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.
[Visual fractures occur as Vakama enters the final chamber. A glimpse of Sonic approaching Raven at his lowest shatters into the sight of Alexei furiously gripping onto Schwann's jaw.]
"Don't forget I am the one who created you." [He snaps, tightening his grip.] "You are mine. Do not act by your own will."
[Schwann doesn't even flinch. His deadened eyes stare right through Alexei.]
I am Schwann Oltorain. I am your subordinate.
[The scene fades to the final stage. Rows of lanterns illuminate the room. It seems to be a ceremonial chamber of sorts, though it hasn't served its purpose in decades. At the other end of the room stands Schwann Oltorain, sword at the ready.]
Raven isn't here. You are speaking to Schwann Oltorain.
[Ah!!! Is his positivity working??? Then he'll keep at it.]
I think it is. There was a point I was so miserable I wanted to die. But now, I'm glad I didn't end up dying, not just because of my hole, but because it sent me down a path that led to me meeting everyone here. Those 30 years of suffering were worth even just these few weeks. That's how powerful joy is.
[Not only is the grapple unsuccessful (20), the green figure will make an attempt to clock that partner upside the chin with its knee as it struggles to break to the surface. The axe at its side raises as air bubbles start to circulate down through the waves at its call - a charge for a larger attack.
The blue shadow just barely dodges that beam of light (13), though it is clearly torn between keeping Void Archive where they are and where its teammate struggles. That is, until its teammate raises its weapon, and it visibly relaxes to do so in kind. Whatever attack is coming will come from both of them.
While the green fighter still has some fight left, the blue is starting to look ragged along the edges, that feminine voice growing choppy but no less insistent.]
You work separately, not together. Surely you will not get to where you are going this way.
[ Said partner moves out of the way of the upcoming clocking (16), because at least there's something like dodging capabilities on the partner here.
It's probably because of luck that Void Archives isn't necessarily attacked, because man. That would have been probably unfortunate. ]
Enough. We work together just fine.
[ Void Archives' voice transmits from underwater. Seems like they are not too enthused by the pattern of repeat of UNITY in mind. They reach out to the bond, though, if only with a 'look' to agree to send out the cube-bomb towards the direction of the blue fighter while their partner moves to track to tackle the green fighter to disrupt his focus. ]
[The tackle hits head on (7), breaking the green figure's concentration as the vast collection of moving air goes still, a starfield of bubbles that lay in isolation as both bodies struggle through the water. More air leaves the green figure's mask - it's not going to last much longer under here. Desperate, it slices towards the partner's grip on its body with its blade.
All the while, the gold cube spawns in yet again - while the blue figure braces for impact, it's not enough. Just as before, the implosion draws both water and air towards it in a pocket, before exploding back outwards with the same honed shots of light.
Though the green fighter and Void Archive's partner will both be disrupted by the shockwave, it is Void Archive themselves that will be sucked in at the pull and whipped around as the sea aims to fill the balance. But when they right themselves, they will see a mask floating separate from its owner as the blue figure's eyes go dim below where the tread water, its body rapidly sinking to the sea floor.
It looks like the green figure is in trouble, and it is successful in slicing at the grip on the body by far (7), which means that that partner is forced to be let go.
But, Void Archives is free to attack while the other is recovering, right? So how about a blast of light being leveraged at the green figure in order to cause some sort of disorientation and pain...? ]
[Correct, they are very free! Free enough to shoot lasers so well (1) that even though their remaining enemy is able to grab a breath from the surface, it is far too stunned to do anything else, a hand pressed over its eyes in obvious distress.
Both Void Archive and his partner will not be attacked this round.]
With a single glance they share, Void Archives makes a movement across the throat - it's more of a command for once than a tacit agreement, though.
The green figure manages to rise to the surface.
But, well...
There's something coming at it from behind, underwater - a sharp icicle made to stab right through it...right through the back, propelled with as much force as Void Archives' partner can manage! ]
The icicle impales with a choking cry and the horrible screech of metal and sparks. Something dark leaks into the water, first in streams, then in clouds, as the figure tries in vain to right itself back to the surface, but each movement getting weaker and the bubbles rising from its mouth only increasing.
There is no further pursuit. The fighter sinks, sinks, body taking in water with a spasm as its eyes rapidly dull and its limbs go limp.
The storm above does not let up. But you have won. The shattering of the space where your partner had arrived fades, and your partner along with it as they give a final nod of farewell. You are alone once again.
