Rage came downstairs and is met by the glares of both girls. "Enjoy the shower?" Flora asks.
"That's a weird question to ask someone." Rage replies sternly.
"Why did you do that anyway?" Twilight asks.
"To cool off." He answers. "I was upset and dirty. That floor in there, dusty as hell."
"So now what?" Flora asks. "Did you find ANYTHING out?"
"Actually yeah." Rage says nodding. "That spell seems to affect anyone who enters the school. Besides myself of course."
"Because...?" Flora asks.
"I'm a Chaos Guardian." Rage answers "Chaos' Blessing prevents mental alterations. That spell appears to just make everyone a jerk...that or REALLY pissed...or both."
"Then why is it Starlight, Sunset and myself are minimally affected?" Twilight asks.
"You and Sunset I think may have to do with your Equine magic or whatever. As for Starlight, I think she's as much of a bitch as can be making her seemingly unaffected." Rage answers.
"So wait what of XL? Or myself we're Elemental Guardians wouldn't that make us vulnerable too?" Flora asks. Rage looks at her confused.
"Wait...you're not aware of what your passive abilities may or may not be?" Rage asks and she shakes her head. "So... whoever taught you never explained what passive abilities you get as an Elemental Guardian?" he asks, she nods. "Oh boy..." Rage sighs "Well then I don't want to risk it being the other way around."
"Well you can't go back in alone either." Twilight says "Nia wiped the floor with you and I doubt it will go any differently."
"What about your friends?" Flora asks "Surely one of them can help."
"No good." Rage sighs "They were all in the school...if only we knew enough about her power."
"Well...she did something to Sunset..." Twilight says "That's how she turned...well...bad."
"Something like what?" Rage asks.
"Well Sunset attacked her and Nia smacked her with some strange mist. It caused some shadowy aura to cover her and her eyes to glow amber." Twilight says.
"Amber you say?" an old gruff voice asks as Rage's sword appears.
"Blade..." Rage says as it changes into a small dragon that stood on the table in the middle of the living room.
"What...what is that?!" Twilight asks panicked.
"Don't worry." Rage says "This is Blade or Bureijingukaosu. The spirit that resides in my Blade of Chaos."
"I've heard about that." Flora says "Ancient spirits that forge them. It is said that the spirit and wielder are as one and the weapon selects it wielder...when the wielder dies the spirit returns to where they all originate from."
"You are well informed. I however am an exception. I have only been used by Rage and Chaos himself." Blade explains "Anyway Twilight, what you're speaking of sounds a lot like something I recall from a long time ago known as Shadows."
"Shadows?" Rage asks "Even I haven't heard of them..."
"That would be because the ability to bring them forth was a special power a bloodline within the Dark Realm held. They were long since dead by the time you were born Rage." Blade answers. "Anyway everyone has a Shadow even you Rage." he says.
"That's great. Rage sighs "But what ARE they?"
"Simply put they are your negative emotions and desires. This family was able to manipulate them and bring them to the surface. Normally those consumed by their Shadows became this family was able to prevent them from becoming corrupt and instead their Shadow would be in control. They would then be harvested. The energy the Shadows gave off fueled the power for the family." Blade explains. "It is said that glowing amber eyes and a shadowy aura indicates a Shadow that has been removed from the person it belongs to."
"So they're just another dark replica thing like what Nix did back when some of the first Chaos Guardians battled him?" Rage asks.
"No." Blade replies "Shadows are different. If they are forced out of someone they become their own thing however when defeated they return to the person they were spawned from."
"But this Nia chick is able to do it but also seems to be able to stoke the Shadows without letting them take control so what to we do about it?" Twilight asks.
"Well you have two options, one find a way to revert the spell or two kill Nia and her brother Kira." Blade answers.
"Reverting the spell gives them more time to gain more power." Rage says.
"But at the same time we don't stand a chance against them." Flora says
Rage crosses his arms and closes his eyes to think. Minutes go by and he opens his eyes finally. "Blade do you know where Christain is?" he asks.
