Chapter 2-9: The Corruption
The sun rose early that day a day the group would never forget. A day which they learn why Canterlot High School has seen so much since they all began their lives at school and why it could very well be what keeps them there…forever… This tragic event was set in motion behind the scenes for a long time and now the time has come for the conspirator to reveal their plan and begin the downfall of not just the world…but the very fabric of existence as this stranger begins The Corruption…
Our tale begins at the house of the star athlete Rainbow Dash. She had just gotten in the shower. To her it was any other day as she thought of the daily schedule in her head as she showered. Sonic would normally come by soon after if not just before she was dressed. She would invite him in as she finished getting ready for school. After that they would go to the corner to meet Rage and Sunset Shimmer. They would then walk to school as a group talking about this or that. The rest of the day from there was just classes and lunch until the whole group of her, Sonic, Rage, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, XL, and the newest addition Sage. Just as Rainbow Dash got out of the shower she heard a knock. "Gee…" she says wrapping a towel around her "Sonic is way early today." She comments looking at her alarm clock. She sighs walking down stairs and opening the door but to her surprise she saw Rage instead. "Rage?" she asks confused why he was there.
"Hay Rainbow Dash have you seen Sonic?" he asks completely unfazed by the fact Rainbow was standing there with just a towel covering her body.
"No…" she says "Why?"
"I haven't seen him all weekend." Rage answers "He hasn't replied to any of my texts or anything."
"Wait you mean you haven't heard from him either?" Rainbow asks "Did you check his house?"
"Yeah and Shadow said that he didn't come home after school on Wednesday and he wasn't home the whole break." Rage comments as Rainbow looks up and down the street before inviting Rage in
"Let me get changed and we can talk more when I come back down." Rainbow Dash says to Rage as she walks up the stairs. Rage takes a seat on the couch and turns the morning news on. Rainbow Dash comes down a few minutes later and sits in a chair as Rage turns the TV off. "So what do you think?"
"I don't know." Rage says "I figured maybe he had some family trouble back home so I contacted his brother Manic but… he hadn't seen Sonic either. Not even his best friend Miles has seen him."
"What?" Rainbow Dash gasps worry grasping her "Where could he be? Can't you use your power to track him or something?!"
"I am sorry Rainbow Dash…" Rage says looking down "I tried…but I can't sense him. Whatever happened to him he's just gone without a trace."
"What about Robotnik? He and Sonic go back right? Could he be behind this?" Rainbow asks "If he got to CHS once whos to say he didn't again?"
"But I haven't sensed any rifts and Twilight's stuff hasn't sensed any abnormalities in space-time so no one from our world has been here." Rage answers "I don't know what happened to him." He sighs as the doorbell rings. Rainbow sighs and stands up to see Sunset at the door. "Sunset?" Rage asks as she looks at him and tears fill her eyes before she runs off. With a "How could you?"
"Sunset?!" Rainbow calls after her as she runs after the girl. Rage sat on the couch a moment trying to process everything before he gets up and stretches.
"Why do I always have the weirdest days?" he asks running to catch up with Rainbow Dash. They soon catch a winded Sunset who was crying. "Sunset what's wrong?"
"Why don't you ask your new whore there?!" Sunset yells in tears
"What are you talking about?" Rainbow asks "Are you saying?"
"Yeah, I know what he was doing there! You two are secretly in love!" Sunset yells
"What?!" both Rage and Rainbow yell in unison
"You have it all wrong Sunset!" Rage says
"Then why was he at your house Rainbow Dash?" Sunset asks
"He was looking for clues about Sonic." She says
"But he told me this morning about your little affair!" she yells "He said that after he left home this morning he saw you two talking and he told me."
"That's impossible!" Shadow says walking up to them
"You know it's not cool to eves drop Shadow." Rage says looking at the black haired male with annoyance.
"Sonic hasn't been home for days." Shadow says to Sunset "He's been missing!'
"What are you babbling on about he told me this morning!" Sunset says
"Sunset I would never betray you like that." Rage says "You know that so why would you just assume that Rainbow and I were something just because I was talking with her this morning. You know I have been worried about Sonic."
"Did I hear my name?" a cocky arrogant voice asks
"Speaking of the devil…" Shadow says with an annoyed grit of his teeth.
"Sonic?" Rainbow asks running over and hugging the blue haired speed demon
"Geez what happened around here?" Sonic asks
"I think the better question should be where the hell have you been?" Rainbow asks
"Oh that…" Sonic says rubbing the back of his head "I…I was back home an old friend of mine and Robotnik."
"You could have told us." Rage sigs "Shadow and I have been worried sick!"
"I am sorry." Sonic says looking down "It was an emergency." The group looks at him before they all sigh and put it behind them.
"I am sorry Rage." Sunset says hugging him "You were right. But then who was that who told me about you and Rainbow?"
