Chapter 9

Loss of Self

The day of the tournament had arrived and Ray was pacing back and forth in the forest behind Ralph's hut waiting for Sarah to show up.

During Ray's training with Bowser, she just happened to take out a Big 4 member in her arcade solo. No one asked how.

"Calm down, Ray. I'm sure she's just a little late." Ralph spoke, trying to calm him down.

"She's probably picking up Felix... Why'd she have to start dating him now?!"

"Well he needed to get over Calhoun's game getting unplugged and you know Sarah..."

"But why so soon? I blame 'the honeyglows'." Ray airquoted as he continued to pace.

Within the minute, Sarah walked up with Felix holding hands and giggling like a schoolgirl.

"You ready to go?" She inquired while trying not to laugh.

"You're like an hour late!"

"Calm down. We don't have to be there until 8."

"But you said we had to be there at 6!" Ray barked as Ralph sweatdropped. "I could've slept longer..."

"Did I? Whoops!" Sarah retorted as she sat on a log.

"Girl..."

"Ray, calm down. It was an accident. Remember you were just as bad as her when we started dating." Ralph whispered trying to soothe the savage beast that was Ray.

"*Sigh* Your right, Ralphy."

"So let's get going. Hands in, everyone" Sarah put in the coordinates and transported them to the Tournament Grounds.

As they materialized, they saw tons of Codemasters, old and young talking and training together on an open field while 2 giant Roman-like Colosseums in the background.

"Wow... There's a lot of people here." Ray whispered to Ralph as they walked across the field.

"Our Colosseum is the one on the left. Let's go register."

They made their way towards the door, but as they got close they heard a fight in the process.

"So you think your better than me?!" A muscular guy shouted at a 4'6 chubby kid with velvet hair, a blue sleeved shirt, and red striped shorts. He looked terrified under the bully's gaze.

"No... You dropped your card and I wanted to give it back." the boy replied while looking at the ground.

"You little thief! You trying to take my cards!?"

"He said he wanted to give it back so take it. Why would he want your brother's hand-me-downs anyways? " Ray spat as he walked towards the scuffle.

"Who are you?" the muscular dude asked as he stepped to Ray.

"Ray Hagane and you are a jerk." He replied coldly while charging electricity in his fist.

"I should mop the floor with you! I'm in the Master's tournament!"

"And I care why?" Ray rebutted as he crossed his arms.

"Watch it, Shark. We've got the kid that pulled Monado from the stone. He's one of the Legendary 5." a voice said from behind him.

A 5'6, pretty boy dressed in a purple jumpsuit and black boots emerged from behind the hulk.

"The Legendary 5? What do you mean, Gary?" Sarah inquired as she walked up to them.

"You know this poser, Sarah?" Ray inquired.

"Yeah. He's currently the Number 1 Codemaster and my ex."

"Huh!?" Everyone in the surrounding area shouted.

"We went out a year before I transferred to Jay's Arcade. No big deal."

"So what's this crap about me being one of The Legendary 5?" Ray inquired, getting seriously impatient.

"Well... Word on the street is that you've been given the power of X Mode. Legend has it that the ancient codemasters will choose 5 codemasters from our generation to squash the League once and for all using that power."

Ray was wary of the smug bastard in front of him. Where did he get information he should know by now?

"Does it have anything to do with this?" Ray queried as he pulled out a blank card.

"YOU have a blank card?" Gary exclaimed catching everyone's attention around them again.

"Yeah. Codemaster X gave it to me. I already use one for Code Fusion."

"You're crazy! Codemaster X wouldn't waste his time on a noob like you."

"I may be sporadic as hell, but I am NOT crazy and you may be Number 1, but you, sir, act like the noob here." Ray knew what he said was awful and corny, but his mouth never worked under pressure.

"Well we'll just see about that! I challenge you to a Code Clash!" Gary barked, steaming mad.

"I accept your challenge!" Ray replied, just as passionate.

"Ray! That may be a bad idea, and you usually have really bad ideas." Ralph whispered from behind him.

