Chapter 8: The Final Exam
In the Ranger's base beneath the antique shop, Mason and Jun were training together while Beth was busy studying. Logan was with Hitoshi helping him duplicate the Ninja Master Mode Power Star. Hitoshi threw a throwing star made of Ninja Steel into the Ninja Nexus Prism causing the Ninja Nexus Prism to begin glowing. A glowing Power Star shot out of the Ninja Nexus Prism and hit Logan as he caught it.
"That's three done," Logan said as he sat the Power Star down next to the others.
"Just one more left to make," Hitoshi said as he picked up another throwing star.
Hitoshi threw the throwing star into the Ninja Nexus Prism as Logan prepared himself. The Power Star shot out of the Ninja Nexus Prism and landed in Logan's hands.
"And that's all," Logan said as he smirked.
"What do those things do again?" Mason asked Hitoshi as he blocked Jun's sword with his sword.
"The Ninja Master Mode Power Star transforms the user's Ninja Star Blade into a new weapon and also gives the user powerful armor," Hitoshi explained to Mason as Mason continued training.
"And since dad and Logan made four more, it means all of us can use this new power," Jun said as she knocked Mason's sword away.
Mason gasped as Jun pointed her sword at his chest.
"You just got lucky," Mason said as he chuckled.
Mason walked over towards Beth and saw that she was still studying.
"You've been reading that textbook ever since we got out of school today," Mason said as he sat down next to Beth.
"Well, I don't want to fail that big test tomorrow," Beth said as she sighed.
"You're one of the smartest people I know," Mason told Beth. "Probably right after Logan,"
"That's kind of you," Beth said as she smiled.
"If anybody will pass that test, aside from Logan, it will be you," Mason said as he patted on Beth's shoulder.
"Thanks Mason, but I want to be sure I can pass by studying," Beth said as she rose to her feet.
"Where are you going?" Mason asked Beth.
"I think I'm going to go out to the park and see if Mother Nature can help with the studying," Beth said as she walked towards the exit.
Beth left the base and came up into the backroom of the antique shop.
"Okay Beth, let's hurry and get done with this studying," Beth said as she continued to the front of the store towards the exit.
On Cosmo's ship, Cosmo and a group of Kudabots were dancing in front of the crowd on the stage while someone was playing a bagpipe. A monster resembling a tengu walked out onto the stage playing a bagpipe.
"I can't stop!" Cosmo shouted as he continued dancing while the monster played his bagpipe.
The monster suddenly stopped playing and began chuckling.
"Aye, I am Badpipes and I am the next contestant to take on the Power Rangers!" Badpipes shouted with a Scottish accent.
"Do not ever make me dance like that again!" Cosmo shouted at Badpipes.
"Oh shut your mouth," Badpipes said as he shoved Cosmo aside. "With my bagpipe, I can obtain those Rangers Power Stars with ease,"
"Then get to it before Galvanax becomes impatient," Cosmo said to Badpipes as he dusted off his jacket.
"Fine, fine, settle down you munter," Badpipes said as he walked away.
"Will Badpipes be able to stop the Rangers?" Cosmo asked the crowd as the Kudabots followed Badpipes off the stage.
The crowd began roaring as Cosmo held the microphone towards them.
"Let's get the Buzzcams ready!" Cosmo shouted as Buzzcams flew around him on the stage.
The Buzzcams flew off and left to go locate Badpipes.
In the park, Beth was sitting by herself at a picnic table reading her textbook while taking notes on a sheet of paper. A Buzzcam quietly landed on a tree branch on a nearby tree and looked over at Beth. Beth sighed in boredom as she looked away from her textbook.
"Am I trying too hard or something?" Beth asked herself.
Beth rose to her feet and stepped away from the picnic table as she stretched her arms.
"I guess I'm done for now," Beth said as she went to grab her books.
As Beth picked up her books an odd tune began playing. Beth dropped her books to the ground as her suddenly flashed. Badpipes stepped out from behind a tree playing his bagpipe. Beth turned towards Badpipes and slowly began making her way towards him. Badpipes stopped playing his bagpipe as he began snickering.
"Alright lassie, hand over your Power Star," Badpipes said to Beth as he held his hand out.
