Legend of the Guardians: Metal Beak's Return

Chapter 4: The Darkness Within

Here is the start of the returning of the evil! Enjoy!

Meanwhile at Ga'Hoole, Carlos, and the rest of his friends (including both Lorraine and Thana), were now at the Dining Hall as everyone were chow-down their meal but except for Carlos. He was still troubled by what the eagle had said from before, about the return of the Eagle Empire and the vengeance for the Dark Lord Nihilus's death, still loomed in his mind. Thana saw him not eating anything at all and she is worried for him, but what she saw earlier from the night when Carlos beats up that poor eagle because of her wounds and the moment she stops him furthering to hurt the eagle more, by the look of his eyes, all she saw in them were the hatred and anger lies visibly in his Dark Amber eyes. Feeling of need to say something, she went up to him.

"Carlos," She said, Carlos didn't move his head to look at her, but all he could do is stair at his food. Thana is worried for him more than ever and she continued. "Carlos, you didn't even touch your food you know. I mean, are you all right?" She asked him worriedly. Everyone went silent a moment but then Lorraine spoke up.

"It looks like the prince has the lost the words to say I guess." She remarked. Everyone turned and faced to her especially Thana. "But however, he is better off without you, Thana." She said bitterly, this time, it angered Thana as she stands up and glared at her.

"Stay out of this, Lorraine!" She shouted at Lorraine. Lorraine only responded with a dark glare.

"No, it's all right Thana." Carlos stated calmly as everyone turned to face him looking shock by what he said (Including Thana) while Lorraine smirked in victory. He then looked at her and said. "Thana... I had to go back to St. Aggies..." Thana's eyes widen by his statement. "I had to go back and talk a few owls a little while, but I'm starting to think there some answers I need to find..." Thana shook her head in shock.

"You can't leave now, Carlos!" Thana said in shocked. "You just got here, but you just can't leave us now!" He looked at her sadly and his love was right... he just got here a night ago but then... about the resurrection of the eagle empire, that was worried him. He needed to find out more about this empire and what it might do to it... even so... even if it means that the evil is lurking out their... waiting to eradicate the entire kingdoms and to bring an ultimate war that no one will ever escape from it... he did stop the war before... he could possibly do it again and finally will peace and order will be restored again. He sighed sadly but not until Soren and the rest of his friends approached the group.

"Hey Carlos." Soren greeted. Carlos quickly turned to Soren and waived his wing.

"Hello uncle." Carlos greeted back to Soren, as he then turn to the band as well of other owls who accompanied them and his uncle, "Hey Twilight, Digger, Gylfie, Primrose, Martin, and hey Ruby." They all greeted back to him as they all joins him.

"Hello, Carlos." Ruby greeted happily.

"So what I overheard between you and Thana; I'd say that you are leaving here, is that it?" Martin asked curiously. Carlos nodded him.

"Yeah... something's I had to pick something up you know." Carlos replied to Martin.

"But why?" Otulissa asked. Everyone looked at her as she explained. "I mean, you barely got here and suddenly you decided to leave?" Carlos sighed sadly and said.

"I'm not so sure yet Otulissa." He sighed. "But I had to find some answers... some answers that has something to do with the Eagle Empire." Everyone went silent by the name as it loomed deep inside their hearts; haunted by its name.

"I've heard some of these stories from my grandma about the empire when I was a little owlet once." Ruby stated with a shudder. "She usually says that the empire is so cruel and they were far ten times worse to compare the Pure Ones, no offense Carlos." She told him. Carlos nodded her in understood; he understood well what she meant.

"Yeah... Twilight; do you remember about those stories too also when you're an owlet once?" Digger asked curiously of somehow he had a little memory of it. His Great Gray owl friend however only shrugged.

"Can't say, but I'm not so sure if I could remember." Twilight said softly. But silence brook in once more but Soren broke it.

"I think me and Eglantine and your father, Kludd heard of this story once when we were only owlets. But then, my father just never liked to talk about it anymore." Soren explained.

