Scalaxes was gazing into her crystal. When those four warriors fought off her shadows and even defended themselves against Shade, she had been furious. How dare these humans harness the power that was meant for her, and her alone? She was also furious at the fact she couldn't discover who the warriors were. Scalaxes knew what traits the elemental warriors would have, but she found that there were too many people who had those traits.

Growling in frustration Scalaxes looked away from her crystal, and pondered ways to draw the warriors out. She knew the shadows would be able to get their attention, but they alone would not be able to hold them long enough to learn their identities.

"Hm. I guess it is time to send out a monster, and see how these warriors handle my power."

Turning to a small looking machine, she poured some of her blood into a small obsidian goblet. The goblet glowed a shining midnight black, before a large black scorpion stepped from the shadows. Wrapped in layers of metal the scorpion moved with a feline grace that one would not expect.

"My queen I am iron, what is your command?"

"I want you to draw out the new elemental warriors, and if possible learn their identities. If this is not possible at first, try to discover one of their fears.

"Of course my queen. It will be done."

With that the scorpion vanished through a shadow portal. Scalaxes smiled thinking how the warriors were in for a big surprise.

At school Alice, Clair, Francine, and Heather were in Kim's class again. They were trying to stay focused on the test on algebra that Kim had given them that morning, but they couldn't seem to stay on task. Every few minutes one of them would steal a glance at the clock, or Kim's desk, or the window looking for trouble. Heather herself was struggling the most. All four girls had just glanced up from their papers to Kim when everyone heard a scream of fright from outside. This was followed by the sound of metal striking stone. Turning to their teacher, Alice let her eyes ask the question.

"All students make your way to the shelters."

The students started rushing out of the classroom. Without regard of one another s safety they tried to be the first one to escape before whatever it was outside. For several minutes there was a gridlock at the door, until Clair's voice rang out.

"If you all push and shove like that, none of you will be getting out of here. Calm yourselves, and let's all get to where we need to."

Kim smiled at the green ranger. She knew the red ranger was usually the leader, but Clair had such a way of calming a situation. In response to Clair's announcement the students calmed down and started exiting the room in an orderly manner. The four rangers were the last to leave, along with Kim.

"Kim do you think it is Scalaxes?"

"Not directly, but I would guess it is one of her monsters. Come on, we need to get to the chamber."

Running the five quickly arrived at the hidden elevator, and descended into the chamber. The four girls ran across the floor toward their morphers.

Clair raised her morpher. "Let's do it."

With nods from the others, they all tapped their jewels.

"ELEMENTAL LIGHT, SHINE BRIGHT."

Iron was having the time of his life. The last time his queen had summoned him he had personally laid a beating on the king of Sharna. That had been fun, but he found attacking these humans was much more enjoyable. He was getting tired of waiting though. Where were the warriors his queen had ordered him to destroy? Iron swung his tail at another building, feeling the walls crack under the blow. Another few blows and this building would be no more.

"Hay there is this a private party, or can anyone join?"

Iron looked over to see four humans standing nearby. They stood in a line across.

"And just who are you humans?"

"Elemental of air... power ranger green" Clair cried raising her hand and sweeping it forward in imitation of a bird s wing.

"Elemental of water... power ranger blue" Alice cried making swimming motions with both arms.

"Elemental of earth... power ranger yellow" Heather cried punching the air in front of her.

"Elemental of fire... power ranger red" Francine cried bringing both arms up and gesturing with fingers spread.

Clair raised both hands to the sky, "For the light,"

The other 3 replied, "We will fight."

"Power Rangers Elemental Dawn" all four cried in unison.

Iron smirked. "Well rangers my queen really wants to know who you are under those helmets. So let's see what we can do about that. Shadows attack."

Just like at the school, black beings appeared, and started shooting beams at the rangers. Instead of splitting up like the last fight, the girls formed a small circle with one girl facing a different direction. Clair was facing west, and kept an eye out for civilians. Alice faced north and while fighting off the shadows took glances at the monster they had arrived to fight. Heather faced east and not only knocked out any shadows that came near, but also prevented more property damage. Finally Francine faced south and kept blasting any shadows that tried to sneak upon the group. In ones and twos every shadow got taken down, and blasted into elemental dust.