"As you wish," Beth said with a blank stare.
Beth handed the White Ninja Power Star to Badpipes.
"Now follow me before your buddies arrive," Badpipes said as he began walking away.
Badpipes began playing on his bagpipe once again causing Beth to begin following him.
A few hours later, Beth's mother was watching out the window for Beth to show up. Beth's mother sighed as she closed the blinds with a worried look on her face. She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
"Hi Hitoshi, is Beth still there?" Beth's mother asked Hitoshi over the phone.
"No, she left a few hours ago to go study for a test," Hitoshi informed Beth's mother. "Has she not came home yet?"
"She hasn't, and I'm starting to get worried," Beth's mother told Hitoshi.
"I'll tell the others to keep an eye out for her when they head home," Hitoshi said to Beth's mother.
"Thank you," Beth's mother said as she moved the phone away from her ear.
Beth's mother hung up the phone and sat down in a chair in the living room.
"Please be safe," Beth's mother pleaded as she looked over at a picture of Beth on the wall.
Down in the base underneath the antique shop, Hitoshi walked into the training room where Mason and Jun were cleaning up after finishing up. Mason looked over at Hitoshi and saw that something was troubling him.
"What's on your mind?" Mason asked Hitoshi.
"I just got a call from Beth's mother," Hitoshi said as Logan walked into the training room from the lab. "Beth is missing,"
"Logan, can you track her on her Ninja Comm?" Jun asked Logan.
"Yeah, I'll go do that now," Logan said as he turned back towards the lab.
"She usually goes to the park to be by herself," Mason told Hitoshi. "I'll go check and see if she's there,"
"Be careful," Jun said as Mason walked out the door.
"Kiyomi should be back already," Hitoshi said to Jun. "I'll contact her and tell her to meet up with Mason,"
"Hopefully we can find her soon," Jun said as her father walked back into the lab.
Out in a cave outside of the city, Badpipes was staring at the White Ninja Power Star in his hand as he snickered. Ripcon walked into the cave and saw Badpipes gazing at the Power Star. Badpipes noticed Ripcon walking towards him and stopped what he was doing.
"What're you doing here?" Badpipes asked Ripcon.
"I came for the Power Star so I could deliver it to Galvanax," Ripcon told Badpipes.
"But I still haven't gotten the others yet," Badpipes said as he hid the Power Star behind his back.
Ripcon looked behind Badpipes and saw Beth sitting on the ground with a chain locked on her ankle.
"Fine, we'll use the White Ranger as bait to obtain the other Power Stars tomorrow," Ricon said to Badpipes.
"Freaking bampot," Badpipes grumbled to himself as he turned away from Ripcon.
"What was that?" Ripcon asked Badpipes.
"I'm going to go guard the entrance," Badpipes said as he walked by Ripcon.
"Whatever," Ripcon said as he crossed his arms.
Beth slowly opened her eyes and saw Ripcon in front of her as her eyes adjusted.
"What the heck?" Beth said as she noticed her leg was chained.
Ripcon looked over his shoulder and saw that Beth was awake.
"I see that Badpipes tune wore off of you," Ripcon said to Beth.
"Where am I?" Beth asked Ripcon.
"In a cave outside of the city," Ripcon told Beth as he walked towards her.
"My Ninja Comm is gone!" Beth said in horror as she grabbed her wrist.
"I'm sure Badpipes took it from you so you couldn't contact your friends," Ripcon said as he leaned against the wall.
"What do you want with me?" Beth asked Ripcon.
"We're going to use you as bait to get the other Power Stars," Ripcon told Beth.
"That's not going to work," Beth said as she chuckled.
"If your life is on the line it will," Ripcon said as he looked over at Beth.
"Why did you become a demon?" Beth asked Ripcon.
"That's none of your concern," Ripcon said as he began walking away.
"Your brother is unconscious and has been for days because of you," Beth said in disgust.
"Good, but next time I'll make sure he never wakes up," Ripcon said as he snickered.
"You'll have to get through the others first," Beth said to Ripcon.
"Don't make me laugh," Ripcon said as he walked through the exit tunnel.
Beth began pulling on the chain trying to break it.
