on the woes of alternate realities

[acornprincess]

You want to do what with me? I've never heard the word used that way before. Nicole, analysis please!

[Analyzing, Sally...in the language of mundanes in this context, a 'game' is a long-term mission located in a location far from a Mobian's home world. Participation is involuntary, and symptoms of distress are common among selectees.]

These 'games' are other missions? I'm afraid I have to decline. We've finally beaten Robotnik, and Mobius is free again! Our war is over. I'm sorry, whoever you are, but you'll have to enlist someone else. My friends and I need to rebuild our world.

[Participation is involuntary, Sally. Sonic and Tails have been enlisted previously. Origin: alternate reality.]

Alternate reality? That means there's a chance they won't recognize me, doesn't it?

[Chance of recognition: zero percent.]

Zero. Well, thank you for not sparing me the bad news, Nicole. I think I've heard enough for one afternoon. Now I just need to escape before the deployment.

Comments

[dragonspooker]

Count yourself lucky if you manage to get out of going. These muns don't seem to care if you're busy or not. I've got better things to do than fight someone else's war!

[Who's still grumpy about getting caught up in this? Lina is!]

[acornprincess]

What better things would those be?

[Forgive her, but she's still a little wary. Bad things have happened.]

[dragonspooker]

There's treasures to find, new foods to try, monsters that need exterminating, and bandit camps to wipe out. _{Though those have been getting pretty scarce lately, come to think of it...}

[acornprincess]

It sounds nice...except for the monsters. What were those bandit camps doing?

[nicole]

[Yeah, she realizes she's probably not going to be recognized; Maybe by voice considering that hasn't changed. ]

I'm sure your friends will do whatever they can to assure you make a successful escape.

[dragonspooker]

Being jerky, thieving bandits, of course. What else do bandits do?

[acornprincess]

[She does. She's heard it all these years...even just a few seconds ago. She looks down at the computer in her hand, then at the lynx in front of her.]

Nicole?

Is this another alternate reality?

[She takes a hesitant step forward.]

[nicole]

[She's definitely glad to be recognized. Nicole nods.] Yes. Though I've never existed in an alternate reality to my knowledge. [ She glances at the clunky computer. ] Another time, maybe.

[not_the_philistine]

[Rebuild your world, you say?]

So do we all.

[9tailedtemptress]

[Pardon her while she covers her mouth and laughs a little.]

So you really think that beating one evil is the end of war? War is never ending, be it now or later, war will start again. That's just how the world goes no matter where you go~

Not saying you shouldn't enjoy your victory of course, but maybe this new assignment will give you a... fresh idea for your current world's predicament. Who knows, you might even find a permanent solution!

[waypastcool]

You're sayin' you're gonna get saddled up with some other version of me, Sal? Sounds like a mondo pain.

[youretooslow]

Hey! You beat up the Eggster too? Lady, I dunno where you're from, but I like you already.

[letsdoit2it]

Trust me. You'd be amazed at what's possible in these worlds.

[kicks_silver]

As far as I know, your world's timeline is frozen in place without you actively being there. So you won't have to worry about that.

[boundtochaos]

[Oh lovely. Sally from the past-]

Ah! Sally?

[acornprincess]

Act tough? Acting seems to be a big part of their work.

Are you on some kind of law enforcement patrol?

[acornprincess]

So you're from the future. Did you use the time stone? And how did you change form?

[Robotics would be one easy culprit, but she doesn't see a trace of that.]

[acornprincess]

What happened to yours?

[acornprincess]

You say that war is neverending, and that there could be a permanent solution? Which one do you believe?

[Sadly, she suspects it's the former.]

[acornprincess]

If he's like you at all, we'll have enough of a 'mondo pain' to last a long while.

But I wouldn't have it any other way. I'll miss you.

[acornprincess]

The Eggster? Is that what you're calling Robotnik?

[acornprincess]

I can see that already. You're me, from another reality or time, right?

What's happened to you?

[letsdoit2it]

Ha! Where do I even start? [Sally pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs.]

[acornprincess]

That's good to know, thank you.

...Is there a chance that you're related to Sonic Hedgehog? Or Sir Charles?

[acornprincess]

I'm sorry, I don't think I've met you before.

That's the same problem Sonic and Tails will have with me, isn't it.