Your fight against Infinite didn't go as expected. You've now seen what the false Chaos Emeralds are capable of and how their powers can be used by someone accustomed to that power. Though Infinite is no longer a threat, Eggman certainly is - and you're in no position to return to Chicago to try to take him down right now.
Focus on recovering and regrouping; you're going to need a plan to oppose Eggman from here on out.
THE VOID
Maybe you've grown complacent over your time in Chicago. You won't be seeing the city this week. Tails is adamant that it isn't safe to go back and insists that you remain here, within the Void between worlds. It is a still, silent abyss of nothingness, broken up only by gemstone-like shards that serve as platforms or obstacles, with very little else to see.
Gravity doesn't work properly within the Void, meaning you can float and even zip around at high speeds once you've figured out how it works. You can also stick yourself to shards no matter what angle you're at, resulting in walking upside down or otherwise getting stuck to one without being able to escape. Thankfully, this wonky gravity only applies to the Void itself, and you'll naturally come to master it as you spend more time here.
There are some shards that are shaped differently from the ones you can use as platforms, however. These are almost hexagonal, with a dark center that may flicker whenever you approach one. If you're lucky, the surface will flicker like water and show you images of another world - usually you will see Chicago and the robots rampaging through the city streets - but occasionally you may see glimpses of your home world or of other worlds. No matter what you do, you cannot interact with these visions. Since they do seem to be water, punching them will do no good; your hand won't even get wet, as it will go through and dispel the image entirely.
Settle in, it seems like you'll be here for awhile. Oh, and try to ignore that unnerving feeling of being watched - there's no escaping it when you're in the Void, after all.
RINGS
There is one bright spot in being stuck within the Void, and that's that your colorful little pals have rings. If you've been diligent about collecting them from whatever ridiculous places they've ended up in, you may even have a good amount! Though it will take a day or so for the rings to actually work, as the week goes on, you'll be able to world hop to your heart's content.
Which yes, means you could absolutely go home. Be mindful of your mission and just how long you spend there, because you will need to return eventually, right? Though time may work differently in the Void, it mostly works the same between worlds. Try not to spend more than a week back home.
But there is something a bit strange about world hopping; you can't really control where or when you'll end up.
You may arrive back in your home world at the wrong point in time entirely, either in the past or the future. You may end up in an alternate reality of your world (canon AU or fanmade AU) or you may even end up in someone else's world entirely! You all aren't used to using rings just yet, so it makes sense that there's some confusion.
Two of you attempting to use a ring together will have more success... but even then, failures can still happen and you can still be sent to the wrong places.
You may visit any world to exist except any Sonic worlds. Worlds where Sonic shows up as a cameo (Super Smash Bros, for example) are fine. Which yes, means I am barring you from visiting Sonic Underground, you'll have to forgive me.
SHARDS
Though you're stronger now than ever before, your power pales in comparison to Infinite's, let alone Eggman's. You're going to need to be much, much stronger if you want to stand a chance of fighting back. Maybe it would be worth it to visit a world full of monsters to practice using your shards.
As you fight with your allies - particularly those you have a close bond with, positive or negative - you may feel the tug of something in the back of your head; it tells you that you can do more. Together, you can become more powerful. You can use your shards together. Doing so will grant you a new power, or strengthen the one you already have. The more you trust one another, the easier this power will be to use.
It might be good to experiment with these new powers; after all, you never know when you may need them.
TAILS' TASKS
Rings can only be found in certain worlds, which means your worlds are safe from them. This does mean there are only a limited number of rings, however... so please keep this in mind when world hopping! This week, Tails does not have any tasks for you aside from continuing to train and develop your shard powers. Oh, and to stay safe, of course. Please don't get yourselves killed in some other world.
ENEMIES
Surprisingly, you will encounter none of Eggman's robots this week. The Void remains still and silent for the whole week and your worlds are free from Eggman's influence. You're welcome to beat up any enemies native to your own worlds, of course.
[ What do you do after you've been forced over and over again over the span of a week to accept that your lifelong partner is dead, not coming back, and would absolutely hate to see you as miserable as you are? ... no, seriously. This is a question he's asking himself.
He's spending a lot of time in the Void sitting in very deep contemplation, brows furrowed. He looks... not at peace, he's far too conflicted for that, but like something deep down inside's finally beginning to stir. Whether you're here to chat about what's on his mind or distract him with something (aka the wildcard option), he's welcoming it more than usual.
