Azalia stared in awe at the giant zord known as Pyramidas. It was indeed a magnificent sight to behold. She knew the raw power that it held would have been more then enough to destroy the dragonzords. But she had to approach with caution, for it wasn't hers. In fact, she wasn't even looking to take Pyramidas. She was rather after Slasheria.
Azalia teleported herself inside, to the cockpit. She waited for Slasheria to wake up. Lucky for her, it wouldn't take long. She heard Slasheria's footsteps.
Azalia: You didn't keep me waiting long. Glad you remembered that.
Slasheria: You assume to much.
Azalia: Meaning?
Slasheria: I'm no longer under your control. I only remained in your service for one purpose. That purpose has been fulfilled. With Lauren's death, I have ascended beyond mere mortality. I am immortal now. And with the power of the gold ranger at my disposal, I am more powerful then YOU!
Slasheria blasted Azalia out of the zord. The glass fixed itself. Both landed on the side. Azalia was mad.
Azalia: You forget, I created you!
Slasheria: Perhaps. But like I said. It was never my intention to remain under your control. You can't kill me because I am a spectralis. A soul fragment that has manifested itself a body. I was mortal as long as the rest of Lauren's soul was alive, but it died with her in the Azurezord. So go ahead...do your worst.
Azalia: You sure you want me to do that?
Slasheria: Well...not while we're on Pyramidas. I don't want to ruin the paint job.
Azalia: Hmph. Fine. I shall leave you for now. I know when I can't get through. But that's okay. With what I have planned, you'll eventually want to join in. That's a guarantee.
Slasheria: We'll see about that.
Azalia: Perhaps. But you know...I know the one thing about you oh so well. Pride. You kept getting best by the power rangers. Thus you want your personal revenge. So how's about this...let's gamble. The one who destroys the rangers, gets their emeralds. Even with your new power, even you would want more to it.
Slasheria: I'll take that bet. Just know this. I won't be defeated by you.
Azalia: Only time will tell.
Azalia used her magic to teleport away from Slasheria. Slasheria chuckled at her former boss. She did enjoy her freedom, and she had all the time in the universe to enjoy it fully.
Back in Reefside, Ryder had woken up, and had been brought up to date with everything, including his origins. He kept looking over the footage of him in his dragon form. He just couldn't believe it.
Ryder: All this time, I had that beast within me.
Raykahn: It is not something sealed, or soul attached. It is you. Completely. The question is now, can you control yourself?
Ryder: What does it matter if I can or not gramps? I am needed out there. I know I'm not the best leader in the world, but I'll be damned if I don't do my best. We're not just talking fate of the world, but fate of the damn universe! I can't just sit back while some ego driven, megalomaniac couple, is out for everything. I refuse to do that. I can handle it.
Raykahn. I'm not quite sure if you will be able to.
Tommy: I suggest that we get some help with this. I know who can help with trying to tame stuff like this.
Raykhan: Really? Well I suppose anything is worth a shot.
Tommy: I know. In fact, he should be here soon.
That's when a sound suddenly alerted everyone. It was an underground doorbell. Tommy pulled up the screen. His expression went from neutral, to disappointed. He let who was in though. Who he let in, was a tall, brown haired man, wearing all black. Tommy sighed.
Man: I take it I wasn't the one you were expecting.
Tommy: No, but judging by what you were able to do befor,e I have little doubt that you'll be of help, Jarrod.
The man, now identified as Jarrod, nodded in appreciation. Ryder looked over him, not sure what to do. Nor about who he was. Then he remembered that Jarrod once was a Pai Zhua student. And a former power ranger.
Ryder: so how is he supposed to help me doc?
Tommy: Well, as you know, he's had experiences with taming inner spirits, and mastering them. Essentially, it is quite similar to what you have. Though I was expecting somebody else.
Jarrod: The others were far to busy to do so. Especially Master RJ. I volunteered for this.
Ryder: Alright then.
Right on cue, the alarm went off. Tommy pulled of the screen, to show the exact threat that they were facing. The rangers all saw what they were going against, and it looked like a spider lady was shot out spider threads, which were enough to even yank various heavy objects around. All the rangers morphed, and summoned the G-riders.
Jarrod: Wait. I'm coming with.
Jarrod glowed gold for a second, before he was covered in glack and gold lion armor. He hopped on with Ryder, and the rangers all sped to the location of the spider lady. After a few minutes, the arrived.
Monster: Hello rangers. It would seem as if the old 'destroy some, and they will come' routine actually work. To bad that you will all be caught in my web. The web of Spiderealla.
The rangers all transformed into Dragoon form, and went onto the attack. But it was for naught, as Spiderella easily dodged them, and even managed to wrap Heather up in a web cocoon. She then tossed their ally into the rangers.
Jarrod: Take this!
His animal spirit, the black lion, emerged, and attacked Spiderella. It did decent damage, but not enough, because she used her web to grab his ankle, and toss him through a building. She then trapped all the other rangrs up, and set them up in a giant spider web.
Spiderella: you all look sooo delicious. I will enjoy feeding off your power.
The rangers all tried to move, but they couldn't. Spiderella went right for Ryder, and drained his energy. She left him alive though, and proceeded to keep draining the others. Ryder, was seething. But after seeing all the horror, he blacked out.
That's when things really went everywhere. Ryder went pure ablaze, and grew, until he was the dragon. He ripped apart the web, and went after Spiderella. But he relentlessly fired off fire blasts everywhere, not caring about innocent victims. Spiderella tried to ensnare Ryder, but he flung her away, and finished her with a nova blast. He then continued his rampage.