"Yeah," Eglantine agreed. "Like remember about Nihilus? He is one very big mean bad bird to mess with, you know?" Everyone went silent when she used the term 'bird'. Not until Rosh broke the silence.

"At the least I know allot of wet poop jokes." Rosh said as he let out a chuckle. But Carlos looked at his friend oddly and ask.

"What's a wet poop joke?" Carlos asked curiously.

"Don't!" Thana quickly answered.

"Oooohhh I'm dying to know them too!" Primrose laughed after she tells everyone the joke as she explains to the prince, this time, it earns everyone a booming laughter and especially for Carlos, who had been laughing the hardest as he couldn't feel himself breathing while laughing, he hate to admit it, that was pretty funny, but if his mother founds out about it, she would be furious if she learns of this; but not much to the other two females (Thana and Lorraine), who aren't laughing at all. Thana looked at Carlos as she gives him an angry look.

"Really, Carlos?!" Thana said in her dismay. "This is not a time for a laughing matter! You're the prince of the Pure Ones you know!" She remarked angrily.

"I know Thana, but you've got to admit Thana, it is very funny!" He told her as he laughed even harder. Thana (including Lorraine) shook their heads as they both muttered in unison.

"Males..." They both muttered in unison.

Later that night, Carlos told everyone and Lorraine he will be back soon for tomorrow night and he took flight and off to St. Aggies as he was disappeared into the horizon. Meanwhile at St. Aggies, Carlos finally arrives back at his birthing place and then... onward to find the answers he seeks. Many of other owls at the academy saw the prince had returned, (wonder why of course) as they were been doing their major duties at the Academy (which is the first place he needs to look at first), but one owl he met is Joe, probably he might know of this Eagle Empire. He approached the old Great Horned owl as the blacksmith himself; who was sorting the helmets while putting them in bottom shelves in each different order. Joe as he about to put the last helm away, he caught a reflection of an owl who appeared to be look like Carlos, as the old owl turned to his shoulder and back to the helm again, he got jumped as he saw the real Carlos given much of to his dismay, he bummed his head on the bottom shelf, most of the helmets fell upon him by accident.

"Sorry that I scared you Joe." Carlos apologized. The old owl shook his head as he rubbed his head softly.

"No, its all right lad, can you help me pick these helmets up? Since you make my head bumped into the shelf anyway?" He asked. The prince nodded as he helped the old owl to clean up the messes he made. "So?" He answered, "What's brings you here? I thought you are going to spend a weekend with the Guardians for a week?" Carlos finished putting the last Pure One helm away and he turned around to face Joe and said.

"I was Joe, but something awful happen that night earlier ago." He said. Joe paused, not sure why as he asked him.

"Did any of them Guardians caused you any trouble at all, lad?" He asked the prince. Carlos only shook his head.

"No Joe." He answered, "They did not. But; I wonder, Joe, can I ask you something?" He asked. Joe gives the prince an anticipating glance and said.

"Ask away, lad." He said with a definite 'Yes' tone of his voice. Carlos sighed and hoping if Joe knows this.

"Do you know... about the Eagle Empire?" Carlos asked him. Once the word is reached to the old owl's ear slit; he went silent almost as if it was immediately. Carlos figures it out that Joe knows them after all as he asked him again. "Do you really know the-"

"No," Joe answered by catching him off guard. "I do not. I do not know those words or such empires with such names like that. Maybe you been heard too many rumors from the locals I've bet. You can go now lad, you had been enough here for tonight." He told Carlos. Before Carlos could speak any further Joe's ears ignores him as he leads him out of the hollow as he closed his door entrance gently. The prince sighed deeply, knowing that Joe didn't know them at all. But maybe Mitchell or the two cousins or maybe some other owls ( also like Aunt Finny), they might know it as much; but instead... when he tried too asked one of them... they ignored his answers and said the exact same words like Joe said. And what Joe said is right... maybe he was hearing too many rumors.

