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.
[The void isn't as uncomfortable for Turo as for many people. He can't become uncomfortable from sitting or laying too long on bare stone. He's not worried about food or water for himself, at least. After a while, he starts exploring, tossing smaller chunks of stone out to try and observe the gravity fluctuations before jumping himself.
Right now, he's sitting sideways, oriented on a wall relative to everybody else. He's...making a squirrel drink from a water bottle. Squirrel is here, too!]
There's legends in my world that our universe has another world on the opposite side of itself, where neither time nor space flow normally. They say the Creator's shadow lives there. I wonder if it's related to this space at all?
[He's not really suggesting they're about to run into a Giratina, but maybe there was some kind of naturally-occuring rift that people observed in the past? This place does feel very similar to what he would have expected.]
ii. waving through a window
[Early in the week, Turo spends a decent amount of time watching the little dimensional windows floating around. He peers into them, occasionally touching one to send it spinning idly through the air. It's a fascinating phenomenon! Could it be replicated technologically...?
Most of these have just been visions of Chicago. One, though...he passes by it, and it ripples, before showing an image of the same boy he's been haunted by for weeks. Arven is walking along an outdoor path with his three friends, looking downcast.]
...Arven?
[Turo drifts a little closer, immediately locked in. Is that his world? It's impossible to say, of course - this could be some other Arven from some other universe. Really, is there such a thing as his Arven at all?
From within the window, a conversation starts:]
Arven...you OK, bud?
...yeah. Somewhere deep down, I...kind of already knew it. I knew that thing was fake...but it...when it said my name, using his voice and wearing his face...
[....oh.
Turo looks briefly stricken, then turns quickly to leave.]
iii. training montage
[There's no sign of people or civilization in this world. Turo's exited into a sparse, rocky path along some cliffs, where he seems to be getting...battle lessons?]
Lyc!
[The tan-furred wolf-like creature at Turo's side barks. The stones growing from around its neck glow, causing another stone to rise in the air and shoot at the creature standing across the open patch of dirt. Machamp punches the stone out of the air, shattering it. Turo watches the entire display carefully, and then his Shard glows as he summons several Tera crystals of his own, letting them halo his hand in imitation of Lycanroc's stone collar.]
So, like this...?
[One of the crystals shoots off at high speed to get intercepted by Machamp as well. The spectators - mostly Geodude and Rookidee hanging out on top of one large Garganacl - screech and cry out encouragingly. Turo is smiling for once, turning to look, when he notices company.]
Oh, hello. Do you want to do some training as well?
[Maybe we can show the Pokemon how those combination things work? Turo doesn't really know that himself, he's never done one.]
iv. wildcard
(( Turo spends much of his time out of the void, in fact, often hanging out in various wilderness locations. Some of them include Pokemon, some don't. He just likes going places and pretending he's having some kind of journey. Let me know if you want something in particular! ))
[...well, Jasper figures he should wander in after one or two people just to make sure they don't get stuck somewhere. like. you know. just to be sure.
...
and also he's curious and capricious. anyway this looks sick. he's down for it.]
Well, I suppose it cannot hurt to look into this. Are you familiar with these creatures, then?
[If he's asking them for advice, he might know what's up with them...]
These are Pokemon! But I've never met these ones in particular before today, no. I simply thought a rock-type like Lycanroc here might have some ideas about how to use my Shard powers a little better.
[So he just like, found a pack of wild creatures, as you do? Lycanroc barks and approaches to give Jasper a careful sniff!]
I haven't been doing well with them so far, but I suppose maybe some practice would help.
[It's at least a little better than last week, where he felt horrible about his own performance and wasn't trying to do anything about it.]
["Monster" isn't the word he'd have used, but Jasper seems to be using it differently anyway. Lycanroc sniffs him, business-like, before huffing and trotting back to Turo's side.]
They cannot Terastallize one another as I do - the thing with the crystallization. But after learning to use the crystals in other ways, I thought it very like a rock-type!
