The Promise Made at the River

"Scaraba, Yuufo, Virox, Dragonflay, Fromidge, Shockada, Beezara," he spoke that name with disgust, "Weevurn, Granfly, Psychotick…"

Clawhate plunged his claw into the wall and walked, leaving a clear mark behind as he sliced through the steel of the interior wall of the ship with ease. Everyone had failed, but he had been successful, until he had been shocked. But even Vrak had been successful, and he was growing tired of that prince.

"Today I will crush the Rangers," Clawhate hissed, "Today I will return to my rightful place as Admiral Malkor's right hand!"

"Emma?" Troy asked for what had to be the fifth time.

"Hm?" she asked, turning to him. "Oh, right, sorry." She took his paper and passed it ahead so their teacher could take it.

"What's with you?" Troy asked, leaning forward and whispering.

"It's…it's nothing," she told Troy in a whisper back.

"It's clearly something," he whispered, "Is something the matter?"

She shook her head, "No…no, I'm fine."

"Gia, you and Emma are good friends, right?" Troy asked while sitting on a table outside of school.

"Yeah, why?" Gia asked, "Is there something up?"

"She was kind of out of it today," Troy told her, "I guess I'm worried about her. It was just pretty strange."

"Well, we all have our secrets," Gia said.

"We're a team, we should be supporting each other," Troy told her.

"Oh, and I imagine you share everything with us?" she questioned.

"Well…no."

"See?" she said, "Emma can have her secrets."

"And if they affect her? Bring her down?" He meant emotionally, but that could come off either way; bring her down and bring down the team as a whole, or in the emotional context that he meant it.

"We have no right to pry," Gia said.

Troy nodded, "Yeah, you're right…"

"But sometimes we have to," Gia said. "Just…this isn't one of those times. Not yet."

"Wait, prying?" Jake asked, coming up behind them, "What are you guys prying into?"

"Nothing of your concern," Gia told him.

"It's about me, isn't it?" he asked, "What is it?"

"It's not about you," Gia told him.

"Oh, of course you'd say that," he said with a smile.

"It's not," Troy said, backing Gia, "Whatever you're thinking, it's not."

"Yeah…I'm not buying it."

"Because of course we sit here and discuss you all day," Gia told him sarcastically.

"It could be," he said.

"I'd rather go dancing," Gia said, "I hate dancing," she clarified, figuring Jake would miss that point.

"Oh come on, you can't hate it," Jake said, "I refuse to believe that."

"Believe it," she said, "And no, I will not go to any dance with you."

Troy just laughed a little as Jake looked shocked.

"Noah!" Emma hurried to catch up with him before he left school.

"Oh, Emma," he said, "Did you need something?"

"I just needed to find you guys," she said, "Do you know where the others are?"

"I think outside," he said, "I don't know. Is it important? You could use the Morpher."

"It's not…well, I don't know," she admitted, "It's not Ranger things, though."

He nodded, "What is it?" he asked her out of curiosity.

"Wait until we're all together."

He nodded, "Are you ok?" he asked.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" she asked.

They walked outside, and towards the others, "You're trembling," Noah told her.

"Noah, Emma!" Jake called out, waving to them.

Emma took a breath and got ahead of Noah, quickening her pace a bit.

"Hi guys!" Emma said as cheerfully as she could. Noah caught up a few moments later, giving them a nod.

"Emma, Noah," Gia greeted.

"Emma, is there something wrong?" Troy asked, just going for it. He wasn't showing a lack of tact, he was showing concern more than anything.

Gia looked at Troy, while Noah glanced to Emma. Jake didn't quite know what was going on.

"If…if I've acted weird at all today, or if I end up acting weird or anything…well…"

"Go on, you can tell us," Troy said.

"This…is the anniversary of the day I lost my father," she told them, her voice soft, almost distant.

"Emma…," Gia said softly, getting up and going to the other girl's side. She put an arm around her, "When did this happen?"

"It was years ago," she said, "I'm…it's not as bad as it used to be," Emma said. She looked up at Gia, and at all of the others, "It's…it's actually ok now. A few years ago I met a new friend who lost his parents too when he was young.

