Everyone had gathered to hear what Rage had to say. Tension was high as everyone there knew they were planning something risky. "So what do you have in mind Rage?" Twilight asks.
"You know that artillery we obtained from old G.U.N weapons stockpiles?" Rage asks "We set them up across from Canterlot where Dex can see them. I'd like to avoid firing them but they are a show of power."
"I don't see how it will do anything." Twilight says.
"If you looked out on your balcony and saw a battery of heavy artillery guns aimed at you what would feel?" Rage asks.
"Rage...in most cases you'd be right but you know Dex, Vlagh and them are not fools. They know we wouldn't bombard a city if we have innocents in there..." Chaotix says
"Besides we could never do that." Twilight adds.
Rage looks at the two of them an sighs "Dammit then what do we do?"
"Drop the assault on Canterlot." Icezer says.
"Why?" Rage asks "What else can we do now?!"
"Don't act so rashly, Rage." A voice says.
"That voice..." Rage says as a grey wolf appeared out of a shroud of darkness, his deep purple eyes set upon Rage. Darker purple stripes within his hair glowed softly as the dark mist dispersed. "Christain..." Rage says.
It was Christain, one of Rage's oldest allies and once his most bitter enemy. A long time ago Christain was a puppet of Nix who himself was a puppet of Vlagh. Rage and Christain clashed for years before Nix broke his bond and Christain returned to what he was before.
Cursed with the Darkness within Christain trained himself to overcome and control the dark powers Nix left within him so he and Rage became quick friends.
"It has been far too long..." the wolf says. "You haven't changed a bit."
"You on the other hand seem to have gotten your Dark Powers under control." Rage says "Guys, meet Christain. He is an old friend."
"Nice to meet you all." Christain says "Anyway, an assault of Canterlot is impossible. Vlagh or Dex or whoever you're up against this time formed some strange ward preventing people from getting in or out of Canterlot. I don't know how they get in and out since I can't enter even using the Dark Pathways"
"So he's already running scared?" Sonic chuckles "I knew it."
"I doubt it." Hikari says "Remember Dex was a Chaos Guardian so he is likely biding his time. He plans ahead."
"So...what do we do?" Tails asks.
"We will need to find a way to get rid of that barrier. However that can wait." Twilight says "We are at a severe disadvantage. Dex not only has enslaved ponies but an endless army of Dark Spawn thanks to Vlagh."
"Along with the remaining members of our family." Icezer adds "Pureblood Chaotics are formidable and not to be taken lightly."
"Oh!" Xage exclaims pulling a letter out of his pocket "That reminds me, Rage..." he hands Rage the letter.
"What's this?" He asks opening the letter;
'Rage Chaotic,
I wish to meet with you. Come to the village hidden within the Hjarl Mountain on Dark Mobius...come alone don't risk your pals...
-Ashton of the Chaotic Clan'
"It sounds like a trap." Prisma says.
"I agree." Rage concurs. "Xage where and how did you get this?"
"This guy who helped me escape from the prison I was being held in. Big guy, Borri was his name. Said to give that to you." Xage explains.
"Hmmm..." Rage thinks "It is likely a trap but it gives me a chance to deal with Ashton...I'll go."
"What?!" Dex and a few other exclaim.
"Are you crazy?!" Rarity asks.
"They'll kill you for sure!" Rainbow concludes.
"Hmph." Rage snickers "Him and what army?"
"Rage, think about this!" Twilight says
"I did." Rage affirms "I am going."
"Rage you can't!" Chaotix says "You aren't thinking right!"
"Think about it." Rage says "If Ashton wanted to lure me into a trap why tell me where their place of residence is? Why ask I not bring you? If he wanted to trap us he wouldn't have said that."
"I hope you know what you're doing considering Ashton tried to kill you." Icezer says.
"Don't worry..." Rage says "I'll watch myself. I am no fool." He chuckles before vanishing.
"Why would he go alone...?" Rainbow Dash asks "Is he stupid?"
"We cannot go where he is going." Chaotix says.
"What are ya talkin' about?" Applejack asks.
"Dark Mobius is unsafe for many of us." Hikari says. "The atmosphere is toxic and if it does not kill you it's influence will twist your mind."
"Without proper protection going there is risky." Tails says "Remember when you went to fight Vlagh? Well, Rage's portal was special anyone that passed through it was given temporary protection. No doubt it has since worn off."
"Only Chaos Guardians can travel there freely without preparation thanks to special abilities they are granted. I can travel there thanks to Vlagh." Christain says "I am or was a Dark Dweller."