But what he saw the attack from moments earlier was so devastating. It nearly (or almost) destroyed the tree and almost killed many innocent owls. He had to find away and stop them at all costs. But then there is only one owl (or bat) that might able to help him too stop the empire. There is only one bat he might know of and it's Fidget. Fidget is a known Flying Fox who had been served the Pure One Empire and he was born in the bat cave like all other bats are and then a few months back he was friends with him along the bat was friends with Thana. The prince ventures to the bat cave and he only shudders as he remembers the horrors of his memories when he and his father are at the training grounds while they were training together and he used them to torture him because of his own weakness. But that was all in the past now... he took a deep breath and then entered the bat cave and hoping if he could find him. Other bats are still upside down at the ceiling sleeping in their slumbers not feeling bit disturbed by any noises as such. Carlos still been wary of his surroundings, by the time he walked closer and closer... at last! He found Fidget who was still deep in his slumber like other bats were and Carlos cleared his throat as he then asked.

"Fidget!" He whispered sharply in silent voice, not wanting to disturb the other bats. But then nothing happen as the bat still sleeps and chuckled in his dream land. Carlos didn't like this... but he had no other choice... "FIDGET!" He screamed as the bat woke up, alarmed and fell as for the bats... also woke up and scattered elsewhere as they all left the cave as he asked.

"Hey, what's the big idea for, Carlos?" He demanded, "Do you not know we were trying to sleep here?"

"Sorry Fidget," Carlos apologized as he watched the bat got up with his crippled wingtips on the ground. "I just wanted to talk to you about..." He silent for minute then added... "... About the Eagle Empire?" The Bat went silent as much to his statement he might have a feeling that Fidget didn't know them either but not until...

"Come with me... I've have something that could tell you about the empire." Fidget told him as he began to walk. Carlos was surprised by this but he only hesitated for a minute maybe Fidget does know about the empire after all, but his thoughts stopped when he heard his voice. "Come, Carlos, there is something I like to show you." Carlos only half-nodded and followed the bat into darkness. It only passed by minutes as the bat leads the prince into the bat's hollow as Carlos settled down awhile, waiting for the bat to returned as he stared at the campfire that was centered in Fidget's hollow and then... he did as he carried a strange book he had with him caring on his back (Much to Carlos's curiosity).

"What's that book you got there, Fidget?" He asked Fidget as the bat placed it down in front of him.

"It's 'The Reign of the Eagle Empire'." Fidget explained, "This book was passed on to my Father's families for generations and after generations. You see, my granddad gave it too me about two years ago, he give it to me before he died and so I decided to carry and treasure this book and decided to see who's worthy of owning this book." He glanced at Carlos. "And I've bet that this book might have some secrets that you might find." Carlos remained silent, shocked that this book has all the answers he needed and with the thanks of his friend's help; there's no stopping him for reaching and destroy the empire for once and for all and peace will be forever restored and spend the rest of his life with his lover for all of the eternity in peace. Fidget moved his crippled wing on the book and turns the page. By the time of a few pages turned... then... it shows a strange eagle whose body is purest black and white and wears the mask that covered most of his face... the only one eagle and one living thing... the most feared and terrified creature of all... the greatest Dark Lord Nihilus, facing directly to Carlos before his eyes. Carlos was perturb by this when he saw this image and he figured it out it was 'him', but then again, he began to looked at Fidget.

"Fidget, may I borrow this book for awhile?" He asked the bat, the bat nodded him.

"Sure thing, and returned it to me once your done with it, and one more thing... how's that snowy owl girl doing?" He asked.

"Thana was fine right now, but I'm going back to Ga'Hoole for tomorrow night and spend a weekend with them." He told him. Fidget nodded him.

"Then, it looks like I'm off to sleep then... since after you woke me up with your screaming in front of my ears." He chuckled and said with a bit of annoyance at the end. Carlos looks at him with a nervous chuckle.

"Oh. Sorry fidget." He said again with the apologize tone of his voice. Fidget nodded him; he wouldn't blame him as the prince left the cave with the book behind him on his back...

