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.
Before I explain this, I should assure you that it was just as confusing for everyone in Euchronia as it sounds to you.
[ Hythlodaeus V was kind of insane. ]
When I died, the matter of succession was unclear. My only son was presumed dead and thus I was left with no heir at all.
In order to take advantage of this situation, he used his royal magic to activate upon his funeral. He'd appear to the people as a giant floating face in the sky, and call out a contest. He, who gains the trust of the most people in Euchronia by a designated time, would have the right to rule.
It was an unprecedented upset. It was... for him, for me, it was the only way I could imagine a worthier ruler than myself coming to sit on the throne. With no regard for bloodlines, chosen on grounds of their virtue alone.
My memories only cover up to my death. The version of Hythlodaeus V that is hosting this contest is wholly distinct, another fragment.
[ Despite the whole Situation of it all, that makes More laugh lightly. ]
I do think he saw it as a desperate last resort. My existence was... unplanned, by him. I believe someone else may have had a hand in it, but it's hard to even finish the thought.
No, not anymore. When I was still within Akademeia, there was... a lot of blockage, thoughts I felt I should be able to grasp but couldn't.
Now it's... an emotional burden, but not any less heavy for it. I heard a voice, a few times, who seemed to know more and yet refused to answer me. It felt familiar then, but only now do I... do I remember her.
In the end, I think the pair of them were far too much alike. I do not hate her like he did in the end - the dissolution of their relationship is not important to me. But she should have done better by Arven.
I don't know if she'll be notified. I don't even know what Arven plans to say about what happened. He probably can't really explain the whole thing - it's too unbelievable.
He's sixteen. Eighteen is when one becomes a full legal adult, but there's a gradation of responsibilities available before that. A child can apply for a trainer's license as young as ten. As old as he is, and having lived more or less independently for so long already...they may just allow him to become emancipated. That would mean he was granted legal responsibility for himself in spite of his age.
[It's probably the best route; it would mean more or less continuing his life as normal, without any disruptions from long-lost mothers. Perhaps he could be a ward of the school or something too.]
He will be provided for financially, at least. The Professor did have a will, and he was actually fairly independently wealthy after the Tera orb did so well. [You wouldn't know it the way he was living, but]
[Turo nods. If Arven does nothing at all...well, without the AI there to maintain Turo's presence, eventually people will notice when he no longer responds to messages. They'll send some people down, and find records of what he'd done, a non-functional time machine, and clear evidence of his death. They don't need to know Arven was involved at all. That may be easiest.]
I hope he will be alright. He has spent a long time habituating himself to his father's absence, I suppose.
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[The king is elected? Since when? Also, we can just deliberately shoot off soul fragments?]
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[ Hythlodaeus V was kind of insane. ]
When I died, the matter of succession was unclear. My only son was presumed dead and thus I was left with no heir at all.
In order to take advantage of this situation, he used his royal magic to activate upon his funeral. He'd appear to the people as a giant floating face in the sky, and call out a contest. He, who gains the trust of the most people in Euchronia by a designated time, would have the right to rule.
It was an unprecedented upset. It was... for him, for me, it was the only way I could imagine a worthier ruler than myself coming to sit on the throne. With no regard for bloodlines, chosen on grounds of their virtue alone.
My memories only cover up to my death. The version of Hythlodaeus V that is hosting this contest is wholly distinct, another fragment.
no subject
[He is. Getting the impression that Hythlodaeus V was also a Lot, yes.]
I suppose it's an interesting idea. Though he does seem to have been...very fond of soul fragmentation? [is that Normal, or,]
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I do think he saw it as a desperate last resort. My existence was... unplanned, by him. I believe someone else may have had a hand in it, but it's hard to even finish the thought.
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[He's got a little experience with such tight restrictions.]
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No, not anymore. When I was still within Akademeia, there was... a lot of blockage, thoughts I felt I should be able to grasp but couldn't.
Now it's... an emotional burden, but not any less heavy for it. I heard a voice, a few times, who seemed to know more and yet refused to answer me. It felt familiar then, but only now do I... do I remember her.
no subject
[Well, he can sort of guess who that might have been. Though - does she have soul fragments floating around too?]
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[ Allice certainly has the right to do whatever she wants to him, after the horrible way he failed her, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. ]
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[He does! Though, after a second, he thinks to add:]
Not that - the Professor's ex-wife is alive, she simply left him.
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[ More hadn't really thought about Arven's mother in all this, but he'd always assumed she wasn't around anymore. ]
What was she like?
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[All of which are positive enough words, but...]
In the end, I think the pair of them were far too much alike. I do not hate her like he did in the end - the dissolution of their relationship is not important to me. But she should have done better by Arven.
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[ LADY, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT. ]
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[Will she be called back to take care of Arven, now that Turo is dead? But then, Turo wasn't really taking care of him to begin with.]
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I feel for poor Arven. It's certainly understandable that you have no lingering sentimentality of any kind about her, given that context.
[ The real Turo may not have been a real father to Arven, but this Turo seems to have loved him as one, fully. ]
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[Derogatory, but there was an attempt...]
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[ He would know, unfortunately. ]
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[He knows that too, of course.]
I don't know if she'll be notified. I don't even know what Arven plans to say about what happened. He probably can't really explain the whole thing - it's too unbelievable.
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[ AI Turo is not at fault, even despite calling him to the Zero Lab. You cannot change More's mind about this. ]
How old is he now? Actually, as I ask this, what age is considered 'adult' for the humanity of your world?
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[It's probably the best route; it would mean more or less continuing his life as normal, without any disruptions from long-lost mothers. Perhaps he could be a ward of the school or something too.]
He will be provided for financially, at least. The Professor did have a will, and he was actually fairly independently wealthy after the Tera orb did so well. [You wouldn't know it the way he was living, but]
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Circumstances being as they are, he might find it the path of least resistance to simply let the world assume what it will and continue his life.
I wish him nothing but the best.
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I hope he will be alright. He has spent a long time habituating himself to his father's absence, I suppose.