"Name one." Ray challenged.

"Like the time you microwaved me that Hot Pocket and forgot to take it out of the plastic."

"That was one time and I wanted to see what would happen... It was a moment of weakness."

"Done whispering in your boyfriend's ear?" Gary taunted maliciously.

"Actually, yes I am. Problem?"

"Only that he could've done way better than a punk that picks fights with those superior to him." He sneered.

"That tears it! Name the place!"

"The Great Plains Battlefield!"

"Let's go!" Ray and Gary were beamed into the arena where the announcer stood.

"This fight between Ray Hagane and Gary Wallace will now begin! The winner will be decided when one side's armor codes out! Begin!"

"Wreck the code!"

"I am!"

They spawned their armor and took their positions.

"Code Fusion! Wreck-it Ralph!"

"Code Change! Beastman!" Gary's armor spiked out on his back and the sides of his arms, but unlike Ray, he had a giant gauntlet stamp on the front.

Sarah stood outside the barrier with Felix along with half the codemasters in attendance. "What's Code Change?"

"Unlaike Code Fusion, which Ray possesses, Code Change foarces the code of another charactah to integrate with yours." Xander walked up next to Sarah. "It's still in beta and it's much weaker than the real thing."

Ray was unimpressed and pulled out his ace card. "Code Card! Heat Riser!"

"Code Card! Fire Power!"

As Ray had a red, blue and green aura surround him, Gary's body caught on fire.

Gary charged first and began to strike Ray, but Ray easily read his movements, sidestepped his blows and shot electricity through his body. For a top ranked codemaster, this guy was really predictable.

The cocky warrior slashed at him with his claws, but Ray retaliated with an open hand thrust to the chest. The size and power behind the attack knocked Gary back into the barrier.

"Ray! Stop! This won't end well!" Sarah shouted from the sidelines.

"Fire Nova!" Gary shot a huge ball of fire at Ray, but he kicked it right back.

"Electro Ball!" Ray charged a ball of electricity and chucked it at the Fire Nova creating an explosion that blew up in Gary's face.

His armor coded-out as he hit the ground.

"I win..." Ray spoke as his armor disappeared as well. Ralph rematerialized next to Sarah.

"HALT!" a gruff voice shouted from across the field.

A group of elders all dressed in multi-colored cloaks approached them.

"What just happened here?" The man in red asked.

"Oh, Council of Six! He blind-sided me out of nowhere and attacked me. They got here just as he was about to finish me off." Gary replied as he ran behind them.

"That's not true! He challenged Ray to a duel and lost!" Sarah defended as she pointed towards Gary.

"The ref is right there!"

"Well, since he's the champion, we have to take his word for it. Until we come to a unanimous decision, Ray is suspended from being a Codemaster and can not visit the arcades!" The Council of Six deliberated as they held out their hands and deactivated Ray's gauntlet.

"Heheh... Heheheheh... AHAHAHAHAHAH! I win, Ray Hagane! Happy trails!" Gary gloated as Ray was ejected into Litwak's code room. His gauntlet's screen glowed red and was adorned with a huge digital padlock.

The exiled protector dropped to his knees in panic. He had been ripped of his title and progress all in one reckless fight. He had been ripped of his true love. He didn't know what to do. All he could do was scream at the top of his lungs. Good thing that room was soundproof.

Sarah stared at the spot that Ray once was and began to steam.

"Calm down sweetie." Felix spoke trying to calm her down.

"You jerk! And you seriously wonder why we broke up!?"

"Didn't I cheat on you with Luke? Or was it Jeff? Mary?"

"Ass!" Sarah screamed as she stormed off with Ralph and Felix on her heels.

"I'm pretty sure I never dated anyone named Ass!" Gary shouted back as they walked off.

"You sure you're okay?" Sarah asked as she walked Ray home a week later.

It was the first time he left the house since the incident. He couldn't go to work until the ban was lifted and he didn't feel as if school was all that important now.

"Yeah... I'm just great. I've been cut off from my turf and my boyfriend by a cynical asshole so I'm just fine." Ray replied as they reached his door.