There is much to learn from animals and monsters, I think. The monsters of my world have always been a touch more magically inclined than humans, so I feel as though seeking tutelage from them is not a bad idea.
[he'll stand back up and nod at Dog, even if he did kind of want to pet maybe...]
Are humans capable of magic in this world, actually? Or is it just these... Pokemon?
That depends on what you mean by "magic". Some humans can display low-level versions of certain abilities similar to Pokemon - mostly psychics, some spirit mediums. We wouldn't consider it magic, but it is a rare gift.
[Lycanroc barks sharply, before unleashing a ridge of sharp-looking rocks that burst up from beneath the ground between them and Machamp!]
Ah, I see. Well, I suppose that is better than nothing, though I imagine having to survive among these creatures without such abilities must have been... difficult.
[because... yeah... look at that...]
...
Perhaps if you work at it. Or combine your abilities with someone else, I suppose.
Mm, I suppose, in earlier ages. But that is part of how the relationships between people and Pokemon evolved.
[The rocks shudder and just sort of shoot back into the earth, with no apparent effort from Lycanroc.]
Stone Edge is a rather high-level move! Maybe something simpler? [...] From what I have seen of your abilities, you would probably want a dark or ghost type, if you were to try learning this way. Or perhaps we could...spar?
[Sounds sort of like he has some idea of what sparring is but has never even considered doing it himself.]
We could spar, yes, but I have to admit, I am interested in seeing what dark and ghost type Pokemon are like. I suppose types are like elemental affinities, then? I can presume they would be at least somewhat self-explanatory, but I am curious...
Yes, that's essentially what they are. Do any of you know any ghosts or dark-types?
[The Pokemon seem to confer amongst themselves a bit, and then several of the Rookidee fly away. Machamp turns and walks off as well.]
Ah, I suppose they'll try. I don't know this area myself - I'm actually not sure where we are at all, or if it aligns with anyplace in my own world. I just know we aren't anywhere near my old home.
Understandable, I suppose. I would not be able to navigate immediately if dropped somewhere nondescript in the wilds of Erdrea.
[...hmmm...]
It is interesting that they seem to be somewhere between the monsters I tend to be familiar with and standard animals. Admittedly, there are some monsters that are more animalistic, but it is more of a general trend.
[ After the beach episode, More has brightened up considerably. Spending amiable time with the group really recharged him. So when he approaches Turo by the rings, it's with a quiet cheer that resembles the week they've met in. ]
Are you about to head out? I'd like to accompany you, if it's not too much trouble.
[Turo tends to meander around a lot. He always did; it's just that he used to do it out in the city where no one could see him. Now everyone knows how much time he spends just walking around!]
It's a little difficult to end up in the same place every time, but this one has been fairly reliable. I don't know where it ends up geographically - it's just the wilderness somewhere.
Hm, yes. It was nice for a change, but I do not know if I would ever like to spend all my time in a city. Though my world's cities tend to have more parks and open areas to begin with, for Pokemon.
[Stepping through this ring, though...no, it's somewhere in the foothills of what looks to be a much larger mountain, scrubgrass clinging stubbornly to craggy surfaces. They aren't high enough to be in the cliffs proper, at least.]
I think this is the same world...
[He looks around, then points out a large bird circling high in the sky.]
Oh, yes, that's a Mandibuzz! You can see some bone spikes sticking out.
Oh, yes, no one is supposed to travel this far from a known road without a Pokemon of their own! That's what allows for children to undertake the journeys they do - there's always Pokemon with them. They will see to it that their partners are safe. Pokemon also tend to mature more quickly than humans, so they can also act as something of a level head.
[Everyone sort of does have adult supervision on these things! It's just adult dogs and lizards and whatnot!]
But I'm not worried about us, given our Shard abilities. If anything happens, we just have to show that we aren't such easy prey as we look.