At Void Archive's palm, one of the small flickering circles burns hot for the briefest moment. When the sensation ends, they will notice the circle has been filled in, ivory white circled in sienna.
[The overturned and partially-shattered canoe still bobs with the angry waves of the ocean whenever Void Archive chooses to break the surface.
Someone waits for them, out on the distant lily pads that surround the secluded village. Shadowed still, not as tall as the fighters had been, but not quite as short as the others, colored in blue.
They do not seem deterred by the storm. But they are watching, lifting a staff in the shape of a trident the color of ivory and bone, as though to signal them.]
But now they have to contend with what comes after.
This has been incredibly fantastic.
Well, they're going to go and try to overturn the canoe to see if they can get it to work, and get it on over to that lily pad. The sooner they get this over with, the better. ]
is nik going to give you more music, absolutely, who do you think i am
As Void Archive maneuvers the broken boat out of choppy waters and closer to land, they will find that the storm deliberately does not touch the village nestled in the sandy bay. Huts of weaved plantlife and shoots of bamboo line the surroundings, dotted with signs of fishers and sailors, weavers and toolmakers.
Signs, and only signs, for what population live her are all ghostly afterimages, chatter a bare whisper as though Void Archive doesn't exist. Only the figure who waved him down seems to see him directly, a little over four and a half feet tall with a rounded mask and a frail posture.
—I mean, they are very focused on their surroundings, which they are, to be fair. It is kind of hard not to take stock of their immediate environment given the gravitas of where they are.
They raise a brow at the afterimages but since they don't pay them any mind, they don't do much with that either, their attention drawn only to the figure who had waved them down. They come closer, and well, sure. Why not? Sometimes the outside is not so much an indication of what is on the inside. ]
Yes, I suppose you can say something like that.
[ ... ]
Someone as hard-working as myself does deserve a bit of a prize, I believe.
But while we are discussing that...do also tell me what I need to know next.
[ They have no idea what to from here, after all. ]
Oh? [She chuckles lightly, though it's a little flat.] You think a hero to strut themselves into the nearest town and hold out their hand for their reward simply because they put on a good show?
[There is nothing for you here, buddy, though she will rummage through a nearby crate to hold out a generous piece of cloth.]
In time. Dry yourself before you chill.
Wisdom only benefits the wise. Do you know what it is you are looking for, or are you simply determined to plow through everything you see?
[ Hero...that is weird. They are not some kind of hero, but they will accept the title, they guess... ]
Hmph. I wouldn't call it merely a good show.
...If you have something like a drink that would be perhaps be a form of pre-payment, I would gladly take it.
[ They huff but take the cloth and dab at themselves. Now she is speaking about wisdom. To the archive of KNOWLEDGE. They look at her like a dog looking at someone sideways. ]
I'm looking for Vakama. Where is he?
[ Such blunt finesse from them, but she is the one who asked. ]
Then what would you call it? An aggressive interpretation of the Ruki fish leaping from the waves while chasing its prey? You looked very feral, out there by yourself.
If you are that weary and the salt is not to your taste--
[She will produce a cup, extending her hand very briefly in a weak call for water to fill it, before handing it out. That is all you are getting, cube, this tribe is existing on bamboo sticks and gearwork.
She won't wait for them to take it before continuing, patiently keeping the cup held out.]
In his village, where he is needed. Have you lost your way?
Anyway, they won't take the drink because no thanks. They don't need to drink (they do so on the regular when it comes to alcohol) and water does not benefit them any. ]
I am afraid that I have. How do I reach his village?
[Southeast would take them back to the site of their first fight, which did indeed bring them right to the foot of the volcano! They got cockblocked by a gate. :(]
I see. If you intend to be the teacher, then could you tell me the great virtues you know so confidently?
[Look, she will even take a polite little seat.]
What are they? What are the principles they envelop? And why are they important?
They can totally do this. They're not in the mood to go over virtues but you know what? Fine, they can give an explanation for some. ]
The answer to your first and second question are the seven heavenly virtues.
Myself, justice, temperance, fortitude, faith, hope, and charity.
Naturally it is because the first one represents "reason" and I as an archive of knowledge can show it properly. Justice is self-explanatory, and temperance categorizes that holy amount of restraint. Fortitude, obviously involves strength of will. Faith, of course is that belief in the higher power and oneself. Hope, is that silly one that persists with the amount of optimism in such grueling conditions, and charity of course is generosity.
They are also important for those very reasons.
Thank you for attending today's informative lesson.
[ This is a cheeky-ass explanation and they are not sorry for it. ]
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