[SPOILER] Full Back Cover in English!!!!

[Grono]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

The references to Dark Chirithy (Which seems to be our own) was amazing. But honestly you gotta love Luxu's reaction when the Master says "This is my eye!". But if that Keyblade is needed to tell the future for the book, then that means someone after Xehanort must get it! Perhaps Sora? But Aced, Ava, and Gula must be protected at all costs. I told you all! Aced just wants justice served! But Gula saying he trusts everyone but himself yet trusts Ava is a great thing! But I feel as if the Master is the traitor for sure, it seems he set them all up for some reason. Perhaps a worse fate would have come if the Keyblade War never happened.

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

I love how the master is pretty much like "What the hell man, don't speak to my eye like that?! ... Yeah, it is pretty gross though. Ew!

 

[Lnds500]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfOOrr5G6zc

Use keepvid to download it if you are afraid of losing it.

Also if it get taken down, just search for "kingdom hearts back cover english" and sort by "upload date" on YouTube. You are sure to find it.

 

[qbaysan]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

The references to Dark Chirithy (Which seems to be our own) was amazing. But honestly you gotta love Luxu's reaction when the Master says "This is my eye!". But if that Keyblade is needed to tell the future for the book, then that means someone after Xehanort must get it! Perhaps Sora? But Aced, Ava, and Gula must be protected at all costs. I told you all! Aced just wants justice served! But Gula saying he trusts everyone but himself yet trusts Ava is a great thing! But I feel as if the Master is the traitor for sure, it seems he set them all up for some reason. Perhaps a worse fate would have come if the Keyblade War never happened.

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

Spoiler Show

Agree with this one. Although at first it may sound like Luxu for like maybe opening the box, but then every single apprentice other than Ava didn't do their job too. So there's something off about it.

I also think it's likely MoM, since at this point it's getting pretty obvious what MoM's name is right? Something close to Superbia, right? And what was that thing written on the box? X-Super. There's an X next to it. The Recusant sigil.

Either that, or MoM lied about the traitor to manipulate everyone to turn against each other, and make the world end.

Really, the reason why the world ended in the first place is due to all of the foretellers actions and their strong belief to the MoM's words. Each action and suspicion of a traitor within the ranks, rattled them and sowed seeds of distrust making them turn against each other. Gathering Lux too for themselves was what made the Light expire. They're gathering Lux, Light, and keeping it for themselves for their own agendas, instead of releasing them back to where it's supposed to.

Spoiler Show

Some other thoughts though, I do think Aced was on the right path, to abandon the Master's teachings. But unfortunately, his comrades loved the Master more, all 5 of them were insecure, and Aced just doesn't have the right personality to lead the group into it. They lacked complete independent thinking that Aced has. He was right to think that they all should've join forces to fight the impending threat of Darkness. After all, what cause the war was their division.

After that, Gula did follow on Aced's path, but it took him a while to get it, and eventually pushed to an even worse desperation move, than that of Aced's. Summoning Kingdom Hearts sure sounds like a swell idea. That kinda made my day though, along with how that scene was executed with Ava. If you couldn't hear what they were saying, it would look like a youth romance chuuni drama.

Overall, I like how their script went. It's far more natural and has better voice-acting than BBS, but still lower than the rest of the games, probably because the movie feels like it's not a substitution for the X games. It lacked world exploration, and the scene transitions feels a little bit jarring, but less compared to Days cutscenes movie. It actually doesn't feel like a movie too, as what was advertised, but another cutscenes movie.

 

[Spectre_Dia]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

Spoiler Show

I still find it a bit tad strange that they never made any mentions to the X-Blade at all. Since it was one of the main if not the only purpose to start the Keyblade war. According to that of Yen Sid and Xehanort.

Spoiler Show

I find it sad how the foretellors' friendship with one another had deteriorated over the course of the small film. By the end of it they were all distant to one another and minding their own business. I honestly think at this point that there is no traitor but being manipulated by MoM to ensure that the Keyblade legacy survives.

 

[Sephiroth0812]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

I couldn't resist and made a thing, lol:

Spoiler Show

Have a neat look at Lady Ava and Poutymer, rofl:

Also, that sheepish attitude he was soo just joking:

 

[Muke]

The facial expressions are just great in that shot!

