Chapter 3-5: Sunset's Past Part 2
"Sonic have you seen Rage and Sunset?" Rainbow asks.
"Not since yesterday. Which is strange…Rage was going to help me with some work." Sonic says
"Strange I wonder what happened…" Rainbow sighs.
"Well Rage had to go home early yesterday." Rairty says. "Something to do with his family. I think Sunset went with him."
"What happened?" Sonic asks.
"Did something happen to his brothers?" Shadow asks.
"Rage has brothers?" Twilight asks "I didn' know that."
"Yeah, Icezer and Xage are their names." Sonic answers. "They all three grew up together and even stayed together till we split up and came here."
"If something happened to them then Rage is going to go crazy." Shadow says. "They meant the world to him."
Rage then walks into the music room. The group looks at him expecting him to say something. "Everything is fine." Rage says. "Icezer is only sick. I am sorry about making you guys worry."
"Well he must be pretty sick if they're contacting you all the way over here Rage." Sonic says.
"He's going to be fine. I made sure of it." Rage says. "Sorry about bailing on you Sonic."
"Don't worry about it. I managed." Sonic says.
"What about Sunset?" Rainbow asks.
"What about her?" Rage responds confused.
"Wasn't she with you? To help?" Rainbow questions.
"No. I don't even think she knew." Rage says.
"So then where is she?" Applejack asks.
"Hmmm…" Rage thinks. Suddenly an idea comes to mind. "Her old friends! We'll ask them."
"Are you crazy? Those three wouldn't help any of us. They're probably still upset that Sunset changed." Rainbow scoffs.
"Rainbow's right, why would they want to do anything with Sunset again?" Applejack reasons.
"I wouldn't be too sure." Rage says crossing his arms. "Just yesterday I met all three of them. I would say that they are not so willing to let Sunset go."
"If they did do something?" Rainbow asks.
"Then who knows what could happen." XL says. "Though we have to do something."
"XL's right. We should go look for her." Sonic says.
"Where?" Rainbow asks "If we just go looking then we might cause suspicion and that leads to trouble."
"Have we tried calling her?" Rarity asks.
"I can try." Rage says opening his phone. "But I don't know it if will work." He states dialing the number. One ring…two rings…three rings…
"Hello, Sunset is a little busy right now." Starlight's voice comes from the phone.
"who is this?" Rage says "Where is she?"
"Oh hey Rage is it?" she chuckles.
"Starlight? What are you doing with Sunset's phone?" Rage demands.
"Oh she's a bit busy so I answered for her." Starlight smiles.
"Don't listen to her Rage!" Sunset's voice calls "They're up to no good!"
"Shut up!" Bon Bon's voice calls before a slapping sound was heard.
"Listen I don't think she wants to be with you anymore." Starlight snickers. "She's going to back to her old self one way or another."
"Listen here you insane bastard if you do anything to her I swear the things I am going to do to you are going to be so foul you'd wish you hadn't been born…" Rage growls "You hear me."
"Ah ha ha ha" Starlight laughs "Yeah right." She says before hanging up.
"I am going to kill her." Rage says walking for the door.
"Rage no!" Sonic says holding him preventing him from leaving. "You can't kill her! This isn't like Nix or Chrysalis she hasn't done anything that constitutes letting you get away with killing her!"
"Then what do we do?" Rage asks. "I can't let them hurt Sunset!"
"We'll figure it out. But killing isn't the answer. You can't get away with that here like you can back on Mobius." Sonic replies.
"I know…" Rage says grumbling some incoherent things.
"Well what would they want to do with Sunset?" Rainbow asks.
"Try to make her like her old self again." Rage says "But that wouldn't be an easy thing I would think."
"Yeah, after what all has happened I doubt she'd just go back. Not with what she has to lose." Applejack says "there's gotta be somthin we can do."
"Let's check her house first. If we are going to find anything then that would be the place." Rage says.
"Good idea." Sonic says "Come on!"
"You guys go on ahead." XL says "I will catch up. I'll ask around here if anyone saw anything."
"Alright I just hope this isn't anything to worry too much about." Rage says. "Come on!" Rage instructs the others before they all run off.
At Sunset's house the nine arrive and Rage knocks. There was no answer instead the door creeks open. Alarmed Rage slowly opens the door all the way. "Tread lightly." He says to the others. "I have no idea what could be inside." The group enters and look around the living area.
