Brain, the Box, and KH3's Tear in Time • Kingdom Hearts Theory

[@TheSecretReports]

*UPDATED THOUGHTS / FAQ -* August 5, 2021 *Brain being larger in the Graveyard than in Scala -* The sprite at 0:35 is Brain's legit proportions. The right sprite at 4:48 is NOT real, it's photoshopped to visualize Luxu having the same face as Brain. In _Destinations_ when Brain first walks on screen, his sprite is the same exact sprite as Luxu's, and I suspect this was because the crew was short on time and could not draw/animate Brain's sprite. After Brain's hood is removed, his whole body is smaller with different proportions from Luxu's sprite. *Inconsistencies between **_Destinations_** and BC's Case of Luxu -* Many think these are two different scenes since they're different in English. However, IMO, it's a mistranslation because the original Japanese quote is the same-So I believe both scenes are of Brain in the desert. As for Luxu's VA saying the line in BC, Riku's VAs (both Japanese and English) were hired to voice Young Xehanort's line in BbS's prologue, so I think the same thing is happening here. *CORRECTION @ **6:05** -* Those corridors appear throughout BbS, thanks to all who corrected me! @roxasthatastick on Twitter pointed out that instead, Brain may have worn the coat to protect himself from the beings of Darkness. *The lifeboat in Hollow Bastion -* I decided to leave out when Apprentice Xehanort implied to Kairi that she could possibly cross over into Unreality. So I think that further supports the lifeboats' pods capability of crossing over from Reality to Unreality, and vice versa. @roxasthatastick on Twitter also pointed out that Kairi lost her memories when arriving to Destiny Islands possibly because she didn't have a medium. Which could support the idea that mediums are indeed _lifeboat_ specific, rather than related to time travel. It's also interesting to note that neither Daybreak Town nor Hollow Bastion completely fell to darkness (or else they would be in the Realm of Darkness or the End of the World) nor fell asleep, and both of these worlds have lifeboats. That might mean something more, or just be a coincidence.

[@Symptomatic315]

Having amnesia due to lacking a medium is actually a good theory. Probably the most plausible theory I’ve heard in awhile.

[@hex7329]

Is it possible to pin this comment?

[@TheSecretReports]

@Hex It should have been pinned :/ For some reason, I noticed my pinned comments often become unpinned without anything triggering it... It's annoying 😫 thank you for letting me know it wasn't pinned.

[@phonesjuda7318]

I thought it was expressed in Union Cross that MoM is also following the specifics of medium and memory since that's what's needed to be whole after being a heart that can traverse time as Young Xehanort did, as Sora did. And what MoM used to always be able to travel in time without a problem is the fact that he can travel to wherever point in time that his eyes has seen and has been recorded in the book, the book is his boat. That's what I understood I guess. Also, it didn't end clear to me in this video what timeline are you proposing for Brain. Did he arrive first at the dessert, put the box in the tear and then took his heart out to reach Scala ad caelum? Then what happened to the keyblade? I suppose you could say a keyblade stays with the heart since Apprentice Xehanort could invoke the Master Xehanort keyblade, but I wanted confirmation to your proposed Brain timeline.

[@TheSecretReports]

@@phonesjuda7318 I'm pretty sure the game is trying to clarify that Young Xehanort being able to "Transcend time and space" is a very unique and powerful way to time travel, but even still is a way of time traveling that has limits-- because Young Xehanort still needs a vessel in KH3. In fact, everyone needed vessels in DDD as well, that's why they all faded away at the end with MX saying "We are out of time." because that method of time travel without vessels wasn't permanent. This is also talked about in Vexen's reports in KH3, and Xehanort Xigbar and Saix's meeting in Re:Mind's prologue. This differs from mediums because mediums are objects that RESTORE your body permanently. They are NOT vessels that act as a body for a heart to enter. That's what I tried to briefly mention at 10:47. That is why Young Xehanort's method of time travel (and possibly Sora by extension) is different to the Master of Masters. And my apologies for not being clear. According to this theory: Brain left with the box and No Name to the desert. While there, Brain entered Unreality with the box and No Name. While in Unreality, Brain with No Name used a lifeboat there to not only travel forward in time, but travel back into Reality and into that gothic version of Scala ad Caelum. That's why No Name is seen on the mantle years later, because Brain is implied to be Eraqus's grandfather/ancestor. The box however, did not leave with Brain, but rather remained in Unreality until decades/generations later when the Tear in Time occurred in KH3. So yes, essentially I believe the Keyblade remained with Brain's heart.

[@TheSecretReports]

me hitting the table repeatedly: "BRAIN GAME BRAIN GAME BRAIN GAME"

[@Alexander_Nafait]

PLEASE SQUARE I AM *BEGGING*

[@Voulton_S.]

Literally Kingdom Hearts in one Phrase....

[@docxy7331]

Don't worry he'll come in clutch and save everyone at the last second

[@BIAXOfficial]

Milo pkmn lookin ass omg thats hilarious

[@rangedweevil6150]

High hopes for Missing Link

[@TheItsGab]

How can you be so good at this? Wish there were a thousand more videos like this to watch, your work is just amazing.

[@aidinexmachina4232]

I appreciate that you only upload when you actually have something substantial to talk about. Idk how some people can do a video essay a day on a series that has 1 release every 2 years on a regular basis.

[@theXVNDER]

this is by far one of thee best theory crafted videos i’ve seen, and the editing / visuals are truly next level! splendid job on this 👏🏻 definitely slapped that sub button! 😄

[@blehblu]

This makes so much more sense! Brain is such an interesting character

[@jacobglancy7523]

I think you're onto something in regards to the existence of some Lifeboat equivalent in Unreality. To me, your logic that Brain and the Master possibly shared this method of time travel makes a lot of sense. Blows my mind that no matter how many times I play these games or watch videos like this, I always learn something new

[@HyperboleClips]

I’m shivering.! This theory was well thought out and awesome to watch as always.! I’m curious as to what you will deliberate about next.!

[@matt_playzsora7654]

Your videos never cease to bring me joy.

