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. )
[Your friendly talking animals are here for the party, of course! They've even dragged Shadow and Infinite from the Void for this, so you can chat with any of them.
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are trying to be good hosts, but this party is sort of... well, they tried, and surely that counts for something? Sorry about all the confetti everywhere. No, Sonic will not stop, he has more. You can expect to be ambushed by him at some point. Tails has finally stopped working for five minutes to try to bring everyone drinks and snacks, because you guys were so good about doing that for him, so let him return the favor!! And Knuckles will try to shove cake at you, because he is very proud of his cake, okay. He even cut it himself! (It is poorly cut too.)
Shadow will spend approximately an hour here, which is an hour more than he would allow under most circumstances. You'll want to catch him before he accosts Sonic for a ring and then simply leaves, because he is not coming back after this. He's got plenty of things to be doing back home, after all. For the duration of the party, he'll be holding up the walls and watching you all, with the usual frown in place despite the festivities.
Infinite is holding up the opposite wall, glaring daggers at Shadow, but at least he's not throwing down. He's chilled out quite a bit from being in the Void so he'll talk to any of you that seek him out, though he will get the shards of the Phantom Ruby from Shadow before Shadow ditches this world entirely. Still, it's not enough for Infinite to go back to messing with anyone's nightmares or creating illusions, so at least there's that. He's not entirely sure where he's going from here, but he'll figure something out.
And... well, there is one robot, holding up one of the other walls and keeping to himself. Neo Metal Sonic is here, watching you all impassively. Wow, look at that. We are 3/6 characters holding up the walls. Incredible stuff. I don't know what any of you expected, this is a top level for six damn characters. Free me.
Take this time and enjoy yourselves; you've more than earned it!]
[Sonic can throw confetti at him if he wants, he's fine with that.]
Ah, Sonic, you said we could stay, but I wanted to ask, can I also keep helping Team Sonic out as well? I don't know how much use I'd be just as myself, but...
I mean, you gave me my freedom back too, you know. Whether I deserve it or not.
[Enjoy being covered in so much confetti, Fukuda.]
Yeah, 'course you can! You've more than earned it; you put your all into helping everyone get this far - and you guys saved the world! C'mon, that's definitely enough to get you into Team Sonic.
[tails despairing in the bg— no i kid, everyone is now (mostly) cool with fukuda after the saving the world thing.]
[Tails like "I mean he delivered on his promise not to kill anyone here for this long, I guess he's sincere???" Meanwhile does Knuckles even know about the murder. Would he care.]
I'm in Team Sonic.... We helped save the world....
[DUMBSTRUCK... INCREDIBLE... Suddenly he becomes deeply paranoid he's in a coma and this is all a dream. But you know what, even if it is, who cares.]
[Hugs!! Everyone in for a group hug!! At that, Tails and Knuckles look to Sonic.]
Well, first things first, we've gotta make sure all the people in this world are coming back alright. They seem to be doing fine so far, but I'm gonna keep tabs on 'em, just to be sure. After that?
I'm going to get access to all of Eggman's stuff; Neo Metal Sonic has already given me all the info I need. I'll make sure everything's deactivated and can no longer be used as a threat. Eggman's still around here somewhere too, so we're going to have to figure out how much he knows and if he's going to try anything like this again.
I will guard the Master Emerald, to ensure its power cannot fall into the wrong hands again. Of course, this also means keeping an eye on that one.
[Knuckles inclines his head to indicate Neo Metal Sonic.]
[Yo, Percy. You picked the right colorful friend, Knuckles is the one with the newly-reformed Master Emerald! It's a big green... well, emerald, about the size of Knuckles' fist. He has it with him, even!]
It's...nothing much. Sonic told me that this - this can change reality, and I think we've all seen it for ourselves.
[ He takes in a deep breath. ]
Could I bring Yves here? He's got a curse from back home, one that's shortened his lifespan significantly. I want to see if it can change it. I promise that's all I'd like - it's all yours.
[The party is lively, and Dorothy herself...well, she's holding up the walls like she usually does, a wine glass in hand. She is definitely unopposed to company, and eventually, seems to be slowly but surely making her way around with some treats in hand for anyone who might be going without--]
Here, try one of these. They're quite delicious, you know. [Dorothy's expression is light, gentle.] How are you faring, if I may?
[But of course, you can just find her off to the side still. Come to her, she won't mind you striking something up.
