Disclaimer: The Power Rangers belong to people who aren't me.
Note: My first attempt at Ranger-related fiction, containing characters from different versions of the show, not just Rangers, but supporting characters as well. Here's hoping.
Beginnings
It'd been two weeks since they had arrived to wherever they had arrived to. The sky still shone with the harsh red light that had greeted each day. The nights seemed to get colder though. They had started out a 32 strangers all pulled into a world none of them had understood. Now there were only five. Many had died in a gruesome attack from things beyond description; some seemed to just disappear in the night.
They had all looked up to Trini to lead them after discovering her identity as a former Power Ranger, and she had failed them all. Yet the few remaining still hoped she would protect them, and she had sworn to herself that she would do that. That no more would die as far as she was concerned.
It had been her idea that the five survivors follow a stream of fresh water they had come upon and had continue following it, in hopes of finding some sign of life aside from the fish they fed themselves and the odd looking creatures that seemed to pay them no mind.
"I'm cold," a young girl, probably 6 or 7 sat next to Trini.
"I know Hannah," Trini tried to comfort the young girl.
Hannah had been one of youngest of the group that had arrived on this world, a young girl with pale skin and golden blonde hair. She had arrived alone; neither of her parents to be found anywhere, so Trini told her that she would keep her safe. Over the past weeks she had accepted that she wouldn't find her parents anywhere, and could only be thankful that they had not been pulled into what she could only relate to as Hell.
"Is it me or does it seem that it gets colder every night," a young black man in his twenties said as he tried to wrap himself tighter in his jacket. His name was Harris Martin, a former college student from his hometown.
"I would kill for a fire," a middle aged firefighter from New York, named Thomas Glenn, said as he tried to get comfortable against an odd looking tree.
"You know we can't do that, we don't want those things to find us again," the final survivor, a woman from the town of Reefside, said as she moved nearer to Trini and Hannah. Her name was Hayley Zictor, former colleague of Tommy Oliver, one of the Rangers that had served alongside Trini in their high school days.
The five slept the rest of the night in an uncomfortable sleep, but a much needed sleep. The day had seen them walk many miles and the next day they would walk many more, of course not one of them knew exactly where they would end up. Each just hoped for the best, but after the long weeks they expected the worst. Of course they really had no choice other than to keep moving, to remain sedentary too long would be a guaranteed death. Of course they weren't certain that wasn't their fate either.
The following day began with the familiar rising of the red sun as the small band of survivors took up for yet another day of seeming less endless walking. As the day progressed the slight river seemed to widen and the flat lands began to rise into low ridgelines, and the further in they went the low ridgelines turned into rising valley walls.
"I don't think it's a good idea to be so exposed between the high grounds," Harris said as he looked towards either side of the river.
"You're right, we should find a way to cover ourselves," Trini replied.
"There," Hayley pointed towards a nearby tree line.
"Let's head over there," Trini motioned for the others to follow.
Throughout the day the sky had grown progressively darker, and the clouds thicker. As night drew on, a light rain started to fall. The tree cover provided a bit of a ceiling, but as the rain fell harder it would soon soak the small group of people.
A rock overhang presented itself as a makeshift shelter for the night, and a means to try and remain mostly out of the rain. Hannah was the first under to keep her dry, being the youngest of the group she was the most prone to getting sick. It would be another uncomfortable night, but hopefully a dry-ish one.
The following morning showed no sign of improvement, and it was decided that it would be safer for the party to remain under cover. Trini had decided to move up the ridge further to see if there was a chance that they could find a more suitable shelter, such as a cave. A cave would be drier and have a better chance of allowing a fire to be built. Her search turned out to be far shorter than she had imagined, within two hours time she had discovered the remnants of an old trail that lead towards what appeared to be a dug out cave. Quickly returning to the ground she gathered the few survivors and led them towards the trail.
"This cave doesn't look natural, it looks like it was dug out by someone or something," Thomas pointed out.
"Whatever did this, it seems it hasn't been in here in a long time, so I guess it's okay for us to squat here," Hayley examined the cavern, pointing out that it was far deeper than they had initially imagined. It was decided that they'd not travel deeper than necessary, they were still unsure of this world they were in. When the rain ended they would continue their trek up river.
(Deep in the caverns)
A female figure cloaked herself in the shadows. Once upon a time she had been the Queen of the Vampires, but that was another life. She had been destroyed, allowed to live her life as a human, or so it seemed. The truth was she was never one and the same, human and Vampire were two entities that existed in one body, after her human side had reemerged her Vampire side was banished to this place, though she remembered everything up until the separation. The Rangers, her daughter, the Master's defeat, also all the harm she had done herself. The evil that still stained her soul disgusted her, and she knew that she could never be rid of it, and here she would be forced to face this past alone. She was Necrolai.
"That sound? Someone is in my cave, but how?" Necrolai could smell blood on the air, human blood, a smell she could never forget. "There are no humans in this world, but I know that smell, it is unique. Is it happening now? I must examine this further."
The caverns were dank and lonely, but it seemed that someone else had discovered her dwellings. Necrolai took to shadows and made her way rapidly up the familiar route of the ancient cave. The smell of blood grew stronger as she approached the trespassers.
(The cavern opening)
"Trini? Trini!?! No, don't leave me alone!!!" Hannah's voice echoed loudly.
"It's okay Hannah, I'm here, it was just a bad dream," Trini woke the sleeping child, pulling her close.
"Oh God, it was horrible, everyone was dead, it was like the others, except now I was alone," Hannah's words forced through the sobs, "I don't wanna be alone."
"It's okay, I told you I wasn't going to leave you alone," Trini tried to speak calmly, "None of us will leave you."
