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.
[As one might expect of a settlement with (so far) no signs of life, it is eerily quiet and there are, perhaps surprisingly, no plants. As a result of that second point the air feels stagnant, smelling like metal dust and contaminated water--barely habitable, on a good day.]
[Down one particularly winding and narrow path, what looks like a small artificers' shop has signs of flickering lamplights in its windows and very slightly open door. Probably a sign of life, right?]
[Oh. Well. Okay. That's definitely more concerning. He will, at least, head towards the sign of life, though he's definitely prepared to Kill if he has to as he very quietly teases that door open to look inside...]
[The door opens to a simple little shop, counterspace littered with tools and parts not unlike the same organized chaos of the laboratory before this. Along a number of shelves, countless little clockwork objects as well as more practical tools likeely designed for mining. Placing a recently repaired music box on one such sheelf is a woman in ragged and threadbare clothes-]
[-at least, they're probably a woman. It's difficult to tell, as their face and every inch of uncovered skin is impeccably flawless porcelain edged in gold. Her head turned a little too far for a living creature, then tilted slightly.]
I'm afRAID we're cLOSIng sHOrtLY. [Her voice, mechanical and erratic--no real 'voice' to it at all, or at least nothing recognizably human.]
VaLEria. mY hUSBand mATYáš and i OWn tHIS shOP. if YOu nEEd rEPair wORk, pLEase COmE bACK sOOn.
[Valeria moved a little too smoothly as she placed a hand over her heart with a small, polite bow, guiding Jasper back to the door with a small wave farewell.]
[A little further down, the alleyway ends in what looks like brighter sunlight and the sound of water--and briefly, another sign of life in a flicker of motion and sound of wood clicking against stone.]
I will keep you in mind, Valeria. Good luck with your repairs.
[...why is he being so nice. well, if you don't keep the charm muscle working...
In any case, he follows that alleyway, hears that noise, and... hm. Well, he's doing his best to keep an eye out, so that flicker of motion gets his attention and he'll go ahead and pursue it!]
[The other end of the narrow alley leads to a more open area of sharp rocks and flowing water-it doesn't seem particularly safe, but definitely cleaner than the toxic smell to the Fissures' air up to now.]
[Sitting at the edge of the shallow, polluted water was the likely source of that sound; a small child in similarly ragged and threadbare clothes, a makeshift cane of salvaged metal and wood lying nearby as he worked on the frame of a boat built from a pile of rusted scrap metal beside him.]
[...hm. Well, you know... if that's the only actual human he's seen, that's probably important? He looks... eh. It's hard to say a child looks like an adult, especially when they're not an anime who literally has the same hairstyle that they do as an adult. Maybe he looks kind of vaguely like Viktor, he guesses. So he'll head on over.]
[Startled, he nearly jumped out of his skin and fumbled with the screwdriver in his hands as he tried not to drop it, looking to Jasper wth wide golden eyes. He couldn't have been much older than nine or ten, by the look of him.]
[...he'll just kind of crouch down to... act like he cares? he could be worse with kids, he guesses. He is, admittedly, a touch smarmy and intimidating by nature, but he's trying to be chill.]
What are you working on? It does look interesting, by my estimation.
[Looking not unlike a small rabbit staring down a large cat, Viktor cautiously set down the half-finished boat where Jasper could see it more clearly. Made of salvaged and rusted metal, it was nonetheless well constructed; incomplete frame exposing intricate clockwork.]
[Viktor himself seemed hesitant to speak, inching the makeshift cane a little closer like he expected to need to make an escape attempt.]
I am not going to hurt you, you know. If there is some sort of rule against making interesting little gadgets, I absolutely do not care one whit about it.
...You know, there are monsters where I live that construct mechanical suits for themselves that they pilot for movement. Admittedly, the strength of their constructs lie in jumping rather than running, but I would imagine it would still be impressive.
Th-That's...really impressive. I...I would love to build something like that. If I could replace what's wrong with me, maybe...I could keep up with everyone else.