"Ever since we met that day, we've met every year on this day. He's made me feel better about things. We meet at the river on the other side of Harwood, where we first met."

"Sounds romantic," Jake chimed in.

"It's not," Emma said, "He's just a friend. He's older anyway. And no, that's not appealing." She took a breath, "So, I need to go see him later, so I won't be around for you guys. I just wanted to let all of you know that, and explain any peculiar ways I was acting today."

Troy nodded, "I think we all understand that completely. It's a sad day, but you see your friend."

She nodded, "Yeah, he only comes around for this, he doesn't live in Harwood."

"That's really nice of him to come back to see you," Gia told her.

"We all need someone to make us feel better," Noah said, "I'm happy you have someone."

"When you put it that way, it makes it sound like we make her feel worse," Jake told Noah.

"You know that's not what I mean," Noah said.

Emma smiled, "I appreciate all of you," she told them. She looked at her watch, "I should get going."

"You could teleport," Jake said.

"We're not supposed to abuse that," Noah told him.

"I teleport to school half the time," Jake said.

"…isn't this exactly why the Earth Zords decided to drain your energy?" Noah questioned him.

"Yeah…didn't think about that one…," Jake muttered.

"I plan on biking there," Emma said, untangling herself from Gia's arm, "Thanks guys, I'll see you later."

"You should bring your friend around," Troy said, "We can all hang out somewhere. I mean, if that's ok with you and him."

"We'll see," Emma said, "It probably depends on how busy he is."

"What's his name?" Troy asked.

"Oh, it's…"

She was cut off by the beeping of their Morphers. They drew them out, Emma shaking her head.

"No, no, no, no…please no…"

"Rangers, there is an attack from one of the toxic monsters," the Phantom Ranger said, "Teleport to my location, which is locked into your Morphers."

Troy looked at them, "Emma, we'll deal with this quickly," he assured her.

Before they could teleport, there was an explosion not too far from their location. They looked on, seeing the smoke floating above the buildings, maybe three quarters of a mile away.

"I don't think that's his location," Noah said, looking at his Morpher. He looked back up at the smoke.

"Let's go," Troy said, taking off running. He didn't want to teleport without having the Phantom Ranger to reroute them. If this was indeed another attack, he didn't want to teleport to the Phantom Ranger and leave this one unattended. Phantom probably wouldn't be able to reroute their teleport location to that one anyway in the midst of battle.

The others took off after him, Emma last. She looked at her watch and whispered a quiet "Please…," before running after them.

[Goseiger 17. 14:58-15:04]

In Knight Mode, the Phantom Ranger walked forward and lifted his arm out, "I will stop you, toxic monster."

As he went to his pose, his armor shining, he said, "Phantom Ranger: Knight Mode!"

[End Sentai footage]

Rots and Furus walked and stopped, "We can watch from here," Rots said.

"Why send Hisser?" Furus growled.

"If Clawhate wants to try to prove something, we'll try to prove something as well," Rots said. "He thinks pure military might is superior? No; we are!"

[Goseiger 17. 15:14-15:36]

A purple serpent-like monster lifted both arms up and pointed at Phantom, "Your shiny armor is about to be murky!" he shouted, throwing his arms aside and unleashing a spray of greenish slime.

The Phantom Ranger didn't step back; he slid back with great speed, letting the toxic slime hit the ground where he had been standing.

He looked up, watching as Hisser looked angry, swinging an arm down in an angered gesture.

"I appear to be faster than you," the Phantom Ranger told him. He lifted his firearm and thrust it forward, firing with a shout of "Ha!"

His multiple shots struck Hisser, stumbling him back, causing sparks to fly from his torso. Phantom drew his weapon down a bit, but raised it once again and fired a few more times, doing more damage.

[Goseiger 17. 15:37-15:58]

Hisser let out a hiss, "That hurt!" he shouted. He threw his head and arms back, and buried himself underground, driving himself for the Phantom Ranger.