"Back on Mobius why?" Blade asks.
"I need his help." Rage answers. "He was corrupted by Vlagh once. Therefore any Darkness fueled powers won't harm or affect him. Plus he is pretty powerful on his own."
"Okay so you go in with him." Flora rolls her eyes "But HOW do you get in? From the way Twilight made it sound you can't just go waltzing in the front door again like you did the last time."
"We'll find another way in." Rage says "It's not like the front door is going to be the only entrance to CHS especially now that it's that castle thing."
"Good point." Flora sighs "I want to go with you though. I know I may be at risk but I think i can resist it out of my own will."
"Flora don't..." Blade says "I can tell you're worried about XL but you can't be reckless."
"I could say the same for Rage. He's worried about Sunset and we're being reckless right now sending him and this Christain guy whom none of us besides you two know. For all we know those two won't ever come back!" Flora spits.
"As true as that is I will not stand around when my friends might be in danger." Rage says. "I'll just use my Ultima-" he stops "No never mind."
"Ultia...Chaos?" Flora asks. "You sound like Sonic..."
"Yeah I realize that." Rage scoffs "I won't abuse the Emerald's power if I don't need to." he says. "Let's just get Christain..."
"I am afraid that isn't possible." Blade says. Rage looks at him annoyed.
"Now what?" he asks.
"Christain cannot be allowed in this world not now." Blade says "You've said it yourself that it's too risky to open a tie to Mobius with the threat of Vlagh lurking around. Rage, you're on your own."
"My own..." Rage echoes. "Dammit why?" he curses "This isn't happening..."
"Bulk up!" Flora scoffs "You were all hyped to go a second ago and now you're moping like it's the end of the world! If it's as important as you claim then DO something about it!"
"Flora is right. Rage, you understand you're a Chaos Guardian. Be that as it may what you do with the power given to you is in the end up to you." Blade adds "I am sure you have the abilities to stop them it's all a matter of if you can pull yourself to do so...tell me why didn't you go all out the first time?"
"I...I was afraid." Rage says "I didn't want to hurt the boy..."
"You mean Kira?" Twilight asks "Why?"
"At the time he didn't seem to be what he really is..." Rage answers. "He almost looked as if he didn't want to fight or anything." he looks at the two "It doesn't matter..." he sighs standing up. "I'll be back." was all he said before leaving.
"Rage?" Twilight says getting up to follow him before Flora grabs her arm "Don't." she says "He's made his mind up best thing we can do is hope for the best now."
"But..." Was all Twilight says as she watches Rage through the window head for the school. "Blade..." she starts but notices the dragon was gone. "Oh...right." she sighs "Flora...do you think he'll be okay?"
"I am sure he'll be fine." She says.
At the castle Kira was sitting on the overlook balcony and saw Rage coming. Quickly he ran inside and pulled Nia out. "He's back?" she asks shocked "Well he's got guts." she chuckles as the two go to the base level then await him outside of the main doors.
A few minutes go by and Rage reaches them. He looks at the two a fire within his eyes burning with hatred and determination. "You came back." Nia chuckles "Even after that thrashing I gave you the first time you don't give up." she smiles amused "You sure are something else Rage."
"Nia..." he says baring his teeth.
"I did warn you if you returned I'd kill you did I not?" She asks.
"You're a foolish child..." Kira says emotionlessly.
"If you thought I would listen after learning about what you did then you're sadly mistaken." Rage says.
"What?" Nia asks "You don't know anything silly boy you just know I am behind this lovely castle." she laughs.
"Wrong." Rage says "I know all too well of what you did to the people here. Tell me where they are!"
"I have no idea what you mean. Twilight told you they're fine. I didn't do anything to them...except that Sunset girl...oh and that one strange bitch who my spell didn't work on...Now that I think about it why didn't it work on you?" Nia responds with her own question. Rage smiles.
"Didn't I tell you, Nia?" he chuckles. She looks at him as if she had no idea what he was talking about...she didn't. "I am a Chaos Guardian."