 

[Lonbilly]

Poutymer is officially my fave. But can we talk about how the facial expressions for the stock Keyblade wielders felt kind of... dead and lifeless? And vaguely fishface? (Is this technically a spoiler?)

Also, why are all the Keyblade wielders the exact same body type, and even mostly the same size? The Foretellers all have some nice differences there but with those Keyblade kiddos they're just like, nah, use Stock Character Model 243.

 

[Sephiroth0812]

The facial expressions are just great in that shot!

Indeed, I also totally dig Ava's "I just totally owned you"-grin.

Poutymer is officially my fave. But can we talk about how the facial expressions for the stock Keyblade wielders felt kind of... dead and lifeless? And vaguely fishface? (Is this technically a spoiler?)

Also, why are all the Keyblade wielders the exact same body type, and even mostly the same size? The Foretellers all have some nice differences there but with those Keyblade kiddos they're just like, nah, use Stock Character Model 243.

That was the first nickname that came to my head when I saw this expression, lol.
EphemerPoutymer is pure gold.

I think that with the "stock" normal Keykids is intentional as in the actual x[chi]/Unchained X game the keykids are also almost all the same body type/height.

 

[Muke]

Yeah, also feel like they were trying to recreate X's players. I dig it tbh

 

[Sephiroth0812]

Yeah, also feel like they were trying to recreate X's players. I dig it tbh

You could say there were faithful to the source material in this case, lolz.

Also, I totally cracked up on this despite it being meant to be a tense/grave scene:

Spoiler Show

Lol Wat?
"Scary eyes"...errr Ava, he's wearing a fucking Unicorn mask over the top half of his face so you should not even have been able to see his eyes.
(Except of course if this means to imply that Ira took off his mask behind the scenes to tease the audience).

 

[Muke]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer
buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

lmao, this is what I thought as well^ xDD
Though it might be because his mask has red eyes instead of yellow ones? But even then, she would've noticed a lot sooner, wouldn't she xD

 

[kirabook]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

Spoiler Show

When Ephemer puffed up his cheeks in that pout, I think my heart jumped out of my chest. XD I'm not so suspicious of cinnamon roll anymore. Sad we didn't at least get a glimpse of Skuld. So much was left out of this movie, I was definitely expecting more. I was totally looking forward to the epicness of the war and what happened after.

Spoiler Show

Spoiler Show

Spoiler Show

Spoiler Show

Spoiler Show

Spoiler Show

Gula man. That scene here he's begging Ava to help him, we were all squeeing. So sad Ava turned him down XD We know that later Gula goes on to say that Ava was right and she's always right. He's totes into her. TOTES.

The MoM's behavior kinda surprised me. He was sooooo... goofy. He felt genuine, but fake at the same time.

 

[Sephiroth0812]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer
buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

lmao, this is what I thought as well^ xDD
Though it might be because his mask has red eyes instead of yellow ones? But even then, she would've noticed a lot sooner, wouldn't she xD

That might have been an explanation if the eyes on his mask would have been different at some point, but they stay the same throughout all his appearances.

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

Spoiler Show

When Ephemer puffed up his cheeks in that pout, I think my heart jumped out of my chest. XD I'm not so suspicious of cinnamon roll anymore. Sad we didn't at least get a glimpse of Skuld. So much was left out of this movie, I was definitely expecting more. I was totally looking forward to the epicness of the war and what happened after.

Spoiler Show

Gula man. That scene here he's begging Ava to help him, we were all squeeing. So sad Ava turned him down XD We know that later Gula goes on to say that Ava was right and she's always right. He's totes into her. TOTES.

The MoM's behavior kinda surprised me. He was sooooo... goofy. He felt genuine, but fake at the same time.

