Heart of Crimson
Disclaimer: I don't own most if it. Just playing in somebody else's sandbox . . . several of them. However, Brandon's my baby.
Chapter 4: Crimson Revealed
All Zordon and Alpha were able to come up with from the Crimson Ranger's comments about fighting Shadows were vague legends about the very first Rangers fighting an enemy who commanded the power of shadow. However, no records they were able to access told them what the power of shadow was, or how to fight it. Even contact with the Eltaran archives only turned up more myths and legends . . . all of which provided contradictory information.
Over the next few weeks, the pattern of the Rangers' lives continued as it had since the arrival of Zedd . . . every few days the dark Lord would send either Goldar with a squad of Z-Patrollers or a monster and the fight would go much as they always did. However, now, just as the Rangers would begin to take control of the fight, the Patrollers or monster would manifest the shadow energy. Almost immediately afterwards, the Crimson Ranger would show up to help . . . disappearing again as soon as the shadow energy was gone. Jason continued to try to get more information and to try to get the mysterious Ranger to join them with no luck. The entire situation was enough to drive the Red Ranger slowly crazy.
On the other hand, things in Jason's personal life couldn't be going better. He and Brandon had gone on a real date . . . Jason wasn't quite sure who was more excited about that, him or Kimberly. Only a direct intervention from Tommy involving flowers, large quantities of chocolate, and a movie saved Jason from a "pre-date makeover" by the Pink Ranger.
They had met each other's parents, which had been incredibly nerve-wracking for Jason, as until then his parents had never really had to deal with the reality of him being gay. However, things went wonderfully and afterwards they were nothing but complimentary about Brandon. Brandon's parents had made Jason feel immediately at ease. The end result of all of this was that, as school started back up, Jason and Brandon were officially a couple.
It was a few days into the school year and Jason, Brandon, and Zack were sitting at the Rangers' usual table in the Youth Center after school when Brandon announced, 'She's evil, I tell you. Evil!"
Jason and Zack looked up from their own homework at Brandon, then at each other with confused expressions, and then back at Brandon. Jason asked, "Who's evil hon?"
Brandon sighed and replied, "Mrs. Applebee."
Understanding dawned on Jason and Zack's faces. "The personal statement and goals for the year essay?" Jason asked as clarification.
"Yes," Brandon replied, rubbing his eyes. "Whatever happened to the good old what I did over the summer essay?"
"Not Mrs. Applebee's style, my man," Zack answered. "She's more of a think about your future type." Brandon just groaned.
Jason took Brandon's hand across the table with a chuckle, "It's not as bad as it seems . . . for the first part you just think about the things you believe in and put it into words."
"She gives extra points for making it sound nice," Zack interjected.
Brandon seemed to think for a minute and then his eyes lit up, "There was this thing that Master Kandou told me Master Sha-Fu always said to sum up the principles of Jyuken." He started writing and then glanced up, seeing Jason and Zack's expressions of curiosity he verbalized what he was writing down, "In Life there is Training. Training Strengthens the Body, Beautifies the Mind, and Purifies the Heart. Through these is Unity with one's Beast Heart obtained."
"Wow, that's really cool," Jason commented.
"Yeah man," Zack added, "that will definitely get you major points."
Brandon finished his writing and asked, "Okay, so what do I do about these goals? I can't believe she wants ten."
"Well, the goals are supposed to reflect the personal statement," Jason answered.
Brandon nodded and smiled, "Okay, I see now. Yeah, I think I can get ten just by looking at how things I will do anyway this year will relate to the three principles. No problem." He leaned across the table and kissed Jason, "Thanks babe."
Jason smiled and blushed a little, as he was still becoming accustomed to Brandon's comfort with the same kind of public displays he used to pick on Tommy and Kim about. Zack, however, questioned with mock indignation, "Hey, what about me? I helped too."
There was a glint of mischief in Brandon's eyes as he replied, "Yes you did." He leaned towards Zack, his lips puckered. Zack nearly fell out of his chair trying to evade the kiss. The three teens shared a good, long laugh. Eventually they calmed back down and returned to their respective work. However, the quiet was interrupted and laughter reigned again as Brandon commented, "I still say she's evil."
Draeveus entered the Lunar Palace's throne room and kneeled before Zedd's throne, "You summoned me, my Lord?"