"We should go after him." Sonic says "Hikari you can do what Rage did can't you?"
"I would but..." Hikari looks down "I don't have as much power as Rage does...he has years of experience that I do not yet have."
"You're still a great teacher." Prisma smiles hoping to cheer him up.
"I just pray Rage knows what he is doing..." Twilight says.
Meanwhile on Dark Mobius Rage was doing his best to navigate the forests that blanketed the lower parts of the Hjarl Mountains. The forest was quiet. Rage was on guard as he finally broke the tree line and managed to summit one of the mountains. Rage looked down into the valley where a village was nestled within protected by the other three of the many mountains within the range.
These three were known as the Fools Triad. As long ago it was said an ancient lord of evil took up residence where the village now lies and any who tried to climb these mountains would mysteriously vanish. Rage leaped his way down the mountainside and into the valley and approached the gate that guarded the village.
After finally reaching it the two guards who had now doubt seen him coming for a while by now raised their assault rifles. "Halt!" They both shout and Rage stops.
"This is a restricted area! Turn around and go back to wherever it was you came from rat!" The guard on the right shouts.
"Gee Ashton if you're gonna invite someone you should make sure your guards know who it is..." Rage thinks aloud, yet under his breath. As he removes his right glove to reveal his family's crest.
"You can't be..." the guard says.
"What is all this ruckus?" A large hedgehog asks walking forward, it was Borri. He looks at Rage.
"Cousin Ragis." He says "Come."
"Just like that?" Rage asks startled "Just want me to come in?"
"Of course Ashton is in the Elder Building. I will lead you there." Borri says.
"This is a rather...warm welcome..." Rage says as he walked by the guards who had since gone to a saluting stance.
"What were you expecting?" Borri asks as he began to lead Rage to the Elder Building.
"Well considering last time I saw Ashton he wanted me dead I expected a trap." Rage says
"Well I believe you will find Master Ashton's words to be calming." Borri says as they manage to reach the tall building. "Here we are, good luck." Borri says
Rage thanks the large hedgehog and enters the building before being met by an older maroon hedgehog stood. "Greetings." He says "You must be Ragis."
"That would be correct." Rage says as the short, elderly hedgehog walks up and looks closely at Rage.
"Yup no doubt about it, you're Max's kid alright." He says.
"You knew Maxim? My father?" Rage asks surprised.
"I did. My name is Malik. Max was a good man...until he was banished. Anyway, Ashton is waiting for you. Head on in." The old hedgehog says.
Rage cautiously walks into the room where Ashton was looking out of a window. Hearing Rage's footsteps he turned around. "Ragis, I didn't know when or if to expect you." He says. "I pray you didn't have too much trouble getting here?"
"No..." Rage says hostility in his voice.
"No need for the hostility brother." Ashton says.
"Really?" Rage asks "Considering you tried to kill me I would beg to differ." He says scornfully.
"Bygones are bygones. If I wanted you dead still you wouldn't have set foot inside the gate." Ashton says.
"...Fair enough..." Rage says his tone showing he still didn't trust Ashton. "So what does Dex's little helpers want from me?"
"We wish to join you, cousin." Ashton says. Rage looks slightly shocked at what he was hearing.
"Excuse me?" He asks "Did I hear you right? You wish to join me? A Chaos Guardian? The very same one that was destined to destroy your ruler? Destroy Nix er Vlagh?"
Ashton nods "While we were in debt to Nix and by extension Vlagh I had assumed we would continue to serve him into eternity however some of those older and wiser said we were not tied to be their slaves forever. That with them dead we could have moved on. Our leaders failed to listen, I failed to listen. Finally I did and it came to me, we cannot just murder one of our own even if they are a Chaos Guardian." He explains.
"Hmmm." Rage says giving Ashton a glare. "Why should I believe you?" He asks "We may be family but you tried to kill me because Dex ordered you to..." he says a hint of scorn still in his voice "We see the abilities passed down in our blood as two different things..."
"Yes, you see it as a curse for when you use it...you lose control of yourself and go insane...so you don't use it unless you have to...Rage we were all like that." Ashton says.
"What do you mean?" Rage asks.
"Everyone here, we had the same issue of losing control and getting lost in a blood frenzy...we had to learn to control it. Once we do, we can use it without losing control of ourselves." Ashton explains "Why won't you just believe me?!"