Of course, later on...you might find Dorothy speaking with an unfamiliar woman, a ring having seemingly brought her here as the two of them talk outside of the base. Dorothy's expression is assured, while the other woman's seems...unsure, and even a little sad.]
no cws, it's just slightly long....You're certain of this, Dorothy? Is there really no other way?
[A woman with long blonde hair that may look familiar to some of you speaks to Dorothy, now back in her casual outfit as the two of them stand outside the base--Rapunzel herself looks like she just got out of a Rapture skirmish at least, and while Dorothy's gaze is somber, she nods.]
I'm certain. For what little I imagine it's worth, I...am sorry that this is the conclusion that I have come to, Rapunzel. [Dorothy's gaze doesn't avert. She's not the most sorry, in truth, but...] ...None of you need me anymore. The only thing that I would end up doing if I go back there is leading our world to ruin. And I...
I do not want to do that, when you all are fighting so hard for it. Even if I don't believe in the cause you fight for, nor the humans that live on the Ark...you deserve to see it through. Maybe I'll be wrong, and you all will pull of a miracle.
[...]
I...really do believe that you all can do so.
Dorothy...
[Rapunzel's look softens just a touch, but...she manages to smile, just a bit.]
You really have changed. I've never seen you with so much hope or light in your eyes before--not since our days in the Goddess Squad. [Rapunzel, who's always been quicker with gestures of affection, pulls Dorothy into a hug--one that Dorothy lets out a surprised noise to, but...she returns it.] ...I'm not going to say that I like your conclusion. But I forgive you. If it truly would cause you only to bring pain to the people we seek to protect to try and convince you to come back...if this is the only way you'll stand down...
Then I will stand by your decision, for the betterment of all. [...] ...You really do seem so much lighter, Dorothy. I really can't help but be proud of you.
[Dorothy starts at that, sniffling a bit and clinging closer to Rapunzel, shuddering, but--when she comes up, it's with a smile.]
...Let me introduce you to some of the others, at least, before you go? I'm sure that they would love to meet the real you.
Real...me?
...It's a bit of a long story. Do you mind...?
...I won't be able to remember them, you know. But...if they've made you this happy, then of course! I'd love to. [Rapunzel chuckles, but she at the very least seems amendable.] Shall we?
[Dorothy and Rapunzel will be available after this conversation, Dorothy having ushered her inside the base; they can either be together, or you can seek out Rapunzel after she's been introduced to Tails and had some repair work done. Just let me know if you want both or just one of them!!! Rapunzel will be gone by the late evening, clearly having...grown a little attached, but knowing she can't leave. (...unless y'all really wanna convince her somehow--)
And of course, you'll find Dorothy herself the next day, starting to pack her belongings to prepare for her big move. Dahngrest is only a little ring away, but...man. It's gonna be hard saying goodbye to this place and going their separate ways.]
I asked him about that. Apparently his secondary directive is that he cannot harm Doctor Eggman, so he just took away his free will and had him working on robots. Agent Stone is alive as well, though I imagine they're going to run the moment they have the sense to do so.
[They're just too slippery...]
It will only be for a short time, until Sonic and Tails can rejoin me. Besides, some of you all are staying here; I will not truly be alone!
[Knuckles considers for a moment, turning the Master Emerald between his hands.]
I will need to know more of the nature of this curse, but I believe it should be possible. Bring Yves here so we may discuss it further, and hopefully undo this curse.
neo (+ some handwaving, lmk if you wanna actually thread any???)
1. First off. Tails you are getting so hugged. Like absolutely hugged after this. 2. ...Tails you will also be meeting Rapunzel, who is going to be hilariously confused at all of this but very amendable to the cute fox and endeared. Enjoy meeting another Nikke!! This one is very sweet and religious and not sure if she'll actually ever remember him if pressed, but meeting him has definitely shaken her resolve on going back home a teensy bit... 3. Shadow. You will be getting one little convo out of Dorothy before you go; nothing major, just kind of checking to see what he's gonna do. Dorothy will give him a few of her extra rings, telling him about Dahngrest, and probably hinting that he should visit if he ever gets time. (Not because she'd miss him, or anything. Nope. Surely not!)
But Neo...well, Dorothy visits him after Rapunzel's gone off on her own, and she'll stop just a little bit away, smiling.]
Neo? Would you mind if I checked in on you, or would you prefer to be left alone?
Definitely gonna have to see if we can get a copy of those games at some point, 'cause I am dying of curiosity. But hey, you've earned it! You worked really hard, and we couldn't have done this without you guys. Literally!
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