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. )
[ They turned off the barrier at some point, so yeah, that is exactly what happens - and they pitch forward, stumbling in a unfortunate manner, before turning around, though they're still in a standing position after summoning a golden gun into their hand to point at their attacker.
They're about to pull the trigger, so who is it before they even think of letting loose an unfortunate high-powered blast...? ]
That is not a very nice greeting. I'm sure you'll understand that, hm?
[ Presumably they'll be able to see who it is before they even think of blasting here, because boy. ]
Further movement echoes from the stone. Matoran in hiding, now poised in many directions, to the sides and above. Discs and spears all aimed at the ready towards Void Archive, some even breaking the facade to gain closer distance to Void Archive when they point an unfamiliar weapon towards Vakama's voice.]
If you are here from the rings of the sea, you may take what answer I gave to your masters and be gone. There is nothing here for you.
[ Well, well...look who has just so happened to show up!
Void Archives simply shrugs their shoulders at this, hiding that nestled spot of irritability at the comparison between themselves and Makuta. ]
I behave like the Void Archives. After all, the Makuta would never have thought to have done what I did for the reasons I had.
[ ...okay, maybe that irritability isn't exactly completely hidden. But, still, the point remains. Somewhere in there - they seem hardly afraid of the weapons pointing at them. It's not the first time many have pointed weaponry at them, actually! ]
On the other subject, you can stop talking about nonsensical rubbish.
I came here to visit. Also, I decided to test these defenses of yours...which are sorely lacking. Truly, what would happen if a destructive force from outer space landed here? You'd all be quite in a situation!
[They immediately get smacked with a stick again, this time directly into their face.
And again, and again, as the elder completely forgoes his invisibility in the lack of concentration, expression on the unfamiliar mask drawn up in very visible and familiar irritation.]
Rubbish?! Rubbish!?!? This, THIS here- [Another attempt at a smack right across the teeth --] --This is the ONLY rubbish I see! You behave like that skull of yours is full of nothing but rocks!
[WHACK WHACK WHACK]
You muddied fool, you Karzahni-brained child of a lava eel--!!!!
[ Vakama could probably get away with it ease last time, but in regards of swinging directly towards/into their face? He will find resistance as they hold up their arm(s) to take the brunt of the damage.
You know...literally all of the hits. On the flipside, this means that they wouldn't have had time to accidentally shoot or anything like that. ]
Well, well, someone has grown to be quite the fierce old man, haven't they? What a pity that you seem to believe that this is the way to be! I had been helping you all along, and this is the thanks I get?
[ In the grand scheme of things, they've been hit harder than this before. Though, speaking of which... ]
[ ...But, is he expecting a sneak attack from below? Because while he's whacking them, Void Archives is going to make some chains appear to extend, then move from one spot on the ground, to try to wrap around/grab one of Vakama's legs in one fluid motion. And then, you know, yoink him.
You know, in an attempt to drag and then trip him up. ]
[Even with one of the Matoran calling out at the glimmer of light, the Turaga is nowhere near as nimble as he had been months ago as a Toa. It takes very little effort to send him crashing to the ground, staff clattering against the stone.
The village erupts into verbal chaos. Some are horribly frightened. Some scream at Void Archive to stop, to leave the Turaga alone. Quite a few, both armed and otherwise, break the distance, one even no longer caring about safety as he launches himself bodily at one of Void Archive's very long legs, attempting to climb them like a tree with a hand yanking against their hair.
There's a winded, gasping mutter from the elder -- "stop, stop, don't" -- but the fall has taken his volume from him, and the Matoran act as one, attempting less to injure Void Archive and more to drive them away from Vakama.]
[ Void Archives tended for it to be little more than an innocent prank, but they are re-learning how the individuals in this society conduct themselves when it comes to revered figures. Granted, they never really cared too much about that before in the mindscape besides logging the data as potentially information that would assist in their goal, but the snippets made some aspects clear. As well as previous discussions with Vakama himself.
Regardless, this is going to be an issue...
If it weren't them that was dealing with. Their attention at an all time high. The one who leapt on him is suddenly throw off with such speed and force, well. He may hardly have realized what happened - if he takes a few hair strands or so with him, it hardly matters.
The rest don't get the courtesy of being able to come close, because they will simply collide with a golden barrier. ]
Stop panicking already. I haven't done anything else other than make him trip.
