So... I meant to do this post as a picture edit comparing things. But my computer where I can screenshot pictures and then find a way to upload them to Tumblr won’t let me do it anymore--it won’t let me post to Tumblr because it says thebrowser’s too old, even though I just downloaded the new one--so I’m just going to write an essay instead. The Reason Why I Think Versus XIII Noctis/Now Yozora and Stella/Now Stella 2.0 (or whatever her name is. We still don’t know it) Might be Alternate Sora and Kairi 1. I was actually going to start this off by comparing the ways that Noctis and Stella flirted with how Sora and Kairi do--which, yes, Sora and Kairi have flirted and have chemistry. Shocking to a lot of this fandom, I know--which are quite similar. So, in the scene where Noctis and Stella meet (though that’s been retconned, as Nomura later decided he wants them to have been childhood friends: another way they’re like SoKai), Stella is looking at a painting of the goddess Etro in Noctis’ citadel (the top floor of this one area) and Noctis sees her up there and goes up to see her (and there’s one moment where the camera, that was omniscient PoV up until this and will be later, becomes Noctis’ PoV, as the shot becomes slow motion and you can tell that while Stella is focused on the painting, all that Noctis is really seeing is Stella. And we’ve now gotten shots of Sora looking at Kairi that way now. And there are a few other scenes in this trailer when Noctis is staring at Stella when she isn’t looking). Anyway, Stella notes that Noctis can see this light that she can--that most other people can’t--and begins talking to him about it. And while Noctis is attracted to Stella... she makes him very nervous for that reason, and he isn’t sure he can handle their meeting for that reason, so he’s trying to scamper off... all while attempting to play it cool. He’s also uncomfortable with the topic, because he knows more about it than he’s letting on. But some parts of their conversation that is somewhat banter-y/flirty are: Stella: Prince Noctis, you can see the light. Noctis doesn’t confirm or deny, but with his next words he pretty much confirms he can: When did you first notice it? Stella: When I was a child. Noctis: Near death experience, right? Stella: Was it the same for you? Noctis: It’s not my fondest memory. LOL Stella then talks about how it’s said that when people die, Etro--the death goddess--will open the gate, welcoming the souls of the departed. And when that happens, a bright light is supposed to appear from the land of the dead (the light that Noctis and Stella can see). And that any who can see that light are rumored to receive great power. Stella says that that’s how the legend goes in her country, of Tenebrae, and Noctis confirms that Lucis tells it the same way. Stella then asks if Noctis received any power, like the legend says he should, from being able to see the light. He says:“I wouldn’t want anything like that. I’m fine the way I am.” To which Stella in an excited manner replies,“That’s what I thought! Any power... if it came at the cost of someone’s life. It would give me nightmares.” And she shivers. Noctis says,“Me, too. Good thing it’s just a fairytale.” But you can tell from this scene that they’re both lying and have received this power (that’s why they’re fishing for information from the other, to see if they’re the same), even if they don’t want to admit it. And I think Noctis even knows Stella has the power and is lying, and is being somewhat sarcastic towards her with the“good thing it’s just a fairytale.” He then is actually pretty kind in warning her not to talk about the light to other people if he were here, because“being too different from others only causes problems” (which indicates that Noctis has seen this firsthand, which is why he’s all hush-hush about it now). And since they’re playing this game about the legend not being true, Stella asks:“If the legend is just a fairytale, what do you think the light really is?” Noctis replies:“It’s just something that’s there. Why can’t that be enough?” Noctis indicates that he has to go, and Stella says that she’d better do so, too. Stella introduces herself to Noctis (because she hadn’t until this moment, but she already knew who he was), but it’s clear in their hesitance and mannerisms that they like each other and don’t want this moment to end. Noctis even asks Stella to call him by his nickname“Noct”. Stella