Thanks to Shihali for the inspiration!
A fan theory I read on a forum was that Kain was never mind-controlled. He was working with Golbez the whole time and the mind-control story was a lie. After Golbez recovers from genuine mind control, his interests and your party’s are the same, so Kain stays loyal. I think that one was Jossed in one of the remakes, but I like it anyway.
Shihali finds (and creates) a lot of interesting fan theories about Final Fantasy around the net. And this theory, like a few others posted by them, seems pretty plausible. According to the story, Zemus does control Kain’s mind, through Golbez at times, using his “powers”; he did so during three different times:
- Near the beginning of the game,
- After the Sealed Cavern,
- When the party travels to the moon.
But according to the Final Fantasy Wikia:
Kain is appointed Golbez’s second-in-command, although it is unknown if he does this of his own will or if he is already being manipulated. Kain becomes subjected to Golbez’s mind control and during an attack on Fabul to seize their Crystal, Kain betrays Cecil, knocking him down. Before he can deliver the finishing blow, Rosa enters and Kain hesitates when she calls out to him.
So then, we don’t know if Golbez controls Kain earlier in the game. Some people believe it’s more plausible he broke free of Golbez’s influence. The first time was during the Tower of Zot, when:
Tellah attacks Golbez out of vengeance for his daughter Anna and casts Meteor on him. This weakens Golbez and releases Kain from Golbez’s control. Kain rejoins Cecil’s party and accompanies him to rescue Rosa.
But of course, Zemus (through Golbez) takes control of Kain again after the Sealed Cavern, to retrieve the final crystal. When we regain Kain, we’re not sure how he broke free the second time. All we know is that he breaks free again, this time to take revenge against Zemus.
But according to the theory, Kain was working for Golbez the entire time. Where does Zemus come into the picture? He manipulates Golbez, that’s it (and it would be simpler that way). What makes this theory plausible is that Golbez admits he may have done some things on his own accord.
Kain: Forgive me, Rosa. Not all of what I did was because of Golbez’s spell. I just wanted to keep you…to keep you by my side.
Rosa: Kain…
Kain: …
Cecil: …
…
Yes, Kain was under mind control, but his motivation for following Golbez may have been to secure Rosa. What do you all think?