Over the course of the series leading up toKingdom Hearts 4, Square Enix has expounded every so often on the exact nature of the iconic Keyblade weapons and where they come from. However, while it is known that Keyblades are forged from hearts that have separated from their bodies, the origin ofKingdom Heartsprotagonist Sora’sKingdom Key is a mystery that the series hasn’t been too keen on exploring.
For a series that has extended for over twenty years, this has naturally led to the fandom coming up with its own answers on these questions in preparation forKingdom Hearts 4. Some of these fan theories tie the Kingdom Key to Sora himself, as well as to the antagonist of the upcoming saga, but those answers might not bring the through line all the way from the first title.
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Sora’s Fatherly Protector
One theory that some fans have come with implies that the Kingdom Key might be Sora’s own father, a character who has still never actually been seen or heard in the series. However, while this character hasn’t physically appeared, he has been mentioned once before, being the one who first brought Sora and Riku to theisland clubhouse of Destiny Islands. The heart that makes up the Kingdom Key belonging to Sora’s father does fit the criteria of having been on Destiny Islands when the Keyblade appeared in the firstKingdom Hearts, as well as having a vested interest in specifically keeping his son safe.
While there are plenty of examples that might back this up, it does rub against some inconsistencies that would make Sora’s father a troubling candidate for the Kingdom Key. First off, it wouldn’t really work for the idea to be protecting Sora, since the firstKingdom Heartsshows the Kingdom Key leave the protagonist’s hands and switch over to beingunder Riku’s control. Then there’s the fact that in the time leading up toKingdom Hearts 4, Sora has returned home multiple times, and has never mentioned that his dad is missing from home in any way.
The Master of Masters Travels Through Time
Toeing the line of two theories, one current idea for the origin of the Kingdom Key is the Master of Masters himself, having becomeSora’s Keybladewhile his heart has been traveling forward in time without his body. Considering thatKingdom Hearts 4is expected to finally reveal the Master of Masters to the protagonists as the main villain of the upcoming arc, this idea could tie the different eras of the series together. This could also potentially lead to a moment where the Keyblade leaves Sora’s control for a time, as the heart that it is made from is pulled away to become the next antagonist.
This idea encompasses two fan theories at once, given that a large part of the community believes that the Master of Masters will be revealed to be Sora’s father inKingdom Hearts 4. If that is the case, then the flaws with the “Sora’s father is the Kingdom Key” theory still apply, but that is two fan theories complicating each other. Instead, from a narrative view, this could be an interesting explanation of the presence of theMaster of Masters inKingdom Hearts 4, as well as another chance for Sora to briefly lose his powers in the finale.
Kairi’s Beloved Elder
There is still one more character (also unnamed) who could also fit the bill, not as a protector for Sora, but as a protector for Kairi. This would be Kairi’s Grandmother, who makes appearances in both the original game andBirth by Sleep, but hasn’t been seen to still be alive in thecurrentKingdom Heartstimeline. She would also fit the bill for leaving Sora behind in Hollow Bastion for Riku, as the strongest heart would be the one in the best position to save Kairi, which would then be the Keyblade’s most prominent motivation.
Kingdom Hearts 4is in development by Square Enix.
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