Everyone drew out their weapons faster than they ever had. Then, sounds of Lunaranites screaming and yelling the name "Duke" flew through the room. The yells got louder and louder as the Lunaranites started to get closer and closer. Twenty roaring Lunaranite dragons barged into the Battle Room, their spears drawn. They came in like a flock of birds, and the pre-heroes prepared to face them as another threat. Dreadixz flew into the room, his large wings towering over everyone else. Then, he landed gracefully right in front of Ella. He transformed into human form and drew his long sword. Slowly, he started to approach her and everyone else. "Brave children, that's what I like about you kids..."
They started to back up as the Lunaranite soldiers surrounded Duke in a circle-like pattern. Olsen and Archie looked around frantically as energy started to crawl up their bodies.
Everyone was doomed. Olsen and Archie were surrounded by Lunaranites, with a new villain—or perhaps an unknown hero—while everyone else faced Dreadixz. Duke clenched his fists with a frown. "Why won't you guys leave me ALONE?!" Fiery neon green energy burst from Duke, creating a shockwave that shook the room and sent Lunaranites spiraling through the air.
Neon energy formed in his hands like black and green flames, and one of his eyes flared and flickered in neon green. His neon heart became more visible as the Lunaranite soldiers transformed into their human forms, their spears drawn. His heart beat quickly, rapidly. More energy surged into his hands. He screamed triumphantly as the energy surrounded him like flames, completely taking over his body. "COME ON!!!" he yelled, clenching his fists at the Lunaranites.
The Lunaranites ran toward him with expert speed. That's when he attacked. He punched one in the gut, spun around, and uppercut another into the air. Two rushed at him, but he leaped, spinning into a hurricane kick that struck both. Landing, he teleported right in front of one and flash-kicked them into the air. More Lunaranites charged. He locked onto them. He threw two punches at one and air-flared to another. Jumping, he zipped through each enemy like a neon trail. He backhanded one in the face, swept another into the air, and punched their gut so hard they were sent flying out of the castle. He struck one's chin and backhanded another. Left hooks. Right hooks. He aerial kicked one into the air and unleashed a flurry of punches at another, as fast as a bullet. Sidestepping, he dashed toward an enemy and drop-kicked them.
Then, he spun and fired neon blasts in every direction. He punched one and kneed another. He swiped one's face and backhanded them at the same time. Spinning in the air, he delivered a devastating Taekwondo side kick. Landing, he turned and backhanded another enemy, then uppercut the one behind him into the sky. Then, they started piling onto Duke. Neon energy exploded from him, and he teleported around the Lunaranites—kicking, punching, beating them to a pulp. He grabbed one's head and slammed them into another, then high-kicked another.
He seized one by the leg, spinning them around and slamming them into the others. Throwing them into the air, he unleashed a barrage of punches like bullets before super-uppercutting them into the sky. He cocked his head at one enemy and instantly right-hooked them into the ground. He hurled another into the air and launched himself after them, neon energy trailing behind him. Charging his arms with neon energy, he unleashed a storm of blasts at the soldiers. Explosions and shockwaves rocked the entire castle. He landed with such force that an enormous shockwave nearly killed everyone. The soldiers were shot into the air, and Duke glared at them.
He teleported through them, striking from behind and in front. Destruction followed as he boosted through each enemy mid-air, flash-kicking, drop-kicking, and firing lasers from his eyes.
Then, he launched himself high into the sky, leaving behind a massive neon explosion and shockwave. As he descended, his fists clenched and his teeth gritted. Air pressure formed around his fists, neon energy intensifying. Then, he punched the ground so hard that a devastating shockwave erupted, completely blowing up the entire room in a blinding white explosion.
The light was so intense that everyone was nearly blinded. As the dust settled and smoke rose from the ground, Olsen lay on the battlefield, groaning in pain. He shook his head.
One by one, the others followed, turning their gazes toward Duke. The Lunaranite soldiers lay dead on the ground, some with spears stabbed through their chests. Duke's radiating heart beat slowly.
Then, he stared at the five. Eli glared at Duke, raising an eyebrow that said, He's an enemy for sure.
Archie lit his fists on fire, then he glared at the guy. "We can't trust him. If he's been in prison like this... no wonder the Lunaranites see him as a threat."
"He also doesn't have any beast characteristics!" Ella added.
Archie adjusted his phoenix helmet. "Alright, now let's get this party start—"
Duke teleported right in front of Archie and struck his gut so hard that it created an explosion and sent Archie flying through the air at quick speeds, crashing through the throne. The others turned to the throne, looking at Archie in complete shock.
They all jumped into battle, and this was a bad idea.