Iron looked intrigued. "Very well, let's see how you deal with this."

With that he swung his tail and sent a ball of fire at the girls. Alice screamed and dove to the ground covering her head. Clair and Heather closed around to protect her. Smiling Francine held out her hand, and caught the ball.

"Hear, I believe this is yours."

With that she sent the ball rocketing back at iron. However when it struck him, the ball just flared along his body.

Iron laughed. "Not bad red Ranger, but let's see how you do with close courter combat.

With that Iron leaped over the still terrified Alice, and charged the girl dressed in red. Francine for her part stood her ground. She knew about Alice's fear of fire. All of them did, and she was looking forward to kicking this monster's backside. As he drew near, Francine lashed out with a kick that had smoke trailing from her leg. However when her foot connected she fell back as if she had struck metal.

"Ha ranger. You won't be able to beat me like that." Suddenly the monster tilted his head. "It seems my queen wishes my presence. Consider yourselves lucky rangers, next time I will destroy all of you."

With that the monster disappeared into a black portal. Sharing a look the rangers stood, and headed back to the chamber.

Iron knelt before his queen, his head pressed to the floor. He waited silently for his queen to speak.

"I am pleased with you Iron."

"My queen if I may ask, why am I not dissolved? After all I did fail to get any of the ranger s identities."

"Yes Iron, however you did discover that the blue ranger is very afraid of fire. We can use this knowledge to bring down one of the rangers, and when we do, their jewel will be mine."

The rangers filed back into the chamber, looking down.

"Rangers, what happened?"

Alice looked up with tears in her eyes. "I, I the monster through a fireball at me. I freaked out, and just hit the ground and didn't move." Alice looked up. "Kim... I can't face that again." Everyone looked at Alice. "If it happens again, my jewel could be stolen. Against this monster, I'm no help."

With that Alice removed her necklace, placed it on the pedestal, and walked out of the chamber.

"Kim, shouldn't we go after her?"

Kim looked over at the three remaining girls. "Alice needs to have time to herself Heather. I know you have always been there for her, but this is something she needs to work through on her own."

Alice was walking in the schools garden. This had been the place she would come to when she was bullied before meeting Heather and Clair. Right now she felt even worse than when she was picked on. After all she had just cowered when a monster had thrown a single fireball at her. Even though her friends were near her, she had just hunkered down and failed her friends.

"If that monster had not left, we would have all been defeated, and all because of me."

Alice sat on a bench and just cried her eyes out in frustration.

"Well boys. What do we have here? Where are your friends now crybaby?"

Alice looked up to see Markus Flen, and his friends Evan and Devan Floral.

Alice sighed. "I really don't have time for you right now Markus. So can you just leave me alone?"

"Oh no crybaby, at least you aren't being shoved into the fountain."

With that, the twins grabbed Alice and pushed her over to the fountain in the middle of the garden. Lifting her by her arms and legs the two tossed her into the fountain. Laughing the boys walked away, leaving Alice to climb out of the water.

"What am I going to do? I can't help my friends, or even protect myself."

In the chamber Kim pulled out some crystals. Each of them matched the color of each jewel. Clair, Francine, and Heather looked up to Kim.

"Kim, what are those?"

"These Clair will enable you to call forth your elemental weapons. I'm sorry it took this long to finish them."

She handed the green crystal to Clair, the red crystal to Francine, and the yellow crystal to Heather.

"What do we do with this?"

"Your necklaces have more slots you can place crystals in. After doing so, you just need to say 'crystal activate', and your weapons will appear."

"This is going to help a lot" Francine said. "When I tried to fight that monster, my flaming kick did nothing."

The others agreed.

Kim what about Alice?"

"We can't force her to be a ranger if she doesn't want to. However, I will keep an eye out for, and try to help her." Just then the alarm went off. "In the mean time you three will need to deal with the monster. He's downtown."

Nodding the girls morphed, and ran out of the chamber. As they left Kim walked out the door to search for Alice.

Alice had nearly climbed out of the fountain, when she lost her grip and fell back with a splash.