Or, continue to panic and make yourselves look like fools. It is your choice.
[Their insistence doesn't do much to calm the small mob, though they have successfully frightened enough of them to take pause on further action. Those that try to run forward once more halt in their tracks as Vakama raises a shaking hand from the ground, instead gesturing towards the dazed Matoran that had been thrown back at such highspeed against one of the huts.
The elder's eyes burn like fire as he struggles back to his feet.]
You come into our home, do such pointlessly destructive and disruptive things, endanger our people, and yet you stand here and have the gall to demand for peace and calm.
Perhaps you are not the Makuta, because you clearly learn nothing. [Pointedly sharp despite its vagueness. "Bitch."] And you are not welcome here.
[He weakly grabs for his staff, leaning his weight against it as he points a finger towards the gates.]
[ There truly isn't much to be done here - at the least Void Archives has prevented anyone from being truly hurt. Really, shouldn't they be praised for that? In the past, they would have been far more careless with their strength; far more excited into giving far more of a ruthless example without a single bit of care. Though perhaps rather than "excitement" it'd be "logical" for them to carry out something so cold and ruthless.
This, to them, is not as bad. Either way, they are not interested in leaving just yet. ]
Ah, ah, just one moment.
Learn from nothing? My, my. I can sit here and brag all day about the extensive capability of my learning - how that even that so-called Makuta can't even so much as dare come close to it, but I will save time. For all parties.
Indeed, instead of immediately leaving, I shall do you a favor, and reiterate that I merely thought to test the capabilities of your fellow companions. Of your defenses.
...And it seems that I find them sadly lacking. Do know that my intentions were pure - based in logic. I would be quite disappointed if you would meet an end due to such poor constructions. Surely even you realize the inherent danger in this...?
[Well if they had any doubts that the Vakama they knew was still here, the way his expression just deadens the longer the rant goes on should be an easy indicator, even if the Matoran around him start to mutter in confusion.]
However dangerous its warning, spew from the mouth of a volcano cannot parade itself to be rain when it is only hot air.
[He waves over one of the guards to start firmly handing out orders, some semblance of reigning in the chaos and pulling the villagers out of their frightened, frozen state. The guards disperse, torches slowly starting to relight, uneasy glances over shoulders as some are herded back to their homes and some run back to previous posts - not unlike a hive slowly falling straight back into careful motion.
The Turaga bores his gaze back into Void Archive, eyes narrowed as he starts to walk back towards the gate, a weak attempt to whack them on the back of the leg again in passing, voice significantly quieter but not losing its sharpness.]
Logic or otherwise, you paint yourself as nothing more than a danger this way, not something of awe or respect. [Every word is clipped, because oooooh how he could explode on this stupid stupid cube again if he weren't aware of the hundreds of eyes on both of them...]
[ Certainly! They are familiar with that reaction, it's...
...well, it's not a good one, actually, isn't it. Void Archives soldiers on, regardless. Surely he'll figure that they're being very helpful! Except there Vakama goes, delivering his words like he's the elder here - which, actually, he is, and Void Archives certainly is the younger one by far. ]
You are ever so fond of your sayings.
[ Really! But, they sigh as the Turaga essentially gets things Moving along - might as well let him take care of those little matters as they begin to move towards the gate as well. They had not dispelled the thin, barely visible golden barrier, so the whack does not do Much, though their put-out expression turns briefly amused at the movement. ]
Well, you certainly do know more about this land...and its customs, so I shall at the least follow along.
Though, I do wonder what it is you will have new to tell me since I have met you last. After all, it seems you have truly embraced a very new role here - I suppose in line with your duty and all.
Ah, well...at the very least, you are definitely alive. And not being terrorized by anything else, hm?
[ Unless Void Archives counts as that something else. Meanwhile, they have no idea that Vakama is truly trying to hold in erupting like a volcano. They just figure he's very cranky; age does that, they suppose. ]
...That is what happens when you intrude on one's place of living. [Delivered dryly.] If you are not willing to listen to the one who built this village, then who here is to trust you will listen to anything at all?
That won't get you much knowledge for your archives.
[It's the closest he's been so far to acknowledging that: hi, hello, yes he remembers you very well, Void, there is many reasons he is being vague as hell.]