"I just had to leave the shop to go study by myself!" Beth cried in frustration.
Beth dropped the chain and hid her face as she began crying.
"Jirou, someone, please find me," Beth said to herself as she cried.
In the park late at night, Mason walked up a hill to a picnic table. Mason began looking around the picnic table and saw a book lying on the ground. Mason picked up the book and saw that it was a history textbook. Mason opened the book and saw Beth's name signed inside behind the cover.
"This doesn't look good," Mason said as Kiyomi silently walked up next to him.
Mason gasped in astonishment as he noticed Kiyomi next to him.
"Can you not do that next time?" Mason asked Kiyomi.
"I'm assuming that book is hers," Kiyomi said to Mason.
"Yeah, and she's nowhere to be found," Mason told Kiyomi.
Kiyomi knelt down and looked closely at the dirt.
"What're you doing?" Mason asked Kiyomi.
"Looking at the footprints in the dirt," Kiyomi said as she examined a footprint.
"Weirdo," Mason said as he sat down at the table.
"This footprint isn't human," Kiyomi pointed out to Mason.
Mason looked down at the footprint and snickered.
"Can you at least tell where they took her?" Mason asked Kiyomi.
"No, but it's at least a start," Kiyomi said as she rose to her feet.
"Well you have fun looking at footprints," Mason said as he got up. "I'm going to go find Beth,"
"I can tell you have feelings for her," Kiyomi said to Mason as he walked away.
Mason came to a halt and turned back towards Kiyomi.
"That's none of your business," Mason told Kiyomi.
"Then don't make it so obvious," Kiyomi said as she walked by Mason.
Mason groaned in frustration and began following Kiyomi down the path with Beth's textbook in hand.
The next morning, Hitoshi was talking on the phone with Beth's mother. As Hitoshi continued talking, Jirou slowly walked down the stairs in pain. Hitoshi saw Jirou beginning to fall down and quickly sat his phone down. Jirou grabbed the railing and saved himself as Hitoshi ran over to him.
"What're you doing out of bed?" Hitoshi asked Jirou.
"I'm done resting," Jirou said as he walked by Hitoshi.
"You're still injured after what happened the other day," Hitoshi told Jirou.
"I don't care," Jirou said as he slowly walked up to the counter. "I'm not going to lay around while my brother is out there possessed by a demon,"
"Jirou, you can't fight your brother in your condition," Hitoshi informed Jirou.
"That's how I know he's scared," Jirou told Hitoshi. "He attacked me from behind,"
"Ninjas hardly ever face their enemies face to face Jirou," Hitoshi said to Jirou as he picked up his phone off the counter.
"He's not a ninja anymore," Jirou said to Hitoshi.
"Your brother is the least of our worries right now," Hitoshi said as he sat down. "Beth is missing,"
"Seiji, he has to be behind this," Jirou said as he looked away.
"I have the store closed for today," Hitoshi said to Jirou. "I was going to go look around the city for a sign of Beth while the others are at school,"
"You can't go out there by yourself," Jirou said to Hitoshi.
"I'm not, Kiyomi is going with me," Hitoshi told Jirou as he began heading towards the door.
"She's still here?" Jirou said in confusion.
"Only until you're better," Hitoshi said as he opened the door. "Now stay here and rest,"
Hitoshi closed the door behind him and walked off down the street leaving Jirou by himself at the store. Jirou sighed as he walked across the room and came up to a mirror. Jirou pulled his shirt up and turned his back towards the mirror. Jirou looked over his shoulder and saw the scar from his brother's attack going across his back.
"Scars never go away, and neither does my will to fight and protect my family and friends," Jirou said as he walked away from the mirror.
At the school, Mason, Jun and Logan were sitting at their desks along with their classmates taking a test in class. The teacher quietly walked around the classroom watching the teens work. Mason sighed as he leaned back in his seat and stretched his arms.
"Is something bothering you?" Ms. Kay asked Mason.
"No ma'am, I'm good," Mason said as he went back to working on his test.
As Ms. Kay turned away, Mason looked over at an empty desk.
"Once we're done here, we'll come find you Beth," Mason said quietly to himself.
Logan sat his pencil down and sighed in relief.
