Part 2 of my 2-part special
Previously on Chaotic GX:
"Somebody attacked Maxxor and Intress." "Whoever the attacker was, I think they were after me." "Who are you?" "I've lost contact with Gespedan and Spyder." "Time's up, Maxxor."
(Intro)
Chapter 17: A Stronghold of Love
In Maxxor's castle, Tom and Sidney showed the council who the attacker was on their scanners. "Drabe? It was Drabe?" Takinom asked in shock. "When 'til I get my hands on that horn-headed traitor! I'm gonna-" Odu-Bathax started. "Easy there, Odu. Save it for later." Mudeenu interrupted. "Sorry." Odu-Bathax said. "I don't get it. Why would Drabe do this?" Sidney asked. "Me." Intress said. Everyone looked at her facing the corner with her head down. "Drabe had grown jealous of me choosing Maxxor of him. Even after Maxxor and I got married and had Verlina. One day after the wedding, he confronted me about his feelings." Intress explained.
[Flashback]
"Why?! Why choose Maxxor over me?! Is it because he's the all-mighty leader of our tribe?!" Drabe asked in anger. "No. Maxxor and I have shared a special bond with each other for a long time. A bond we've shared for a long time." Intress explained. "A bond that also kept you 2 apart for so long if I recall." Drabe said. "Whatever Drabe. All that matters is that Maxxor means more to me than anything else in all of Perim. Marrying him is the best thing I've ever done. Deal with it." Intress said, walking away. Drabe growled as she left.
[Flashback End]
"I guess if anyone is to blame for Drabe, it's me." Intress finished. Takinom walked over and brought her sister into a hug. "You shouldn't blame yourself. Drabe made his choice. So, did you." She said. Intress hugged back. "You're right. Marrying Maxxor was the best thing I've ever done." She said. Just then, Mudeenu cleared his throat, breaking their moment. "Not to interrupt, but we still have to find out where Drabe took Maxxor." He said. Intress nodded. "Send Dractyl and Enre-hep to scout out every Location in the OverWorld." She said, hoping Maxxor was okay.
Maxxor slowly started to regain consciousness. He looked around, noticing that he was tied up and hanging in the mouth of Stronghold Morn. "Good. You're awake." Drabe's voice said. Maxxor looked up and saw his attacker standing near the mouth entrance. "I had a feeling it was you, Drabe. You never could stand that Intress chose me instead of you." He said. "True. But that all ends now!" Drabe shouted, firing a pebble shard past the vine that had Maxxor tied up, slightly slitting it. Maxxor growled. "No point in trying to break out of those vines, Maxxor. You even try to struggle, that slit will just start to break more and more until you fall into the mouth. And don't worry. I'll take good care of Intress and Verlina when you're gone." Drabe said, chuckling as Maxxor glared at the traitor. But little did they know, Dractyl and Enre-hep were watching from far above. They started to fly back to Kiru City to give Intress the news.
Intress stared out the window in Verlina's room. Tom, Sidney and Verlina watched her from the bed. "I've never seen Mom so worried about Dad." Verlina said. "Who knows what Drabe's done to him." Tom said. "Maxxor's suffered worse than whatever Drabe has planned. But I know he'll survive. I hope." Intress said. Suddenly, there was a squawk. Everyone looked out the window. Dractyl and Enre-hep had just arrived. "What have you found out?" Intress asked. "Drabe has taken Maxxor to Stronghold Morn." Dractyl said. "Drabe plans to drop Maxxor into the mouth." Enre-hep said. Everyone gasped. "We've got to help Maxxor!" Tom said. "I'll put together a squad and we'll set out for Stronghold Morn at once!" Intress said. "No need to put a squad together, Intress." Takinom's voice said. Everyone looked and saw her with Raznus, Tartawreck and Ab'lop in the doorway. "I already got one for you." She said. Intress nodded, then looked at her daughter. "Verlina, you ready for your first mission?" She asked. "Anything to help my father." Verlina said. "Then let's get going." Intress said.
Back at Stronghold Morn, the vine slowly kept breaking. Maxxor kept looking between the vine, the bottomless mouth of the stronghold and a sleeping Drabe. 'I never thought it would end like this. I only wish I could see my friends, my family, one more time.' He thought. Just then, there was a boom. Drabe jolted awake and looked around. "What're you doing down there?!" He asked. "That was not me!" Maxxor said. "DRABE!" Intress's voice shouted. Drabe looked down and saw Intress. He hopped down to meet them. "Intress! I see you finally decided to join me." He said. "Release my husband, Drabe, and you will be spared!" Intress demanded. "Never! Maxxor has taken enough from me! Now I will take everything from him!" Drabe said, preparing to fully cut the vine. "NO!" Intress cried.