"Oh ho ho ho ho!" A voice laughs startling the nine before all of them are suddenly grabbed by a strange energy net. All but Rage.
"I know that voice anywhere…" Sonic says as Eggman walks into the light.
"Oh this was way too easy. You're are all so predictable. Wait…" Eggman pauses before counting them all. "Nine?!" he exclaims "But there should be eight of you! Curses!"
"You're in trouble now Robotnik." Rage says. "Let them go now."
"Oh? What are you going to do about it Rage? You so much as touch me I will electrocute them with enough power to kill them!" Eggman laughs.
"What do you plan to do Eggman?" Sonic says in distress.
"Oh that is easy you see…I plan to take the magic inside each and everyone of your friends and the Chaos energy inside Sonic and Shadow. This will leave your friends nothing but husks of negative power. Then I will use that power to fuse Mobius and this world in order to rule them both! The two worlds will create a mass amount of magical and Chaos energies which I will then harness to enslave both worlds!" he laughs.
"Rage do something!" Twilight yells.
"Oh and here's a trade." Eggman laughs as Starlight pushes Sunset out.
"…Why can't I go three days without some insane maniac trying to take over the words come and cause issues?" Rage curses thinking… 'I can't let my friends die but…if I don't I will lose them and all that negative energy will alter their personalities…dammit and I am in no position to make a deal or anything. Wait…why would he be giving Sunset back she has magical energies t-' Rage's thoughts were cut off as Sunset leaps at him and tackles him. "You won't get away with this Robotnik!" Rage shouts rolling over to get Sunset off him. He looks to see that Eggman had already left with his friends in tow. "No!" Rage screams in anger watching as Eggman opens a portal and takes them away.
"You should pay attention your problem at hand!" Starlight laughs as Sunset grabs Rage by the neck.
"Sunset snap..out of it!" Rage chokes "This isn't you!"
"It's no use." Starlight says. "Eggman and Chrysalis are working together she is under Chrysalis' control now."
"nngh." Rage grunts swinging his foot out and kicking Sunset to knock her down. Swiftly Rage then leaps into the air and lands back a few feet panting in order to catch his breath. "But that's impossible I killed her!" Rage says standing back up right as XL runs to his side.
"What happened?" HE asks "I heard a scream and then a loud crash and came as fast as I could."
"I will explain later…" Rage says "Right now we have other things to worry about."
"Right" XL says. Sunset runs at them and Rage grabs her. "XL hold off Starlight. I have an idea."
"Okay." XL says blocking an attack from her.
Rage leaps back and casts a Chaos Barrier to keep him isolated from Sunset. Sunset hits the energy field and is thrown back from the shock.
"It's no use breaking it open Sunset!" Starlight yells "Help with this one!"
"What?" XL shouts "Come one 2 on 1 how is this fair?"
"Quit whining and hold on for just a moment longer." Rage says as an orb of light gathers between his cupped hands.
"Well whatever it is you are doing it had better be quick Rage!" XL calls as he leaps to avoid an oncoming attack from Sunset. He blocks the next attack before getting hit from behind by Starlight.
"Now!" Rage yells as he puts the shield down and throws the orb at Sunset. The orb strikes her and she glows before wobbling and holding her head.
"Ugh…wh-where am I?" she spouts before falling to the ground. Rage quickly runs up to Starlight and hits her with a surprise punch from behind. He then helps XL up as Starlight glares at them.
"This isn't possible…" she pants "There is no way you could have reacted that fast for a normal…"
"Shut it." Rage interrupts. "I have heard this before. I lived secluded on a floating island protecting one of the strongest artifacts in this or any dimension. I have made a lot of enemies and have had countless attempts made on my life. There is NOTHING normal about that." He states almost as if he was complaining. "Now do us all a favor and give up quietly before things get nasty."
"Hmph you may have beaten me Rage Chaotic but you'll never save your friends!" Starlight says before running off. XL starts to pursue but Rage stops him
"Let her go. We have more pressing matters to deal with." He says looking at Sunset as she gets up. "And Sunset has some serious explaining to do."
"What?" She asks
"Yeah, about your dealings before we met." Rage says,
"Well…" Sunset says looking down. "You see…back after I came here…I found others who shared hatred like I did…you know to fit in. But we went our separate ways when we chose our high schools…We would text from time to time and that was it. I never thought those three would go so low."
