Rage opened his eyes and found himself in the grass of a field. He could barely make out what looked like a fist. He moved his arm and realized he was a hedgehog again. "Was all of that a dream…?" he asked himself as he sat up. "Christain…and Discord…"

He looked around the field. He recognized this place. In one direction, the north were vast mountains. West was a thick forest. Wetlands in the south and a neon lit city to the East. This was his inner-world. A place he could visit in his sleep and communicate with other Guardians or even the powers that be if permitted. Or occasionally just dream about it.

A golden Mobian wolf appeared in front of him. "You never cease to surprise me." It spoke in a calm voice. It was Chaotix. The one who trained him.

"Chaotix…" Rage says in greeting. "What's this about?"

"Oh I just figured while you're down and out for a bit I'd pop by and say hi." He chuckled.

"You mean you wanted an excuse to leave The Chaos Realm for a bit." Rage scoffed with a smirk.

"I dunno what you mean." Chaotix says innocently as he sat next to Rage. "Seriously though. You did good. I never expected you to pull off what you did."

"You mean use my Hyper Form as a pony?" Rage asked to which Chaotix nodded.

"It's not easy to access our supercharged forms when in alternate forms." Chaotix states "You've grown a lot. Though at the same time you still have a lot left to learn."

"I don't suppose you could teach me anything else?" Rage asked.

Chaotix shook his head. "I wish I could honestly." He sighed. "If I was more confident in my Elemental Chaos I would too."

"It was worth a shot." Rage shrugged. "I know a lot is just training my body to withstand the sheer demand that our powers cost."

"Which you could do better at." Chaotix comments. "You may have achieved your Hyper Form but you really did a number on yourself."

"It wasn't that bad." Rage scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"It was." Chaotix said in a serious voice. "Rage you're in afterburn. You won't have your Chaos power for a few days. Not to mention your body is beat up…bad."

Rage looked at Chaotix a bit taken back by what had been said. "But…it didn't feel that bad!" He objects.

"That's because you were so focused on protecting your friends and running on nothing but determination and adrenaline. That's a good quality but a dangerous one." Chaotix sighed. "Many of us couldn't bear to keep it. Which is why we say that the path of a Guardian is one best walked alone."

"Until I met Twilight I'd have agreed with you…" Rage sighs "Don't worry. I can take it."

Chaotix looked at Rage who had a determined look. The golden wolf smiled. He knew Rage wouldn't give up easily. Nor would he give in; he always was a fighter even from the day they met. With a nod to Rage he let out a slight laugh.

"So what's all this about anyway?" Rage finally asks. "You don't just pop in to make small talk."

Chaotix sighed looking at Rage. "You never can slow down for a bit…you're a lot like Sonic in that regard." He sighed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rage asked, narrowing his eyes.

"It means you're always so quick to jump to the next thing, Rage." Chaotix sighed. "Take a breather for a while. Enjoy yourself."

"I plan to." Rage scoffed "Twilight is taking me around for Nightmare Night."

"Sounds like a date." Chaotix chuckled.

"As if!" Rage shouts. "She wants me to see what the night is like. It's the first holiday I'll experience in Equestria after all."

"And you're spending it.. with a girl." Chaotix smirked.

"Chaotix I don't know anypony nearly well enough to ask any out on anything close to a date." Rage jeered. "Get your head on straight!"

"I was kidding jeez…" the golden wolf rubbed the back of his head. "Anyway I should be going. Don't want the others getting worried."

"Yeah…" Rage smiled as he looked at the wolf who slowly vanished. This left Rage alone.

A while went by and he got a concerned look. "Strange…I am not normally here this long…if I project myself here it's in my sleep…" he said to himself.

Finally he stood up and began walking. Whatever was going on he was concerned. Was this Discord again? He wondered as he walked but dismissed it. He knew that they defeated him and Christain so no way this was Discord's doing.

Eventually he came to see Icezer standing in the field. "Icezer?" He called his brother's name and ran up to the icy blue hedgehog. They didn't move.

Rage got close and put his hand on the shoulder of the hedgehog and they turned. Rage took a step back in fear looking into the face of his brother. His eyes were gone. "I-Icezer?!" He exclaims.

"Where…were you?" A twisted version of Icezer's voice asked Rage as he walked to the crimson hedgehog.