"What are you talking about Sunset?" Sonic asks confused
"Someone who claimed to be you said that Rage and I were having some kind of affair this morning when we were talking about where you could have been." Rainbow explains
"Someone is stealing my style?" Sonic asks before he looks at his watch "Oh crap!" he exclaims "We need to go!" he points to his watch they were almost late to meet the others! Without a second thought the group runs to school.
Little did they know that this was only the start of what would become not only the as before mentioned fateful day but also the day that one of their friends deepest secret is revealed and one of their own betrays them…but is it by choice or by force? Let's find out…
The five arrive in the music room where their friends were talking "Hay what took you guys so long? You're never this late!" Applejack asks
"We had a…strange morning." Shadow says
"Sonic!" XL exclaims "You're ok!"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Sonic asks
"Well after being gone without a word we were worried." Fluttershy says
"I assure you I am perfectly…"Sonic starts before he begins to breakout coughing. "F-fine…"
"Sonic?!" Rainbow screams "What's wrong?!"
"Sonic?!" the others asks before he falls down and Rage who happened to be next to him catches him and checks his airway
"He's not breathing!" Rage says getting into a kneeling position to start CPR "Rainbow go get the nurse." He says then he looks at Sunset "Sunset call 911." The two girls nod and run out "XL go get Celestia!" Rage grunts as he starts giving Sonic chest compressions. The others stood in shock at the scene with Fluttershy crying in fear her head between her legs. After about five minutes paramedics arrive and take Sonic in an ambulance.
"What happened?" one of the medics asks
"He just broke out coughing and passed out!" Applejack asks
"Is he going to be okay?" Rainbow asks in tears
"He is going to be fine." The medic says "You did it again kid," he says to Rage "You saved another life."
"He's my friend." Rage says "It was nothing."
"What happened?" Celestia asks running in soon after leaving with the remaining medic. It wasn't long after a silence filled the air. It wasn't broken until Luna asks for all of the students in the Gym. Without a word the remaining nine head to the gym. When they get there and all of the students got there Luna tapped the mic.
"Good morning students. Since my sister Celestia is busy with a problem I need to bring something to the attention of everyone." She says pushing a button on a remote that showed four students one was Sonic…all of them the same thing…they began coughing and collapsed "This happened just this morning four of our students began to cough and pass out. Three of them sadly are no longer with us. We have been advised to be on high alert for any signs of the cause of such a mysterious outbreak." She explains before… "BANG!" a shot was heard and Luna collapses a bullet wound in her leg. Behind her was a man with silver hair, he looked to be the age of a young teacher a black trench coat had some blood on it.
"A failed result." He says walking up to the cowering students "Hello." He says "CHS I know all about what you have been though and I know you wish it could all just end, the weird happenings, the dark magic and forces." He says coldly "But I am here to break to you the truth…unfortunately it will not stop. You are all cursed with this life."
"Why should we believe you?!" Flash yells and the students agree with murmurs of all kinds.
"Why don't I show you?" he asks before looking around the room. The next thing anyone knew Twilight walks up next to the man but she was changed…it wasn't Twilight "Ah Twilight or should I say Midnight Sparkle…" he chuckles suddenly a light goes off in Rage's head he thought he knew the man's voice…
"Twilight…." Fluttershy cries
"This isn't happening…" XL says
"What is going one?" Rebecca asks burying her head into Shadow as she cries
"Insane…" was all Shadow was able to say as he rubs her hair trying to comfort her.
"This just ain't right…" Applejack says
"Just who are you?!" Rainbow Dash yells
"Heh funny you should ask that my rainbow colored friend." He chuckles "Since you asked I will tell you…my name is Vlagh…" he smiles. He looks around again at the fear around the room. "I am a master of dark magic and dark powers…This is only the beginning for you see those three students are not dead. The other lucky for you is going to be normal the others however…will become my pawns. As I take this world over The Corruption will slowly take more and more of you. Soon you will all be under my command and we will take over the whole universe!" he laughs before an arrow of energy hits the ground next to him. Vlagh looks in shock at the arrow of energy he knew the energy everyone could tell by his look as his eyes follow the trajectory of the arrow and land on the bleachers.
Rage stood there with his clothing blowing gently from the back draft of the recently released arrow. In his hands was a bow that had no bow string! A line of intertwined energy was there instead His hand was back with a small cloud of energy smoke in front of it showing he had fired the arrow. Nix looks at him and his eyes shrink "Rage Chaotic!" he says in surprise "What a surprise."
"I thought I recognized that ugly mug and anywhere Vlagh. You sure do know how to just stay dead." Rage says as he lowers his arms
"What can I say? I am evil." Vlagh chuckles "But having you here just makes it all the more interesting."
