After eight long, difficult weeks of fighting, you've finally done it. You've put an end to Neo Metal Sonic's dreams of conquest and with it, you've saved not only this world, but all worlds. Perhaps not everything is wrapped up as neatly as some of you would like, but you've done what you set out to do, and now you can breathe a sigh of relief.
In the hours that follow the immediate aftermath of Neo Metal Sonic's defeat, Tails sets about figuring out how to control the Egg Fleet and recall them to where Neo Metal Sonic had them stationed. Sonic heads out into the city - and then even further beyond - to ensure that the people are starting to regain their senses without anyone to suppress their free will anymore. Knuckles escorts you back to the base, then takes a ring to hop into the Void to let Shadow and Infinite know what's going on.
As for you all? You aren't expected to do any work, because you've done so much today. Take a load off and take the time to rest - you deserve it.
For those of you who can't wait to get home, you're welcome to grab a ring from one of your colorful friends and head straight back, but for those of you willing to take the night off and regroup in the morning, you'll find that said colorful friends have put together a party for you - or, well, they tried their best. The decorations are store-bought (or not) and simple, Sonic seems to have thought confetti is the best way to throw a party and there is so much of it getting showered on all of you the moment you walk into the room, and someone obtained a sheet cake that did not have any sort of message on it, so an awkwardly scrawled message of "THANKS FOR HELP" is written in bright green icing that clashes with the cake's soft pink and red color scheme. An attempt was made.
You're welcome to hang out here - both in the new base and in this world as a whole - for as long as you'd like. Permanently, even, if you don't have any intention of going home. After all, you've more than earned it. Sonic and friends will gladly help you figure out a way to get settled here.
If you do choose to stay for any length of time and head out into the city, you'll find that people are indeed starting to return to their daily lives. They don't really understand - or remember - what happened, but they do recognize you as someone they have some innate fondness for, regardless of how startling your appearance may be to them. The city itself has seen better days thanks to the spread of Eggman's chroma, but thankfully the natural elements are recovering from that just fine. The buildings, streets, and the like will not naturally recover, so it seems Chicago's going to require some pretty intensive rebuilding...
But for the time being, everything is going smoothly, and you've done everything that was asked of you. You're free to return home. If you do, your shard may eventually come loose and simply fall off, ridding you of both the shard and its powers. Or maybe it won't, and you'll have that memory of your time in this world forever, along with the power innate to you and the ones you can activate from your fellow shardbearers whenever you're near each other.
Congratulations, shardbearers. You've done the impossible, and maybe even formed some new bonds along the way.
( Welcome to the final log of Shardbond! With this, you have successfully navigated your way through the Sonic friendship game and no one died! Hooray!!! For this final log, you may do whatever you'd like - if you want to use this to do an immediate aftermath top level, go for it! Party top level? Sure? Post-game top level? Have fun! You want to bring a castmate in and NPC them or have someone else play them? Also cool! Generally speaking, you are now free to do what you will with the setting as a whole - your fuzzy little friends will be hard at work making sure that you all are able to get home and/or get settled just fine, and they'll also be keeping an eye out for one (1) Neo Metal Sonic. And also Infinite, I guess, unless someone wants to take that stray jackal with them but like, no one needs that. )
[After he finally resolved something important, Viktor seemed much lighter for lack of any better word. There was so much to do, infinite potential and countless possibilities laid out in a world he still had so much to learn about. A real, tangible fresh start with a chance to do better and improve a world without destroying it utterly.]
[But before any of that, there were so many people to seek out; to make plans, say farewells, perhaps even point out a new companion for them to introduce themselves to at some point. He had already made it clear he was staying in Chicago, but that just meant those who were leaving would be greeted with a genuine warmth as Viktor went around checking up on his new friends before they went to wherever their next steps would take them. He moved with a practiced ease helped by the newer brace around his leg, staff remaining a telltale tap-taptap of his approach.]
[Each of them had been irrevocably changed; circumstances forcing them to adapt and shift to overcome the impossible, each challenging the other to advance before finally emerging as distinctly different forms of themselves in mind and spirit. There was something beautiful to that fraught and difficult process, Viktor thought. As chaotic and anomalous as wild magic was the concept of free will, the resolve and pain and joy and all else that made one human.]
[Jayce's smile widens into a delighted grin. Hearing Viktor's laugh and seeing his smile again- there's nothing like it. It's another sign that there really is a chance for them to return to how things once were before everything went to hell. This time, however, they have the benefit of foresight. They won't allow each other to stray from their path, to bring ruin where they sought prosperity. They'll do this the right away.
