Red burst through the broken front door of the Dealer residence. Glass crunched under his feet as he entered the darkened house where curtains fluttered like ghosts through shattered windows.

"Mrs. Dealer!" His shout echoed through empty rooms. Nothing but silence answered back.

Inside the hospital across town, Angelo's hands gripped his chair until his knuckles went white. Through their shared connection, he felt every moment of Red's growing panic.

Blue's calm voice cut through their mental link. "We need to approach this systematically. Red, use Angelo's Aura Area – spread it through the house like mist. We'll find her faster that way."

Red nodded, pushing aside his fear as he released clouds of crimson energy that flowed like colored fog through every room and corner. Soon the whole house glowed with a soft red light, revealing nothing but abandoned rooms and scattered belongings.

"She's not here," Red said, his voice hollow as he stood in the middle of the living room where they'd shared dinner just days ago. Back at the hospital, Angelo stared blankly ahead, barely noticing Sleeser's concerned glances.

"The most logical explanation is that she evacuated to a shelter," Blue reasoned, his analytical tone helping keep them grounded. "There's likely one nearby."

Red ran outside, scanning the street with his energy vision. A patch of ground lit up brighter than its surroundings, like a beacon calling to him. "Wait – there's something here. Temporary matter...?"

Smoky tendrils shot from his body, solidifying into strong energy ropes that wrapped around the glowing section of earth. With a grunt of effort, Red heaved the cover aside, revealing a tunnel stretching into darkness.

He fired two blasts of energy down the passage – one hit a dead end, but the other traveled deeper. Red took off running in that direction, following the tunnel as it sloped downward. Soon he heard murmuring voices ahead, and rounded a corner to find himself in an underground shelter lit by electric lanterns.

Two Auron guards spun to face him, their orange and yellow auras flaring defensively despite the fear in their eyes.

"I-identify yourself!" stammered the female guard, her voice shaking.

Red ignored them completely, rising on his tiptoes to scan the crowded room beyond. His panic rising as he searched the faces.

The male guard's face flushed red. "Hey! She asked you a question!"

"Shut up before I snap your fucking neck!" Red snarled, energy wings materializing, startling them as he launched himself up for a better view. "MRS. DEALER! ARE YOU HERE?"

"Angelo?" A familiar voice called from the back of the room. Red's non-existent heart leaped as he spotted her.

"Mrs. Dealer!" He landed in front of her just as she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. Miles away, Angelo finally let out the breath he'd been holding, slumping in his chair with relief.

"Oh thank goodness you're alive!" Miriam's voice was thick with emotion. Then she pulled back, studying his face. "Wait – Red? Is that you?" Her eyes widened with recognition. "Then Blue must be alright too?"

Red blinked in surprise – she could tell them apart? "I... yeah, we're fine. If Angelo's alive, we're okay too. But are you hurt? What happened?"

"We're safe," she assured him, gesturing to the two Aurons who were approaching cautiously. "When we heard about the attack, these earth Aurons created this shelter for everyone."

"You know him?" the female guard asked Miriam warily.

"Oh yes," Miriam's voice warmed with motherly affection that made Red shift uncomfortably. "He's family."

"Well maybe teach him some manners!" the male guard huffed. "He threatened to break my neck!"

"Red!" Miriam's voice carried the special kind of disappointment that only mothers can manage. Even miles away, Angelo winced at her tone. "That is completely unacceptable! Apologize right now."

"This should be entertaining," Blue's scholarly voice carried barely contained amusement through their mental link.

Red's face twisted as his tough-guy act crumbled under Miriam's disappointment. "But- but they were in my way! I was worried!"

"That's no excuse for rudeness. You could have simply explained you were looking for me." Miriam crossed her arms, fixing him with a look that brooked no arguments. "Apologize."

Red looked like he'd rather fight an army than say the words, but Miriam's stern gaze broke through his last defenses. "I'm... sorry," he managed through clenched teeth.

The guards exchanged glances before walking away with dignified huffs.

"Fascinating," Blue's mental voice dripped satisfaction. "It seems even chaos incarnate can be tamed by maternal authority."

"Shut the fuck up, blueberry!" Red growled internally, but there was no real bite to his words. The relief of finding Miriam safe had drained all his anger, leaving only exasperation – and maybe, though he'd never admit it, a tiny bit of shame at disappointing her.

Miriam's hands twisted together as she looked up at Red. "What's happening out there? Is it really over?"

Red shifted his weight, suddenly feeling the weight of everything he'd seen. "Yeah, we drove them away..." He remembered Sleeser's grim face at the hospital and added quietly, "For now."

