Canterlot Castle
"So you're positive?" Dex asks looking at Ashton.
"Positive the crimson hedgehog held the Chaotic Family Crest." Ashton says. "Claimed he was a Chaos Guardian."
"So it's true..." Dex sighs. "I was hoping he'd be gone by this day and age. No matter it will not matter in the end. Once the spire is complete the Chaos Emeralds will be useless. Then I can finish what was started so long ago..."
"You really think that will be enough?" Ashton asks looking at the area that had been cleared where enslaved ponies and mobians were working. Dex looks at the encased princesses then at Ashton.
"Who could stop me? If the spire drains the emeralds of the positive energy like it's supposed to Rage will be powerless." Dex says.
"What about those ponies that fled with him? Besides surely you don't think Chaotix is going to sit back this time and watch do you?" a chilly voice asks.
"Vlagh..." Dex says with an annoyed groan. "I didn't revive you to begin questioning everything." he looks at the tall black figure. Their red eyes met and shared a glare for a few seconds before Vlagh shakes his head.
"You know for a Fallen One you sure aren't as careful as the others." Vlagh sighs.
"The others didn't serve on the Chaos Council for more than 5 million years." Dex barks scornfully.
"They also didn't get beat by a 10 year old boy in training." Vlagh smirks bringing up the time Rage had beat Dex when he was training.
"Sh-shut up!" Dex orders ending the conversation.
"All I am saying is you can't be too careful Dex." Vlagh says in a 'matter of fact' like tone.
"And all I am saying is you're acting like a scared little pussy. Rage may be powerful but this time I am stronger..." he says looking at the princesses once more. "Once I find out how to drain their magic I'll have a power even he cannot best."
"If that is the case I may have a suggestion..." Vlagh says.
"What?" Dex asks.
"When I was trying to put myself back together before you happened along and helped I remember being in an alternate dimension or time period...maybe both. There was this minotaur name Tirek and he stole the magic from everyone of the pathetic ponies in this stupid land. Even managed to get Rage's Chaos powers for a while until he stopped him. If a similar event has transpired here Tirek should be in Tartarus."
"You mean hell?" Dex asks.
"Well it's what they call it here. Though it's more like a prison apparently." Vlagh says "Anyway you could free him, he takes all of the power from the ponies who aren't working on the spire and then you take it from him."
"Hmph your plan is good Vlagh... fetch me this Tirek." Dex orders.
"What shall I do my lord?" Ashton asks.
"You and your clan watch Dark Mobius and Mobius. Avoid Westside City but get back to keeping things running smoothly." Dex says before a figure dressed in black robes making them indistinguishable besides the fact they were Mobian appears.
"Master Ashton..." it says in a female voice "I bring news from Mobius."
"What?" Ashton grunts "Can't you see I am in the middle of something with Lord Dex?"
"Oh...my apologies Lord Dex." the figure sighs
"Continue." Dex says not seeming to care.
"What is it?" Ashton asks.
"We've lost nearly all of the western world. Westside, Westopolis, the Capital City, Westbrooke and the territories of the United Federation have been claimed by one who calls himself Rage."
"WHAT?!" Ashton and Dex shout.
"Surely you're joking!" Ashton says the figure shakes her head.
"I am afraid that is not all. Manehatten the metropolitan city and some area around it that is to the far south east of here up to the eastern edge of the Everfree forest has been invaded. Reports claim Chaotix an ancient Chaos Guardian and a hedgehog that looks very much like Rage have been sighted." she continues.
"Sons of bitches!" Dex curses throwing his fist into a wall leaving a dent in the marble. "INFINITE!" he screams before Infinite appears seemingly out of nowhere.
"What?" he asks.
"I thought you said those Phantom Ruby VR copies you could make were just as good as the originals!" Dex shouts.
"They are. Those 'Dark Spawns' you had me copy were weak therefore the copies are weak." Infinite says.
"I didn't play with time and space to get that ruby back for you so that you could screw up...go and find those so called 'heroes', fight them and start copying them." Dex orders.
"You have no right to give me orders like that... You got me the phantom ruby back and for that I am grateful but I never agreed to be in line with you!" Infinite shouts.
"Hrmph fine then. I banish you!" Dex shouts.
"What?" Infinite questions before he vanishes.
"What...what did you do?" Ashton asks.
"The Void...I sent him there to rot. A place where time and space do not exist in harmony with the other...he will learn soon." Dex snorts. "Ashton take some of the Class S Dark Spawns and work on a counter attack."
"As you command." Ashton says before he and the girl vanish.
"Anything else Dex?" Vlagh asks.
"Yes before you go what is the status on finding Rena?" Dex asks.
"Little progress so far. That red rat sent her reeling after their last battle. She could be in a whole different dimension completely removed from our own." Vlagh replies. "We will continue searching."
"Very well." Dex says. "Go now, find Tirek." Vlagh nods and leaves. "You've got a few surprises I see Rage...very well by the time this is over only one of us will be left standing..." he chuckles.
Castle of the Two Sisters
Rage, Icezer, Christain and Sonic appear through the portal from Mobius. Tails meets them with a wave. "Glad to see you're back." he says.
"How are things on this end?" Sonic asks.
