Rage walked through the high grasses of Angel Island. Floating next to him was Blade. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" the dragon spirit asks, looking into Rage's green eyes from the side.
Rage looked over to him as he walked. "I can't just not say anything." the crimson hedgehog answers. He looked back forward as he made it to the edge of the floating island. He looked out upon the open blue skies of Mobius. "If I just vanish with the Chaos Emeralds then no doubt Sonic will come looking for me and eventually it will cause trouble."
"What about Angel Island?" The dragon floated out in front of Rage and looked him dead in the eyes. "You're not just leaving it undefended and I know you sure as hell aren't taking it to Equestria!"
"I don't know yet..." Rage sighs. "You're right, I can't leave it undefended but at the same time it's been my prison for how many years now?"
"You weren't trapped up here." The dragon scoffs. "I think you're being selfish."
"You know what I mean." Rage says "We already had this discussion too. Look Blade, I am the last Chaos Guardian, I know you and the others want me to follow the ways of the Old Guardians but that's just not who I am. Had fate not intervened all those years ago you know as well as I do that-"
"...that you would have died when your village was attacked or you'd have just had a normal life, yes I know." Blade sighs frustrated. "But you're connecting two worlds that are like night and day! What if something happens? We've never tried anything like this before!"
"I'll be the only one who can-" Rage starts to object before a rustling in the underbrush behind him could be heard. He turned and looked into it before a small chao came running out of the grass. It cried as it fell over and Rage walked up to it. He knelt down and helped it up. The small orb above the chao's head turned to a heart as it spoke incomprehensible phrases to Rage.
The crimson hedgehog chuckled. "Don't worry, Tikal isn't going anywhere." he says, patting it on the head. "I don't know where you got that idea. She loves you guys too darn much." He looked at Blade. "We'll continue this conversation later." he says, picking the chao up. "I need to get you back to the Shrine."
The dragon sighed. "Chaos help us..." he says under his breath before he vanishes back into Rage as the crimson hedgehog begins walking back to the shrine of the master emerald.
Rage made it to the shrine where Tikal was humming a song to some chao. She looked up when Rage was in her line of sight. "There you are." She says as Rage puts the chao down. "What have I told you about running off?" She asks as the chao ran over to her and laughed.
She sighs looking at Rage. "They're going to miss you…" she comments "Are you sure you want to stay in that other world alone?"
"If I could bring Angel Island with me I would." Rage sighs. "Unfortunately that's not an option. I'll visit though."
Tikal nods before sending the chao off. Once they were gone Blade appeared again. "Rage, we need to raise a concern with you." She says.
"If this is-" Rage began to grump until Blade interrupted him.
"It's about Christain." The translucent spirit dragon says. Rage looked at him and frowned in a serious manner.
"What about him?" He asks "Last I checked I sent him screaming back to The Dark Realm…for good."
"…Rage I think you need to reconsider that." Tikal sighs.
"What are you saying?" Rage asks, cocking an eye.
"I have it in good faith that he managed to open the Dark Corridors again." Tikal explains.
"That's impossible…" Rage shook his head in denial . "If he did…"
"Equestria would be in danger as well." Blade says "I urge you to consider what would happen if he made it there."
Rage crossed his arms and closed his eyes. The images of what could happen flashed in his mind. "Why…" he mutters before he opens his eyes. "I understand." He said to Blade and Tikal. "But regardless of my decision that's the case…besides…Even if he did manage to open them again…I don't think he'd go after Equestria. If he does I'll stop him."
Both the dragon and echidna looked at him. Tikal was the first to speak "I trust your judgment Rage." She says with a nod. "Just, keep a line of communication with us open in case?"
"Of course." Rage agrees "You know you can contact me anytime."
"And Sonic?" Blade asks. "What about him?"
"He's next." Rage sighs "Any idea where he is?"
"My guess would be with Tails probably still trying to make some portal to get to you." Tikal answers. "I'd check Tails' Workshop in the Mystic Ruins."
Rage nods a silent thank you to the echidna as a small, dark blue chao runs up to Rage and hugs his leg. It babbled something and Rage knelt down patting the small chao's head.
"Seems like Chucky wants you to stay." Tikal chuckles.
"Sorry buddy." Rage says "I'll be back to visit though. Behave yourself for Tikal okay?" The chao cheered and nodded as Rage stood up.
"Be safe." Tikal says with a wave as Rage walks off waving himself. Once he was out of her sight he turned around and pulled the yellow Chaos Emerald from the pouch on his belt where he kept them.
"…The strength to protect what matters…" he muttered to himself thinking back to his battle with Sombra. Since that fight he's felt off. Though he won't say anything to anyone. Especially Tikal or his new friends.
