SK Future: Flip Flop Universe
The Universe of Life's Soul Princes are walking through Flip Flop Paris, talking to Simon, better known as Sleuth, this universe's Sly. He has a white jewel in his hands. "You and your new friends are the protectors of your home universe?" "That about sums it up. We're just going around the multiverse, making sure the alternate universe Soul Princes are safe before our final battle. If I remember right, we're headed to the Eiffel Tower. That's where the Keyhole was back home. I could be wrong, it's been a while since we were locking up Keyholes…" Sora responds with, "That brings back memories…" "If you have a white jewel, then that means someone in this universe should have a cyan jewel." "That would be Skylar, he's already gone ahead. Should we go meet up with him?" "I say that's exactly what we're going to do! Anything we should know?" "He's a little slow to trust people, just so you know." "Huh. Sounds like our Riku. If this Skylar is an alternate Riku, that means…" Sora responds with, "He's fallen to darkness!" "Don't worry, we'll get through to him…" "I hope so. Should we get going?"
We transition to gameplay. This open zone map is one big homage to The Black Chateau, AKA Episode 1 of Sly 2, the Dimitri nightclub heist. It's not just a similar map, it's basically the exact same, and this is because it's referencing the moment in EikaPrime's Sly 5 where the Cooper Gang returns to the area of Holland they stayed at in Sly 3 to follow a lead on Penelope. "That wasn't here in the Universe of Life…" The Soul Princes are shocked to see energy barriers all around the area. Bentley comments, "Why do I get the feeling that those were put up by the Sins?" Ratchet responds with, "Sadly, I agree with you. And aren't those bolt cranks? I know how to turn off the shields. I just won't be able to do anything else while I'm working on them…" Sleuth responds with, "I'm a cop. It's in my job description to protect people." We cut to gameplay, with Sleuth playing like Sly 3 Carmelita, and he even has her Mega Jump ability. Eventually, the Soul Princes come up to the base of the Eiffel Tower. The platforming section that follows is similar to the early job in Sly 3 where the balloon meant to destroy Octavio's signs gets stuck and Sly has to dislodge it manually… Sly has a normal Cooper platforming section, and Ratchet gets up with a hoverboot course with you able to choose which one you want to do more. Sora climbs up quickly, maybe a little too quickly, a meta joke about how overpowered Flowmotion was in Dream Drop Distance. At the top is a silver haired Sora, seemingly protecting the Keyhole. Sora gets to talking to him, and it doesn't go well. Out of the darkness comes a familiar face that makes Riku go nuts. "No way… Ansem, Seeker of Darkness?!" "Who?" "Long story short, the first villain I ever fought. Tortured Riku for a while afterwards." "We'll take him down, like we always have!" We head into a boss fight, Ansem fades away, Sora locks the Keyhole for the Flip Flop Universe and begins talking with Sleuth after handing off the Gummiphone. "The final battle is close. We'll call you when it's time." (The ringtone is Written in the Stars by The Girl and the Dreamcatcher, just so you know. In my head, the unofficial Soul Kingdom theme song.) "And Skylar?" "This isn't our battle to fight. We don't want to interfere in this universe's affairs. But, promise us you'll help him when Ansem comes back. Because he will." "…I promise."
SKSKSK
"Why are we at the crossroads of the Keyblade Graveyard, Sora? There's nothing here…" "Nothing that you can see. I just have to focus on one of my connections…" A portal appears at the center, and the Soul Princes walk through and arrive in a city that should look familiar if you've kept up with Kingdom Hearts trailers recently…
"Welcome to the Universe of Unreality. Welcome to the World of Fiction. Welcome… to Quadratum."
End Chapter