"Well now look at the mess we're in." Rage sighs.
"Well what about YOU?!" Sunset shouts "What haven't you told me about your past?"
"To be honest Rage I am rather curious myself. I have been friends with Sonic for years. Even before we came to this world. Yet he never talks about you." XL says.
"It's a long story that I don't even have time to explain why I don't have time to explain. As we speak every single one of our friends are in grave danger. When we save them then you'll hear the truth okay?" Rage responds.
"Fine." Sunset pouts. "But what happened to them?" she asks as Rage opens a Chaos Control portal.
"Robotnik took them…he plans to take the magic from your friends and the Chaos powers from Sonic and Shadow to power his newest plan…" Rage says "If he does it will kill them."
"What?" Sunset exclaims "Then we have to go! We can't waste anymore time!"
"Agreed." Rage says before walking through the portal which returned them to Mobius. Sunset looks around and sees that Rage wasn't human anymore.
"R-Rage?" she asks frightened "I-is that you?" she looks at the now crimson hedgehog as they walked.
"Yeah." He says "This is my true form…" he sighs.
"Oh and I bet you have a different name here to!" She says crossly.
"Well kinda." Rage answers "Rage Chaotic the Hedgehog at your service."
"What?" She asks.
"His name truly is Rage Chaotic." XL says "that 'the hedgehog' part is just a Mobian thing."
"Oh." Sunset says as Rage stops.
"We're here." He says looking at the large tower. "We don't have time to waste grab on both of you." Rage says.
"Why?" XL asks
"Just do it!" Rage shouts. XL and Sunset look at each other and grab on to Rage's jacket before he takes off running full speed up the side of the large tower. Within seconds they were at the top right before the entrance to the lab. They let go and look around.
"They're in there?" XL asks.
"Yeah." Rage says as he walks up to the door. "This is it no holding bac you got it?" he says XL grins as he nods. Rage taking that as the 'okay' tries to open the door.
"It's locked?" Sunset panics.
"No worries Sunset." XL chuckles "watch." He points to Rage who now had his leg cocked back for a kick before releasing it and kicking the large metal door off of its hinges.
Inside Eggman looks and sees Rage, XL and Sunset enter. Up on a cat walk among a series of cat walks and other footings were their friends held in a box that appeared to be made of some form of glass. "What?" he exclaims "You…how!"
"It's over Eggman." Rage says as he extends his right arm forward and a distortion of fire and light begins to occur. "Let my friends go." He says as his sword materializes in his hand. "Or else."
"Hmph you're in no position to demand anything you nasty little red needle stack!" Eggman responds smugly "I have your friends and by the looks of it they are almost drained." He laughs.
"R-Rage…" says softly
"Eggman you bastard I am not going to let you get away with this!" Rage yells infuriated at the actions of the rather obese scientist.
"Oh ho ho ho and what will you do about it?" Eggman sneers "If you make one wrong move your friends are as good as dead!"
"I wouldn't get too excited…" Rage says looking up at the glass box. "Chrono Chaos field." He says as a strange orb surrounds it.
"Bad move!" Eggman laughs as he pulls a lever…nothing happened. He pulls it again…nothing. "What?!"
"The effects of Chrono Chaos allow me to slow down, fast forward or completely stop time in a set area. Only Chaos Guardians and others who are not affected by the flow of time can manipulate things within that field. Given they are living and able to be manipulated. Your machine on the other hand is useless."
"You insolent pest! I am going to destroy you!" Eggman yells
"Chaos Control." Rage says warping into the glass cell.
"What?!" Eggman exclaims before Rage warps out with all of his friends.
"Eggman…" Sonic says meekly
"You lose." XL finishes.
"I will not let you get away with this!" Eggman yells "Chrysalis get out here already!" he shouts. Not long after Queen Chrysalis walks in from a door.
"You will take no such tone with me." She says sternly looking at the group. "Ah if it isn't little Rage."
"You…how are you alive?" Rage asks.
"Oh that is easy I managed to live that last attack of yours and I fled. Eggman here found me and we decided to use our mutual hatred for you and your friends as a reason to team up to kill all of you." She chuckles.
"That isn't going to happen." XL says. "After what happened last time I doubt you could stop Rage now."
"Heh XL is right. Besides Mobius is my natural environment so my power is amplified even more. There is no way you two can win." Rage warns "So give up while you still can. If you give up now I won't hurt either of you. You have my word."