Meanwhile, at Tails' Workshop Sonic was rummaging through a toolbox looking for a wrench. He was outside in the field next to the small house. Behind him Tails was up on a large disc like structure and hand threading some bolts into place.
"Is this the one?!" Sonic calls up to the yellow fox pulling a larger socket wrench out of the toolbox. Tails looked up and nodded his head.
"Yeah! Toss it up!" He exclaimed. Sonic wound his arm back and threw it up to the fox who caught it. "Thanks!"
"And you're sure this thing will work?" Sonic asks, walking over to the blueprints laid out upon a drafting table. He was joined by Tails who hovered down next to him.
"Well, I hope so." He says rubbing his chin. "The hard part is going to be figuring out where exactly Rage is relative to us…"
"Meaning…?" Sonic asks with a cocked eye.
"Meaning yes this will let us travel worlds but…I can't promise we'll be where Rage was sent…" Tails answers. "I have no idea how or what Eggman did with you two or how you even got back."
"We've been over that." Sonic scoffed "Rage sent me back with Chaos Control!"
"I understand that." Tails grumps "But, do you know how he did it?" The yellow fox looked at him frustrated. Sonic rubbed the back of his head and got ready to answer.
"No, he doesn't." Rage's voice came from behind them. "And last I checked he can barely even travel a hundred feet with it."
"That's not true Rage!" Sonic spits annoyed before his ears perk up. "Wait a minute…" he turned to see the crimson hedgehog standing about ten feet from the two. "Rage!" He exclaims running over with Tails. "Glad to see you're still kicking!"
"You're alright!" Tails exclaims. "After Sonic came back I feared the worst…"
"How did you get back?" Sonic asks "I thought that Princess whoever locked everything down or whatever."
"Long story short, stopped some evil king or whatever and that was it." Rage shrugs. "Made some new friends and got a bit more praise than I prefer."
Sonic smiled and gave him a thumbs up "Now you're back too!"
"About that…" Rage sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
"You're not staying?" Sonic asks, crossing his arms.
"Look, after a lot of consideration…I decided that it would be best to stay in Equestria…" Rage says "The Chaos Emeralds would be safe from Robotnik there and I could live somewhat normally…"
Sonic crossed his arms and gave Rage a glare. "Who gives you the right to make that kind of call?" He asks. "What if we need the Chaos Emeralds here?!"
"You're referring to Eggman aren't you?" Rage asks. Sonic nods in response.
"He's not the only one. What about Nix or that other one from Dark Mobius? You know, the ones we fought after you got your powers?" Sonic asks. "They can mess around and travel worlds too, right?"
"We sealed the Dark Corridors after that." Tails speaks up. "I don't see how they'd hop around without them."
"Exactly." Rage nodded at Tails' assessment. "I didn't make this choice easily, Sonic." He admits "But I will be sure to come back from time to time."
"I'd like to go back there at least once." Sonic says "I need to thank that Twilight unicorn or whoever for the hospitality while I was there."
"I am sure we could figure something out." Rage nods before looking at the large device they had been crafting. "What were you working on?"
"Oh this?" Tails asks "It's a portal! We were building it with the goal to use it in order to find you…but clearly you got back before we finished it."
"Where did you get the idea for this design?" Rage asked. To him it looked familiar, very similar to a special portal in a place called The Chaos Realm.
"Oh, I based it off these strange old Echidna drawings that were of the same thing but more primitive." Tails explains.
Rage nodded and said nothing. It was best he kept the fact it was a near identical copy of a World Gate secret.. "Well…I should be off." He sighs. "I have a few other things to do before I go."
"Wait." Sonic says "Have you told your brothers?"
"No… I think it's best I don't tell them I am going to live in another world…" Rage sighs.
"You should tell them." Sonic says "They think you're still stuck there and unable to come back."
"How do they know?" Rage asks, looking a bit surprised.
"We… sorta told them what happened." Tails admits. "It wouldn't have been fair if something actually happened to you for them to be left in the dark."
Rage looked at the two. Frustration sirged through the crimson hedgehog's veins for a brief second but quickly subsided. Tails was right, it wouldn't be fair to them. "I suppose you're right." He sighs. "Are they still living in Central City?"
"Yeah." Sonic nods. "Here, I'll go with you." The cobalt hedgehog walked up and put a hand on Rage's shoulder. "No matter what happens just remember you're doing what you think is right and that's all that matters."
Rage smiled. "Thanks…" he says softly. "That was oddly well said for you."
"I have my moments." Sonic chuckled as he and Rage began walking towards the trainline he waves at Tails.