The Phantom Ranger changed modes on his weapon, "Here's my sword!" he cried as it changed modes and he plunged it into the ground, causing Hisser to run into it underground. He held it there, struggling slightly, "Now it's time for you to come out!" he shouted, pulling the monster out and slashing it multiple times across the chest.

"Now, it's time to end it," he said, his forehead crest glistening. "Knight Slash!"

He let out two powered slashes into Hisser's torso, sending him back.

[End Sentai footage]

Hisser stumbled and turned. He snapped his head forward, his segregated jaws opening and spewing forth a purple haze.

[Goseiger 17. 17:12-17:15]

The haze overtook the Phantom Ranger, sparking and damaging him before it ultimately exploded.

[17:24-18:19]

Hisser leapt for Phantom, punching him in the chest. Phantom stumbled back but regained his footing and stood. He didn't see Hisser coming again, this time in the air, spinning rapidly. He slammed himself into the Ranger and sent him flying into a building.

Hisser landed and laughed, looking at the rubble that the Ranger would be buried under, "You're a fool if you thought you could defeat me!"

The rubble shifted and the Phantom Ranger lifted himself up, removing his Morpher and he attached it to his firearm. He slid a card into it, "Rapid Lion, Summon," he said as he typed in the code. He lifted the weapon, and out of the screen of the phone came a Zord head which fell into his free hand. He affixed it to the barrel of his weapon.

"Knight Rapid card," he said, sliding another card inside, typing in the code once more. He drew the weapon up into both hands and pushed it forward, "Your toxicity ends here."

As Hisser was locked onto, he started to panic. Phantom pulled the trigger, and the barrels around the Zord head began to spin, "Knight Rapid!" he shouted as energy built up and was sent spiraling forward from each of the barrels.

Hisser sparked and fell, exploding as the Phantom Ranger stood there.

[End Sentai footage]

Rots and Furus looked at each other. Without a word they walked off, rather than fight. Their plan had failed.

"What if we made him big?" Furus questioned.

"I will not report this failure to the prince," Rots hissed.

As the Rangers slowed, they watched as Clawhate walked down the center of the street, generating balls of flame between his claws and letting them loose. People ran in fear of the monster and its attacks, but the Rangers ran past the people, towards Clawhate.

"I believe I've cleared adequate space," Clawhate hissed. He looked around a little, "Or should I level some buildings?"

"Stop this, Clawhate!" Troy shouted at him.

"Or what? Will you stop me?" he questioned.

"That's exactly what we'll do," Troy said, "Everyone ready?"

"Ready!" they responded.

"You couldn't defeat me last time," Clawhate hissed, "It'll be no different this time!"

"I made you retreat," Troy reminded him. "Mega Morph!" he shouted, the others echoing him as they loaded their cards and Morphed.

"This time that trick won't work on me," Clawhate told him, rushing down the street at the five Rangers.

Gia stepped out in front of the others and drew her arms around, focusing. She began to glow yellow, and when he was in range, she thrust her arms forward, "Ha!" she cried out as the Tiger Spirit manifested, clawing at Clawhate.

The alien commander took two slashes and was thrown back. He let out a shout in anger. He came up to his feet, immediately slashing some of Noah's bowgun shots aside. He was knocked forward and continued to stumble as bending shots flew around him, slamming into his back.

Jake leapt up and forward, coming down and slashing him across the chest with the Power Axe. He twisted and swung from low, angling up at a shoulder and knocking the alien back. He shifted the position of the blade and turned the axe around, firing from the base of the weapon in its converted cannon mode.

Clawhate stumbled back. His silver armor began to spark from the damage. He looked up, watching as Troy and Emma came at him, their weapons combined. Troy rammed the sword at his chest, Emma's weapon mounted against the guard of Troy's. Even with just those two weapons, it was a cannon as well. Their Sky Cards were loaded, just like if they were using their team cannon.

"Sky Blazer!" they shouted, unleashing their combined Sky powers into Clawhate's chest at pointblank.

Clawhate cried out as he fell back. He panted and watched as the team came together again. And then he began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Troy shouted at him.