[@Nyla_emotes]

I am always amazed by your videos. You are so talented in noticing details and explaining them. Regarding the Ark and the time travel, it's a bit difficult to understand what happens if you use it but there is no medium waiting for you in the future... But I think that the MoM explained us about that. When we saw him speaking with "his" Darkness, they mention the 7 crowns that anyone can use and that will help them to rebuild their bodies when using the pods. That is how Lauriam, Elrena and all the others could still travel trhough the Ark. Probably Brian is the only one that kept his memories because he landed where Ephimer knew thanks to the book of prophecies. The others kept their bodies thanks to those "crowns" but lost their memories since nobody was there to remember them. Until I guess they met Luxu, and this is when they started to get back their memories! I would love to hear about what you think regarding this issue!

[@spadesandshades-pc9tx]

Man your just dominating kingdom hearts theories atmosphere 📸📸

[@Kicksticks]

Haven't finished the vid yet but my headcanon as to why there are two brains is that, Luxu did what he did to play his role, he DID take control of Brain but i believe that Brains heart was cast out, and much like Maleficent did he used the remaining pod to travel to the future as a heart landing in Scala where there were people who seemed to know/have memories of him(Book of Prophecies) plus having his hat returned to him(the medium)

[@SplashPeltAGB]

Love the new video

[@lucapeyrefitte6899]

Your editing and videos are amazing, I really hope Brain came back with the box so we could see him in the next phase.

[@olaoladejo2765]

This could also line up with the master revealing that luxu was always going to be the traitor as through his gazing eye and with the role he gave luxu, brain would be luxu to him. Knowing about the tear that would eventually happen, he may have time travelled to that point and gone through the tear to end up in unreality at the end of kh3

[@inxine]

i really like your theories. they are more thought out than most of what ive seen tbh lol.

[@ZeranZeran]

I feel like this is somehow foreshadowing to the "final boss" / "bad guy" of KH4 being a kid playing a video game not realizing the lives he's affecting are "real" or something like that. Maybe that's a bit too far into unreality. You got me thinking though.. what would a Lifeboat be in our reality? A computer that could rewrite the code of the game? A VR Headset? That seems too simple. Your theory is awesome. Great video.

[@Spacecow231]

An interesting video for sure. I always assumed the Luxu possessing Brain but pointing out Luxu had no idea where the box is, was mind opening. Just one small critique in this video is the concept of the lifeboats. They weren't soley meant for time travel. Darkness points out to Maleficent that the lifeboats in the real world were incomplete and moved too fast stripping the heart from the body, which is the first step to time traveling. Aside from that, an amazing video!

[@TheSecretReports]

I realize that lifeboat in Daybreak Town is incomplete, but that doesn't really have anything to do with the theory? that's why I didn't mention it. And there still seems to be a difference between, say, Young Xehanort's time traveling, and the lifeboats time traveling of breaking past the speed of light, the latter of which mediums are only mentioned. And either way in unreality it would be a device meant for time travel, but like I said, I'm calling it a lifeboat either way for convenience, either or not it's a lifeboat like that in Daybreak Town or Hollow Bastion.

[@MNSprime21]

Incredibly wonderful as always! Awesome intriguing theory and beautiful visuals!! GREAT WORK!!!

[@superbullet516]

I just found your channel, amazing quality. Please keep the videos coming!

[@RainKerosene]

I would love that video on lifeboats

[@Zumikaku]

Every time you make a theory video, I’m blown away by how much sense you’ve made of the plot and how well you’ve presented it. I totally buy the theory that Brain somehow put the box in Unreality and relied on Sora’s tear in time to bring it back. The big question now would be… how did he get it there? Was there another part of the book of prophecies that got overwritten without anyone knowing about it?

[@gionmattiacarancini3578]

Love the way you put everything together and give it some sense...the finale really confused me a lot 🤣 Ps. Please, do make a video about the lifeboats. These videos are precious to recollect everything

[@wolfywonder8480]