"You're finished already Mr. Kester?" Ms. Kay asked Logan as she walked up to his desk.
"Yeah, it wasn't too difficult," Logan said as Ms. Kay took his test of his desk.
Logan looked over at Mason and saw him looking over at Beth's desk.
"We'll find her," Logan said to himself as he leaned back and crossed his arms in his seat.
A few hours later, Hitoshi and Kiyomi were searching the city for hints of Beth's whereabouts. As Hitoshi was talking to a man across the street, Kiyomi was sitting on a bench by herself. Hitoshi came walking back over to Kiyomi and sat down next to her.
"Did you get anything from him?" Kiyomi asked Hitoshi.
"No, nothing at all," Hitoshi said as he sighed.
"Then we need to begin searching for the monster that took her," Kiyomi said as she rose to her feet.
"How're we going to do that?" Hitoshi asked Kiyomi.
"We make them come to us," Kiyomi said as she smirked.
Kiyomi began walking away leaving Hitoshi behind. Hitoshi quickly rose to his feet and went off after Kiyomi.
"We should contact the others first!" Hitoshi shouted to Kiyomi as he chased after her.
In the Ranger's Base, Jirou slowly walked down the stairs and entered the base. Jirou leaned against the wall in pain to stay on his feet and continued towards the lab. Jirou walked into the lab and sat down in front of the computer.
"Come on Beth," Jirou said as he began typing.
Jirou brought up a satellite view of the city and began searching around for Beth.
"No voice recognitions in the city," Jirou said to himself as he hit another key. "Let's try searching for her Power Star's energy signature,"
Five blips appeared around the city causing Jirou to slam his fist down in frustration.
"Something is blocking her Power Star from being detected," Jirou said as he hit another button.
A faint signal suddenly appeared just outside of the city.
"Wait a second," Jirou said as he zoomed in on the location.
The signal instantly faded away.
"That's her Power Star's signature!" Jirou said in disbelief.
Jirou grabbed a pen and wrote down the coordinates on a small piece of paper.
"Hang on Beth, I'm coming," Jirou said as he rose to his feet.
Jirou slowly made his way out of the lab and headed back upstairs.
At the school, Jun, Mason and Logan walked out of the school as the bell rang loudly. Other students walked past them as their Ninja Comms began going off. The three teens stepped around the school and hid from the other students.
"What's going on dad?" Jun asked her father as he appeared on the screen.
"I just came by the shop to check on Jirou and he's not here," Hitoshi said to the others.
"He must be going after Ripcon," Mason said to the others.
"Then we need to stop him before it's too late," Logan said as he pressed a button on his Ninja Comm.
Blips appeared around the map of the city on Logan's Ninja Comm.
"Only five Power Stars are being picked up right now," Logan told Mason and Jun.
"That's us, Kiyomi and Jirou then," Jun said as she looked at Logan's Ninja Comm.
"There's also a very faint signal coming from outside of the city," Logan told Mason and Jun.
"And it looks like Jirou is going towards it," Mason said as he pointed at the moving blip.
"Then Jirou's not going after Ripcon!" Jun said as she smiled. "He found Beth's location!"
"Then let's hurry and get out there too," Mason said as he began walking away.
"I'll send the coordinates to Kiyomi on our way there," Logan said as he continued messing with his Ninja Comm as he followed Mason and Jun off of the school grounds.
Out in the woods near the cave Beth was being held captive in, Ripcon came walking out holding a chain and pulled Beth out behind him. Badpipes walked out of the cave chuckling as he watched Ripcon pull Beth.
"Keep moving!" Ripcon shouted at Beth as he continued walking.
"You heard him!" Badpipes said to Beth as he shoved her.
Beth fell to the ground and groaned in pain as she struggled to get up.
"We need to get to the city and trade her for the other Power Stars," Ripcon said as Beth rose to her feet.
"My friends won't give you their Power Stars," Beth said to Ripcon.
"Then I guess they wouldn't mind losing a friend," Ripcon said as he pulled the chain causing Beth to stumble forward.
"Keep moving lassie," Badpipes said to Beth as the three continued moving.
Ripcon came to a halt and looked up at the trees above him.
"What's bothering you?" Badpipes asked Ripcon.
