-Maple Forest-

Mistress M stared with maddening glee as the rage energy began taking shape on top of the altar. She slammed her hands together, laughing as a bright light enveloped her.

Meanwhile, approaching from a distance, the group saw the bright, violent red light rise up for a few seconds before fading. This worried them.

"So you think it blew up in her face?" Aero said with a frown.

"Doubtful." spoke Aqua.

"We shouldn't assume," Blaze spoke. "Let's go."

They silently agreed as they jumped and ran through the forest. After a while, they came across a clearing where the trees were uprooted and the terrain torn up. They dropped to the ground, looking around with slight caution. Their eyes landed on the altar where the mad woman in pink stood confidently. They tensed, not only at the sight of the crimson metal gauntlet on her right hand, but at the power radiating from it. The feeling was like it demanded all to give in to their impulses.

The mistress smiled brightly upon seeing them. "Oh! Children! Come, come." She chortled in a tone that sounded crazed.

Blaze let go of the breath he held since he got here. He did not say a word as he marched forward. The others snapped out of the trances and followed him. The fire warrior was mad before, but now felt apprehension. They all did. Lumina felt more afraid, Bolt felt his humor fade, Aqua was not feeling so confident, Frost felt the woman's gaze was familiar with her, and Aero tried not looking into her eyes.

They stopped 12 feet from the altar.

"Come now, don't be afraid." She giggled. "Do you really want to fight me?" She took a step forward, making them jump. "Oh, you are scared? Those long-eared freaks did not prepare you enough? Oh, but you fought my monsters? What's the difference? Maybe I am less savage than my beasts or... you are just kids in a war of attrition. Chaos vs. Order. I know that well." She held up her gauntlet. "This chaotic piece? I'm going to bring order to the world through chaos. My order."

"Why!" Lumina blurted out. "What made you like this?"

"What happened?" Aqua spoke up loudly, but there was a squeak in her voice.

"Huh." She pondered. "Why? Why? Why?" She chuckled. "Rage does not have to be a major thing, but after years of containment, I realized I was childish. I made amends, but I still want the world under me. Why?" She frowned at them. "I wanted that horse!"

All tension seemed to evaporate for a moment as they stared wide-eyed.

"A horse?" Aero sputtered the words. "Just a horse?"

"Yes, I groomed that horse! I nurtured that horse until my parents gave it away!" She growled. "They gave it that blushing bride Mary. I hate that woman. Hate, hate. She just had to get what she wanted. When she took that horse, I vowed revenge! My rage intensified until I came across an eerie piece of stone in the middle of the woods that had this eye on it. There I became who I am.

"Eye?" growled Reinstar.

"Later, concentrate." Pilot ordered

"An eye?" Aqua repeated, now a bit mad at the Mistress's reasoning.

"The eye had a slit with rectangles around it, but that is beside the point. Later, people began to act stupidly by making accusations. I took advantage of that, secretly acquired followers, accumulated their rage, and managed to get Mary killed, all without normal folk thinking it was me." She frowned. "Then, as I was about to summon this, those three Radiant came out of nowhere. We talked and fought before they sealed me because they were old, sentimental idiots past their prime. Now... here we are."

"Yeah." The fire warrior's narrowed his eyes. "Here we are."

"Yes." She smirked. "So, I would like to extend my offer to join me."

"That's a nope." scoffed the lightning warrior while charging up.

"Never." Frost slowly started to regain her bearings.

She sighed. "Fine, the hard way." She laughed while charging her gauntlet. "Let's test this."

"Let's go!" shouted the fire warrior.

Mistress shot two basketball-sized rage spheres from the gauntlet. The teens jumped away before being hit and went in for an attack from all sides. Frost went in first, unleashing her Frozen Wave. The woman in pink giggled as she maneuvered away from the icy mist. However, Aqua came at her with an Aqua Gun, sending a strong stream of water at her while Bolt launched a Lightning Strike. The Mistress formed a club construct with the red gauntlet and swung around in a circle, canceling the adroit.

"I have seen what you can do." she taunted. "Try harder, children!"

"Just shut up!" Aero slammed his arms together, sending his Gust Buster.

The Mistress jumped away quickly to avoid it. Unfortunately, Lumina appeared from the left and struck with Bright Shot. The rage user screamed as she was sent barreling to Blaze, who gathered mana in his fist. She gasped, then held up her fist to block while trying to generate a shield, but the fire warrior leaped in and slammed his fist into her. The resulting attack exploded, sending her flying through the air and into the woods.

The fire warrior hissed and looked at his hand. Rage energy hovered around the hand before it flew to where the mistress was thrown into.

"Damn, that felt wrong."

"That gauntlet," Aero growled. "We need to get it off and break it."

"Err, check to see if she has a rune," Luka growled. "She might not have it."

"But she might," Pilot growled. "Whoever or whatever gave her the power may have informed her."

"We're breaking that gauntlet." Frost scowled. "I got something hard."

"NAUGHTY CHILDREN!"

They froze at the demented voice ringing in their ears, causing them to feel goosebumps all over. They slowly turned to the woman floating toward them while looking enraged.