Moments later, he return to his hollow to rest for awhile and he could not help but stare the image of Nihilus, the eagle... the monster... the one who had almost (and succeeded) ruled everything and almost wiped out the entire owl race... And he looked the back of the book and saw the strange note of paper attached to it. He picked it up by his claw (Shocks him the most) as he figures it out where they were hiding and before he... But the knocking noises snapping his mind off as the source of the noise came from his door entrance...

"Come in." Carlos said. It opened and revealing to be his Mother, Nyra, came in and entered the hollow as she saw him with a book he was holding and it puzzled her as of why he is back home now? "Mother, what brings you here?" He asked her as he placed the book and the paper down.

"I was asking the same thing, son." Nyra said as she was alone with him. She closed the door behind her as she walked up to her son and she gives him a warming embrace. And Carlos returns it to her as they let go of each other. She sighed desperately and said. "Carlos, I wanted to say... that I miss you... Miss you so much when you left... and I couldn't feel but... miss you when you're once an only baby owlet." She told him sadly. Carlos sighed sadly as he was having flashbacks of his childhood memories; but then he also remembered the bad times too. He remembers how when he once trained with his father 6 years ago and how he remembers his father once slapped him across the face, stating he was not his son and caused him to live in the moments of despair and painful agony. But not only that he learns his father still loves him and he tried his hardest to be a good father to him as much of as he could give him. Nyra looked at her son and noticing him look tired and glanced at the window as it was almost broad daylight, she saw him yawned and she chuckled a little.

"Now, off to bed Carlos, I think its better you might need some sleep for now." She told him. Carlos wished he could protest but giving how badly it is on to his mother, he only obeyed and went too tucked himself into the corner and fast asleep. She smiled after, watching him sleep and then she went and kisses her son in the cheek and she left him as she glanced over her shoulder... looking at her son sleeping and sighed deeply as she muttered. "Goodnight, my sweet prince." She whispered and then... she left him alone in his deepest slumber. Moments before moon-rise Carlos was tossing and turning between left and right, grunting, and groaning as rather bad daymare had plunged in his mind... but then... a dark cold voice called out to him as it echoed over his hollow...

"Carlos... Carlos..." The dark cold voice said. And then it called him a third time as he bolted up as he woke up in terror as he was gasping for air profusely, only he realize he was in his hollow and he asked.

"Who's there?" He asked but no one answered came, just him and his hollow, he turned to the window as it was about moon-rise and he sighed deeply as he was about to sleep more but the dark voice called out once more as it keep calling his name. Growing desperate, he got up and leaves the hollow to find the source of this voice. While finding the voice as he keeps hearing it from his mind, fear began to grow and it was only the matter of time when he saw the cave he landed as he spotted two guards who were guarding the cave's entrance and the voice calls out to him again.

"Enter that cave where those two pathetic fools are... and the answers may lie there you seek..." The dark cold voice command as it disappeared. Carlos began to ponder about it, but why? Why the cave does have to do with this source? Feeling as he had no choice but he had to do it in order to solve this mysterious voice of his (or whoever he is). The two guards who appeared to be Barn Owls, (apparently males) blocked the prince's way.

"You are entering a forbidden area and outlawed by the Queen and Lord High Tyto's orders, please leave or we'll have to do it by force!" He ordered the prince. Carlos shook his head in refusal.

"Don't you know who I am?" He asked one of them. "I am Prince Carlos Nyroc Alba, son of Lord High Tyto Kludd and Queen and Ablah General Nyra! I ordered you two to let me entered this cave, you too stand down and stand aside!" The two guards however gasped in shock by their prince's words and mostly his voice.

"P-please f-forgive us, your majesty." The first guard apologized in stammered to explain. "W-we thought you're one of those stupid pickers who are going to cause trouble again. And I'm so sorry for it..." He said in complete fear. Carlos shook his head.

"It's okay," He soothed calmly. "You only did your job, but I had to investigate this cave..." He glanced over the cave and then felt something different in his gizzard, but not sure why... Silence approached the three barn owls and then Carlos looked one of the guards and he said. "Now, please, let me entered, it won't be long." He assured them. The two guards exchange each other's glances, then to Carlos and nodded in defeat.

