Chapter 9: Training

With the awkward moment all finished up Ace returns to The Court of Friendship as Rage arrives. "Oh good I was hoping to find you here Ace." The crimson hedgehog says

"Why is that?" Ace asks

"Well you see I need your help." Rage responds

"Go on," Ace encourages

"I need you to train me how to use some of your lost arts." Rage says

"But why?" Ace asks "they are lost arts for a reason Rage I am not going to just teach anyone this."

"Ace, I understand that but you need to trust me when I give you my reason." Rage replies crossing his arms

"It had better be a good one." Ace sighs

"Okay look both you and I have fought Nazo correct?" Rage asks and Ace nods

"Yeah but what does that have to do with anything?" Ace asks Rage

"Well I was doing some research in The Guardians Archives up in The Chaos Realm and I discovered something quite startling about Nazo's imprisonment and yours." Rage says

"Are you saying you know something that I was part of and I don't?!" Ace growls angered at the red hedgehog's statement

"Well only because it was discovered after Nazo was woken up and you were still sleeping." Rage says

"What do you mean?" Ace asks confused

"Well believe it or not according to Chaotix's letters between him and Mobius' Gods Nazo has gained tremendous power since he was reborn within the Darkness upon his release." Rage says

"Your point?" Ace asks

"I do not think you will be able to take him out alone this time… especially given the fact he has aligned himself with The Dark Legion, Darkness will back up his pals even if they do not want him to and believe me when I say you are no match for the both of them together. I have fought them both before and I know this much… we are no match for the both of them alone that is why I need your help… in turn I can teach you some things as well." Rage explains his reasoning to the Chaos Beast who nods

"Well in light of that information it would only make sense… but where shell we do such a thing?" Ace asks

"Leave that to me." Rage says as an aura emits from his right hand and the two are transported to a circular platform with a picture of Rage in what looked like stain glass. The picture of Rage was from the left side with his Blade of Chaos in his right hand and he looked to be sleeping. Just above his swords tip was the symbols for The Elements Of Harmony and above that a white star like shape with a small black fire like design behind it as if it was trying to consume it. Above that was a pure white fire design. The background was two shades of gray devided evenly by a wavy line one lighter the other darker. Around the edges were seven pillars that looked identical to the ones from The Palace of Friendship(Think of it's as Sora's Station of Awakening from Kingdom Hearts II's Roxas V.S. Sora cutscene or boss fight if you've played the Final Mix)

"What is this place?" Ace asks

"This is a room within the Chaos Temple… my room." Rage says "Every Guardian upon their awakening as The Chaos Guardian is given one. It starts with just them in the same way I am. And more is added to tell their story. For example, the white fire shows my level of chaos energy. It is white meaning the strongest there can be… the logos by my blade show my quests within the world of Equestria and the star with the fire above them represents me… Rage Chaotic the Hedgehog, The Light in The Darkness. The background shows my personal choice as Guardian to balance light and darkness… all of them tell stories all end differently."

"So is it safe to train here? Ace asks

"Of course this is where Chaotix and….Dex taught me." Rage sighs at the mention of Dex's name

"Something wrong with Dex?" Ace asks

"He was my main mentor and now… he is one with the darkness." Rage sighs "But enough of that let's get down to business shell we?"

"Right," Ace says "So for starts I will show you the Chaos Oblivion since you have seen it already. Are there any targets?"

"Hold up." Rage says snapping and then a being of white appears. It held a sword like Rage and it's bright blue eyes were locked on at Ace.

"What kind of target is that?" Ace asks

"I'd attack it quick." Rage says as the thing leaps for Ace with it's sword

"fine… Chaos Oblivion!" Ace yells as the creature was surrounded with a dome of chaos spears which then they began to launch at it one by one until they were all gone and the creature vanishes in a flash of light "What was that?"

"A Lingering Light." Rage says "They were developed by the Chaos Guardians as light generated comrades to combat Dark Spawns. That one is known as a Bladedancer the type I command."

"You mean there are multiple kinds?" Ace asks

"Like Dark Spawns there are many types of Lingering Light's" Rage says "But let's save that for another time."

"Right now to perform a Chaos Oblivion focus your Chaos Energy in surrounding your enemy with Chaos Spears." Ace explains "Try it."