"See you later!" Tails calls at the two. He then sat down on the ground wiping the sweat from his brow.
Sonic and Rage made it to the train that ran between the Mystic Ruins and Station Square in Central City. They hopped on and took seats near the middle of the car. "So, how long are you going to be back here before you leave?" Sonic asks.
"Not too long." Rage sighs. He was looking straight into the ground, as if avoiding eye contact with Sonic. "I have to stop in The Chaos Realm before I return to Equestria..."
Sonic raised an eye, Rage wasn't telling him something and whatever it was had the crimson hedgehog worried. "Ya know, if you need to get something off your chest I am all ears." he says.
Rage looked up from the floor and to both sides. There were a few others on the train. A couple of businessmen, a gray dog and a mother with two kids. Rage then looked at Sonic. "I can't tell you...not here." he sighs.
The blue hedgehog looked at him and nodded. Sonic knew that was Rage's way of saying it's not something to be discussed around others. "Alright I get you." he says.
The train came to a stop at Station Square and the automated voice of the train system announced the arrival as well as the next departure being in about 25 minutes. Both Sonic and Rage stood up and got off the train and walked out into the Square.
Rage and Sonic walked into the streets of the city. They were looking for a specific place. A store that was owned by both of Rage's siblings. They wandered some, taking a wrong turn here and there. Finally after a bit of struggling the two found the building.
A storefront with decorations of food and a sculpture. The glass had the name 'Chaotic Catering' plastered across it and the bright neon 'OPEN' sign flashed happily above the door. Rage and Sonic looked at the door for a brief second before walking inside.
They looked around the small store. A display fridge had various baked goods, sandwiches and other food items. Hung over it was a screen displaying prices and other information. "Catering?" Sonic asks Rage silently.
Rage got ready to respond but a green hedgehog dressed in a simple gray shirt and jeans came out from the back room. "I'll be right with-" the hedgehog began to speak in a lower, deep voice. However he stopped himself as his yellow eyes gazed upon the two. "Hey Icezer!" he called "We got company!"
A clanging sound was heard before down the stairs that led to the upper floors came a bright, icy blue hedgehog with vivid purple eyes and a yellow stripe that went from the midpoint of his eyes back over the top of his small quills. He was wearing a black artisans' coat. His eyes looked at Rage and Sonic who both waved. "Sonic! Rage!" he exclaimed coming down the rest of the stairs to meet the two. "Why didn't you tell Xage and I you were coming!"
"It wasn't exactly planned." Rage says with a soft smile.
"How have you been? The last news we got from Sonic was you got yourself trapped in some other world." The green hedgehog, named Xage comments.
"That's a long story..." Rage sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"We haven't seen you in ages!" The icy blue hedgehog came up and hugged Rage. "Not since Nix and Christain..."
"Yeah..." Rage said sadly. "I know..."
"I know you're busy keeping those Chaos Emeralds under lock and key or whatever but you could at least visit more often." Xage grumps.
"Sorry." Rage sighs "I don't know when I'll be able to again either..."
"What do you mean?" Icezer asks.
"Can we talk in private?" Rage asks, looking at the two. HIs eyes gave off a feeling of unease. Icezer nodded.
"We can close up a bit early today, sure." Xage says walking over and turning the neon sign to 'CLOSED'.
The four then went up stairs and into a room that looked like a living room. Like many residents in the Capital District of Central City, people lived above their stores. The four of them took seats and everyone looked at Rage who explained the events of the last few days.
"...and so I decided it would be best for me to remain there, for the time being at least." Rage finished his story. Icezer and Xage looked worried.
"Rage, you're just...going? Like that?" Icezer asks. "We may never-"
"I'm not going to be stranded there." Rage says. "Not again..."
"Why?" Xage asks, giving Rage an angered look. "Why would you decide to just go and live in some other world after living among them for a week?!" he shouts.
"Xage..." Icezer murmured worried that the green hedgehog was about to explode in anger.
"Truth be told? I think there's more to what happened there than meets the eye..." Rage sighs. "Besides...I am not stuck trying to be something I am not..."
"What if...we need you?" Icezer asks.
"I want to leave a connection open." Rage says to them. "On Angel Island...so if anything happens...you guys can come and find me."
"What does Celestia think of that?" Sonic asks, crossing his arms.
"She won't be aware of it..." Rage answers. "I can trust the three of you with it."
Xage looked at Rage angered but he sighed. "I get it...you want to be yourself while you guard the Emeralds...but you could have talked with us first..."
"I know..." Rage muttered. "But. I was afraid...after what happened a few years ago...you guys would be better off without me..."
"Rage!" Icezer barks. "How could you ever think that?!"
