Episode 3: Strong As An Ox
"…so it is absolutely important that you rangers find all the Talismans before the demons do." Maya had just finished telling the rangers the story of Shendu and his twelve Talismans, each of which possessed its own, unique power. "Damn," was all that Tyler could say. "Whoa. This is way more than just fighting demons," Sadie chimed in. "Well, I guess we better get started," thought Matt. Tyler looked at his watch. "Absolutely, except I gotta get ready for my wrestling meet like, right now!" He took off out the door. "Ya know, I should probably go, for moral support," said Brandon. "You should all go and cheer him on. I will let you know when the next Talisman surfaces," explained Maya. The rest of the rangers returned to campus.
In the dark temple, Scurgious explained his plan to Shendu. "You see, my lord, the rangers will be looking for the Talismans, so we will simply watch them until they lead us to the next one." "A lazy, yet brilliant plan, Scurgious," Shendu hissed. "See that it does not fail me, or the first one I incinerate when return shall be YOU!"
At the Capeside U Rec. Center, Tyler prepared for his match. "You'll do great, babe!" cheered Tina. "Hey guys," she shouted, spotting the other rangers, "over here!" "Sup, Tina," greeted Brandon. "Tyler's up next," she said nervously. "Is this guy he's up against any good?" asked Matt. "He's undefeated," answered Sadie, "but Tyler's the best Capeside's got." "It's strange," said Maria, "that guy he's fighting, Nick, doesn't really look like a wrestler, does he?" The others looked at him. He was thin, short, and awkward looking. "You're right," agreed Tina. "Ty's gonna crush him!" Tyler and Nick were called to the arena. They shook hands and the bell rung. Tyler immediately went on the offensive, using every technique he knew to try to pin his tough opponent. With all his strength however, he couldn't budge the kid. Finally, Nick made his move. He lifted Tyler and put him on the ground like it was nothing. Tyler tried to get him off, but it was like he was glued to the mat. The official counted off ten seconds, and the match was over. Nick helped Tyler up, shaking his hand. "Good match, man." Tyler hesitated. "Uh..yeah, you too, dude." He looked up at his five friends in the bleachers, none of whom believing what they had just seen. Tyler then looked back over at Nick, who was untucking a small stone from his wrestling uniform. It was in the shape of an octagon and had a picture of an ox carved into it. Tyler had seen something like that before: the rooster Talisman. He ran over to Nick. "Hey man, just a quick question." "Sure, what's up?" "Where'd you get that?" he asked, motioning to the stone. "Oh, this is my lucky charm. It's been in my family for centuries. I never wrestle without it. Why do you ask?" "Oh, cool, just curious. Take it easy." "Yeah, you too." That explains why he beat me so easily, the Talisman's power must have something to do with wrestling.
"What did I tell you? The ox Talisman! Now, all we need is a demon to retrieve it," Scurgious pointed out. "I hope this one is more competent than Thorlak," mocked Shiva. Scurgious grunted, as he raised his staff and summoned a new demon. "Ogre demon, come forth!" A pale-green creature appeared. Its teeth were large, sharp, and yellow. It carried a spikey club. "I'm the ogre demon, at your service!" it growled. "Retrieve the ox Talisman from that human!" Scurgious commanded. "As you wish," agreed the ogre demon, and at that, he left with a group of shadow-kahn.
Back at the Power Chamber, the rangers were just walking in. "Are you sure? I think you just can't accept that that kid beat you," said Sadie. "I know what I saw, and it was a Talisman. He was wearing around his neck the whole time," argued Tyler. Maya interjected. "Alpha, bring up Tyler's match on the viewing screen." "Right away, Maya!" Alpha went to work. "Freeze right there," said Tyler, "and enhance." The screen stopped on Nick, and then zoomed in. "Tyler was right," said Maya. "That is the ox Talisman, and it definitely would've given Nick the strength to win any wrestling match. It gives its host the power of super strength." "Well," began Matt, "if we know where it is, I bet Scurgious found it as well." "That's an excellent point, Matt," agreed Maya. "You rangers should get to Nick before the demons do." "Right," they all agreed, teleporting back to campus.