Spoiler Show

It's a precious thing for sure, lol. Cinnamon Roll up to eleven. Weeeell, strictly spoken even Ephemer was just a glimpse as we got only that one scene with him.
I agree though that very much was left out of the movie, especially from the last part of Browser-Chi where a) Gula has this defeated fatalist-attitude and b) Ira and Aced are back to be even worse enemies.
At first I thought X Back Cover contradicts actual X[chi] by showing a sort of reconcilation between Ira and Aced since during the actual war later on Aced reacts to Ira with nothing but rage while Ira says something along the lines of "if you just had not destroyed the balance" when Back Cover makes it seem as if Gula was the one who started to upset the balance by starting to frantically collecting Lux, but then I realized that the movie doesn't even touch the last three or so story updates from Browser-Chi.

Spoiler Show

Feeling genuine and fake at the same time, huh? I guess that means Nomura was successful with his intent as to how the MoM should be seen.

I'm always grinning when he's constantly trolling all of his students, despite the still viable suspicions that he may have set this all up from the start and used the five as pawns in some longer game.

In the end, Aced turned out to be much more sympathetic than his portrayal in X[chi] itself while Ira came over as a total stubborn blockhead with mindcuffs on or a tunnel view and Ava, Gula and Invi being unable to think for themselves and always only following "the Master's teachings".
It is actually quite jarring to see how dependent the Foretellers seem on the Master with Aced being the only one to actually display some independent thinking.

 

[Lnds500]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer


So we didn't learn

Spoiler Show

who the traitor was (if he exists at all) and the only really new thing was in "Luxu's case".

 

[Spectre_Dia]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer.

Spoiler Show

The back cover kind of destroyed a bit of Ava's credibility for me. In the original Chi it seemed as though that she thought up the Dandelions herself when she realized how pointless the Keyblade war would be but then it turned out that she was doing it under MoM's orders. This does not however deter any other aspects of her character.

 

[kirabook]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer



That might have been an explanation if the eyes on his mask would have been different at some point, but they stay the same throughout all his appearances.

Spoiler Show

It's a precious thing for sure, lol. Cinnamon Roll up to eleven. Weeeell, strictly spoken even Ephemer was just a glimpse as we got only that one scene with him.
I agree though that very much was left out of the movie, especially from the last part of Browser-Chi where a) Gula has this defeated fatalist-attitude and b) Ira and Aced are back to be even worse enemies.
At first I thought X Back Cover contradicts actual X[chi] by showing a sort of reconcilation between Ira and Aced since during the actual war later on Aced reacts to Ira with nothing but rage while Ira says something along the lines of "if you just had not destroyed the balance" when Back Cover makes it seem as if Gula was the one who started to upset the balance by starting to frantically collecting Lux, but then I realized that the movie doesn't even touch the last three or so story updates from Browser-Chi.

Spoiler Show

Feeling genuine and fake at the same time, huh? I guess that means Nomura was successful with his intent as to how the MoM should be seen.

I'm always grinning when he's constantly trolling all of his students, despite the still viable suspicions that he may have set this all up from the start and used the five as pawns in some longer game.

In the end, Aced turned out to be much more sympathetic than his portrayal in X[chi] itself while Ira came over as a total stubborn blockhead with mindcuffs on or a tunnel view and Ava, Gula and Invi being unable to think for themselves and always only following "the Master's teachings".
It is actually quite jarring to see how dependent the Foretellers seem on the Master with Aced being the only one to actually display some independent thinking.

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

Spoiler Show

Aced's constant "Huh?" "What?" "Uh..." interactions with the Master had me cracking up. I've decided he's a loyal bear, but also a bear with poor social skills. He seemed so sad when Gula decided to break away from him. I felt bad. I was like "Gula, be nice to your 'friends'!"

And then it turns out that it was the Master that made Gula distrust and distance himself from them in the first place... and even gave only him the lost page. It's just... why do that? I did find one conflict maybe? But I don't really remember? Was it not the black coat that told them there was a traitor? This movie makes it seem as though Ira is the one to announce there is a traitor, and Gula knew all along and was just waiting for his moment to seek the traitor out.

The Master simultaneously set up the destruction of the world, but also how it can be saved. Why? Maybe the Master is simply a neutral force, neither good nor evil.

I was finding it strange how all of them followed the Master so willingly. They were like his servants, eating everything he fed them. Even Aced who said they should go against the Master's teachings is technically still following what the Master said. Aced would be the one to take charge if Ira and the others go 'astray' in his eyes. He's doing what the Master told him to.