"Be quick." The second from the right guard said solemnly. The prince nodded as the two guards stand aside as the prince took a deep breath and entered the cave. But something happened as the cave's entranced was now covered and blocked by powerful dark aura as the two guards looked in shock of horror as they tried to break in but the prince did not here their pleads as Carlos went in further as much.

Carlos felt his fear went up his spine. He took a few more caution steps; and he came into a halt. Silence stills there as he called out.

"Hello?" He asked, nothing replied expect his voice, only of an echo of his own voice. Carlos sighed deeply as he lowered his head a little, but the voice then calls back to him.

"I'm glad you would be here..." The dark cold voice said with a sinister chuckle. Carlos was snapping out of his reverie as he turned around and saw nothing as the dark laughter boomed louder, making the poor barn owl growing more frighten.

"Who's there, show yourself!" He demanded fearfully. He felt his heart beating faster as nothing had answered for him except the voice of laughter, but then...

"Gladly you can answer that. Allow me reveal myself to you..." The dark voice complimented. Carlos felt his blood froze and... he immediately turned around and saw a strange looking owl... that might happened to be a sooty owl (a male, by the looks of it) who's eyes are golden and another eye was blind and also wearing a white bronze metal maskmuch similar to his father's helm used, this owl must appeared to be a scroom; but why here? Why did he call out to him if he's dead? Does he have some unsettled business with him? Before he could continue to complement his thoughts, the black owl beats him to it.

"Ah lad, you are here, gladly you came here just in time. I was beginning to wonder if you hadn't showed up." The sooty owl told him in anticipating tone of his voice. Immediately, it increases Carlos's fear began to rise it up more as he asked.

"Who are you?" He asked the sooty owl fearfully. The sooty owl only gave a fiendish chuckled, frightening Carlos even more.

"Ah, how rude of me, let me formally introduced myself, I am once happened to be one of the former Pure Ones late king... Metal Beak." He said as he chuckled darkly while Carlos gave a horrifying gasp. That scroom was... Metal Beak?! No it can't be! His uncle killed Metal Beak with a burning stick into his heart 20 years ago; but why?! The scroom himself only smiled evilly as he knew this lad figured it out but he enlightens him. "It looks like my mate might've been raised you well. But judging you as a son to one of my former soldier and as a prince of the Pure Ones king's father, Kludd I presume? However, he is poorly foolish enough to take my place as king and married my mate. But you, lad, on the other hand, you could be the one..."

Carlos looks on in fear, but why does he mean 'He could be the one' that Metal Beak mentioned about? He only shook his head in denial.

"NO! You... you can't be Metal Beak!" He screamed at his heritage as he took a few steps back words growing more frightened. "My uncle killed you! You can't... you can't... be him... you just... can't... be..." His tears threaten him to strike but then... he broke into a horrible sob as he collapsed his knees; Metal Beak only look at him with pity, knowing that the truth is hard to accept, as he explains to him.

"I know the truth hurts, boy, but what I mean's that is true, you are supposed to be the future king of the Pure Ones not your pathetic father who claimed my throne without what's his. But you on the other hand, the one who I've been searching for." Metal Beak explains. Carlos raised his head at the sooty owl, still as his tears leaked in his eyes.

"What do you want with me?" He asked fearfully, Metal Beak only look at him and he replied.

"You know what I've want, boy," The ex-king said with amusement chuckle, "To rule... to rule all the owl kingdoms and to get revenge on your pitiful once called uncle!" He finished the last word with a gaped in shocked by what he said and he shook his head.

"No! I will never do that! I will not kill my uncle nor taking over the owl kingdoms! All those things of happening are done with! The treaty is been dealt with already and I'll never let the war happening again!" He screeched in anger, he charged at the black owl given how Metal Beak was a better fighter than Carlos as the ex-king only dodged his attack, and Carlos growled in anger as he was going charge at him, but the black owl he thought he is going to kill... disappeared as the owl fell to the ground while Metal Beak laughed again.

