#( tl;dr: yozora is the lich!! )

[verumking]

⚔️ *:･ﾟ✧┆HEADCANON : WATCHMEN OF FATE

       I haven’t written a headcanon in a HOT MINUTE, so here is one I’ve been COOKING UP for a while. Yozora’s ascension as the GOD of death and reincarnation was ORCHESTRATED by spectres known as the WATCHMEN OF FATE. Inspired by the new thematic motifs introduced by Nomura in the FF.7 REMAKE, I’ve decided to incorporate the WATCHMEN in Yozora’s meta. This post explains their ORIGINS, APPEARANCE, and OCCURRENCES in both Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy-- and how they consequently LINK to the Verum Rex meta I’ve written SO FAR. 

       ONE.  ┆ APPEARANCE & ABILITIES

The watchmen often manifest in dark, phantasmic forms: resembling the GRIM REAPERS of mortal folklore. They are hooded creatures, sometimes bearing cadaverous bodies, or being entirely amorphous. They occupy the spiritual realm, only visible to some on the physical realm. Whilst they do not speak, their mere presence sparks an air of foreboding, and serves as an OMEN of oncoming death.  

       TWO.  ┆ ORIGINS & MOTIVES

The feeling of someone “meeting their fate” is due to the actions of the watchmen, who serve as both spectators and “auditors” in the upkeep of the universe. Some maintain the BALANCE of the universe, ensuring that those who are worthy are rewarded, and those who have wronged are punished. Others are “tricksters” by nature, and purposely MANIPULATE the fate of certain beings to alter the wider course of destiny. The watchmen do not side with good nor evil, indiscriminate in their acts upon mankind.  

       THREE.  ┆ WATCHMEN OF FATE : FINAL FANTASY 7 

We get a deeper insight into the role of the WATCHMEN through the various FF7 remake trailers. Interestingly enough, the watchmen do not appear solely around Aerith (whose fate, as we know, is to die by Sephiroth’s blade). However, they are also present in another scene with Tifa and Cloud... Implying that the watchmen are following Cloud instead. 

We can see from THIS GIF that after touching Cloud’s hand, Aerith can see the watchmen-- she looks up in awe immediately after grabbing him. Like Cloud, only certain mortals-- those with a strong hold of their karma-- possess the ability to see the agents of fate in the physical realm. More on this later in the post. 

      FOUR.  ┆ THE LICH : KINGDOM HEARTS 3

Like the spectral beings debuted in the FF7 remake trailer, the LICH at the end of KH3 can be seen as another watchmen of fate. The name ‘lich’ is incredibly specific, and was used intentionally (as opposed to a simple ‘Heartless’). The definition of a lich is as follows:

“ Often such a creature is the result of a transformation, as a powerful magician skilled in necromancy or a KING striving for ETERNAL LIFE using spells or rituals to bind his intellect and soul to his "phylactery" and thereby achieving a form of IMMORTALITY. Liches are depicted as being clearly cadaverous, bodies desiccated or completely skeletal. Liches are often depicted as holding power over hordes of lesser undead creatures, using them as soldiers and servants. Unlike zombies, which are often depicted as mindless, a lich is SAPIENT, retaining independent thought and is as intelligent as it was prior to its TRANSFORMATION. “

As stated by YMX, the Lich exists "to usher hearts down into the depths of darkness" - aka DEATH. It purposely coaxes Sora to delve further into the sleeping worlds, leading him to his DEMISE.  

       FIVE.  ┆ FATE MEETS TRUTH : VERUM REX 

Whilst sharing similar goals, Yozora was not BORN a watchman of fate. He was a victim of the watchmen HIMSELF, once antagonising fate as he RESISTED his ascension to become king of humanity. But later, upon discovering the DISORDER wrought upon the universe, Yozora accepts his CROWN and new role as king of the UNDERWORLD -- and later, the god of death. 

He becomes the LICH we see near the end of KH3: imprisoning the HEARTS of the friends who had indeed PASSED AWAY: only for Sora to abuse the POWER OF WAKING to resurrect them. Yozora takes the form of the LICH when he is sleeping: his SOUL manifests into a NIGHT TERROR which fates the guilty to a permanent sleep. Those with a strong KARMA, like Sora and Cloud, are able to see the WATCHMEN and Yozora in his LICH FORM.  ( EDIT April 23rd: thinking of reworking this to make the Lich an avatar of the larger force of Fate, similar to the Whisper Rubrum / Croceo / Viridi attached to the Whisper Harbinger in FF7R. To edit this post later. )

Yozora now walks alongside the watchmen-- not against them. He is responsible for afflicting CONSEQUENCE upon departed souls: forcing them to serve PUNISHMENT for their transgressions in their recent life, and MOVING their souls onto the next life. The WATCHMEN lead the dead to Yozora, for him to enact DIVINE RETRIBUTION. Indeed, despite succumbing to his own FATE, Yozora still despises the CONCEPT of it. He much rather be in control of HIMSELF and others, than to allow higher powers to determine his FUTURE.