Xemnas

"All that and more. I'm carrying on what you yourself began, and I'm creating a brand new world, one heart at a time. I thought you'd praise me, but all you ever do is hold me back. I understand, though. Unlike me, you have a heart. And you're powerless to control it. Consumed, by the jealousy you feel toward the student who surpassed you."

- Xemnas to his former mentor known as Ansem the Wise.

Xemnas, the Superior of the In-Between, is the Nobody of Terra-Xehanort and an antagonist of the Kingdom Hearts franchise. He first appeared as a secret boss in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix before making his official debut as the main antagonist of Kingdom Hearts II. Since then, he reappeared in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance in antagonistic roles.

He is voiced by Paul St. Peter in English and Norio Wakamoto in Japanese.

He is Rank I in the original Organization XIII and the commander of the strongest breed of Nobodies, the Sorcerers. He also wields twin Ethereal Blades and the power of nothingness.

Creation

 * See: Master Xehanort and Xehanort

Ansem the Wise started to research the Heartless with an apprentice named Xehanort, who is actually the body of Terra converted into an amnesiac vessel by Master Xehanort. When Ansem decided to stop his research, spurred by the memories of his previous incarnation, Xehanort continued the research with the aid of Braig, Master Xehanort's accomplice, to find a way to manipulate the mind through the heart. While working on this project, using his No Name Keyblade on Braig and the other apprentices they duped into helping them, Xehanort intentionally separated his heart and body: Creating the Heartless that calls himself "Ansem" and the Nobody Xemnas.

Plan
Xemnas, as one of the rare and strong Nobodies that could think and function like a human, made a plan set up by his previous incarnation. With the aid of Xigbar, the Nobody of Master Xehanort's accomplice Braig, Xemnas gathered the special case Nobodies of the residents of Radiant Garden to join him and Xigbar as the first eight members of Organization XIII: Xaldin, Vexen, Lexaeus, Zexion, Saïx and Axel. From there, his forces recruited Demyx, Luxord, Marluxia, and Larxene while he personally recruits Roxas as their final member. A few days after finding Roxas, Xemnas battled Sora at Hollow Bastion and used some of the memories he took to have a replica of him created. That replica, Xion, was made an unofficial member of the Organization as both she and Roxas were used to gather hearts to provide Xemnas with his personal Kingdom Hearts.

However, with only Xigbar knowing the truth, Xemnas's goals is to collect 11 "empty vessels" to hold a piece of Master Xehanort's heart, which would be achieved by connecting them to Kingdom Hearts. But the plan fell apart when all the members deployed to Castle Oblivion were defeated with the defection of Xion, Roxas and Axel half a year later. Regardless, Xemnas continued with the plan as he encouraged Sora to kill as many Heartless as possible before Ansem's interference severely crippled Xemnas's plans. In the end, Xemnas fused with his Kingdom Hearts and battled Sora and company in a fierce battle, but Xemnas ultimately perished.

Dream Drop Distance
Due to Young Xehanort's time-travelling, Xemnas comes back as a member of the True Organization XIII. He taunts Sora with knowledge of his heart and the idea of Nobodies having hearts, ultimately revealing the true goals of the Organization. After fighting and being defeated by Sora, Xemnas leaves Young Xehanort to take Sora in. Back in the real world, Xemnas watches as Master Xehanort revives, but is forced to leave when Lea arrives.

Kingdom Hearts III
Xemnas is slated to return as an antagonist. Here, he seems to be trying to get Sora to embrace the darkness, claiming that it is the only way to bring Roxas back.

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
Xemnas, known as the Unknown in this game, appears as a secret boss in Hollow Bastion. He manifests after Sora arrives in the End of the World in the same room Maleficent was defeated in.

At the start of this battle, Xemnas initially attacks with three attacks: twin spirit bombs, an Ethereal Blade combo, and a damaging shield. However, as his health dwindles, he begins to fire his Ethereal Blades at the party, teleporting along the way, and eventually charging himself with energy and firing rays of nothingness. His most infamous attack involves cursing Sora and draining his health. The only way Sora could break free is to choose Release in a rapid roulette.

First Battle
Before fighting Xemnas as the final boss, he tests Sora in a one on one fight. At the start of the fight, he curses Sora with an aura that drains his health. Sora should go to the top of the Memory's Skyscraper and use Facedown to break free.