"What are you talking about?!" Rage exclaims in a fearful tone. Then, Icezer leaps at Rage and he screams closing his eyes.

Next thing Rage knew his eyes shot open and he jolted up into a sitting position. He was in a white room. He didn't quite recognize it. He had a tube going into his right…hoof. It led to an IV bag. He suddenly realized where he was.

He was in the hospital. He reached to his head and groaned. He looked to his right and Twilight was in the chair sleeping. He sighed as a white mare with a vivid red mane walked into the room.

"Oh!" She exclaimed softly and walked in. "You're awake!"

"Was I out for long?" Rage asked, tilting his head.

"It's been about two days. You would come to briefly but were always in a weird state…" the mare says as Rage looked at Twilight and she smiled. "Princess Twilight has been worried about you." She said with a smile "She refused to leave until you actually came to."

"The others?" Rage asks her.

"They've been in and out." She says as she takes the IV bag off the stand. "The doctor will be surprised. We've never seen a pony heal from such grave wounds so quickly. When you first came in we thought you were a goner."

"Was I really that bad…?" Rage wondered aloud to himself.

"Don't push yourself now." The nurse pony says as he lays back in the bed. "Last thing we want is you staying here any longer than you need to."

"Alright." Rage sighed. "Thank you…"

"Of course." The nurse smiled, "If you need anything, let me know."

Rage nodded as the nurse left the room. He then turned his head to Twilight. The purple alicorn was fast asleep. Rage could barely hear a snore coming from her. He sighed as he looked back to the door into the room.

The knob turned and in walked Spike. The baby dragon looked a bit surprised. "Rage! You're awake!" He exclaimed running over and Rage put a hoof to his lips in a shushing motion. He then motioned to Twilight who was still asleep. "Oh…sorry." Spike whispered.

"I don't want to disturb her." Rage whispered back.

"She's been here for three days now." Spike sighed. "She refused to leave till you woke up."

"Nurse Red Heart said the same thing…" Rage responded looking at her. "I am worried about her now..."

"How are you feeling?" Spike asked him.

"Sore." Rage responds with a sigh. "Other than that I am alright."

"You gave us quite a scare." Spike sighed. "Especially after you passed out."

Rage sighed "I didn't mean to…I should have let you guys help…" he said softly looking down at the floor as he turned over in his bed.

"Help with what?" Pinkie Pie's voice came from the entrance to the room where she, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Fluttershy had just entered. Rage jolts back up as they walk in.

"Oh Rage…You're awake." Fluttershy said softly as she and Pinkie went to the other side of the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Alright." He sighs. "From what Spike is telling me I gave you guys quite the scare."

"I'll admit you had us a little worried." Rainbow Dash admits "But I knew you'd pull through!"

"Mmm?" Twilight moaned as she moved her head. The group of ponies looked over to her as she slowly opened her eyes and her vision came into focus.

"Good morning egghead." Rainbow Dash smirked. Twilight looked between the three standing then to Rage in the bed.

"Rage!" She cried, leaping out of the chair and hugging him tightly.

"He-ack!" Rage exclaimed out of shock she held him for a second before decking him in the face with the bottom of her hoof.

"Don't ever do that again!" She scolds him.

"Do what?!" Rage asks, rubbing his cheek, giving her a dirty look.

"Scare us like that!" She scoffs "We thought you were…you know!"

"I'm sorry Twi…" Rage sighs. "I didn't realize I had pushed myself that far until after I took Christain down…all of the adrenaline and all…"

"Just…don't do it again…" she sighs. "We were so worried…"

"We?" Applejack asks, cocking an eye.

"You're the one who refused to leave until he woke up…" Spike crossed his arms turning to Twilight who looked away embarrassed.

Rage sighed. "Well the important thing is everypony is safe. So it was worth it." He states looking to his friends.

"Mr…Rage?" A deeper voice came from the door. At the entrance of the room was a gray unicorn with deep blue eyes. A white coat covered him and he had a clipboard with him. He looked at all of his friends and Rage. "Ahem…I am surprised to see you up…let alone have the energy to entertain so many guests..."

"You sound as if I shouldn't even be awake right now." Rage scoffed.

"You're lucky to even be in that bed." The unicorn says "When you were brought in you had injuries so severe I was surprised you were even breathing."