Nick was just leaving the Rec. Center, ready to board the bus, when a group of ninjas came out of the shadows, followed by a hideous monster. "Surprise, human! Give me the Talisman!" "I don't know what you're talking about!" was all Nick could say before running.
The rangers arrived on the scene just in time to see Nick take off screaming. "I'm gonna take a wild guess and say the demons beat us here," said Brandon. "What makes you say that?" asked Sadie, sarcastically. "Rangers!" The ogre demon leapt out in front of them. "Shadow-kahn, destroy them!" "Spirit evolution!" the rangers shouted in unison, morphing instantly. "Tyler, we'll handle Shrek and the goons, you get that Talisman from Nick," said Matt. "Right!" Tyler ran off after Nick. The other rangers attempted to take down the ogre demon, but the shadow-kahn kept them at a safe distance, allowing the demon to chase after Tyler and Nick.
Nick was rounding a corner when he ran face-first into the green ranger. Tyler helped him up. "Something you wanna tell me about that 'lucky charm', Nick?" Tyler asked, crossing his arms. "I don't know... I-I think it might help me win matches, but how is that even possible? It's just a rock that my grandfather gave me." "Trust me, it's more than that. I wish I could tell you more, but right now, by keeping it from me, you're putting yourself in grave danger. That monster will stop at nothing to get it from you. NOTHING." As Nick hesitantly handed the Talisman over, the ogre demon attacked separating Nick and Tyler, and sending the Talisman into the air. "Aha!" he cheered, catching the ox Talisman. "Now the super strength of the ox is mine!" The other rangers arrived. "Shit!" Brandon and Sadie both cursed. As Tyler started to charge, Matt stopped him. "No! He's much too strong for us, now. We need to outsmart him. That's the only way we'll get the Talisman back." Tyler hesitated, but decided Matt was right. He and the other rangers may have been strong, but they couldn't compete with super strength. "Alright. What'd you have in mind?" "Okay, here it is…" The plan seemed fool proof. "Got it," Tyler agreed. "Alright, Sadie and Brandon, start us off. Maria, you're with me," Matt said. Brandon and Sadie pulled their blasters and fired upon the monster. They barely fazed him, mostly just bouncing off. Then, Matt and Maria hopped out from behind their friends with their sabers. As the demon raised his club to fight the red and pink rangers off, Tyler surprised him from behind with his Tremor Hammer. The shock of the blow knocked the Talisman out of the monster's grasp. Maria scooped it up. "Tyler, catch! Finish him off!" She tossed it to Tyler, who caught it in his hand clenched his fist, and landed a direct punch to the ogre demon knocking him to the ground, sparking with defeat. "Great job, Tyler!" The rangers all cheered on their friend. Just as the rangers started to celebrate, Scurgious appeared. "Rise, my fallen friend!" A green bolt struck the ogre demon's corpse. He snapped back to life, and grew to city-wrecking proportions. "We need spirit zord power, now!" commanded the rangers. As their respective zords arrived on the scene, they piloted them, and began the Megazord sequence. Once the Megazord had been constructed, they engaged the ogre demon in battle. The Megazord's sword clashed with the monster's club a few times, but it finally landed its killing blow, sending the ogre demon to the ground in fiery explosion. "This isn't over," said Scurgious sinisterly, before fading away.
"I'm sorry, Scurgious, I thought you said your plan was FOOL PROOF!" Shendu breathed fire at his servant as he berated him. "My deepest apologies, my lord," Scurgious groveled, "the next Talisman will be yours. "It had better be…"
Tyler helped Nick pack his things back onto his bus. "So, what are you gonna do without your lucky charm?" Tyler asked. "Ha, well, at least I have the excuse that I was attacked by a monster to sit out the rest of the season. Then who knows? Maybe I'll go out for baseball or something." "Good for you man, good luck." "Thanks man." Nick shook hands with Tyler before getting on his bus and heading back to his school.