When colliding with Xemnas as he falls from the building as Sora is moving up, three Reaction Commands will appear over time, the first of which, "Clash", will cause Sora to pass Xemnas harmlessly. The second one, "Breakthrough", will cause Sora to attack Xemnas with a single attack, while the last one, which appears at the last second, will cause Sora to attack Xemnas several times and slam him into the skyscraper. Xemnas fights by teleporting around Sora, using Guard to repel Sora back and make him temporarily invincible and swings his Ethereal Blades in perfect unison to constantly attack Sora.

After the test Xemnas calls upon the power of the hearts to help him get stronger and he leaves. Afterward, Kingdom Hearts opens the door to Xemnas, marking a point of no return.

Final Battle Phase 1
After Sora opens the door and enters he has to go through a series of challenges before getting to Xemnas. After the trials are over, Sora and party find Xemnas at the top of a robotic dragon sitting on a throne in full body armor. He uses a sword that attacks whoever touches it at least five times then sends them flying. He also uses the Guard ability to keep the party from attacking. After he is defeated, Sora and party find themselves back at the tower that they were at originally, and think they have won. A portal is created to help everyone get back to safety when Xemnas keeps Sora and Riku from getting through.

Final Battle Phase 2
When Sora and Riku find themselves trapped on a little Nobody ship, Xemnas sends his dragon and Nobodies to attack them. After bringing the dragon down, Xemnas takes them to another place in space. While the fight is the same as the previous one he launches Sora to the farthest place in the stage and sends lasers after him. Also, while Sora is fighting Xemnas, Xemnas has the ability to use all of the other Organization member's powers at the same time.

Final Battle Phase 3
Xemnas takes his gloves off in this last fight against Sora and Riku. He has the ability to teleport, to melt into the ground, and to fly. He constantly attacks Sora with lasers and lighting and sets off a huge series of reaction commands that Sora needs to complete to receive little to no damage.

Throughout the fight, Xemnas will make a copy of himself to confuse Sora and will have the second act as a decoy. Late in the fight, Xemnas will capture Sora in an inescapable ray and Riku has to free Sora while fighting off the second Xemnas. On his last health bar, Xemnas will unleash his ultimate attack.

The battlefield will turn dark and Sora and Riku become surrounded by lasers on all sides. Sora and Riku have to deflect the lasers for a few seconds and one mistake in blocking the lasers will result in certain death. After Sora and Riku successfully defend against all the lasers, Xemnas starts to attack Riku, who is saved by Sora. Then, Sora and Riku together attack Xemnas with the unlocking beam of the Keyblade that goes through him. After the strike, Xemnas is paralyzed leaving Riku and Sora with an easy finishing move. Xemnas curses the Keyblade and passes with his hand stretched out toward Sora and Riku and breaks into nothing.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Xemnas is Sora's final boss, but not the game's final boss. Here, he reprises his old attacks, like roundhouse kicks, Ethereal Blade combos, barriers, and Ethereal Blade projectiles. However, he now has the ability to trap Sora in a cage of barriers, and can hurl skyscrapers at him.

Part 1
"You seek answers. You feel nothing. Nothing is real. I can give you purpose."

- Xemnas meeting Roxas.

"That is right—the new you."

- Xemnas after naming Roxas.

"Ah, it seems you are special, too."

- Xemnas confronting Sora at Hollow Bastion.

"That name rings familiar."

- Xemnas responding to Goofy's belief of him being Ansem.

"You remind me of him."

- Xemnas before unleashing a bolt of energy at Sora.

"It means you are not whole. You are incomplete. Allow me—to test your strength."

- Xemnas before battling Sora.

"Impressive. This will be enjoyable."

- Xemnas upon defeat.

"It is beyond your comprehension, for now. Until we meet again."

- Xemnas.

"I am—but a mere shell."

- Xemnas disappearing.

"Good tidings, friends. Today is a momentous day. I am pleased to announce that a new comrade has been chosen to wear the coat. Number XIV.""

- Xemnas while presenting Xion to the Organization.

"Let us all welcome one of the Keyblade's chosen."

- Xemnas during Roxas's flashback of his initiation.

"You have been with us for six days now. The time has come... Sora."

- Xemnas during his meeting with Roxas at the Dark Margin.

"The time has arrived. And at long last, we see before us the great collection of hearts. Hearts full of rage...hate...sadness...and bliss. Shining down upon us is the crystallization of all hearts—Kingdom Hearts. There, in the sky, hangs the promise of a new world. My friends! Let us gain further power, to conquer the human heart, and claim it as our own. Let us remember why we are here and what we hope to achieve. Hearts shall be gathered, and be made our own. Hearts shall never again have power over us."