"I didn't get beat up THAT bad." Rage said with a frown.

"You had burns, two broken legs, a rib snapped clean in half, multiple cuts and a gash that should have taken your eye with it." The unicorn snorted. "If that's not bad for you then I don't even want to know..."

"You probably don't..." Rage sighed. "Sorry..."

"What's more is that you've nearly completely recovered in only a few days...as if it were magic..." the pony shook his head.

"Is he going to be alright Doctor Gray?" Twilight asks with a worried tone in her voice.

"He'll make a full recovery, as impossible as it sounds." The unicorn sighs. "I don't know what you did but you need to be more careful. Another stunt like that and you could be laying on a table in the-"

"Thank you for the concern." Rage sighed "It's not like I wanted to get hurt..."

Gray's eyes looked at Rage with concern. "Nopony ever wants to. What were you doing anyway?"

"I…" Rage paused, unsure what to say. "I was helping a friend." He stated. Sure, not a straightforward answer. Even a lie maybe but he couldn't tell this pony he was in a life and death struggle, this wasn't Mobius. Equestria was peaceful. He had to respect it.

"I see…" Gray wrinkled his nose as he looked at his clipboard. "They must be a very special friend if you went to these lengths for them…"

"You have no idea." Rage half heartedly chuckled.

"Are you able to move around?" Gray asks.

"I can try." Rage says.

"Don't push yerself sugar." Applejack warns him walking to the edge of the bed and putting a hoof up as Rage groans slowly getting out of the bed. With some help from Applejack and Rainbow Dash he made it up and took a few steps.

"Does it hurt?" Gray asks.

"Not at all…" Rage says he looked at his friends who looked worried and he smiled to ease their concern. "If anything my muscles are all tight from laying in bed for so long…"

"Good." Gray nods "your wounds have almost healed completely so if you want we can get you discharged."

Rage looked at Gray then to his friends as he sat down on the bed and nodded. "That would be great." He says looking at Gray. Gray nodded and left the room.

"If you hadn't gotten yourself beaten up like that, it would have been so much cooler." Rainbow Dash comments nudging his side with her elbow.

"Hey! Careful!" Rage exclaimed, flicking her elbow away with a feathery wing "my wing is still" Rage paused as he was slowly realizing what he was saying "…sore…" he then turned his head around and flexed two majestic, red wings. "…oh boy…" he mutters.

"You're just now noticing those?!" Rainbow exclaims. "You've had them since you fought Christain!"

"This is the first time I've been fully awake since then!" Rage barked "No…I thought they'd disappear after I changed back…ya know like with Sombra…"

"What's different this time…?" Twilight asks as she looks at his wings deep in thought.

"I have no idea..." Rage said as he folded them back to rest along his flanks.

"So this means you're an Alicorn now?" Applejack asks, tilting her head out of curiosity.

"Let's not jump to conclusions now." Rage chuckled. "They'll probably fade away after a bit."

"But they're so awesome!" Pinkie exclaims.

"What do you think Twi?" Spike asks, looking at the lavender Alicorn.

"Don't look at me!" She exclaimed. "I don't know anything either!"

"It's not important." Rage stated with a sigh.

"Not important?" Rainbow Dash scoffed. "Uh no it's totally important! Only PRINCESSES are Alicorns."

"Well then there's a problem." Rage sighed. "I'm not a mare..."

"So does that make him a Prince?" Pinkie Pie asks.

"No." Rage scoffed. "It doesn't make me anything else...besides, I am not royalty in any way."

"Nor is he even from Equestria...remember?" Twilight states in an 'as a matter of fact' tone.

"We get it egghead." Rainbow Dash grumped. "But still, think about it! You can fly now!"

"I know..." Rage said with a hint of worry in his voice. "That was the first concern I had...it's gonna be like learning magic all over again..."

"Except you won't blow any holes in any fences." Twilight chuckles.

"Knowing my luck? I wouldn't assume anything yet..." Rage responds with a chuckle as he sits back on the bed.

"We should probably let you get a bit more rest...you have a lot to take in now don't you?" Twilight asks. Rage looked at her and simply nodded. The five said their farewells and left Rage alone in the room. A sigh left his mouth shortly after.