And the way Ira and the Master were speaking to one another... and how the Master set up this conflict between Ira and Aced... I dunno. Something is off about Ira. Why are his eyes red? Why did he look like he was ready to take down Gula if he found him and Ava felt the need to literally get in his way? Totally different from the image I had of him of being more... humble but smart. He seems to be secretly ruthless behind that mask of his.

And finally we get to see more Invi. She's so nice, she was legitimately trying to get them to get along. Even when Aced accused her and Ira were working together, Invi made sure to distance herself from Ira because she was genuinely trying to quell doubts among them. I don't think things would have fallen apart as they did.... if Gula didn't let slip that Invi was the one asking him to break the alliance. I mean, Invi wasn't wrong, when you consolidate power, you want more and more of it. By the time the end of Chi comes, that's exactly how Aced comes off.

I'm starting to wonder if Gula really 'accidentally' let it slip that it was Invi. He seemed so unapologetic about it. He might have made relations worse on purpose just to make the 'traitor' come out. That must be where his 'following the wrong lead' thoughts stem from. He quickly assumed Aced was the traitor and went out of his way to create situations that would push the idea further, not quite realizing that he himself was forcing Aced into situations that would make anyone look like a traitor.

Invi and Ava's relationship remained close in my opinion. They even apologized for snapping on each other and Ava told Invi all about what happened with Gula and Ira's odd behavior. I think right now, Ava probably trusts Invi the most and vice versa. And Gula trusts Ava the most. Ira and Aced... Aced probably trusts Ira, but Ira doesn't trust Aced imo. Aced and Invi are definitely not friends at this point. Neither is Gula and Aced. And I think while Ava doesn't trust them all, she doesn't want them to fight.

 

[Sephiroth0812]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer


So we didn't learn

Spoiler Show

who the traitor was (if he exists at all) and the only really new thing was in "Luxu's case".

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

Spoiler Show

As far as I've observed, they're all somewhat at some point the traitor at least in the vein of their own group because they all stick to their own devices and do not really communicate with each other.

---

It's actually set up pretty nicely when one looks at it.
Ira makes himself already suspicious at the very start with openly confronting the others over the traitor and basically accusing one of them to be it, starting the whole mess of distrust and suspicion, something that might the others lead to suspect he might have done deliberately shatter their unity, which is ironically the exact opposite Ira was supposed to do according to his mission.
Upon learning that Aced and Gula as well as their unions formed an alliance then Ira immediately suspects Aced to be the traitor because doing this goes against the Masters orders and creates a power imbalance (never mind the fact that Gula explicitly stated that only he personally is allying with Aced and does not want his union to get involved, something which Invi couldn't report to Ira due to it being stated before she entered).
Invi herself too oversteps her assigned role and makes herself suspicious by not only observing, but also reporting everything to Ira, something Aced rightly points out as suspicion-inducing. Not to mention that Invi apparently totally forgets the second part of her task, to be a mediator and keep the group together.
Gula on the other hand has crucial information which he keeps hidden on the Master's orders and advice, yes, but it is still something that makes him look especially suspicious once the fact slips out anyways and Aced feeling betrayed in this vein is somewhat understandable. Worse even, after things already got out of hand Gula realizes and admits that he was foolish to blindly base his actions on the passages of the Lost Page and that it is ambigious at best, but still comes to the wrong conclusion in that he doesn't think about a solution they could bring about by themselves but again fall back into total dependency on the Master, even going so far as wanting to summon KH just to bring him back (which isn't even guaranteed to be possible, as Ava correctly points out).
Ava is a bit harder to grasp because except the Dandelions which do not come up until her late conversation with Invi she doesn't outright hide or do something that might make her suspicious to the others, but once the Dandelion-thing does get out it can lead to the same suspicions Gula gets for having the lost page.

And for some more general food for thought:

Spoiler Show

Look at the symbol on the back of the MoM's chair...haven't we seen that one before?

 

[Spectre_Dia]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

Spoiler Show

As far as I've observed, they're all somewhat at some point the traitor at least in the vein of their own group because they all stick to their own devices and do not really communicate with each other.