"You've improved," he said. He pointed one of his claws out at the team, "It'll be all the more fun to tear you apart!"

"Try us," Troy said, pointing his sword forward.

Clawhate ran for Troy, who ran to meet him. Troy swung, but Clawhate parried. He pushed the sword off of his claw and gripped the blade with his hand. Troy gave it a tug, but Clawhate was stronger.

"How's this?" Clawhate screamed out, slashing his right arm's claw down Troy's chest with all the force he could.

Troy screamed and fell to his knees, de-Morphing right in front of Clawhate.

"Troy!" the rest of them cried out, firing from their sidearms. Clawhate was taken back a few steps, surprised by that attack. Noah ran forward and fired from both of his weapons; his sidearm and his bowgun. He crouched before Troy and helped pull him up.

"Come on Troy," Noah said, "Can you move at all?"

"A…a little…," he said.

"Good," Noah said. He looked at the approaching Clawhate, "Hurry! Get to the others!"

Noah knew his blasts weren't going to work anymore. He focused and began to rotate, glowing blue. He was going to focus the moisture in the air into his water spiral and crash into Clawhate, but before he could do anything, Clawhate grabbed him by the neck and threw him at the other Rangers. He landed right in front of them, de-Morphing.

"Give me the Red one," Clawhate growled, "I'll deal with the rest of you after I get him!"

Emma stepped forward, "You can't have him," she said, lifting her Morpher and loading a card. She thrust it forward. "Compress Thunder!" she shouted, unleashing a pink bolt of lightning from her Morpher.

Clawhate slashed it with his claw, running it into the ground.

"Twist Tornado!" she shouted, trying again, unleashing a pink tornado, but it didn't work; Clawhate just walked through it.

She loaded one more card and thrust it forward in her Morpher.

"Wind Drive!"

The next thing Clawhate knew, he was hurtling for them. She was drawing him close.

"You fool!" he shouted, readying his claws.

As soon as he was there, Emma thrust her personal weapon into his chest. She fired in the last moments of his flight towards her, using the momentum to send the blast through his armor, which cracked and sparked. He cried out as the blast struck his torso, and then she fired two more into the same spot, driving it home and shattering his armor.

Clawhate stumbled back, his body sparking. A large wound was present on his chest. He looked at it, and then to Emma, "You…you did this!" he shouted, lifting his claw, "I will end you first!"

And then he was gone, vanished in a burst of fire.

"Did…did you get him?" Jake asked.

"No," Noah said, "I think he teleported, or something?"

Emma fell to her knees by Troy, "We need to get him to the command center, he needs to rest."

"Yeah," Gia said, helping to bring him up to his feet, "If we can take down Clawhate, at least that ends this thing they have going. It hasn't ended well for Troy yet…"

[Goseiger 12. 3:08-4:13]

Clawhate stood, gazing out towards the Earth silently. He let out a low growl in the silence.

"How is that new armor fitting?" Vrak asked, walking behind him. Clawhate turned slightly. "How does it feel for you to be wounded?"

"Leave me," Clawhate growled.

"Why?" Vrak asked, walking towards him, "You're so strong, yet…"

"What?" he growled, glaring at Vrak, who stood at his side.

"I speak only the truth," Vrak said, "You were defeated. It happened."

Clawhate lifted his claw to Vrak's throat, "Silence!" he shouted. "I am of the Vago Empire, I will not lose again…"

Clawhate thought back. He had his claw leveled at Malkor, Malkor's ship touched down behind them. The planet they were on had three moons in the sky above them.

Malkor pushed Clawhate's claw away with ease, "You lose," Malkor told him.

Clawhate plunged his claw through Malkor's chest armor, leaving a cut in it. Malkor looked up at him, "I admire that," he admitted.

Clawhate shouted and drew his claw free from Malkor's armor. He gripped it with his other hand.

"Join the Vago Empire," Malkor told him. "Become my soldier!" he yelled as Clawhate just watched him, steam rising from the wound on Malkor's chest and from his claw.