tells Noctis:“You know, I think I received something from that light tonight. I was given the chance to speak with you.” Noctis then jokes,“Well, then. Enjoy the nightmares,” since earlier Stella had said that if she got anything from the light--as doing so, in seeing the light, meant that someone had just died in that moment--it would give her nightmares. And Stella teases,“You’re a funny one, aren’t you Prince Noctis?” He tells her to call him“Noct” again, and she says she will the next time they meet: so he should come by Tenebrae sometime and she’ll show him around. He says he’ll consider it, and Stella leaves. Now, let’s compare that with some SoKai banter. At the opening of KHI, Kairi startles Sora awake and she laughs at his expense. He tells her to give him a break, and she says:“Sora, you lazy bum. I knew I’d find you snoozing down here.” He then tries to argue that,“No, this huge black thing almost swallowed me up. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t- ow!” at which point Kairi has slapped him upside the head and asks,“Are you still dreaming?” Sora:“No, it wasn’t a dream... Or was it? What was that place? So bizarre.” Kairi:“Yeah, sure.” Sora then asks Kairi what her home was like: where she grew up. And she says,“I’ve told you before, I don’t remember.” There’s definitely some snark in that“I’ve told you before” bit. Sora asks:“Nothing at all?” And Kairi lies,“Nothing.” Sora then asks if Kairi ever wants to go back and she says that she’s happy on the Islands. Sora is doubtful about that questions,“Really?” Kairi then says she wouldn’t mind going to see it, though, and Sora says that he’d like to see it too, along with any other world out there: he wants to see them all. Kairi then asks what they’re waiting for. Some other SoKai banter-y moments from the series: Kairi suggesting she and Sora take the raft without Riku, before admitting she’s only kidding. To which Sora teasingly says,“What’s gotten into you? You’re the one that’s changed, Kairi.” And then it continues onto a very sweet scene where Kairi explains that at first she was scared of seeing other worlds, but in knowing she can always return home she feels safe about it. And Sora reassures her that she will alway be able to come home. To which she tells Sora to never change... and though he’s baffled by it, you know he must appreciate the compliment. The little argument they get into in the Underground Cavern: Kairi:“Well, let’s go.” Sora:“You can’t go.” Kairi:“Why not?” Sora:“Because it’s way too dangerous.” Kairi:“Come on, Sora. We’ve made it this far by sticking together. You can’t go alone!” Sora:“Kairi, even if we’re apart we’re not alone anymore, right?” Kairi:“I can’t help?” Sora:“You’d kind of be in my way.” Kairi:“Okay. You win. Take this. It’s my lucky charm, be sure to bring it back to me.” And she’s almost threatening him to bring it back with her tone, like“bring it back to me, or else.” But this is really her way of saying“make sure you come back home to me alive, you butt”. And Sora answers:“Don’t worry, I will.” And they make a promise that he will. And Kairi tells him that wherever he goes, she’s always with him and he says he’s always with her later, too. If you talk to Kairi on the Islands, as she’s telling you what to collect. She’ll say something like,“Did you get that?” And Sora can say,“Yeah, I heard you.” Or“What was that again?” And if he says the latter, she’ll say“You’re hopeless!” and then begin telling you it again. She can also, in an exasperated way, give you hints on where to find things.... Which I think Sora references in this KHII conversation, as he teases her yet again:“You don’t remember my name? Thanks a lot, Kairi!” Kairi gasps here. Sora:“Okay, I guess I can give you a hint. Starts with an‘S’.” And just... look at all the text bubble things she says to him in KHII (quoting off the top of my head here)“I wish I could fight like you and Riku... I know what you’re going to say,” he was clearly arguing with her here, or about to,“but you two shouldn’t be the only ones getting hurt.”“So you all were out adventuring while I was living a normal life? Why do I always get left out? You’re going to tell me about it later!”“The three of us being together again like this reminds me of old times. If we all make it home, let’s finish that raft of ours!”