As much as I understand the impulse, trying to judge yourself in relation to others will, I think, only lead you to self-loathing and self-destruction.
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[Down one particularly winding and narrow path, what looks like a small artificers' shop has signs of flickering lamplights in its windows and very slightly open door. Probably a sign of life, right?]
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[-at least, they're probably a woman. It's difficult to tell, as their face and every inch of uncovered skin is impeccably flawless porcelain edged in gold. Her head turned a little too far for a living creature, then tilted slightly.]
I'm afRAID we're cLOSIng sHOrtLY.[Her voice, mechanical and erratic--no real 'voice' to it at all, or at least nothing recognizably human.]no subject
Well, not being human isn't really a thing Jasper has an issue with, so he'll just shrug a bit.]
Ah, forgive me for that, then. I was simply passing through and looking for someone of whom I could ask directions.
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LoST topSIder...? oDD, but THe LiFTS are NOt fAR. BAck tHE waY you CAme down EMbeRfliT aLLeY, tHen NOrtH paST the RIver.no subject
[...he probably would fit in better topside. based on the name, anyway. but he wants to know what's up here.]
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SIghtseEING in thE FISSures...? ThERE's...the rIVer runOFF, at the oTHEr end oF thE ALLey? yOU can See a LITtle of the SKY frOM thERe.no subject
[...he's not sure if it does. but it may as well be a lead.]
Thank you for your time, my good friend. I believe I will be headed that way, then.
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VaLEria. mY hUSBand mATYáš and i OWn tHIS shOP. if YOu nEEd rEPair wORk, pLEase COmE bACK sOOn.[Valeria moved a little too smoothly as she placed a hand over her heart with a small, polite bow, guiding Jasper back to the door with a small wave farewell.]
[A little further down, the alleyway ends in what looks like brighter sunlight and the sound of water--and briefly, another sign of life in a flicker of motion and sound of wood clicking against stone.]
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[...why is he being so nice. well, if you don't keep the charm muscle working...
In any case, he follows that alleyway, hears that noise, and... hm. Well, he's doing his best to keep an eye out, so that flicker of motion gets his attention and he'll go ahead and pursue it!]
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[Sitting at the edge of the shallow, polluted water was the likely source of that sound; a small child in similarly ragged and threadbare clothes, a makeshift cane of salvaged metal and wood lying nearby as he worked on the frame of a boat built from a pile of rusted scrap metal beside him.]
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You there, boy. What is your name?
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[Startled, he nearly jumped out of his skin and fumbled with the screwdriver in his hands as he tried not to drop it, looking to Jasper wth wide golden eyes. He couldn't have been much older than nine or ten, by the look of him.]
I-I...it's Viktor.
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[...he'll just kind of crouch down to... act like he cares? he could be worse with kids, he guesses. He is, admittedly, a touch smarmy and intimidating by nature, but he's trying to be chill.]
What are you working on? It does look interesting, by my estimation.
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[Viktor himself seemed hesitant to speak, inching the makeshift cane a little closer like he expected to need to make an escape attempt.]
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I am not going to hurt you, you know. If there is some sort of rule against making interesting little gadgets, I absolutely do not care one whit about it.
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N-no, just...people do not usually... ['talk to me'] -ask about them.
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...
They are not hassling you over it, then.
[listen. KIDS ARE CRUEL, JACK. he wants to be sure.]
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[He shifted uncomfortably, picking up the boat again and starting to adjust a rusted screw.]
...I c-can not keep up with them, so they mostly just ignore me.
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[...he lets out a thoughtful hum.]
...You know, there are monsters where I live that construct mechanical suits for themselves that they pilot for movement. Admittedly, the strength of their constructs lie in jumping rather than running, but I would imagine it would still be impressive.
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cw internalized ableism
[child you are NINE]
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As much as I understand the impulse, trying to judge yourself in relation to others will, I think, only lead you to self-loathing and self-destruction.
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That is all anyone else does. Why is it wrong to judge myself as lacking just the same as they do?
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