Ella tried to slash him with her daggers, but he grabbed them and swiftly left-hooked her to the right, which sent her flying and tumbling on her back. Olsen charged towards him with his hammer out, and he swung it rapidly a couple of times. Duke started to dodge the hammer a lot, then Prince was already right behind him to land a punch on his back.
But then, in a flash, Duke teleported out of nowhere.
Then Prince accidentally punched Olsen so hard that he created a huge electrical explosion across the room that sent him flying and crashing through the walls. Then Duke teleported right behind Prince to grab his wings and launch himself into the air. He spun Prince around a couple of times and hurled him.
Prince crashed through the roof, and Archie started to fire explosions at Duke.
Duke teleported through them and started to jump through them as well. He teleported right in front of Archie in a flash, and he aerial-kicked him so hard that he got launched to the corner of the room. Then Duke teleported right behind Archie in the air, grabbed his fiery wings, and teleported back to the ground only to spin him around and completely smash him onto the ground, creating a huge blinding white explosion across the room again.
Archie got up, staggering, but he didn't back down.
He fired his most powerful explosion yet, which definitely completely dominated the entire room. The explosion engulfed the place, blowing up everything piece by piece.
But then Duke was already in the air with a huge neon energy ball right above him. He held it with one hand as black and green neon energy crackled through his arms. He twirled to mock him, and then he hurled the ball toward Archie and Eli.
The ball made contact with the ground, and then it collided with the air pressure only so that it could explode in a blinding white aura and turn into a huge explosion and blinding shockwave. The shockwave of air pressure and energy cut through and split through the entire room like a knife, sending fragments of the room flying and scattering everywhere like bees.
Then, for the finishing blow, Duke teleported right in front of Archie through the blinding light, looking like a complete blurry shadow. He screamed with victory filled in his voice, and his neon arms charged up even more like flames. He looked like a silhouette through the whiteness, and he socked the living feathers out of Archie, creating another huge blinding explosion and shockwave.
Archie tumbled through the ground at light speed, and he crashed through the wall, shaking the place.
He looked down at Olsen, who was bloodied.
"The name's Duke..."
He slowly walked away as the dust settled and the smoke filled the air of the room.
As he was about to fly into the air, Olsen yelled weakly.
"WAIT!"
He got up, blood pouring from his skin, barely standing on his legs.
Duke stopped for a moment, then he lit his fists in neon green and black flames. He scowled at Olsen. "Why do you want me to waste my time? I've got other important things to do than just fight you guys the entire time if you're going to be relentless."
Olsen smirked, then he took out the silver Power Gem they found back at prison. Duke clenched his fists, and he narrowed his eyes at him. Neon energy started to form on his fists, then Olsen shouted, "NOT TODAY!"
Wasting no time, he charged towards Duke and tackled him in the air, only for them to crash through the walls of the Battle Room, which sent them flying into the air 1,000 ft from the ground. They descended through the air, still holding onto each other. Olsen was on top of Duke while Duke was below Olsen. Olsen rapidly threw punches at Duke's face, and Duke fought back by trying to kick Olsen off of him. Olsen struck Duke's face once again, and then Duke shook it off. Black and green patterned jets started to appear on his back. There were thrusters on his legs while wings transformed from his back. Duke activated them, and the both of them were flying through the air with green energy trails following behind.
The velocity was way too much, and Olsen held onto Duke's shoulders in order not to fall off. Duke twirled around mid-air, and then they both crashed through a tower from the castle. Rocks and debris were sent scattering away as Olsen tried to get a hold of Duke. That was until a huge silver blaster started to form on Duke's right arm, connected to the metallic armor. Olsen moved to the side as Duke already started blasting. Green energy bullets were spiraling and flying through the air as Duke missed Olsen, who moved from side to side.
As Olsen violently moved, he tried to grab Duke's gun and morphed his hand into an earthy hammer only to smash him down to the ground. Duke countered as he used his jets to launch himself back up into the air. Olsen held onto his legs to make sure he didn't fall, then Duke started to twirl around while shooting energy bullets at him with the cannon. The bullets missed Olsen as Duke twirled around, then Olsen smashed his hammer onto his leg. Duke moved to the side and then instantly dove down to the ground at maximum velocity. Olsen felt the wind go through his body as they descended to the ground at even faster speeds.
They both struck the ground as they rolled across the dim and jagged rocky valley. Olsen rolled and got up to his position, a hammer made out of rock forming on his arm. As Duke finally got up, Olsen spun around and smashed his hammer at his face. Sparks flew, and there was a scratch on Duke's helmet. Then Olsen rushed toward him, slamming his hammer onto Duke's face again and again and again. He smashed Duke's chest with the hammer, and then he screamed as he twirled and struck his head again. Duke staggered back, then Olsen left-hooked his face which sent Duke spiraling to the right. Then as Duke moved, Olsen whacked his face once again with the hammer so hard that it glued onto Duke's head and launched him to the left at rapid speeds.