Zedd's metal-clad fingers strummed against the arm of the stone throne, "Yes Draeveus. I think it's time that you . . . introduced yourself to the Rangers."
The midnight-skinned warrior looked up, "Lord?"
"While we have made good use of your power as a Shadowmancer, I have been remiss in utilizing your skills as a warrior," the Dark Lord explained.
"This would give me the opportunity to meet the Crimson Ranger." It was a statement rather than a question, and Draeveus spat out the last two words.
"Yes," Zedd almost hissed the word, "the one force that has continuously saved the Rangers from your powers."
The Shadowmancer smiled coldly, "Thank you, my Lord. I will prepare for battle." With that Draeveus rose, bowed one last time, and left the throne room.
Once in the hall and away from prying eyes and ears, a shadow detached itself from the wall and became an ebony humanoid with glowing blue eyes. Draevus addressed it without looking at it, "Finally, I was beginning to think Zedd would never get frustrated enough to send me into battle. Once the Crimson Ranger appears, you will monitor the battle. When he departs, you will follow and observe him until he de-morphs. Be certain to obtain a clear image of his face before returning to me, but do not be seen."
The entity nodded and melted back into the shadows of the hallway as Draeveus continued to the chamber where the Z-Patrollers were stored awaiting battle. If he heard the muted growl from the darkness of a nearby alcove, he gave no sign.
Jason and Brandon, along with Kim and Billy, who also lived in the same neighborhood, were walking home later when Brandon suddenly seemed distracted, stopped, and proceeded to dig thought his backpack. "Crap," he swore.
"What's wrong?" Jason asked.
Brandon looked up sheepishly, "I left my math book at the Youth Center."
Jason looked at Kim and Billy and got nods and then said, 'We can go back for it."
"It's okay guys, no reason for us all to be late for dinner. I'll just run back." He kissed Jason quickly and said, "I'll call you later. See you later Kim, Billy," before running back in the direction of the Youth Center.
Kim and Billy waved and said "later" and "affirmative," respectively. No sooner was Brandon was out of sight than the three Rangers' communicators chimed.
The three reflexively looked around for anyone who might overhear and, finding no one, Jason answered the call, "Jason, Kim, and Billy here. Go ahead."
Alpha's high toned voice issued from the device on Jason's wrist, "Aiy, aiy, aiy Rangers! A squad of Z-Patrollers and an unknown warrior are attacking Angel Grove Beach!"
The three looked at each other and Jason asked, "Warrior? Not a monster?"
Zordon's voice now responded, "Affirmative Rangers, this is a living warrior, not one of Zedd or Finster's creations. Also be aware there are still civilians in the area. Tommy, Zack, and Trini are already en route."
"Right Zordon, we're on our way." Jason closed the connection and he and his fellow Rangers looked around again to make sure they were alone. Assuring themselves they were Jason gave the command, "It's Moprhin' Time! Red Dragon!"
"Pink Firebird!"
"Blue Unicorn!"
"Who the hell is this guy?" Tommy thought as he used every bit of swordsmanship he possessed to deflect the attacks of the unknown alien who was leading the Z-Patrollers. Whoever he was, he was good . . . and that worried Tommy deeply. Goldar's style focused on power and he was easy to anger, making him sloppy. This new guy was all about finesse and skill, and he had yet to say a word or respond to Tommy's attempts to bait him. Tommy deflected another attack away, but the new warrior spun dizzyingly fast with the deflection and, before Tommy could get his guard back up, has knocked the White Ranger back with a powerful slash across the chest. While, thankfully, the slash didn't penetrate, Tommy had still been able to feel it and it left a scar across his armor.
Tommy was on the ground with the mystery warrior advancing on him. Zack and Trini were still busy trying to get civilians clear while protecting them from Z-Patrollers. Tommy was starting to get worried about his chances when he heard his favorite voice in the whole world yell, "Hey blue boy! Back off!"
The swordsman looked up in the direction of the voice and quickly used his sword to bat away the shower of arrows Kimberly had launched from her Power Bow. Jason and Billy came up alongside Tommy as the White Ranger rose to his feet. Tommy could tell by the angle of Jason's visor that he was looking at the scar in his chest plate.
"Bro?" Jason asked.