"Umm, Trini, I don't think we're alone," Hayley approached Trini, speaking softly into her ear.
Trini asked Harris to watch over Hannah until she got back to sleep, so she could go see what it was Hayley was talking about. Harris complied, as Trini walked off with the red-haired woman.
"What's goin on?" Trini followed Hayley a little way further into the cavern.
"There's something down there," Hayley spoke softly.
Both women listened intently into the darkness, at first hearing nothing. A slight echo then sounded, as if a small rock had been knocked free.
"You're right, though, let's not tell the others just yet, it may only be a rat or something, but just to be safe keep an ear out," Trini turned to make her way back towards Hannah, as Hayley stood listening, not traveling too far from the small fire that they had built near the opening.
Hayley didn't hear another sound, but decided to keep aware, just in case, Trini would switch out with her in a bit.
"You? You're human," a slight voice came from the darkness.
"Yes, who are you? What are you?" Hayley asked questionably as she began to back away, about to call for Trini.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you, but if you would feel safer you can call your friend," the voice spoke again.
"I think that would be a good idea. You, you just wait right there," Hayley backed away and swiftly went after Trini, having to wake her.
The two women made there way back to where Hayley had been at, remaining in the dim light for the fire. The voice had remained silent until they had returned.
"I am Necrolai, I am from your world," the voice spoke.
"Then why don't you show yourself if you're a human," Trini asked the voice.
"I'm not human," the voice, Necrolai answered.
"Then what…" Before Trini could finish her question, Necrolai stepped slightly into the light.
"You're a Vampire," Hayley responded when she saw the form of the winged-ear woman.
Trini immediately went into a defensive stance, as if expecting the creature to attack that instant. Though Necrolai did no such thing, she merely bowed her head in the Asian woman's direction.
"I'm not going to harm you," Necrolai said as she kept her head bowed.
"But don't you like drink human blood?" Hayley moved behind Trini.
"I have, but not in years. I've lived here alone since I was banished from my human self, feeding of rodents' blood," Necrolai responded.
Both Trini and Hayley stood uneasy, though Trini relaxed her stance a bit. They were standing face to face with a Vampire form Earth, a Vampire who claimed to mean no harm to the humans.
"So Necrolai…what is this place?" Hayley asked the Vampire.
"The Daemon's World, a world of demons and monsters, of the Lost Ones, a world where no humans have ever existed, until now," Necrolai continued speaking softly.
"How did we get here?" Trini moved towards Necrolai.
"I…I have no idea. Something is happening in the Daemon's Underworld, something that has caused a rift in the very existence of this planet. I do not think you will be the last to arrive here."
"How do you know this?" Hayley was curious.
"I have a link to the Dark Powers, I can sense things are coming, and I do not think this planet can survive, not without your help," Necrolai spoke directly to the Trini it seemed.
"A lot of good we can do. We don't know where here is, or how we got here, not to mention that, oh yeah, most of us didn't even make it this far," Trini replied, the pitch of her voice changing.
Necrolai remained silent for a moment before speaking again, "There is a road underneath the mountains that leads to the Foils, a group of human-like creatures, you'll find shelter, food, and security there, and maybe learn a bit more about why you're here, or how you got here."
"Why are you helping us?" Hayley asked.
"Because it's the least I can do, perhaps if I help you I can begin to seek redemption," Necrolai answered, "I can lead you there if you wish."
Trini and Hayley were both hesitant to accept the offer of the Vampire, though if she was trying to kill them she could've done so already. Regardless, a potential chance of safety from following the creature was about as good as a chance from their endless trek along the river.
"The further you go up river, the more likely your chance of danger, I have been here for a very long time, and I know what lies ahead. In your current states you would barely last another week, the choice though is yours. If you choose to follow me, meet me here tomorrow, if you do not I'll assume you went on your own way. Sleep on it humans, I will see you again, and if I don't, good luck," Necrolai's voice seemed to get further away.
Trini and Hayley looked to one another, neither sure what to do, they would talk to the others tomorrow, but until then Trini agreed to replace Hayley as their guard, and told Hayley to get some sleep. Neither woman though was very sleepy and ended up sitting together for the rest of the night, discussing their options.
The next morning Hayley and Trini were still awake, the others slowly began to awaken, first Thomas, then Harris and lastly Hannah, who had slept through the rest of the night in relative peace. Trini notified them that they should stay another day to rest, no one seemed to argue, Harris and Thomas went to gather some pseudo dry wood to rebuild the fire, Trini and Hayley took Hannah down to the river to try and catch a few fish, though Trini was the only one who was a fairly decent spear-fisher, Hayley was learning, but still not great, Hannah on the other hand just remained on the shore, watching.
The day itself showed only light rain, and by the afternoon the red sun was shining. For the most part the 5 survivors relaxed the best they could, Trini and Hayley were able to get a little sleep to make up for their all nighter.
That night Hayley and Trini both stood apart from the others as they slept, awaiting the return of Necrolai. Necrolai returned at a similar time that she had the night before, remaining in the shadows.
"So, where's this road?" Hayley jumped right to the question, skipping the formalities.
"Further into the cavern, you'll never find it alone, without light," Necrolai answered.
"But you, you can see in the dark can't you," Trini could see where her help could be useful, "provided you don't get hungry and decide to feed on the innocent humans who can't see in the dark."
"Are you willing to take that risk?" Necrolai drew close to Trini, exposing the pitch black face and devastating upper and lower canine fangs.
Trini didn't flinch.
"Well then, we should leave in the morning. Until then," Necrolai vanished back into the darkness.
TBC