Allow me to introduce... Chapter 16!

Anyways, thanks to all you guys that are along for this ride. Thanks to evil Ratchet96, they're advice and reviews have been a great help, along with Katratzi, they have been my biggest supporters and I can't thank you both enough.

Now... on with the show!

Chapter 16, Retribution,

Ratchet was frantic as was the rest of the team. As they ran, a call from Bones confirmed their fears.

"Guys! I've just lost communication with Chief Kaden!" Bones voice was laced with worry. He then told them the location of Kaden's last contact.

It wasn't far from their location and they soon arrived in the dead-end alley. Bones and Clank were already there. They were hovering around the fallen com earpiece.

"What happened?" Ratchet asked as he shrank back down to his regular size.

"I'm sorry Ratchet," Bones began, he felt more than a little guilt. "Two Attero gunmen escaped and your father went after them. He had them cornered here. He was about to take them when he stopped speaking mid-sentence. I traced his com device here."

"Is that all? We have no other leads?" Rykk asked.

"We have one…" Clank started, "A couple witnesses saw two people, a man and a lombax leave the alley a few minutes ago. I'm willing to bet they're the ones that led him into this alley."

"You know who they are and where?" Ratchet asked eagerly.

Clank answered. "The witnesses knew the duo. They are called Mallet and Nail; local mercenaries that have ties with the Attero. Mallet is the human, the leader surprisingly, and Nail is the lombax, the muscle. As for where…" Both Bones and Clank closed their "eyes" as they sorted through the info.

Bones finished, "…hard to say, they have a bunch of known places to stay. However, they could only go so far… I've got two. I suggest the four of you split up into pairs and search each place. One's on the Plain and the other is a couple miles north of here."

"Leo and I will take the location in town." Sly offered.

"I'll come with you." Bones stated as he hovered into Leo's grip.

"Alright, Ratchet, Clank, and I will take the Plain." Rykk stated and Clank hovered into his palm. "We'll be in touch. Ratchet, get on my back."

As soon as Ratchet was on Rykk's back he blasted into the air. Bones was in Rykk's Utility.

Ratchet would've enjoyed the flight, the moving wind against his face, the clean air, and the view. However he was tense, he was worried about his father. He had a pretty good idea who was behind it, that's why he was scared.

The flight was only a few minutes long, if that. The hideout was little more than a shack on top of a plateau. Rykk hovered and looked down on it, his pupils did glow yellow. "We got two people in the shack, one a big lombax, the other a human."

"It's them." Ratchet said in a low growl and with determination. "Let's see what they know…"

"Wait," Rykk grinned, "I've got an insane idea that should get at least one of them talking quickly."

Rykk turned his head and looked at Ratchet mischievously. Ratchet asked cautiously, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Remember the Sine Ball?"

Ratchet groaned, "Aw really? Do I have to?"

Rykk chuckled, "The threat of being eaten alive should scare them enough to talk. However, I've heard of this duo before. Mallet's a tough one, despite his size, he is feared. Nail is no pushover but if he sees Mallet go down, he'll break, I'm pretty sure."

Ratchet sighed but then remembered his father. "Fine, but just this once, for my dad." He relinquished.

Once Rykk and Ratchet were set, Rykk phased through the building's ceiling. "Hi guys," he said and they both jumped, "I've got someone I want you to meet." He said in a happy tone as he grabbed them; each with one hand. He threw them through the shack's walls; he didn't phase them through it either.

Both Mallet and Nail rolled on the ground and hit something. They groaned and looked at what they had rolled into. It was a gigantic lombax claw. They both looked at each other before looking up. What they saw nearly made their hearts stop. An enormous lombax towered over them and they scrambled franticly to get away.

Rykk blocked their path, "Now is that any way to treat friends?" Rykk said in a insincere tone.

"Friends? Who are you guys?" The lombax known as Nails asked. He was a tall and thick lombax with grey fur and crimson stripes, he reminded Ratchet of a younger version of Alistair… only dumber.