You will get nothing else from me until your feet are outside the borders. So I suggest you walk with me, "traveler". Let us go back to that sea you love so much, before you cause any more strife.
I'm listening! Can you not see me moving to the gate? Does that not count?
[ Void Archives declares this with great cheer - look at them, they're moving their feet!
Interestingly enough, despite the entirety of the time that they've been talking, they've made no strict reference to the time in Shardbond, or any strict references to deducing that they've concluded they are speaking with Vakama.
Small mercies, really. But, Vakama's acknowledgment does at the least make it clear that he hasn't forgotten them...not that...anyone can forget this cube so easily, let's be real. In fact, they even send him a look of amusement at the comment about the archives. ]
...As for the sea, I wonder if you are correct about myself being oh-so-fond of it. I wouldn't exactly consider it the most hospitable! Such places can be quite filled with turmoil, and the like. I'm sure you understand, hm?
[ Their pace will be leisurely, though. Why should they rush? ]
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no subject
[ They turned off the barrier at some point, so yeah, that is exactly what happens - and they pitch forward, stumbling in a unfortunate manner, before turning around, though they're still in a standing position after summoning a golden gun into their hand to point at their attacker.
They're about to pull the trigger, so who is it before they even think of letting loose an unfortunate high-powered blast...? ]
That is not a very nice greeting. I'm sure you'll understand that, hm?
[ Presumably they'll be able to see who it is before they even think of blasting here, because boy. ]
no subject
[The accent and cadence, though incredibly roughened and worn as though with old age, will immediately pinpoint their unseen assailant as Vakama, though the voice comes from much lower than expected.
Further movement echoes from the stone. Matoran in hiding, now poised in many directions, to the sides and above. Discs and spears all aimed at the ready towards Void Archive, some even breaking the facade to gain closer distance to Void Archive when they point an unfamiliar weapon towards Vakama's voice.]
If you are here from the rings of the sea, you may take what answer I gave to your masters and be gone. There is nothing here for you.
no subject
Void Archives simply shrugs their shoulders at this, hiding that nestled spot of irritability at the comparison between themselves and Makuta. ]
I behave like the Void Archives. After all, the Makuta would never have thought to have done what I did for the reasons I had.
[ ...okay, maybe that irritability isn't exactly completely hidden. But, still, the point remains. Somewhere in there - they seem hardly afraid of the weapons pointing at them. It's not the first time many have pointed weaponry at them, actually! ]
On the other subject, you can stop talking about nonsensical rubbish.
I came here to visit. Also, I decided to test these defenses of yours...which are sorely lacking. Truly, what would happen if a destructive force from outer space landed here? You'd all be quite in a situation!
no subject
And again, and again, as the elder completely forgoes his invisibility in the lack of concentration, expression on the unfamiliar mask drawn up in very visible and familiar irritation.]
Rubbish?! Rubbish!?!? This, THIS here- [Another attempt at a smack right across the teeth --] --This is the ONLY rubbish I see! You behave like that skull of yours is full of nothing but rocks!
[WHACK WHACK WHACK]
You muddied fool, you Karzahni-brained child of a lava eel--!!!!
1/2
You know...literally all of the hits. On the flipside, this means that they wouldn't have had time to accidentally shoot or anything like that. ]
Well, well, someone has grown to be quite the fierce old man, haven't they? What a pity that you seem to believe that this is the way to be! I had been helping you all along, and this is the thanks I get?
[ In the grand scheme of things, they've been hit harder than this before. Though, speaking of which... ]
2/2
You know, in an attempt to drag and then trip him up. ]
no subject
The village erupts into verbal chaos. Some are horribly frightened. Some scream at Void Archive to stop, to leave the Turaga alone. Quite a few, both armed and otherwise, break the distance, one even no longer caring about safety as he launches himself bodily at one of Void Archive's very long legs, attempting to climb them like a tree with a hand yanking against their hair.
There's a winded, gasping mutter from the elder -- "stop, stop, don't" -- but the fall has taken his volume from him, and the Matoran act as one, attempting less to injure Void Archive and more to drive them away from Vakama.]
no subject
Regardless, this is going to be an issue...
If it weren't them that was dealing with. Their attention at an all time high. The one who leapt on him is suddenly throw off with such speed and force, well. He may hardly have realized what happened - if he takes a few hair strands or so with him, it hardly matters.
