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.
Ah--something like that. [He looked around a little uneasily, trying not to think about what this was vaguely reminding him of.] Could I trouble you to tell me more about this place?
This is the Eldan Sanctum. Our hidden refuge from the world - I believed that you, as a fellow elda, had come here to join us in our seclusion. Doubtlessly, you have endured much in the world outside.
[ The baby, uncaring for talk of discrimination, grasps at her hair. ]
[ So... funny thing, Viktor. The moment you say 'sudden attack' a dark cloud begins to cover the sun. And was there always such a cool breeze here? There's a sense of foreboding in the air now. You'll get the sense that you are running out of time.
But Allice, for her part, seems to be wholly oblivious to this. ]
I am quite sorry to hear it. We already live in such seclusion, and yet the hatred of people can reach so far... It's a cruel fate we face, isn't it? But...
[ She smiles down at her baby while speaking now. ]
Things will change soon enough. I truly do believe it.
[ The good news is that the cold chill Viktor had been feeling is gone. The bad news is that this is due to the fact that the forest is on fire.
The tranquility of the clearing has been replaced with a dizzying overlay of sounds. The cracking of wood, the screams of the locals, the beltet orders of the invading soldiers. The beautiful green of the forest, the shining white of the flowers... they're replaced by red flame and black ash.
But Viktor may find himself wanting to return to the 'cracking of wood' sound because... that's a burning tree falling right onto the spot he's currently standing. At least his Emerald shard power seems to be amplified here, and though he may not think himself capable of it in his current form, he could still call it forth. ]
[The Hexclaw unfolded as if on its own instinct rather than Viktor's--bronze and silver metal rather than the biomechanics it was usually comprised of, firing a bright blue laser to cut the tree apart before it could do any significant damage. Flinching back from flying splinters and embers, he choked back a sudden sharp panic and tried to keep himself focused. He was not a combatant even in the Herald's body, and this one stood only so much chance with or without his ability.]
Allice, we have to get out of here. What's the quickest way out of this forest?
[ It will take a moment to spot Alice again. In the moment it took for the scenery to change, she also vanished from the spot she'd just been. In fact, she'd approaching Viktor from a different direction now, her steps staggering.
As she comes in closer, Viktor will find that it's not just a trick of the horrible flickering light that made her dress appear bright red - she's got a broken spear sticking out of her side, and blood is spreading through the fabric of her clothing in a circular pattern.
She doesn't respond until she's in front of Viktor, but when she is... she shoves her crying baby into his arms. ]
To the East-- you have to-- get him out of here-- I beg of you.
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[ Now she's baffled. ]
This is the Eldan Sanctum. Our hidden refuge from the world - I believed that you, as a fellow elda, had come here to join us in our seclusion. Doubtlessly, you have endured much in the world outside.
[ The baby, uncaring for talk of discrimination, grasps at her hair. ]
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[Not technically a lie, which was good becuse Viktor could not lie to save his damn life.]
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But Allice, for her part, seems to be wholly oblivious to this. ]
I am quite sorry to hear it. We already live in such seclusion, and yet the hatred of people can reach so far... It's a cruel fate we face, isn't it? But...
[ She smiles down at her baby while speaking now. ]
Things will change soon enough. I truly do believe it.
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[He was decidedly not a fan of the unpleasant chill down his spine at the change in atmosphere, or the best guess of what it might have meant.]
I am accustomed to it. But...I do think that things can change, so long as people exist with the will to give others better lives.
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I can already tell that you'll get along with my husband. We're not legally married yet, but it's only a matter of time now. Right?
[ That question goes out to the baby, who continues to be a baby and thus does not give any intelligible reply.
And Viktor? You start smelling smoke in the air. ]
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[Yeah. He really wished he hadn't expected that.]
Your husband--where is he right about now?
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[ And that is as far as the conversation goes, before that sense of doom is going to catch up real hard. Roll a D20, please. ]
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The tranquility of the clearing has been replaced with a dizzying overlay of sounds. The cracking of wood, the screams of the locals, the beltet orders of the invading soldiers. The beautiful green of the forest, the shining white of the flowers... they're replaced by red flame and black ash.
But Viktor may find himself wanting to return to the 'cracking of wood' sound because... that's a burning tree falling right onto the spot he's currently standing. At least his Emerald shard power seems to be amplified here, and though he may not think himself capable of it in his current form, he could still call it forth. ]
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Allice, we have to get out of here. What's the quickest way out of this forest?
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As she comes in closer, Viktor will find that it's not just a trick of the horrible flickering light that made her dress appear bright red - she's got a broken spear sticking out of her side, and blood is spreading through the fabric of her clothing in a circular pattern.
She doesn't respond until she's in front of Viktor, but when she is... she shoves her crying baby into his arms. ]
To the East-- you have to-- get him out of here-- I beg of you.