"I know you Rykk," The human known as Mallet said. "My only friend is Nail, what business do we have with you?"

Rykk nodded nonchalantly, "With me? You don't; him on the other hand…" Rykk pointed at Ratchet. "…you do."

Both thugs looked up, literally at Ratchet then back at Rykk, "Why do we?" Nails asked.

Rykk grinned enough to show his sharp canines, it unnerved the two. "A short time ago you were told to lure a lombax Chief to an alley. He was a friend of ours and there he was kidnaped. Who hired you? And where are they?"

Nail looked at Mallet and Rykk grinned. So, you do call the shots Mallet. Just as I figured, you guys are nothing compared to Calamity.

"We have nothing to say to you." Mallet stated firmly.

"No?" Rykk feigned hurt. "Well I know that's not true. I'll ask again, who paid you to lure him?"

"Go to hell," Mallet retorted. "We don't give up our clients, especially not to freaks."

Rykk chuckled as that comment pretty much sealed the deal. "You see, you keep talking to me like that and you'll go somewhere worse."

They jumped as Ratchet sat down, his motion sent reverberations through the ground. His tail wagged and swept aside rocks and dirt. He looked at them with a longing gaze and licked his lips.

Rykk smiled as sadistically as he could. Sell it Ratchet; they need to think we're crazy. "You see my friend here hasn't eaten in a while. I could use conventional means of torture to get the info out of you but I'll kill two birds with one stone this way and avoid a mess. But if you don't want to be a meal for him you'd best tell me what you know."

Again Nails looked at Mallet; his face looked a bit more worried.

Mallet was undaunted; his stupid pride blinded him to his precarious situation. "Go ahead, you're bluffing."

Rykk sighed and nodded towards Ratchet. Ratchet reached down and put his hands around Mallet. "You look tasty, I'll down you first."

Mallet retorted, "Yeah right."

Ratchet lifted him till he was above his head. Ratchet looked up and opened his mouth wide. He then held Mallet with only two fingers.

Nail's face did show fear for his friend but he remained silent.

"Mallet!" Rykk shouted, "Last chance before you become chow! Who hired you?!"

Mallet looked down into Ratchet's giant mouth. He chuckled, still blind to his predicament.

Rykk nodded, "Fine… Ratchet…"

At those words Ratchet released Mallet and let gravity do the rest. Nail froze and watched the bulge Mallet made through Ratchet's neck fur.

Mallet was furious, disgusted, and scared as he entered the giant lombax's stomach. "You freaks! You think this'll make me talk?! Let me out!"

However, only Ratchet and Rykk could actually make out his words.

To Nail it was muffled and the sight of seeing his boss and friend swallowed alive freaked him. "Oh no please! Don't let that monster eat me!"

Ratchet pretended he enjoyed it. He didn't, they guy tasted awful and the feeling of Mallet moving around inside his belly almost made him sick. Yet, he licked his lips and rubbed his gut. "Ah your friend was good, I wonder what you taste like?" Ratchet said trying to sound as mentally unstable as he could.

"You can't save your friend but you can save yourself Nail." Rykk offered. He tried to sound as sympathetic as he could. "Just tell me."

Nail didn't say anything, he was frozen.

Rykk sighed, "Fine, got another treat for ya boy!"

Nail was frantic, he began to cry and whimper as he felt Ratchet's giant fingers wrap around him. "No! NO! NO! Please! I'll tell you! I'll tell you! Please don't eat me!" Ratchet let go of Nail.

Rykk walked over, "Alright, who hired you?"

Nail calmed down enough to speak and looked up at Rykk. What he said, Rykk had sort of figured but still sent a chill down his spine when he heard it. "Ebony… Ebony hired us; that crazy witch!"

"Where is she?" Rykk asked; his tone much darker and colder than before.

Nail stuttered, "D… d… don't know for sure… all I know is that she's taken some ruined old mansion in the forest."

"The Belvedere Estate?" Rykk asked.

Nail nodded furiously, "I think so… yeah… please let me go! I don't want to end up as that crazy lombax's chow! Not like Mallet did…" He finished with a solemn tone.