Clawhate walked down a corridor of the ship, the walls lined with arches made of giant scorpion stingers, "And so I fought for the Vago Empire under Admiral Malkor," he hissed as he walked alone. "The only defeat I ever suffered in my life…before these Rangers happened…" He stopped and lifted his claw, gazing at it, "This time…this time I win!" he hissed before rushing off.

[End Sentai footage]

[Note: the man is shot in such a way that his features are not seen, he's in shadow the entire time during this memory]

"My father…he's gone…"

He put a hand on Emma's shoulder. "I know how you feel. I really do…I lost both of my parents, and…I pretty much lost the man who took care of me after that. At least you still have your mother."

"I don't," Emma told him.

"I'm so sorry…," he said. He sighed at his foolishness, "Look. When things like this happen in life, what you need are friends."

"My friends don't understand…"

"But I do," he said. "I'll be your friend."

"You will be?"

"Yes. I will be," he said. He turned and gestured out at the river, "I don't live here, but I'll come back every year. I'll be here, waiting for you, and we can always talk. You can tell me anything, or…tell me nothing. Whatever will make you feel better."

"Thank you," she said, her voice weak, "I…I just need…"

"I know," he said, "I know…"

"I'm Emma," she said.

He smiled, "I'm…"

"I'll be fine," Troy told them, sitting on a stone table in the command center while the others, even the Phantom Ranger, observed him.

"I'm afraid that I won't be able to help," the Phantom Ranger admitted, "The enemy I fought drained me a bit too much. He used a smoke attack that took a lot of my energy away."

"Don't worry, we'll be fine," Jake told him.

"Don't overheat yourself," Noah said, "Or…are you a robot?"

"That's not important," the Phantom Ranger said, "I get what you mean." He looked at Troy, and then he lifted his Morpher, "I can give you some of my remaining energy, if you want it."

"No," Troy said, shaking his head, "You need all of it you can get, and well, Clawhate's gone," Troy said.

There were alarms sounding almost an instant after he said that. Noah activated his console, "Troy, he's back."

Troy looked at the Phantom Ranger. He lifted his phone Morpher, but Troy shook his head.

"If he wants to fight, then I'm going to use my own power. Trust me; I'll be better off for it."

The Phantom Ranger nodded, "Just be careful."

Troy came to his feet and stood with the others, "We will be," he assured the Phantom Ranger.

Jake nodded, "His name's 'Clawhate', well, we'll give him something to hate!"

"That was lame," Gia told him, "Let's say that, but put it more eloquently."

"We will protect the Earth," Emma said.

"We know how to beat him now," Noah said.

Troy drew his Morpher and his card. They each loaded their cards and teleported at the same time.

Clawhate wasn't wasting time. There was smoke, fire and destruction all around him. People ran from the destroyed buildings, trying to get away as Clawhate generated another fireball, getting ready to release it.

"Clawhate!" Troy shouted.

The flames dispersed as Clawhate spied the five Rangers standing down the destroyed street from him. He laughed and walked towards them, "You're still standing?" he questioned Troy. He looked at Emma, "I'll make you pay for the damage you did!"

"I'll make you regret attacking today!" she told him. She looked nervously up at the sky. At this rate it would be late…

"I'm ready for your new tricks this time," Clawhate told them, "They won't work on me!"

"An army of Rangers stood in your path once, and it defeated your army. The five of us will stop you Clawhate, together!" Troy shouted at him.

"I hope for your sake that your new armor is stronger," Jake said, "We'll smash right through it again!"

Noah stepped forward, lifting his bowgun, "Let's take him down," he told them, glancing to Emma.

"Thanks," she said softly.

Noah fired three shots, bending all of them. Clawhate span around, slashing all of them down. As he faced them again, Jake and Gia were upon him, weapons being swung. Clawhate slammed his claws down, catching the weapons. He was pushed back a few steps, but held them at bay.

Troy leapt down at him with a shout, swinging with his sword. Clawhate pushed the other two back and caught Troy's sword. He pushed back, landing Troy in front of Jake and Gia.

