FINAL CONFRONTATION

[metaloverlord]

Throughout this week, you all have been hard at work preparing for your final confrontation with the person behind all of this - Neo Metal Sonic. His fleet of ships has taken over the skies, and Tails has been working on a means to get you safely onto the correct one. Given that you've all been called into the workshop today, it seems like it's finally time.

"I've got the correct coordinates and we're ready to go. We'll all be joining you in this fight."

Sonic nods and continues, "Let's avoid a repeat of last time, yeah? I'm still going to try to keep his attention on me since the plan is still the same - you guys have gotta knock the Master Emerald outta him!"

"You all have had some practice with your powers and with what the Master Emerald can do, so you should be better prepared for this fight. Still, remain on guard!"

Tails flicks the device to life and a portal opens. Unlike the rings, this one doesn't show where exactly you'll be going. "Everyone ready? Let's put an end to this."

You arrive in the interior of one of those ships - the long hallway you're in is made of thick, dark silver steel, with absolutely nothing in the way of décor. The way behind you leads to a door - gated shut, with seemingly no way to open it from this side - while the path ahead of you leads up a small flight of stairs to what can only be described as a throne. It is simplistic in design and still made of that dark, practical steel without any adornments or embellishments, but it provides Neo Metal Sonic a height advantage to loom over you, something he couldn't really manage on most of you without taking to floating.

He sits in the chair now, red eyes fixed on all of you. One elbow is propped on the arm of the chair and his chin leans against his hand, giving off the air of "bored monarch" that he's probably going for.

"So you've arrived. You've kept me waiting."

He gets up then, rising to float as he had before, sparks of that familiar green Chaos Energy flaring to life around him. "Let's not waste any more time. I'll destroy you all here and now. And you," his eyes flick to Sonic, "will trouble me no further."

"Does it even really count when I'm not the version of Sonic you've fought before...?"

"Silence." Sonic shrugs and Neo Metal Sonic dismisses him, turning his attention back to you all. "You all have caused enough problems for me. Once I've crushed you all, nothing will be able to stop me."

NAVIGATION

Comments

[hexalding]

The future is a terrifying and uncertain thing. Many do not have the luxury of a promised tomorrow to begin with. I was terrified to awaken to this task laid out before us; I should have died. I would have deserved as much, but that was not what circumstances decided my fate to be.

[By all rights, he should have disassembled the evolution, sent every living soul including Jayce back to where they all belonged, and atomized himself body and soul on the spot.]

I was given a chance--and even after everything, you deserve to have the same. No one is beeyond change, and the only way to learn to move forward is to let someone pull you the first few steps until you can stand on your own. Collective strength-

[True collective strength, born of free will--not the amalgam he had created. Genuine cooperation, born of love and care instead of the hollow shell that ripped out all cnflict.]

Collective strength will let us transcend our limitations-!

[And to prove that point, he launched another explosive firework directly at Metal Madness' core.]

[morningstud]

Forgiveness is quite a strange thing, isn't it? I'll be honest; it is not a strong suit of mine.

[Lucifer has long been the stews-in-anger sort, and he doesn't forgive many, himself included. But he comes to Viktor's aid nevertheless, shielding him in case Metal Madness decides to counter the attack before he attacks with his trusty bat.]

But if that is what we've decided, I'll have to live with it.

[hexalding]

Make no mistake--if this fails, I will not stop any of you doing what is necessary.

...But I have to try. Until I am certain he can not be reached, I have to try.

[morningstud]

I understand.

[Oh, boy. Does he understand.

He'll never not regret killing Uriel. He'll never know what could have been, had he tried anything beside the gut impulse he'd had.]

This reaction... it's proof that he has a soul, even if he does not believe it.

[hexalding]

He does; of that, I am absolutely certain. As one who made his mistakes and lived to regret them...he deserves that chance regardless of whether he takes it or not.

[morningstud]

Indeed.

Even immortal beings can have regrets and pains.