Rykk smiled, "Your friend will be fine." With that he flew into Ratchet and flew out with Mallet.

Mallet was covered in saliva and digestive enzymes. Let's just say the short human was very… verbal about what had happened to him and his current state.

Ratchet returned to his normal size.

Rykk summoned one of his blades and held it against Mallet's throat. His face and voice went ice cold. He growled in a low, ominous, animal-like manner, "If I ever see your pathetic faces again! I won't play around like this time! Clank…"

Clank's device extended two barrels and shot knock-out darts into both criminals.

Ratchet approached with a look of disgust and his tongue sticking out "Ok… that was gross. He tasted awful and having him inside me…" He shivered, "Gaaah, I reeeeeally don't want to have to do that again."

Rykk shrugged, "Quit crying. We got a location on Ebony and hopefully your dad as well. And we got it without a mess. Clank…"

Clank smiled at Ratchet's reaction, he found the whole thing amusing. "I have already informed the others. Sly, Atlas, and Murray will meet us there. Leo will stay back with Carmelita and provide energy for her. That way she can help Fen heal and Bones and Bentley will make prosthetics for him. I must say, Ratchet that was quite a show!"

Ratchet grunted in response, "Let's go." He jumped onto Ratchet's back and Clank returned to Rykk's Utility.

It only took them a short time to reach the forest. The trees were thousands of feet tall, like pillars holding up the sky. Rykk flew into the forest and weaved in and out of the trees. Ratchet held on tight, the turns were tight but smooth.

It took them a bit of time but soon they were at the meeting place a mile out from Belvedere.

They were the closest and as such the first ones there. The meeting place was the edge of a clearing in the forest. It was a huge clearing and Belvedere occupied most of it.

Though Belvedere was a mile away, it was large enough to make an impression. The mile between the edge of the forest and Belvedere was flat, rocky and grassy land. Belvedere itself was made of grey stone, not the usual crimson common to Agrona. It looked ancient and had a decrepit look, like it was once a glorious palace but now a ruined, dark sanctum. It had tall, imposing spires and walls. It was like the dark, ancient heart of the forest.

"This place looks different from Parson. It looks older and the architecture is different." Ratchet observed.

Clank hovered over, "My records indicate that this structure predates even Parson. The stone used to make it is not even from Agrona. This is very peculiar… I am cross referencing the rock samples Velocity and New Elko have with my database of all known rocks and sediment but I cannot find a match yet."

"Interesting…" Rykk trailed off as Sly, Atlas, and Murray appeared behind them. They had taken Max's Atmo to the forest.

"So, Ebony and Kaden are in there huh?" Murray asked as he looked at the foreboding palace. "Creepy…"

"Yeah…" Sly said as he studied it. Using his enhanced vision, Sly examined Belvedere. "…best I can tell… she has an army of those mutated freaks from Parson. Thought they couldn't leave Parson?"

"They must have some cores there or Ebony brought some." Clank stated. "Either way, we will have to be very careful."

"Oi've only read about dis place en books." Atlas stated he sounded a bit unsure, "Et was a tall tale when Oi was a lad. Now, et froightens me."

"Parson didn't?" Ratchet asked.

Atlas shrugged, "Et did, but I 'ad been dere once before."

Rykk sighed, "We need to go, we could make a plan, but we have no idea what's in there. Too bad about Fen, could use his help right about now."

"Um… think a plan and stealth are moot points. Her army of real freaks seem to be heading this way." Sly stated with concern. "2, no 3,000 nocturnes, six Hunters, and hundreds of Prowlers, oh this'll be fun." Sarcasm laced the last sentence.