This is a really interesting theory! I guess my biggest question would be how exactly Brain would know about a future event when he stated himself that he never read the book of prophecies, nor had any inclination to believe that the world would fall to ruin after the Keyblade War. There's also the time travel to consider. As you point out, to time travel one must cast away their body and send their heart into either the past or future. Maleficent did this by absolute accident after her defeat in KH1, hence her being in the data Daybreak Town at all, and needed to reform her body upon arrival back in the present. The lifeboats were a means to the same end; they moved so fast that the body was left behind and the heart soared into the future. The lifeboats also seemed to move about the same speed, considering Ventus, Lauriam and Elrena all ended up in the future around the same time, and Skuld who travelled after them, ended up around that time or a little later. The real anomaly here is Maleficent, however, since she left so early perhaps that's why she alone travelled to a time that coincided with Sora and his friends. What I understood of the scene between Luxu and Brain was that Luxu ended up sending Brain's heart into the future (as it's known that he does know how to remove hearts from bodies, as he has to in order to prep a new body for him to possess) and took his body. The idea that Luxu is the one in the desert is backed up by Backcover, actually, where we see the scene where Luxu removes his hood to reveal Brain's face, but without the face reveal, where we hear Luxu speaking the line, "May my heart be my guiding key," with the same voice he's had the whole time. We can tell it's the same scene because the same words are spoken and it takes place in the same location, with the cloaked figure in the same position holding his two belongings the exact same way. To me, what's stated in Observations 2, if it even is Luxu, could easily be bending of the truth. He bequeathed his keyblade to a union leader, sure, but to be more precise he gave it to Brain's body, which he overtook. Unless Luxu randomly interacted with Ephemer to do the same, or unless Xigbar actually did steal away Subject X (and Subject X was actually Skuld) and had the keyblade to do the ceremony, if nothing else, with, then it could only be Brain. Lauriam and Ventus never interacted with Luxu to our knowledge. Observations 2 could also reference Ava giving Brain the Master's Defender keyblade as well, however, though it doesn't explain the part about semblance-hopping, and that keyblade isn't technically Ava's personal one. Though you bring up the possibility of another way to time travel, you seem to leave out the many other ways we've seen time travel throughout Kingdom Hearts. Maleficent, as she was being defeated, somehow fled her body and flew to the past without any real explanation, and don't get me started on the Xehanorts. How I see it, there seem to be three broad methods for time travel. The Lifeboat method, as seen with the lifeboats moving so fast, the hearts are separated from their bodies and soar into the future. The Ferry method, as seen with the Xehanorts, where one or more people stabilize other time travelers - note, this time travel doesn't seem to be permanent and can be spotty in terms of how long time travelers under this method can stay in the future or past. Finally, the Lone method, as seen with Maleficent's journey to the past, in which a person manages to separate their heart from their body and then gives it the proper momentum to cross time; the means and mostly unknown, but seem to be related to willpower and also possibly darkness. Brain's time travel doesn't align with any of the three previously established forms of time travel in the theory you propose, hence I propose that Luxu spared Brain by sending his heart to the future while he took Brain's leftover body as his first vessel. The next problem is the mediums. You interpret them as personal belongings, and while personal belongings are probably the safe way to go, it seems like anything a person has a certain attachment to or affinity for can serve as the medium. The medium's function is to reconstruct the body, while we aren't sure of why there needs to be someone around who remembers you. My best guess is that while a medium reconstructs the body, the memories can only be preserved if someone is there who remembers you. Otherwise, the body is essentially a blank slate. This is a known phenomenon with time travelers in Kingdom Hearts evidently; the idea that, upon returning to one's original time, they lose the memories of their travels, but the experiences are still engraved on the travelers' hearts. In this case, however, the memories just don't carry over in general, and the time traveler is left in a similar state despite not having returned to their original time. Though we don't know if Elrena had a particular affinity for thunderstorms or not, we do know that Lauriam always had an attachment to flowers, explaining why he woke up in a bed of wild flowers. Ventus waking up in the Keyblade Graveyard also makes sense; it's not hard to imagine that many people he knew likely lost their lives there, and it wouldn't be far-fetched in my opinion to assume that it also worked because it's where the war took place - because the war was of such significance and changed his life forever, despite not fighting in it himself. You could also reason that Xehanort might have brought him there as a medium since he's the player character reincarnated, but that's definitely a stretch. Now, the final question. That being; why was Xigbar searching for the box when he should've known where it was the whole time? My best guess is that he hid it long ago as he went through semblances, so that he wouldn't be recognized and so the box could remain a mystery. However, upon hearing that Maleficent was looking for it, he would then panic and rush into a frenzy to retrieve and safeguard the box so that it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. His hiding of it would've been possibly even centuries ago, hence him forgetting where it was. About Maleficent's line where she states they need to wait for the right time because the box currently didn't exist; well, there's endless theories one could make about that. I took it to mean that she was onto someone else racing to find the box before her and her intending to take it from them as soon as they revealed it's location to her. However, you could also assume that the box was somehow rigged to only be discoverable/recoverable either after Kingdom Hearts (the real one) was opened, or that Sora's accidental time travel meddling with the power of waking somehow exposed it, but again, this could mean any number of things. A theory I like is that Xigbar managed to hide it in some kind of alternate dimension (Quadratum/Unreality?) and had some sort of established portal to retrieve it, and so wanted to prevent anyone from discovering his hidey-hole and where it led, or at least something to that effect. However, those are just my thoughts on the matter. Sorry that this ended up incredibly long, I guess I just had a lot to say

[@Hiperchili7]

Thanks for this kind of videos, they are truly amazing and everyone in kh community should watch them,

[@RFDN0]

Honestly I am still of the opinion that Brain is a data version of Luxu mostly because of earlier moments regarding Brain after the keyblade war. That said this is well crafted and has some strong points.

[@KinodeVGM]

Flawless (and hilarious, at times) editing as usual! I actually never noticed that Eraqus seems to have knowledge of what's gonna happen- specifically the tear. It does seem to imply that there's more to Brain's plan than meets the eye! Makes perfect sense, from what we've seen, that Lauriam, Elrena, Skuld and Ven lose their memories is because of their lack of mediums, but what's the process here? They should lose their bodies from the process regardless! Unless their memories somehow served as their mediums in compensation...? I also wonder how Waypoints factor into this, since Brain tells Lauriam to use his own memories and convictions of Strelitzia as a waypoint to follow. From what we've been told about Waypoints, there's no way this should work, right? Either way, it makes complete sense that Brain time travels to the future the same way the Master does, however that is. I'm also a little confused about this theory haha. So Brain, through his process of hiding the box (and possibly himself) in unreality, would have caused the tear in time from KH3, which would in turn cause the box to pass back into reality through the tear again? I'm not really sure what the take-away from all of this should be, it's a lot to take in haha. I know this part is more speculation than anything, but I'm wondering how or when Brain would even do this! Finally, while I think everything you said about it being Brain in the badlands and not Luxu makes sense, I'm still curious about when that scene actually takes place, and I wonder what you believe! I personally think it'd make way more sense for it to happen sometime in the future /after/ he reaches Scala, if only because he looks way too big in that scene for it to happen before he travels to the future. If it was just for the plot twist of it being Brain under Luxu's coat, I feel like that choice to present it that way would be way too confusing and pointless. It also raises the question of, assuming that it's the same scene from the very end of Back Cover, why we hear Luxu's voice coming from this person. If the implication is that it's Luxu after all, in Brain's body, I don't really buy it either because i just can't see Luxu possessing any of the people he passes his Keyblade onto. As for lifeboats, it's confusing to me that the figure we seen with Strelitzia in the data world is even there, in the Data world. Whether it's Luxu or not, you'd assume that they both left the data world somehow, without the pods (otherwise, what's the point of even showing us that)! This alone is kind of evidence that there must be either another lifeboat somewhere that the Master, Luxu, and this mysterious person can use, or another way to traverse between the real and data Daybreak Town, and possible to the future as well. Either way, very well-presented video! Always super interesting to see what you have to say about these things

[@TheSecretReports]