"You're awfully quiet about all of this..." Rage stated aloud after a brief moment of silence. It was then Blade appeared and laid next to him.

"Well I didn't want to interrupt you and your friends." The translucent dragon chuckled.

"Hasn't stopped you before." Rage rolled his eyes.

"I am not sure what you want me to say." The small dragon shrugged. "If you're seeking answers then you know as much as I do. I don't know why you all of a sudden retained actual wings after that battle. Your situation is unusual when it comes to adapting to another world afterall."

"How so? Dranzer came here before I did." Rage scoffs.

"Well for one, you have your own origins to think of. Dranzer isn't a Chaotic...not to mention your whole 'Final Light' situation." Blade responds by looking Rage in the eyes.

"I am not sure what my family's...less than amicable origins have to do with any of this." Rage scoffs.

"I mean who knows maybe somewhere down the line your ancestors got mixed up with Equestria or something." Blade shrugs. Rage looked at the small spiritual dragon before he burst out laughing.

"As if!" Rage eventually managed to get out between laughs. He panted, out of breath after laughing as hard as he did. "Listen to yourself Blade, you can't honestly believe that."

"At this point, with what we found out just from translating Dranzer's journal, anything is possible." Blade answers.

"Seriously Blade." Rage scoffed, rolling his eyes once more as he recomposed himself. "I am sure there is a perfectly logical explanation. Besides, we have bigger problems to worry about right now over my sudden change."

"Like?" Blade asks, doing what he could to give a questioning look to Rage.

"Problems like how Christain got here, or the ramifications of Sonic using that portal randomly until he got here." Rage replied.

"Sonic's behavior sure but with the link between here and Mobius as strong as it is? It shouldn't surprise you that Christain can utilize the link." Blade responds.

Rage sat in silence thinking about the words that Blade had spoken. Finally he nods "I suppose you're right…"

"Rage, my advice; relax for a while. You have no reason to jump from one thing to the next now. I am sure your new friends would enjoy your company as well." Blade states coming to rest next to Rage.

Rage nods as the door knob turns. Blade faded quickly right before Nurse Red Heart walked in. "Alright Rage, you're cleared to go." She says with a smile "Be careful in the future alright?"

Rage got to his feet and shook himself to stretch some of his muscles. They were tight from being in bed for so long. Finally with a full stretch he looked at her and nodded, giving her a silent thank you before he walked out of the room.

Nurse Red Heart led Rage to the front of the hospital. Twilight was waiting for him at the door and she looked a bit distraught as he walked up. "Twilight?" He asks. Twilight said nothing as she turned to walk outside. Rage followed her and his heart raced a bit, worry clouded his mind as he walked out into the evening sunset.

There standing before him was Princess Celestia. Behind her a golden chariot with two pegasi to power it "Princess!" He exclaims as he kneels, bowing his head.

"Rise." She says. "We need to talk." She sits on the chariot and motions for him to join her. A jolt filled Rage with nervousness. He looked at Twilight who just looked back at him.

"You shouldn't keep her waiting…" Twilight says. Rage turned his gaze forward and swallowed a hard gulp of air as he stepped forward and joined Celestia.

"I expect you in Canterlot by morning Twilight." Celestia says before they take off. Rage looked back to see a worried Twilight wave to them.

"Princess-" Rage began to speak as he turned back around and looked at the white alicorn but he was shushed by Celestia.

"We will talk when we arrive." She says sternly not even bothering to look at Rage. The crimson alicorn's eyes looked worried. It didn't take an expert to tell something was bothering Celestia. The ride while in reality short felt like an eternity to Rage with Celestia's stone cold silence. This was far from the Celestia he had come to know. He shuddered at the thought of what she was capable of when upset.

Finally in Canterlot she led him up to the Audience Hall then back to the halls of the upper level of the castle and then to a study, Celestia's study. Somewhere he was told to never go by Twilight. Once inside Celestia shut the door and secured it with magic. "What's going on?" Rage finally speaks.

"I need to know what happened." She says. "Why are you an alicorn?"

"Trust me if I knew I'd tell you!" Rage exclaims. "I woke up like this!"

"I find it hard to believe...a change like that doesn't just happen." Celestia scoffs.

"I'm telling you I don't know!" Rage please. "You know when I changed to my Super form I got those weird wings of energy...I used a similar change to fight Christain, which I am sure Twilight already told you about."