Rykk grinned and his claws extended. He growled like a feral cat before running forward. As he ran, he roared, and had his claws ready. And he leapt into the ground and disappeared. He reappeared amidst the army and turned feral. He slashed, bit, and used Alter to blast and crush his foes with chunks of the ground and rocks. He roared the entire time, never used his Tonfa blades, just his claws and fangs. He paused as an enormous, mutated Hunter charged him. He grinned and ran towards it. It tried to chomp him with its fangs. He jumped into the air and landed on the animal's muzzle. He roared as he slashed its eyes. It roared in pain and thrashed around wildly. Rykk jumped up and put all of his claws into the back of its neck. He slashed furiously at the neck, blood was everywhere. His claws dug through the muscle and tissue and quickly cut its spine. The Hunter howled and fell. Rykk smiled and gave a victory roar before moving onto another Hunter.

Sly teleported erratically around the battlefield, he wacked targets, used his Bide to make short work of targets, especially Prowlers. At one point he unleashed an instant wave of Bide, freezing everything on the field except his allies. That allowed them to make a huge dent. Sly was smooth, cool, and emotionless as he killed. His red eyes glow behind the hood. His red lines glow against his grey/blue fur and blur as he moves. He faced off against a particular large Prowler. It growled and pounced at him. He shot it with Bide and it slowed he moved quickly and hit it repeatedly in the face with his staff. He then leaned on the top of his staff and spin-kicked the Prowler in the face. His enhanced strength meant he cracked its skull and killed it. He then went on to possess one of the Hunters and used it to fight another. He did eventually kill his foe, but the Hunter he possessed was dying so he left it to do so.

Ratchet uses his wrench for a while, just to feel the satisfaction of hitting enemies with it. He extended the wrench's blades and loved the sensation he got when it hit. He used his wrench for a good bit of time before putting it in its special Utility and maxing out his height. He proceeded to stomp on the nocturnes and Prowlers; they were ants and bugs to him. He focused on a pair of Hunters; they snarled and leapt at him. He kicked one in the jaw and sent it onto his back, crushing dozens of Nocturns. He then proceeded to beat the two giant canines to death.

Murray turned into his metal form and roared, "The Murray will pummel you all!" He slammed and crushed his foes, his seismic blasts unsettled and killed many Nocturnes. He also proceeded to grab them and threw them screaming into the air. He was a beast. He even beat down two Prowlers at the same time.

Atlas summoned dual McVoy, Vector pistols and was giving quite the exhibition. He rarely moved from the same spot and almost never looked where he shot. His movements were fast, precise, and fluid. He moved his pistols around his body and took out Prowlers even (he shot them in the eyes or mouth) He even took out a Hunter once. One tried to chomp him. He rolled and evaded its attack and leapt onto one of its front paws. He proceeded to climb up its leg using its fur as handholds. Needless to say (but I'm going to anyway) the Hunter was ticked. Atlas made his way up its leg and onto the back of its neck. Once up there he loaded Alacrity rounds into both of his pistols. He fired each gun twice, the barrels inches from the Hunters neck. It howled and fell face first. He leapt off its head, landed on his feet, and fired both guns, each Alacrity round hit a Prowler and killed them.

The battle raged for over two hours, blood was spilled as the foursome raged against the ghastly horde. Bodies began to pile up and yet, their bloodlust was still strong. They all had blood on them; Rykk had it on his claws, hands, and mouth, Sly had blood on his staff and splatter on his jacket, Ratchet's feet were painted in blood, his hands were covered as well, and he had splatter all over him, Murray's fists were covered in the sticky liquid, and Atlas had the least blood, splatter from his guns but that was it. Everyone regrouped as Rykk finished off a Nocturne.

"Now we have Eb…" Rykk was cut off as he and Sly's ears caught wind of Ebony's voice in the air. It was faint and only they could hear it. Suddenly, Rykk and Sly both pushed Ratchet and Murray aside; they avoided getting blasted by purple and white lightning.

Rykk looked around and quickly saw Ebony standing on top the tallest spire in Belvedere. Dark storm clouds circled above it. In the center of the clouds was a bright, white/green light.

Her voice became much louder and ominous. It seemed to come from all around them and grew in intensity and fury as she said:

"For his father you have come,

But you will all get doom!

Now you are cursed!

You can hear death's bell!