"Ashton..." Rage sighs "I have been alive for a long...long time. I trust next to nobody. I have been betrayed more times than I can count. When someone who was trying to kill me suddenly turns around a few weeks later offering me aide I am going to be skeptical and untrusting."
"I see then what do I need to do to prove I mean what I say?" Ashton asks.
"The barrier around Canterlot..." Rage says "How do we dispel it?"
"The barrier...?" Ashton asks crossing his arms. "Hmmm...let's see...if I remember correctly the barrier is the Souls Barrier. You will need to defeat Vlagh, Nix, Infinite and some guy named Tirek." He says "Then the barrier will be dispelled."
"I didn't think Dex would use such an old barrier...Tirek...where have I heard thatname before..." Rage sighs "Very well Ashton I believe you."
"Thank you cousin!" Ashton says relieved. "I swear to you. We take care of our own."
"I hope this doesn't end up as a mistake." Rage says opening a portal to the Chaos Realm. "We need to get wit the others and devise a full plan."
Rage and Ashton both enter the portal which drops them right over the fountain in the main terrace. Both fall in and Ashton looks at Rage annoyed thinking it was on purpose.
"That...that isn't right..." Rage says shocked looking at the portal as it closes.
"What do you mean?" Ashton asks as both try to dry themselves off.
"That portal should have dropped us at the World Gate." Rage says "Something isn't right."
"What because your teleport was off?" Ashton asks "Come on, everyone makes mistakes."
"Ashton I have been doing this for thousands of years...give or take...warping back to The Chaos Realm is second nature to me." Rage says as he closes his eyes and extends his right hand.
"Rage-" Ashton attempts to speak but Rage shushes him.
"Shh. I need to focus." He says as a soft glow of white energy forms around Rage. It remained for a minute before Rage's eyes shot open. "No..." he says, a sense of dread filling his voice before he runs off full speed.
"Rage?!" Ashton shouts confused as to what was happening. He shakes his head before running after Rage. He didn't know what was happening but he could tell it wasn't good.
Ashton caught up to Rage before a large stairwell leading up to The Council Building. "Rage what the hell?!" He asks. Rage didn't respond as they made it to the top and looked into the doorway. There stood Dex with Icezer in his grasp struggling. On the floor Chaotix's body slowly leaking what blood was left with his head on a spear made of rock.
Sonic's body was splattered across a wall and Xage's body was stuck to the wall by a spear of darkness. Back in the corner was a severely wounded Hikari assisted by Prisma keeping a magical barrier up protecting the others.
Icezer reached to Rage. At the same time Dex looked at him with a smile as he drops Icezer who falls limp. Rage stood there in a state of pure shock. Dex chuckled sinisterly.
"Take a look Guardian." He says "Your brothers are dead, your dear mentor decapitated...that foolish blue hedgehog nothing more than a stain on the wall and the others barely grasping on to life..."
"Rage..." Hikari says weakly.
"Pitiful. Now do you see? It is useless to resist. This is the fate of the worlds. For them to fall to me..." Dex chuckles.
Rage fell to his knees and screamed before falling onto his hands tears rolling down his face. Dex walks up as Ashton steps in front of Rage to protect him but Dex just shoved him out of the way. "You should have learned from the last time...you are not meant to have people who care for you!" Dex turns around and walks back to finish Icezer off.
The black figure picks the icy blue hedgehog up by the neck once more. However it was then Rage stood up and screamed "DEX!" his voice echoed as Dex was hit by something that required him to drop Icezer to defend himself. He looks at Rage who was panting heavily.
The crimson hedgehog's emerald green eyes turned to a blood red as an aura of pure darkness began to emanate from Rage. "I..." he says as Dex looks at him with a victorious grin.
"Yes!" He laughs.
"I am going to make you suffer!" He shouts as his fur darkened and a scythe of blood formed on his right arm. He charged and slices to attempt and cut Dex into two.
Dex leaps back but is still gashed by the attack. He looks confused. He was hoping Rage would give in and turn Dark but this wasn't a Dark Form, "What is this?" he asks shocked. Rage said nothing as he continued his onslaught at Dex.
Dex was kept on the defensive but Rage's speed was greater than Dex had ever dealt with. He managed to keep the attacks that hit him to a minimum but when they did they were deep. 'What the hell is this?! He isn't in a dark form like Sonic would have been."
"What's the matter coward?!" Rage asked as he continued his onslaught of swipes and stabs. "You gonna just run? Come on give me something!" he laughs hysterically.