Duke landed on the ground, rolling and tumbling on his back, only to crash through a large jagged black rock. Olsen bolted for him as dark green earth energy formed, then Duke had enough. He instantly got up and started to fire at Olsen with his cannon.
"NICE TRY!" Olsen yelled as jagged earth armor started to surround his body. It completely took over, then when the bullets hit, they did no damage because Olsen deflected them. Olsen then grabbed Duke's cannon and slammed him onto the ground. Duke struggled to get up as Olsen kept him down, then Duke created a sword with his other arm and slashed Olsen's chest so hard that he got thrown off. He sprawled onto the rock-solid ground, then Duke got up, holding onto his arm.
"Now's the time for you to experience REAL POWER!" Duke's armor started to transform into something bigger, something more menacing. He leaped into the air in one place as his wings started to become large and his thrusters started to become even stronger. Cybernetic rocket shoes started to form on his legs, and they actually acted like rockets. He shouted as he ordered the robotic body, "MISSILES! NOW!"
Missiles ejected from Duke's chest as almost ten of them started spiraling toward Olsen at max speeds. Olsen dashed toward the missiles and smashed every single one of them with his hammer. Every missile exploded and completely got busted after Olsen destroyed them. Then he leaped into the air like a superhero, with his hammer out, ready to strike Duke's head with it.
But then Duke grabbed his hammer in the air and swung him around to slam him onto a nearby tree with such force. The tree snapped in half as Olsen crashed through it, feeling the pain pulse through his body. He tumbled onto the ground sideways, then got up with his hammer still out. But then Duke backhanded his body so hard that Olsen got flung to the side. Olsen smashed through a large jagged rock, breaking his armor, then Duke fired missiles at Olsen to create a devastating explosion that sent rocks spiraling and scattering everywhere.
He landed onto the ground on his back, and pain started to run through his spine. Duke started marching toward Olsen, and Olsen got up while gritting his teeth as blood crept from his forehead. He was surrounded by red and orange flames, almost covering the entire ground around him. Flames flickered and crackled as Duke marched even closer, a long and large silver cannon transforming from his arm. Olsen held onto his arm and tried to get up, but he was too beaten to even try.
Duke fired an energy bullet from the cannon at Olsen, and it hit him, creating a huge neon green explosion that knocked Olsen back. He grabbed Olsen and slammed him down onto the ground, earth rocks sent flying into the air. He spun around and slammed Olsen onto another tree, grasping him in his hand. Then he smashed Olsen onto a rock while firing an energy bullet that exploded, creating insane damage. Olsen was on the ground, feeling the tickle on his skin. His eyes were half-open, and he was on his back, bloodied.
What's worse, the Intelligence Gem fell out of his pockets. It sat there, its silver light glowing and radiating. The energy pulsed in Duke's cannon, and he aimed right at Olsen. He grabbed Olsen's body, with missiles on his back ready to fire.
"What Earthnite could do such damage to an Unknown? This one, of course... but for now, I guess there wouldn't be any Earthnite to do such damage..." He held Olsen up into the air, gripping onto his neck.
Olsen looked down at him weakly. "What are you? What tribe are you even from?"
"I'm from no tribe... I'm just here because I'm here. Or maybe, I could be something else from a distant universe... I guess we would never know," he explained darkly. He looked down, and he took the Power Gem. He smirked at Olsen.
"You left a little shiny gift for me? How sweet," he let go of Olsen, dropping him onto the ground. "I guess I'll be gone. For now..."
Then that was until missiles were heard from the distance. Duke slowly turned to face the sky, then he realized that he messed up. Fiery missiles were being sent flying toward him at maximum speeds, and they hit the ground, creating an explosion all at once. The explosion sent Olsen flying and completely engulfed the area. It was so big that some of the trees were blown off. Duke swiped the flames away, and he looked back up into the air, only to see Prince and Archie, both in their beast forms, flying toward him.
Duke fired energy bullets at them, but Archie swiftly moved to the side and darted toward him. He quickly transformed into his beast form, falling toward Duke only to strike his face with a flaming punch. Duke staggered back as Prince transformed as well and landed right in front of him. Ella, in her large Desert Cat form, joined in as Eli transformed into his Wyvern form.
Duke smiled. "Okay, so we got company here now... MISSILES ASSEMBLE!"
The missiles shot out from his back once again, 12 of them flying toward the three. The missiles landed on the ground, resulting in a thunderous explosion across the place. Prince leaped into the air toward Duke, but Duke grabbed his leg and slammed him onto the ground. Ella started charging for him, but Duke started firing at her, which sent her back. Archie sprinted and swept right behind Duke, then released a fiery explosion that shot Duke into the air like crazy.
