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.
[Well, Raven certainly won't complain about a dream sending him to a bar, even if it's an unfamiliar one. It looks nice enough- exactly the sort of place he'd happily rest his weary bones at the end of a long day.
He approaches the counter and slides into an open seat in front of the bartender, passing a glance at the girl as she scampers off before giving the man his full attention.]
Evenin'. Got any recommendations fer a newcomer?
[At least Raven doesn't look out of place in a Zaun bar.]
[He seemed to think that over before reaching over to a shelf; after a moment, a glass of whiskey and ice was set down in front of Raven. Just like the bar itself--decent quality, made better by welcoming surroundings.]
Hard to go wrong with the basics. You new to the city?
[He raises his glass in thanks and takes a sip. Now that hits the spot.]
Yep. Lookin' ta make a fresh start. Figured the local waterin' hole would be a good of a place as any ta start gettin' a feel fer the place.
[It's not far off from his experience in Dahngrest, only he didn't intentionally go there to start a new life. The new life just sort of happened in the process.]
Hell of a place to settle. [But if such a thing was odd, that was as far as it was questioned. He shrugged and went back to cleaning glasses, unfazed.]
But I guess Zaun's where most end up when they've got nowhere else. Name's Vander, and the little anklebiter is- [A strange sound followed, like two names layered at once.] She and her sister live here, and we've got one other topside at the Academy.
[Sure enough, this Zaun place continues to mirror Dahngrest. When you're down on your luck and need a place to turn to...at least there's somewhere that's willing to take you in if you work hard to earn your keep.]
Pleasure ta meetcha, Vander. Name's Raven. [He takes another sip, eyeing the surroundings.] I reckon I'll be frequentin' yer establishment from now on, so I hope ya don't get too sick of seein' me.
["Jinxder" sounds like such a lovely name "Topside", huh... Must be the nicer part of the city, Raven figures.]
Don't know much about it in detail, myself. Viktor's always been messing around with some machinery or other--last I knew he was trying to design air and water filters. He was supposedly coming home tonight, but he's probably running late working with that Talis kid.
[some things are universal constants even in idealized worlds, and viktor overworking is one of them]
Hm--lost his parents a while back. But the Undercity takes care of her own.
[Something felt off at that assertion; the already floaty and indistinct atmosphere briefly seemed to flicker with some kind of static, as if the world itself was taking notice of something 'wrong'. Like missing a step on a flight of stairs.]
[But then there came the sound of the door opening, followed by the tap tap-tap of uneven footsteps on the floor--Viktor himself, at least ten years younger and fully human, lacking gold highlights in shorter dark hair and leaning on a cane as he walked in.]
Sorry I'm late-...?
[And then again, that missed stair sensation as recognition flickered across gold eyes before begining to adjust to whatever narrative existed here.]
[Extremely. But having attention called to it seemed to bring a look of faint confusion to Viktor's face--like he knew something was off, but not what or how.]
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He approaches the counter and slides into an open seat in front of the bartender, passing a glance at the girl as she scampers off before giving the man his full attention.]
Evenin'. Got any recommendations fer a newcomer?
[At least Raven doesn't look out of place in a Zaun bar.]
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Hard to go wrong with the basics. You new to the city?
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[He raises his glass in thanks and takes a sip. Now that hits the spot.]
Yep. Lookin' ta make a fresh start. Figured the local waterin' hole would be a good of a place as any ta start gettin' a feel fer the place.
[It's not far off from his experience in Dahngrest, only he didn't intentionally go there to start a new life. The new life just sort of happened in the process.]
no subject
But I guess Zaun's where most end up when they've got nowhere else. Name's Vander, and the little anklebiter is- [A strange sound followed, like two names layered at once.] She and her sister live here, and we've got one other topside at the Academy.
no subject
[Sure enough, this Zaun place continues to mirror Dahngrest. When you're down on your luck and need a place to turn to...at least there's somewhere that's willing to take you in if you work hard to earn your keep.]
Pleasure ta meetcha, Vander. Name's Raven. [He takes another sip, eyeing the surroundings.] I reckon I'll be frequentin' yer establishment from now on, so I hope ya don't get too sick of seein' me.
[
"Jinxder" sounds like such a lovely name"Topside", huh... Must be the nicer part of the city, Raven figures.]Oh, yeah? What're they studyin'?
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[some things are universal constants even in idealized worlds, and viktor overworking is one of them]
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Viktor's yer kid? I never woulda guessed!
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[Something felt off at that assertion; the already floaty and indistinct atmosphere briefly seemed to flicker with some kind of static, as if the world itself was taking notice of something 'wrong'. Like missing a step on a flight of stairs.]
[But then there came the sound of the door opening, followed by the tap tap-tap of uneven footsteps on the floor--Viktor himself, at least ten years younger and fully human, lacking gold highlights in shorter dark hair and leaning on a cane as he walked in.]
Sorry I'm late-...?
[And then again, that missed stair sensation as recognition flickered across gold eyes before begining to adjust to whatever narrative existed here.]
no subject
Before he can think too deeply about it, the man in question shows up. The young man in question, even.]
Well, well! Speak of the devil! [His gaze moves up and down as he takes in the sight of Viktor.] Ya look different from what I remember, Viktor.
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[Extremely. But having attention called to it seemed to bring a look of faint confusion to Viktor's face--like he knew something was off, but not what or how.]
I am fairly sure this is just how I look.
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[He waves his hand as he tries to think of a way to phrase it...]
Metal-y? [The word is metallic, Raven.] And more like my age?
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Gods, Vander, what have you been putting in those drinks lately? Raven, are you alright?