*1.* _"Unless their memories somehow served as their mediums in compensation...?"_ I definitely think it's weird that both Luxu and the MoM say mediums are for rebuilding bodies and yet those four flat out contradict that (as far as we know). It's just so strange. And I'll be 100% honest, I still don't completely understand what Waypoints are or how they work. Like I'm also confused on how the Book of Prophecies can contain a Waypoint for the MoM... IDK I'll have to rewatch scenes that mention waypoints and see if I can get a better understanding of how they work. *2.* _"So Brain, through his process of hiding the box (and possibly himself) in unreality, would have caused the tear in time from KH3, which would in turn cause the box to pass back into reality through the tear again?"_ Sorry, sorry, I think I was unclear in my script. What I mean to say was that Brain (or Ava, based on the video's description if you haven't read that section yet!) could have learned how to _manifest_ the Tear from their previous entering into Unreality-- not that the Tear was caused _directly from_ that entrance... if that makes sense? *3.* _"if only because he looks way too big in that scene for it to happen before he travels to the future"_ Oh, here's what I told someone else in another comment: One thing I did notice is that Brain in the desert BEFORE he takes off his hood is Luxu's sprite. However, after he removes his hood, his sprite changes to fit his height/body style. I believe this is one of the areas I referred to that the KHUX team was short on time given KHUX was canceled-- I believe they took a shortcut to use Luxu's sprite for hooded Brain. Here are two images to show what I mean: roboloid.github.io/khux/images/assets/character/Luxu_S_1.png roboloid.github.io/khux/images/assets/character/Luxu_R_Luxu-Brain.png The right sprite at 4:49 is FAKE, edited by me, and the real sprite is the one you see in the opening title. I'm so sorry if I was misleading because of my visuals. As for why we hear Luxu's voice, I do want to point out that in Birth by Sleep, Young Xehanort's line in the prologue of "This world... is just too small" was record by Riku's voice actor in both English and Japanese. So I personally think the same thing is happening here. *4.* _"This alone is kind of evidence that there must be either another lifeboat somewhere that the Master, Luxu, and this mysterious person can use"_ Oh INTERESTING, I hadn't even thought about how that other figure and Strelitzia could also possibly use that other lifeboat. It makes me wonder if this other lifeboat has the same about of pods/limited uses, and that if we'll be able to count up to seven people who can use it just like the one in Daybreak Town. The MoM, Brain, the Figure, ... and MAYBE the Foretellers ?? I'm still not quite sure if they Time Traveled though cause if they have mediums (since they remember), I would have assumed their masks would be mediums, but they're _wearing_ their masks. So I still personally think they were asleep instead. But whatever, my point is I wonder if we'll eventually come across a select number of people who used that other lifeboat LOL

[@KinodeVGM]

@@TheSecretReports That's really funny that they adjusted Brain's height in the unhooded sprite, and I definitely never noticed that, because if we compare /that/ one to Brain's normal sprite, he still looks quite a bit taller than usual: pbs.twimg.com/media/E21qODFWUAQVOTD?format=png&name=900x900 If anything, this could still be that they used Luxu's sprite as a base and just got Brain's height wrong, but it almost feels more intentional now. I know height and voice inconsistencies with the black coat characters have happened before (Mysterious Figure using Saix's model comes to mind) but still, WEIRD! If they were gonna do this from the start, I really wish they just made Brain a bit taller than everyone else so this visual twist worked better haha

[@FlippySuper]

Your editing is always superb

[@MissileWaster]

So rather than hiding the box outside of our reality, and it being brought through by Sora’s time shenanigans, I think it could also be possible based on what Maleficent said to Pete that Brain could have just hidden the box in that new timeline in the first place somehow? So because we were still in the timeline where darkness prevailed, the box was completely inaccessible, but once Sora went back and saved everyone, we were in the new timeline with the box?

[@TheSecretReports]

What's interesting is that the Tear in Time's official glossary in ReMind ( 2:04 ) is said to be in one single timeline, rather than two different ones. So based on what you're saying, I think it would be more like the box itself just time traveled ? but I don't even know if objects themselves can time travel without being attached to a person or their heart, since it's really only _people_ we've seen time travel so far... does that make sense? Still though, you could be right and that the Box is the first object we know of to time travel, it'll be interesting to find out why that is!

[@soul8648]

so you think the man in the desert in UX could be Brain with the black coat close to Ven the dark figure? so we know Luxu's role so far. At the end of UX, he could have told Brain where is Ven after getting no name and the black coat. Going by what Luxu told him about his role, Brain walked to Ven found him and brought Ven and the keyblade to the next wielder of the gazing eye. Regardless of him not knowing who that is, Brain job is only to pass down that keyblade to MX (for safety. As far as Brain knows) with Ven and keep guarding the box until the time is right aka KH3 remind

[@amandakucsera]

lmao i just finished steins;gate so this singularity stuff actually makes sense to me... at the same time he kept trying to save his friend just to have other friend die. because only one of them could exist, after a certain day.

[@Scottyyy77]

This video is so cool. All of the edits 👁👄👁

[@mikeysansone8724]

I have a feeling unreality could be the original timeline when darkness consumed the light. Kingdom hearts shrouded the world ( all the worlds) woth darkness, and then quadratum was born. Got it memorized?

[@spinacc466]

So when I saw the part about the person that was with data Strelitzia, it just occured to me, what if the person in the black coat was Ava? It doesn’t make sense for them to be Luxu like you’ve pointed out it in the video because Luxu was unsure about what happened to Strelitzia, and there has to be a reason why Luxu was unable to summon Ava. Could it be that she somehow survived unlike the other four foretellers and entered the datascape to help Strelitzia or whatever she has in mind? She would have had to meet Luxu sometime before Union X’s end too, since Luxu is aware that Ava is working on her own accord. Maybe it could even be that Ava was the one who brought the true dandelion to him, and Luxu unknowingly sent away the data (?) copy of Strelitzia, a union leader. Either way this was a great video! It makes some great points

[@sodamustdie4372]

I always love watching your theories This video is like a movie

[@mageoflife2855]

THE SPOILER OPENINGS??? GENUINELY SO GOOD?? King Shit here on display, how do you get the production quality so high.

[@1polyron1]

I look forward to the lifeboat explanation video. Are you a motion artist? Great visuals.

[@TheSecretReports]

Thank you! And no, not technically, I'm only just now experimenting with animation in After Effects. I would love to try my hand in motion graphics some day though!

[@1polyron1]

@@TheSecretReports I'll have to stick around then. The watchability of this was some of the best of the KH fan community. You really elevated the status of the content that has been made. Well written and well thought out. Well done!

[@Sergio-kx3pq]

I like your theory of Brain but I think that there is two errors. 1. If Luxu gives Noname , he will not be able to change his heart to another body. Unless he can create key blades as Yen Sid or Riku. 2. After Brain travels to Unreality and hides the black box, he returns to the real world (final union x). Brain must give Noname to someone in scala ad caelum, making impossible to come back to Unreality. And so, he wouldn’t bring back the black box. As more I think about your theory, I like more. Because this means that Brain is saving the world in a 4 Dimensional ways in time. Brain and Luxu team up to save all union leaders.