"She did. She also said you had physical wings when you did that..." Celestia states.

"I didn't notice...at the time," Rage sighed. "I was blinded by my own fury...all I could think about was protecting them..."

Celestia looked at the sad look on Rage's face. "When did you find out?" she asks with a sigh.

"Today." Rage stated. "Twilight said I was out for days...out ever since I fought Christain...when did she find out?"

"She knew almost immediately. When she found out she told me." Celestia answers. "I was under the impression you had kept it a secret from us..."

"I would never keep something like that from you Princess." Rage says in an honest tone. "I know it's a lot to take in..."

"It is...and it comes with even more questions. I thought Dranzer had told me everything in regards to your world, your kind. It seems I was mistaken." Celestia shakes her head sitting down.

"I am not sure I understand." Rage spoke in a curious tone. "What do you mean?"

"I told Dranzer that Alicorns are the strongest beings in Equestria...He figured that no Mobian could ever match our power, even among your Chaos Order..." Celestia says "That I'd not have to worry about any rogue Mobians showing up and turning into one."

"Why is it such a big deal?" Rage asks.

"Alicorns..." Celestia spoke as she stood up and pulled out a book that was on top of a pile on the desk. She then opens it and shows it to Rage. In the book was a family tree and some writing. It was written in a form of Equine that he couldn't quite understand. "Alicorns are all tied back to the Royal Family since the days of old." She says "They're not something you just become because you're powerful or so I thought. The you standing here before me is clearly much more powerful than the you I met months ago when you first arrived."

"So...what makes me different?" Rage asks, looking at the book closely before Celestia flipped through some pages and returned to looking at it herself.

"Rage...I know this is weird to ask but does Mobius have any unicorns?" Celestia asks.

Rage raised an eye at the question and tapped his chin. That was a good question. He thought long and hard about it. "Well, there are old legends that a Mobian adorned with a horn once protected a sect of people from an onslaught during The Shadow War. It was one of the few stories that the Chaos Guardians tell honoring those who helped them. Supposedly they were aided by Chaotix, another of our order. Though their name was lost to time."

"Chaotix..." Celestia says with a sigh "I remember meeting him a few times. He spoke to my father while Dranzer was around. He was your leader was he not?"

"I've always known him more as a mentor but I have heard from others about what he was like during that time." Rage nods. "But what does that have to do with anything?"

"It's not something we talk about, in fact what I am about to tell you cannot leave this room, am I clear?" Celestia asks. Rage nods and Celestia opens the book up again. An illustration of what looked to be a pale green Mobian and a small baby along with a shadowed out unicorn was printed. "It was while Dranzer was here, another Mobian found their way here and betrothed a pony. They...had an offspring."

"Okay?" Rage looked weirded out.

"The mare was closely tied to the royal family." Celestia admits "It was seen as treachery and she was stricken from all records as a result of her actions. The Mobian fled back to Mobius with their child." Celestia sighs. "The one place they'd be safe. With my help."

"Why would something like that be so frowned upon? Weren't you in charge back then?" Rage asks concerned. "Has Equestria not always been so peaceful?"

"No." Celestia sighs, shaking her head. "My father was King back then. He was nowhere close to as open minded as I am...things were very different back then. I had to keep Dranzer's own presence a secret in fact...until I took the throne with my sister."

Rage sat there silent trying to put together what had been said. It sounded crazy but deep down there was that little bit of him gnawing at the fact it wasn't so far fetched at the same time. Rage then thought back to the words he shared with Bureinjingukaosu earlier. But the Shadow War was eons ago on Mobius.

"Rage, is it possible they have descendants that tie back to you?" Celestia asks.

"I doubt it." Rage shook his head. "I knew both my mother and father. My mother died in childbirth with my youngest brother and my father has been missing ever since my home was destroyed. For all I know he was among those killed. I am sure there's another explanation."

"So you think it's tied to your powers?" Celestia asks.

"I do." Rage states. "You're right, I am stronger than I was when I first arrived, much stronger. You could tell yourself when I first got here that I was, still am in fact, very new to my powers. I've only had them for maybe ten years at best. Which in hindsight is miniscule compared to the likes of Dranzer and Chaotix who were around for thousands of years."

