Chapter 3: The Power of Earth

I'm back with the next chapter and we get introduced to the green ranger. Enjoy

disclaimer: I do own Tommy Oliver

Natalie and Velvet were starting to gel well as a team. They had also started to become best friends. Greg welcomed Velvet into the group and was delighted they had a new friend.

Velvet was happy that she had some new people to call friends. When she was a little girl she had changed schools a lot. She never made many friend and when she did it was because her mom was famous.

"So, are you guys coming to the festival this weekend." Greg was excited as he asked this. The spring festival was one of the biggest festivals in Cedar Grove and very elaborate.

"That's right I forgot about the spring festival." Natalie and her father helped the science club with the float for the mini parade.

"What is the Cedar Grove Spring festival? Velvet was honestly curious. This was her first year in Cedar Grove and she didn't know much about traditions.

"The spring festival celebrates spring. The festival has food, games, and even music for the people to enjoy. There is a parade in the evening and animals for the little kids to ride and pet." Greg was explaining the festival to Velvet.

"Oh cool that sounds fun, I think I might attend." Velvet was excited she had never been somewhere long enough to do things like that.

"You can hang with us, we are doing some of the booths this year." Natalie was cheerful as she said this. She was teaching some martial arts lessons for the kids that were attending the festival. Greg was running the face painting booth since he was very good at art.

"You can teach a dance class at the festival Velvet. It would something fresh and cool for the festival." Natalie just only suggested this as an option. Velvet could teach a class as she was sure the kids would like that.

" I think I might just teach a dance class, it would be cool to teach kids how much fun dancing can be." Velvet decided that she would teach the class. She wanted to get involved in the community a little more and plus her new friends would be there.

"Well that's awesome Velvet. Natalie and I can't wait to see you there. We can all get ice cream together afterward." Greg was now excited that Velvet would join them at the festival. She was starting to come out of her shell a little bit and he had no doubt that the festival would bring her out more.

Queen Reiya's Ship

"Ventrax you clog head. Once again you have failed me. Is it possible for you to do anything right?" Queen Reiya was angry that the rangers had defeated her again and they had another ranger. She had to come with a plan, one that was invincible. Queen Reiya left her chamber room and headed down the corridor hall where she was holding Dr. Tommy Oliver.

"Tommy, my delightful captive, I trust you are enjoying you accommodations. How are you enjoying your stay?" Queen Reiya was giddy with glee. She had her prisoner and she knew that has long as she had him his daughter could not destroy her.

"Well I have to admit I have been in better company with other villains." Tommy was thinking of a way of how he could con her in to believing that he was evil.

"My dear Tommy enjoy your stay, because I promise that you will never see the outside world again." Queen Reiya closed the door and started to walk away from her captive.

"Wait Reiya, What is this all about? Tommy knew that now what the time to put his latest action into motion. "Let me help you defeat the rangers."

Queen Reiya looked back at Tommy and could not believe that he would destroy his own daughter. "Go on, I'm listening before I turn you into scrap heap." She would hear him out this might to do some good.

"I will help you defeat the rangers. In return I want you to give me my freedom once I do." Tommy could only hope this would work. He had no other options.

"So you would destroy the rangers? Now that is what I call a negotiation tactic." Queen Reiya decided that she would not tell Tommy about his daughter being a power rangers. She knew enough to know that he would change his mind. She would have him destroy his own daughter and then tell him the truth.

"Yes, all you have to do is give me the power. I will become your humble servant and do whatever you command." Tommy knew he was in over his head but he had to do something. He couldn't stay here forever. He had to get back home to Natalie. Tommy had thought about Natalie everyday and missed her.

"Release him Zirtatrons." The zirtatrons released Tommy and he was happy to be free of chains. "Now follow me Tommy and I will give you the power you seek, but if you double cross me it will be the end of your existence." Queen Reiya's red eyes glowed and they reminded you instantly of death. Tommy was frightened but he was determined to carry his plan through.

Master Zhi's lab

"Now ladies I want you to do a little bit of training by sparring. It will be a good lesson and give you some extra practice with your powers." Master Zhi needed them to train so that they would become more power. They had just begun to tap into their power, but he knew there was more power for them to harness.

