Disclaimer: While I don't own the overall concept of Power Rangers, Zords, and all else that goes with it, I, along with the friends that are involved with the story, do own Power Rangers Literati itself and its own componants. If you haven't read any PRL yet... You're hopeless, I wash my hands of you.

Power Rangers Literati
"Glory Unseen"
'Part One, Strength Now Failing'
By J.T. Magnus, "Turbo"

Amanda sat perched on the counter, a compact mirror in one hand, tapping the fingers of the other against the counter. In itself, this is not an odd sight for a bored storeclerk to be doing. However, the fact that with each tap of her fingers, Amanda's hair changed colors made it an odd sight.

"No," she said before tapping again, "No."

"Yes," she exclaimed, finally getting the color she wanted.

Jessica, the other employee on duty behind the counter looked at her and groaned, "Do you mind? I'm supposed to be the firey redhead around here."

Pushing her long now-reddish-magenta hair back behind her head, Amanda muttered, "I had hopes that you'd vex J.T., not team up with him to torment me."

Jessica laughed, "We're partners, remember? Working together is what we do."

Amanda said slyly, "Justin said you and J.T. stayed the night at the Command Center the other day."

"I slept, he watched and slept nearby, nothing happened."

"You know," the wiccan replied, "In some cultures that's a prelude to marriage."

Rolling back her shoulders, Jessica hmphed in response, "Look who's talking."

Amanda laughed, "You're right. God, you're right... What are we gonna do with those two?"

"Marry them?"

"That one's kinda obvious."

"Oh well, then I guess there's not really much we can do," Jessica shrugged.

"Are we having one of those 'girl talk'-connection moments?" Amanda asked, almost horrified.

"Oh, no," Jessica shook her head, "No way are we having one of those."

"Thank the high and holy Twin Sons of Lord Elrond."

"Uh, yeah, I guess..."

A silence settled over the two girls as they went back to their own seperate ways to pass time, not tense or comfortable, just silence. Until the six notes they had come to know so well broke it, at least. Glancing around to make sure that no one was in the store, they bowed their heads over the communicator on Jessica's wrist.

"Yeah?"

"We might need your help, there's a small army of Pinchers, Hardshells... and a new monster, some kind of spider, like that one from a while back... they're all gathered in the middle of town."

"All of that," Amanda noted, frowning, "And you just 'might' need our help?"

"That's the thing," J.T.'s voice came back, "They're just... standing there."

"It's a trap, isn't it?" Jessica said more than asked, already knowing what the answer would be.

"Did people once think Charley Pride was white?" The country-music loving J.T. answered.

"Huh?" Amanda said, knowing what he was talking about, but caught off guard by the comment nonetheless.

"Yes," Jessica translated for the other female Literati Ranger.

"We're gonna walk into it anyway, aren't we?"

"Yep," came the reply to Amanda's question.

"Are you on the... Blues or whatever it is, again?" Amanda grumbled, "Because you sure sound like it."

"The Jazz, Amanda," J.T. corrected, "And what's wrong with being on the Jazz?"

"Besides the fact that you get into major trouble and end up dragging us along with you? Nothing."

"You know," Jessica said, "Christy was right, you two do act like you're related."

"Jessica, you know I love you, but if you ever say that again, I'm gonna make you eat your own cooking."

"Oh, be quiet," She exclaimed.

"As much as I hate to interrupt the flirt-fest," Amanda said sarcastically, "We kinda need to morph and get into town, remember?"

"Isn't that Justin's line?"

"Alright," the already-morphed J.T. said, standing in front of the other three Literati Rangers present, "Do any of you have at least a double-digit I.Q.?"

When one of the Hardshells swung its claw and sent him tumbling backwards into the others, he muttered, "Guess not. Fight?"

Daniel shrugged as he, Justin and Yolanda helped the Black Ranger to his feet, "Fight."

"Maybe we can reason with them?"

The others looked at Yolanda in disbelief for a moment before J.T. spoke.

"Pink, you picked a bad time to try and show a sense of humor."

Nothing more was said, for then the battle was joined. Not by Literati Rangers alone, but also by members of the Scenic City Police Department, using nightsticks, pepper spray, fists and even guns alongside the swords, daggers and axe of the Rangers against the monsters that were now destroying the town.

"Nice right, officer," J.T. commented to one of them.

"Thanks."

"WHA-HA-HA-HA-HOOO!" echoed across the battlefield to herald the arrival of Jessica and Amanda on their Literati Riders.

"Green, you're as crazy as Black is!"

"Thanks!"

"It wasn't a compliment! FIRE!" Amanda countered before releasing a spell on a clustering of Arachnias.