[@TheSecretReports]

1. That is not correct, because the report I show in the video at 4:30 states specifically that Luxu will cast off his body, and sojourning his heart in vessel after vessel all while being completely keybladeless. So the report itself states that Luxu knows of a way to this without a keyblade. 2. I don't understand what you're saying because I never said Brain would return/come back to Unreality. And I implied the Back Box would return via the Tear in Time _without_ Brain, since Brain already returned to reality years before hand, before Eraqus was even born. Plus, we don't know if one can only enter Unreality by using a Keyblade, since Sora got there without using his own.

[@masterluxu1]

Cool 😎 To be honest I do also believe there is an ark like object in unreality. And I believe them to be the sands of time. From the sora v young xehanort fight in DDD. Those strange colored diamonds. Just a thought.

[@TheSecretReports]

Oh I would LOOOVE if those hourglasses were the explanation!! Let's hope you're right!

[@masterluxu1]

I hope so too 😊

[@masterluxu1]

So I went back and looked at that fight. The floor is a moving face of machinery, an almost match to the face of the old tower in daybreak town. It might be possible, that’s exactly where brain went. And why we never heard from him in soras reality. 🤔 you might be right. Excellent work ma’am.

[@enriquemiranda7876]

Would explain why she couldn't remember anything about her old world she came from even tho she was just a little girl she traveled the same way if it was a replica of the life boat.. unless subject X is hinding inside her and that's why she went to where Ven was inside sora's heart. Skull and Ven had a little moment when they talked about the snow falling. I still say Namine is Ava or skulls nobody. Just like why they say roxas is Sora's nobody even tho he looks like Ven. But every other nobody we know looks like the original version of when that person lost there heart. Your thoughts on it?

[@alandkleijnjans2914]

I think that Brain bequeath the No Name keyblade to Young Xehanort, becomes his Master and that Ephemer is Eraqus Grandfather and bequeath the Master Defenders Keyblade to him

[@TheSecretReports]

That doesn't work out though because Luxu says specifically in his report that he gave No Name to one of the five Union Leaders. Luxu also implies *centuries* have passed since the time of UX and when Eraqus is born, which is way to long for Ephemer to be Eraqus's grandfather without time traveling, which I said he couldn't have done since his pod didn't disappear like the others' did.

[@alandkleijnjans2914]

@@TheSecretReports Brain was one of the Union leaders and the Master of Masters said to Luxu (that he need to pass down that keyblade to his apprentice and then him to his, so that my eye can see the future) in Back Cover that was his role and it's kingdom hearts where time goes different than in real live and we don't know for sure if Ephemer was already dead when Eraqus was was born and when Brain arrived in Scala ad Caelum and besides who would Ephemer bequeath the Master Defenders to if Brian was going to get it afterwards than then Eraqus

[@TheSecretReports]

@@alandkleijnjans2914 Oh I apologize, I absolutely misread what you said! I thought you said Luxu gave No Name to Xehanort, not Brain. So sorry sorry! Anyway, Young Xehanort talks about in Re:Coded's secret ending that more and more Keyblades were passed down, so I think it's very likely that the Master Defender could have been passed down through generations, rather than directly to Eraqus. Plus, don't you think with Eraqus and Brain looking almost exactly alike (they're eyebrows are slightly different), that they would be the related to, not Ephemer?

[@alandkleijnjans2914]

@@TheSecretReports yes they look very much alike but I can see that Brian has spiky down straight hair and Eraqus hair is a little bit wavy long loose down hair and Ephemer got a little bit wavy hair up and down

[@alandkleijnjans2914]

@@TheSecretReports they have to choose between 2 choices for Dark Road to Brian and Ephemer 1 make Brain bequeath the No Name Keyblade to Xehanort and becomes the Master of him while he did possess Master Odin and maybe afterwards let go of Master Odin and goes to Redain Garden and be prosesed by Luxu who call himself Braig and later Xigbar and Ephemer becomes Eraqus Grandfather and bequeath the Master Defenders Keyblade to him or one of his parents who then give it to Eraqus or 2 give the No Name Keyblade to Ephemer and Brain gets back the Master Defenders Keyblade so that he can still can become the Grandfather of Eraqus and bequeath the Master Defenders Keyblade to him or one of Eraqus parents who then gives it to Eraqus and Ephemer Bequeath the No Name Keyblade to Xehanort and then becomes the Master of Xehanort instead of Brain

[@dbird1031]

I’m just so confused when those brain scenes take place and why does Xigbar look like an older Brain

[@k4tbl4ck98]

Oh Mel yOur'E sO wonDerFuL yoUr EdiTinG iS AmAzinG yOu lOoK liKe LinDa EvaNgeLisTa! 😂😂😂 Literally couldn't give you more praise- fucking awesome work- there's no way anyone is gonna ever listen to DRT now cause this shit is so visually appealing. Every little touch shows your passion for what you do and you deserve every positive message :) well done

[@temetyly]

This video was amazing 😱on all fronts 😱

[@MBCWCWMTC]

So there was a moment weeks ago when I was rewatching backcover where. luxu standing with the box at the end of the union x war. I started thinking that he sent the box in with kingdom hearts while it was open. And then In KH3 when Kingdom hearts is opened again. the box came out on the other side. but this thinking has changed because brain clearly takes the box with him to places unknown from luxu. besides that. in union cross finally, they all realize data versions of themselves should exist there along side them in the data world. but arent sure where they could be. I believe luxu is the reason for that. and he took all of the dandelions data versions to the future with himself. so they can be reconstructed at a time that connivant for the masters plans. I believe data versions will become very relevant in the series. especially because of the existence of data sora and riku. I believe after theyre adventures in unreality. they will need some kind of vessel to enter theyre world line again. the bigger factors at play right now for my mind to speculate over is. how much more of the future did emepher and brain see before theyre passing. and did they have a plan of theyre own in the works behind the scenes. along with them, Ava for sure can be behind the scenes working on her own plan. In the finally of union cross nomura made me happy that one pod. the one the player wouldve used was left unused. and thanks to present day luxu we know she survived the war. and if thats the case she most assuredly stayed near the dandelions to protect them from afar and also in her own way make up a plan to stop luxu who she thinks has betrayed all of them. which the master confirms is correct. he is or has already betrayed them all. now the master. I believe all the requirement's where met when all the foretellers where revived in the keyblade graveyard. but the master did not reform. and instead shows up in the secret movie with sora and riku. I believe this happened because the masters heart. traveled to that time the present. and once his heart arrived there instead of reforming he jumped into soras heart to ride along into unrealaitiy. which explains his presence in the secret movie. and because of that fact I dont believe the master told yozora anything I think his backstory all has to do with his world and there could be a way to change it if hes successful in his task of saving sora. now because sora and yozora met. and theyre hearts touched represented by soras dive to heart appearing in the secret episode before his heart was used to recomplete quadrtum. that may have been a very important step to saving yozoras world and saving it from oblivion.