Hanzo: I have never seen another one of my kind, act so savagely. I won't allow it.
Hanzo then began to transform into his dragon form, and grabbed Ryder, and flew them both out of the city. A silver ray his the debris of Spiderella, and she grew to monumental size.
Spiderella: you don't even look like a worthy meal now. But I'll still eat ya!
Tyrell: Let's get the dragons here.
Rangers: Dragonzords, arise!
The five dragonzords appeared, and began to attack Spiderella. But she used her threads to toss them around, and tie them up.
Heather: Ragnarok. Come in!
Ragnarok: Ragnarok here. I'm on my way.
Ragnarok rose up from it's mountain home, and sped to the scene. Upon arrival, it shot the rangers free from the spider threads, and began to shoot down Spiderella.
Jake: We need to combine. It may not be the dragonmax, but we'll have to make due.
The five dragonzords combined to make a megazord not seen in quite some time, in the form of Dragonforce Megazord, form two.
Carl: I'll get Ragnarok to transform. We'll need his help.
Tyrell: Go for it.
Carl teleported into Ragnarok, and initiated the transformation, allowing Ragnarok to become his warrior form.
Spiderella: Makes no difference.
Ragnarok: Take this then!
Ragnarok hit Spiderella with a nitro superkick. It burned her, as she landed hard fro it. Ragnarok summoned his sword, and sliced away a thread. However, another one did wrap around Ragnarok.
Ragnarok: I got an idea. Guys. Get ready to finish her.
Ragnarok flew up, taking Spiderella with him. The dragon shuttle flew around at high speedbefore he used engine fire from his feet to burn away the web. Spiderella fell. That's when the Dragonforce Megazord, with it's drill staff charged up, struck Spiderella, finishing her off, just before she could land on the ground.
With Hanzo and Ryder...
Hanzo kept dodging Ryder's attacks. He then used a wing blade to strike a powerful blow onto Ryder, which caused him to revert back to normal, and knocked out. Hanzo did the same, before he picked up Ryder's body.
A few minutes later, all the rangers, plus Jarrod (having been recovered from the wreckage he was in) were back in Tommy' basement lab. Ryder was just waking up. He slowly rose up, and looked at everyone.
Ryder; I transformed, didn't I?
Kim: Yeah, and nearly wiped out a good portion of the city in your blind rage.
Ryder looked at Kim. It wasn't of any real emotion, but a blank, guilty look. He then balled his fists and sighed.
Ryder: How easy is it for me to transform into that? I'll tell you...very. Inspite of all the progress we've all made, I seemed to still need a lot more. I thought I was in tune with my powers, but i'm not. At least, not as well as I thought.
Jarrod: From what I've seen, your powers, in particular, are directly tied in with your inner rage. I know how bad it can affect oneself.
Ryder: Agreed. Fire is passion, and if I can't tame the rage that lies within me, i'll be more of a liability, then a good leader.
Carl: What are you talking about man?
Ryder sighed, he looked at his comrades, and hung his head in shame. He looked at his wrist, which still had his dragon morpher on it. He almost ripped it off, but he decided against it.
Ryder: I'm leaving the team.
That is when most of the rangers nearly had heart attacks due to the sheer shock of the statement. Hanzo was the only understanding one of the dragon rangers. Tommy understood.
Karmyn: What? You can't just leave us! You're our leader.
Hanzo: But he has the most responsibility, since he is. But to be fair, it sounds like you've completely given up.
Ryder: No. Not the case. I just...can't be a ranger until I have mastered control over my blood. Therefore, I am taking an undetermined leave of absence. I'll be back though, that's a promise.
Jarrod: Are you sure?
Ryder: I've never been this sure in a long time. We have to get out of Reefside. I'll come with you, to wherever you train, so you can help me. We'll leave tonight, on the Ragnarok.
Te rangers wanted to protest, but a sharp look from both Tommy and Kim told them it was not a wise idea. So then all went and embraced their red ranger. It was a somber embrace, because they knew that Ryder was leaving immediately.
Later, out behind the Oliver residence, Tyrell and Hanzo were stargazing. Well, more like Tyrell was, and Hanzo had just joined him.
Hanzo: Penny for your thoughts kid?
Tyrell: maybe. With the recent events that have happened, I'm both excited and scared to death of my bloodline now. I mean...if Ryder, who until a few days ago, we didn't even know he was part dragosyn, got his dragon form. That should mean that I am almost guaranteed to achieve mine. Yet...seeing his lack of control over it, I can't help but wonder...will I be just as bad, or worse?
Hazno: Honestly...I doubt it. And it's very easy for me to see that. One, you're not the explosive type, like Ryder is. You have your moments, but generally, you're not rage driven, like he is. Two, it may have to do with the fact he's more human then dragosyn. I don't know, but it's a guess.
Tyrell: I suppose. But...I don't know if our team can handle anymore blows. We're strong, but we're being sent through the ringer. Mom and dad will surey keep the pressure up, and then...there is Slasheria. And to be honest, i'm more scared of her now, then I am of mom and dad.
Hanzo: I know. But we have to keep going. We will survive. Inspite of all things that have thrashed us, we're going to get stronger. I just know it. I personally can't wait...I just really want to end Azalia, because she is responsible for nearly wiping out our people. Not even her evil father, the second last Divine Dragon, was that bad, and he's pure evil. Or at least, from what I've heard.
Tyrell: What was his name?
Hanzo: I...wish I knew.
Both rangers sighed heavily. But Hanzo's advice did ring true for Tyrell. He knew that the team was growing stronger, despite all that has happened. But even then, Tyrell wondered if it would be enough.