---

It's actually set up pretty nicely when one looks at it.
Ira makes himself already suspicious at the very start with openly confronting the others over the traitor and basically accusing one of them to be it, starting the whole mess of distrust and suspicion, something that might the others lead to suspect he might have done deliberately shatter their unity, which is ironically the exact opposite Ira was supposed to do according to his mission.
Upon learning that Aced and Gula as well as their unions formed an alliance then Ira immediately suspects Aced to be the traitor because doing this goes against the Masters orders and creates a power imbalance (never mind the fact that Gula explicitly stated that only he personally is allying with Aced and does not want his union to get involved, something which Invi couldn't report to Ira due to it being stated before she entered).
Invi herself too oversteps her assigned role and makes herself suspicious by not only observing, but also reporting everything to Ira, something Aced rightly points out as suspicion-inducing. Not to mention that Invi apparently totally forgets the second part of her task, to be a mediator and keep the group together.
Gula on the other hand has crucial information which he keeps hidden on the Master's orders and advice, yes, but it is still something that makes him look especially suspicious once the fact slips out anyways and Aced feeling betrayed in this vein is somewhat understandable. Worse even, after things already got out of hand Gula realizes and admits that he was foolish to blindly base his actions on the passages of the Lost Page and that it is ambigious at best, but still comes to the wrong conclusion in that he doesn't think about a solution they could bring about by themselves but again fall back into total dependency on the Master, even going so far as wanting to summon KH just to bring him back (which isn't even guaranteed to be possible, as Ava correctly points out).
Ava is a bit harder to grasp because except the Dandelions which do not come up until her late conversation with Invi she doesn't outright hide or do something that might make her suspicious to the others, but once the Dandelion-thing does get out it can lead to the same suspicions Gula gets for having the lost page.

And for some more general food for thought:

Spoiler Show

Look at the symbol on the back of the MoM's chair...haven't we seen that one before?

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

Spoiler Show

Isn't that one of the forms of Xehanort/Luxu's Keyblade? Does this imply that Luxu never owned his own Keyblade?

 

[Dumblescored]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

Spoiler Show

Guys! If the MoM keyblade put one of his eyes in his keyblade that means the Master of Masters has only one eye left. Combine that with intense trolling and his black coat and it can mean only one thing

BEHOLD the true Master of Masters is:

Spoiler Show

I be joking

 

[Sephiroth0812]

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer buffer

Spoiler Show

Aced's constant "Huh?" "What?" "Uh..." interactions with the Master had me cracking up. I've decided he's a loyal bear, but also a bear with poor social skills. He seemed so sad when Gula decided to break away from him. I felt bad. I was like "Gula, be nice to your 'friends'!"

And then it turns out that it was the Master that made Gula distrust and distance himself from them in the first place... and even gave only him the lost page. It's just... why do that? I did find one conflict maybe? But I don't really remember? Was it not the black coat that told them there was a traitor? This movie makes it seem as though Ira is the one to announce there is a traitor, and Gula knew all along and was just waiting for his moment to seek the traitor out.

The Master simultaneously set up the destruction of the world, but also how it can be saved. Why? Maybe the Master is simply a neutral force, neither good nor evil.

I was finding it strange how all of them followed the Master so willingly. They were like his servants, eating everything he fed them. Even Aced who said they should go against the Master's teachings is technically still following what the Master said. Aced would be the one to take charge if Ira and the others go 'astray' in his eyes. He's doing what the Master told him to.

And the way Ira and the Master were speaking to one another... and how the Master set up this conflict between Ira and Aced... I dunno. Something is off about Ira. Why are his eyes red? Why did he look like he was ready to take down Gula if he found him and Ava felt the need to literally get in his way? Totally different from the image I had of him of being more... humble but smart. He seems to be secretly ruthless behind that mask of his.

And finally we get to see more Invi. She's so nice, she was legitimately trying to get them to get along. Even when Aced accused her and Ira were working together, Invi made sure to distance herself from Ira because she was genuinely trying to quell doubts among them. I don't think things would have fallen apart as they did.... if Gula didn't let slip that Invi was the one asking him to break the alliance. I mean, Invi wasn't wrong, when you consolidate power, you want more and more of it. By the time the end of Chi comes, that's exactly how Aced comes off.