[@petroscardoso]

Nobody seems to put on count the Arc that appears at the end pf KH 1. I mean, Nomura choose the design to be the same for a reason... That's the arc that Terranorth puts Kairi?

[@TheSecretReports]

I was going to mention that Apprentice Xehanort does indeed mention the idea that Kairi could cross over into unreality using the lifeboat, which I was going to use for evidence that the lifeboats can indeed cross over from Reality to Unreality and vice verse, but I decided to leave it out. Someone else also mentioned that Kairi lost her memories, so if that correlates to the "no medium, no memories" theory at 11:24 , it may support the idea that things like "mediums" are not related to time-travel in general, but rather specifically for use of the lifeboat (time travel or not), which I mention at 10:55

[@petroscardoso]

@@TheSecretReports YEAH! That is awesome, because it's a plot hole never filled, the lost memories of Kairi... The risk involving Unreality mentioned by Terranort maybe indicates that he was experimenting on Kairi... Maybe he really wanted to send her to Quadratum

[@Rayjii]

THE EDITING IS SO GOOD DAMNNNNNNNNNN

[@LelanWellz]

RIGHT! BUTTERY 🧈 SMOOTH

[@SonnyNovus]

... It's honestly devastating how good you are at this. I'm in this void of feeling both extremely motivated and absolutely crushed. Thank you.

[@TheSecretReports]

I absolutely relate though and I have this to say: CULTIVATE THE FEELING!!! I have to be determined otherwise my ugly envy of other people's skills like... consumes me...

[@lemonmart7793]

Oh thank god so it’s not just me XD, holding onto this advice!

[@cypheruniversity3074]

Two words .... Mandelbrot set

[@jeanvalero1597]

This video is fantastic! So is your work tho!

[@morgenstern4.669]

@@cypheruniversity3074 two words, Feigenbaum Constant

[@jacksoningram4314]

Literally jaw-dropping visuals and theory-crafting. You've really set the standard of excellence for KH vids.

[@TUCell-ps5mi]

Ikr ever since the Ava Darkness theory things just kept getting better and better.

[@ryanstarkweather3625]

You've presented a reason to hold high expectations. I now feel obligated to come back after the video to tell you if I agree with your assessment.

[@ryanstarkweather3625]

Smart conclusion is that yes she does a very good job with her editing in her presentation yada yada yada, however I would not say that it's any better or worse than somebody else doing it, so much as that it's just her style to do this the way that she did. And it works. So tldr yeah it's a great video but I wouldn't say it's like the best ever.

[@jacksoningram4314]

@@ryanstarkweather3625 thank you for this review of my review lol

[@LazerzZ]

Okay so, theory aside, the quality of this video is inspiring. Too many people just throw on a camera and talk, not that there's anything wrong with doing that, heck I do it too. But this quality is a level I deeply aspire to. Great video, great points, bloody marvellous

[@ZeranZeran]

The graphic design, audio, is all gorgeous. You're right.

[@Matthew.Niverse]

THE EDITING IS ON POINT

[@TopPigg]

love these theory crafting videos. the initial shock of "player is Xehanort" would leave many to believe Xigbar, Brain, and Luxu are all the same person. But its only hinted, not directly stated, so all these alternate theories hold just as much water

[@jjankrom4398]

Well, good thing player isnt Xehanort. Player will be the player in Missing Link.

[@tenshi7751]

Those are the prettiest spoiler warnings I've ever seen

[@asteroid11]

This channel needs more subs, this is some high quality KH theory crafting

[@Aeba]

GOD! i love love LOVE the spoiler warnings, and the victory music getting all distorted is *chief's kiss*

[@TheSecretReports]

AEBA I almost cut that part out but I added the shitty trumpet (from Tarzan's Trashing the Camp) and it made me giggle so much I was like "I'll keep it, I'll keep it"

[@Aeba]

@@TheSecretReports I'm so glad u did! 🤣🤣🤣

[@unicornburger16]

The music distorting was awesome! 😂

[@voidjockey82]

A much simpler though also rougher explanation: Luxu _did_ possess Brain, donning his own cloak and Key Blade plus the box. Since we know that people in the old, unified Realm of Light disappeared after their heart left their body (for reference, see poor Strelitzia and the fallen of Keyblade War 1), it would also answer the question of why Ephemer doesn't see a body lying about. Now, the important part is that Luxu putting his heart in Brain is like Aqua putting Ventus' heart in Sora, not like what Xehanort did to Terra. That way, Brain can use a corridor since he would be wearing Luxu's coat. Then, Luxu finds another suitable vessel and puts his heart into it, leaving Brain in his own body. Luxu could then send Brain into the future by other means, now having access to his hat as a medium which he could have given Ephemer (or his successor). The obvious hole here is that why didn't Luxu know where the box was. A weak explanation, admittedly, but much how Sora had to fight Roxas' heart inside himself to see who would get to control their body, I think Luxu might have deliberately taken a back seat for Brain to do whatever he wanted (the offer of more life-time) and when convenient emerged. Just a crack idea.

[@MasterSwordOblivion]

Been waiting for your next theory ever since that ending was released.

[@awesomeinmyworld]

Always love your videos, they're just so well done! It also so fascinating how much theorizing can be done about The MoM and Unreality from so little, I also believe there's an Ark/Lifeboat in Unreality, but hadn't thought about the MoM using for Time Travel as opposed to crossing realities.

[@elliotvirtue3909]

This video got me thinking, maybe the mediums to revive all of the union leaders were inside the box, hence why luxu is able to bring all of them back at the end of kh3?