"Fine," Tommy replied and both Rangers returned their focus to their enemy.
The warrior lowered his sword with a cold smile. His voice slid over the Rangers like oil as he finally spoke, "Hmm, three more Rangers, but still not the whole set. Oh, wait, that's right . . ., the Crimson Ranger never seems to show up until after I've done this!" He turned towards the Z-Patrollers and gestured at them with his free hand. As had happened some many times before in the last several weeks, the Z-Patrollers became filled with a shadowy energy, their forms darkening and their eyes filling with a eerie bluish light.
"It's you!" Billy exclaimed as the Rangers regrouped to deal with the added threat.
"Such a gift for stating the obvious, Blue Ranger. And here I was told that you were the smart one," he taunted as he advanced with the Z-Patrollers on the Rangers. An advance that was interrupted when bolts of crimson light exploded all around him.
When the dust and sand cleared, the Crimson Ranger stood between the Rangers and the dark warrior . . . who smiled. "At last, the elusive Crimson Ranger."
The Crimson Ranger stood in a battle ready stance, his weapon already in sword mode. He said only one word in response, "Shadowmancer."
The warrior inclined his head, "How formal of you, but you may call me Draeveus."
"Your name is irrelevant," The Crimson ranger replied, "I won't let you harm this world."
"Try and stop me!" Draeveus yelled as he leapt into battle. The Z-Patrollers took that as their cue to attack the other Rangers.
The Rangers found themselves battling Z-Patrollers with their power weapons, a situation that grated on Jason and Tommy's pride. However, all the Rangers knew that with the Crimson Ranger fighting Draeveus, use of their weapons was the only way they stood a chance against the shadow enhanced foot soldiers. While the energy emitted by the Phoenix Avenger's blaster mode seemed to be enough to destroy the enhanced Z-Patrollers simply by piercing the medallions on their chest, the Rangers had found they needed not only to merely crack the medallions as they did with normal Z-Patrollers, but to actually shatter it into at least two complete pieces. But if their was one thing the Rangers had always been good at, it was turning knowledge about their enemy into action, and so they managed to not only hold their own, but turn the tide.
Jason spared a second to glance at the fight between the Crimson Ranger and Draeveus. Both fighters were a blur of black and crimson with flashes of silver and gold, trading blows at a speed almost too fast to follow. Metal crashed against metal as the two fighters attacked, parried, and blocked, neither seeming to gain the upper hand.
Just as the Rangers finished off the Z-Patrollers, there was a flash of light as the Crimson Ranger charged his blade and slashed Draeveus. The Shadowmancer flew several feet away and hit the ground. As he stood, it was obvious he was bleeding from a wound in his side, but Draeveus appears to ignore the injury. His blood was as tar as tar as it dripped from the wound, and stood out in stark contrast to the gold of the Crimson Ranger's blade where it stained the weapon. The drops that fell from wound and blade burned as they struck the sand.
"Excellent, Crimson Ranger, you are every bit the warrior I had hoped you were. This battle has been . . . enlightening." As Draeveus finished speaking, shadows appeared to rise from nowhere and swallow him.
The Rangers looked back at the Crimson Ranger, who merely glanced down at his sword. Crimson flames consumed Draeveus' blood. He then converted and holstered the Avenger. He looked at Jason, but this time the Red Ranger didn't try to stop him. He nodded once, turned and, as always, disappeared in a crimson blur.
It followed. It existed only to serve the Shadowmancer, and the Shadowmancer wished it to follow the crimson light, and so it did. It followed the crimson light to a structure in a place where quiet, lesser shadows reigned. Not true Shadows; these were cast by the light of the nearby star, not by the Light or the Darkness. In a small chamber on the upper floor of the structure, the crimson light stopped moving. There, it flared brighter for a moment, before dimming.
It watched as the as the crimson light became a being shaped like the Shadowmancer, like itself when the Shadowmancer wished it to have form. While shaped like the Shadowmancer, the being differed from the Shadowmancer in many ways. It was paler and possessed less mass. Its eyes were a pale brown, rather than deep red. The hair was red though, a dark red. Not as dark as the crimson light, but similar. It made images of these features, images of the being's face, and images of the amulet that glowed with inner light that the being hid beneath his coverings part of itself. It returned to the Shadowmancer, its mission complete.