizing them.

Edited February 19, 2021 by FadedSparkle

[Nukara Rikova 50]

I like to think that Yozora can be a kind of "nobody" Riku.😅