Between the mysteries of last weekend, the increasing number of visions and unexplained phenomena, and the attack on Vakama yesterday, everyone is likely on edge. When Tails calls you into his lab around noon, you all are likely already aware of how this is going to go.
Once again, a surge of Chaos Energy in the city is what draws you in, though this time it is a much larger burst than before. Sonic and Knuckles are here with you as usual, with Tails remaining behind to look after Vakama and the base. Unlike before, you aren't met with robots or destruction. In fact, this city block looks remarkably peaceful, aside from where Eggman's chroma has overtaken most of the buildings.
"So good of you all to finally arrive."
The voice comes from up above. You recognize it as the one you heard last week, through that gemstone the Tails Doll had. Perched on one of the buildings is a... fox? No, he's larger than Tails, and wearing a large silver mask that obscures most of his features. In one hand he holds Vakama's missing mask; his other is extended with six gemstones floating around it, a soft teal glow from beneath his black glove marking the seventh. There's a different gemstone on the center of his chest as well, though it doesn't look like the fake Chaos Emeralds you've seen before.
"You all have the pleasure of fighting me, Infinite. I am the Doctor's trusted ally... and I have been watching you all. Your struggles with my nightmares and illusions were so... delicious. You have my thanks for the show."
He kicks off the building, floating towards you all and the ground, though stopping high enough up, still out of reach. And for those of you getting any bright ideas, a deep red begins to fill your vision, tinting the corners of it as the very world itself begins to warp around you - this isn't exactly Chicago anymore, you see. The buildings still exist, wrapped in white chroma, though they bend and twist in ways they shouldn't, making it hard to tell what's real and what isn't.
"I'll snuff out your lives here and now for the Doctor's ambitions! Let's see what you're made of!"
[At least Rio isn't injured, herself! It makes it easier for her to stand, even with the assist - though she's looking rather pointedly at Dorothy's own injuries.]
-I'll be fine. Sorry, I didn't mean to sleep through the fight.
[This twisted version of Chicago remains, as does Kanone. Though Rio just saw him, he no longer looks the same - changed by her nightmares and fears for him in whatever way you'd like.
He also is done watching your reunion. He fires off his own lasers at both Dorothy and Rio.]
Rio's on the move immediately, dodging (12) and trying to put as much space between herself and Dorothy as possible. This is a nightmaro version, so maybe he's not bound by the same personal rules Kanone held of killing only Blade Children like herself (even if injuring the uninvolved was perfectly fine, sorry Madoka) but if she can keep his attention off the others in any way she'll take that much at least.
While she does fire back at him, she's aiming for one of his hands in particular to try to stop some of those lasers.]
[Dorothy follows suit, though a little easier due to a lack of attachment. (18) Dorothy watches Rio's moment's quickly to try and ascertain where to attack. She notices the distance that Rio keeps from her, and for a brief moment she pauses. Is there a reason she's doing this...?
...If so, it doesn't matter. Dorothy focuses herself, conjuring a couple of water bullets to aim for the hand opposing the one that Rio aims at. Team work makes the dream work, after all!]
[Kanone is apparently prepared, because not only does he dodge Rio's attack (17), he dodges Dorothy's with ease (20) and fires off a laser at her in retaliation. His next shot goes to Rio - as she's the one he's here to kill, after all.]
[They're both quick draws, but he always had superior reflexes to her - she can't even be all that surprised when she's struck (3), gritting her teeth as a pained sound errupts from her throat.
But still, she's weathered worse, and she'll keep trying to keep her distance from him while also hopefully turning his back towards Dorothy. He'd always been skilled at dealing with attacks from his blindspot, too, but that oath of his did make it trickier to do so without killing his attacker, so maybe...?
While she does take another shot at him before continuing to run, it's carefully aimed at his feet in hopes of disabling him or, at the very least, not creating a situation where he dodges and it hits Dorothy instead.]
You'll have to try harder to catch me, you know!
[Maybe if she taunts him, her sheer terror won't show.]
[Dorothy looks to the girl as she seems to act quickly; is she trying to take the aggro off of her somehow? Dorothy wonders inwardly if she has some kind of plan here, and considers the situation as she dodges. (15) Kanone seems to be going pretty hard for Rio, and in a way she wonders if they were truly enemies back in their world...
