AN: Hello everyone and welcome to my first story! There might be some mistakes, mainly grammar, because English isn't my native language. Constructive criticism would be appreciated.

This story takes place just before the beginning of 'Dark Wish'.

Chapter 1

In the deepest bowels of the Underground, Imperious was sitting on his throne and thinking furiously. All of his attempts in getting rid of Koragg were failing. He was a real thorn in his side and, even worse, The Master was supporting him. If Imperious could just convince him that Koragg was... what exactly? He was a powerful warrior and everyone in the Underworld respected him. And of course he fought with "honor", always walking away from unarmed or weak opponents, pretending to be above them all. The Rangers would be dead already if not for his stupidity.

In that moment Imperious got an idea. He stood up and walked towards The Master's pit.

Koragg jumped back, barely avoiding the hit that was directed at him. Then he charged at his opponent and raised his sword to attack. He swung hard and sliced the training hologram in half. It disappeared in air. It was his favorite training method. The hologram had all of his abilities and helped him discover weak spots in defense.

'Today's training is over,' he decided. It was time to meditate to focus his magic.

Suddenly he felt a presence inside his head. Come to me, my faithful servant. I wish to see you.

"Of course, my master."

The main chamber was empty when he got there. Even the hidiacs and Imperious were seemingly gone.

'Something's not right here. Is this another one of that traitor's plans?' he thought, looking around. 'No, that's impossible. The Master called me. He won't allow himself to be tricked by anyone, especially Imperious.'

He approached the pit, which was glowing red. The Master was waiting. Koragg got down on his knees and bowed his head.

I have heard some disturbing news, Koragg. Imperious seems to think that you are deceiving me. He showed me how you're walking away from defenseless opponents instead of finishing them off. You're even helping them! What do you have to say?

What? That bastard Imperious, accusing him of being a traitor! 'He shall pay for this,' he vowed. But now he had to convince The Master about his innocence.

"You shouldn't listen to Imperious, my master. He's trying to undermine my position by your side. I'm fighting with honor, so that your rebirth shall be more glorious."

I don't think so, Koragg. Your feeble attempts at proving your loyalty are only making me angry. I officially declare you a traitor! Come, my servants! Kill the unfaithful scum!

It was like someone suddenly cancelled an invisibility spell. The hidiacs appeared along with a few Underworld beasts. In front of them stood Imperious himself, wearing a victorious smile.

"Finally I can destroy you, Koragg! I've been waiting so long, but The Master supports me now! You're a danger to all of us. Who knows when will you reveal our secrets to those pesky Rangers? That would be very unfortunate! Hidiacs, attack!" said Imperious, his tone revealing barely restrained laughter.

Hidiacs jumped forward and attacked Koragg, but they were no match for him. He was furiously slashing through the enemies, getting closer and closer to his main target – Imperious, who was still smiling in that infuriating way. Slowly he raised his hand-held fan and pointed it at charging Koragg. A beam of magic erupted from its tip and struck the attacking knight, blasting off one of his wolf-head shaped spaulders. Imperious took aim again and another magic strike hit Koragg on the lower part of his helmet, leaving a gap which revealed his chin and mouth.

That caused Koragg to lose concentration. Imperious used this moment of weakness and threw a particularly nasty curse at him. Pain erupted in knight's left shoulder, which was vulnerable due to loss of spaulder. Moving it caused the pain to worsen. Koragg slowly started to realize that he couldn't win this battle. He was surrounded and heavily outnumbered. Add Imperious to that and you have a recipe for sure death.

He had to find a good place to teleport. Maybe one of those forgotten dimensions could be safe for a while. He started to run away. No one should accidentally fall into his magic circle and follow him. He heard Imperious' voice call after him:

"Running away? Some knight you are, Koragg! Not very honorable, don't you think? But that's as far as you will go!" Koragg didn't pay him any mind. Just a little bit more and he could teleport.

"Mutra Rotho Os!" Imperious suddenly chanted.

Spell hit Koragg on thigh and there was so much pain that he screamed in agony. It felt like his bone was being ripped out from body. He fell on the ground. Fortunately he didn't lose consciousness, but everything in front of him was swimming and he wasn't able to think clearly.

He had to teleport quickly. It was his only chance of surviving. He forced himself to chant:

"Uthe Sastos!"

A magic circle appeared under him and started to suck him in. Out of nowhere a hidiac stepped on the circle, interfering the spell. Koragg cursed in his head – now he didn't know where he would land. He could see Imperious trying to push aside some hidiacs in vain attempt to stop him from teleporting. The main chamber started to disappear and he allowed himself to sigh in relief. He made it. All of sudden the pain in his thigh intensified and he screamed again. This time he lost consciousness and everything went black.

The Master was angry, to put it lightly. That incompetent fool Imperious let Koragg escape and nobody knew where he was. But Koragg's behavior was troubling him even more. It didn't look like Leanbow had broken the spell, so why was he betraying him? Was Leanbow's influence so strong? Or maybe the spell has been broken and Leanbow set himself free? 'It doesn't matter now. I gave him that armor and I will be the one to take it from him! He shall never it take off on his own! Let him rot to death!'

The truth was that Koragg's armor's purpose wasn't only to protect him. It was also magically sustaining him. He was never hungry or tired and sleep was something he hasn't experienced. But now, The Master decided, it was time for Koragg to taste the joys of human life.

"Rootcore is lively today, don't you think?" Daggeron said to Udonna, who was standing beside him and observing the laughing Rangers.

"Sure it is, my friend. But there's something troubling me. I'm not the only one who noticed their laziness lately, am I?" Udonna asked him.

Daggeron grimaced. Yes, the Rangers were acting lazy. Even now, Chip was using his wand to summon pepperoni pizza with chocolate marshmallows and the rest were talking about some decorations for their shop, which have been done by magic, of course.

"I think it's time to teach them a lesson. Hey, you down there!" Daggeron called.

Vida looked up. "What is it, Daggeron? Can't you see we're -"

She didn't get a chance to finish. All of sudden a large dark magic seal appeared above their heads and something purple fell out of it. It landed on the crystal ball with a sickening crack of a bone being broken. The uninvited guest slid off the table and collided with floor. Then he let out an agonized moan and stopped moving.

Everyone had their wands out, but they weren't needed. The figure lying on the floor was clearly unconscious.

Udonna approached him. "That's... unbelievable. What is he doing here? And what happened to him?" These were the questions everyone was asking themselves.

A bleeding, unconscious Koragg was an unusual sight in the Rootcore, after all.