"Foolish boy, do you really think you can kill me?" He sneered as he chuckled, "But, what if, I can tell you of your future?" Carlos only remained silent in shocked. What kind of offer is this? The young prince only began to ponder of it then, he then asked.

"What future?" He asked. The dark being reappeared in front to the prince once more with a sinister smirk on his beak and he said.

"Cause, boy," He answered, "The future of your life..." Carlos remained silent, then he asked.

"What about it? You know nothing of me, you're just the thing of a past, my uncle killed you with the burning stick right through to you," He growled at him as he panted, anger growing within him, "How can you be so sure if only you know something of my future than I don't?!" He snarled at Metal Beak. Metal Beak smirked as he approached closer to him, and said.

"The future of your mate, lad." He explained, "You're mate or should I say; Thana? She will die upon the future of your future child's birth." Metal Beak told him, Carlos eyes widens in horror, appalled by this... Thana... his love... will die...? No, she can't, she won't!

"No..." Carlos whispered in horror as he took a few steps backwords, "Sh-she won't die! Not now I can't lose Thana, I loved her! How can you possibly know she might will die?!" He screamed in the demanding tone of his voice as tears leaked once more. The dark being only smirked as he explains to Carlos.

"Because, lad, it was a simple thing that has been done by you and your love, Thana, when you two mate and mostly given birth a egg, and all of the sudden... she dies, just like that." He explained. Carlos eyes went teary, no, she can't be dead in the future won't she, but how? Is there such ways to stop this from happening?! He wasn't know for sure as Metal Beak continued onwards, "But, I know how to stop it." He stated with one absolute as Carlos raised his head to look at the ex-king's eyes (eh, eye), "The only way for you to prevent this from happening, is too given to the darkness." He said in one absolute. Carlos's eyes widens at his statement.

"NO! I won't do it! I will never given to the darkness; you cannot simply force me to give in!" He screeched, "Thana will not die, do you hear?! She will not DIE!" He finished with a scream. Not before Metal Beak could respond, the dark energy waves suddenly burst out of nowhere. Penetrated his body and trapping the prince as it consumes him, he screams in pain as he clutches his chest with his wings, trying to ignore the pain with all his might as Metal Beak explains.

"There is no other choice, Carlos Nyroc Abla." Metal Beak told him as the poor owl was suffering. "She will never escape from her fate, not by a long shot. But, the only to protect her is to give in the darkness, and I'll help you for it... by promising you power." He said with one absolution. Carlos then suddenly went silent (still clutching his chest to ignore the pain). How can he trust him? After all the horrible things Metal Beak had done, he is now promising him power?! At what costs?! Suddenly, he is beginning to have fears of losing his love, the beautiful snowy owl, he couldn't bear to see her die like that, he couldn't let that happening to come true. But, judging what Metal Beak's words, it seems he was speaking the truth. He wished he could answer his gizzard, finding some truth of what lies behind his words. But now... nothing... he won't let her death to be in vein. The only way he had to do is too accept the darkness... but what price he had to take? He will lose all of his friends, family and mostly Lorraine and his love... Thana. He sighed in defeat as a tear sheds off to his face.

"All right," He pleaded as his voice began to shake. "How do I save her? How to do I need such powers to save her? I just... don't want to lose her..." Metal Beak smiled in malice, knowing his trickery was working like a charm! All he needs to do is to be reborn and the two becomes one.

"First off, you'll need to accept the darkness." He explained, "And the second part is not the easy one: you'll need to build an army of whose vengeance is strived for so many years. Waiting to get their vengeances against of those who hunt them and finally to strike their enemies with one brilliant stroke! And then, only you can save the love you held so dear in your heart." His words are so spoken true... but why he needed the army... not other than... then it him with the pile of bricks of the army he is referring too... The Eagle Empire... but they were the cruelest beings on earth and they killed thousands and thousands of innocent people... let alone of the dark lord Nihilus. The only way to do this is too accept it and finally he could protect his love from her certain death. Then, he sighed in defeat.