Later, as the last Pincher fell, J.T. turned to one of the officers, "Thanks for your help, Officers. I'm not sure we could've done it without you."

"Nothing to it. After all, you six do a lot for this city. Crooks are one thing, but twenty story tall monsters? If I had to deal with those myself I'd move to New York or someplace."

"We don't do nearly as much as you do," J.T. countered, "You're out there every day."

"Can we finish with the mutual admiration society?" Amanda groaned.

"Want me to arrest her?" The officer said, smiling and reaching for his cuffs.

J.T. groaned and wished he didn't have his helmet on so he could rub his temples, "I wish I could take you up on that offer, sir."

As the six Rangers mounted their Literati Riders, the officer could almost swear he heard the Black Ranger mutter under his breath.

"Sometimes, I really do..."

The now-unmorphed Rangers had just arrived at Highway 2 and were talking with Z about what would happen to Jon since it had been two weeks since he had been at work when the evil Power Ranger they were discussing walked into the store.

"Ah, Jon," J.T. said, folding his arms, "You're late, but right on time to get your stuff."

"As Trump would say, 'You're Fired!'" Z explained.

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"I said, 'no'," Jon replied, "As in 'no, I am not fired... I quit, and this place is fired.'"

He paused before his next words, "Darkness... RELEASE!"

Purple light flared up around Jon and covered him from view, but the other seven people occupying the store either directly knew or had a good idea what was happening...

When the light died down and Dark Ranger swung his halbard out to the side in his usual battle stance, they were proven right. The Literati Rangers were stunned for a moment, not from Jon's morphing, but because their boss wasn't surprised in any way by it. Taking advantage of the others' distraction, Dark Ranger spun his halbard and launched a beam of energy towards one of the displays of books, setting it aflame. With a swing in another direction, he destroyed a wall display of video games, then he sliced through the backside of the counter area, causing Justin to jump backwards to avoid being cleaved in half.

"Back.. OFF!" Z again took the Rangers by surprise by using the counter as a support as he kicked Dark Ranger in the chest with both feet, barely putting him off-balance, but still taking him by surprise, "Someone get those fires! I've got him!"

"Unleash that with... Dragon Spirit!" When the black light around J.T. died down, he drew and pointed his Dragon Sword, "Dragon Burner!"

The concept behind backburning is a simple one, to extinguish an uncontrolled fire you start a controlled fire to use up the fuel of the first. Unfortunately, backburning is a technique that should only be done by professionals. J.T., while a pyromaniac, was not an expert.

"Good going, idiot," Amanda shouted, "Now there's MORE fire! ...WATER!"

J.T. shook his helmeted head as the water soaked it, "Not me, use it on the fires!"

"Sorry," the tone of her voice indicating she was anything but, "WATER!"

Even though the water doused out one of the fires, the others were spreading throughout the store.

"Let me try, Unleash that within... PHOENIX SPIRIT!" The Phoenix, according to myth, was a creature born of flames, that died in flame, and was reborn in flame from its ashes and because of this could survive even the hottest fire. That's what Jessica was counting on as she tried along with J.T. and Amanda to bring the flames under control as the others fought Dark Ranger.

Justin, too, along with Daniel and Yolanda had morphed, and he had drawn the Knight Sword to use against Dark Ranger. A swing of the blade was blocked by Dark Ranger's halbard and parried to the ground before a sharp crack echoed across the popping and snapping of the flames as the Knight Sword was broken in two. A rapid kick from Dark Ranger sent Justin sprawling to the ground while he was still in shock from the damage to his blade. From Daniel's Demon Axe came a mighty blow, which caught Dark Ranger across the shoulders, knocking him forward but the armor that all the Rangers wore protecting him from any real harm. While his footing was still unsteady, Yolanda spun quickly, catching him across the front of his armor with her Siren Daggers before sweeping her leg to catch him in the ankles and knock him to the ground. This, however, didn't do much as Dark Ranger easily made his way back to his feet with the help of his halbard, which he then quickly turned on the Pink Ranger, cutting deep into her armor and sending her to the ground, causing her to demorph as she lost consciousness. Placing his halbard across his shoulder in a mocking imitation of J.T.'s own stance, Dark Ranger turned and strode into the flames before vanishing in purple light.

By then, with Jessica's help, J.T. and Amanda had finally gotten the flames under control before the store was destroyed, but the inside had been completely gutted...

Yolanda wasn't seriously injured, but she was still unconscious...

Justin's weapon had been destroyed...

And their secret was out, Z knew who they were...

J.T. summed it up simply, looking around through the smoke, "We lost... bad."