A theory about the Key to Return Hearts.

[awesomeinmyworld 268]

Ah, the ever-mysterious Key to Return Hearts. We have no idea what it is and yet we wonder. Most theories point to it being a Keyblade, and this theory is no different. This is a theory I've been thinking over for a while, and Everglow's unofficial English version for 2.5's final trailer has given me a reason to put this up. Mine you, this is a little long.

 

Namine's unspoken speech in the final trailer reads: "I'm sure the key to save everyone resides within Sora". The key word is well.. 'key'. Now, before we decide that I'm reading too much into the word "Key" (which I most likely am), "key" has been used to describe Sora before. In KH2 Yen Sid stated that Sora was the KEY that connected all the events that would result from his actions in KH2, even Goofy said that he was the "Key that connects everything". And this statement still holds true, Sora is the one who connects Roxas, Ven, Xion, Roxas, Namine, Terra and Aqua together; they all still need to be saved and Sora holds the "Key" to saving them all, to returning them. If so, then that would mean that Sora already possess the Key to Return Hearts, his mission in KH3 states otherwise.

 

Yen Sid is sending Sora to locate the Key to Return Hearts, as if it was in a physical location found among the worlds, like the Kingdom Key D, which Mickey found in the Realm of Darkness and the Keyblades of both Light and Darkness left at the Keyblade Graveyard. But I think the Key to Return Hearts is ACTUALLY a Keyblade of Heart, like the Keyblade created from the hearts of the Princesses, and I believe it has some properties that the Keyblade of People's Hearts possessed: it can unlock a person's heart, releasing any power kept inside that heart but does NOT turn that someone into a Heartless. Why? Because even though I think it's a Keyblade of Heart, I don't think it's made up of hearts but rather the bonds between hearts. This would make it kind of the Keyblade of People's Heart's good twin, as that Keyblade unlocked the Darkness within someone's heart which then devoured the heart it unlocked; the Key to Return Hearts would use the bonds between hearts to restore hearts lost or confined within another's heart. This is a more light-hearted ability and the heart which the Key to Return Hearts was used on would not be harmed.

 

So, who would be able to create and wield this Keyblade? Obviously: Sora. He is the "Key that connects everything" that holds the "key to saving everyone". Confined within him are three other hearts that have formed strong bonds and memories with those closest to them. Sora would be able to create the Key to Return Hearts by utilizing the bonds that Ven has with him, Aqua and Terra; and the bonds Xion and Roxas have with him, each other, Namine and Axel. Using their bonds and his own wishes to see them all returned, Sora can use the Key to Return Hearts to "bring back the hearts and existences of those connected to him", as Ansem the Wise said he could in 3D. Sora says that his friends are his power, and the Key to Return Hearts is his way of giving that power a physical form.

 

Feel free to point out any flaws in this theory, I know that it's really grasping at straws, but it's a theory on the most unknown item in KH3, which is unknown in it of itself. Plus, this took me forever to write down in a way that didn't seem like a random theory that looked the most abstract details in the KH series, which it kind of is.

[TheFrozenNobody 124]

didnt read what your wrote cause i dont read long things but i think the key to return hearts will be sora keyblade rare abilities when he gets his master key or he will find the keyblade like mickey found his in the realm of darkness

[awesomeinmyworld 268]

didnt read what your wrote cause i dont read long things but i think the key to return hearts will be sora keyblade rare abilities when he gets his master key or he will find the keyblade like mickey found his in the realm of darkness

Basically: Key to Return Hearts is a Keyblade of Heart and Sora can create it cause of his connections with other people.

[TheFrozenNobody 124]

Basically: Key to Return Hearts is a Keyblade of Heart and Sora can create it cause of his connections with other people.

but everyone could guess that lol

[awesomeinmyworld 268]

but everyone could guess that lol

But there's more to the theory, it's more complex than just that.

[Ultima Spark 753]

In-universe, even the main characters don't know whether the Key to Return Hearts is something physical or not.

[Isamu Kuno 2,512]

I think that it being a Keyblade would be too predictable, something Nomura isn't known for. I do think that it is a power only Sora has, like you said, but I think it's something less tangible and that his mission statement for KH3 is just something he has to go through to discover and unlock this power before he can utilize it.

Hmm, it's never happened before, but maybe the Kingdom Key's configuration will change from a Keyblade of Light to a Keyblade of Heart while still looking the same? Though we don't even know if a Keyblades nature can be changed which is why I think the Key to Return Hearts is more likely a power.

 

I don't see any holes in your theory, save it's predictability, I just have a different one. Though, truth be told, your theory lies exactly in line with my theory about what exactly a Keyblade is. http://kh13.com/forum/topic/12653-my-keyblade-theroy/?hl=theory. Keep in mind that this was written in '10 so a few things may be outdated and it's not a solid as I'd like. The basic point is that a Keyblade is the power of its wielder's heart made manifest.

Edited September 6, 2014 by Isamu_Kuno

[Hazimie 1,595]

Plot twist; Pluto has found that Key, yet people don't care anyway,just like Donald and Goofy did in KH1 during their search for Sora...

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Interesting... but really, there is only one Key of Heart.

[awesomeinmyworld 268]

Interesting... but really, there is only one Key of Heart.

One of the reasons I think it's Keylade of Heart that I didn't mention comes from 3D's glossary. The descriptions of Keyblades mentions this type of Keyblade when no other series had. Most likely just to get all the details covered for those who never played the KHseries before 3D, but I thought it was an interesting detail.

[Connected 978]

Boem Clap, Created a heart for Roxas.