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.
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.]
[ A Pokémon as a guide... For as many similarities these creatures seem to show with the monsters More is familiar with, they're really completely different. Maybe a very smart guard dog could accomplish something like this? More isn't certain, he's a cat owner. ]
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.]
[ As they walk, More's head is swiveling from side to side, taking in the scenery and trying to observe just about every creature they come across. It's good More doesn't know what a Pokédex is, because he'd be off gunning for 100% completion he minute he heard of the thing. ]
Conversely, there's no rock magic in my world. It would just be counted as physical strike damage. And your ability... well, I suppose it would be something akin to Tetrakarn, a spell that negates physical damage.
[ He pauses in his stride for a moment to get a closer look at one of the smaller birds that has paused somewhat close to them. This is what this whole walk will be like, he just has to stare a lot... ]
It's visually much like Terastallization...what usually happens with those crystals. But there aren't any of them around here as far as I've seen. It may mean we're far from Paldea.
[Or at least the crater? Which works out perfectly for him.]
That is a Rookidee! They are pure Flying-type Pokemon, which is quite unusual. But if it ever evolves all the way to Corviknight, it will become a Steel-type as well.
[ That's another note in More's little book, complete with a sketch of the little fella that is so rudimentary and quick that it's... basically just a circle. ]
Steel and flying? Would steel magic not bear it down during flight with its weight?
Yes, it's not a common typing...but Corviknight are extremely strong and hardy flyers! Not the fastest or most agile, true, but those traits make them very common transport Pokemon. In Paldea you can call for a taxi carried by one from nearly anywhere.
You can use Pokémon to travel by flight? That's marvelous! There are flying monsters in Euchronia, but they are untameable. The only way to achieve flight that we know of as of yet is levitation magic and that itself is quite difficult and energy-consuming.
Oh, yes! Some Pokemon can levitate themselves and other things as well, but it's also quite difficult and energy-consuming for them; it's not a viable means of transport. But riding or being carried by a flying Pokemon is quite common! There's also a number of species people ride overland, or to cross waterways.
[Fortunately, there don't seem to be any of those around here. Though they've come across a small creek making its way down to flatter ground...Turo starts following it. Maybe someone built somewhere alongside it ages ago.]
[ Flatter ground is appreciated because More is absolutely wearing shoes with considerable heel for this trip... and he'd blame it on not bringing more practical clothing to the void, but really that wouldn't have changed much. At least he's very competent at taking his stupid footwear across any terrain. ]
Waterways as well? We do ride horses over land, when we are not traveling by gauntlet runner, but when it comes to traversing water we rely on boats rather than animals.
I thought we had a reasonably close relationship to animals in my world, but this is teaching me there is a much more symbiotic lifestyle to be had!
We certainly have boats too! But a Pokemon is more common for a single person, if you aren't carrying too much.
["Boats" makes him think of cargo ships, the sort of job you really couldn't get a Pokemon to manage.]
Our society is certainly very intertwined with Pokemon. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who has never spent time with Pokemon, even if they no longer have any of their own.
It truly sounds like your world is benefiting immensely from this coexistence. Just thinking of the close relationship I share with Plateau, the cat, or of the pleasant time I had traveling with my horse... It is hardly comparable, but it does make me believe in the benefit these bonds have for everyone in your world.
They're very important! There's been a number of terrorist groups trying to do things sort of like what Dr. Robotnik has, but a team of people and Pokemon typically puts such efforts to rest before they can go too far.
[Though Turo - the human one - took a little more than that, didn't he...?]
The people actually rise up and defend their peace out of their own volition...?
[ Said out loud, it feels like the natural thing to do. When you live in a world that is this beautiful, surely you'd want to keep it that way. But... It still sounds almost too good to be true, that it would happen time and time again, tirelessly. ]
It's an elected position. It has been, in various fashions, for a long time - Paldea used to have a monarchy, but it was long enough ago now that the story of the last king has somewhat faded into legend.
[Not to say that there aren't historical records. And ruins. Which most people really don't poke into for demon reasons!]
[ For More, who has lived in monarchy all his life, this is a pretty drastic thing to grapple with. He'd been able to imagine elected lower positions, and even an elected king... But a world with no king at all, wholly separate from such thinking... ]
I hope my bloodline will be equally forgotten, at some point in the distant future...
[ How nice that would be. No more of it. Maybe descendants who could choose their own life, without any burden of the crown. ]
The remaining descendants of the Kalosian monarchy live well enough, I know that much. They're still very rich, but they have not had any political power since the last great war. Stories say that their king unleashed a new weapon so terrible that his own people turned on him and cast him into exile. Though, clearly he must have had living children who kept their wealth...
Yes, being a king can be... rather bloodthirsty business. I gave heard some gruesome tales about my ancestors and their actions in the Annex Wars, though those have obviously only served to cement our line's authority.
It might be beyond my son to step away from all this, but I do hope his own children will eventually see a world in which they can decide their own future freely and without causing grief for the people. If they are not rich for it, I would not mind, so long as they are not wanting either.
That would be nice. I cannot imagine that being born for a task always means one really wants to do it.
[He was created for something very specific, after all, and look at him! Turo goes quiet for a moment, navigating down a particularly steep and rocky bit. He'll turn to offer More a hand if he needs it!]
Most of the regions here were monarchies at one point in their history, but there are few left now. Many of the stories are similar - some sort of unfortunate dealings with an extremely powerful Pokemon. It still happens with powerful people today. Pokemon do not care for human ideas of rank or status...it doesn't pay to be arrogant with them.