"Bwa ha ha ha ha!" She laughs heartily "Don't make me laugh!" she continues "The Chaos Guardians are a myth passed down by ancestors of you humans! They never existed!"
"If that is so then tell me...how did the ability to manipulate and even split people from their Shadows die off?" Rage asks crossing his arms with a grin.
"Hmph." Was all Nia replies avoiding the question. "It doesn't matter. I have other things that don't involve you meddling with them." she says throwing a ball of energy at Rage.
Rage swats it nullifying it and glaring at her. Nia's eyes change to an interested gaze. "Where is this coming from?" she asks "Last time you couldn't even face Kira and here you are blocking an attack from me like it's nothing."
"All it took was a good pep talk." Rage says turning to the side and extending his arm summoning his sword. "I don't plan to lose this time around." he states gripping it.
'He's a lot more powerful than the last time...what changed with him?!' Nia thinks to herself. 'You don't just gain this kind of power...unless...was he masking his power the first time? It would explain how he was able to dispatch of my Shadows so easily..."
"You dare mock your queen with such words?!" Kira shouts lunging for Rage
"She is no queen!" Rage shouts swinging his sword causing Kira to land about eight feet from him to avoid being struck. "Not to me! I have no master, no king, no ruler! I am my own master!" he says a flare of energy spiking up around him. Rage was ready, he didn't plan to hold back. Not this time.
"You're banter means nothing!" Kira shouts as energy claws form around his hands. He charges at Rage swinging. Rage blocks each attack with swift movements. The blocks slowly began to gnaw away at Kira's confidence. He finally slips up and Rage takes advantage landing a kick to his gut.
The kick was so hard it sent Kira into the doors of the castle. Rage dropped his foot and his glare showed no emotion. He cared little of what he had to do. As long as it got his friends back. "Is that all you got?" he taunts. "You disarmed me no problem last time. What's changed?" he mocks.
"You insignificant peasant!" Nia shouts forming a lance out of shadow energy. "I am going to punish you! The punishment for defiling the queen is death!" she charges swinging for Rage who leaps to the side and rolls away to make distance.
"You're laws and rules mean nothing!" he shouts retaliating with magic blasts. Each of which are countered by Nia's own. "You have built a castle on your lust for power. You enthrall other to do your bidding so that you needn't worry yourself with it. You're no different than master of puppets. All puppet masters get their strings cut." he says avoiding her follow up lunge.
"You fool! You fail to see beyond what is in front of you! I do much more than command them! I give these poor souls a greater purpose! One that their own puny insignificant lives could never hope to achieve! Soon you too shall learn of the salvation I offer within my kingdom!"
"A kingdom ruled by you is a kingdom of insolence and foolishness!" Rage shouts as they clash blades again. "That is a kingdom destined to fall!" he shouts slicing her arm. She staggers back and glares at him.
"You speak as if you understand the concept of nobility!" she growls "You know nothing of nobility! A ragged wretched peasant that defiles their ruler is nothing but a fool!" she shouts hitting Rage in the gut with a powerful thrust. She laughs "You're done for!"
Rage laughs and grabs the spear shocking her. "You speak too soon." he chuckles as he fades. Suddenly a spear of energy strikes her in the back. She flies a few feet before crashing into the ground. She gets up and looks to see Rage looking dead into her eyes.
"Impossible!" She pants "How...how did you..."
"I see no point in telling you something you wouldn't understand Nia." Rage says "But to put it simply, you are an untrained fool who doesn't know how to use their power. I on the other hand have trained for years to achieve my level."
"You mean...I am losing because you're more trained than me?!" Nia pants "I WON'T ACCEPT IT!" she screams releasing a powerful pulse of energy. She pants and fires a beam at Rage who dodges it and instead it hits Kira.
"Nia...?" was all he says before ti consumed him. All that was left was a burnt and unidentifiable corpse. Rage looked in horror.
"You...you just killed your own brother?!" He exclaims in pure shock. "How could you release an attack like that knowing he was right behind me? Better yet what makes you think I was going to tank an attack like that?"