"Alright Natalie prepare to go down. The queen of water is here to dominate." Velvet called on her blade staff and readied for battle. She was excited that her and Natalie finally got the chance to spar for fun and not fight monsters.

"You wish Velvet, I am the master of the flame and I will burn your spirit." Natalie morphed and called upon her flame saber.

Natalie and Velvet charged each other with both of them not being able to gain the upper hand. Natalie swung her mighty saber while Velvet blocked and struck back with her staff. Natalie went for a flying kick when Velvet used her water tornado attack to block her and send her flying across the room. Natalie got back up and sent powered up her sword as she sent her flame saber attack at Velvet. Velvet had once again used her water tornado to stop the flame and the lab filled with smoke. The heat of the water and the coolness of the water caused a dream like fog.

"Alright girls that's enough fighting each other for the day. That was very good work from both of you. Nice moves and you are staring to harness the power of your element." Master Zhi was indeed pleases at the level of fighting that they were already displaying. He understood that Natalie already had an advantage with fighting because of her father. Velvet water power is stronger than Natalie's fire which gives her the advantage with the elements.

Downtown Cedar Grove

"Hahaha fear me all you worthless humans. I Vulgar will pummel you." Vulgar was a monster created by Queen Reiya. She had gotten sick of monsters failing and decided to build her own. Vulgar was big, brawny and brown. He was a porcupine with big fists that could knock out any opponent that got too close.

"Now come on Tommy do your stuff. With the power that you received from Queen Reiya you have become almighty. Now go and deal with those humans before I have to quash you for the queen." Tommy didn't look human anymore. Thanks to his new power he got armor as hard as steel.

Tommy didn't really want to hurt these people but a deal was a deal. He wanted to get out of that place and if he had to reluctantly destroy people he would. Queen Reiya had given him the power of gravity and it was very powerful. Tommy used his power to form a gravity ball and hurled it at a car full of people when it was stopped by fire and water.

"Hey you guys are back again hurting innocent people. Haven't you learned when you're not wanted." Natalie was sick of dealing with evil cronies all the time. It was getting rather annoying pretty fast.

"Some bad guys never learn Natalie, looks like we are going to have to teach them some manners." Velvet called for her blade staff and was ready to put it to action.

"As powerful as the sea blue zen ranger." Velvet never got sick of hearing that at all. She was going to make sure that these bad guys remembered it.

"As fearless as fire red zen ranger." Natalie called for her flame saber as her and Velvet went in for the attack.

Tommy used his gravity power to make a big force field that blocked Natalie and Velvet from attacking and they both went flying back into the car. The people in the car got and ran to safety anxious to get out the way of the fighting.

The group finally got to safety and away from the action. As they were running one of them stopped and turned back. The power rangers were fighting these two monsters and losing. She couldn't just stand there and watch as she turned around and headed back.

"Diamond get back here it's too dangerous. The power rangers can handle it." One of the girls said.

"No way Stacy, I have to go help them. They put their lives on the line to rescue us and I am going to return the favor. When someone helps me out I repay my debts as a thank you." Diamond ran back to help the power rangers with the two ugly looking monsters.

Back at Master Zhi's Lab

Master Zhi was doing some spring cleaning as well as working on some new gadgets, when he saw the silver box start to shake and a green light coming from inside of it. He instantly knew what this meant the spirit of earth had found a person to give it's power to. Master Zhi opened the box and the zen symbol for earth started to glow an even brighter green. The next thing the master knew a green smoke was coming up from the symbol when a figure took shape.

Master Zhi couldn't believe his eyes. The spirit of earth and taken it's physical human form. He was very pleased, because the last time he saw the legendary zen warriors they were turning into the zen symbols.

"Greetings human, I am Florina the ancient zen spirit of earth." Master Zhi bowed his head to the mighty warrior. She was covered in a top and skirt made out of leaves. Her hair was as brown as the earth as well as her brown eyes. She wore a green wreath band around her head and wielded a staff with a leaf stone on the end.

Master Zhi never dreamed that he would actually see one of them in person again. He also wondered why the other 2 elements never took their physical form. He thought that maybe they were not comfortable showing themselves to people of this time.

"Excuse mighty Florina, but how come to ancient spirits of fire and water did not take physical form" Master Zhi was indeed curious.