"You singed me, Jacob." She spoke as her skin turned gray while red lines manifested around her like blood vessels. "But you, sweet Amy." The dress started repairing itself while the color of it was becoming red. "I did not think that about you." Her body grew to that of eight feet. "But, I'm done playing." Her eyes turned crimson. "Submit to me!" She flew forward with the power of rage. Before any of them could react, she slammed into Lumina, knocking her through the air.

"AMY!" Aqua shouted in horror before rushing at her friend, but she froze when the piercing eyes of the mad monster turned to her. The girl was sent flying back by a blast of rage.

"Damn it!" Bolt rushed at her while charging his second adroit, but the woman shot a sphere of rage at him. He yelled as he was sent soaring through the air. The rage monster landed in front of the horrified ice warrior, picked her, and slammed her on the ground before tossing her away. She moved away from Aero's Gust Buster before punching him into a tree. She turned to Blaze before launching at him. He tried to attack, but she grabbed him, dragged him through the air, and slammed him into a boulder, making him yell in pain.

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"Poor boy. Ya know? I'll give you effort for trying, but as long as I have my gauntlet, you can't hurt me. If I had it, those three would be at my mercy."

"D..doubt it." He grunted out.

"No? Why?" Her face looked sincere. "Because they were better? Experienced? Rage is in us. Your crystals can't protect you because you already feel rage. With the gauntlet, I can taste the rage. I can sense it. I can see your history of rage. Come all!"

She raised her gauntlet in the air and sent five streams to the rest of the Radiant. They screamed out as they were pulled toward her. The Mistress released her grip on the fire warrior, allowing her gauntlet's power to entrap him. A flick of her gauntlet, she had them raise the air before slamming them painfully on the ground.

"I'm only offering it to you..." she displayed a sympathetic expression. "More power, an excuse to take vengeance on those who wronged you." She sighed. "I want you all to be my generals for my conquest. After we conquer this city, we will find the other Radiant and convert them. I don't know how many there are, but since Space isn't here, I assume there are more."

She bent down to Blaze, who was struggling under the effect of the power. "Feel it trying to convert you? Hmm, those crystals are not allowing it, but it is up to you." She giggled. "Your mental barriers will give out. Then." She giggled. "Then... let's say I control the city. You will have a sixth of the population under your command."

She conjured a construct of Earth. "Then... you will lead them to a war with each other, a brutal rage-inducing bloodbath. The general who has the most people still alive, we will take them and go on to conquer the world... but that is only a small sample of what I would do. Imagine the billions of people under your command fighting each other."

"You are sick." Lumina cried out. "What's the point?"

"Because the world is already killing itself... why not turn up the pace, then renew it? Come on, those you are angry at will die to that cause." She knelt at Jake. "The rage tells me who you are angry at. Those people who recorded your anguish, think about them. Don't yooouuu want them to suffer?"

"Y-no, no. That's not right."

She smiled. "You slipped; my power is overtaking you." She moved toward Amy. "Bring it out, sweetie. The rage from you and young Robert. He wanted you, you are so pretty that he wanted you to be a trophy to show off. Lily betrayed you; she was your friend. Marissa was the instigator of it all. Wouldn't you want them to suffer?"

"S-stop." She whimpered. "Stop."

She moved to Bolt. "Ryu, a workaholic father. He pays more attention to the dollars. Plus, what happened at school? I can feel the rage from this Issac. He was the one who tried to break your friendship and hates that someone annoying and stupid still has friends."

"Nuh-uh." He grunted. "N-not giving in."

She turned to Aqua. "Christina, I know you are angry about the world, but you are also angry at... Robert, Marissa, and Lily. I have their rage. I can sense it from them, from you. They ridiculed Amy... oh and losing the debate contest because they were more compelled by the person arguing in favor of more oil and less alternatives. Oh, you are mad at the friendship lost with another friend who moved away. We'll find her, too."

"Sh-shut up." She whined against the rage

She turned to Aero. "Injustice in the world, yes. However, your cousin is horrid, lying to you and blaming you for everything that happened to him. You are angry at yourself because you believed it was your fault, but you are angry at him for being toxic. Breaking the family up. Poor child, things happen. Do you want him to suffer?"

"G-get away." He growled while resisting.

She turned to Frost. "And my delicious girl. Oh, I should've gotten you before this. But alas, you became the Ice Radiant." She cupped the girl's chin. "Rita despises you still for petty reasons while the others fear her or dislike you. You could get revenge on her by becoming my top enforcer. I'll be a mother guiding her daughter. How does that sound?"

"P-please, no." She cried.

"Huh, too bad." The mistress stood up. "I can feel the freaks out there, their rage. They won't last long, either. A shame they are betting on you, but you are just too... fragile. Children. Sweet, sweet little ones. I win; I'm the Mistress. There is nothing you can do." She chortled. "My reign is happening!"

Blaze growled. He felt his fire crystal fighting, but his mind was losing it. This power... this rage. This was too much. Were the crystals wrong? It was all too enticing to eliminate them. With the power, he could get revenge on her, then his ex-friend, then Robert. They will know the Mist-."

"GET UP!"

