While your conversation with Shadow may have shed light on a few things... it's obvious he doesn't think you all are up to the task of saving the universe from Eggman. Which also means that now you're dealing with his test, starting immediately. Some of you may be whisked away with no time to even blink, while others may find themselves wandering the Void aimlessly. Regardless, it seems this week won't be a particularly easy one.
THE VOID
Nothing has changed in the Void. Nothing ever changes in the Void. It's impossible to track the passage of time in here, and your only escape are the rings... though you should be careful with them, as there's far fewer this week. You're free to travel between worlds as you see fit - Shadow won't stop you - but you can be snatched up from wherever you are at any given moment and pulled back into the Void. Maybe don't plan on spending to long anywhere else, because it won't end well for you if you do.
The hexagonal shards will still show you visions of other worlds... but this time they all show the same thing. You'll see worlds - maybe even your own - taken over by robots and Eggman's chroma, reduced to smoldering ashes or being rebuilt in Eggman's image. Your friends, allies, and enemies may even be going about their lives just as listlessly and dutifully, heedless of their surroundings. You may even see alternate versions of yourself among them. Regardless, it seems all these shards have to show you this week are all the possibilities of failure - that other versions of shardbearers in other timelines have already lost.
MINDSCAPES
Shadow's usage of the Phantom Ruby and his own fake Chaos Emerald shard have caused quite the problem for you all - namely, you'll find yourselves traversing each other's innermost thoughts and dreams. Exactly how this mindscape manifests depends on the individual, but one thing will always remain true: you won't be able to find the owner of the mindscape easily.
As a reflection of these inner thoughts, mindscapes can be any sort of place. Perhaps they are a reflection of the owner's inner demons and fear, or perhaps they showcase a bright future they want to work towards. Regardless, this is a dream and one the owner must be awoken from... which means finding them and bringing them back to reality. That's easier said than done when traversing through this dream-like state, where the rules are made up by the owner and you're a foreign being that the dream recognizes as a threat (even if you aren't).
You may encounter familiar places or people within these mindscapes. You may not. You may end up fighting for your life in here... or you may not. Each one is individual, and the experience can vary wildly from person to person. No matter what you face, you must find the owner of the mindscape and bring them back. You must ensure you're strong enough to support them... and protect yourself.
Curiously, you can activate your shared shard power with the owner of the mindscape at any time - or bolster your own power if you share shard colors - even without them being present. Will this make it easier or harder to help bring them back? It depends on the person, your bond, and the mindscape itself...
Waking them up is as simple as convincing them that they're dreaming - that this isn't real and that they still have things to return to - but that may be easier said than done depending on the person... or the mindscape itself. There's no telling what you'll encounter, after all.
SHARDS
You'll find you're capable of more now than you were before. You're really adapting to using your shard powers and fighting with others. Those of you who share shard colors will feel the strength of your shards increasing even more when working together.
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
Given that your allies are being pulled into mindscapes and are unable to break free of their own, your task this week is to help your friends. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are off dealing with their own mindscapes, but whenever they are around, they're adamant about the importance of making sure everyone is freed and prepared for whatever comes next.
ENEMIES
Like last week, you will not encounter any of Eggman's robots. The Void is still free of enemies, though other worlds may possess their own threats. Mindscapes are a bit of a different beast; each one varies, and you may or may not encounter threats of any sort in them. Best be on your guard.
Precisely, we'll have plenty of time to figure it out as we go~
[It's a bit surreal to think that they never would have had this chance - or even wanted it - when they first arrived in space not so long ago. He never would have imagined being here now with Dorothy.
In fact, he's more focused on her than the surroundings. He scarcely notices the changes.]
I'm glad I can do that for you. Seeing you happy like this is truly wonderful, you know~
[It's only barely teasing, because he absolutely means it.]
I know. [Softly, layered with resignation and the faintest echo of something metallic.] ...I know. Forgive me for troubling you like this yet again. I will not argue the point and I do not intend to linger now.
[There's a candlestick (complete with a candle!), as well as some matches to light it should they find themself in need of more illumination, but that's not all.
There's a folded piece of paper, yellowed with age.
Three cloth balls, each a different color. One is red, one is black, and one is white.
A wooden spool with thread, a needle tucked inside the thread for safekeeping.
A wooden box with a crank on one side, a thin slot on the front with a blue piece of paper coming from the slit. The paper is sturdy, with square holes punched in in a seemingly random pattern.
There is also a stick. Just a stick.
Void Archives can interact with any item, or combination of items, that appeals to them.]
There has to be a time when the fighting will end. When it'll stop. When I won't be...needed. Or useful. It's happened to me before, and it wasn't pleasant.
...Of course I'm worried.
[The orbs will lead him deeper into the cave, in front of a rather large pink crystal. Raven can make out some shapes from within the crystal; they're all in different outfits, for sure (save for Dorothy), but they're all gathered in front of a strange looking machine in front of a massive gate.
If Raven places his hand upon the crystal, the vision inside will begin to move, playing out a memory of sorts...a rather unpleasant one, from the looks of it. (49:20 to 53:10)
You can feel the emotions off of this crystal, if nothing else. The pain of being betrayed. The pain of being left behind, after all of the fighting that Dorothy had done. The things that Dorothy had sacrificed, in sanity and in power, and it was all thrown back in her face, and...
The crystal shatters, once the memory finishes, clearing your path forward if you wish to continue.]