[ More will gladly take that offered hand - even if he's fairly confident he wouldn't lose balance, he's glad to not risk falling on his face in front of Turo. ]
It really sounds as though Pokémon are nature's way of maintaining balance and equality in your lands.
[ What wonderful beings. The closest thing More could compare them to would maybe be dragons, but... mostly dragons are a terrifying power not to be messed with, and they bring ruin not just to those who mishandle them. ]
A world without a true permanent ruler... It goes to show how narrow-minded my conceptions of society were that I could not have imagined something like this. I envisioned elected officials for lower positions, and I... apparently also envisioned an election for the new king. But in all of that, I never thought to think to just do away with the role.
Oh, yes, that's what the most powerful and mysterious ones are concerned with.
[Maintaining balance. Turo's...well, he's not a regular guy at all, actually, but he isn't someone who comes into contact with legendary Pokemon. As far as he goes, it's mostly just one more reason not to run around doing whatever you want with no regard. If things had gone on, Turo - the human one - probably would have run afoul of some.]
Well, I'm not a political theorist. But I suppose the difference is that any president or prime minister's power has checks, and they also only stay in power for so long. Even if people like them and go on voting for them, they're not allowed to just keep running for office forever.
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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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Conversely, there's no rock magic in my world. It would just be counted as physical strike damage. And your ability... well, I suppose it would be something akin to Tetrakarn, a spell that negates physical damage.
[ He pauses in his stride for a moment to get a closer look at one of the smaller birds that has paused somewhat close to them. This is what this whole walk will be like, he just has to stare a lot... ]
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[Or at least the crater? Which works out perfectly for him.]
That is a Rookidee! They are pure Flying-type Pokemon, which is quite unusual. But if it ever evolves all the way to Corviknight, it will become a Steel-type as well.
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Steel and flying? Would steel magic not bear it down during flight with its weight?
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You can use Pokémon to travel by flight? That's marvelous! There are flying monsters in Euchronia, but they are untameable. The only way to achieve flight that we know of as of yet is levitation magic and that itself is quite difficult and energy-consuming.
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[Fortunately, there don't seem to be any of those around here. Though they've come across a small creek making its way down to flatter ground...Turo starts following it. Maybe someone built somewhere alongside it ages ago.]
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Waterways as well? We do ride horses over land, when we are not traveling by gauntlet runner, but when it comes to traversing water we rely on boats rather than animals.
I thought we had a reasonably close relationship to animals in my world, but this is teaching me there is a much more symbiotic lifestyle to be had!
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["Boats" makes him think of cargo ships, the sort of job you really couldn't get a Pokemon to manage.]
Our society is certainly very intertwined with Pokemon. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who has never spent time with Pokemon, even if they no longer have any of their own.
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[ Note to Self: Utopia Needs Pokémon. ]
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[Though Turo - the human one - took a little more than that, didn't he...?]
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[ Said out loud, it feels like the natural thing to do. When you live in a world that is this beautiful, surely you'd want to keep it that way. But... It still sounds almost too good to be true, that it would happen time and time again, tirelessly. ]
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[half the time they're ten or something. don't worry about it.]
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[ More is quiet for a moment, just looking at the peacefully flowing stream. ]
What kind of ruler is in control of your country, by the way?
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[Not to say that there aren't historical records. And ruins. Which most people really don't poke into for demon reasons!]
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I hope my bloodline will be equally forgotten, at some point in the distant future...
[ How nice that would be. No more of it. Maybe descendants who could choose their own life, without any burden of the crown. ]
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The remaining descendants of the Kalosian monarchy live well enough, I know that much. They're still very rich, but they have not had any political power since the last great war. Stories say that their king unleashed a new weapon so terrible that his own people turned on him and cast him into exile. Though, clearly he must have had living children who kept their wealth...
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Yes, being a king can be... rather bloodthirsty business. I gave heard some gruesome tales about my ancestors and their actions in the Annex Wars, though those have obviously only served to cement our line's authority.
It might be beyond my son to step away from all this, but I do hope his own children will eventually see a world in which they can decide their own future freely and without causing grief for the people. If they are not rich for it, I would not mind, so long as they are not wanting either.
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[He was created for something very specific, after all, and look at him! Turo goes quiet for a moment, navigating down a particularly steep and rocky bit. He'll turn to offer More a hand if he needs it!]
Most of the regions here were monarchies at one point in their history, but there are few left now. Many of the stories are similar - some sort of unfortunate dealings with an extremely powerful Pokemon. It still happens with powerful people today. Pokemon do not care for human ideas of rank or status...it doesn't pay to be arrogant with them.
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It really sounds as though Pokémon are nature's way of maintaining balance and equality in your lands.
[ What wonderful beings. The closest thing More could compare them to would maybe be dragons, but... mostly dragons are a terrifying power not to be messed with, and they bring ruin not just to those who mishandle them. ]
A world without a true permanent ruler... It goes to show how narrow-minded my conceptions of society were that I could not have imagined something like this. I envisioned elected officials for lower positions, and I... apparently also envisioned an election for the new king. But in all of that, I never thought to think to just do away with the role.
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[Maintaining balance. Turo's...well, he's not a regular guy at all, actually, but he isn't someone who comes into contact with legendary Pokemon. As far as he goes, it's mostly just one more reason not to run around doing whatever you want with no regard. If things had gone on, Turo - the human one - probably would have run afoul of some.]
Well, I'm not a political theorist. But I suppose the difference is that any president or prime minister's power has checks, and they also only stay in power for so long. Even if people like them and go on voting for them, they're not allowed to just keep running for office forever.
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