"Huh." He opened his eyes wide at the sound of the familiar voice.

"PLEASE! PLEASE! GET UP!" He heard the crying from the Hub. "Jake, don't fail, please."

"Tina?"

The Mistress raised a brow. "Hmm?

"Don't give up."

"Sorry, but."

"NO! NO!" She cried out. "You promised, you all promised. Remember what dad said? Endure until the end. You did not give up that soccer game then, and you and the team celebrated. I know this isn't like that, but that feeling might be similar, right? Jake, who cares about those jerks? They don't know you, and they don't deserve you. They are nothing to take revenge over. You are an overprotective blockhead."

"Yeah." He chuckled.

"Amy, come on! So what about that stupid guy and those fake friends? You are so nice. You are trying to be upbeat despite how everyone else treats you. You're stronger than them."

"Th-thank you." Lumina smiled.

"Ryu, you joke around and act like an idiot, but you are smarter than you look. You can be annoying at times, but when I need a pick me up, I can come to you."

"Man, bring on the positive."

Mistress sighed. "Is someone talking to you? Go ahead with your last moments."

"Christina, normally I don't like people like you, but you at least don't push your beliefs down my throat. You are headstrong. If you and Diana can repair that friendship, then it can be done. Please don't beat yourself up over it. The world is bad, but you are badder."

"Ha," She smirked. "Thanks."

"Tanya, you know yourself, you are you. You are a queen. Who cares about that witch? You own it no matter what. I know you were different, but you changed for the better. We all love you."

"Tinaaaa." She cried. "You are making me blush."

"Sam, I know things with your cousin did not work out, but it is not you. It was him. He is not someone to worry over. I have seen your videos. You are cool, sarcastic, and can be laid back yet passionate when it is important. The countdown hasn't started, so you need to go in for a knockout!"

"Sister, you are cool too.",

"Pilot, Reinstar, Javo, Luka. You are all brave, strong, noble, and a bunch of hard butts."

"I think she's referring to you Pilot." chuckled Reinstar.

"Tina," grunted Pilot "Listen, head to Galvania."

"No!" She shouted. "I'm not leaving! They need to hear it. They did not train to quit and fight monsters to lose. So what if she tricked us? She sold her heart a long time ago for power, but you still have your hearts."

The Mistress raised a brow, feeling a mental shift from the kids. "Huh?"

"The crystals chose you? No, you chose them. You are Radiant, you are warriors, and you are also human. However, each of you hates that someone is trying to destroy who you are and force you into her bidding."

"I am no one's pack mule." Frost narrowed her eyes.

"Yeah, she wants you to kill and maim under her authority. That is not your choice."

"Yeah." Lumina agreed.

"Jake, Amy, Ryu, Christina, Tanya, Sam, be hardheaded, find resolve and kick her ass."

The fire warrior growled as he raised his head, then slammed it on the ground. The action caused confusion to the Mistress. "Yeah." growled the fire warrior.

"I didn't mean like that."

"Yeah, well." He closed his eyes. "I need something hard to bring me back." Within the darkness of his being, the fire crystal was shining while the rage energy tried to fight it. "Being under her control while everyone else suffers, while my family has to suffer because I gave into my rage." As if reacting to his speech, the fire crystal started shining brighter as the chaotic power was pushed away. "I deny you Mistre-.. no Margaret!"

"You dare not address me as your mistress?" Her smile lowered further

"Yes." He opened his eyes, revealing his eyes had changed to the color of his element. "I dare!" Fire burst from his body, canceling the rage energy holding him down. He stood up while a red outline of an aura coated him.

"I don't want people to die for you." Lumina closed her eyes. "I won't be afraid of you, I won't give in." Her crystal shined brighter than before. "I will never be controlled by you." Her eyes opened, showing radiating orange. "I deny you, Margaret." Her body exploded in orange light, removing the mist. She stood up while coated in an orange aura as she stared at the evil woman.

Bolt closed his eyes, his crystal copying the others. "No more playing around; I'm not allowing you to move in and act as some creepy overbearing mother. You don't tell me what to do." Lighting roared as it removed the rage. He stood up, coated in a yellow aura, while his newly yellow eyes glared on. "I deny you, Margaret."

Closing her eyes, Aqua felt her crystal radiating as it mimicked the others. "I won't forgo my beliefs to serve you, nor will I give into anger. Rage is a terrible feeling." Water roared out, diminishing the rage energy. Her body was coated in a blue aura as she stood up, her new blue eyes zeroing in on the mistress. "I deny you, Margaret."

Frost closed her eyes, her crystal mimicking the others. "Never, ever think I will join you for whatever reason. You have no authority over me, you harlot. I will continue to love myself." The red mist vanished as ice flew out of her. Her body was coated in a white aura as she stood up. Her white eyes glared at the evil being. "I deny you, Margaret."

"Crazy spoiled brat." With his eyes closed, Aero began to concentrate. His crystal was doing the same thing. "All this because your horse was given away. People like you let the littlest things rub you wrong, but I'm not letting you get your way." Wind exploded from him as he stood up with a gray aura. His newly gray eyes glared at her. "I deny you, Margaret."