He can't sit still forever, though. Which is why you might see him a good distance away from wherever camp's established, further honing his shard abilities. Now that he's got more duplicates to work with, there's more that he can do - like making use of the fact his duplicates explode upon taking damage and deliberately shooting them from a safe distance.
Those he's talked to in the past might even get approached by him with an extended paw. ] ... Wanna see what we can do?
[ Later in the week, he'll be utilizing the rings to try and return home. "Try" being the key word, because there's a chance he ends up in your world instead. (aka you can drop gyles wherever and he'll react in turn) ]
Gyles's home (cw: death, grief and mourning (but much healthier this time around))[ But the destination he has in mind is a familiar place, for those who've been privy to his dreams: the port city of North Harbor. It's a lively city filled with humblefolk and birdfolk of all walks of life, from the upper echelons of society to the (sometimes literal) street rats. There's plenty of creatures to talk to, from jerbeens tending to their ships to raptors selling their wares in markets - but if you're looking for Gyles, he's actually on the outskirts of town, where the stone streets turn into dirt roads. He's kneeling under a seemingly random tree with a bouquet in his arms and a somber smile on his face. ]
... Sorry it took so long for me to see you. And for leavin' without sayin' "goodbye". [ He sets the flowers down on the dirt. ] Got you these. They're your favorite, right? Paid for them and everything.
[ Those who've seen into Gyles's mind and heart can piece together that this is the unmarked grave of his husband, Hune. And if not, well... you could always inquire. ]
[Turo seems slightly surprised to be addressed at all now that they aren't literally trapped in a room together anymore! But he doesn't seem unwilling; he glances down at his Shard.]
[ Listen, he may be a bit of a gruff old furry, but he's got nothing against Turo. ]
Kinda hard to explain... other times I did it, I thought about relyin' on the others. Then we got a new shared power that's different than what we've normally got.
[ Honestly? He doesn't fully understand the mechanics, he's just used it more than once. ]
Anyway, he's being approached...no reason not to, at this point, since everyone is hanging around in the same place; the look of concentration warrants curiosity. ]
[ He spares a glance back at Void Archives, before focusing back out into the nothingness of the Void. There's room for them to sit or stand next to him, should they sure choose. ]
That's puttin' it lightly. Those nightmares really got me thinkin'. [ Whether he liked it or not. ]
[ Well, they will plop themselves down nearby, settling into a casual sitting pose, one hand on their chin as they consider Gyles' words carefully. ]
Hmm...yes, I suppose that I would be lying if I hadn't been expecting such matters to invoke introspection in others.
Would you consider the fact that you've been made to consider matters so deeply bothersome? Or your thoughts troublesome at all in the wake of them...?
[ Which, if they are, they wouldn't be surprised about that, either. ]
[ Because while these steps forward are necessary, it would've been easier to stand still. He hadn't wanted to address these things, not now nor ever. But the dam's broken, and the water's draining whether he likes it or not. He can't hide what's beneath the surface forever.
So... ] ... Humor me for a sec. Do you know what you're doin' after all this?
I suppose I do need to check in on a friend. But, other than that, I've thought about doing some exploration of my own.
[ No one has really asked them this question as of yet, though admittedly they've always just thought they'd up and leave without a single care or telling anyone at the end. But...maybe a handful here have invoked a kind of interest that they don't want to just immediately flounce?? ]
[ A good assumption, but... ] Not really sure, if I'm being honest. There's not a whole lot left for me there.
[ Just the Tri-Heart Guild, which... granted, if he did return, he'd probably be more willing to open his heart to them now than before. But at this point, is that what he wants? ]
That's why I'm pickin' at your brain. Maybe hearing from others'll help me figure my own shit out.
[ They hadn't realized that he had so little to return to. They do recall him mentioning he had a husband, after all. ]
Perhaps if you are looking to new places yourself beyond your homeworld it's time to essentially locate a new one of your own, wherever that trail of yours may lead you towards in the first place.
[ If it's in Chicago, or another world that Gyles might find is aligned with his preferences in regards to the immediate environment, well, why not take a leap of faith, and decide to chance it? There is no point in taking risks.
Technically, their own path is one where constant travel will be imminent. They have many reasons for wanting to wander (after that check-in, of course.) ]
Though, if you're making such considerations, you would have to figure what you would prefer in wherever you're heading to, yes? That is, if you've decided to look beyond your world in the first place.