"alright" Rage says as he summons another Lingering Light and focuses then throwing his hands up he yells "Chaos Oblivion!" and the creature suffered the same fate as the last one. "Well that was easy enough what's next?" Rage asks

"The Chaos Bang." Ace says "to perform it you mix Chaos Spear and Chaos Blasé like so," Ace then shoots his left hand out and throws a Chaos Spear which then blows up on impact with one of the pillars.

"Okay that I can do no sweat." Rage says trying it himself and smiling

"Now the next one is the Chaos Flash which is like your Chaos Beam only thing is it disintegrates. Just imaging the particles left over when casting a Chaos Beam and the Chaos Flash will take its stead." Ace says demonstrating which fails as both he and Rage launch one at the same time. "You are a fast learner Rage." Ace comments

"Yeah I know." Rage chuckles

"The other one is a more powerful version of it called Chaos Cannon but I will not show it because it takes all of our energy up to use it and we will need all the power we can get right now." Ace says

"Alright." Rage says with a nod "Thanks, now it's my turn."

"Well surprise me." Ace smirks

"Watch this," Rage chuckles as his hands glow "Chaos Vortex!" he yells and a funnel of light is formed around him making a whirlwind sucking in Lingering Lights as they spawned and making them explode into light fragments. "To do that just take the Chaos energy around you and swirl it like a tornado." Rage says as it dies down "Just like making a normal one but with Chaos Power."

"That is awesome." Ace says before he yawns "Let's call it for the day I am wiped. Before we go is it possible I could see some of the other Chaos Guardians Domains?"

"Well…" Rage says thinking "normally it would be no, but seeing as you are a Chaos Beast I can make an exception." he says as a door appears out of a flash of light and Rage leads him to a room with Dex shrouded in black and his eyes glowing red. The background was a dark and creepy land scape with tendril like plants behind him. "This is Dex's Chamber…"

"What is wrong with it?" Ace asks

"Nothing… this is what happens to the Chambers of the Guardians consumed by Darkness." Rage sighs "He was one of the best they had too…"

"How do you know who was and was not consumed by Darkness?" Ace asks ever more curious to the mysterious temple. He is then lead to a hall of white but in some places a dark purple flowed in the walls, floor and roof by doors like energy would.

"All the doors marked in purple are ones who fell to The Darkness…" Rage sighs "So many…"

"And the red ones?" Ace asks

"Dead… the yellow are those on The Council…" Rage responds

"And this one lonely white one?" Ace asks

"Mine." Rage says as they walk to the portal back to Equestria. "Maybe sometime later you can meet Chaotix."

"Maybe…" Ace says

EQUESTRIA: PONYVILLE

Rage and Ace reappear from their training trip by Sugar Cube Corner where Fluttershy was galloping down the road with a distressed look on her face. "Ace, Rage!" she says

"What's wrong Fluttershy?" Rage asks

"It's Twilight… she was… taken!" Fluttershy pants "Into… The Everfree Forest."

"What?" Ace yells "I have to save her!" he grunts running off to The Everfree Forest.

"Ace!" Rage yells "Wait up!" Rage starts to run but Fluttershy grabs him

"Rage please take me with you." She begs "I want to help to."

"Alright I will stay with you." Rage says as the two head for the forest together.

(With Ace)

Ace was following the trail of dark energy when he soon catches Darkness with Twilight on his shoulders. Ace leaps in the air and kicks him down before catching the unconscious alicorn and with Chaos Control sends her home. Darkness gets up with a growl of anger "Who did that?" he asks looking at Ace "Oh Nazo's pitiful brother Ace."

"I am guessing you are Darkness." Ace says getting in a battle stance

"You plan to fight me? Like your weakling brother who thought he could waltz in all high headed?" Darkness chuckles "get real."

"What did you say about Nazo?" Ace growls

"you still care for him even after he has forgotten about you? Heck I bet he'd rather kill you now."

"SHUT UP!" Yells Ace as a shroud of Darkness begins forming "YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MY BROTHER!"

"Heh your angered self is more pitiful then he was… no wonder he was easy to kill." Darkness Chuckles licking what appeared to be blood from his claw

"WHAT?!" Ace screams as the aura now shrouds him

Meanwhile with Rage and Fluttershy who were about to enter the Everfee Forest until Chip showed up "Rage!" he says

"What's up Chip?" Rage asks

"Let me come with you on your adventures please." Chip asks

"Fine… come on!" Rage says "I am in a hurry!"