"Someone's watching us," Ripcon said as he reached for one of his swords.
While Ripcon was staring up at the trees, something struck the chain causing it to break.
"What just happened?" Badpipes said in confusion as the chains fell off of Beth.
Ripcon fired a blast towards a tree from his hand. The blast struck the tree causing Kiyomi to appear and jump away from the tree with her Ninja Star Blade in hand.
"The Green Ranger!" Ripcon shouted as Kiyomi turned towards Ripcon.
"Beth, run!" Kiyomi shouted at Beth as she pulled out her morpher.
Beth began running away as Badpipes went to grab her.
"Do not let her escape!" Ripcon shouted at Badpipes.
"Ninja Spin!" Kiyomi shouted as she spun her Ninja Power Star on her morpher causing her to morph.
Kiyomi ran towards Ripcon and swung her sword at him. Ripcon blocked Kiyomi's sword and snickered as he held her back.
"How did you find us?" Ripcon asked Kiyomi. "We made sure no one could track down the White Ranger,"
"I guess you didn't try hard enough!" Kiyomi shouted as she shoved Ripcon back.
Kiyomi jumped back away from Ripcon as she pulled out her Ninja Blaster. Kiyomi fired a blast at Ripcon but the blast was deflected as Ripcon knocked it away with his sword.
"You're no match for me!" Ripcon shouted as he pulled out his other sword.
Ripcon ran towards Kiyomi and swung both of his swords at Kiyomi at the same time. Kiyomi rolled away from Ripcon and narrowly avoided the attack.
"Let's see how you like being dragged around!" Kiyomi shouted as she placed a Power Star on the back of her Ninja Blaster.
Kiyomi fired a laser beam from her blaster at Ripcon. The beam wrapped around Ripcon's ankle like a whip causing Ripcon to fall over as Kiyomi pulled him towards her.
"This cheap trick won't work on me!" Ripcon shouted as he sliced through the beam with his sword.
Ripcon freed himself and fired a blast at Kiyomi. The blast hit the ground in front of Kiyomi causing her to be blown back. Kiyomi crashed into a tree and fell to the ground as Ripcon began making his way towards her.
"You're about to join the Red Ranger on the sidelines," Ripcon said as his swords began glowing.
Beth was running through the woods with Badpipes chasing after her. Beth jumped over a fallen tree and continued running. Badpipes' wings suddenly spread out allowing him to begin flying towards Beth.
"You won't escape me lassie!" Badpipes shouted as he was catching up to Beth.
"I can't run much longer!" Beth said in fear as she slowly started to slow down.
Beth fell to the ground breathing heavily and struggled to get back up.
"Now I've got you!" Badpipes shouted as he came flying up.
A blast suddenly hit Badpipes and sent him crashing into a tree. Beth looked over and saw a Mega Morph Cycle pull up next to her. Mason stepped off of the Mega Morph Cycle as Jun and Logan pulled up on their cycles.
"Mason!" Beth said as she slowly rose to her feet.
"Are you okay?" Jun asked Beth as she ran over to her.
"Yeah, thanks to you guys," Beth said as she nodded.
"Great, the other Rangers have found us now!" Badpipes shouted in frustration.
Badpipes pulled out his bagpipe and went to begin playing it. Mason fired a blast at the bagpipe and knocked it out of Badpipes' hands.
"No!" Badpipes shouted as he saw the bagpipe fall to the ground damaged.
"I'm not in the mood for music," Mason said as he lowered his blaster.
"You'll pay for that blue lad!" Badpipes shouted angrily at Mason.
"I'd do it again if I could," Mason said as he began running towards Badpipes.
Badpipes pulled out a fan-like weapon and waved it causing a powerful gust of wind. Mason was caught in the wind and was blown back with ease.
"Mason, are you good?" Logan asked Mason.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Mason said as he quickly got up.
"Try and get to me now!" Badpipes shouted as he chuckled.
"We need to get my Power Star back," Beth said to Jun.
"Does he have it?" Jun asked Beth.
"Yeah, but we won't be able to get it so easily as long as he has that fan," Beth told Jun.
"Let us handle that," Logan said as he pulled out his Ninja Star Blade.
