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.
[ They blink at that; come to think of it, this is the first that they have heard of such a thing.
Is that why there was the little back and forth with that gaze...? Most definitely a trace of nervousness. ]
Hmm?
...In retrospect, I'm afraid I hardly know much about you. This Phantom Ruby is crucial to your existence? To the point it threatens your entire being to be without it? Under normal circumstances?
Yes. I won't pretend to understand the intricacies of it, but my very being is tied to the Phantom Ruby - or at least it was back in my original world. I underwent a... procedure to gain the Phantom Ruby's power, and as a result, it is essentially a part of me.
[So being without it has been Weird, but tolerable because it's the Void and he's had other things to think about. But now that the Phantom Ruby has been found and it's in Shadow's hands...]
My assumption was that with the destruction of the Phantom Ruby, I would cease to exist. But since it remains, so do I, and I need it back.
[ More important points of connection and consideration; though, as they're speaking more, their curiosity persists. It is evident that Infinite must have gone through a procedure because he desired power - from this Phantom Ruby. ]
You had the procedure to grow stronger, yes?
...Though, given how it is so integral to your existence, did you ever consider explaining as such to Shadow? Or trying to find another way to convince him, seeing as the power imbalance between you two happens to be rather insurmountable? If you can find him, I suppose.
[ To be honest, they aren't exactly sure that Infinite's chances in convincing Shadow would be great nonetheless. But, nothing is impossible, right? Either way, this has continued to stoke that curiosity; they do wonder how it'll go. ]
...Oh, wait. If it is so deeply connected to you, are you even able to sense where it is?
Unfortunately, I can't sense it at all. Usually it is connected to me so there would have been no need to be able to sense its presence elsewhere.
[Though it's also broken so maybe that's part of it...?? Honestly, he has no idea. Maybe he should've asked Eggman literally anything about how it worked but oh well! Can't do that now!!
As for Shadow... Well. Infinite's gaze darts again.]
I assumed he was the one I fought before; if he had been, he would have already known.
[So that's a "no" to using his words. Are you really surprised, though.]
[ They give a bit of a chuckle, hearing that. They're not really all that surprised that he is power-hungry, considering. ]
...I'd say unbelievable, but...
I find it hardly all that surprising. You don't quite seem like the type to have considered such matters - though, this means that the road ahead isn't exactly looking like one you'll travel easily.
[ Essentially, back to square one. Though... ]
In the event you can't obtain the Phantom Ruby, what will you end up doing? Finding another way to get a different version of it? Try to find another way to persist...? Or perhaps stay here?
[ Shadow sure doesn't seem like he's easy to track down, at any rate. And not just to the still-recovering Infinite, but to everyone else. For now, anyway. ]
[There's a long moment of pause after that question. Infinite finally sighs, annoyed.]
I don't know. I'd rather not stay here, but I don't have any other means of obtaining the Phantom Ruby. Perhaps traveling to another world to claim it would be feasible, but I don't have the means to do it.
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no subject
Is that why there was the little back and forth with that gaze...? Most definitely a trace of nervousness. ]
Hmm?
...In retrospect, I'm afraid I hardly know much about you. This Phantom Ruby is crucial to your existence? To the point it threatens your entire being to be without it? Under normal circumstances?
no subject
[So being without it has been Weird, but tolerable because it's the Void and he's had other things to think about. But now that the Phantom Ruby has been found and it's in Shadow's hands...]
My assumption was that with the destruction of the Phantom Ruby, I would cease to exist. But since it remains, so do I, and I need it back.
no subject
You had the procedure to grow stronger, yes?
...Though, given how it is so integral to your existence, did you ever consider explaining as such to Shadow? Or trying to find another way to convince him, seeing as the power imbalance between you two happens to be rather insurmountable? If you can find him, I suppose.
[ To be honest, they aren't exactly sure that Infinite's chances in convincing Shadow would be great nonetheless. But, nothing is impossible, right? Either way, this has continued to stoke that curiosity; they do wonder how it'll go. ]
...Oh, wait. If it is so deeply connected to you, are you even able to sense where it is?
no subject
[He is a simple jackal. Give power.]
Unfortunately, I can't sense it at all. Usually it is connected to me so there would have been no need to be able to sense its presence elsewhere.
[Though it's also broken so maybe that's part of it...?? Honestly, he has no idea. Maybe he should've asked Eggman literally anything about how it worked but oh well! Can't do that now!!
As for Shadow... Well. Infinite's gaze darts again.]
I assumed he was the one I fought before; if he had been, he would have already known.
[So that's a "no" to using his words. Are you really surprised, though.]
no subject
...I'd say unbelievable, but...
I find it hardly all that surprising. You don't quite seem like the type to have considered such matters - though, this means that the road ahead isn't exactly looking like one you'll travel easily.
[ Essentially, back to square one. Though... ]
In the event you can't obtain the Phantom Ruby, what will you end up doing? Finding another way to get a different version of it? Try to find another way to persist...? Or perhaps stay here?
[ Shadow sure doesn't seem like he's easy to track down, at any rate. And not just to the still-recovering Infinite, but to everyone else. For now, anyway. ]
no subject
I don't know. I'd rather not stay here, but I don't have any other means of obtaining the Phantom Ruby. Perhaps traveling to another world to claim it would be feasible, but I don't have the means to do it.
[You guys are the ones with rings, not him.]
no subject
...I suppose that just simply means should everything happen to work out for the worst, you may have to ask one of us for assistance in this?
[ They try to imagine Infinite doing so.
It's a little hard, since as they recall, they can remember exactly how prideful the furry guy can be. ]
no subject
I don't need anyone's help.
[infinite you are such a goddamn liar.]
no subject
Now, now...
It's never too bad of an idea to consider it for the future! You never know when it just might be necessary~