Together.
He breathes out a contented sigh as their foreheads touch.]
All right. But one last thing before we go.
[One last, very important thing. With a slight shift, he brings Viktor into a gentle kiss. This reunion and admitting of feelings wouldn't be complete without one.]
[...oh. Oh, that was actually important, Viktor freezing up for only an intant of processing before the machinery that comprised his entire body lost any and all tension, leaning back against his partner with a soft, contented sound. The last small piece that fit into place and made the pair of them a single unit working in perfect harmony. Just as things always should have been, just as they would for the rest of their lives.]
Jsi láska mého života. [He muttered that softly in the space of barely a breath between them, slipping into a soft endearment in his native language.]
...thank you. For-...all of it. You did so much for my sake, and I-I have done everything I can to make sure it counted.
the only draws back home are her friends, and... the rings, if they're able to continue using them, would help with that. she likes it here, though. especially as life begins to heal for the world.
she likes tails, sonic and knuckles. she likes the people she's met. she likes freedom. hell, she even likes? infinite?
which is wild considering that she wanted him dead when he finally revealed himself.
... it just... feels a little lonely. a little wrong.
mafuyu watches everyone else quietly, reserved. she'll keep to herself as always, but... )
[While he was doing all that hovering, Viktor took the liberty of catching him up on the past months. Or, in other words, talking his ear off in that particular way he did when met with an overabundance of new information to process into a larger breakthrough.]
--sounds as if the people of this world are starting to return to their senses, which is reassuring. Even if I still had the abilities I once did and even if I thought the risk worth an attempt, I do not think I could have utilized it to reverse the damage caused. [He gestured vaguely with his right hand, the faint purple glow offset by the emerald shard still set in his hand.] While I would like to further study this new form of energy, the last thing this world needs is another engineer manipulating what amounts to this world's magic.
[Janna forbid we fail to learn from our mistakes.]
[It feels absolutely right. So much happened for them to finally make it to this point, but Jayce will be eternally thankful to have even been given the opportunity. He allows himself a moment to lose himself in the blissful warmth of that kiss until the two of them need to breathe.]
I wouldn't doubt you for a second.
[Because there won't be any room for doubt, not anymore.]
Mm. Were it not such a fragile thing to degrade quickly over time, I wouldn't take such caution. There is many a reason Matoran carve out our records.
[But wait... Piltover?]
...Alone? [Concern immediately knits his expression as he straightens up in his seat.] After everything that had happened, Viktor, weren't you...
[In danger? But he cuts off the sentence with visible effort. It's worry that has no place, a chiding for something that's come and gone. Viktor had managed that trip once already for his tools and come back in one piece.
So he exhales, eyes drifting to the floor as he rewords his question.]
I would not have just wandered straight into the city on my own, I was able to open a portal straight to the laboratory this time. Call it practice, I suppose.
[He smiled crookedly, huffing out a laugh that almost sounded embarrassed.]
[The way his expression comically flattens with a raise of his brow at the start of that sentence should speak his opinions on how much he believes that. Viktor, holding off on the possible danger of something if he really had to get somewhere he believed he needed to be? Sounds fake.
The confirmation does ease his tension considerably, though.]
Good, good... [He doesn't need to ask why. Tools aside, there was only one primary reason Vakama knows that Viktor wanted to make sure he ever went back to Runeterra in the first place.]
[Viktor's smile found a mischievous edge as he tilted his head slightly.]
Of course, I know exactly where he is. [A small gesture with the hand not on his staff.] Down the hallway and probably considering dissecting a surveillance camera.
[Viktor laughed with a bright crooked smile, what violet lights were left uncovered by his outfit flickering and brightening--the kind of thing he did where an ordinary human would probably have flushed scarlet.]
Obviously, I was here to suggest you should talk to him. Besides, he has already been my second shadow, so it is not as though you two would fail to cross paths.
[ More looks at that notepad and considers for a moment, but doesn't write anything yet. ]
I believe I will have to get back to you on that - I know for certain that I am leaving and with whom, but we have still not finalized where we shall go.
[It's parroted. Vakama clearly does not have the energy to be partying right now and has been keeping to gentle pleasantries as Sonic and co have eagerly tried to show their gratitude. But he takes the distraction More brings, if it means a moment for a little bit of quiet.]
I don't see why not, but... what exactly did you have in mind?
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