"I can't even climb out of this fountain. Why would anyone even give me the time of day?"

Alice laid back in the water just crying at her helplessness.

Kim had been searching for Alice when she saw Markus and the Floral twins entering the school from the garden. The three boys were laughing about something.

"Oh boys that was a grate toss. I m sure little miss brains won't be able to think her way out of that fountain."

Kim's eyes narrowed. "They didn't do that did they?" Quietly she walked up behind Markus.

"Mr. flen, what's this about someone being tossed into the fountain?"

Markus and the twins turned to see a very angary teacher. Markus's face went white.

"Uh nothing mam."

"Really! Then who do you mean by miss brains?"

One of the twins spoke up. "It was just a joke Mrs. Scott."

"A joke huh? Well for your joke you will be cleaning the floors of the school for a week, and I will be informing your parents of your sick joke."

The three boys exchanged looks, and as one ran at Kim. Smiling she sent each boy flying with a 1-2 punch combination.

"Well it seems I get to give you even more detention boys. The principle will know just what punishments to assign."

With that she dragged the three into the hallway leading to the principal s office. As she moved down the hall with her burden she came across Margery altar one of her fellow teachers.

"Why Kimberly, what's going on?"

"I found these three joking about throwing someone into a fountain. They were just entering from the garden, so I assume that the fountain they were talking about is there. In addition, they decided to attack me. So I was bringing them to Mr. Grant s office."

"Forgive me Kim, but why were you by the garden anyway?"

"I was looking for one of my students. Nobody has seen Alice for some time."

Margery gasped. "Why don't you go look for her, I'll make sure these bad apples get to Mr. Grant's office?"

"Thanks Margery" Kim said as she ran back toward the garden.

Iron was destroying buildings left and right. He knew this would draw the rangers out, just as a flame drew moths. He was looking forward to facing the blue ranger again. As his queen had said, "with each ranger we take down, the easier the battles will become". As he made to strike another building, he spotted three of the rangers running toward him.

"Hm it seems the blue ranger is so scared she can't even see me again."

With a laugh Iron launched himself at the rangers. Francine tried to block his attack, only to be slammed back into the wall.

"Oomph! This is going to be hard."

Kim was looking for Alice. She hadn't spent much time in the garden since starting at the school, so she had no idea there were so many fountains. As she rounded a corner she heard crying. Following the sound she came across a large deep fountain.

"Alice?"

"Kim!" a voice called out. "Can you help me out of here?"

"I'm here for you Alice. Stretch up with your hand as far as you can."

Kim watched as a hand appeared over the rim of the fountain. Grasping the hand Kim helped the young girl climb out of the water.

"Oh Alice, are you alright?"

"I am now mam. At least physically."

Kim nodded. "Come on, we can get you dried off in the chamber."

Alice drew back. "I don't belong there Kim. I couldn't even help my friends when they needed me."

Kim guided Alice through the halls. "We all have fears to face Alice. That doesn't mean you can't help your friends. It just means you need to use your natural gifts to your advantage."

"But how does my intelligence help fight against a monster who can throw fire around?"

Kim helped Alice into the chamber and handed her a towel. "Why don't you watch the battle, and see if you can discover anything?"

Alice wrapped the towel around her, and settled into a chair next to the pedestal. On the screen she watched as her friends tried attack after attack, but nothing seemed to be able to penetrate the monster's metal shell.

"Why does that monster have armor covering everything except his tail?"

Kim looked closer. "That's a good question. All though it seems his mouth is also not covered."

Alice stared her brain turning over ideas. As she watched a fireball launched out of his mouth.

"Kim, do we have a recording of when we first faced this monster?"

"Sure. I'll cue it up on the second screen."

Alice watched as the monster swung his tail, before a fireball launched out of its mouth. She watched as Francine caught the fireball, then tried sending it back at the monster. It was then she noticed how the fireball changed color as it approached the metal wrapped around the monster's body.

"Interesting. This monster seems to absorb fire based attacks."

Kim nodded. "Now we just need to keep him from launching any fire based attacks."

