Chapter 10: Crossing Swords
The Phantom found himself falling into the sink basin, however the hare landed feet first and instantly vaulted out onto the counter where Marah Maplewood stood waiting. "Foolish girl! You dare to take on the Phantom! Now you die!" He drew back his cloak to reveal two swords attached to his belt. With a fluid motion he unsheathed the swords and attacked the female mouse.
Marah ducked and twisted, dancing her way out of the range of the slicing blades. Searching desperately for some kind of weapon she noticed a small knife sitting near the edge. Diving she managed to reach the knife, rolled and turned just in time to deflect a blow that would have sliced Marah in half.
"Fool who are you to think you can defeat me, I am the best swordsman in all Haredom."
Marah slashed and parried, the Hare leaping onto the high shelf trying to gain the high ground to his advantage, but Marah was faster, moving like the wind she ducked under one of the Phantom's hacks and leaped onto the shelf swinging with everything she had. Now it was the Phantom who found himself on the defensive and surprise was enough for Marah to wrap up one of the swords and send it flying into the air.
"I," the mouse declared leaping into the air, grabbing the sword with her free hand, "am Marah Elana Hackwrench Maplewood" She landed, pointing the sword at the Hare in an engarde fashion. "and I am a Rescue Ranger."
"Wrong! You are dead!" The hare charged but Marah wasn't there, she was already in the air send her sword toward the Hare's head. The larger animal blocked the attack, but Marah swung at the hare's legs forcing the Phantom to leap back before their swords came together again and again in a chorus of clangs.
Chip who had just finished sending Agent 7 reeling a cabinet door, turned and stared in amazement at the skill his daughter was displaying. "Is that Marah?" the chipmunk asked Sam who stood beside him.
"Un Hun," the squirrel answered, "she's been training for months. Me and E Oreo been instructing her. She's been itching to show 'em off."
"Months, looks like she's been training for years," the father declared. Part of him wanted to go and help, but he understood that this Marah's battle. Besides she was more than holding her own.
The Phantom was quite aware of this development as well, tried as he could he couldn't seem to gain an advantage over the young mouse, but neither could she gain an advantage over him. However that wouldn't matter, soon the other Rangers would join their compatriot. At least though the RAS would no longer be a factor. The Rangers were formidable but they were only 10-20 at the most. "Fool even if you've freed the others, there's nothing you can do to stop my plans."
"You mean your plans to take out the Rescue Aid Society?" The mouse leaped away and grabbed her the communicator in her pouch. "Tammy this is Marah, come in." Static came from the radio before Tammy's voice came across the radio. "Tammy here Marah."
"How are things on your end?"
"Everything's AOK. Perpetrators all rounded up and accounted for."
"You were saying?" the mouse scoffed.
The hare had attempted to enrage the mouse in hopes of gaining an advantage, but instead the female mouse had once again managed to turn the table on him. The Phantom knew he had lost this day. Furious he turned and yanked the fire alarm
The loud siren startled the Rangers momentarily, but it was the descending metal doors that snapped them out of it. "Rangers move!" Chip barked as he turned toward Marah, who started in the opposite direction. "Marah dear we gotta go!"
"But Dad, the Phantom is getting away."
"Marah …"
The mouse eyed the escaping villain then eyed her father and mother. Forever seem to pass before she raced to join her family.
Moments later all 11 Rangers stood and watched as fire trucks arrived. "Awesome job Rangers." Chip said offering congratulations to his fellow Rangers.
"Yeah not a bad day's work." Basil chimed.
"Yeah, but the bad guys managed to get away." Sam reminded.
"Maybe," Chip answered, "But if I know the Phantom he'll be back and he won't make the same mistakes." He gave a glance towards Gadget who was consoling their daughter.
"And when he does," Gadget added, giving Marah a look.
"He'll find us waiting," Marah finished. "And ready." She reached for the communicator in the Rangerwing. "Tammy this is Marah, where are you?"
"Tammy here, on our way towards you. Figured you guys would need an extra set of wheels to get everyone home."
Marah smiled. Ten minutes later, the moon rising the Rangermobile and Rangerwing made their way towards Headquarters, the Ranger family again whole and victorious.