"Chaotix and Hikari are finishing the sweep of Manehatten to make sure we took care of every last Dark Spawn." Twilight responds walking up to them. "Mobius?"
"We managed to liberate most of the old United Federation. We have a small group of people wanting to join us in fighting." Christain answers.
"Now we're at the hard part though. Getting to the other areas of Mobius. We can't fly or sail with Dex having all military technologies in his hands." Rage sghs. "Though with our progress the last few days Dex is sure to find out soon that we are up to something."
"That means it's only going to get harder from here on out..." Rainbow Dash says "Which means we'll have to kick it up too!" she exclaims as Chaotix, Hikari, Phantom, Prism and Spectra return.
"How was it?" Rage asks.
"Manehatten is ours. That factory where we believed the stuff Celestia and Luna are encased by was being made however turned out to be nothing. Not even a clue to what it is or how to reverse the effects." Hikari reports. "Though I think Dex is aware of our rebellion."
"I agree." Rage says. "There is no way we could take this much territory and kill so many Dark Spawns without him catching wind of it. We have a small resistance group on Mobius gathered. A little more than 300 right now. We expect it to grow once word gets out across the Federation. G.U.N is also working on rebuilding itself. Also..." Rage looks at the portal as Eggman walks through.
"Eggman!" Sonic shouts.
"Sonic...Tails..." he says solemnly.
"Go on." Rage says "Tell them."
"I wish to help." he says.
"You?" Sonic asks his tone showing he clearly did not believe him. "Help us? Last time I trusted you I almost lost Tails."
"Sonic I know we have been adversaries for a long time but this time Mobius is at steak... our way of life. You have to believe me."
"Alright fine..." Sonic says "But I am only going to accept it because it's for the better. I won't like it though."
"Bullshit..." Rage says under his breath remembering how willingly Sonic helped Eggman attempt to take Equestria over a few years ago before Rage and the Equestrian Forces managed to stop them.
"This definitely won't go unnoticed." Hikari says. "Once Dex finds out..."
"It will be an uphill battle." Chaotix says. "We should go rescue the princesses. Maybe I can find a way to free them if they were here."
"Easier said than done." Prism says. "My money says Dex is using them as statues as he sits in the throne room in Canterlot Castle acting all high and mighty."
"True, he will be guarding them heavily if not personally." Tails says. "How would we get them?"
"We sneak in when he's not there, steal them and use Twilights teleportation to return back here with them." Rage suggests.
"Why not just use Chaos Control?" Phantom asks.
"Dex can track where Chaos Controls comes from and goes to. He can't do that for a magic teleportation." Chaotix explains. "It's our best bet if we're to get them back."
"You guys are okay with this?" Applejack asks. "We could get killed!"
"We could have gotten killed taking back what we did." Twilight says. "Right now we need to make a big play and this is it. Not only would we gain the princesses but we also might cause Dex's ego to take a blow. It would knock him off his game long enough to work some more plays." she says.
"That is if Ashton and the other Chaotics aren't being stirred. Chances are Dex would put him in charge of military operations. Dex hates to have to coordinate things when he can have someone else do it for him." Chaotix says. "He's always been that way."
"What about the rest of us?" Rarity asks.
"Hm... Hikari you and Pism take Sonic, Phantom and...Spectra to Mobius and help the resistance and G.U.N get things up and running. The sooner the better. Twilight you come with Icezer and I to get the Princesses. Chaotix, can you run things from here?" Rage plans. Chaotix nods.
"What about us?" Rainbow Dash asks.
"For now stay put. Chaotix can give you an assignment." Rage says.
"Good luck." Sonic says to Rage as he, Icezer and Twilight start to walk off. Rage waves signaling the same to him.
"No time to lose, let's go." Sonic says as he and his team leap into the portal back to Mobius.
"This is going to be a long battle..." Chaotix sighs.
Tartarus
Vlagh stabs cerberus in the neck with a tranquilizer before walking past the gates then to where Tirek was. "You are Tirek?" he asks.
"What if I am?" the centaur like creature asks.
"I have a proposition for you..." Vlagh says. "Your freedom..."
"In exchange for what?" Tirek asks.
"My master Dex wants you to take all of the magic in Equestria including the princesses. He has already taken control of it. All you'd need to do is find the ponies and steal their power." Vlagh explains.
"What's the catch?" Tirek asks.
"You just have to do what Dex says for a while." Vlagh smiles after thinking about the deal and nods. Vlagh grins a toothy grin and breaks the chains hold Tirek. "Then let's go we have not time to lose."
"As you wish." Tirek says walking through a portal Vlagh forms before Vlagh himself follows leading them back to the throne room. Tirek see the Princesses and smiles before frowning seeing what they were encased in.
"What's wrong?" Dex asks from the throne.
"This stuff the Princesses are trapped in...I can't take their power through it." Tirek says.
"Is that so?" Dex asks acting as if he knew that even though he didn't. "Well that's part of the deal, you have to get every other pony before I will free the Princesses so you can take their power. I don't want any of them trying to rescue them after you take their power after all." he lies.
"Very well." Tirek says turning to walk out. "I will return."
"Do so." Dex says. Tirek walks out with a toothy grin before turning to go down a hallway to exit the castle. "I can finally have my revenge...those furballs will get what they want then after I will be free!" he laughs.