Duke crashed through a tree, and then Archie flashed toward him, firing a huge burst of flame which uppercutted him into the air. Duke ascended, and then Eli swooped in to slam him back down onto the ground. Duke landed on the ground, tumbling back and rolling as purple dust started to fly through the air in the night sky.
Duke got back to his position and skidded back, then Olsen started to twirl around and smashed his face so hard with the hammer that it sent pieces of metal flying from the helmet. Duke backed away from Olsen, shaking his head from the pain. It felt like he got hit by some sort of iron soccer ball in the head, which made him feel dizzy. He still had the Power Gem in his hand, and then he looked around frantically. He growled at everybody as they started to surround him.
"Well, this is surprising... I wonder how you kids managed to pull that off," Duke scorned. Then in a split second, Demaurion, as a deep blue Leviathan Dragon, instantly came out of nowhere to bite Duke's cannon and slam it onto the ground, snapping it in half. Sparks and jolts of electricity flew out of the machine, and in the machine, cords were sparking completely.
Duke yelled in fury, "GET OFF!" He backhanded Demaurion as his heart started to become visible and pulse with black and green neon energy. Demaurion sprawled onto the ground, and then Duke took off while creating a shockwave from his thrusters, spiraling into the air.
"He took the Power Gem!" Ella exclaimed while morphing back into her base form.
Olsen stepped up, and stared into the dark clouds, "I know the Power Gems..."
Don was on the ground. He was in a dim lit cave that looked really dark, it was like nothing could be seen. Water droplets dripped from the top, and they landed onto the ground with a droop. Don slowly got up, and he shook his head. He looked at his surroundings, realizing that not only he was alone, he was in some sort of cave.
There were cobwebs hanging, and bugs were moving around and chittering randomly on the floor. He heard nothing but those sounds. Bugs, water, air. Bugs, water, air. The cave was dark, and he already assumed that it was night.
He couldn't find the exit or entrance of the cave anywhere, he was just in the middle of it. Where has Don been sent to by Krane? Why was he sent? Since Celestianites are good at finding their way out, Don just used his scent to find the exit.
He walked through the cave slowly, and he couldn't just stop thinking about what he had done. Surely he has been taken over by Scourge Don, he wouldn't feel guilty, but he thought and thought and thought and thought, about his friends. Scourge Don shook it off, and he went on with the journey.
He has two Power Gems on him, the Passion Gem, and the Incarceration Gem. He knew that if he was going to take over Celestia, he'd have to find all of the Power Gems. Meaning that if he sees someone holding a gem in their hand, he's going to take it.
He hasn't changed that much as Scourge Don. He was still the same, but something was creeping up on him. Power, he thought. He thought about Power, where he was, and wondered about Incarceration for a while.
He probably left for other plans, but Don doesn't understand why.
Though he left to get to the Rufty Mountains, he heard their entire argument. Now he was thinking that Power was the bad guy, instead of Incarceration.
He wasn't able to remember the fact that he got manipulated into this form, which is why he thinks Incarceration is the villain instead of him. But he thought to himself, "Is this worth it? Should I really be doing this?"
He tried to brush it off but it never left his mind whatsoever.
But he forgot one thing, free will. Don lost his free will. Meaning that he's not able to do the things normal Don would do, he's only able to do the things that Scourge Don would do.
Yes he wanted to come back to the crew, yes he wanted to forgive his friends, yes he wanted to become KX, the next hero.... but instead this form took all of that away from him. He was forced to say "no" to the group after their last encounter, he wanted to forgive them and come back, but his form wouldn't let him.
He's crying on the inside, crying that he wouldn't go back to normal, crying that he lost himself and has become someone else entirely.
He thought, and he thought, and he thought. HE couldn't go back, what's the point? He's fully become a bad guy. He apologized to Ella and all of his friends about the CL War because he didn't want to be seen as the enemy.
He said he never wanted to be the enemy, but instead after losing free-will, he breaks that promise. He said he'd never betray his friends, nor trade them for anything. He promised not to work for the evil, but only work for the good, yet he's right here working for the evil. He questions himself again and again, but he's still seen as the enemy. Questions were being thrown into his mind, "Why did I use the gem?!"
"Why did I betray them?!" "Why can't I go back?!" "Why can't I be myself again?!" It's always why why why why why! His heart broke, literally... The crying soul of the old Don was inside of Scourge Don, tearing up and breaking apart.... He was slowly fading away from his body, and he was completely gone like dust moving in a desert storm. Scourge Don didn't care, but the real Don inside cared a lot. Then someone called out to him, "Do you need help?"