Logan placed his Ninja Element Star on his sword and spun it.
"Ninja Element Star!" Logan shouted as his sword began glowing. "Ninja Forest Attack!"
Vines flew out of Logan's sword and flew towards Badpipes.
"That's not going to happen!" Badpipes shouted as he waved his fan once more.
Badpipes blew the vines back towards Logan causing the vines to wrap around Logan.
"I can't move!" Logan shouted as he fell to the ground tangled in vines.
"We need to find a way to get up close to him," Mason said to Jun and Beth.
"Well none of our attacks can reach him and will just be thrown right back at us," Jun told Mason.
Beth suddenly gasped.
"What's wrong?" Mason asked Beth.
"I have an idea," Beth said to Mason.
"What is it?" Jun asked Beth as she was freeing Logan from the vines.
"Distract Badpipes and I'll get him from behind," Beth whispered to the others.
"What're you going to do to him?" Logan asked Beth as he got back up.
"I'll take back what's mine," Beth said as she clenched her fist.
The three Rangers turned towards Badpipes and stood in front of Beth.
"Don't get spotted," Mason whispered to Beth.
"I'm tired of waiting!" Badpipes shouted as fired a blast from flute-like nose.
The Rangers moved out of the way and avoided the blast.
"Do it now!" Mason shouted to Jun and Logan.
Jun and Logan quickly activated their Ninja Element Stars as they leapt towards Badpipes.
"Ninja Metal Attack!" Jun and Logan shouted as they sent chains from their swords flying towards Badpipes.
"Have you forgotten about my trusty fan?" Badpipes asked the Rangers as he went to wave his fan.
Beth quietly snuck up behind Badpipes and snatched her Power Star hanging from his belt.
"Hey!" Badpipes shouted as he noticed Beth. "That Power Star is mine!"
As Beth ran away from Badpipes, the chains wrapped around Badpipes trapping him.
"Impossible!" Badpipes shouted in disbelief.
Beth ran back over to the others and placed her Power Star on her morpher.
"You ready to finish this guy?" Mason asked Beth as she instantly morphed.
"Oh yeah!" Beth said as she pulled out a Ninja Master Mode Star.
Beth placed the Power Star on her Ninja Star Blade and quickly spun it.
"Ninja Master Mode!" Beth shouted as the Ninja Master Mode armor appeared on her along with her sword transforming into the Ninja Master Blade.
"Keep him still," Mason said to Jun and Logan.
"We've got him!" Logan said to Mason.
"Please, don't do this to me!" Badpipes pleaded to the Rangers.
"You got yourself into this position when you captured me!" Beth shouted as she began running towards Badpipes.
Beth activated her Ninja Master Blade causing the ninja stars in the blade to begin spinning.
"Ninja Master Final Attack!" Beth shouted as she ran up to Badpipes and sawed through him with a single swing.
Badpipes fell to the ground screaming in pain and exploded behind Beth.
"That's what you get for making me miss the test," Beth said as she powered down back to her normal mode.
"Beth, did you ever see Jirou out here?" Jun asked Beth.
"No, just you guys and Kiyomi," Beth told Jun.
"Odd, we saw his Power Star's signal heading this way," Logan said in confusion.
"Oh no!" Beth said as she realized something.
"What is it?" Mason asked beth.
"Kiyomi was fighting Ripcon when I escaped," Beth told the others. "Jirou is probably going after him!"
"We need to stop Jirou before he gets hurt again," Jun said as she began walking away.
"Who knows, Ripcon might do something worse this time," Mason said as he and the others followed Jun.
Back near the cave, Kiyomi and Ripcon were still battling each other. Kiyomi dove behind a tree to separate herself from Ripcon for a moment. Kiyomi pulled out a Power Star and placed it on her sword.
"Enough hiding!" Ripcon shouted as he stepped around the tree.
Ripcon gasped when he saw that Kiyomi was gone. A blast of flames hit Ripcon in the back causing him to roll forward.
"I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve," Kiyomi said as her sword had flames spiraling around it.
"Then I guess I have to step it up," Ripcon said as he ran towards Kiyomi.