"Well... Later." Ray saluted Sarah as she left for her arcade.

As soon as she was out of sight, Ray ducked into his garage and went straight towards his work bench.

Ever since he quit the football team, Ray had liked to tinker with stuff. Since his gauntlet had been locked, he'd been using his array of small tools to try to unlock it, but so far he hadn't gotten any closer.

"Let's try connecting this wire to that servo... Damn! Nothing! How about this wire to the screen... No!"

Ray put the gauntlet back into the drawer and walked through the garage upstairs to his room.

"Master Sephiroth. The leader of the Legendary 5 has been unjustly terminated from his duties as per your orders. What shall I do now?" a mysterious figure inquired from the shadows while twirling a ruby ring in his fingers.

"You've done your job well. The Master of the League shall be pleased. Here's your payment." Sephiroth replied as he threw a bag to the shrouded figure.

"I live to serve, but money's not bad either. Now for Stage 3 of my plan." Gary stated as he morphed into Ray and walked out of the mansion.

Ray was vegging out on his couch when his door was broken down.

"Prince Ray! There's trouble!" Carlton barked as he put the door back in place.

"Damn it, Carlton! What did I tell you about breaking down my door every time there's trouble? I gave you a key for a reason." Ray deadpanned as he went upstairs into his secret room with the general not far behind.

The room was decorated with war memorabilia not from any war the world powers knew existed.

"What's wrong now?"

"The Royal Paladins have attacked our capital city!"

"They what?! Are you sure it was them!? They never attack unprovoked! Especially with the treaty in place!" Ray barked as he opened his holographic table map.

"Completely. Your father has asked me to come to you for our next move." Carlton informed as he set up the units on the table.

"Plan Delta 47 Omega-Xis. Move our 50 strongest paladins to the frontlines and the magic archers backing them up in the rear. Support oriented paladins are to be partnered with the more skilled swordsman at all times for protection and to heal their wounds when needed. Am I clear?" Ray's demeanor switched from depressed to determined in an instance.

"Crystal. Thank you very much, Ray." Carlton replied as he took the battle plan from off the table.

"And I want Dimitri leading the attack. He needs to let off some steam and he knows this plan by heart. Pair him with Fred. They'll get along swimmingly." Ray added before Carlton left his house.

"Why would they... This has to be an outside force toying with me. And Reggie would never..." Ray thought to himself, then shook the thought from his mind.

Sarah decided against visiting Fix-it Felix Jr., thinking that Felix would be too busy consoling Ralph that they wouldn't be able to get any alone time, but she did catch a distress call from Burger Time as she was walking past it.

Ray 2 was knocked out on top of a sack of potatoes while Blanka was shocking everything in sight.

"Fire Buster!" Sarah summoned a huge blade and slashed the green street fighter 3 times in the back to get his attention, then she created a funnel of fire to knock him out.

The card that was in Blanka's back disappeared almost instantly after it appeared.

"Shit. Again?"

Ray 2 woke up seconds after Sarah cleared the damage.

"Ray?! What the?! How?!"

"Hey Sarah. The Council gave me my powers back."

"Hmm... Are you sure you're all right? You don't seem like yourself." Sarah said with a skeptical look on her face. Ray wouldn't have taken any damage from Blanka's attacks.

"Try me."

"Do you remember taking Ralph here for your first date?"

"How could I forget?"

"HA! Ray took Ralph on a picnic for their first date. You're not Ray!"

Ray 2 began to laugh maliciously.

"So you found me out." Ray 2 inquired as he morphed back into Gary. "Gary?!"

"Not Gary. Gary is actually the form I've taken as my own. I am one without a name. Not that it'll matter where you're going." The man grabbed Sarah and a pool of darkness dragged them into its depths.

During the ordeal, a lone Codemaster just stood in the shadows and watched, too weak to help.

Ray was sitting on his couch watching television like a zombie when he heard someone bang on the door.

"Who is it?! I don't want any cookies!" Ray shouted from the couch.