- Xemnas during his meeting with his Organization, to show them Kingdom Hearts.

"Put your mind at ease. Xion is a valued member of the Organization, but she needs her rest. Sora."

- Xemnas his answer to Roxas's question about Xion.

"He's the connection."

- Xemnas' answer to Roxas's question about Sora.

"He is what makes you and Xion a part of each other's lives. Just as he is the reason I placed Xion among our number. And if you want her to stay that way, I must insist you get your mind off these needless distractions. I will have Xion return to her duties tomorrow. Today, you must focus on yours."

- Xemnas explaining what Sora is to Roxas.

"It is probably for the best. Get me back my Keyblade wielder. Fetch me Roxas."

- Xemnas' reaction to Xion's death.

"No matter what unfolds, our plans remain unchanged. Axel, Roxas, and Xion will play the respective roles that Kingdom Hearts has given them."

- Xemnas.

"Leave it be. How can you not see how perfect this is? In truth, this is more than perfect. Xion is marching right into the arms of destiny, but to destiny's own time. We need not take any more steps. All we must do is watch with caution and patience."

- Xemnas.

"I will admit, Xion has strayed from our original designs. However, we are also seeing an interesting side effect."

- Xemnas.

Part 2
"The Key. Xion was affected by Roxas, just as we had anticipated. This was indeed what we had hoped to achieve... But then, through Roxas, Sora himself began to shape "it" into "her," giving Xion a sense of identity. Our plan seemed like a failure at this point... But then it occurred to me. Xion is keeping Sora's memories trapped by claiming them as her own. Keeping her close to Roxas will ultimately prevent Sora from ever waking."

- Xemnas.

"See that he stays away from Roxas. He is merely an impurity that would make Xion's existence incomplete."

- Xemnas when Saïx asks Xemnas about the impostor.

"Yes, it was not supposed to gain a mind of its own—nor become the person we see. But in the end, it only proves that the puppet is the more worthy vessel."

- Xemnas.

"The time has come. Saïx, are the devices ready?"

- Xemnas.

"Both of them have connections to Sora, but we only need one of them under our thumb. Whether Xion takes from Roxas the rest of what he has to give...or, whether he destroys her first and takes back what is his, there is no change to our plans. No matter how, Sora's power will belong to us."

- Xemnas.

"Xion has disappeared yet again."

- Xemnas.

""It"—not "she"—is a replica, merely a puppet."

- Xemnas when Xaldin asks his superior about Xion's location.

"The purpose was to take a piece of the Keyblade wielder's memory and copy it, thus making his powers our own. This was one of several projects of ours being undertaken at Castle Oblivion. However, our efforts were severely derailed by Vexen's untimely demise. Needless to say, losing Vexen was not part of our plans. We were also caught off guard when this particular replica we called Xion formed an identity of its own."

- Xemnas when Xaldin requests he and his cohorts should know about the Replica Program.

"Whatever the puppet may decide to do, we can be certain it will no longer have an impact on our plans. Still, it knows our secrets. We need to shorten the leash. Perhaps even tighten it."

- Xemnas.

"Axel. The onus is on you to capture and bring back Xion. The escape was on your watch. I will overlook any nicks or scratches. Just ensure she still functions on arrival."

- Xemnas.

"Dismissed."

- Xemnas ending the meeting.

"You have arrived. I've been to see him... He looks a lot like you."

- Xemnas to Roxas after he arrives in the Dark Margin.

"I'm what's left. Or...maybe I'm all there ever was."

- Xemnas to Roxas in the Dark Margin.

"My name is of no importance. What about you? Do you remember your true name?"

- Xemnas's iconic line during his conversation with Roxas.

"The Keyblade...a truly marvelous weapon. Were it only in more...capable hands..."

- Xemnas to Sora during their second meeting.

"What a shame... And here I thought we could be friends."

- Xemnas meeting Sora for the first time in Hollow Bastion.

"Gentlemen. The hero of the Keyblade has embarked on a new adventure. Make sure it is one he will remember. Now go."

- Xemnas giving the remaining members of Organization XIII the orders to test Sora throughout the worlds.

"Good. Not only have you the power to inflict pain, you also have the power to plant seeds of doubt in one's receptive heart. Sora will soon begin to doubt himself. It will cause him to hesitate, and that hesitation will turn to anger. That anger will fuel him to get rid of his apprehension and move forward. He will pave the way for the future we desire."

- Xemnas applauding Saïx's plan to turn Sora to their side.