[@TheSecretReports]

If that's the case, it'll be interesting to see what their mediums are! I would have assumed their mediums would be their masks or something, but they're already wearing them when they arrive so... idk it'll be interesting to see!

[@Mike_Dubo]

Possible, but what narrative purpose would Nomura have to keep hiding that fact, especially after their return?

[@laith9989]

My problem with that is that the box is still closed on remind. It’s as if it’s still intended to be opened to reveal something

[@Ryuumaster1]

@@TheSecretReports I feel like the answer for whats in the box is simple. Its the book of prophecies which acted as the medium to revive the foretellers. The reason Ava didnt get revived is because she fulfilled her role by raising the dandelions and passed down her copy of the book to Brain.

[@TheSecretReports]

Ryuumaster1 That just doesnt make sense to me though. Why would the box be so big and heavy if it just contained the book? Why would that, in a writing sense, be hidden from the audience if its so anti-climactic?

[@nanoen_]

A new Secret Reports video?! Time to bask in the glory of amazing editing and Kingdom Hearts shenanigans

[@ChimiChi1989]

Finally someone agrees that it’s brain with the box.

[@BishopTDE]

I always assumed that Luxu was just the M.O.M. as a youth. In what I refer as a perfect Loop you can time travel and meet your youngerself and retain memories on both parties as long as the younger isn't aware of the Older. IK that traveling back in time in not possible but the Disney world reset all the time and I assume the disney characters meet kid sora one minute then teen sora the next. So my theory is that you could reset a Hub world too. So Daybreak town could be reset and M.O.M sets off events to make sure he ends up where he is currently. Something I am sure he got from Xehornort in a more circular way since maybe Mr. Wiggly fingers learns it from a the M.O.M. in the first place.

[@KraZKris2000]

So if what you’re saying is true, could it be possible that Brain joined Luxu’s heart with him (knowing Luxu’s role and MoM’s plan), and used his data self to go to Scala? Because if Player’s pod wasn’t used, and Daybreak collapsed before the pod could be sent back to Daybreak, perhaps he created coordinates for the pod to arrive somewhere else. In fact, perhaps it was Data Brain, that was walking data Strelitzia to the pod to send to the real world before sending himself to Scala. Note Brain said “I left with some of my friends,” implying the last thing he remembered was leaving with Lauriam and co. And it could even be, that the vessel or person Luxu sent was his own body, meaning by time he met with Brain he was a walking heart, protected from darkness.

[@CaptainStraya]

Hey, I really like your videos. Kind of unrelated but do you think there is any more to namine that meets the eye? She is so unique compared to all other nobodies, even including roxas. She looks different from Kairi as well, much like how roxas looks different from sora. Could that all be explained by the fact that Kairi is a princess of light?

[@brannycedeno6823]

It hurts to me that you try to make more sense out of the story than Nomura himself. Good video.

[@TheSecretReports]

I know you're trying to be nice, thank you. But people who make fun of Nomura don't realize the only reason I'm able to make the theories that I do is BECAUSE Nomura is good at keeping track of plot threads like Eraqus and Xigbar, for example. So saying what you said kinda hurts Nomura in the sense of saying he's not aware of his own story-- when he is-- and it makes *me* feel like I'm making things up out of nothing-- which I'm not.

[@johnsantos507]

Man, Kingdom Hearts games are full of mystery.🤔 What's Xigbar's true evil plan anyway now that he's with the 4 Fortellers and the Black Box? And speaking of that, I wonder where Ava is?

[@castle3267]

Your editing is amazing! I usually just listen to theories and open another tab to do stuff, but I watch these because they’re so appealing to look at!

[@adammorin2955]

This theory makes me wonder if brain is MoM or MoM is brain from another worldline

[@melissamaga]

so, is it really not a possibility at all that luxu just took out skuld outta her pod and shoved brain in? sure brain wouldn't let it but luxu seems to be the adamant type and sure it was already getting destroyed but that would explain why ephemeras boat is the only one at the end of the world (which bugs me to a infinite level so i have to make crazy reaches 🤪)

[@TheSecretReports]

Skuld is so heavily implied to be Subject X, I highly doubt she did not time travel with that pod. The reason I personally suspect they did not show Skuld in Radiant Garden the same way they showed Lauriam and Elrena is because they would have had to drawn Radiant Garden from the ground up, and I think the early cancellation of KHUX kept them from being able to do that. Looking at even the Mysterious Tower when it showed Maleficent’s crow with her coat, the tower seems much more rushed than say, the detail of Scala ad Caelum.

[@damo]

I'm so glad I can finally watch this!!! Utterly indescribable visuals and editing as always, simply first class and raising the bar for every KH content creator on the platform. As for the content, I enjoy several of the ideas and would love to discuss them with you, I don't think a simple comment would do them justice! Amazing work as always Mel!

[@jimmywhetzel]

i dont know what the fuck youre sayin but i am living

[@TheSecretReports]

is my audio leveling better

[@jimmywhetzel]

@@TheSecretReports yes babe

[@Delicashilous]

That is like Image luxus true design.

[@saver_spenta_mainyu]

You know, while KH 3 might not have been as fantastic as we all dreamed of, one thing I'm glad of it bringing is all this speculation and theories. It really is reminiscent of those times when everyone was analyzing the KH 2 secret ending and Final Mix's secret scenes. And yes, good work with all the editing especially the little Namine-esque drawing at the end. And the Unreality time travel would explain multiple things for Brain.

[@KingdomAce]

I've been watching for 17 seconds and this editing is already better than all 800 videos on my channel. You're a freakin' sorcerer and I'm here for every moment of it.

[@TheSecretReports]

Thank you Jordan!! 🥺💕

[@vinal4538]

If ven and the others already have a medium what about the people who remember them.

[@TheSecretReports]

In my video I theorize that Ven and the others do *not* have mediums, not that they do. As for the people who remember them, it depends on the order in time they all arrive at. Maleficent could remember Lauriam, and if Lauriam arrives lesser in the future than the rest of them, he would be the one to remember the others.

