Disclaimer: Forgot this in the first chapter. Whoops. I don't own Ace Lightning. I do however own the OC's in the fic. Ask if you wanna use em.

A/n: Next chapter! Please review, I like feedback. :)


Why am I defying me best friend?
he wondered, as he pushed the last charred branch out of his way. The forest ended abruptly, the landscape changed to a dry lava field. Smoking holes were scattered across the cracked surface. In a few places lava streams still flowed under the crust, showing themselves through 'skylights' and then disappearing back into the underworld. The black surface stretched away and steadily upwards, finally tapering to a peak in the near distance. That peak had been spewing smoke and occasionally a few sparks of fire that lit up the night sky. He hadn't particularly worried about it at the time.

He began to question his actions even as he took to the sky to survey the lava-scape. Sure he had been doing what he felt was right. But did that make it right? It had been right to chase down a danger to his world. But it hadn't been right to betray Ace's trust. What he'd done reflected on his friend. Friendship aside he was his superior. That meant Random's actions were his responsibility.

Perhaps orders have some value after all he thought with a grim smile. Even if it's only that you don't get in trouble for failing when you follow them.

But I seriously doubt any Evils are going to give me the same courtesy he quickly countered himself. I have to destroy this thing. I know Ace will understand. I just couldn't tell him otherwise he'd be in even more trouble. I know I'm doing what's right. At least it had felt right earlier. He knew the creature was dangerous. But he couldn't quite remember how he'd figured that. Had it actually said anything earlier?

He didn't like doubt. He'd just have to trust himself. He dismissed the thoughts as he landed on a charred piece of earth, making sure he tested its strength before fully putting his weight on it. With the amount of tunnels that were running under the surface he didn't want to land on any. Their ceilings were in places paper thin.

The griffin's trail had become harder to follow on the already decimated landscape. He looked around. The only noise was the rumble of molten rock shifting beneath the black crust.

"Show yourself, griffin!" He immediately felt stupid as his voice echoed around the lava-scape. The creature couldn't understand him.

There was a rattle of displaced stones and pebbles and the griffin suddenly appeared on an outcrop of rock above Random's head.

He powered up his wrist cannons. The creature didn't seem as large as before. Perhaps it had been magnified by the flames and the fact he'd been looking at it while down on his knees. Its body was a dull bronze colour, not shining as much as it had earlier. The tips of the feathered wings were still the same silver; further flecks of the colour covered its body.

Its beak opened slightly. Instead of high pitched, this time, the noise was like that of a Kite, underlaid by a growl. It had the effect of making the creature sound like an oversized pidgin. But underneath that he heard something else.

You seemed different to the others. The voice had come from the griffin but its mouth never moved. Why do you associate yourself with their weakness?

"So you do speak?" he replied, unable to hide a half smile.

After a fashion. The problem is not that we don't speak, but that none listen. None have the strength. But you hear me?

"Yeah, I hear you. Now hear me. What was all that back at the outpost?"

Weakness must be destroyed. I merely followed that instruction.

"Do you know how many people you killed?" he growled.

No.

"Too many. I'm here to make sure it doesn't happen again."

It will. You have a choice, Lightning Knight. Weakness has contaminated this world. It must be purged. That is what I intend to do. You can either help me or be destroyed. You are currently sided with weakness. But inside you there is strength. I can awaken it. You can help make this world strong again.

He'd felt something stir within his programming. An image of the Knights bickering amongst themselves as their world fell apart around them. "You have a point. The Knights have become weaker. But I took an oath. I cannot allow you to destroy anyone else. And I will not join you."

Then be destroyed.

It launched itself off the rock, dropping its weight on him.

He pushed against it as it drove him to the ground. Flung it aside.

A wing slapped him to the ground.

He rolled out of the way; fired his wrist cannons.

A clawed paw slapped the lightning away. Its mouth opened.

Rolled out of the way again.

A fireball blasted a crater in the ash.

The roll turned into a crouch. Lightning blasted from his wrist cannons again.

The creature took the shot in the chest. It beat its wings so it could move ahead of the blast and take less damage.

He flew up to meet it.

It dropped from the sky.

Claws dug into his shoulders and smashed him back to the ground.


She'd woken with a start. The image of the creature that had pinned her to the ground, pressing its beaked face nearly against hers had disappeared. She lay back down in bed. But turning over she realised the space next to her was empty.

"Rand?" she called softly, not wanting to wake her six year old son.

And cold. Maybe he'd gone to the Thunder Tower. At one o'clock in the morning? It was one of the things you had to put up with when your husband was a Lightning Knight. But, no, that didn't happen a lot. And he'd usually wake her to say goodbye when it did.

After checking quietly around the house, she grabbed the communicator from beside the bed. Wait, this one's Random's. He should've taken it. She called the Thunder Tower on it anyway.

Ace had answered. "I sure hope you're calling to say you're going to come help with all this paperwork. Sparx left early."

Whoops. Caller ID. "Ace, it's me. Random's not there?"

"Oh, hi there, Sara. No. I thought he was at home."

"So did I."

There was a pause on the other end. "I think I know where he's gone. Or at least why."

"Ace, what's going on?"

"He must've gone after that creature."

Random had told her about that. He'd also said they'd been ordered not to. "He didn't!" she growled exasperated. While Random would happily do as he was told as soon as something came up he thought was wrong he'd do almost anything possible to fix it. That now seemed to include disobeying orders.

"Don't worry. I'll get Sparx and go after him." She could hear movement on the other end and what sounded like a stack of paper falling to the ground. "At least we'll have an excuse to destroy that thing if he's found it."

"Just make sure he's okay."

"Will do. Lightning out." Ace hung up.

She put down the communicator and got back into bed. Random would be fine. At least that's what she told herself. Still, it took her awhile to get back to sleep.