"You were captured and turned into puppets of some dark lord because of me!" Rage exclaims. "I can't...let that happen-"
"That wasn't your fault." Sonic butts in.
"If I hadn't been-" Rage tried to argue but he was hit upside the head by Xage.
"Rage, we know." The green hedgehog scoffs. "But Sonic is right. You couldn't control that."
"What if Nix comes back though?" Icezer asks fear clouding his voice.
"I can take him." Sonic proclaims.
"Are you sure?" Xage asks, turning to the cobalt blue hedgehog and raising an eye. "Eggman gives you enough trouble..."
"We can't have him discover Equestria." Rage says. "We're responsible to make sure nobody finds out that Mobius is linked so closely to another world..."
"You want us to...?" Xage asks.
"Yes." Rage says. "I trust the three of you to protect both Mobius and the links it has..."
Xage crossed his arms and smirked. "That's quite the compliment coming from you." he chuckles. "What do you think, Icezer?" he asked the light blue hedgehog who nodded eagerly.
"We'll do it!" Icezer says.
"Thank you." Rage sighed relieved. "Listen...I want you guys to know that...I'll miss you."
"Same." Xage sighs. "I hope the best for you...and if you end up going anywhere else...think you could try and look into what happened to our father?"
"Of course." Rage nodded as he looked right into Xage's eyes. "If I find anything, I'll let you two know as soon as I can."
With that the two said their goodbyes as Sonic and Rage left and made their way back to Angel Island. Both looked out on the setting sun from atop the Chaos Shrine. "Rage, I hope you know what you're doing..." Sonic sighed. Rage nodded.
"I know...It'll be hard but I trust you guys going forward..." Rage sighs. "I'll be sure to pop back in from time to time just to make sure Mobius hasn't burned to the ground."
"Stay safe, Rage." Sonic says with a nod. "And please, be sure to thank Twilight and Celestia for me." he said as he descended the stairs of the shrine. Rage nodded. Once Sonic was all the way down he saw a bright flash of green light and Rage was gone.
Silence blew over the island. Sonic sighed. "Why do I have this uneasy feeling about all of this..." he asks himself shaking his head. The hedgehog looked up to the shrine where Rage once stood. He thought but drew a blank and finally just shook his head.
As for Rage he reappeared in the Ponyville Library, right on top of a table. This startled Twilight as the now crimson unicorn just appeared in front of her. An audible shout from her being startled came from her before she registered it was Rage. "Rage!" She scolds.
"Sorry!" He apologized to her with an awkward frown. "It's going to take some getting used to..."
"Everything good...?" she finally asks after a moment of silence while she reigned in her frustration as Rage got down off of the table.
"Yeah..." Rage sighed. "Not everyone was too keen on me staying here..."
"I am sure it will take some adjusting." Twilight comments. "What's important though is you did what you thought was right."
"I know..." Rage sighs "But that doesn't change the fact it feels like I am turning my back on them..."
Twilight walked up and put a wing around Rage to comfort him. "Sometimes we have to make hard choices, Rage...I mean I didn't originally want to come to Ponyville."
"Oh?" Rage asked her. "Please tell me!"
Twilight looked a bit shocked but she quickly realized she hadn't told him the story of how she and the other girls met or anything. She had him take a seat which he did so as she sat across from him. "So it all started with a letter from Celestia..." She began her tale. She covered the events from Celestia's letter to when they defeated NIghtmare Moon.
"You mean...she was corrupted by darkness?" Rage asked when Twilight finished her story.
"Something like that." The purple alicorn answers. "Though it's something she'd rather not remember..."
"Right..." Rage sighs. "Can't say I blame her...there's probably some memories all of us would rather not have..."
"Yeah." Twilight says with a soft chuckle. "Why don't you get to bed?"
Rage looked at her for a minute. He wanted to object but the truth was, moving from world to world twice in a day was exhausting. It took a lot of his own energy and since he wasn't used to doing it that meant he had to do a lot more work just to get himself transported between the two. Something that would become easier over time as he did it more. "That isn't a bad idea," he says.
Twilight smiled as he stood up and walked towards what she could now just call his room. He would be staying with her after all. Before he opened it she called after him. "Oh, and Rage?" she managed to get his attention. "I am glad you decided to stay with us..." she admits.
"Really?" Rage asks and she nods. He smiled a soft and happy smile. It meant a lot for him to hear her say that. He was happy as well. He could start over, be himself. He crawled into bed with this in mind. By now the bed was actually pretty cozy to him. Probably because he had slept in it as many times as he had at this point. Slowly he drifted off to sleep. Into the realm of dreams...