Noah rolled at his side, loosing a few shots from his bowgun. Clawhate leapt up to avoid them, but they followed. He landed in front of Noah, grabbed him by his bowgun and arm, and swung him into his own blasts.

Noah cried out, and Clawhate dropped him when the last one struck. He looked down the way at Emma, the only one who hadn't attacked.

"Wind Drive," she said, loading the card. She activated it, but Clawhate grabbed and threw Noah, thus getting him sucked into it. "No!" she yelled as he slammed into her, going down.

There were shouts from the other three as they rushed him. Clawhate swung, but Troy parried him.

"Go!" Troy shouted.

Jake slammed a card into his Morpher and closed it. "Rock Rush!" he shouted, sending a series of small, condesnced clumps of rock into one of Clawhate's exposed sides.

"Tiger Spirit!" Gia called, unleashing her spirit attack at pointblank.

As Clawhate stumbled back, Troy leapt forward, letting him take a series of rapid slashes and thrusts, using his acrobatic fencing style. He leapt back and drew his Morpher with the others.

"Spark Quake!" the two Earth Rangers said.

"Compress Thunder!" Troy said.

Electricity surged through the ground, while Troy's fired straight forward. The attacks slammed into Clawhate, but didn't do much. He was only taken back two steps.

"I won't lose, I won't bend knee to you," he growled.

The walls were lined with Stingers and other insectoid monsters, soldiers. There were others who clearly weren't insects, who were of many other species, filling a vast variety of bodily styles. Then there were machines; mechanical soldiers, which almost looked out of place.

Malkor stood at the end of the line, and behind him was a throne, with a figure sitting in the shadows. Clawhate could make out a single glowing eye. There were two thrones beside the central throne. He couldn't make out those seated, however, for the shadows hid them as well for the most part; one was partially blue, the other white, both had blue eyes that he could see through the darkness.

"Clawhate," a deep voice came from the central throne, "As a member of the Vago Empire, it is now your duty to protect the House of Vago from all threats. I understand that Admiral Malkor wishes you to serve with him."

Malkor nodded, and then so did Clawhate.

"You will be under scrutinizing eyes," the shadowed speaker said, "The Admiral is one of our best."

"I will not fail this great House, nor this Empire," Clawhate assured, "I will fight to the greatest of my ability!"

"The Admiral speaks highly of that ability," the speaker said.

"I will not fail him," Clawhate said. He turned and looked at everyone assembled, "Some of you fought with Trakeena, and with Scorpius, and now you fight with Admiral Malkor!" he called out, "I swear to you, I will live up to those legendary names! I will not let you down!"

The insectoid warriors let out cheers, while the others didn't seem affected, since it wasn't a message to them. He turned and looked to his Admiral, kneeling before him, "Admiral!"

"We depart at once!" Malkor called out to his crew, "We set out for Sirius!"

There were cries from those in the room as they filed out after the Admiral and Clawhate, Malkor's new second in command.

"I'm fighting for my pride, for my honor…," Clawhate hissed, "I would only bow to my Admiral! My King! Not to you foolish Rangers!"

Troy ran for him and swung, but was caught. He took a kick to the chest and went down. Jake swung his axe, but Clawhate caught it and backhanded him aside. He turned and kicked Gia before she could use another spirit attack.

Noah and Emma rushed for him, firing from their personal weapons. The attacks did nothing to Clawhate, who grabbed their weapons and pulled them forward. He rammed a knee into Noah and prepared to punch at Emma, who let go and rolled back.

Emma thrust her arm out. A violet burst came into her hand and she swung the Power Axe down, slashing it across his chest. She swung again, shouting as she struck him.

As he stumbled back, she turned it around and fired two blasts into his chest before discarding it and putting a new card into her Morpher. She thrust it forward, ramming the Moprher right into his chest.

She had felt so alone…

"Compress Thunder!" she called, unleashing the lightning at pointblank, blasting Clawhate back towards the others.

She had needed someone. Anyone. Anyone who could understand…

Jake got up and slashed him once, running across him. Gia followed suit from the other direction, hitting him a second time. Noah used shot him in the chest from a distance for a third hit, and then Troy got up, ramming his sword into Clawhate's armor.