"About Axel. The poor fool. How long will he keep chasing the illusion of friendship, when he himself lacks emotion? Trying so hard to retrieve what he has lost, when it may never have existed in the first place. He deserves nothing more than our pity."

- Xemnas commenting on Axel's goals.

"It has been far too long, "friend."

- Xemnas talking to Aqua's armor.

"How long has it been since I abandoned that name..."

- Xemnas to King Mickey after he calls him "Xehanort."

Part 3
"I know nothing of any Kairi. As for Riku... Perhaps you should ask your king."

- Xemnas to Sora during the battle of Hollow Bastion.

"If he is to die so easily, he is of no use to us."

- Xemnas responding to Xigbar's question whether letting Sora to get defeated would disrupt the Organization's plan.

"But weakness has the power to awaken that which is dormant. It is clear that through his actions, however foolish they may have been, Axel has touched Sora's heart. Perhaps HE will soon awaken."

- Xemnas voicing the possibility of Roxas's return due to Axel's actions.

"Yes...Kingdom Hearts... Rejoice, and feast on these hearts we offer! Shine your pale light on this empty realm... Share your power with all Nobodies!"

- Xemnas to Kingdom Hearts.

"I was wondering who would dare interfere with my Kingdom Hearts. And look—here you all are. How convenient for me. Ansem the Wise... You look pathetic."

- Xemnas meeting with Ansem and the others in the Castle That Never Was.

"Students do take after their teachers. Only a fool would be your apprentice. After all, none of this would have happened without you. YOU are the source of all Heartless. It was your research that inspired me to go further than you ever dared."

- Xemnas mocking Ansem the Wise, before his device explodes.

"Ohh...my Kingdom Hearts...ruined. Now I'll have to start all over again. Warriors of the Keyblade! Go forth, and bring me more hearts!"

- Xemnas lamenting over Kingdom Hearts.

"Denizens of light, answer this: Why do you hate the darkness?"

- Xemnas trying to deceive Sora, Riku, and Mickey.

"Then allow me another question. You accept darkness, yet choose to live in the light. So why is it that you loathe us who teeter on the edge of nothing? We who were turned away by both light and dark—never given a choice?"

- Xemnas during his speech to Sora, Riku, and Mickey.

"Very good. You don't miss a thing. I can not feel—sorrow... No matter what misery befalls the worlds. No matter what you think, what you feel, or how you exist."

- Xemnas before his first fight.

"Hear me, Kingdom Hearts! It seems we must begin anew. Ah, but know this: I will give to you as many hearts as it takes. Mark my words! You can no more be complete without me than I without you. Heed me, Kingdom Hearts! Lend me your power, so that we may be complete! The power to erase the fools that hinder us."

- Xemnas before fusing himself with Kingdom Hearts.

"Hearts quivering with hatred... Hearts burning with rage... Hearts scarred by envy... That fool Ansem said the heart's true nature was beyond his understanding. But it's not beyond mine! Hearts are the source of all power!"

- Xemnas before fusing himself with Kingdom Hearts.

"So...it seems your hearts have led you to obliteration. Perhaps it doesn't pay to be too loyal to one's heart. I will have to be sure and remember that."

- Xemnas when being followed into the door to darkness.

"I need...more rage... I need more...hearts..."

- Xemnas after being defeated for a second time.

"Heroes from the realm of light... I will not allow it to end this way—not yet. If light and darkness are eternal, then surely we nothings must be the same... Eternal!"

- Xemnas after being defeated for the fourth time.

"No more eternal than that radiance of yours..."

- Xemnas before fighting him for the final time.

"My my, a hollow puppet that's managed to grow a heart. Just imagine that."

- Xemnas observing Pinocchio in Prankster's Paradise.

"Maybe so. However—do not forget that you yourself are not so very different from us."

- Xemnas answering Sora about Nobodies having hearts.

"The memory and heart are tightly linked. Rub a few memories together, and you get a spark of emotion, a feeling. But in a digital world, memory does not work like that. Nothing is ever felt. You can hold a thousand, a million times the information, but there is still no heart with which to parse it."

- Xemnas telling Sora how data cannot possess any emotion.

"Once, my master, Ansem, found an old system and made a copy of its Master Control Program... and used it to serve his own ends. This is the original data of that system. Here, data can be copied. Memory can be changed and easily manipulated. Tron is a digital entity, so why would he be any different? He obeys the rules of this world."

- Xemnas explaining the Grid's connection to Space Paranoids.

"Sora —what about you? Your heart, memories, your data, and your dreams. The bits and bytes that have made up your life so far—can you say for sure they are not just copies of someone else's?"