"For now?" The hope in her voice made his next words even harder.

"Someone we know in the military says Luminia might go to war with Infernia over this." The words felt like stones dropping into still water, each one creating ripples of worry across Miriam's face.

"Goodness..." She pressed a hand to her chest, then straightened with motherly authority. "We should check the news. But first - Red, would you be a dear and let everyone know it's safe to leave?"

"Sure, of course," Red agreed without thinking. He'd barely finished speaking when Blue's scholarly voice cut through their mental link: "Oh? Will this be another theatrical performance? Starting with 'Ladies and Gentlemen' perhaps?"

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"Shut it," Red snapped internally before launching himself up with glowing energy wings. Tendrils of crimson light spread around him like a spider's web, drawing everyone's attention. "Hey. Coast is clear – get up and go home." he called out with obvious laziness.

Blue's disapproval rippled through their connection. "Really? That's the best you can manage?"

"I swear I'll snap YOUR neck instead!" Red's patience has reached its limits.

The crowd filtered out, thanking the earth Aurons as they left. Soon only Red and Miriam stood in front of her damaged house. She turned to him with gentle concern. "Won't you come inside?"

Red took a step back, his usual confidence cracking slightly. "I should really get back – they'll be worried. Need to tell them you're okay."

"Liar!" Angelo's accusation rang through their shared mind. "We already know she's fine. What's wrong, Red? Lost your edge?"

"You want some too?!" Red shot back mentally before speaking to Miriam in a softer voice. "I'll catch the news at the hospital. Oh, and don't worry if Angelo doesn't answer messages – he left his phone in Ashford."

"That was YOUR fault!" Angelo's protest echoed in their head.

Miriam's face fell as reality hit her – if Red was heading to the hospital, that meant Angelo was hurt. "Tell him... tell him to rest and get better. And that I'm worried." She wrapped her arms around herself. "Ask him to visit when he can?"

Red nodded quickly, not trusting himself to look at her sad expression. "We'll definitely visit once he's better. Can't wait to try your amazing cooking again!" The comment drew a small laugh from her that made something in Red's chest feel lighter, even though his chest didn't have anything in it really.

"Take care now!" she called as his energy wings spread wide. He gave a final wave before shooting into the darkening sky.

"Man, that was rough," Red thought to himself as he soared between buildings.

"You mean pathetic," Blue's scholarly correction was immediate.

"Agreed," Angelo chimed in.

"Get out of my head, you parasites!" Red shook his head like he could physically dislodge their voices.

"Hey, you're the parasite here, parasite," Angelo shot back with obvious satisfaction. "Now you know how I feel!"

Red's form suddenly rippled like a disturbed reflection, transforming into crimson smoke. "Whoa, what the—" Surprise colored his voice. "Think I'm out of juice. Haven't run dry like this in forever – usually someone has to break me first."

"That's what happens when you stay out too long," Angelo thought back with satisfaction as Red's essence drifted toward the hospital like a lazy cloud.

Back in the treatment room, Angelo felt much better after the nurse had given him some clear medicine that looked like water but made his pain fade away like magic. He noticed Sleeser approaching, his mentor's footsteps hesitant as he glanced around the room.

Through the hospital window, Sleeser could see smoke still rising from damaged buildings in the distance. The silence felt heavy after so much violence. Finally he turned to Angelo. "Feeling better?"

When Angelo didn't respond right away, he added softly, "Listen kid, I know I was harsh earlier. But I'm trying to protect you, even if you can't see it right now."

Angelo turned away with a dismissive "Hmph," though his fingers kept worrying at his bandages.

Sleeser ran a hand through his spiky hair, trying to find familiar ground between them. "So what's your plan now?"

After a short pause he finally opened his mouth, "Every door I try seems locked," Angelo admitted, slumping in his chair as a nurse hurried past their room. "I'll figure something out though. Can't just sit still – there are too many questions I need answered."

Exhausted medical staff walked past their room, their quiet conversations a reminder of how many people had been hurt today. Sleeser pushed the thought aside, focusing on his student. "Will you stay with the police?"

Angelo's gaze drifted to where emergency vehicles still lined the streets below. "Maybe. Depends what I find..." His expression suddenly shifted. "Wait, that gives me an idea. But I'll need my phone first." He stood up, adjusting his torn clothes. "Guess I'm flying back to Ashford to get it."

"And Neiva," Blue reminded him with the patience of a tired teacher.

"Oh right – and Neiva too."