"Ashton you idiot help me out here!" Dex shouts looking at Ashton who had been watching this entire time. The green hedgehog sighs and looks at Dex before his eyes glowed a deep crimson and his arms became like swords almost similar to what had happened to Rage. He then lashes out at Dex with a smirk. "You backstabbing little-" Dex says before Rage appeared behind him out of the shadows cast upon the ground and impaled him in the stomach. Dex coughed up some blood and teleported to avoid Ashton's charge.
Beaten Dex looks at the two. "This...isn't over..." he pants as he begins to vanish into a portal of Darkness.
"Oh no you don't!" Rage hisses leaping after him. He was unable to follow however as the portal closed right as Rage got there. Rage looked around "You coward! Come back and fight!" he jeers.
"Rage!" Ashton shouts sternly. The crimson hedgehog looks up to Ashton as the others went to check on Icezer and Xage. Twilight looks at Rage. Her face was nothing but the definition of terror. Rage looked sad for a minute before running off and vanishing.
"What...what was that?" She asks her voice cracking. Nobody had ever seen Rage like that.
"That...that is what happens when he...loses control." Christain says as he limps over to them. "I don't know what it is but whenever he is overcome with emotions he...he turns into that...This is the first time I have seen it happen."
"It's only the second time." Chaotix says. Everyone looked over at his head which was standing up right. They looked at him in confusion and he cocks his head. "What?"
"You're ALIVE?!" Rainbow Dash asks. "Okaaay this is creepy, you're a talking head."
"What?" Chaotix questions looking down to see no shoulders and only the ground. "Oh...so it appears..."
"You're...not dead?" Tails asks. "Does that mean?"
"No, Sonic is dead I'm afraid." Chaotix says.
"Wait so how the hell are you alive?" Xage pants.
"I could ask you the same." Chaotix says.
"I was stabbed by a...spear." Xage argues grunting in pain. "You were decapitated."
"Oh come now. I'm an Old Chaos Guardian. You can't kill me in the Chaos Realm!" He says cheerfully.
"Does Rage know that?" Hikari asks.
"Er...well no." Chaotix says.
"So he thinks you're dead. He thinks Xage and Icezer are dead...He thinks Sonic is dead...which is sadly true it seems." Hikari states. "He goes crazy, turns into whatever that was and then runs off!"
"Oh..." Chaotix says seeing the error in his actions or lack thereof in this case.
"What was that? You said you had seen it before?" Twilight asks the head of Chaotix.
"Indeed...but I don't know what it is. Only other time I have seen him do that is when Dex betrayed us and killed the others." Chaotix says.
"Wait a second if they were here in the Chaos Realm when Dex killed them then how come you are still alive after that?" Hikari asks.
"Oh that's simple." Chaotix says "Back then he was still seen as a Chaos Guardian and not yet a Dark Dweller. Sadly it's not a perfect system." he sighs.
"I know what that was." Ashton says.
"Oh yeah that's right YOU." Icezer says standing up even though Prisma was healing him and tried to stop him. "What do YOU want?"
"Calm down Icezer." Hikari says "I don't think he is here to fight us. He turned on Dex when ordered to help him kill Rage."
"So tell us then...what is it that happened to Rage?" Rainbow Dash asks.
"That was the very same thing that I can do." Ashton says as he forms a scythe similar to Rage's. "It is a power that lies dormant in our blood. It allows us to turn our blood into indestructible weapons."
"Okay but how come when you use it you don't go crazy?" Twilight asks.
"Unlike Rage I have trained and learned to control these powers. He is much like a young child in our family." Ashton explains "The source is what we have come to call our 'Shadows' or 'Dark Self' the house our more primal and sinful instincts. Rage unlike most pure blooded Chaotics who hold the power wasn't raised with the rest of us. His branch of the family was forced into exile or hiding even. As such he didn't learn to control it like the rest of us. Normally at a young age we have to confront this other self and assert our dominance over it. Rage...clearly hasn't. That behavior is his 'Shadow' in control of his body. That form is brought out by severe emotional distress in the untrained." He explains.
"So you mean...everytime Rage gets overwhelmed with negative emotions he...turns into that?" Rarity asks in a spiteful voice.
"No...not just negative even positive...he has absolutely no control over it and as such his Shadow can just run wild...It must be a great struggle for him to be able to regain control over himself." Ashton answers.
"So...he will need to learn to control it then." Icezer says "Otherwise we can't risk sending him into fight Dex and them, it's too risky."
"Yes." Chaotix agrees. "But we have to find him first."