“I’m sick of waiting so don’t tell me to stay behind. From now on, wherever one of us goes the other follows. Got it?” And even in KHIII, where people say her feistiness was completely taken away, look at the look she gives Sora when he seems about to deny he ever wanted to share a paopu with her... Or how she says“I told you Sora, you’re safe with me.” (If that had been Nami instead, or something, she would have just blushed or smiled or sweetly said, “You’re safe with me, Sora.” There would have been no“I told yous” going on).And how she gives him that“So you finally figured it out, did you?” look, when he realizes it was her act of true love that saved him. Other examples of Kairi poking fun at Sora: She actually calls him a lazy bum twice in KHII. The second time is after Leon knocked him out. Kairi:“Come on, lazy bum. Wake up.” And yes, I think that was Kairi and not Yuffie. In KHII, she tells Riku:“Come on, Riku. You know Sora’s completely hopeless without us.” And in KHI Sora says,“I can’t believe it. I really flew. Wait‘til I tell Kairi! I wonder if she’ll believe me... probably not.” And in 0.2, Kairi tells Riku,“Who’s this Riku and where’s the old one? You sound like Sora.” And when Riku pretty much admits he is being Sora-esque, Kairi tells him,“Well, we still like you.” Which sounded like more Sora ribbing to me. Like,“Oh no, Riku! You’re acting like Sora! Yikes! But don’t worry, we still like you.” So now that I’ve hopefully established that Noctella and SoKai have some of the same chemistry and flirting techniques, let’s move onto other ways they’re similar: 2. The childhood friends thing, for sure. 3. That they got separated when they were young (fourteen-year-old Sora and Kairi and probably under twelve Noctis and Stella), as via concept art, I’m pretty sure the scene where Noctis and Luna get separated in Kingsglaive (when the Empire occupies Tenebrae) was actually written by Nomura (there’s quite a bit of evidence to this, but I’m only going to get into it if you want me to)... except I feel Stella would have chosento stay behind like Luna did, and this might be a reason she came to resent King Regis, Noctis, and Lucis some (as Stella was supposed to be part antagonist... though I have my series that that was a ruse. And that Lucis was secretly the bad guys the whole time, so in somewhat opposing them Stella was really the heroine all along, but ehh). 3.5 And with that, they seem to be separated a lot (like SoKai) and do the“reaching for each other” thing, too. 4. Both couples have the same power. Sora and Kairi can summon Keyblades, and Noctis and Stella both had the Power of Kings (that’s what it’s called in FFXV, anyway, if that was what it was called back in Versus XIII, I don’t know). And with that, and also with them both having the power to see the Light, I think Nomura meant for the two to parallel each other--or perhaps be Foils--that we’ve even seen a bit with Sora and Kairi, like with how their movements in the secret place to see the paopu drawing are exactly the same. 5. Both pairings, for some reason, have connections to the Final World... that should maybebe Sora and Kairi’s place (and I have my theories about that), since it’s where sea and sky meet. But a dead Stella is there, and a dead Sora is there, eventually at the same time(?) (...and Sora and Kairi met there in the main game). And if you get the bad ending of the Yozora fight, it looks like Yozora reaches the Final World and finds Stella. And if you win the Yozora fight, it looks like Sora enters the Final World and finds Kairi. And Stella told Sora about Yozora... and it’s maybe implied that Kairi told Yozora about Sora? And both Sora and Yozora are in a night version of the Final World... which I especially have no idea how Yozora is there, if Sora got there by abusing the Power of Waking. And both boys also got there, somewhat, in presumably trying to save their girls (that I’ll get into more in a minute). 6. Noctis and Stella at least called each other on cell phones in Versus XIII, apparently. And Sora at least had the potential to call Kairi on the gummiphone in KHIII, but never did (but maybe he didn't because Kairi didn’t get hers until Jiminy gave everyone them at the end of the game, and by then there was no point). But perhaps Sora and Kairi will communicate this way, ala Noctis and Stella, in the future. Which brings me to the more important number seven. 