"All right, you win." He told him. At last as the dark being finally smiled in triumphed as he finally accepts it. "I'll embrace it, but please... promise me nothing bad won't happened to her?" He asked. The ex-king nodded.

"That promise was just the beginning, boy." Metal Beak said darkly. "Now, let me become one with your heart. And then... embrace the darkness!" Without any more words from him, the dark owl began to dissipate and he... along of the dark energy waves that surrounded Carlos are now surging within him. While he felt more pain than ever, and then... he finally let out a huge scream. Within that happened as it came by minutes, the dark shadows slowly disappeared as Carlos (formally) gotten up to his feet as his feathers around his body had changed. They are no longer light red (Kludd's feathers) and white feathers (Nyra's feathers) aren't there anymore... they are only now as black feathers, his eyes are no longer dark amber as it was changed to reddish-yellow eyes (Much like Nyriss). The young owl looked around and began to chuckle darkly as his voice somehow changed into Metal Beak's voice but similar as it seems as he was now being possessed by him.

"Finally... so many years of my revenge has now finally come true at long last." Metal Beak told himself as he was in Carlos's body. He looked around and whiffed some air and he let it go. He looked at the young owl's claw as he continued. "I was once a master of all rulers... destined to rule all the owl kingdoms... I was destined to become... so much to become the king of all owl kingdoms. But now... that destiny was robbed by the Guardian... by the name of Soren..." He snarled as he remembers his defeat in painful agony. His thoughts went came into the halt as he heard more voices from the outside of the cave, appeared to be the two guards that Carlos entered. He only smirked in amusement.

"Well, it finally pays off. The time has come for the old king... to build a new army." He told himself darkly.

The two guards didn't what was happening to that poor owl. But the energy around the cave entrance as it was now no longer appeared as it was disappearing. The two guards saw the young owl coming out from the darkness... none other than... Carlos! The two guards sighed in relief.

"Thank the Glaux you scared us. We've only thought you been gone for hours, what happened to you? You look like you saw the scroom or something." The guard asked. Carlos or rather say, Metal Beak raised his head with a sinister smirk on his beak. The two guards were shocked that the prince's feathers were changed!

"I am Metal Beak reborn! Bow down to your king!" He commanded, the two owls only stared at him in silence. But they burst into a booming laughter as Metal Beak felt confused by this.

"Nice trick Carlos." The first guard laughed. "But don't you forget you're not 'Metal Beak' yet. You're only 17 years old and you're not older enough to pass that title and worthy as king!" The guard explains as he laughed even harder. His buddy also laughed in a laughing stock in front of their old king. Metal Beak growled in fury, how dare they insult the king like that?! No matter, they'll be dealt with shortly.

"How dare you insult the king like that you diligent dolt!" Metal Beak growled, "I am Metal Beak reborn! Feel the powers of darkness!" He bellowed. Without warning, the two guards stop laughing as Carlos unleash the unholy energy waves managed to appear and quickly surrounding and trap the two as they were screaming in pain as they clutches their chests to ignore the pain.

"Okay, okay!" His other friend whimpered, as his voice was in complete fear, "You are Metal Beak! Please have mercy on us, please!" He begged. Metal Beak gotten closer to the horrified guard's face but his helmet hides his expression, only as his eyes were shown with utter fear within him.

"There is no mercy for the weak." He coldly said as the darkness finally destroys the two guards as they were screamed in pain as the horrible sound was made as it crush their skulls and then... they fell lifelessly as blood was leaking everywhere and Metal Beak chuckled devilishly as his powers was working perfectly. And then at that moment, he took flight as he leaves St. Aggies and finds off a new army to assemble and then... hoping to get his revenge against Soren for once and for all!

Wow, so dark, and and that's how Carlos becomes Metal Beak and his return, and so yeah, this is all I could do and wait till you see Chapter 5! And thanks for reading and review!