I'm starting to wonder if Gula really 'accidentally' let it slip that it was Invi. He seemed so unapologetic about it. He might have made relations worse on purpose just to make the 'traitor' come out. That must be where his 'following the wrong lead' thoughts stem from. He quickly assumed Aced was the traitor and went out of his way to create situations that would push the idea further, not quite realizing that he himself was forcing Aced into situations that would make anyone look like a traitor.

Invi and Ava's relationship remained close in my opinion. They even apologized for snapping on each other and Ava told Invi all about what happened with Gula and Ira's odd behavior. I think right now, Ava probably trusts Invi the most and vice versa. And Gula trusts Ava the most. Ira and Aced... Aced probably trusts Ira, but Ira doesn't trust Aced imo. Aced and Invi are definitely not friends at this point. Neither is Gula and Aced. And I think while Ava doesn't trust them all, she doesn't want them to fight.

Spoiler Show

That's what I interpret Aced as by now as well, the totally unrepentent and assholish Aced we see in the last few updates of browser-chi (which are not addressed in Back Cover at all) is probably a consequence of him giving up all hope on solving this in a less aggressive and ruthless manner.
Back Cover certainly shows us that he tried to find a less forceful solution first.
Ah yes, I also found that Gula's reasonings for doing it were a little thin as well. Nevertheless, Gula is described as the lone-wolf type who isn't really interested much in overly playing nice and indulging in camaraderie.
It's also telling that at that point Aced is specifically not blaming Gula but Invi as his reactions show, he's more dissappointed and him grabbing Gula by the collar is more out of frustration of what he deems the right way being undone rather than any malice towards the Leopard.
Aced genuinely wanted to work together with Gula both in defending against the Darkness and finding the traitor, since he didn't believe the traitor is actually one of their group of five.
It was not until he learned that Gula not only has the Lost page but also kept it hidden from all of them that he changed stance and considering the circumstances I do think that Aced feeling betrayed is partially justified.

The MoM is really an enigma so far, and I can't yet tell if he's really a malevolent force setting this all up or a neutral/good force playing a bigger long time game that may somehow make the tragedies of the chi-era "neccessary".

The way he sets his pupils up and divides their tasks is highly suspicious though and makes it look like a deliberate setup. Considering how the Master reacts to Gula immediately figuring out his intentions (or what he may want Gula to believe are his intentions) I'm inclined to believe that while Gula is a little withdrawn and likes to keep to himself, he may be the smartest of the five Foretellers and the quickest on the uptake, hence why he got this task out of all. If one is already somewhat shy and likes to keep to him/herself, it is easy to convince such a person to totally withdraw and trust only him/herself when given the proper incentive, which in this case was the grave implication of there being a traitor. It's easy psychology.

However, as Gula himself admits later in the movie (when shit has already hit the fan though) he was a fool to blindly follow the passages of the Lost page, also given that they're according to him ambigiously written in the first place.

I dunno how it was in the original browser-chi, but I faintly recall that it might have been a Chirithy that first mentions a traitor in the game itself.
Ira IS the one to make the fact of a traitor public in the movie and the meeting of the Foretellers is really well done in this regard. Ira deduces that there is a traitor from the fact that he found a Dark Chirithy roaming around, which is undeniable proof that someone succumbed to Darkness and betrayed the light.
As seen the other Foretellers, even Gula, react with shock to the discovery that this is a nightmare.

The Foretellers can summon the Chirithys of all the wielders of their unions (as the Chirithys are also stated to be the link between the wielders and their Foretellers) and as such, as both Invi and Ava correctly point out it is impossible to identify the traitor by summoning their spirits alone as if one of them IS a traitor he/she could just summon an untainted Chirithy from one of their union wielders.
Ava correctly follows that in this case, it cannot be confirmed that the Nightmare has to belong to one of the five Foretellers, as the Nightmare Chirithy could belong to any of the regular wielders in any union.