"Yippee!" Chip cheers flying after Rage and Fluttershy

Back with Darkness and Ace the field of energy was gone from Ace and he had a new look… his quills and his spines were flowing with power much like the pattern Celestia and Luna's did. To add to that were fangs along with red streaks on all the quills, fangs and spines. Around him flowed a dark purple chaos aura as he looked at Darkness before leaping at him and clawing him with claws of dark energy.

"You are going to die for what you said!" he says in a demonic voice as he goes for another attack but Darkness counters it with a burst of wind. This made Ace howl in anger which rumbled the trees.

Not very far away was Rage, Chip and Fluttershy who head the howl and stopped with surprised looks on their faces.

"What was that?" Chip asks his teeth chattering

"I don't want to know…" Fluttershy says leaping behind a rock. As for Rage the only thing that happens is his Blade of Chaos appears in his hand and he looks in the direction of the sound.

"It sounded like a battle cry I bet Ace needs help." Rage says before running down the path cutting away undergrowth until he reaches the clearing where Ace and Darkness were fighting. "The hell…" Rage says under his breath looking at Ace in shock, "Is that what the books mentioned as the Chaotic Hell form?" he asks himself when a voice echoes in his head

"Young Guardian can you hear me?" It asks and Rage looks around

"Yeah, who are you?" he asks into the air

"I am one of the other Chaos Beasts one who was taken by the greed of the negative energy listen Guardian, that is a Chaotic Hell form and if Ace sees you he will just attack you! Only a miracle will make him come to his senses it is best you run away NOW!" the voice says fading at the end

"No can do…" Rage says as he sees Darkness get up slowly from another combo "I have to save him somehow."

"Why don't you quit?" Ace growls

"I have had enough of this foolishness… Dark Spawns you know what to do!" Darkness says as dark Spawns appear and Darkness disappears. Ace howls in anger again but then some of Rage's Bladedancers defeat the dark spawns before disappearing.

Rage then comes out of the bush and Ace leaps at him. But Rage who had faster reflexes and just faster in general dodges the attack "Ace you need to calm down!" Rage yells

"Shut it!" he yells leaping at Rage again who this time leaps over Ace.

"Ace it's me Rage come on man!" the crimson hedgehog begs trying to get his friend to come to his senses and change back. But Ace once again leaps and Rage does a backflip avoiding the attack leaving the two glaring at each other.

"That's not going to work Rage." A voice comes out of nowhere as Nazo appears from a portal of energy and both Rage and Ace look at him

"Nazo what are you doing here?" Rage asks

"For once not trying to kill you." Nazo smirks

"What is that supposed to mean?" Rage asks as Ace's dark energy begins to diminish slowly but he looked to be struggling

"Come on put the pieces together!" Nazo says annoyed "I was the one who told you about that Chaotic Hell form!" Nazo yells "I am the only surviving Chaos Beast besides him! Who else would have been able to tell you that?!"

"But why Nazo?" Rage asks confused "Why would you help me?"

"Because Ace is mine to kill and I want him normal not like that." Nazo says before Darkness appears and grabs him taking him back to the Dark World.

Rage then looks at Ace who was passed out back to normal as Chip and Fluttershy enter the clearing. "Oh my! Is Ace okay?" Fluttershy asks

"Yeah." Rage replies "He just needs some time to rest and somepony to care for him."

"I will take care of him." Fluttershy says "Can you take him back to my cottage with me Rage?" she asks

"Sure thing." Rage says picking Ace up and they leave the Everfree Forest and return to Fluttershy's small cottage where Rage laid Ace down on the small couch where Fluttershy pointed. "If you need anything Fluttershy give me a call." Rage says as he and Chip leave Fluttershy to care for Ace "And please tell me when he wakes up." Rage says before closing the door to the cottage and walking down the path with Chip floating next to him.

"So now what are going to do Rage?" Chip asks "Go take a nap?"

"A nap does not sound like a bad idea right about now actually Chip." Rage smiles as he slowly morphs to his Alicorn form surprising Chip

"Whoa…" Chip says in awe "That's new!"

"Yeah… I know." Rage smirks before flying off to the home he and Rainbow Dash shared, the two head up to the bedroom and after Rage made a small bed for Chip the two fell asleep.

There's Chapter 9 with 2,666 words of story (not including this end Authors note)! Now I would like to send a big shout out to sonic3461 who has been giving ideas along with his character Ace. As a result I am officially stating that sonic3461 is a co-author for Harmonic Chaos Chronicles 14!