"Codemaster Ray! It's an emergency!" the voice shouted back.

Ray jumped when he heard Codemaster and answered the door.

"Hey... You're that kid I tried to help a week ago!" Ray exclaimed as he stood in the doorway.

"Hello... m-my name is Justin and I n-need your help."

"I wish I could help, but my gauntlet's trashed." Ray walked back in the house gesturing for Justin to come in. "I just haven't have the drive to do anything lately."

"Well the Ray I saw that day wouldn't run from a challenge! I've watched your battles for some time now and from what I saw, you can do anything you set out to do!"

"You must have some crazy respect for me to come this far... Tell me the problem." Ray threw the kid a soda and waited until they were both on the couch.

"Well, I heard that after your trial, you got reinstated so I came to see if it was true. When I reached you, Blanka had knocked you out."

"I never got a notice for a trial and I know damn well that I'd never lose to Blanka. His attacks would fuel me."

"Yeah, but you went down pretty easily. Then almost right after you fell, Sarah came in and took down Blanka." He then explained what happened all the way up to when Sarah got sucked into the darkness.

"Gary isn't his real name. It's %$#%$#."

"Did you say %$#%$#?" Ray inquired skeptically.

"Yes. His name sounds like that because no one knows what it really is. If no one knows your real name, then you gain special powers. The only way to break his spell is to shout his name at him. There is a catch. Someone has to know your name or else you can't control the power." Justin took a deep breath after he finished that mouthful. "It's extremely contradictory, but that's how it goes."

"Where's Sarah now?"

"I don't know. I only know what I know because I'm somewhat a code prodigy."

"Prodigy? Then why do you need my help. You've probably been doing this longer than me."

"Well... I'm not very confident in my skills as of now and when I was looking for you, I wanted to ask to be your student."

"Student? Well... I'll have to think about that." Ray could teach him how to fight, but he didn't think he'd really need his help.

"And believe it or not, Gary was somewhat right when he said you were one of The Legendary 5. The power you possess is supposed to be locked away with the Code Relics. That's why he wanted you gone. That and he wanted to use Ralph for some evil spell or something."

Justin tried to whisper the last part but Ray still heard it.

"WHAT?! That turd! Hand me your gauntlet."

"OK, but I don't see how this'll help."

Justin handed him his gauntlet and watched as Ray bolted for the garage.

Within minutes, Ray's gauntlet was functioning as per normal.

"It'll only armor me up once before I'm locked out of the server again. I know where he's keeping Sarah."

"Where?"

"Sarah's signal is coming from the Tournament Grounds under the Master's Colosseum. We need to combine powers to get there though. My gauntlet still isn't at full strength."

Ray and Justin held out their arms and teleported to the arena.

The guards were asleep at their post so they tiptoed right past them.

Ray scanned the area and found a secret door right behind a pillar in the lobby. They followed the path to a dungeon and found 2 jail cells: one that held Sarah and one that held two other men.

"Sarah! Are you okay?" Ray inquired as he smashed the lock with a roundhouse kick.

"Yeah, but Gary is trying to take over your arcade."

"So he's still using my name. What a joke." The man said from beside them spat. He looked a bit bigger than Ray, but with muscles in all the right places so he looked more muscular then fat.

An older, more beat up looking man huffed from next to him. "That boy has no control. He keeps bringing back the top ranked codemaster and stealing their identities."

"What's his real name? I know you know."

"His real name is Ashton. His mom died when he was 5. Losing her made him a timid child and I pushed him hard. I didn't want him to grow up weak, but all I did was create a monster." The man shook the tears from his eyes and continued. "He locked me up, his own father, when he became a Codemaster so he could use alias after alias and become a super being, but even with the power he was still weak. Only with the power of another could he become unstoppable."

"What do you mean by another?"

"Someone who's insanely strong, but has a good heart."

"RALPH! How much time do you think I have?"

"You might be too late now... Just like me." Ray booked it towards Fix-it Felix leaving everyone else in the dust.

"Hey Ralph? I wanna give you something." Ray 2 said as he pulled out a ring.