"Yet you're stronger than both." Celestia points out "How does that happen?"

"It's...a long story..." Rage sighs. "To put it simply, I am a victim of fate...I am still learning a lot about my powers and it seems that I keep growing…maybe that has something to do with it…"

"That's still a stretch..." Celestia says "You and Dranzer said that the form you take here is simply to protect the world order. There's no reason it would change without your normal form changing right?"

Rage stopped to think. She had a valid point. His normal Mobian form was unchanged and this was the first time something like this had happened. "So...you think my family is somehow related to this...bastardized child?" He asks, raising an eye.

"Well when you put it like that..." Celestia says roughly, a bit offended by his crude depiction of it.

"It's a stretch too Princess." Rage sighs "I understand you're worried because the whole Alicorns are royalty thing and honestly it bothers me too. The last thing I want is to be treated as such. So what do you think we should do about this?"

"I am not sure..." Celestia sighs. "I will need to talk with Luna, Cadence and Shining Armor on the matter, see what they think. In the meantime I want you to stay close and...try to not trigger any unwanted reactions."

Rage nods "As you command." He says with a bow of his head. He looked to Celestia after a brief bit of silence. He could tell that their discussion had cleared her mind some but there was something else bugging her. Something much more dire. "Princess, is there something else on your mind?"

Celestia shook her head and looked at Rage as if he had snapped her out of a trance. "Hm? Oh no!" She chuckled. "Sorry, you're free to go. You're welcome to stay in the guest chambers for the time being."

"Alright." Rage bowed his head though his tone showed he didn't quite believe her. He walked to the entrance and looked back at her. Celestia was staring out onto the horizon. Something told him deep down something else was bothering her. "Princess…" he spoke up. She turned her head and looked back at him. "Look, I know it may not be my place but if something is bugging you I am willing to listen."

Celestia looked at him and shook her head with a forced smile. Her glance was fleeting and she quickly returned to looking out of the large wall sized window. She simply smiled but said nothing. She heard the door close behind her and she glanced back. He was gone.

Rage stood outside the door for a moment weighing what she had told him and what all had happened. He tensed his face up and sighed before he walked down the hall. He felt as if everything he knew had been flipped upside down. What was happening to him? To the world around him? He always took solace in the peace of mind he had knowing what was going on around him and not having the need to question things.

Now though? Between Dranzer's journal and his own experiences in Equestria he didn't know what to do. Or what to think even. He walked to the guest room he had been directed to and looked at the balcony. The setting sun basked the room in a warm glow. Rage sat on the floor and looked off into the gardens of the castle that stretched out below.

Frustrated in his confusion Rage let out a shout. His wings extended and he huffed. Then he winced in pain as the muscles in his wings tightened and cramped up. He used his front hoof to bend his right wing back to rest along his side when he heard a whistle.

Rage shot around to the door where Sonic was standing. "Are those new?" Sonic asked, walking up to him.

Rage let a sigh out and nodded as he relaxed. "Yeah…they are." He said with a grunt. "What are you doing here though?"

"One of the guards said you'd be here. I wanted to check on you…see how you're holding up."

"I…I am doing okay." Rage sighed. "I am still coming to terms with a lot but…I'll be alright."

"You're not alone in this Rage." Sonic says "If you ever need a shoulder to lean on you have friends. All you need to do is ask."

Rage looked at Sonic and smiled. "Thanks Sonic…" he said "I… needed to hear that." he then looked back to the early night sky. "Can I...ask you a favor?" he says.

"What is it?" Sonic asks, walking up next to him.

"Tomorrow, can you try and get back over to Mobius? Tikal is supposed to have a book for me, a book from the Chaos Realm that I requested." Rage explained. "I'd go myself but...I am not sure if I am up for it after everything."

"Say no more pal." Sonic smiled, patting Rage's back gently. "I'll get it for you. It's the least I can do."

Rage nodded and smiled. "Thank you...again." the crimson alicorn stretched. "I...could use some rest if you don't mind."

"Alright I'll see you later, Rage." Sonic says walking out of the room. Rage's eyes followed the cobalt hedgehog until he closed the door. Then with a sigh he walked over to the bed and crawled into it. He groaned, his side was still sore, the side he had landed on when Christain launched him. It dulled after a second and he yawned before closing his eyes.