Sleeser's eyebrows shot up, latching onto this distraction from darker thoughts. "Hold on – you can fly now? Since when?"

"Those terrorists attacked while I was in Ashford investigating." Angelo's jaw tightened at the memory. "Would've taken forever to get back on foot, so I figured out how to use my forged energy for wings. Had to learn fast."

"Forged energy?" The strange term caught Sleeser's interest.

"Wait, you don't know about it?" Angelo straightened in surprise.

"How would I? You never tell your old master anything anymore." Hurt crept into Sleeser's voice.

"Like you told me about your powers?" Angelo shot back. "You didn't even mention you'd evolved!"

Sleeser sighed, shoulders dropping. "I call it 'Energy Merge.' It lets me combine my energy with objects, just temporarily."

"So you create energy to merge with things?"

"Not exactly." Sleeser spread his hands like he was holding something invisible. "Everything – you, me, this chair – it's all made of energy deep down. I can merge myself with one object at a time. Like mixing paint colors – if I merge with a rock, I become part earth Auron on top of my normal powers."

Angelo sat up straighter, momentarily forgetting his troubles. "That's- that's like having dual auras. Only one's replaceable!"

Blue materialized, scholarly excitement overtaking his usual caution. "Fascinating. What happens with evolved elements?"

"Good question as always, Blue." Sleeser touched the pendant at his throat, its crystals catching the dim afternoon light. "But I can only use the basic form. These crystals were made by evolved Aurons – ones who can turn their power into physical manifestation."

Angelo's eyes glowed orange as he studied the pendant. It hummed with contained power, like a battery ready to spark.

"So those are like my forged energy..." He muttered, recognizing the similarity.

"I've got crystallized fire and lightning, ice that won't melt," Sleeser pointed to each in turn. "The pretty rock's just something I found, and the frame is gold. Can't make new crystals myself, but I can control whatever they're made from."

"But how do you only merge with one crystal?" Blue leaned forward, distracted from worrying about the city's troubles.

"Ah, wasn't clear before – I merge once at a time, but with everything I'm touching. So when I fight, I merge with the whole pendant."

Blue's eyes widened. "Then you could control all those elements at once?"

"Yup." Sleeser managed a real smile. "Still missing wind, darkness, and light crystals. Someday I'll find evolved Aurons willing to share."

Angelo nearly fell out of his chair. "That's... that's incredible!"

"Hey, yours lets you fly – let's hear about that." Sleeser nodded for him to continue, grateful for this moment of normal teacher-student exchange.

"Compared to his, ours sucks!" Red's honesty echoed through their shared mind.

Angelo shifted uncomfortably. "Well, I can sort of... make energy solid? Forge it into energy constructs – that's why I call it Forged Energy. Want a crystal for your collection?"

"Thanks, but I'm good." Sleeser chuckled. "Still don't see how that lets you fly. I can make ice and gold things, but that doesn't get me airborne."

"I'll show you on the way to Ashford," Angelo offered. "Made the trip in thirty minutes earlier."

"Sure you don't want to stay for the news first? They'll probably announce some important things." Sleeser's tone carried weight.

Angelo glanced at the deepening shadows outside. "I'll catch up in Ashford. Need to check on Neiva before dark."

They headed outside where the evening air still carried hints of smoke. Angelo's orange aura flickered to life, but he paused. "Actually, you first. You evolved ages ago and never showed me – you owe me a demonstration."

Sleeser's chuckle sounded almost normal. "Fine, fine." His evolved aura erupted like a contained sunrise. His whole body began to glow as the pendant melted away, leaving a tattoo of light on his chest.

"Happy now?"

"No way – show me what it can do!"

Sighing dramatically, Sleeser called on his power. Lightning danced around him while rocks spun through the air. Fire blazed in one hand as water flowed around him like ribbons in wind.

"Wow," Angelo and Red breathed together, momentarily forgetting everything else.

The display vanished as Sleeser powered down, wincing slightly. "Oof. Still need more rest, I guess."

"...I'll surpass you one day, Master." Angelo's quiet words made Sleeser look up sharply, seeing determination burning through his student's exhaustion.

Orange energy blazed around Angelo as wings of solid light spread from his shoulders. Looking toward the darkening sky where smoke still drifted, he whispered, "I'm not bound by my limits anymore."

Eight tiny jets ignited, launching him upward like a rocket, leaving orange trail behind him. Sleeser watched him go, pride wrestling with worry in his expression.

"Aim for the sun, Angelo," he murmured, though his student was already too high to hear. "Leave the darkness behind and soar as high as you can..."