"Why? Because you'll have to deal with me which will end up like the other times we duel and I always come out on top?" Rage asks leaping down from the bleachers
"Well can you hurt her?" Nix asks as Twilight charges a magical blast and fires it at Rage who leaps out of the way. This instead made the blast destroy part of the bleachers.
"We have to help him" XL says to Shadow and Sage
"No." Shadow says "Rage and Nix need to settle this alone. It's a personal fight." He says as Rage looks at the broken bleachers
"I am not paying for that." Rage says as Twilight blasts another blast this time Rage puts up an energy barrier blocking it.
"Is that all you got?" Twilight laughs "no attack game?"
"Snap out of it Twilight!" Rage yells "It's me Rage! You're friend! I don't want to hurt you!" he looks Twilight in the eyes and she looks back as her eyes return to normal
"R…Rage…" she says "H…help me" she begs before Vlagh slaps her
"If you want something done you gotta do it yourself." He curses firing a blast of energy at Rage who blocks it this time his barrier was shattered and then he was hit by an even stronger beam. This one harmed him badly. That was enough to his friends as they leaped into action as Nix fired another beam XL puts up a barrier that was just strong enough to repel the beam. Rage felt his body getting weak he wasn't dying but he was trying to recuperate and his chaos energy was automatically changing to do so. "Get out of my way you pathetic fools!" Vlagh yells
"Not if you're going to hurt our friend!" Appejack says
"grrr…" Vlagh growls "Fine this time you are lucky but heed my words you stupid pathetic fools! You will soon all be my pawns. I will take over this world and I will kill that red bastard!"
"No you won't Rage will stop you!" Rainbow yells "Just you wait!"
"In a pathetic human form?" Vlagh laughs as if something was funny about it "Rage is too weak to stop me now! He may have all the Chaos Power in the world but he is a pitiful human. He is just as weak as the others. When I get my hands on him I will make you all watch as that last hope you have is taken…he will suffer before you and this world will be mine."
"Dawn Strike…" a voice comes from nowhere before a blast of energy nearly hits Vlagh if he hadn't jumped out of the way as a grey haired man in a black long coat drops from the ceiling and in front of the others with a black blade in his hand. "You will have to get through me before you can lay your filthy hands on any of them you monster." He says in a calm voice. Vlagh shakes in anger looking into the amber eyes of the kid.
"Christain!" he screams "Why do you always have to have the worst timing?!" he curses
"Dunno." The kid answers "I guess I am just good at that."
"Shall I take care of them for you master?" Twilight asks
"no…" vlagh says looking at the group who stood against him "You may stand there like heroes now but when this is all over all of you will be nothing more than villainous spawns!"
"We won't back down!" Rainbow Dash says
"Rage is our friend and you hurt Sonic!" XL growls
"None of you have the power to do anything!" Vlagh yells surprised that they were still acting the way that they were "You are only asking yourselves to die!"
"Well that could be but at least we will die for something that matters!" Sage yells
"Oh and what would be so important that you would die so willingly for?" Vlagh almost laughs saying this as they look at him anger slowly increasing
"Our friend!" Rebecca says
"He may not mean much to others but to us he is our friend and a true friend is always there for the other no matter what." Sunset says
"Coming from the girl who used to spit at friendship!" Twilight smirks
"You're right I did." Sunset says "But Rage showed me what life was like with friends. He changed my life forever. Even after hurting him, capturing his friends and hogtying him in a bathroom…he still saved my life and was my friend. Rage isn't just some normal boy he has something. Rage has a heart and a big one at that. No matter what he puts others first even at the risk of his own life. So you know what…it's about time we show him that we care just as much!"
"Oh you all really feel that way?" Vlagh smirks
"When I met Rage that day in the gym I thought he was some kid just trying to show off for popularity." Rarity says "But you know what…I was wrong he and Sonic and Shadow all are the best gentlemen I have ever met sure they are a bit rough around the edges but they care."
"Ah don't think we'd still be standing here if we thought otherwise Vlagh." Applejack says
"You have no idea how idiotic it sounds." Vlagh laughs
"Well they have a point!" Flash yells "Those ten are the best examples of what friendship is. You know what… then you will have to take me out as well."
"And me." Roseluck says soon the whole student body stood together.
"Sunset and her friends united us as a school and we look out for each other." Scootaloo says
"This is madness!" Vlagh says turning "Let's go Twilight."
"yes…m-master." She says shaking.
"I will be back and once all my power has returned and then…I am going to see to it you all are destroyed and remade as Dark Spawns." Vlagh says as he and Twilight vanish
"Vlagh…" Rage says weakly standing up "you…won't get away with this…" Sonic out and Rage recharging darkness has fallen over Canterlot High once again this time bigger and even more dangerous than before…The Corruption has begun…
To be continued…