Chapter III: Dark Echoes part 1

1 year has past since Rage's trial began and he has slowly begun to regain his Chaos Powers. But he is still limited to his Chaos Spear, Chaos Control and Chaos Blast along with their elemental variation. Yet they still drain energy. Speaking with Dex the overseer of his test says within the next year he will regain his unlimited use but it was still restricted to the base three powers. So he has relied on friendship more then ever. Not much happened worth while but as the Summer Sun Celebration works its way in at the end of the week Rage feels an old power resonating from the Everfree forest... but he knows with Angel Island here in Equestria it will stay at bay for eons.

[Canterlot; Royal Meeting room Thursday 10:00 PM]

Four of the five alicorn royalty where gathered to discuss the Summer Sun Celebration on the coming Saturday. They had planned to have Twilight do her thing like last year but this time if Rage could by the time use his True Chaos Form to make a large emerald shaped trail. It would be like his Sonic Flare or Rainbow's Sonic Rainboom. But he would make 7 each representing one of the Chaos Emeralds color. Which where now kept on a large statue in the Castle Hall. At this time though he could only use a Hyper Form so Rage may not be able to since he still had a week before he would be granted it back.

As he and Twilight head to their rooms for the night Celestia and Luna where talking. "That Dark energy coming from our old castle... I do not like it I feel we should investigate." Celestia says

"You are right... this power feel like nothing we have ever seen... it worries me." Luna says following her to the Everfree forest

[Friday Castle Canterlot 6:00 AM]

Twilight woke up to see half-moon and half sun in the sky this freaked her out and she ran out of her room to get a better look from the Courtyard. When she gets there Rage was standing himself trying to figure it out. Soon a guard come up to them.

"Your highness' Princess Luna and Princess Celestia are missing!" they say

"What?!" Both Twilight and Rage exclaim looking at each other in horror.

"But what happened?" Twilight asks "Can you find them?"

"We are working on it but we have to keep the citizens from going into panic with half day half night." the guard says

"I will take care of that... for now I can push the Moon down physically but I will only be able to do it once." Rage says "Give me a minute!" he takes off into the sky and over the course of a couple of minutes the moon slowly falls over the horizon keeping the sun up right. Soon Rage lands with sweat on his head. "Phew..." he pants

Soon a different guard busts through the door "Princess Twilight, Prince Rage the Everfree forest! There are plants attacking Ponyville it's like two years ago!"

"No!" Rage's eyes shrink "This is different... it's not what we think... since the Elements were returned to the Tree of Harmony the Everfree forest is protected from all Equestia magic... Twilight let's hurry I think I know what is going on!" both Rage and Twilight hurry to Ponyville to see dark purple and black vines and things everywhere even entangling Discord.

"Uh a little help here!" he says before Twilight cuts them down. Soon the other mane 6 catch up.

"Thank Celestia you have arrived guys!" Applejack pants

"There's something amiss in the everfree forest and its making Ponyville its snack! We can't keep these back forever!" Rainbow Dash says

"Wait a minute Rage you have control over fire right? Can't you use it to burn these things away?" Rarity asks

Rage shrugs "I can try..." he says sounding like it's not going to work. His horn glows a fiery red and he releases a burst of flames burning the plants soon to have them grow back "gah... it's no use fire only keeps them away for so long!"

"how can this be happening again if we returned the Elements?" Twilight asks looking at Discord

"Hay Don't look at me I have no idea!" Discord says

"And why should we trust you this time?" Pinky asks him

"Hay Stand down guys he telling the truth this time I can guarantee it." Rage says causing the mane 6 to look at him in disbelief all giving a "What?" before he continues "This is not that stuff he used... it's from what is known as The Tree of Darkness... a Tree that thrives and lives across all Dark Worlds. It originated in Dark Mobius... my foe Christain when he was here all that time ago cast a spell to summon the roots but Angel Island keeps them at bay and it still should be for eons more. But if they are growing there is only one possibility and it would explain the princesses disappearance. Christain has returned..."

"But how? Rage you banished him to the Time Void you said its impossible to escape it!" Rainbow Dash says

"Christain that slippery bug... he always finds someway out of everything no matter what." Rage growls "We have no time I must grab the Chaos Emeralds from Canterlot we must use them to stop him. Together!" they all run to Canterlot and approach the statue. Rage, Rainbow Dash and Twilight grab the 7 Chaos Emeralds and hand one to their friends.

"Alright so we have them but where do we go?" Twilight asks,

everyone thinks a minute before a voice spoke behind them... "Rage..." it said calling for him they turn to see a golden wolf looking at them.

"Dex!" Rage says dipping his head "What brings you here?"

"Exactly what you came to for the Emeralds... With Christain back we decided... we are giving you back your True Chaos Form early... use the Chaos Sync to get your friends to help you like you did against the Dark Legion. Good luck." he says disappearing.

"Alright..." Rage says "You al with me?" he says putting a hoof in.

"You know it!" Rainbow Dash says adding her hoof.

"All tha way." Applejack says joining

"Most certainly!" Rarity says adding her hoof

"You bet.." Fluttershy says softly adding her hoof slowly

"Now and forever!" Twilight says adding hers.

"For Equestira!" Rage says before they break all saying "For Equestria!"

"This time we will show him what friendship can really do!" Rage says looking as determined as ever!

To be continued