You will now deal with me and I shall send you to Hell!"

Walls of dark thorns sprung up from the ground, sealing off the forest and the castle. The clouds became bigger and darker. Bolts of purple and white lightning leapt from them and struck the ground. Everyone split up and franticly began dodging the bolts.

After a few minutes Rykk got fed up, "I'll get her." He said as he flew up to Ebony's position. His haste got him zapped by the lightning and he fell about six hundred feet. He had made it about halfway up. The bolt was strong but didn't kill him. The impact onto the rocky ground hurt worse. Upon impact he was struck again by lightning, repeatedly. Everyone tried to help him but every time they approached him the bolts blocked their path.

Ratchet stopped running (he was in his max height), "Ebony! Come down and face us! You want me you witch?! Why don't you fight instead of hiding like the coward you are?!"

The bolts ceased and Rykk sat up. He groaned as wisps of steam came off him.

Suddenly Ebony's menacing laugh rang out. Then her voice, it seemed to come from everywhere. "You imbecile dare call me a coward?! You left your own father alone and now he's mine! We've had great time together but he looks somewhat… different. You may not recognize him. My colleague is good at that."

Ratchet felt intense fear and hate build up in him. "What have you done to him you hag?!"

Sly used his enhanced vision to see Ebony. She was looking confidently down on them. That is, until a Nocturne whispered something in her ear. Her expression dropped and became twisted with rage. She grabbed the Nocturne and threw it from the tower. "NO! IT CANNOT BE!" She exclaimed and raised her staff into the air. As she did she transformed into a swirling, galaxy-shaped mass of green, black, and purple flame. The swirling energy flew from the top of the spire and landed in front of the gang. Upon impact Ebony reformed, "Now, you will deal with ME!" There was a deafening roar and everyone jumped as a very large pillar of green flame shot into the air. Her menacing laugh rang out again as the flames faded and everyone's eyes went wide.

In Ebony's place was an enormous, black, dragon-like creature. It had a long, serpentine body with a row of spikes down its back; shiny black scales covered it and it four legs were tipped with claws. It had glowing green/yellow eyes with slit pupils, a long muzzle full of teeth, and two curved horns on its head. In size it rivaled Ratchet, and he was maxed out. The dragon's body was twice as thick as his torso. The dragon roared and a jet of green/yellow flame left its maw. It sounded lake hundreds of flamethrowers firing at once. Everyone scrambled and got out of its path.

Ratchet's arm was grazed by the jet and he actually felt some heat and pain. Ah! Her flame can hurt me! He yelled and ran at the huge serpent. His rage and concern for his father took away any fear he had. The serpent jumped at him and yelled. Ratchet punched it in the face repeatedly and ducked multiple streams of flame. He also began to bite into the serpent, his teeth drew blood.

Rykk roared and flew at the giant serpent. He landed on its back and began to harass it with his claws, fangs, and Alter attacks. He managed to hold on while the serpent and Ratchet battle. However, his attacks just annoyed the serpent and it soon batted him away. Rykk flew through the air and crashed through a wall in Belvedere. He paused to breath and looked up. He found himself face to face with a Dark Radiation Core. In fact he saw four of them, sweet, Ebony, you've got a beast to deal with. He thought before he started absorbing the energy from the cores and built it up. It took him a half-a-minute thanks to there being four cores. He yelled as he transformed into an Alter storm and blasted out of the room. The storm was the biggest one the others have seen. He flew back down to the battlefield and entered the ground; his rock beast form emerged from the ground and was seventy feet tall. It's thirty feet shorter smaller than Ebony and Ratchet, but big enough that its bite and blows did damage.

Soon, all three titans were battling. Ratchet was getting cuts from Ebony's claws, and his fur was getting singed by her flames. Rykk's form took a beating but gave as much as it took.

Murray, Sly, and Atlas were unsure of what to do at first. For a few seconds they don't move.

"What can we do?" Murray asked.

Atlas responded, "Murray, trow me 'an Sly on dat beast."

