Previous Chapter Recap: Last time on Sonic Forces! Eggman launched an assault on the city of Sunset Heights. The Chaotix and the townsfolk fought valiantly to defend the city, and thanks to the bravery on one lone soldier, they managed to repel Eggman's attack. But the mad doctor still has some tricks up his sleeve...

Author's Note: Well, here's the epilogue. With this, the second story in my Sonic Dimensions trilogy comes to a close. I hope you've enjoyed reading this as I've enjoyed writing it and I hope you all look forward to my novelization of Sonic Forces' main story (even if you didn't enjoy the game).

"Well, this was quite the learning experience." Eggman said as he watched footage from the battle of Sunset Heights. Orbot and Cubot were cleaning up the lab.

"That fight would've gone a lot differently had I been there." Zero remarked, having watched the battle along with Eggman. He was still sporting bandages from his battle with Shadow.

"Perhaps." Eggman replied. "But this was merely a probing attack. Just wanted to test their defenses. Besides, what's really intriguing are the weapons they're using. I believe they're called Wispons. Weapons designed to use the power of Wisps. Must be Tails' doing. Bright boy, that fox. If he wasn't such a goody-goody, he'd make a fine apprentice."

"You got a point, Doc?" Zero asked.

"I think I have a way to boost the Phantom Ruby's power." Eggman replied. "And a way to fight fire with fire." Eggman pressed a button on his wristwatch and a Wisp emerged into each one of the capsules in the room. There was one of each color: Red, Blue, Green, White, Orange, Cyan, Purple, Violet, Pink, Indigo, Crimson, Magenta, Gray, Ivory, and Black. The poor creatures were scared out of their minds, desperately banging on the glass in a vain attempt to escape.

"Oh, I've seen these things around." Zero said. "The boys and I used to take them out for target practice."

"Yes, well now we're going to infuse their Hyper-Go-On energy into your Phantom Ruby." Eggman said. "If I'm correct, doing so will enable you to use their Color Powers. Also, we'll infuse the Phantom Ruby with this." Eggman opened a case and pulled out what looked like a battery containing a dark purple liquid.

"This... is Dark Gaia energy." Eggman said. "The essence of a primordial incarnation of darkness that lives within the Earth's core. During one of my earlier schemes, I attempted to harness the power of this creature and I managed two retain a bit of its essence. Since then, I have been attempting to refine it into a potent energy source, but infusing into your ruby might be a more interesting experiment."

"Not to be rude, Doc, but isn't this a bit of overkill?" Zero asked. "I think we've established that I'm the toughest guy around, so what's the point of all this?"

"Do you know why I gave you the codename 'Infinite'?" Eggman asked.

"Other than the fact that it sounds like the name of someone's cheap fanfiction OC, no." Zero replied derisively.

"I called you Infinite because with the Phantom Ruby, there's nothing you can't accomplish." Eggman stated. "And need I remind you that you're still under my employ? I have big plans in store, and your powers may help see those plans fulfilled. Besides, you didn't think I gave you that gemstone just so you can fulfill your own vendetta, did you? I have a much bigger target for you, my dear boy." Eggman pressed a button on the computer and the monitor displayed a picture of Sonic the Hedgehog.

"Yeah, yeah." Zero replied with a dismissive hand wave. "You really want this bastard dead, huh?"

"Dead. Destroyed. Annihilated." Eggman said sternly, clenching his fist as anger rose within him.

"I can relate to that." Zero chuckled. "And I always wanted to go one-on-one with the world's greatest hero."

"Well then, get in the chamber and we'll begin the procedure." Eggman replied. "Though I should warn you that you'll be in suspended animation for a while. It'll take a bit for all that energy to stabilize."

"So I'm gonna be taking a nap?" Zero chuckled. "Guess I could use the rest." Zero put his mask on and stepped onto the platform. A green glass tube encapsulated him and was quickly filled with liquid, causing Zero to fall asleep. "Orbot, begin the energy infusion." Eggman commanded.

Orbot inserted the battery containing the Dark Gaia energy into the base of the tube, then imputed a command in the terminal next to the tube. Within the tube, a mechanical cable emerged and latched itself onto the Phantom Ruby. At that second, the devices within the tubes containing the Wisps activated. The Wisps screamed and squealed in agony, desperately attempting to escape as they felt the devices drain their very life force. Their screams began to fade and their bodies slowly lost their vibrant colors as they died a slow and agonizing death.

"Well, all we can do now is wait for the energy to stabilize." Eggman said. "May take days or even weeks. Orbot, Cubot, come! We need to reinforce our troops." Eggman walked out of the room with the two robots following close behind. Orbot turned to look at the slumbering Zero.