"Flamera and Dionysis have their own reasons for not taking physical form. I do not know the reason. You would think after their symbols being activated that they would be grateful and show themselves. Apparently time cannot heal selfishness, that is indeed such a pity." Florena walked around the lab and was unimpressed with what she saw.

"What awakened you mighty spirit of earth? Master Zhi wanted to hear the reason and maybe get a clue as to why the spirits really chose the people they want to wield their power.

"The girl that activated my symbol. She has kind heart and the will to help others as they help her. You know when I was still in physical form many years ago I commanded the forest. When the animals of the forest helped me I helped them in return. I would never respond until I found someone with the same nature." Master Zhi watched as Florena turned her back on him.

"Well if you excuse me Master Zhi I have someone rangers to help." Florena turned back into green smoke as she went back into her symbol and transported.

Back at Downtown Cedar Grove

Natalie and Velvet were getting beaten badly by Vulgar and little did they know Natalie's father Tommy. They were having a hard time even with the combination of their powers.

"He is too strong for us Natalie. Were going to have to find another way." Velvet was on the ground struggling to get up.

"I know Velvet, but we have to keep trying. We can't fail the people, Master Zhi or my father." Natalie was also struggling to get up but she knew they had to keep trying.

"Hahahaha now to finish you rangers." Vulgar held out his fist as it lit up. "Sharp knuckle attack." He hurled the attack at Natalie and Velvet when he was knocked out of the way with a stick.

Diamond had found a big stick on the ground and used it. When Vulgar got back up she used it to propel herself into a tree and used a vine to swing down and kick Vulgar in the chest. Diamond smiled to herself. She always knew that her skills with trees would come into play one day.

"You weak human, Zirtatrons get her." Vulgar sent the repulsive monsters toward Diamond has she readied herself for battle. She was a brown belt in Brazilian jui jujitsu so these monsters would be no problem.

Tommy stopped the monsters and told Vulgar to let him handle her. Tommy engaged Diamond in battle as he was shocked that she was just as strong as he was.

Diamond could see that that whoever this monster was he had some serious skills to his credit, but she wasn't going to let him defeat her. She fought hard but ended up being defeated. Then she had a vision of her using vines to wrap around her foes.

The next thing Diamond knew this green light was forming around her wrist. Natalie and Velvet could not believe it. This girl was the new green zen power ranger. She definitely had the skills for it but she looked kind of like a rebel.

Natalie and Velvet ran over to Diamond and filled her in on her morpher materializing around her wrist. Diamond now knew what to do and she couldn't wait to show these creatures what she was really made of. Diamond raised her morpher and shouted go zen.

Diamond was surrounded by darkness when she appeared in the middle of a forest she quickly spun underground and then came back up with her green ranger suit in place. Green leaves swirled around her head as her helmet came into place with her zen symbol for earth.

"As strong as the earth, green zen ranger." She couldn't believe she was a power ranger. She had heard stories when she was little. She remembered wanting to be like them when she grew up.

She decided that it was time to put her new powers to use. She called upon her vine power to assist her with Vulgar. She wrapped him up with her vines and threw him across the lot. The other monster was running away from the scene to escape.

"Hey you 2 go after the other guy I've got this one under control." Diamond continued to punish Vulgar why Natalie and Velvet went off to find the other monster. He had never given his name while he was there and it didn't make that much fuss.

"There he is Natalie over there blowing up the statues." Velvet hurried and threw her tornado attack at him and he blocked. Natalie sent her fire balls at him which he still managed to dodge. Natalie and Velvet engaged him in battle and were quickly losing. The monster was strong and his fighting skills were amazing.

Tommy was fighting the two rangers and he kept getting a strange feeling about the red one. Her fighting skill was just as good as his and she mimicked him almost every move. The red ranger drew her sword as well as Tommy. They locked swords and Tommy just had to ask who this warrior was.

"You seem familiar red ranger, who are you? Tommy had to ask even though he knew he should be destroying them.

"None of your business monster just know that I will defeat you." Natalie could not believe this warrior had the nerve to ask her who she was. Then the monster sent an attack and knocked out both her and Natalie as well turned them back into human form.

