You hop through the ring portals, barely escaping Eggman's forces and making it through (mostly) unscathed. On the plus side, you're all here - in fact, you'll find Tails and Vakama nearby, with the fox having brought your pal here too.
But unfortunately, "here" is not exactly the best place to be.
"Back here again...? Sheesh, I really can't catch a break.
"What is this place, Sonic?"
"This is the space between worlds. The void, I guess you could call it."
Everywhere you look there's a whole lot of nothing. Gemstone-like shards litter this reality in all sorts of shapes and sizes, serving as obstacles or platforms; they're sturdy enough to walk and stand on, but this world's rules are a little different from what you're used to. For one, gravity doesn't really work properly - you may find yourself floating or walking upside-down on a shard you didn't mean to end up on, and it's going to take some getting used to.
There's not really much to do or see here either - at least, not for now. You're welcome to explore this strange place, but you won't find anything particularly interesting... with one notable exception as seen in the comment below.
No matter where you go, no matter what you do, you'll feel like you're being watched.
... after how much I longed to regain my memory, now I am terrified to remember any more.
[ How pathetic, that he cannot even face himself. ]
I know about the reign of Hythlodaeus V, about the things that happened under his... my rule. Even as I remember how I let it all happen, that much won't change.
[He doesn't know what he might do afterwards, either. There's nowhere to go; he doesn't have a life to get back to.]
But I am always willing to hear you discuss it, if you would like. We ought to support each other for as long as we are here, and...you have helped me, too.
You would remain by my side after what I've done and who I've turned out to be?
[ There's a tinge of desperation in his voice. A part of him wants Turo to reconsider and cast him aside, for his own sake, but an overwhelmingly larger part is craving the reassurance. ]
More - come, now, of course I will! I'm sure that everyone else will as well. Whatever mistakes you may have made, it's clear that you did not intend any harm. You...may say it does not matter, but I think it does.
[He's had a similar conversation with Viktor already. Of course it still matters that harm was done, but considering the person Turo's spent his whole life with...it matters a great deal to him, if someone meant it. If they can see that they've made a mistake, and stop, and reconsider.]
[ More looks at Turo for a long silent moment. Even this much is a lifeline thrown to a man drowning. Forgiveness he does not deserve, but that he will selfishly cling to with all his might. ]
You can claim this because you haven't been forced to live in a kingdom crushed under the weight of my mistakes.
[ And he really was a shit king, there's no way around it. ]
But that precise fact also makes it precious to me, to hear these words from you. That there is somebody I've not yet hurt so badly... even after today, even after what you've had to watch me do.
You're truly... [ He trails off on that one. ]
I'll do all that is in my power to not betray your trust.
[Turo cocks his head for a second, considering. Maybe that's true. It probably is - if he or someone he cared about had suffered for More's naivete, maybe he'd be angry. But that isn't what happened. They are here together in the same boat. He's not interested in excoriating anyone else for their own past failings, not when he's so busy doing it for himself.]
...thank you.
[He supposes? It feels a little much, when he feels as though he hasn't done anything at all. He's quiet a moment longer before adding:]
You said that we were friends last week. No one has ever claimed any such thing before. It - means something to me, entirely apart from your past mistakes.
[ Ah... That does bring More's unstoppable spiral of self-loathing to a momentary halt. Turo was right to assume that the utterance itself has not been as significant to More as it had been to him. Though More barely remembers them now, he's had many friends, and declarations of affection come easy.
They come easy but they're not empty. More is a wretchedly and desperately lonely person, easily latching onto those who treat him with kindness. Between the way Turo can understand his isolation and the endless patience and consideration he's shown, More had started to feel a little bad for how much he'd come to rely on him.
But like this... He's also silent for a moment, collecting his words. ]
As much as it pains me that you had to go without friendship for so long, I'm honored that I can be that for you now.
... And I'm glad that we met like this. It would have been difficult for both of us to start over with somebody so freely, had we remained where we were.
...I am, too. You're certainly right - we are far freer here than we might have been in other circumstances.
[Turo's pretty sure he was at most a few hours from shutting down permanently, but no cause to bring that up right this second! Anyway...it didn't happen. He is here now, they both are!]
Though I feel like it might have been a mistake to bring me here, I... I shall endeavor to make the best out of it. So I can repay my debt to Sonic and so that I can remain a friend you won't regret having made.
[ That alone feels like a tall order to him right now, but there's a spark of motivation here that hadn't existed by the start of this conversation. He's going to keep on going. It's a start. ]
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no subject
[ How pathetic, that he cannot even face himself. ]
I know about the reign of Hythlodaeus V, about the things that happened under his... my rule. Even as I remember how I let it all happen, that much won't change.
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...so what will you do?
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My duty to this cause, as best as I am able. That is the only path there is, isn't it?
[ After that? It's impossible to say. ]
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[He doesn't know what he might do afterwards, either. There's nowhere to go; he doesn't have a life to get back to.]
But I am always willing to hear you discuss it, if you would like. We ought to support each other for as long as we are here, and...you have helped me, too.
no subject
[ There's a tinge of desperation in his voice. A part of him wants Turo to reconsider and cast him aside, for his own sake, but an overwhelmingly larger part is craving the reassurance. ]
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[He's had a similar conversation with Viktor already. Of course it still matters that harm was done, but considering the person Turo's spent his whole life with...it matters a great deal to him, if someone meant it. If they can see that they've made a mistake, and stop, and reconsider.]
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You can claim this because you haven't been forced to live in a kingdom crushed under the weight of my mistakes.
[ And he really was a shit king, there's no way around it. ]
But that precise fact also makes it precious to me, to hear these words from you. That there is somebody I've not yet hurt so badly... even after today, even after what you've had to watch me do.
You're truly... [ He trails off on that one. ]
I'll do all that is in my power to not betray your trust.
no subject
...thank you.
[He supposes? It feels a little much, when he feels as though he hasn't done anything at all. He's quiet a moment longer before adding:]
You said that we were friends last week. No one has ever claimed any such thing before. It - means something to me, entirely apart from your past mistakes.
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They come easy but they're not empty. More is a wretchedly and desperately lonely person, easily latching onto those who treat him with kindness. Between the way Turo can understand his isolation and the endless patience and consideration he's shown, More had started to feel a little bad for how much he'd come to rely on him.
But like this... He's also silent for a moment, collecting his words. ]
As much as it pains me that you had to go without friendship for so long, I'm honored that I can be that for you now.
... And I'm glad that we met like this. It would have been difficult for both of us to start over with somebody so freely, had we remained where we were.
no subject
[Turo's pretty sure he was at most a few hours from shutting down permanently, but no cause to bring that up right this second! Anyway...it didn't happen. He is here now, they both are!]
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[ That alone feels like a tall order to him right now, but there's a spark of motivation here that hadn't existed by the start of this conversation. He's going to keep on going. It's a start. ]
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[For...several reasons, really. But.]
Very well. I shall try to make the best of it, too.