The rest don't get the courtesy of being able to come close, because they will simply collide with a golden barrier. ]
Stop panicking already. I haven't done anything else other than make him trip.
Or, continue to panic and make yourselves look like fools. It is your choice.
no subject
The elder's eyes burn like fire as he struggles back to his feet.]
You come into our home, do such pointlessly destructive and disruptive things, endanger our people, and yet you stand here and have the gall to demand for peace and calm.
Perhaps you are not the Makuta, because you clearly learn nothing. [Pointedly sharp despite its vagueness. "Bitch."] And you are not welcome here.
[He weakly grabs for his staff, leaning his weight against it as he points a finger towards the gates.]
Out.
no subject
This, to them, is not as bad. Either way, they are not interested in leaving just yet. ]
Ah, ah, just one moment.
Learn from nothing? My, my. I can sit here and brag all day about the extensive capability of my learning - how that even that so-called Makuta can't even so much as dare come close to it, but I will save time. For all parties.
Indeed, instead of immediately leaving, I shall do you a favor, and reiterate that I merely thought to test the capabilities of your fellow companions. Of your defenses.
...And it seems that I find them sadly lacking. Do know that my intentions were pure - based in logic. I would be quite disappointed if you would meet an end due to such poor constructions. Surely even you realize the inherent danger in this...?
no subject
However dangerous its warning, spew from the mouth of a volcano cannot parade itself to be rain when it is only hot air.
[He waves over one of the guards to start firmly handing out orders, some semblance of reigning in the chaos and pulling the villagers out of their frightened, frozen state. The guards disperse, torches slowly starting to relight, uneasy glances over shoulders as some are herded back to their homes and some run back to previous posts - not unlike a hive slowly falling straight back into careful motion.
The Turaga bores his gaze back into Void Archive, eyes narrowed as he starts to walk back towards the gate, a weak attempt to whack them on the back of the leg again in passing, voice significantly quieter but not losing its sharpness.]
Logic or otherwise, you paint yourself as nothing more than a danger this way, not something of awe or respect. [Every word is clipped, because oooooh how he could explode on this stupid stupid cube again if he weren't aware of the hundreds of eyes on both of them...]
If you wish to talk, it will not happen here.
no subject
...well, it's not a good one, actually, isn't it. Void Archives soldiers on, regardless. Surely he'll figure that they're being very helpful! Except there Vakama goes, delivering his words like he's the elder here - which, actually, he is, and Void Archives certainly is the younger one by far. ]
You are ever so fond of your sayings.
[ Really! But, they sigh as the Turaga essentially gets things Moving along - might as well let him take care of those little matters as they begin to move towards the gate as well. They had not dispelled the thin, barely visible golden barrier, so the whack does not do Much, though their put-out expression turns briefly amused at the movement. ]
Well, you certainly do know more about this land...and its customs, so I shall at the least follow along.
Though, I do wonder what it is you will have new to tell me since I have met you last. After all, it seems you have truly embraced a very new role here - I suppose in line with your duty and all.
Ah, well...at the very least, you are definitely alive. And not being terrorized by anything else, hm?
[ Unless Void Archives counts as that something else. Meanwhile, they have no idea that Vakama is truly trying to hold in erupting like a volcano. They just figure he's very cranky; age does that, they suppose. ]
no subject
That won't get you much knowledge for your archives.
[It's the closest he's been so far to acknowledging that: hi, hello, yes he remembers you very well, Void, there is many reasons he is being vague as hell.]
You will get nothing else from me until your feet are outside the borders. So I suggest you walk with me, "traveler". Let us go back to that sea you love so much, before you cause any more strife.
no subject
[ Void Archives declares this with great cheer - look at them, they're moving their feet!
Interestingly enough, despite the entirety of the time that they've been talking, they've made no strict reference to the time in Shardbond, or any strict references to deducing that they've concluded they are speaking with Vakama.
Small mercies, really. But, Vakama's acknowledgment does at the least make it clear that he hasn't forgotten them...not that...anyone can forget this cube so easily, let's be real. In fact, they even send him a look of amusement at the comment about the archives. ]
...As for the sea, I wonder if you are correct about myself being oh-so-fond of it. I wouldn't exactly consider it the most hospitable! Such places can be quite filled with turmoil, and the like. I'm sure you understand, hm?
[ Their pace will be leisurely, though. Why should they rush? ]