Firstly, I'd really like to say I'm REALLY SORRY for updating at all...

I've been having a really hard time with school, stress, and life in general that I couldn't write at all...

Of Good and Of Evil: The Final Stand

Chapter 2 – An Earth-Splitting Beginning

Part 2

Concert night… and the crowds began swarming into the coliseum, screaming and cheering their lungs out for their favorite furry artists.

Meanwhile, Alvin and the others readied themselves back stage, waiting for their cues to appear.

"Alright, guys…" he huddled his brothers and the chipettes in a circle as they discussed their entire program.

"We'll start off with "Livin' on a Prayer", and then the girls will sing "Keep Holding On". Max will then do his solo song "Upside Down", followed by Christy with "Everytime we Touch". Any questions?" the others shook their heads with bright smiles on their faces. The chipettes began giggling at themselves with anticipation.

"This is gonna be so fun!" Christie exclaimed with excitement, looking lovingly at Max making him blush lightly. They shared a warm, friendly embrace but quickly parted when they heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

Dave then suddenly appeared behind them and placed his hand on the eldest two chipmunks, a doubtful look on his face.

"Remember…" he scolded coldly, "you're BOTH grounded, okay?"

Both chipmunks hung their heads in defeat as they nodded in agreement.

Dave's serious face then turned to an excited smirk as he looked into the eyes of the chipmunks around him. This was his family. The very reasons he has now become a loving father, a proud parent, and a dear friend.

"Okay, guys…" he cheered, veering with anticipation. "ready to bring the house down?"

All eight munks raised their fists to the sky and cheered a jubilant "YES!" in chorus.

"Alright then…" Dave muttered, his smile reaching the tips of his ears. "get to your places. It's show time!"

The seven munks hurriedly took their places on the stage, leaving a blanked out Max standing in place. He stared dead at nothing; his body seemed frozen in time as images began running through his mind.

He was on a stage, but the ground seemed to be trembling. The force was so powerful that he and everyone else around him easily fell to the floor. He could hear screams from the throats of thousands of people all around him. But what was piercing to him was the shrieks and yells from his siblings. But worst of all, he heard the shrilling screams of his beloved.

"Christie?" Max mumbled, feeling dazed.

Suddenly, the flooring below him cracked and broke, and he screamed while falling down the dark abyss below. As he fell, he felt surges of electricity shock his entire body. All the while, he felt no pain, no suffering, and no fear. He felt absolutely nothing as he was encased in a shroud of darkness.

In panic, he twirled as he struggled to make his somewhat paralyzed body move. But the shock of the fall seemed to make him and keep him immobile.

'What's going on?' he asked himself, 'what's this feeling? Why is this happening to me?' his hazel eyes began to grow heavy, his mind was filled with questions. And within those questions, a voice then began to speak.

"Peace, Maximiliam…" the voice echoed through his thoughts. "I mean you no harm…"

'Who are you?' the chipmunk retaliated, feeling anxious all of a sudden, 'what do you want from me? Why did I fall down this hole? What happened to my family and my friends? What happened to my Christie?'

Max's emotions then grew to an uncontrollable mix of rage and anger, as well as slight confusion and longing. The strengths from these emotions then began to surge throughout the entirety of Max's body. His veins running with something other than blood. Something totally new was flowing within him. In shock, Max gasped as his breath caught, his once hazel eyes now glowing a bright silver as sparks began jumping from his claws to his fur. His silver hoodie began stretching, covering his waist, legs and feet with a silver glow. The silver silk threads on his shoulders, elbows and knees hardened, transforming into hard, metal-like pads. The remainder of the hoodie then ripped itself from the arm sleeves, replaced with armlets along his wrists and gloves on his hands.

Behind him a sword-holder was formed a few inches below his cloak's hood. His feet were adorned in metallic greaves as he began to descend upright and standing, his eyes calm and closed. When he reached the bottom of the somewhat bottomless chasm, he landed slamming the ground on one knee, letting a thunderous 'thud' echo throughout the dark walls.

'Where is this place?' Max wondered as he stood, admiring the endless tunnels that were scattered all around him.

"This…" the voice replied in his head, "Is where you are to bring your siblings and their mates to…"

A bright azure light then came from the tunnel behind Max. Curious, Max followed the mysterious light, hoping to find the answers to his questions, and hopefully, a way out of the dark pit he fell in to.

"Alright, what's going on here?" He half-shouted, hoping that the voice would hear him.

"Calm yourself, youngling…" the voice shouted in his mind, making Max cringe from the slight headache that formed when hearing the voice. "All shall be revealed with time. For now, come, there is much to show you, and little time to spare."

'I don't like this… *sigh* but I guess I'll have to figure this crap out soon enough.' He spat at himself as he continued following the glowing azure light that beamed through the tunnel.