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no subject
He's spending a lot of time in the Void sitting in very deep contemplation, brows furrowed. He looks... not at peace, he's far too conflicted for that, but like something deep down inside's finally beginning to stir. Whether you're here to chat about what's on his mind or distract him with something (aka the wildcard option), he's welcoming it more than usual.
He can't sit still forever, though. Which is why you might see him a good distance away from wherever camp's established, further honing his shard abilities. Now that he's got more duplicates to work with, there's more that he can do - like making use of the fact his duplicates explode upon taking damage and deliberately shooting them from a safe distance.
Those he's talked to in the past might even get approached by him with an extended paw. ] ... Wanna see what we can do?
[ Later in the week, he'll be utilizing the rings to try and return home. "Try" being the key word, because there's a chance he ends up in your world instead. (aka you can drop gyles wherever and he'll react in turn) ]
Gyles's home (cw: death, grief and mourning (but much healthier this time around))
[ But the destination he has in mind is a familiar place, for those who've been privy to his dreams: the port city of North Harbor. It's a lively city filled with humblefolk and birdfolk of all walks of life, from the upper echelons of society to the (sometimes literal) street rats. There's plenty of creatures to talk to, from jerbeens tending to their ships to raptors selling their wares in markets - but if you're looking for Gyles, he's actually on the outskirts of town, where the stone streets turn into dirt roads. He's kneeling under a seemingly random tree with a bouquet in his arms and a somber smile on his face. ]... Sorry it took so long for me to see you. And for leavin' without sayin' "goodbye". [ He sets the flowers down on the dirt. ] Got you these. They're your favorite, right? Paid for them and everything.
[ Those who've seen into Gyles's mind and heart can piece together that this is the unmarked grave of his husband, Hune. And if not, well... you could always inquire. ]
shard abilities
[Turo seems slightly surprised to be addressed at all now that they aren't literally trapped in a room together anymore! But he doesn't seem unwilling; he glances down at his Shard.]
How do you do it?
no subject
Kinda hard to explain... other times I did it, I thought about relyin' on the others. Then we got a new shared power that's different than what we've normally got.
[ Honestly? He doesn't fully understand the mechanics, he's just used it more than once. ]
no subject
[Does he rely on any of the others? He tries not to, but...he's performed so poorly that he supposes he has been at least somewhat.]
And then you just...? [He uses his Shard power to shoot a crystal shard at nothing, off into the void. Definitely not a successful combo move!]
the Void;
Anyway, he's being approached...no reason not to, at this point, since everyone is hanging around in the same place; the look of concentration warrants curiosity. ]
Is there something on your mind?
no subject
That's puttin' it lightly. Those nightmares really got me thinkin'. [ Whether he liked it or not. ]
no subject
Hmm...yes, I suppose that I would be lying if I hadn't been expecting such matters to invoke introspection in others.
Would you consider the fact that you've been made to consider matters so deeply bothersome? Or your thoughts troublesome at all in the wake of them...?
[ Which, if they are, they wouldn't be surprised about that, either. ]
no subject
[ Because while these steps forward are necessary, it would've been easier to stand still. He hadn't wanted to address these things, not now nor ever. But the dam's broken, and the water's draining whether he likes it or not. He can't hide what's beneath the surface forever.
So... ] ... Humor me for a sec. Do you know what you're doin' after all this?
no subject
I suppose I do need to check in on a friend. But, other than that, I've thought about doing some exploration of my own.
[ No one has really asked them this question as of yet, though admittedly they've always just thought they'd up and leave without a single care or telling anyone at the end. But...maybe a handful here have invoked a kind of interest that they don't want to just immediately flounce?? ]
I assume you will be returning home?
no subject
[ Just the Tri-Heart Guild, which... granted, if he did return, he'd probably be more willing to open his heart to them now than before. But at this point, is that what he wants? ]
That's why I'm pickin' at your brain. Maybe hearing from others'll help me figure my own shit out.
no subject
[ They hadn't realized that he had so little to return to. They do recall him mentioning he had a husband, after all. ]
Perhaps if you are looking to new places yourself beyond your homeworld it's time to essentially locate a new one of your own, wherever that trail of yours may lead you towards in the first place.
[ If it's in Chicago, or another world that Gyles might find is aligned with his preferences in regards to the immediate environment, well, why not take a leap of faith, and decide to chance it? There is no point in taking risks.
Technically, their own path is one where constant travel will be imminent. They have many reasons for wanting to wander (after that check-in, of course.) ]
Though, if you're making such considerations, you would have to figure what you would prefer in wherever you're heading to, yes? That is, if you've decided to look beyond your world in the first place.