But it means one thing. There's an opening to be offered, and Dorothy will attempt to take it if Kanone's focus can be diverted to Rio briefly. Dorothy doesn't like it, but she's willing to trust that Rio knows what she's doing.
She waits until she can snake around Kanone, aiming a quick double tap at him--one at his back, and one at the same leg that Rio aims for.]
[Rio's shot connects; he stumbles, and tries to regain his balance, but it isn't enough. Dorothy's shot catches him hard from behind and he simply explodes into that red, glitchy effect. There's no way for him to reform and keep fighting, though thankfully this explosion does not cause any damage to anyone.]
Dorothy feels herself wanting to collapse after all of this, and more than anything, she almost wants to scream bloody murder, but--patience. Patience, more than anything. There's still fighting to be done, there's still work to do for others.
Dorothy will go over to Rio, once again offering her hand.]
...Can you continue? I'm going to enter the fray again in a moment, but...
I want to ensure you'll be alright, before I do. Many others are struggling with their illusions, and your strength...I believe it would be of assistance to them, if you are able to continue onward.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
[Dorothy has a feeling they won't soon be alone, but as injured as she is, she'll remove that hand and offer it out to help Rio stand.]
Can you stand? This will likely turn to another battle very soon.
no subject
-I'll be fine. Sorry, I didn't mean to sleep through the fight.
no subject
He also is done watching your reunion. He fires off his own lasers at both Dorothy and Rio.]
no subject
Oh that's very bad.
Rio's on the move immediately, dodging (12) and trying to put as much space between herself and Dorothy as possible. This is a nightmaro version, so maybe he's not bound by the same personal rules Kanone held of killing only Blade Children like herself (even if injuring the uninvolved was perfectly fine, sorry Madoka) but if she can keep his attention off the others in any way she'll take that much at least.
While she does fire back at him, she's aiming for one of his hands in particular to try to stop some of those lasers.]
no subject
...If so, it doesn't matter. Dorothy focuses herself, conjuring a couple of water bullets to aim for the hand opposing the one that Rio aims at. Team work makes the dream work, after all!]
no subject
no subject
But still, she's weathered worse, and she'll keep trying to keep her distance from him while also hopefully turning his back towards Dorothy. He'd always been skilled at dealing with attacks from his blindspot, too, but that oath of his did make it trickier to do so without killing his attacker, so maybe...?
While she does take another shot at him before continuing to run, it's carefully aimed at his feet in hopes of disabling him or, at the very least, not creating a situation where he dodges and it hits Dorothy instead.]
You'll have to try harder to catch me, you know!
[Maybe if she taunts him, her sheer terror won't show.]
no subject
[Dorothy looks to the girl as she seems to act quickly; is she trying to take the aggro off of her somehow? Dorothy wonders inwardly if she has some kind of plan here, and considers the situation as she dodges. (15) Kanone seems to be going pretty hard for Rio, and in a way she wonders if they were truly enemies back in their world...
But it means one thing. There's an opening to be offered, and Dorothy will attempt to take it if Kanone's focus can be diverted to Rio briefly. Dorothy doesn't like it, but she's willing to trust that Rio knows what she's doing.
She waits until she can snake around Kanone, aiming a quick double tap at him--one at his back, and one at the same leg that Rio aims for.]
CLEAR
no subject
But also, she's just kinda collapsing onto the ground, still sitting up but staring numbly at the spot where Kanone was just seconds ago.]
no subject
Dorothy feels herself wanting to collapse after all of this, and more than anything, she almost wants to scream bloody murder, but--patience. Patience, more than anything. There's still fighting to be done, there's still work to do for others.
Dorothy will go over to Rio, once again offering her hand.]
...Can you continue? I'm going to enter the fray again in a moment, but...
I want to ensure you'll be alright, before I do. Many others are struggling with their illusions, and your strength...I believe it would be of assistance to them, if you are able to continue onward.
You did very well, regardless.
no subject
I'll be okay. I've had worse.
[From the same opponent, even.]
I'll help the others out, too. And... um.
Thank you.
[A bit weird to have to say, but - she really does mean it.]
no subject
[let's go beat the twisted evil things!!!]