Before Drabe could launch his attack, he was blasted to the ground. He recovered and saw Verlina with a smoking hand. Takinom, Raznus, Tartawreck and Ab'lop were ready for battle behind her. "Don't even try it, Drabe." She said. "You must be Verlina. You look much like your mother." Drabe said. "Save it for the jails, traitor!" Takinom said. Drabe just chuckled. "What're you gonna do, huh? Look around. This is Stronghold Morn. Here, we all can use attacks from all of the elements. That means we all know how to attack and defend against the elements." He said. "Maybe so, but we have one advantage against you." Tartawreck said. "And that's a little something called teamwork." Raznus said. "They're right, Drabe. As long as we work together, we always win against those like you." Intress said, joining her squad. "Then let's see what you got!" Drabe said. Ab'lop roared as he and the others started to attack.
While Intress and her squad battled with Drabe, Tom and Sidney climbed up the stronghold to help Maxxor. As soon as they reached the mouth, Maxxor noticed them. "What're you 2 doing here?" He asked. "We're here to help." Tom said. "How are you 2 gonna help?" Maxxor asked. "If you can swing yourself over to us, we can grab your legs before the vine breaks." Sidney said. "I don't know about this." Maxxor said. "Maxxor, we will catch you. Trust us." Tom said. Maxxor looked at Tom upon hearing that very word.
Back in the fight, Drabe was overpowering the squad. He blasted Ab'lop with Lavalanche and sent Tartawreck flying into Takinom with Tornado Tackle. Raznus leapt onto Drabe's back and prepared to attack, but Drabe glowed a blue aura and delivered an electric jolt, shocking Raznus and knocking him off. Verlina then ran in, firing a Torrent of Flame from her hands. Drabe fired a Riptide, extinguishing the attack and knocking Verlina to the ground. Drabe walked up to her and lifted her by her neck. "Shame it had to come to this. You should've been my daughter." He said, preparing another attack.
Just then, Intress pounced Drabe from the side, causing him to drop Verlina. "You will not harm my family!" She shouted, attacking with Slashclaws. Drabe dodged and threw Flame Orbs. Intress leapt over them and hit Drabe with a Flashkick. "Shame I have to destroy what could've made such a beautiful wife!" Drabe said, hitting Intress with Granite Balls and knocking her to the ground. As Intress laid on the ground, Drabe prepared one last attack. But then, he was knocked down by an Accelerated Unity attack. The attack came from Maxxor, free from the vines thanks to Tom and Sidney. "She is a beautiful wife. My beautiful wife." He said. Intress and Verlina ran over and hugged Maxxor tightly.
Razus and Tartawreck brought Drabe to his feet. "Drabe, you couldn't be a bigger disappointment to our tribe and to the Alliance." Maxxor said. "How could you do this to your friends?" Sidney asked. "Huh! Figures a child would ask that. It's because Intress chose Maxxor. I just wanted what I was supposed to have." Drabe said. "And all you had to do to get it was betray Maxxor and destroy him." Takinom guessed. "I- I love Intress. I know she loves me back. She's just too blind to accept it!" Drabe said. "If you really ever loved me, you would've accepted that I loved Maxxor more." Intress said. "Drabe, what you have done today is far beyond unforgivable. You betrayed every one of us today. You are banished from the Tribal Alliance. Leave. Now." Maxxor said. Drabe glared at his former allies and walked away. Intress watched as he left, feeling her heart break.
Back in Kiru City, Intress watched out the window of her bedchambers. Maxxor walked in and saw how she was looking. He walked up and hugged her from behind. Intress accepted the hug and nuzzled close. "I'm sorry, Intress. I know what it's like to lose a friend." Maxxor said. "I didn't lose him. The Drabe I knew was stolen from me." Intress said. "You think he still might be in there?" Maxxor asked. "I hope so." Intress said. Maxxor tilted her chin up to face him. "Don't worry. I'm sure he'll find his way back into the light someday." He assured. Intress smiled. "Thank you, my love." She said. "Still happy you chose me?" Maxxor asked. Intress cupped his cheek. "I am. If I could do it all over again, I'd still choose you." She said. The couple then moved in and kissed.
Meanwhile, Drabe made his way into the UnderWorld. He sat near the Cordac Falls Plungepool. Suddenly, he heard something move behind him. He turned and saw Chaor, along with Skithia, Klesh and few UnderWorld soldiers. They all just stared at each other. Chaor motioned for Drabe to come with him. Drabe nodded and followed Chaor and his soldiers, taking his first steps as a new enemy of the Tribal Alliance.