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 he settled the cane back into his grip...there was a sudden warm realization settling itself in Viktor's chest at those words, something he had completely failed to realize until now.]
['You should be proud of what you've accomplished, Viktor.' '...Figments. My contributions will be short-lived. Even in your memory.']
[Leaving Runeterra behind would be easy, in itself. There was nowhere he belonged and none save for one person who would acknowledge his legacy as anything but that of a monster. No one else would remember who he really was, what he wished to accomplish, how much he had desperately tried to achieve...but the people with him now would. They would know him as Viktor, not the Machine Herald--even if they drifted apart once all was said and done, they would remember.]
...I once asked Jayce to see what I had accomplished--the people I believed I had saved. There was pride in the progress that had been made, before I came to understand the cruelty of what I had done.
[What had seemed an insane overreaction at the time was, in hindsight, the only response Viktor would have wanted in his right mind.]
This time, I am going to have accomplishments worth the pride I will take in them, and make sure he knows of every single person that has been so integral to it. I doubt myself to be so eternal, but for as long as this machine functions it will do so as the collaborative result of all we have done here, and I will be glad to know carrying that witin myself will make a hollow shell much less empty.
[That crooked smile widened with just a little more confidence, Viktor's free hand settling into Vakama's.]
But first, we must see this through to the end. For now, let's go home. They'll be waiting for us.
[That grip squeezes just so as Vakama straightens up, eyes a little brighter for the relief he feels.]
Together, Viktor. We will see this through.
[Now it was just a matter of getting this dream state to dissolve. But Viktor had wanted to head to the docks for a reason. Whether their surroundings start to turn to shift on the way or not, he will let Viktor take the definitive steps towards that choice - leaving a bittersweet memory of impossibilities and heartache, and falling towards an unknown yet unspoken for by one's regrets.
If Viktor falters, Vakama will be there to wait, to gently encourage him forward with that joint touch. However long it takes, he will get them back out of there.
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['You should be proud of what you've accomplished, Viktor.'
'...Figments. My contributions will be short-lived. Even in your memory.']
[Leaving Runeterra behind would be easy, in itself. There was nowhere he belonged and none save for one person who would acknowledge his legacy as anything but that of a monster. No one else would remember who he really was, what he wished to accomplish, how much he had desperately tried to achieve...but the people with him now would. They would know him as Viktor, not the Machine Herald--even if they drifted apart once all was said and done, they would remember.]
...I once asked Jayce to see what I had accomplished--the people I believed I had saved. There was pride in the progress that had been made, before I came to understand the cruelty of what I had done.
[What had seemed an insane overreaction at the time was, in hindsight, the only response Viktor would have wanted in his right mind.]
This time, I am going to have accomplishments worth the pride I will take in them, and make sure he knows of every single person that has been so integral to it. I doubt myself to be so eternal, but for as long as this machine functions it will do so as the collaborative result of all we have done here, and I will be glad to know carrying that witin myself will make a hollow shell much less empty.
[That crooked smile widened with just a little more confidence, Viktor's free hand settling into Vakama's.]
But first, we must see this through to the end. For now, let's go home. They'll be waiting for us.
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Together, Viktor. We will see this through.
[Now it was just a matter of getting this dream state to dissolve. But Viktor had wanted to head to the docks for a reason. Whether their surroundings start to turn to shift on the way or not, he will let Viktor take the definitive steps towards that choice - leaving a bittersweet memory of impossibilities and heartache, and falling towards an unknown yet unspoken for by one's regrets.
If Viktor falters, Vakama will be there to wait, to gently encourage him forward with that joint touch. However long it takes, he will get them back out of there.
He promised, after all.]