Tommy was shocked because he knew that face from anywhere. The red ranger was his daughter Natalie. He couldn't believe that she was traveling down the same road he had years ago. He never wanted her to have that kind of responsibility. Tommy backed away unable to fight his own daughter and left.

Natalie and Velvet struggled to get back to Diamond and the monster she was fighting. They morphed again and hurried back to use what little strength they had left. When they got back Diamond had already defeated the monster and had powered down. Natalie and Velvet followed suit and were very sore.

"Hey she looks like a rebel Natalie. She had red hair and green eyes they are never good news." Velvet whispered to Natalie as they both looked on and were careful to approach their new teammate.

"She doesn't look that bad. Be a little nicer Velvet." They finally got with distance and introduced themselves to her.

"Hello, I'm Natalie and this is Velvet. May we ask your name? We want to properly thank you for helping up out." Diamond looked at Natalie and Velvet for a minute not knowing how to respond to the 2 strangers.

"My name is Diamond." As she gave them her name she flicked her hair over her shoulder and folded her arms. These girls were strangers but they seemed nice enough to her. They seemed to know about these monsters and stuff so she decided to make friends with them.

"Nice to meet you Diamond. It's nice to have a new team member. Welcome to the team." Velvet held out her hand as Diamond took it and shook it. Natalie quickly stepped up and followed suit and also shook Diamond's hand. Natalie and Velvet said showed Diamond how to use her morpher as they all headed back to the lab.

Master Zhi's Lab

"Nice to finally meet you young lady. The spirit of earth chose you to command it's power." Master Zhi was overjoyed that a new ranger had joined the team but didn't know how he was going to handle all these teenage girls.

"Master Zhi what is our next plan of attack? Natalie wanted to know if Master Zhi had anything else to help them defeat these monsters a little easier.

"I'm glad you asked Natalie. I'm working on some stronger weapons for you guys to use. It will make your job a lot easier." Master Zhi wasn't done with them yet but he was sure they would be worth the wait.

"So, what do we do when we are not fighting evil?" Diamond was curious she didn't know how long they had been doing this and what she was even suppose to do.

"We go about our normal lives until we are needed." Diamond accepted this answer. At least there would be some consistency from day to day.

"Alright I can dig that nothing like going to school by day and fighting evil by afternoon." Diamond laughed at her joke as her and the other girls transported out of the lab.

Meanwhile back at Queen Reiya's Ship

"Why did you not destroy the rangers Tommy?" Queen Reiya was livid that Tommy had abandoned Vulgar and allowed him to be destroyed by a new ranger.

"I didn't want to hurt my daughter. I will not destroy her she is the only thing that I have." Tommy was not going to hurt his daughter. She was the one thing in his life that mattered to him the most. The only good thing in his life thus far was Natalie.

"It doesn't matter if she is your daughter. You made the agreement and gave us your word and you failed. Now I will destroy your very existence." Queen Reiya staff glowed as she was about to turn Tommy into dust.

"Wait, please don't destroy me have mercy for my daughter's sake. I will do whatever you say please do not get rid of me." Tommy begged for her to spare his life.

"Fine I will spare you Tommy, but you will fulfill your duties here or be destroyed for going back on your word." She decided since Tommy was now her servant that she would not lock him up again. She gave him his own room with only the necessities.

Tommy could not believe that Natalie was a power ranger. The one thing that he never wanted her to be. He started having flashbacks and reflecting on his days as a ranger. He wanted Natalie to have normal teenage experiences and be free sort to speak. He wanted her to not have to worry about saving the world or saving herself. He didn't know what he was going to do but he was going to get off Queen Reiya's ship.

Cedar Grove Spring Festival

Diamond could not believe a town had a spring festival. She had came with Natalie, Velvet and her new friend Greg. She was helping Greg paint faces while Velvet was teaching a dance class, and Natalie teaching a martial arts class.

She was going to enjoy being a super hero and saving the world. She had also made some awesome friends the last couple of days. For the first time things were looking up for her. She didn't know what this new life would have in store for her but she was ready for anything that threatened it. The world was a big place and she was finding it out, but hshe couldn't wait to find out all the cool things her new job description had for her.

Next time Queen Reiya will unleash 3 monsters on the city and what happens when the yellow ranger makes a suprise appearance.

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