He stumbled back and clutched at his chest. He looked up to see the Megaforce Blazer assembled, aimed right for him.

"I would have liked to have had a proper duel with you," Troy told him, "But that's not happening. For Emma's sake, you're going down, now!"

He understood. He knew what she needed, and he gave her everything. His ears to listen, his heart to feel for her, his voice to give her his stories, and how to overcome the pain.

Emma took grip of the weapon, taking the lead point Troy had always taken before.

She needed to get to the river. She needed to see the person who understood her. She was not going to let this monster stand in her way.

"For the sake of the Earth!" Emma cried out, pulling the trigger and releasing their attack.

She needed her own time, as selfish as it may be. She was fighting for that, and at the same time, for the Earth itself. But which was more important right now? She didn't know.

"No!" Clawhate screamed, loosing a fireball at the same time. The two blasts collided at pointblank, exploding and sending the fighters on both sides flying back.

Clawhate smashed through some rubble and lay there, while the Rangers hit some more rubble and rolled past it. There was silence; nobody moved.

Troy pulled himself up and rested against the rubble. He removed his helmet and placed it in his lap. The others sat up, removing their helmets as well and taking deep breaths.

"Did we get him?" Noah asked.

Gia looked down the way, seeing a glimpse of Clawhate. He was still moving, although he looked just as wounded as they were, and was resting just like them. "No," she said.

There was nothing happening. Both sides rested, neither able to make a move to try to take out their enemy. Emma looked up at the sky, her heart sinking. It was going to be late soon, was he even there?

Was this day going to be one of disappointment? Was pain going to win out, instead of the joy she got from having a friend who knew her pain helping her?

"We'll get him," Troy told Emma.

"We'll make sure you get to your river in time," Noah said.

Those two rose and put their helmets back on. Troy picked up the Blazer and Noah drew his Morpher into one hand. They ran for Clawhate, their moves sluggish, pained.

Emma, Jake and Gia watched them go, and watched as Clawhate struggled up and ran at them, getting another fireball ready.

Both sides shouted, fighting through the pain. Clawhate released his fireball, and Noah stepped in front of Troy.

"Defense Stream!" he shouted, using a shield of water to take the blast. Troy jumped off of his shoulders, coming down and rolling, landing right in front of Clawhate. He thrust the Blazer into Clawhate's chest and fired with a shout, striking a direct hit.

Clawhate stumbled back, chest sparking. Emma and the others came up beside the two, and Emma took her firearm from her belt and loaded her Phoenix Zord onto it.

"You ruined my day…," she told him, "You couldn't have chosen a worse day to attack the Earth that we love, that we defend…" Her heart sank, "I…no! I will make you pay for everything you've done, and I will make you pay for everything today!"

"Phoenix Flare!"

Her charged shot struck Clawhate in the chest. He fell back, stumbling, sparking completely, as if he would explode any moment, just like any common monster would.

[Goseiger 12. 18:33-18:50]

Zombats flew down, attaching themselves to Clawhate, who began to grow. The Rangers, standing together, looked up at him, Troy looking to both sides, "It's Megazord time!"

The others nodded, "Yeah," they said. Gia lifted her Morpher up, "Phantom, we can do this."

The Megazord formed.

[Goseiger 12. 19:04-19:25 (note: edit out Datas, like the actual Megaforce footage did)]

Clawhate walked towards the Megazord, damaged buildings all around them. The sky was dark with cloud cover. The Megazord had its sword in hand, Troy saying to his team, "Let's take him down!"

Clawhate drew his claws apart, "Do you think you can beat me? I'm renewed, and what about you? Ha!" Dark lightning generated around his claws, which he sent flying for the Rangers in a ball of energy.

The Star Guard didn't take much damage, and went to meet with Clawhate. Clawhate clashed with the Megazord's sword and then got a slash into the chest.

[Goseiger 12. 19:28-20:07]

"He's so strong," Noah said.

Another slash shook the cockpit, and then the Megazord fell to the ground.