Meanwhile the others were having no luck fighting the monster. Every attack either got blasted with a fireball, or just bounced off the metal like armor he wore.

"This is getting us nowhere" Clair gasped bending over to catch her breath.

"I agree" Francine said upset that her powers were useless against this monster.

Heather tapped her necklace. "Let's try our weapons" she suggested.

Nodding the other girls reached up and tapped their new crystals. "Crystals activate!"

There were three flashes of light, then a weapon appeared in each girl s hand. Clair found herself holding a golden colored bow made of pine wood, and strung with a silver colored string. Francine held a silver spear tipped with two wicked looking spikes. Heather found herself wearing a pair of golden gloves. They felt as soft as silk, as light as air, and as strong as stone. As one the girls brought up their weapons and charged at the monster.

Alice gazed at her friends with a mixture of awe and Dred. "Even with those new weapons they won't be able to get past the armor" she whispered.

Kim turned to her. "I agree, but what else can be done?"

Alice thought back to her fear when a fireball had been thrown at her. It hadn't even been that big, but she had let her own fear of a nightmare control what she did. She shook her head violently. She was a power ranger, not a frightened child. Standing she walked over to her necklace and picked it up.

"No more running. ELEMENTAL LIGHT, SHINE BRIGHT."

As Alice morphed into the blue ranger once again, Kim smiled at her most intelligent student. Standing herself Kim walked over to the pedestal and retrieved a crystal. Walking over to Alice she held it out.

"This will allow you to summon your own weapon."

"Thank you Kim. I better get to my friends."

Clair found herself on the ground almost out of energy. She knew they couldn't demorph, or Scalaxes would know who they were. Struggling to her knees Clair blanched as Francine was thrown back loosing hold of her spear. Her bow had done nothing to the monster. Whatever metal surrounded it, the metal was impenetrable to her arrows, Francine's spear, and Heather's gloves. Heather was in even worse shape than Clair. She was lying on the ground struggling to stay awake.

"You rangers are finished. Soon not only will my queen know who dared to oppose her, but also she will get your jewels for herself."

"Don't count on it fire breath."

Looking up Clair saw Alice morphed and facing down the monster who had triggered her worse fear.

"Ah blue ranger. Shall we continue where we left off?"

With these words Iron swept his tail back. To his surprise the ranger moved so the fireball launched out into empty space.

"You'll need to try harder than that to catch me metal brain."

Iron was furious at these words. With another sweep of his tail he sent three fireballs out at the blue ranger. With a smile Alice tapped her necklace.

"Crystal activate."

With a flash a gold and silver hammer appeared in her hand. Drawing her arm back Alice swung at the monster. Altering the ark of her swing just before impact to strike the tail. The scream that the monster let loose made Alice cover her ears, but the result was worth it. The monster was rolling around on the ground clutching at the stump of what had been his tail. Climbing back to his feet the monster gave Alice a hate filled look.

"You will pay for that ranger."

Alice Smiled and raised her hands, her hammer glowing with blue energy. As the monster started to breathe out fire, Alice swung her hammer forward sending a jet of water strait into his open mouth. As she brought her hammer down, the water turned to ice freezing and covering the monster.

"It is time for you to taste the element of life."

With a powerful swing Alice slammed her hammer into the monster's armor causing the monster to shatter upon contact.

Looking around Alice said, "Well rangers, that monster has seen the light."

Scalaxes stood at her crystal in shock. The blue ranger who had nearly fainted at the sight of a small fireball had just utterly destroyed one of her better monsters. She was going to have to come up with some new plans.

Back in the chamber the girls were congratulating Alice on her bravery at facing the monster who had frightened her. Kim smiled at Alice as well. She knew it wasn't bravery, but a determination to help her friends that had enabled Alice to tap into her weapon's ability to shift her power. Kim knew however that this wasn't the end, rather it was just the beginning.

An: And this chapter is finally done. This is the longest chapter I ve written so far. For those who are reading this, I'm sorry it's late. This chapter just would not write. I will be taking a break from Elemental Dawn for a while, until I am sure I can write a chapter without other ideas getting in the way. I am not abandoning this story, but I need a break. So when ever that is over, I'll see you all next time.