SKW World Ring Triforce
The Starship Phonix lands in Hyrule, guided by Link's Green Chaos Emerald. Zelda speaks first, awestruck by the floating islands. "You were right, Bentley. A lot has happened since we were last here." "I'm aware, but to solve the puzzle of the location of the World Ring, I'm going to need some more intelligence. Just how bad is the situation?" Sly asks Sora, "Would you like to help me out with the recon? We need someone able to navigate this place, and after seeing how you were able to keep up with me back in Paris…" "Do you even need to ask?" Bentley and Penelope comment, "In that case, we'll look into possible safehouse locations here… wait, how's Sonic doing? He looks a little out of it right now." Tails says, "I'll check. Hopefully it's nothing." "Sorry, it's just that this place is giving me flashbacks to the Starfall Islands incident." "So many theories were thrown around back then, and I tried to tell the rest of Team Sonic that they were probably overthinking things." "And it wasn't the first time." Bentley tells Sly, "OK, I have marked things in your binocucom for you to take photos of for analysis." "…Then let's get going."
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Hyrule gameplay as Sly and Sora platform to Photo Spot 1.
"Up first, what appears to be an updraft near the Great Sky Island." Sora comments, "Well, we have a way up there… for some of us." "It's nice to see you again, Sly, Sora."
"Aaron? Bentley must have called ahead." "He thought you would want a local's perspective after you landed." "As always, he's thought of everything. So, anything to say about those islands?" "Those appeared semi recently after an event we've called "The Upheaval". I may have to build a flying machine if we're going to get a big group that high in the sky." Sly comments, "You can do that?" "You don't know everything about me!" "We can help look for materials if you need them." "If I need it, you'll know." "Onto the next photo?"
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Photo Spot 2, a giant hole in the ground. "Good thing you have a paraglider, Sly. Otherwise you probably wouldn't survive that drop." "There's a giant cave system locals call "The Depths" down there. Not only is it difficult to see where you are going when you are down there, the monsters can take away your strength pretty easily. But I have heard some tales of Treasure down there." "Like… the World Ring?" "Possibly. I haven't heard that name specifically, but I can't rule it out. The depths would make sense as a place your kind would have hid it…" "Two World Rings in caves? I'm not convinced. Great Sky Island?" "Great Sky Island." "Aaron, I guess we're going way up."
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Bentley says, "So, it appears we need a flying machine to get all of us up to the Great Sky Island. Aaron has agreed to help us look for materials, and I think it would be more efficient to split into groups and at least try to work on the different parts of this project simultaneously. This is going to be an engineering challenge, emphasis on "challenge." The local shrines may have what we need, and I have marked them on Link's map."
The player gets to choose groups, which Soul Prince goes where. Groups of 2. You could go with teams based on the Spirit Links that were formed on the night of the meteor shower, or something else. Just like in the New open world Zelda formula, it's your choice.
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Gameplay of the Soul Princes raiding 3 puzzle filled Shrines. Ball rolling, a combat challenge (that Ratchet wipes the floor with), and a prebuilt flying machine challenge meant to help you get ready for the Great Sky Island flight. It's similar to when you're flying a plane in Sly 3.
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Bentley gets down to business at the safehouse as Ratchet puts the last few bits into place
"And that should do it. Enough space for 7 Soul Princes AND their friends without any mechanical issues. The engine isn't perpetual motion, that's impossible, but it's close." Sly comments, "Honestly, I think we went overkill on this design." "At least it shouldn't have to be replaced anytime soon." "Fair enough."
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The Soul Princes and the Nobodies present all get into position near the Flying Machine, as Sora calls for Sly while doing his best airport worker impression. "This is Air Universal. We'd like to request a ride." Sly smiles as they all sit down and Sly heads back to the controls.
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Rayman comments, "The photos didn't do the Great Sky Island justice. Wow. Just wow. Now where to start the search?" "Let's start looking around the temple grounds." Gameplay as the Soul Princes look around. They notice a statue that Heartless and Toads from Rayman's galaxy are gathering around.
"I bet they don't want us near that statue. Ready for action?" "Anytime." Rayman tests out his recently acquired skills with Darkness during this fight, being able to do more with it than his fellow Soul Princes. After clearing out the immediate area, Sora asks, "So who wants to hit the button?" Mario steps up, and when the button is pressed, a beam of light shoots out to the ground nearby. When they get down there, they see a… vault?! Bentley comments, "Fascinating. I wonder who made this place?" Aaron comments, "Last I heard, the theories speculated a group of ottsels, but who really knows?"
Gameplay as the Soul Princes fight and puzzle their way to the main room of the Precursor Vault. In said main room, they find a tombstone. It says, "Here lies Mar, the original king of Haven City." "Aaron comments, "Well. What can I say except, the body better be here, because if it isn't, a fandom that hasn't had much to celebrate in the last decade is going to be super unhappy." Bentley says, "Murray, could you help me open this?" "Sure thing… ah! So. Heavy." And then Aaron gets a look at the body. "This is huge news. Theories have been speculating for years that Mar was involved in a time paradox, that Mar is Jak from the future having traveled back in time. I remember hearing that during one of our historical blindspots, Mar's body was apparently moved away from Haven City… Jak is THE Mar! We need to get a team down here for excavation immediately! Wait. What's that in Mar's hand? A music CD? And is that a World Ring on his finger?" Aaron grabs the World Ring and hands it to his Somebody.
Penelope notices the look on Aaron's face. "Aaron, you're looking serious." "There's something you need to know. Someone else has been running Hyrule while Zelda's been away traveling the universe." Sora comments, "Nobody alert!" Aaron continues, "After meeting her, and the nobleman who adopted her shortly after birth, I named her Jade. She looked like Zelda's sister, honestly. Here's a picture." Jade possesses her original self's physical appearance, except that her hair is more a dirty blonde. Four fronds of her hair are held in place by gold rings with three rings hanging on the front ones. She wears blue triangle earrings. Being the adopted child of a nobleman, she wears a high-collared pink dress under a dull grey cover with fancy stitches on the front along with gold outlining and sage green lace. On her feet are brown noblewomen shoes and she sports long white gloves. Bentley comments, "Fascinating. You should tell me more about the last few weeks so that I can figure out how this happened…" "You think there's a bigger story there?" "Absolutely." "Let's look into it after we get a moment of peace. The race to Soul Kingdom has become the priority. For the record, you're coming with us, Aaron. If we're going to defeat the Villain Alliance, it's going to take everyone…" The camera pans over to what is seemingly a Willful Darkness from Sora's galaxy, watching the conversation. But something about this one isn't quite what Galaxy of Hearts residents are used to…
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Cutscene after finding the first few World Rings:
Back on the Phonix, Sly puts the music CD in Ratchet's music player as Ratchet comments, "Clank, how's our synthesis going on the Chrono Song?" "Quite well. I can at the very least confirm this will be a complete song once we find the remaining World Rings." The music player has recreated a piece of the song with Zelda's Lullaby in it. Sora comments, "And the song is the key to our mission's success. We can't get into Soul Kingdom without it…" Riku comments, "And we will. It's just going to take time." "I hope you're right."
End Chapter