When Max reached the end of the tunnel, he was blinded by the very azure light that led him there surrounding him with its brightness. The light's heat was so intense, that Max felt like was being… burnt alive.

"What the hell is going on?" Max cried as he yelled in sheer agony. Tears singed his furry face as the light continued burning from an azure blue to a bright orange. In the center of the holy flames was the fiery form of a chipmunk. He had heavenly white eyes that glowed as bright as the fires encasing him. He stood tall and proud in front of the trembling and terrified Max. The flames surrounding them then began to die down and eventually cease, leaving the two chipmunks to stare at each other's features.

"I told you…" the chipmunk bellowed, its voice radiant and full of authority. "That all will be revealed in time…"

The chipmunk with heavenly white eyes had features almost exactly like Max. He had crispy brown fur and messy hair. The chipmunk looked a good look at around seventeen (which probably looks like their juvenile age just before adulthood among real chipmunks), with an azure aura flaring from his body, something similar to what ghosts emit when they traverse through the spirit realm to the moral realm.

"Who the hell are YOU?" Max yelled with his eyes wide and tear-stricken. "Why the fuck do you look like me? Are you some kind of doppelganger? What do want from-?"

Max's trail of questions were suddenly halted by a wave of flame that rushed beside him. Max instinctively dodged to the right and stared at the chipmunk in front of him, who had conjured the flame with a motion of his paw, with a deathly glare.

"Enough of your questions, youngling…" the chipmunk scolded, making Max's mouth shut out of fear.

"I will answer your questions when the time is right. For now, rejoin your siblings, for the time of your callings have come at last…"

The tunnel they were in suddenly began to shake, rattle and roll as the older chipmunk spread a pair of angelic wings from his back and emitted a giant wave of light.

"Wait!" Max yelled as he felt himself being sucked into the light, "who are you? WHO ARE YOU?"

Silence.

"who are-?" Max suddenly snapped out of his trance, shaking his head furiously as he awakened back into reality.

"Max?" Dave inquired as he knelt down to face his son, "are you okay?"

"Huh?" Max mumbled; still feeling dazed from what had recently occurred.

"I asked if you were okay. Are you sure you can perform tonight?" he asked with concern.

"Yeah!" Max bolted back, feigning his excitement. "It's probably the heat. The Philippines is quite hot this time of year…"

Dave, not the least bit convinced, reluctantly and regretfully played Max's bluff and nodded his head with a light smile.

"Alright…" he sighed, "go get ready with the others. You and the boys are going first remember?"

"Alrighty Dave!" Max exclaimed, rushing to the stage.

Dave silently shook his head in worry. Something bad was going happen soon; he felt it as soon as his eyes made contact with Max's.

'Max's probably right…' he thought to himself, 'this heat is probably getting to me too… I must be worrying too much for their safety.' With a defeated sigh, he waited back stage as the lights began to die down.

"What took you so long?" Alvin asked Max as he has recently arrived.

"Oh, just wanted to psyche myself up for tonight! Sorry for taking so long…" Max lied, feigning his smile.

"You?" Brittany countered, "getting cold feet for a concert? I thought that was Theodore's problem…"

"Hey!" Theodore whined, crossing his arms.

"Well… it's true…" Christie countered, "and Max is usually the one who cheers you up." Christie left a small grin stamped on her face as she looked lovingly at Max, who looked rather fearful and nervous.

"You okay?" she asked with a seductive tone, her eyes with worry. "You seem nervous."

"Just nervous over you and your looks, babe…" he smiled, making her giggle and blush lightly.

"Okay okay! Enough with the mushy stuff!" Alvin yelled, interrupting Max's and Christie fluffy moment.

"Sorry, Alvin…" they chorused, making the entire gang laugh.

"Alright, guys… GO TIME!" Max cheered, leading the charge to the stage. The others made their way ahead of him while he still kept wondering about his recent experience.

'Whoever that guy is…' he thought, 'I hope whatever I saw will not come to pass…'

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, haven't I?" the chipmunk's voice entered his head.

"My name is Periosha Raven Andrews, but I'd prefer it if you call me Perry. And unfortunately, the vision I have shown you will come true in a while. I showed it to you so that you'd be prepared to lead your siblings to me. And from there, I shall reveal everything, as I promised a while ago…"

Max sighed in defeat and fearful anticipation as he made his way to the stage.

"Alright… time to get this show on the road…"

I'm really sorry I had to cut this short... but I haven't been feeling well since the bur months started...

Now, here's the part where I would rely on you readers for assistance...

Which of the songs mentioned above will be the first that I will write and onwards...

The last song I will write will be the best one I will write...

Next chapter will all be nothing but songs...

I'll c y'all on the next chapter!

"Living it my way.."

~Periosha