Author's Notes:

Nope, it's not the next chapter of the arc that deals with that little cliffhanger Zodiac decided to do (I could have continued it but I love leaving you wanting more). Instead, we'll be focusing on some onlookers.

This also delves into the Nightmare-verse lore. Yes, we have a lore. A very deep one in fact.

On the top of a mountain far away from the battle, a clocked figure stood alone, watching the battles take place and analysing everything that happened so far. They weren't focusing on all three of our heroes. No, they were focusing on one particular fighter. They were focused on Metal.

Having been attracted to the world because of the spike in Apocalypse Mahoc, the figure had come to investigate. Although they knew it was only an excuse to actually manifest in the mortal world rather than just to watch over the plane of existence as they had been doing. From the very start when Metal woke up right up to this point, they had been watching Metal, keeping an eye on him and his progress.

Now, this was no stalker or evil being with ill intent. No. This was someone that cared for the displaced of the Chaos Family.

"So, he's finally reached this stage." The figure said in a woman's voice, all of her features hidden by the shadows she was commanding to keep herself hidden. "Metal Sonic has finally gathered enough of the blood of Apocalypse to achieve that form..."

"Are you still lurking around this world?" Turning her head, she saw another figure appear. It appeared to be a large, middle aged man with long spiky golden hair with a beard. His eyes were grey and emotionless. He wore a golden cloak that rested on his shoulder with its hood down. He wore golden robes underneath the cloak that had various symbols of elements engraved in the metal clothing.

"Of course I am, someone needs to keep track of this boys progress while Marx and Author are busy doing who knows what."

The man walked to her side and watched the battles take place. "He's certainly gotten powerful."

"Yes, but even in that form and when Gale had become an artificial form of him, I can tell that Metal is still holding back, even with his morals destroyed." She sighed in relief and shook her head. "If he fell completely to the magics influence we would be in a lot of trouble."

"You're telling me, that boys bloodline speaks for itself, he was a danger to begin with, he's just becoming more an more dangerous to those who oppose him." The man explained as he folded his arms. "You're going to reach out to him, aren't you?"

"It's the only way to keep him under control. At least this way the Nightmares influence will not be able to affect him." The figure looked to Alpha off in the distance who was beginning to transform slowly. "This will test his bravery, the form she is about to enter could even faze True Xram for a second, the only one who's ever been able to do that is Symbol when he spoke to him in the void."

"You still don't think we should tell the other council members that Symbol is alive?" He asked, knowing the answer.

"I've spoken to Symbol myself, he's told me his reasoning and motives for prolonging his return, we need not interfere in the affairs of someone that has only began building up their own displaced family."

"You said this is to test his bravery, but why would you test it? You of all people know full well how much courage that boy has."

"Because Cavros, I'm not about to let him slip up even the slightest. If he were to lose complete control he'd destroy universe after universe just like his ancestor Apocalypse did..,and they only reason Apocalypse is broken apart is because of your power...power you no longer have. You don't even exist anymore, you're nothing but a broken shard of a once great man."

Cavros sighed and looked away. "I know, but that is why I had left my son Author behind to carry on my work...I just wish we had detected Xram sooner."

"You and I both know that we couldn't have done anything to stop his massacre, even if we tried."

"And because of our failure most of our family are now wanted criminals in the multiverse and beyond..."

"still, even if we had been able to destroy True Cram, there are beings that are even more dangerous than he. Celia, Nightmare you name it. They may not have the brute force, energy or magical strength that Xram does, but they clearly outclass him in danger, not power."

Cavros just looked to the figure who was clenching her fists tightly. "Hey, calm down, there's still time before the final battle with the forces of the Black Plain, don't forget why we're doing this in the first place, to bring balance back to this Multiverese and others."

"And yet we have to entrust the fate of all life on a few mortals."

"You sound as if you dislike them."

"I don't, I care very deeply about them, some I love like children. But, that doesn't stop me from feeling guilty fir sending them to their deaths." The figure turned away from the battles and walked towards the middle of the small opening on the cliff.

Cavros looked to her then to the battles above. "I'm not happy about it either, but we both know why we do this. We lack what they have which is necessary to defeat such evils. They appreciate the value of mortal life because they know one day they will pass on. Beings like you and I either exist for all eternity or face into nothingness. That will power, that care and that passion gives them all power, just as if the emeralds and Apocalypse Magic give Metal vast amounts of power."

The figure stopped and sighed, it was true. Beings like them couldn't fully appreciate mortal life. Ninety nine percent of the time void dwellers wager the souls of billions of mortals for fun and destroy entire universes just for their own amusement with finding sadistic satisfaction in the suffering and death of mortals. She was just thankful that she and the rest of the displacers council at least somewhat understood the value of mortals. "You're right Cavros." Turning a around she looked to Metal who had turned back to normal. "Let's just hope that the rumours about the descendant of Apocalypse are correct."