[@soul8648]

after this theory you got me thinking: " it seems that but not likely. Is what it's in the box is the master himself. Seeing how the box was never opened when he was on the screen. On top of that, you see Luxu having it. But when he didn't had it in KH3, you don't SEE the master. Rather the only time we SEE the master in 75 years ago. And ONLY when we SEE the master, is AFTER the part of Luxu and the others"

[@aidinexmachina4232]

The Foretellers (probably Aced): "We spent so much time, so much energy on trying to figure out how to stop Darkness from prevailing. How did this boy change the future?" MoM: "Main Character" *Confused Pikachu*

[@sojannedos]

Amazing Theory! Makes one think! I subscribed.

[@KewlImp]

I'm well on the side of time travel being stupid and unneeded. That said. I think Xigbar knew where the box was the entire time and Maleficent is guessing it doesn't exist in the universe yet. She doesn't know exactly, but since she can't find it at all, she makes an assumption. Xigbar/Luxu faked his death, retrieved it, and has it with him. I think it has something to do with No Name, but that is a theory. The Master of Masters faded from this reality, or at least that is how he describes it. We see it happen with Sora at the end of KH3. However, the idea he used a lifeboat to bridge the gap between realities is interesting. This gets into a bunch of my own theories, but I think the Master of Masters broke some taboo we don't know about yet and faded just like Sora. It may even be the same taboo. Maybe its because I'm old, but I don't think Luxu is without a keyblade. I don't think he is telling the truth. Well... at least not in its entirety a lie. Luxu, Erlena, and Larium, I believe those three are using keyblade transformations. Luxu/Xigbar know he is, but doesn't change his dual wielded arrow guns back into a keyblade, so technically true. Erlena and Larium simply don't remember they transformed the keyblade into their signature weapons. I really am waiting for the first time someone says, "As if. Lying isn't evil. Would you have ever believed me if I said I lived through hundreds of years? Would you... could you believe, that someone from time long ago foresaw your defeat in that very place? No, you couldn't and wouldn't." However, I think Unreality is a bad word and we should stop using it.(Yes I know this is an old video.) Firstly, it assumes one reality is fake/fictional while the other is real. This doesn't hold true because Nomura said the 20th Anniversary interview that one of the main themes will be perception. That is a heavy indication that both "realities" are real, but just disconnected or requiring something tremendous to break the gap.Two, the language the Master of Masters uses is colorful language meant to reflect the soul of this place he can't describe while Ansem the Wise uses more scientific language similar to matter/antimatter, he chooses the word unreality.

[@dvklaveren]

My current theory is that one version of Brain was sent to Data-Scala Ad Caelum kept in the Black Box. In Missing Link, we'll bring the Black Box back to reality. With one version of Brain in the Black Box, the Master of Master can gain sight into unreality. Brain is the bridge that allows Luxu to travel to Unreality and bring the MoM with him.

[@AvlisCaasi115]

You could call "unreality = Fantasy"

[@disneywitchywoman1512]

Wow 🤩

[@ZeranZeran]

Ooh I love that canvas effect, it actually works great for this graphic style

[@OhNoBohNo]

> Lifeboat in Unreality < Me, wheeling a chalkboard in: THIS IS HOW SORA (In Quandratum) CAN STILL WIN...

[@finalfantasyfordays127]

I have a slight counterpoint for you. You say that the X corridors weren't used outside the books projections, but may I bring up Terra's escape portal for Ventus during the Eraqus fight in bbs

[@abrilpendleton6036]

those who traveled without any medium lose their memory, but not totally: -Why do Lauriam and Elrena act like they "just remembered something" when they are defeated in KH3? -I was always curious that Ven (at the beginning of BBS) mentioned that if his dream was real and that the sky was familiar to him and he wonders why and Aqua answers: You have always been with us. Never again in the game is something like this mentioned. -If Skuld turns out to be subject X, she remembers only one of the iconic phrase and about 5 people (correct me if I was wrong). Does this help so that in future games Naminé helps Ven to remember together with Chirithy?

[@zichithefox4781]

You know, it is very interesting that in the trailer for 4, we don't see who it is standing next to Master of Masters in Unreality, even though we already know Luxu's identity. So there's a non-zero chance that that person is Brain? Farfetched but not impossible I suppose.

[@Keyborder1234]

I interpereted Luxus words of "Oh its a shame someone as smart as you only have this one life time" (paraphraseing xD) as Luxu acually splitting up Brain into his Nobody witch he gave the box and the keyblade No Name and into his heart witch travled. This would be the best way to acually make so much use of Brains smarts. AND OF CORSE i have to say: AMAZING VIDEO GREAT JOB ^^ keep up the great work

[@Recovery305]

Ready for this quality vid

[@dwightpili157]

This is Overlord, as the true king, as master of Masters, as Sora as Brains. We gotcha

[@giginoelani5880]

So do you think whatever happened between the end of UX and when Brain arrives in Scala is just not in the book of prophecies since No Name wasn't around for that time?

[@yderga8707]

"You could argue that's just a minor detail for the sake of storytelling" Meanwhile I whole side game dedicated to Mickeys keyblade lore.

[@EvyDevy]

Wow... This is amazing theorizing

[@sonic4life]

Could the power of waking and it's consequences explain how Brain and the MoM time traveled without the arc?

[@maxhall7171]

I have a feeling they are all living in a dualistic Yin yang type universe with sleep being a singularity between the two and as a sort of equivalent exchange sora was disintegrated into unreality. Another parallel is oddly enough between kingdom hearts and Fullmetal alchemist 2003 where at the center of two realities is a gate(gate of death?)

[@MrAndrewaziz]

Okay but who said Lauriam and Elrena actually forgot what happened? Maybe they turned heel for the purpose of regaining their lost hearts that they sought between the end of KHUX and COM where they presumably lost their heart when the world's started to fall to darkness? Or maybe they just turned heel for some yet unknown reason? Either way I feel like saying they lost their memories is an assumption

[@yuribaka4809]

3:34 WTF I just noticed Brain and Erakus have the same face,so he really is his descendent...wuw

[@CocoRoxas]

I love the editing and visuals you do, it always gets me hyped! Can't wait for the Lifeboat explanation! 😁

[@AndreapLostStorm96]

In the world of fiction we must have a Lifeboat system, and the clue is the presence of Luxord and Demyx in the Real world.

[@CeNa11423]

Your theory video are ones of the best I’ve ever seen. Your cleverness, your intuition and your editing skills are fantastic♥️