Murray seemed a bit nervous about the proposition, "You sure?"

Sly nodded, "Let's do it pal."

"What do I do after I throw ya?" Murray asked.

"Wait for our signal; try harassing that thing as much as you can." Sly ordered. "Use your chain gun."

Murray grunted as he threw Sly and then Atlas. Sly relished the feeling of flying in the air, the wind rushed past his hood and his fur felt alive. He did notice that he was off; he was going to miss the back of the serpent. Luckily he had a solution, he teleported himself onto its back.

Atlas had the perfect trajectory however and like Sly, loved the feeling of wind blowing past him. As he flew through the air he loaded his pistols with Alacrity rounds. He landed on target, right on the serpent's back. They struggled to stay on the slithering, massive serpent. Atlas began firing Alacrity rounds into the beast, making it shriek. Sly made his way to the head and began pummeling it with his staff. He teleported to avoid its efforts to kill him and Ratchet's fists. His hits didn't do real damage but drove the monster crazy.

The brawl took its toll on its participants.

Ratchet was getting cut up, bruised, and burned. He got thrown into the wall of thorns (they came up to his belly) and got a good amount of cuts on his legs, tail, back, and stomach. The thorns were nasty and very sharp.

Rykk was getting knocked around, but his nearly unbreakable form made it so he got the least beaten. He too got thrown into the thorns but they couldn't do anything to his rock and Alter form.

Atlas and Sly struggled to hang on and fight at the same time.

Then, Sly lost his grip and was sent flying. He was also hit by Ebony's tail, knocked out, and thrown into the wall of thorns. He woke up just as he hit the menacing wall. The thorns cut and stabbed him. He wasn't moving for long but was in excruciating pain. He had dozens of cuts, and quite a few large ones. Hundreds of small thorns jabbed him and gave him scratches. More seriously however were the foot-long thorns lodged in his; hand, arm, leg, side, and, most dangerously, his chest and abdomen. Bloods was drizzling from his wounds, nose, and mouth.

Murray saw Sly go flying and ran over to him.

Clank came as well.

"Sly! You'll be ok buddy, Clank can help!" Murray said as he got Sly out of the wall. He did drag Sly as carefully and quickly as he could to a relatively safe spot, away from the fight. The sounds of the titan brawl sent reverberations through the ground and it was near deafening.

Sly could only nod and gasped in response. The thorns did more than just cause wounds; they seemed to sap Sly of his energy and made him very weak. (The cuts Ratchet had gotten were taking a toll but his size slowed the poison)

Clank made his way over and started scanning. "I am not Bones but he has given me a good amount of data on medicine." (Bones was still in Atlas' Utility) He summoned a syringe of Healer and gave it to Murray. "Inject this into his neck; make sure you hit his carotid artery. This venom is fast, it by itself won't kill him but with his wounds… don't take out the thorns!" Clank exclaims as Murray reached for the one in Sly's chest. "If you do he could bleed out, now give him the shot."

Murray grimaced but then saw Sly, one of his closest friends, shudder and cough. Resolve quickly built in him and he plunged the needle in Sly's neck. Bright red blood entered the syringe but was pushed out as the blue/green liquid was pushed into Sly's artery.

Almost instantly Sly felt, and looked a bit better. His smaller cuts sealed and he gained a bit of energy. He wasn't out of the woods yet (both literally and not). "That should keep him stable for a few hours," Clank stated, "But he's out of the fight."

Speaking of the fight, there was a loud, painful roar. It came from Rykk as he had been hit by one of the serpents flame blasts. He had avoided them for the most part, maybe got nicked once or twice, but now took a full blast. It burned and sent him flying backwards into the ground. Upon impact his form shattered and the Alter merged back into his normal frame. He had dodged taking serious damage successfully but that blow was extreme.