"This is my power!" Clawhate shouted, generating a purple and gold energy ball, which turned black, filled with what looked like stars, "Take this! Meteor Shower Shot!"

He sent it flying at the downed Megazord, keeping it down. The cockpit sparked, and the team couldn't even get the Megazord to attempt to rise.

"We can't surrender," Troy said, "For Emma's day, for everyone on Earth! We can't lose!"

There was a sound. Everyone started to look around. Clawhate looked up and around in confusion.

Troy touched his hand to his helmet, "What is that…?" He looked down at his Morpher which was glowing.

[Goseiger 12. 20:12-20:28]

Troy looked up, "Guys…I think it's time to use it again." His belt glowed and he drew out a new card. He nodded, "It's time to use the Hyper Card again. Hyper Star Guard Megazord!" He thrust the card forward and then loaded it.

[Goseiger 12. 20:31-20:42]

A doorway in the sky opened, and the Zords flew out, blasting Clawhate with energy attacks, or just plowing into him. There was an explosion at his body.

"Now!" Troy called.

"What?" Clawhate hissed.

[Goseiger 12. 20:44-22:17]

With the new addition onto the Megazord's back, and the wings pointed down, it was ready to receive the other Zords. It fired off the five Zords so they could join their brethren in the sky.

The Zords loaded into place, forming the Hyper Star Guard Megazord.

"Hyper Star Guard Megazord," the team said as one.

"You think that'll work?" Clawhate shouted, unleashing another blast. The Megazord just walked right through each one.

Noah gave a turn, slashing him with the Saw Shark. Then the Beetle, then the Saw Shark again.

Jake pushed, getting him with the Beetle. It was a firm grip, though, so Clawhate couldn't pull out.

Troy pushed down, "Now!"

The Zords mounted on the upper part of the Megazord all unleashed a blast of energy into the trapped Clawhate, pushing him away from them.

They all drew a card at the same time. Troy took his into both hands, "You are one of our strongest enemies. You are a rival, you ruined Emma's important day…"

He loaded his card, "Hyper Strike!"

Clawhate drew up more power, getting ready for another shot, which split itself into five more. "I'll crush you!" he screamed out.

"Hyper Strike!" the team called out.

Every Zord flew forward, colliding with Clawhate's attack. They struggled, but with pushing from the Rangers, the Zords broke through and ran through Clawhate, who started to spark.

"I…won't fall here!" he shouted, "I refuse! Admiral! I…I've failed you!" he screamed as he fell and exploded.

Troy looked at everyone, "We did it!"

There was a cheer from the cockpit as the Megazord stood victorious.

[End Sentai footage]

It was sunset as Emma ran down the hill towards the river. She could see someone standing there. He was still there!

The others stood back, watching as she ran down to meet her friend.

"Well, we defeated Clawhate, and we got Emma here to see her friend," Noah said.

"That's what matters," Troy said.

"How do you feel?" Noah asked him.

"Hm?"

Gia picked it up, "You didn't really get to fight Clawhate like you wanted."

"He's gone, that's what matters," Troy said.

There was still Vrak.

Down at the river, Emma was smiling, "I'm so sorry!" she told him.

"It's ok," Trent said, "I figured you'd show up eventually. I didn't mind waiting. I got to do a little sketching while I waited."

"I'm still sorry," she said.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't go a year without seeing you. Not when it means so much to you," Trent said, touching her shoulder. For a brief instant there was a flash of white that passed to Emma, but neither of them noticed, nor did the other Rangers who were watching.

"How long do you have?" Emma asked.

"As long as you want," Trent told her, giving her a smile.

She smiled back, "Thank you."

"We're friends," he told her, "That's what I'm here for."

Footage:

Gosei 12: 3:08-4:13,18:33-18:50, 19:04-19:25, 19:28-20:07, 20:12-20:28, 20:31-20:42, 20:44-22:17 4:22 Sentai

Gosei 17: 14:58-15:04, 15:14-15:36, 15:37-15:58, (Original) 17:12-17:15, 17:24-18:19 1:47 Sentai

Total: 6:09 Sentai footage