"What's this, Ray?" Ralph inquired as he went to put it on.

Ray burst through the door and shot the ring out of Ralph's hand with stray electricity. "Back the fuck up..."

Ray 2 growled and tackled Ray outside.

"Give me my face back, Ashton!"

The imposter poofed back into his original lanky form. "What?! How do you know my name?!"

"You can thank your dad. Now get out!"

"Not without a fight, Ray buddy." Ashton summoned his armor, but this time it was pitch white. Ray summoned his armor in turn.

Ralph ran outside when he heard them armor up. The electricity had paralyzed him for a second.

"Watch closely." Ashton pulled out a character card and held in front of himself. "This is the power of the LOS. Code Fusion, Doopliss!"

The card fused with his armor, shooting a beam that struck Ralph.

His red hair and overalls became pitch-black and he was surrounded by a dark aura.

"Give Ralph back!"

"Ralph no longer exists! It's Shadow Wrecker now!" Ralph said in a dark, twisted voice. Ashton hopped onto his shoulder and fused into his body, making a home in Ralph's code.

"Let him go, Ashton!"

"No dice! You'll just have to defeat us both!"

"Lightning Katana!" Ray charged Shadow Wrecker and began slashing at him repeatedly, but nothing happened.

"That tickles! I'm too powerful to defeat now!"

"Get out of my boyfriend! Wow that sounded wrong... Code Fusion! Wreck-it Ralph!" The transformation started, but stopped almost as suddenly.

"I can't break him free!"

"As long as I control Ralph's body, you can't access his code."

"What am I supposed to do?" Ray dropped his blade and fell to his knees. "I can't win. I can't even damage him. I'm... I'm sorry."

"Well if you're not gonna attack!" Shadow Wrecker began rapidly punching Ray, but none of the hits hurt as much as his heart did.

Shadow Wrecker uppercutted Ray into the building and he coded-out.

"He's gone. I wasn't strong enough." Ray mumbled as he stood up.

"I NEED TO BE STRONGER!" Ray began to charge up energy which went straight to his gauntlet.

The blank card in his box started to glow as well.

"Use the power your ancestors have granted you! Activate X-Mode!" Codemaster X's voice echoed in his head.

"Let's go! X Mode Activate!" He swiped the card in his gauntlet and crushed it turning it into code.

The code became an X that wrapped around Ray. His armor was the same except for 3 giant X's on his fists and his chest.

He pulled out a yellow card from his box and swiped it through the slot.

"X Drive! Thunder Essence!" He crushed the card in his hand and surged electricity.

"What's going on?! You can't be one of The Legendary 5! YOU CAN'T!"

"Well... I am. THUNDERFORCE!" Ray shot a huge ray of energy at Shadow Wrecker and exorcised Ashton from Ralph's body.

"Ralph!" Ray shouted as he ran up to his boyfriend.

"Ugh... Ray? What happened?"

"Gary aka Ashton took over your body after pretending to be me. You've made out with him all week I bet."

"What!? Ugh! I'm sorry. He had me fooled."

"It's okay, Ralphy. It's all okay now." Ray whispered as he hugged Ralph tightly.

"Ashton!" The Council shouted as they entered the game. The real Gary was being supported by Sarah and Justin.

"You have used your powers to warp the minds of everyone and take the Number 1 Codemaster spot multiple times. Not only that, but you have betrayed us and sold our technology and secrets to the League of Shadows. You are hereby banned from the arcades and can never return!" The council said in unison as they annihilated Ashton's gauntlet.

"Ha... hahah... Ahahahahah! You think you've won! The League has already crossed the border between this world and earth because of me! I'll be back! Count on it!" Ashton howled as a pool of dark energy swallowed him up.

"Ray Hagane... You have saved the arcade for now. We thank you."

"No problem."

"And seeing as you've defeated the Number 1 Codemaster twice, until Gary recovers, you are now the official Number 1 Codemaster."

"A say what now?" Ray inquired as he passed out in Ralph's arms.

Everyone's mouth dropped at that statement.