[Not to mention neither of them is technically human at all. Turo isn't sure if More has any useful physiology in that regard, but he at least can't really be bitten or clawed effectively.]
I see... It is similarly dangerous to travel in my world, but there is nothing that could serve as protection of this caliber.
And you're right. Your ability is truly uniquely useful here. I'm unfortunately defenseless without access to magic, but the crystalization provides an excellent shield.
[ After it protected him in battle, it now has a more positive association for More than just the nightmare, yay! ]
And should something unexpected occur... my healing has gotten stronger, lately.
Well, maybe so. It's near enough to several rock-type moves to make a point here, at least.
[Even if the point is probably just "confusion". For now, though - there's certainly Pokemon around! Several large rocks with arms are rolling around, occasionally glancing over at the two of them as they make their way down the slope. Some smaller birds flit around closer to the ground: mostly crows with hats or little round borbs.]
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Right now, he's sitting sideways, oriented on a wall relative to everybody else. He's...making a squirrel drink from a water bottle. Squirrel is here, too!]
There's legends in my world that our universe has another world on the opposite side of itself, where neither time nor space flow normally. They say the Creator's shadow lives there. I wonder if it's related to this space at all?
[He's not really suggesting they're about to run into a Giratina, but maybe there was some kind of naturally-occuring rift that people observed in the past? This place does feel very similar to what he would have expected.]
ii. waving through a window
Most of these have just been visions of Chicago. One, though...he passes by it, and it ripples, before showing an image of the same boy he's been haunted by for weeks. Arven is walking along an outdoor path with his three friends, looking downcast.]
...Arven?
[Turo drifts a little closer, immediately locked in. Is that his world? It's impossible to say, of course - this could be some other Arven from some other universe. Really, is there such a thing as his Arven at all?
From within the window, a conversation starts:]
Arven...you OK, bud?
...yeah. Somewhere deep down, I...kind of already knew it. I knew that thing was fake...but it...when it said my name, using his voice and wearing his face...
[....oh.
Turo looks briefly stricken, then turns quickly to leave.]
iii. training montage
Lyc!
[The tan-furred wolf-like creature at Turo's side barks. The stones growing from around its neck glow, causing another stone to rise in the air and shoot at the creature standing across the open patch of dirt. Machamp punches the stone out of the air, shattering it. Turo watches the entire display carefully, and then his Shard glows as he summons several Tera crystals of his own, letting them halo his hand in imitation of Lycanroc's stone collar.]
So, like this...?
[One of the crystals shoots off at high speed to get intercepted by Machamp as well. The spectators - mostly Geodude and Rookidee hanging out on top of one large Garganacl - screech and cry out encouragingly. Turo is smiling for once, turning to look, when he notices company.]
Oh, hello. Do you want to do some training as well?
[Maybe we can show the Pokemon how those combination things work? Turo doesn't really know that himself, he's never done one.]
iv. wildcard
III
...
and also he's curious and capricious. anyway this looks sick. he's down for it.]
Well, I suppose it cannot hurt to look into this. Are you familiar with these creatures, then?
[If he's asking them for advice, he might know what's up with them...]
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[So he just like, found a pack of wild creatures, as you do? Lycanroc barks and approaches to give Jasper a careful sniff!]
I haven't been doing well with them so far, but I suppose maybe some practice would help.
[It's at least a little better than last week, where he felt horrible about his own performance and wasn't trying to do anything about it.]
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[They seem a little more like monsters than standard animals... he crouches down to say hi to the Lycanroc.]
I suppose if they have similar elemental abilities to yours it is hardly a bad plan.
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["Monster" isn't the word he'd have used, but Jasper seems to be using it differently anyway. Lycanroc sniffs him, business-like, before huffing and trotting back to Turo's side.]
They cannot Terastallize one another as I do - the thing with the crystallization. But after learning to use the crystals in other ways, I thought it very like a rock-type!