7. In the one concept art, it looks like Stella has the Lovers’ Notebook from XV... which maybe means that that was always Nomura’s idea, and Noctis and Stella would have somewhat communicated through letters to each other like Noctis and Luna ended up doing. And Kairi writes letters to Sora (she’s been doing this since II). And perhaps Sora might write to her in the future. 8. Both girls were presumably killed by their respective game’s antagonist, and the protagonists were distraught by the loss of them (well, this fact is being kept from Yozora, since another’s heart has taken root in him...but Stella says he will be distraught when he finds out. And I believe her. And I also think he knows more about it than she realizes) and go to great lengths to bring them back. Like, I think that’s why Yozora reaches the Final World in the bad ending: he’s trying to find Stella. 9. Reasons I think Kairi and Stella are the same person (other than what I’ve already listed)... From the little we know of Stella, which I admit isn’t a lot, she and Kairi seem to have similar personalities (with them both being teasing, yet kind). Stella is/was arguably a princess like Kairi“is”. Based off the one concept art of Stella, they both clearly like pink and perhaps fashion... They both have ethereal kinds of powers, it looks like... A lot of people have even brought up how the new version of Stella looks a lot like Kairi (and even the past design for Stella had purple eyes like Kairi, as does her new design). Especially the Another Side, Another Story design for Kairi. They both like flowers... And while I do think her name will be star-themed, based on her necklace and her being called the“Nameless Star”, perhaps it represents how the paopu fruit is star-shaped... and the paopu fruit has been connected to Kairi for a long time now, like with how that was the chess piece that represented her on Xehanort’s chessboard. Oh! And they’re both very polite and respectful. And both Kairi and Stella 2.0 have sort of emblem necklaces, but tbh... so do most FF girls. And Kairi can warp-strike like Stella may have been able to. Stella’s magic is now purple like Kairi’s signature color used to be. Part of Kairi’s skirt in KHIII is like Stella’s from Versus XIII. 10. Reasons why I think Sora and Yozora are the same person (other than what I’ve already listed): their names both mean“sky”. And long ago, Nomura said how he named Sora and Yozora (then Noctis) as opposites for a reason (since Yozora is“night sky”). Probably because Yozora has become corrupted, as someone’s possessing him... and maybe he was even corrupted because his light, Stella, is gone. Like it was so easy for Master Xehanort to turn Sora into Rage Form when his light, Kairi, was gone. Yozora can steal your Keyblade... and apparently if you hack that fight, you can get the words“you’re not the true Keyblade bearer”, or something like that, to appear. Which sounds like some Sora and Roxas type sh*t to me. Oh! And Yozora can steal your Keyblade, which says a lot right there! And the fight with Yozora begins on Sora’s heart platform/his heart, before Yozora somehow turns it into Shinjuku/the world of Verum Rex. I also think we were supposed to imagine Rex thinking Sora was Yozora was a red-herring when, in fact, it was anything but. Like, I think Sora looks like Yozora some. Edit: And, yes: Yozora is a prince--maybe? His driver referred to him as a commander--but there’s also a lot of evidence that Sora secretly is or is going to become that. Or a king, rather. Edit 2: And Sora is teased over his crush on Kairi in KH, and according to old Nomura interviews... the chocobros were going to tease Noctis about Stella in Versus XIII. They can both warp, too. And they could both be said“I’ve been having these weird thoughts lately, like is any of this for real or not” moments in their stories. Could Magia and Aegis be like Yozora’s Donald and Goofy? There are even more things I could say... (like, how according to rumors, Ravus was a lot like Riku--and Ravus hated Noctis because he killed his sister Stella... while possessed, no doubt. And perhaps Riku is the Ravus to Stella’s Kairi, as maybe he does see her as more of a sibling now, and we just saw his hatred of Sora when it came to Kairi play out earlier and for different reasons), I won’t because there’s less concrete evidence there... I really think this could easily be a thing, guy. And if nothing else, it’s at least a theory worth looking at, imo. Edit: Though it’s also just possible that Nomura likes to use similar tropes with his couples. Haha.