"What if we don't?" Chrysalis asks.
"Then I can't make any promises about what will happen. But I do know it will not be pretty." Rage says pointing his blade at her.
"Ah ha ha ha!" Chrysalis laughs "I think you're going to finally die!"
"So be it!" Rage yells dashing for her. He swings his sword and she leaps back avoiding the attack. He quickly goes for another attack but she jumps up to one of the footings above.
"Too slow." She laughs. Rage looks at her with an angry look before his fur glows. With a blink of the eye Rage turns into Super Rage and flies at her. She blocks the attack and Eggman smiles.
"Got ya!" he laughs as Rage is caught in an energy snare. "Oh ho ho ho you're Chaos energy will do nicely."
"Rage!" Sunset yells.
"Don't do it Eggman!" Rage yells "You have no idea what will happen if you try to take my Chaos Energy! Your machine can't handle it!"
"What do you know?" Eggman laughs "I built it!"
"You fool!" Rage yells as Eggman turns it on. Rage yells in pain as it begins sapping his Chaos power. Soon the machine starts to sound an alarm.
"What?" Eggman exclaims "Uh oh."
"I" Rage stops and screams "told…you!" he pants as Eggman turns it off. Rage falls to the ground and struggles to get back up. The machine had drained so much of his energy at such a fast rate he needed to wait for his body to catch up.
Chrysalis saw this as a chance and she ran for Rage but before she could do anything Sunset leaps in the way and kicks her back. "Hands off!" she yells before looking back at Rage who was looking up at her. "Looks like I just saved your life." She chuckles as Rage finally, slowly, gets up.
"Yeah, yeah I owe you." He says resting both arms on his knees to keep him up.
"It's going to blow!" Eggman yells as he ejects his eggmobile and begins to escape. Chrysalis curses under her breath and runs away as well.
"Shadow!" Rage yells throwing him a Chaos Emerald "use Chaos Control and get everyone out of here!"
"But Rage what do you plan to do?!" XL yells.
"I have to try and contain this blast. Oherwise this could cause a tear in the dimensions like Eggman wanted!"
"But Rage!" Sunset says holding his hands.
"Don't worry about me just go." Rage says.
"See you on the other side?" she asks. Rage nods and turns her around before she runs to Shadow who then uses Chaos Control to get the others out.
In a field fairly far away where only the top parts of the tower were visible the others look to see it shaking with energy shooting out of it. Suddenly it explodes and they saw Rage go flying…right for them. He lands in the ground severely wounded.
"RAGE!" Sunset cries running over to him. He lets out a heavy breath and puts his arm in the air with his thumb up.
"I am okay." He says as his body glows and heals. "All the Chaos Energy nullified the injuries."
"What about the explosion?" Sunset asks. "I thought you were going to contain it!"
"I did." Rage says. "No tear in the dimension between here and CHS."
"Rage I don't know how you do it but you just seem to defy death like it's nothing." Sonic shrugs.
"If it wasn't for the Chaos energy you and Shadow have I may have actually had a number done on me." Rage says. "So I kinda have you to thank for it…"
"Hmph guess all's well that ends well." Shadow says.
"Come on we should head back." Sonic says.
"You guys go on ahead." Rage says "I am going to stay back here a while. While the dimensions didn't fuse between CHS and Mobius the dimension here is a little unstable so I need to stay make sure it stabilizes without any complications."
"Well be careful sugar." Applejack says.
"You want some help?" Twilight asks.
"No I will be fine Twi." Rage says. "It's not exactly something that logic will follow."
"Oh." Twilight says. "Be safe."
"Don't worry." Rage says with a smile "I will be fine. Here." He extends his arm and a portal back to CHS opens.
"See you later Rage." Sonic says before walking in. Shadow doesn't say anything just waves and goes inside.
"Well don't be too long." XL chuckles going inside.
"If anything happens tell us." Applejack says.
"Hey that was pretty awesome." Rainbow smiles before they go inside.
"Thank you for saving us Rage." Fluttershy says softly before going in herself with Twilight and Rarity not far behind. This left just Rage and Sunset.
"Don't take too long Rage." Sunset says hugging him "You owe me when you get back. Don't you forget it."
"I won't." Rage smiles before she kisses him and lets go. They wave and she enters the portal before Rage closes it.
"Alright this shouldn't take too long…I hope…" Rage sighs sitting down.