"Whatever." Nia says, she didn't care and it was clear she had no emotional change even after that.
"You're really are a monster..." Rage says standing firm. "Then I have no other option..." he looks at Nia as the Chaos Emeralds surround him "In the name of Chaos and those who have taken the mantle of Chaos Guardian before me and undertook this sacred duty so that I may follow I, Ragis Chaotic the Last Chaos Guardian summon the power of those before me. Judgement to be passed not by me but by the souls of those whom you have damned to hell! Nia daughter of Vagus, blood of the Lupus of Shadows I swear only one of us will be leaving here alive!" he shouts glowing.
Rage transforms into his Ultima Chaos Form and looks right at her. "Nice speech." she laughs "But words mean nothing nor does your little display!" she fires another beam which this time Rage blocks with no effort. "I-Impossible!"
"I am no longer holding anything back!" Rage shouts charging her and assailing her with a barrage of punches and kicks at speeds she couldn't comprehend. It was blow after blow as her body began to weaken. Bruises and other wounds began to cover her as Rage leaps back finishing the assault. "This is it!" he shouts "Holy Chaos: Judgement Break!" he calls as a hammer of yellow light strikes her. Rage powers down as she collapses. A dark purple mist began to excrete from her body.
"This isn't...over..." she says weakly.
"Wrong." Rage says "It is." with that she faded and the castle returned to CHS. Rage sighs and returns to normal before Sunset wobbles out. "Sunset!" he calls running over to her.
Meanwhile inside things were returning to normal. XL and Sonic who had been glaring at each other ready to fight suddenly get vacant looks on their faces and shake their heads. "Huh?" XL asks. "What?"
"Gee it feels like I was up all night again..." Sonic complains rubbing his head. "I remember being in the band room...then here in the gym...? Did something happen?" he asks XL who shrugs.
Outside Rage helped Sunset up as she looked at him "What...what happened?" she asks. "I feel like I got his by a car..."
"Nothing...you just hit your head." Rage lies, he wasn't going to tell her, or anyone what had happened. It was for the best. Better not tell them then try and explain something he was still trying to make sense of. He looked then to see Kira standing over his own body. "Kira?" Rage asks. The boy cowers at the sight of him.
"Don't hurt me!" he panics. Rage looks confused. What changed in this kid all of a sudden.
"Er...okay but...after that...how?" Rage asks confused as he rubbed his head.
"Well...I...I wasn't exactly there...you see Nia...she...she used me and well...I don't have just one bodily life...I have a few..." he says.
"Okay next question...why so different now?" Rage asks.
"I...I followed Nia because she saved me once...I knew what she was doing was wrong but I am not strong like you Rage I couldn't stand up to her...so thank you for freeing me..." Kira replies.
"Now what are you going to do?" Rage asks.
"I...I don't know..." he admits "I have no direction anymore...all I have ever known is to follow someone."
"Then follow your heart." Rage suggests. Kira looks at him.
"What?" he asks.
"Follow your heart, like I do." Rage repeats. "I said it before, I have no master, no king, no ruler or anything I am my own master. I live how I want to and I don't let other people tell me what I do or do not do with my life."
"Rage..." Kira says "I dunno...I can't just change like that...it sounds too hard..."
"Never said it would be easy." Rage says.
"All I have ever known is how to follow...Rage...you're asking a lot of me..." Kira says rubbing his arm.
"Then find people to support you." Sunset chimes in. "I don't know what's going on but Rage has a point."
"C-Can I stay here with you?" Kira asks. Rage shrugs.
"Is that what you WANT?" he asks. Kira nods.
"See you're already learning." Rage chuckles getting closed and putting an arm around him. "Come on let me introduce you to the others." he says taking him inside
"But...what if they find out?" Kira asks softly so only Rage could hear him"you know about what happened?"
"They won't." Rage states looking ahead "They don't know about Nia and I don't plan to tell them since I don't quite understand it all myself either. She was strange..."
"I see..." Kira says as they reach the music room and Rage opens the door.