Ira however counters with the issue of the strength bangle and states his belief (belief, mind you, he has no proof) that it was distributed by the Nightmare and that it is misused against its original design. Just collecting the dark energy and thus purifying things was agreed by all Foretellers to be okay, but using the power collected within it is not, to which Gula adds that it is brilliant move because all spirits look the same and there are countless wielders, it is thus impossible to tell to who this Nightmare belongs to.

On Aced's inquiry on what to do, Ira declares that those strength bangles apparently can't be acquired by just anyone, so he suspects that one of the five is involved.
Note how everything Ira brings forth are just assumptions and conjecture, he doesn't have any reliable proof and Invi calls him out on exactly that.
Aced then understandably chews him out for making such a foolish move and plant first seeds of doubt.
Due to it being his mission Gula certainly knew there would be a traitor beforehand, but even he seemed taken aback that Ira implied it to be one of them, yet started to take that into consideration as well, hence renewing his "trust no one but myself"-mantra.

The Foretellers being so utterly dependent on the Master bothers me a lot as well. They're all so unflexible and basically "helpless" because of it, Aced at least tries to break out of it somewhat and while Ava states her belief that one should act and think for themselves when meeting Ephemer, she herself doesn't act on this realization.
Gula too, he admits that he was foolish just following the Lost page and that it is written so ambigiously that he didn't really made any progress on finding the traitor, yet the solution he comes up with is to "get the Master back to ask him" and worse, plans to do so by summoning Kingdom Hearts, something that isn't even sure to lead to the desired outcome, as Ava rightly points out.

Ira is definitely smart and also serious/composed most of the time, but he also seems to have what I call a tunnel view or "mindcuffs on" and is prone to overthinking things and jumping to conclusions, which shows in how he deals with both Aced during the first half of the movie and with Gula during the latter half.
As for him being "scary" and ruthless, I do believe that in her by now sort of paranoia and fearing for Gula's safety (after all, Aced nearly gutted him and the Leopard was still wounded at the time) Ava misinterpreted Ira's intentions. His "scary" face and such was because he was angry at her for impeding his attempts to make more sense of things.
In the scene beforehand Ira does state to Aced that he would like to believe that Gula is really just carrying out his mission, as it's Aced now who casts doubts on Gula's true intentions, and that he wants to settle the matter himself. He then walks away and states "I need to see that Lost Page".
Thus, Ira wants to get Gula in order to demand seeing the Lost Page, not to actually "end" him.

As for Invi, she certainly genuinely tried but she also only did half of her assigned task as her keeping the group together and being a mediator took a backseat to the observing role and reporting to Ira. Her trying to distance herself from Ira was a nice gesture, but a) she only said her reports would become "less frequent" not that she'll stop completely, b) none of the other Foretellers actually knew about this gesture of her and c) as Aced correctly pointed out she should never have done that in the first place to begin with, the damage and distrust was already there. Not to mention that Invi didn't stop as Ava later on the scene on the bridge confronts her about telling Ira that both she and Gula are in hiding.

Gula letting out that it was Invi bringing him to cancel the alliance was just the drop that made the glass overflow as in Aced's eyes it confirmed what he already had suspected. Note that he isn't really angry or anything at Gula himself, him getting physical there is just frustration, but is seething with rage at Invi for "always getting in the way" as he later openly accuses her.
Of course Invi IS correct of not amassing too much power, but the way she went about it only served to indeed make things worse.

Oh yea, Gula assuming Aced might be the traitor was definitely part of the "false leads" he followed which cost him too much time and his efforts to expose him also made things worse, just like Ira's jumping to conclusions, Aced's forceful decisions and demands to outright defy all the Master's teachings, Ava's indecisiveness and passiveness as well as Invi's decision to expand the extent of one part of her role and neglect the other did as well.

In the end, all five of the Foretellers made decisions and took actions that worsened things until they cumulated into into an unresolvable mess.

As for what their actual relationships are by the end, I'm inclined to follow your assessment although I think how Aced and Ira view Ava is subject to debate.

Spoiler Show

Isn't that one of the forms of Xehanort/Luxu's Keyblade? Does this imply that Luxu never owned his own Keyblade?

Spoiler Show

I was thinking more of the relief on which the Goatblade is hanging during the chess-scene between Eraqus and Xehanort in the KH III trailer.