"Jungle beast, spirit unleashed!" Casey and Dominic yelled. Instantly, the Rhino Ranger and the Red Ranger joined the Yellow, Blue and Wolf Ranger in the alley.
"Sorry we were late. Dom had to finish his pizza," Casey explained.
"No biggie. We almost got killed but it's not that big a deal. Now let's do this." RJ laughed.
Casey strode forward a few paces and pointed his finger at the monster facing them. This guy was tough. He was a new Overlord, one they didn't even know by name. But he was evil through and through - probably even worse than Grizzaka. "You've just entered your worst nightmare, buddy!" Casey yelled.
"Oh, yeah? I think that we are in your nightmare, Red Ranger." the Overlord chuckled.
The other four Rangers stepped up beside Casey. Casey looked at his teammates. "Ready, guys?" he paused and then screamed to the heavens, "With the Strength of the Tiger, Jungle Fury Red Ranger!" Instantly his teammates took up the cause. "With the Speed of the Cheetah, Jungle Fury Yellow Ranger! With the Stealth of the Jaguar, Jungle Fury Blue Ranger! With the Courage of the Wolf, Jungle Fury Wolf Ranger! With the Power of the Rhino, Jungle Fury Rhino Ranger!"
The Overlord snapped his fingers and a horde of Rinshi appeared all around him. Suddenly, all the Rinshi and the Overlord charged forward. The Rangers charged forward as well, each wielding their weapons. Dominic and Casey somersaulted over the heads of the Rinshi and started circling the Overlord. Lily flung her Jungle Mace into the horde of Rinshi and started taking them out one by one. RJ punched and kicked his enemies until they were falling all around him. Theo's Jungle Fan sliced into one Rinshi after another.
Casey pulled out the Shark Sabers and ducked under the Overlord's arm. He slashed in at the monster's stomach, but his other arm came around and grabbed the Sabers. With a sharp tug, the Overlord yanked the Sabers from Casey and threw them away from him. At the same time, his other arm slammed down on Casey's back, the blade on his forearm slicing into the Ranger's back.
Casey screamed and dropped to the ground. Dominic whirled in with his Rhino Blade and drew the attention of the Overlord while Casey crawled away. Casey dropped to the ground a few feet away, gasping for breath and feeling as if his back was on fire.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, four monsters flew out of the dark corners of the alley, so quickly that none of the Rangers spotted them. All they knew was that one second they were fighting for their lives and the next they were each being held by seven-foot monsters with curved horns and wings. Casey found himself being dragged off the ground and captured by the Overlord, his arms pinioned behind his back and one of the Overlord's hands clamped around his neck.
Lily struggled against the vice-like grip of the creature holding her. Theo stomped on the foot of the monster holding him but to no avail. Dominic tried to get his rhino blade into the monster but it was just ripped from him and thrown away. RJ just stood there, thinking that sooner or later they'd be able to get the drop on these creatures and get away.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, came Dai Shi. He laughed as he approached and made a quick chopping motion with his hands. Instantly, swords appeared in each of the monster's hands and were pressed to the throats of the Rangers.
Dom was struggling against the creature holding him. "Let me go! Let us all go!"
Dai Shi laughed. "Oh, I will, Rhino Ranger. I will let you all go – if the Red Ranger volunteers to stay in your place."
Lily shouted. "No! Casey, don't do it!"
Casey didn't speak. Theo was jerking his arms, trying to get them free but it wasn't working. Dai Shi stood there, looking at the struggling Rangers.
"What are you going to do to me if I surrender?" Casey finally asked quietly.
Theo blinked. "What? Casey, you can't be serious! You're not going to do this!"
Dai Shi laughed again. "I think you should be more concerned with what will happen if you don't surrender." He pointed to the beast holding Lily.
The beast chortled. "This is going to be fun." He raised his sword and, in one quick motion, sliced it down her arm. Lily screamed; the blade went deep, her suit wasn't able to deflect all of its effect.
"Lily!" Casey shouted, trying to get away from the Overlord. He cried out in pain and shock when the Overlord twisted his arms up behind them, wrenching them farther behind his back than they were ever meant to go.
Dai Shi stepped up to Casey and grabbed his chin in his right hand. Casey jerked his head left and right, attempting to free his face. Didn't work. Dai Shi reached up and tapped the point on Casey's helmet that would make him power down. Seconds later, the young man stood there, pinned in the Overlord's grasp, wearing not his Ranger suit but his blue jeans and red jacket. His eyes darted from one of his friends to the next.
When Dai Shi spoke, his voice was laced with satisfaction. "If you don't come with me, I will order my monsters to separate your friends' heads from their bodies. And you will have been the one who could have saved them. All you must do is come with me. They will be let go."
Dominic swore. "Bad idea, Case. There's no telling what will happen to you. We'll take our chances." Lily nodded and Theo agreed, "Yeah, Casey. Don't do it."
But Casey's eyes were determined. "I have to, guys. I won't trade your lives for mine." His eyes swiveled this way and that, looking for each of his comrades. He rested his gaze on Theo, the Jaguar Ranger. Theo held his stare for a moment and then the blue Ranger looked away. His gaze rested on Dominic, the Rhino Ranger. Dom smiled sadly; he knew that they couldn't expect Casey to do anything other than what he was doing now. RJ was next; his Master nodded slowly, proud of his student and knowing that Casey was making the choice of a leader. Finally, Casey's gaze landed on Lily, the Cheetah Ranger. Lily, the one who had always protected Casey. And Casey would do anything to save her and to deserve that protection. Casey flashed her an overly cocky grin. And then he turned back to face Dai Shi.
"Let them go. They go first and I will go with you willingly. But only if you release them first and they leave. And I won't go with you quietly until RJ calls me and tells me they're back at JKP. Or I'll kill myself before I go with you. Understood?" Casey glared at Dai Shi.
"Deal." Dai Shi made another motion to his monsters – but froze and fixed his stare back on Casey. "But if any of your friends try to save you instead of leaving, I'll have your neck snapped in an instant."
He finished his hand motion and RJ, Dominic, Lily and Theo were released. Dom took a step towards Dai Shi, his Rhino Blade raised. Casey yelled, "No, Dom! Dom, no!"
Dominic stopped and looked at Casey. He nodded and backed off. Casey continued, "Go back to JKP. And hurry. Please."
Theo was the first to turn and run off, followed by Dom and RJ. Lily stared at Casey for a minute and then, before Casey could say anything, she demorphed and smiled sadly. "Whatever happens, Casey, I'll never forget you. I'll do everything I can to free you. I pro-"
But before she could finish her sentence, Dai Shi took a step towards her. "Get out of here, Yellow Ranger. Or I'll kill the Tiger Ranger where he stands."
Lily backed up a pace and then turned and fled the same way the other three had gone. The next few minutes were tense before Casey's sunglasses beeped. Since they were still on his face, he didn't have to pull them out. But, his hands were still behind his back, making him unable to answer the call.
Dai Shi stepped up to Casey and tapped his glasses. RJ's voice came from the glasses. "We're back at JKP, Casey…good luck."
And with that, Dai Shi hauled back his fist and slammed it forward into Casey's unprotected face. The Red Ranger's head snapped sideways and his Solar Morpher flew off, landing in the grass a few feet away. Dai Shi's monsters disappeared and a few seconds later, the Overlord swooped Casey into his arms and disappeared with him. Dai Shi looked around, laughed evilly and disappeared after them.
Author's Note: I hope you like this one-I'm pretty fond of the idea! Please, read and review!