"Wonder what he's thinking right now." Orbot mused.

Meanwhile...

A groan escaped Zero as consciousness slowly returned to him. The jackal rubbed his head in pain. But he was wholly unprepared for the sight that greeted him when he opened his eyes, for he found himself not in Eggman's laboratory, but in another realm entirely. The place he found himself in was purple void with floating cubes and net-like grids above and below that extend into infinity with lightning occasionally lighting up the "sky". The only form of solid ground was composed of purple cubes.

"Where the hell am I?" Zero asked as he looked about in a mix of awe and confusion.

"We're inside your mind." A voice responded. Disturbingly, the voice was Zero's own, albeit heavily distorted and demonic. "Or, more accurately, our mind."

"Who said that?!" Zero demanded.

"Me." the voice replied.

"Me, he says." Zero grumbled. "Well where the hell are you?"

"I'm everywhere around you." the voice said. "But I see that's a bit too confusing for you, so I'll make this easier." Zero watched in amazement as the cubes in front of him rose up and coalesced into a humanoid form that quickly took them shape of... Zero himself, wearing his mask and the Phantom Ruby on his chest. "Hello, Alexander. It's good to see you again."

"What are you?" Zero asked, still stunned by the sight.

"I am many things." The being replied. "But right now, I'm the conscious will of the Phantom Ruby. You may call me... Valtron." Valtron circled around Zero, gliding above the ground and eying him like a shark eyes fresh prey. "I must say. I have been to many dimensions and have lent my power to many beings, but I've met one as intriguing as you. To be able to accomplish so much with but a fraction of the Phantom Ruby's true power."

"A fraction? What are you talking about?" Zero asked.

"The ruby that's bound to your chest... Is not the true Phantom Ruby." Valtron replied. "It is but a paltry imitation created by Eggman using the real ruby as a template. However, it is a flawed copy that could only replicate the ruby's power over illusions."

"So all this time, I've been using nothing but illusions?!" Zero asked, shocked and outraged that Eggman would deceive him this way. The outrage soon gave way to sadness and Zero lowered his head. "I really am a failure..." Valtron floated towards Zero and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I beg to differ, dear Alexander." the being said. "Look at what you accomplished. To defeat the so-called Ultimate Life Form with but a mere fragment of the ruby's power is a testament to your abilities! The strong vanquish the weak after all. Isn't that what your father taught you." The mere mention of his father caused Zero to smack Valtron's hand away. "Keep him out of this." Zero snarled.

"I'm just stating the truth." Valtron continued. "After all, why do you think you survived when your friends perished? You yourself said you were destined for greater. Together, we can make your dream..." Valtron snapped his fingers, causing the vision of Zero hovering over a destroyed city to appear before him. "...a reality."

"But... But that's not what I want!" Zero protested.

"Au contraire." Valtron replied. "I cannot create the visions. I can only project that which lies within your heart. So to deny this is to deny your heart's desire. I mean you no harm, Alexander. I merely wish to fulfill your dream. You wish to be the strongest being in existence, yes? I can help you. I can sense the energy the doctor has infused it with. I can feel it empowering the ruby, making it stronger. While it pales in comparison to the true Phantom Ruby, its power should be more than enough to make you unstoppable."

Valtron outstretched his arm to Zero. "All you need do is embrace the Phantom Ruby's power. Surrender yourself to it wholly and completely. Only then shall your desires be granted. Only then shall we truly become... Infinite. Yes... A most fitting name, indeed."

Zero froze, unsure of what to do. He just wanted the ruby's power to avenge his comrades. Sure, he always felt there was a bigger role for him to play, but being some destroyer wasn't one of them. But then his mind drifted to the night he lost his squad, the feeling of loss and sheer helplessness he felt. He never wanted to feel that way again. And then his mind went to the sheer power the ruby wielded, the things he could do, the way he utterly defeated Shadow, the sheer triumph he felt. If the ruby prototype could let him achieve that kind of victory, he could only imagine what it could due now that it has been empowered.

After some mental wrestling, Zero reached out and took Valtron's hand. Valtron's body burst into cubes and completely enveloped Zero, encasing the jackal in a cocoon of sorts, radiating dark purple electricity. In the real world, the computer terminal near the test tube containing Zero's sleeping body was going haywire. The monitor was filled with glitches and red static. Eventually the screen returned to normal. However, the brainwave scanner had changed from red to purple. In that moment, Alexander "Zero" Anubis was gone...

...now, there was only Infinite.

The End... For now.

Author's Note: For those wondering about the name "Valtron", I did a little research on the Sonic News Network and it turns out Valtron was the original name of the Phantom Ruby. And don't worry, you'll learn more about Valtron in the main story.

Till' next time!