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[he'll stand back up and nod at Dog, even if he did kind of want to pet maybe...]
Are humans capable of magic in this world, actually? Or is it just these... Pokemon?
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[Lycanroc barks sharply, before unleashing a ridge of sharp-looking rocks that burst up from beneath the ground between them and Machamp!]
...oh, I don't know about that one...
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[because... yeah... look at that...]
...
Perhaps if you work at it. Or combine your abilities with someone else, I suppose.
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[The rocks shudder and just sort of shoot back into the earth, with no apparent effort from Lycanroc.]
Stone Edge is a rather high-level move! Maybe something simpler? [...] From what I have seen of your abilities, you would probably want a dark or ghost type, if you were to try learning this way. Or perhaps we could...spar?
[Sounds sort of like he has some idea of what sparring is but has never even considered doing it himself.]
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[The Pokemon seem to confer amongst themselves a bit, and then several of the Rookidee fly away. Machamp turns and walks off as well.]
Ah, I suppose they'll try. I don't know this area myself - I'm actually not sure where we are at all, or if it aligns with anyplace in my own world. I just know we aren't anywhere near my old home.
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[...hmmm...]
It is interesting that they seem to be somewhere between the monsters I tend to be familiar with and standard animals. Admittedly, there are some monsters that are more animalistic, but it is more of a general trend.
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wildcard, post-beach!
Are you about to head out? I'd like to accompany you, if it's not too much trouble.
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[Turo tends to meander around a lot. He always did; it's just that he used to do it out in the city where no one could see him. Now everyone knows how much time he spends just walking around!]
It's a little difficult to end up in the same place every time, but this one has been fairly reliable. I don't know where it ends up geographically - it's just the wilderness somewhere.
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[ It's been a long time since he was just out in open nature and he's excited for it. ]
Chicago has been very... urban. It'll be nice to feel real ground under my feet.
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[Stepping through this ring, though...no, it's somewhere in the foothills of what looks to be a much larger mountain, scrubgrass clinging stubbornly to craggy surfaces. They aren't high enough to be in the cliffs proper, at least.]
I think this is the same world...
[He looks around, then points out a large bird circling high in the sky.]
Oh, yes, that's a Mandibuzz! You can see some bone spikes sticking out.
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More peers up curiously at the sky. The large bird feels familiar yet not. ]
Lovely! That is what you'd classify as a Flying Type, is that right?
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[Not likely to come say hi. Oh, well. Turo walks a few steps, peering out down the slope.]
The best way to find ghost-types is to try to locate any old ruins or graveyards. Maybe if we walk a bit.
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That sounds suitably atmospheric for ghost stories in my world as well, yes.
[ More is gonna follow Turo wherever, he's an excited dog being taken on a walk. ]
Is it dangerous to walk off the beaten paths like this?
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[Everyone sort of does have adult supervision on these things! It's just adult dogs and lizards and whatnot!]
But I'm not worried about us, given our Shard abilities. If anything happens, we just have to show that we aren't such easy prey as we look.
[Not to mention neither of them is technically human at all. Turo isn't sure if More has any useful physiology in that regard, but he at least can't really be bitten or clawed effectively.]
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I see... It is similarly dangerous to travel in my world, but there is nothing that could serve as protection of this caliber.
And you're right. Your ability is truly uniquely useful here. I'm unfortunately defenseless without access to magic, but the crystalization provides an excellent shield.
[ After it protected him in battle, it now has a more positive association for More than just the nightmare, yay! ]
And should something unexpected occur... my healing has gotten stronger, lately.
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[He's being sort of wry about it, but like, is he wrong?]
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[ His rock type weakness................. ]
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[Even if the point is probably just "confusion". For now, though - there's certainly Pokemon around! Several large rocks with arms are rolling around, occasionally glancing over at the two of them as they make their way down the slope. Some smaller birds flit around closer to the ground: mostly crows with hats or little round borbs.]
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