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.
THIS POWER WAS ATTAINED TO HELP OTHERS. TO SAVE THEM FROM THEMSELVES. FLAWED HUMANITY CAN NOT BE TRUSTED TO KNOW HOW TO END THEIR OWN SENSELESS CONFLICTS. I...I AM MORE THAN THAT. THE HERALD OF A WORLD ETERNALLY FREE OF PAIN AND SUFFERING.
[Said in a scolding tone;] Well for starters, as a scientist you should know full well that evolution doesn't have a destination, Viktor. All species evolved from the same starting point, but none of them are "right," are they? They all serve their own unique roles in the ecosystem.
Besides that, who decides what "perfect" looks like? Who decides what a "flaw" is? For example, often the same things that make a brilliant detective are also problems in other avenues of their lives. Sherlock Holmes is able to pursue leads in a case with incredible zeal, but it's this same need for mental stimulation that drives him to abuse drugs when he doesn't have a case to occupy his time.
Well I like this body! But if your plan is for everyone to just not go out and experience things in order to avoid pain, then I can say from experience that while that's safe it's also miserable.
Are you the kind of guy who keeps all his collectibles in the packaging or something?
[The form of that massive and unknowable cosmic horror seemed to flicker omewhat, an almost imperceptibly gradual change--like he was slowly getting smaller.]
SURELY NO MEASURE OF JOY IS WORTH THE SENSELESS PAIN AND SUFFERING. EVEN MISERY WOULD BE NONEXISTENT TO AN EVOLVED HUMANKIND.
[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.
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no subject
THIS POWER WAS ATTAINED TO HELP OTHERS. TO SAVE THEM FROM THEMSELVES. FLAWED HUMANITY CAN NOT BE TRUSTED TO KNOW HOW TO END THEIR OWN SENSELESS CONFLICTS. I...I AM MORE THAN THAT. THE HERALD OF A WORLD ETERNALLY FREE OF PAIN AND SUFFERING.no subject
Anyway, a world free of pain and suffering is one thing, but isn't this also a world free of joy as well?
no subject
...NO. I AM NO LONGER HUMAN. FREE OF MY WEAKNESSES AND FAILINGS. PERFECT, AS HUMANKIND LONGS TO BE.[Another hesitation, the space almost feeling as though it shook with the silent uncertainty.]
WHAT VALUE IS JOY WHEN IT IS FLEETING INSTANTS IN A LIFETIME OF SUFFERING? THE EQUATION IS NOT BALANCED. IT MUST ALL BE ERASED.no subject
Now you just sound like a kid who knocks the game board over when he's losing. That's your "perfect" and "more evolved" solution?
no subject
EVOLUTION HAS A DESTINATION. THIS IS THE FINAL, PERFECT FORM OF HUMANITY LIBERATED FROM ITS FLAWS.
WHAT IS SO WRONG ABOUT THIS SOLUTION?
no subject
Well for starters, as a scientist you should know full well that evolution doesn't have a destination, Viktor. All species evolved from the same starting point, but none of them are "right," are they? They all serve their own unique roles in the ecosystem.
Besides that, who decides what "perfect" looks like? Who decides what a "flaw" is? For example, often the same things that make a brilliant detective are also problems in other avenues of their lives. Sherlock Holmes is able to pursue leads in a case with incredible zeal, but it's this same need for mental stimulation that drives him to abuse drugs when he doesn't have a case to occupy his time.
no subject
THAT...NO. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. WHY DO YOU RESIST, WHEN YOU SO READILY ACCEPT PERFECTION?no subject
Are you the kind of guy who keeps all his collectibles in the packaging or something?
no subject
SURELY NO MEASURE OF JOY IS WORTH THE SENSELESS PAIN AND SUFFERING. EVEN MISERY WOULD BE NONEXISTENT TO AN EVOLVED HUMANKIND.no subject
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.