Kiyomi swung her flaming sword at Ripcon and missed as Ripcon leaned away. Ripcon swatted Kiyomi's sword out of her hand and sent it flying towards a tree. The sword stabbed into a tree as Ripcon began striking Kiyomi repeatedly with his swords. Kiyomi fell to the ground in pain as Ripcon started laughing evilly.
"You ninjas of this generation should be ashamed of your selves," Ripcon said to Kiyomi as Kiyomi struggled to her feet.
"Go ahead and finish me then," Kiyomi said as she held her arm.
"Fine then," Ripcon said as his swords began glowing.
Ripcon raised his swords into the air as Kiyomi stood still waiting for his attack.
"I guess this is it then," Kiyomi said as she sighed.
A Ninja Star Blade suddenly struck Ripcon's right arm causing him to drop his sword. Kiyomi looked up ahead and saw Jirou standing behind Ripcon. Ripcon turned his attention towards Jirou and began snarling angrily.
"Jirou!" Kiyomi said in astonishment.
"So, you actually came out of hiding," Ripcon said as he grasped his arm in pain.
"I'm not going to let you harm anyone else," Jirou said as he pulled Kiyomi's sword out of the tree next to him.
"You're injured, you won't be able to keep up with me," Ripcon told Jirou.
"Last I checked, you're injured too," Jirou said as Ripcon grasped his arm tighter.
"Jirou, you're in no shape to fight him!" Kiyomi said to Jirou.
"I know I'm not, but I can't let him cause any more trouble," Jirou said as he tightened his grip on the sword in his hand.
"Then you actually want to kill me, your own brother," Ripcon said as he chuckled.
"You're not my brother," Jirou said as he prepared to attack.
As Jirou began to run towards Ripcon, Jirou was instantly surrounded by a smoke cloud. Ripcon swung his sword the cloud of smoke and revealed that Jirou was gone. Ripcon quickly turned around and saw that Kiyomi was also missing.
"I knew you weren't going to face me today!" Ripcon shouted angrily. "You coward!"
In the forest, the other Rangers were running towards the cave were Beth was held captive. Mason suddenly came to a halt when he heard leaves rustling. The others ran up to Mason and looked over at where he was staring.
"What is it?" Logan asked Mason.
"I heard something over there," Mason said as he began walking towards a bush.
Mason walked past the tree and saw Jirou with Kiyomi walking towards them.
"What happened to Ripcon?" Beth asked Jirou and Kiyomi.
"I got Kiyomi out of there before things got bad," Jirou told Beth.
"You shouldn't even be out here," Jun said to Jirou in frustration.
"Hey, if it wasn't for Jirou, we wouldn't have found Beth," Kiyomi said to Jun. "He sent me the coordinates of her location,"
"I'm just glad we're all okay," Logan said to the others.
"Let's just get back to the city," Beth said as she swatted at a bug flying around her. "I'm sick of mother nature,"
The Rangers headed off back to the city as the sun began setting.
The next day, Beth walked into a classroom and saw Ms. Kay sitting by herself at her desk. Beth walked up to Ms. Kay's desk and waited for her to respond.
"I'm surprised you weren't her yesterday," Ms. Kay said to Beth. "You missed one of the most important tests of the year,"
"Yes, I know," Beth said to Ms. Kay. "Can I please have a chance to take it?"
"I don't see why not," Ms. Kay said as she handed Beth a sheet of paper.
Beth smiled and turned away from Ms. Kay. Beth saw Jirou sitting in the back of the room and gasped.
"Oh, Mr. Takayama is also here to finish his test as well," Ms. Kay said to Beth.
Beth walked over to a desk and sat down.
"Good luck," Jirou said to Beth as he worked on his test.
Beth smirked as she began working. Ms. Kay peeked over the top of the book she was reading and saw Jirou and Beth working. Ms. Kay then smirked as she hid her face behind the book.
Later that day on a rooftop in the city, a Gold Ranger looked out at the city surrounding him as he laid his sword over his shoulder.
"Soon, this city will be introduced to a new Ranger," The Gold Ranger said as the sun glistened on his suit. "Those other Rangers won't know what hit them,"
The Gold Ranger leapt off the rooftop and instantly took off to the next roof with blinding speed.