- Xemnas questioning Sora.

"You had better check. Make certain the box's contents match what's on the label… since you have been chosen."

- Xemnas replying to Sora.

Part 4
"Indeed, a heart is never lost for good. There may have been variances in our dispositions, but a number of us unquestionably showed signs of a burgeoning replacement. Once born, the heart can also be nurtured. Our experiments creating Heartless, were attempts to control the mind and convince it to renounce its sense of self. But understand, one can banish the heart from the body, but the body will try to replace it, the first chance it gets, for as many times as it takes. And so I knew, even after we were divided into Heartless and Nobodies, it was just a temporary separation."

- Xemnas telling Sora the background of their experiments as Heartless and Nobodies.

"However—through weakness of body... weakness of will... or weakness of trust—most of the original members we had chosen for the Organization were inadequate. Thus, naturally, they never had a chance to attain their goal, yet even this was to be expected."

- Xemnas explaining how the individual weaknesses of the original members of Organization XIII made them incompatible as vessels for Xehanort.

"We have learned of the heart's folly, and we have achieved our other goals. This last excursion has proven to be a worthy closing assignment for the Organization."

- Xemnas concluding his words to Sora.

"You!"

- Xemnas upon seeing Lea arriving to save Sora.

"Away with you!"

- Xemnas activating his Limit Break.

"You're an eyesore!"

- Xemnas activating his Final Limit.

"Kneel!"

- Xemnas using the HP-absorbing attack on Sora.

"Guard!"

- Xemnas casting his barrier.

"Come closer."

- Xemnas after climbing the Memory's Skyscraper.

"So, it wasn't a fallacy."

- Xemnas upon defeat.

"Hearts are power."

- Xemnas after expelling Sora and Riku from the cockpit.

"Nothingness... is eternal!"

- Xemnas starting the laser assault.

"Cursed fool!"

- Xemnas attacking with the sword.

"Sora... are you certain you can trust Riku?"

- Xemnas throwing buildings.

"Riku... are you sure you're not jealous of Sora?"

- Xemnas throwing buildings.

"Embrace the Nothingness!"

- Xemnas attacking with light beams.

"Why do you despise the Void?"

- Xemnas repelling Sora with the shield.

"Anger and hate are supreme..."

- Xemnas at the start of the final fight.

"Bind!"

- Xemnas throwing threads of dark energy.

"Pierce!"

- Xemnas firing Ethereal Blades.

Part 5
"Arise!"

- Xemnas placing a circle of Ethereal Blades.

"Fire!"

- Xemnas firing a circle of Ethereal Blades.

"Begone!"

- Xemnas firing bombs of nothingness, or after the Block reaction command.

"Sora!"

- Xemnas attacking with the Ethereal Blades.

"We shall go together!"

- Xemnas launching Sora into the air.

"Why don't you vanish?"

- Xemnas charging a barrage of Ethereal Blades.

"Can you spare... a heart?"

- Xemnas using Invitation to Nothingness.

"There's no such thing as light."

- Xemnas starting the Ethereal Blade dome attack.

"Accursed... Keyblade..."

- Xemnas upon defeat.

"See my heart's power... Feel it... Know it... Accept it!"

- Xemnas.

"Is that all...? Is that the breadth of your hearts?"

- Xemnas.

"I shall devour all... the light and the darkness."

- Xemnas.

"Sora... Riku... there is falsehood within your hearts... Do you dare deny it?"

- Xemnas.

"As your flesh bears the sigil, so your name shall be known as that...of a recusant."

- Xemnas at the start of the fight in KH3D.

"Take that!"

- Xemnas rushing at Sora with his Ethereal Blades.

"There!"

- Xemnas kicking Sora.

"Shield!"

- Xemnas using guard.

"Trap!"

- Xemnas surrounding Sora with barriers.

"Disappear!"

- Xemnas throwing buildings at Sora.

"Disintegrate!"

- Xemnas throwing buildings at Sora.

Part 6
"Despair shall be yours!"

- Xemnas throwing a final building at Sora.

Trivia

 * Xemnas is the only Organization member whose name is not an anagram of his original name with an X. Rather, his name is derived from "Ansem," the name of his mentor.
 * Xemnas is often referred to by the fandom as Mansex, an anagram of his name. In fact, the name is so prevalent that his English voice actor is aware of it and says it at conventions.
 * In addition, his final form is often nicknamed the Zebra outfit, as well as Zebraman.
 * Xemnas's weapons, Ethereal Blades, are often mistaken for lightsabers.