[He gestures up at the time machine, which hums and then roars as it comes to life, the curved black prongs swirling and expanding like a flower blooming. White light begins to shine from inside, swirling as a sort of portal starts to open. An extension of the machine unfolds as well, reaching downward - it's like yet another prong, ending in a metallic figurehead like a skeletal human torso, arms limp at its sides, grafted onto the machine. It doesn't have skin or hair, no longer exactly an imitation of a human being. It's just a machine shaped like one, eyes shining points of blue in pits of black.]
[That gets Dorothy to flush, and she has to glance away just a bit at that. It...doesn't feel teasing. No, it feels genuine, and she's--
She's really not used to compliments like that being thrown at her and actually feeling something towards them, and it's likely clear from the startled laughter that it gets from her.]
Only because it's you making me this happy. [...She is down so bad.] ...It really means the world that I can make you happy, too. I never really thought of anything like that before, but it's...
It's very welcome, that I can do something outside of the fighting that I'm used to.
[They're back in the void before they know it, but Dorothy doesn't have eyes for anyone but Yeager right now. It's...a strange, overwhelming feeling, but she laces their fingers together if allowed.]
Of course you make me happy, Dorothy. You've been doing it for quite awhile.
[He wasn't really aware of it - and even when he did become aware of it, he wasn't aware of the extent of it - but there's certainly no denying it now. She's become a very important person to him, after all.
The atmosphere changes around them as they return to the Void, and aside from a brief glance, Yeager doesn't take his eyes off of her.]
As though I would leave you after such a thing? Absolutely not. Allow me to worry over you for just a little longer, ja?
[Oh, he recognizes a few of these people apart from Dorothy. Even Pinne is there... Then this must have taken place before the Incident.
What transpires is a nightmare all on its own. Raven thinks he understands the just of it all without the aid of Dorothy's rightfully anguished emotions seeping in. Whatever this Ark is, it must be the only safe space for humans...and they just sacrificed Dorothy and her squad to secure it without even telling them beforehand. He doesn't even blame her when he watches her threaten that man. It's awful. No wonder Dorothy has a strong hatred of humanity.
The memory then finishes and the crystal shatters, leaving a few stray shards in his palm. He takes a breath and tips his palm to let them join the rest on the ground.
Dorothy genuinely looks delighted for a moment when of all things, he asks to stay this time. He asks her to stay, to be with him this time, and for someone who's been so used to being utterly selfish and taking what she wants, it's...
It means so much to her, to have it offered to her.]
I'd be delighted to allow you to. Really, I don't want to separate at all; I...don't know what you've done to make me feel this way, but I like this. Being with you, caring for you, and...being cared for.
[It's so awkward, being genuine like this, but Dorothy's flushed and a little more than delighted--]
[ They let out a soft little huff, hearing that, but they do open their eyes, because they see somehow it was not a disaster; the flush hasn't dimmed any, either. Though... ]
...Cute, hm?
[ They repeat it softly, but without any irritability, and watching Jasper lean in and commit the memory of the feel of him pressing his lips gently against theirs. They indeed can't help but savor the moment. The sensation is lightweighted, and they realize just how much they enjoy it, so they turn their head slightly into the kiss, savoring every single little feeling.
Don't mind if they slip their arms properly around Jasper, reopening their eyes once more. Once the kiss is broken, even if slightly, they smile, that lingering excited feeling palpable as if it's somehow been nursed even more. ]
I shall allow only you to get away with speaking such things of me. Please, do feel free to feel a bit privileged when I say such things.
As it is, this is all novel and an experience that I expect that we will continue to enjoy, hm~?
Anyway, it isn't as difficult as he thought it'd be to express this much, which is good! It's easier when she's a little flustered instead of the other way around.]
And? Are you going to tell me I shouldn't? I think you deserve it.
[The path down is...winding, uncertain and rocky, but those little orbs of light will continue to bring Raven down the path, deeper and deeper in. He can even see little crystals lining the walls of the cave, though their memories aren't quite...right.
They start, and then abruptly end when another memory starts. They're mostly small thoughts, simpler things, though Raven can see some that look like she was attempting to survive out in the wild on her own. Those ones are the fuzziest of all.
But once again, Dorothy's voice speaks up.]
...It's funny. I've spent so long pursuing revenge, you know. Longer than most people have lived, even in the Ark. I dedicated my whole life to this. This anger, this burning grudge in what counts as my heart, and I never thought about anything beyond it.
I've...never been a good person, I suppose. I still do not know if I can be one, after all of this time. If everyone knew...they'd...
They'd walk away. Just like everyone else.
[You're stopped by another large crystal; still in the same place, but it seems that Snow White has gotten right up in a crying Dorothy's face this time.
[maybe one day she will BUT TODAY IS NOT THAT DAY,,,
Okay, Dorothy's flushing even deeper at that, her face scrunching a bit but not even slightly displeased. She's just much more prone to being teased okay???]
I--well, you're--well. If that's what you think, I'm certainly not going to stop you, you know. I'm simply not very used to it...
[d-doki...]
Perhaps you'll simply have to get me used to such things, hm...?
[He doesn't question it further, especially not when Viktor pinpoints Jayce in particular.]
Alright.
Then, at least for yourself... If you need the moment of quiet, to help settle your heart. A last way you wish to walk, or somewhere you would like to collect yourself.
It is only the two of us. What duty we have can hold for a little longer.
You--! Trapping me with you just to dote on me so, you're absolutely incorrigible...!
[She does not sound even slightly opposed, but it is definitely making her face even more red if she's being honest and she's just. So unused to being teased like this and having it mean a lot--]
But I...you know, I would not mind seeing how you would. Maybe I'll find a way to return the favor.
[...]
Though you're...making it quite tempting, to do something impulsive.
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