Rykk rolled on the rocky ground, the rocks did nothing to him but it was unpleasant nonetheless. He stopped moving and lay face down. He was hurting and felt more than a bit hot. Holly crap she's tough! Then again, the only Bonded I've fought is Calamity. I would just fly into her and kill her from the inside but my Alter doesn't affect her that way! My blades and claws can cut but they can't cut deep enough! Wait… my Alter… I wonder if it can…

Ratchet and Ebony had paused and began to circle each other. Both assailants looked torn. Though Ebony had a tough, scaly hide, the combined harassment has worn on her; there are dozens of bite and scratch marks from Ratchet and Rykk and Atlas has blasted holes using his Alacrity rounds. Ratchet was panting; the venom from the thorns had started taking a toll, his fur was singed in multiple spots, and there were dozens of cuts and bruises all over him. This is going nowhere! She'll wear me down before I can get her down! What can I do?! Ebony roared and jumped at him again.

Rykk built up as much Alter as he could. When he couldn't hold anymore he yelled, "Ratchet!" Ratchet was holding her back; she was trying to bite his face. He was able to turn his head to look at Rykk. Rykk shouted/ordered, "Shrink!"

Ratchet didn't hesitate; he shrunk down to twenty feet as Rykk shot a massive blast of Alter energy. The blast hit Ebony below the neck and between her front legs. She roared in pain, obviously the blast hurt her a great deal. It sent her sprawling onto her back and she fell on her own thorns. They didn't hurt her, in fact they moved out of her way. Rykk then yelled again, "Ratchet! Hit her in the chest with your wrench!"

Ratchet ran over to his enemy. She was stunned, but wouldn't be for long so he had to hurry. Once he was on top of her he shrunk down to his normal size and summoned his wrench. On her chest was a smoldering wound, a weak spot. Ratchet extended the blades on his wrench and quickly charges it with energy before slamming it down on her wound.

Upon impact the dragon howled and there was an explosion of green flame. The blast shot Ratchet into the air, he happened to crash into Rykk and they both were sent sprawling. When everything was settled the Ratchet, Rykk, and Atlas approached Ebony's position. The dragon was gone, as were the walls of thorns. Ebony was lying on the ground but stood up. She looked weak and surveyed her situation. When she saw the trio approach her she growled and turned into the swirling green, purple, and black wisp and flew into Belvedere.

"Let's get her!" Ratchet yelled as he grew and ran towards the castle.

Rykk grabbed Atlas and flew after Ebony.

Ratchet jumped over the main wall and shrank back to his normal size when he landed. Rykk and Atlas caught up quickly.

Rykk used his special vision to see through the walls and they quickly found Ebony. She was standing in an empty, old, prison cell.

"Where is my father?!" Ratchet yelled.

Ebony glared at him, "I do not know; he was in here."

Ratchet was livid, "You're lying! Now where is he you witch?!"

Ebony growled, "I do not…" She, and everyone else, shuddered as the wall behind Ebony was blasted open.

Ebony yelped as a pair of crimson blades appeared through the top of her torso.

"I'm sorry about this Ebony…" Calamity started as she turned her head to try and see him. "…I really am. I had a lot of fun helping you get Chief Ellipse and… messing with him. But I now need him, alive; which means you have to die." He said as he withdrew his blade.

Ebony shrieked; it was a high, intense sound. It forced everyone to cover their ears. It was followed by a blast of green and black energy from her body. She then changed back into Angela and went limp.

The trio was frozen until Ratchet yelled, "Why do you have my father?!"

Calamity gave a know-it-all smirk, "I have him for a simple reason. No, I don't plan on killing him. I want to make a trade; your father, Kaden Ellipse, for Rykk."

Atlas, Rykk, and Ratchet were both quiet as Calamity continued.

"In three days, at noon, meet me in Velocity's main square. Rykk, you will come wearing a restraining collar and chain, and a pair of pants, nothing else. You know me, if you decide to not do this deal, and then Kaden is mine!" At that he left the way he came. The demonic Bonded also left the three stunned.

So what do you think? Will they do the deal? Should they? Thoughts on the chapter?

By the way, when Rykk uses his claws it means he's berserking,

So you should get out of his way,

Thanks for reading,

Stay Tuned

Jerod2447