They groan as they begin to come to. "What hit me?" Chip asks.
"I don't know," Xander says. "But I've got a bone to pick with Ranma."
"You and me…," Whatever Vida was going to say dies as she gets a look at what is around them.
"Where are we?" Vida asks.
The sky is dark. The buildings are damaged, some with broken windows others with chunks of concrete missing from their facades. But worst of all, there is no color, and an over all sense of depression hanging about them.
"Look!" Chip explains. There across the road is what was once the Rockporium. But instead of their beloved record store sits a heavily damaged and long abandoned building.
"That can't be!" Vida yells. They all run to the building and enter.
"Toby!" They yell as they search room to room.
"I don't get it! What's going on here?" Xander asks in frustration.
"And where is Ranma?" Maddie asks.
Their attention is once again drawn in another direction by sounds that they are all too familiar with. "Hidiacks!" They move to the door and see a large group of the beasts, maybe 40 in number, moving down the street. "Let's Ranger up!" Xander says as they all reach for their wands. But, "Huh?" Xander begins to frantically search his entire body. "My wand's gone!"
"So's mine!"
"And mine!"
"I don't believe this!" Vida looks outside from behind a wall. "There are too many to take on without our magic."
"What do we do?" Maddie asks.
Xander thinks for a second. "I think there's only one thing we can do. We wait til nightfall and head to Rootcore. Hopefully Odonna can give us some answers." They all nod.
Nightfall
They move as silently as they can, hugging the walls of the buildings, moving from one shadow to another. The moon's light seems to be especially pale and aids their escape. They make it out of town and move towards the wood, but not before stopping at a nearby hill and looking back at the city. "I can't believe it," Chip mutters.
The city that they call home is in ruins. It's not just the Rockporium, but many of the buildings have been damaged, some have been destroyed entirely. The skyscrapers that dot the downtown business section of town have chunks missing from their facades. "We've got to get to Rootcore."
They move into the forest, unaware that they have been discovered.
They move deeper into the forest, twigs and leaves crunching and snapping at their feet. "I really wish we could use the trees," Chip mutters.
Vida nods. "Yeah it would be allot easier."
Maddie nods silently. Her head is hung and she continues to stare at the ground. "Hey, Maddie, are you all right?" Xander asks.
She looks up and sighs. "No, I'm not." The group stops. "Here we are in the middle of the forest without our powers, with our city in ruins, and the only thing I can think about is Ranma." Her eyes become wet. "The last time we saw him he was covered in fire. He could be anywhere. And I can't stop thinking that maybe he's hurt and needs us and we can do anything about it."
"Sis," Vida comes behind her and hugs her back. "I'm worried about him too. But the only thing we can do for Ranma is try to find out what's happened." She grabs Maddie's shoulder and turns her. "And if he's not hurt when we do find him." She brings her fist up for dramatic effect. "I'm going to cream him for making us worry, ok?"
Maddie laughs and nods. "Um…not to interrupt this touching moment but…," Chip points. A hundred feet or so to the right of the group some 30 Hidiacks have appeared. "We have company."
"Crap." They form a defensive line. "Doubt we can make it to Rootcore before they get us, so looks like we'll have to fight," Xander announces.
The sound of a twig snapping stops them dead in their tracks. Their heads whip behind them and immediately their eyes go wide. "Korrag!"
The Knight Wolf moves slowly towards them. For each step forward he takes, they take one step back. They tense knowing that whichever way they decide to attack they are doom. "Move." The Knight's voice is booming and causes the Rangers to shiver. They part, but do not relax their positions. "Stay here, I'll deal with them." He says as he draws his sword. He dashes off with a cry and immediately begins to cut into the Hidiack ranks.
"What's going on here?" Xanders asks.
"Korrag's helping us," Chip says matter of fact.
Vida sighs. "We can see that Chip, but why?"
"Oh!" He thinks for a second before shrugging. "Got me."
"Look out!" Maddie yells as she points towards the battle. A few of the Hidiacks have gotten by Korrag and are making their way towards the Rangers, spears at the ready. Maddie closes her eyes and tries desperately to shield herself. She opens them when she hears the distinct sound of metal hitting metal. "No way!" A katana has stopped three of the Hidiacks' spears. But that is not what is so shocking. There standing in front of them with his back facing them is a Power Ranger. His armor is almost identical to that of the Red Ranger, save for two differences. One, he is lacking the wand/sword that is always at Ranma's side. And two, this Ranger is black as night.
The Hidiacks struggle to push back the unknown Ranger, the blades of their spears grind on his sword causing a few sparks to jump. But the Black Ranger seems to hold them off almost effortlessly. And with an almost casual motion he tosses their spears off of his sword. Then with a speed that Chip would be hard pressed to match he slashes through all three of the beasts. They begin to disintegrate even as they fall to the ground. The Black Ranger stands in a relaxed stance and calls out to Korrag. "Pretty sloppy there old man. You let three of them get behind you."
Korrag sheathes his sword as the last of his opponents dissolves. "Humph. I knew you were there."
"Whatever," The Black Ranger turns his head to the others. His sword is still drawn but seems to be relaxed. "Now, what are the four of you doing out in the woods? Hidiacks patrol this area regularly."
Xander steps forward. "We were on our way to Rootcore to see Odonna."
"And what business do you have with the White Witch?" Korrag asks. He is standing next to the Black Ranger, who seems rather comfortable with him being there.
The group takes a step back and tenses for a fight. The Black Ranger brings up his left hand and makes a calming motion. "Calm down. Korrag won't do anything. But he does bring up a good question, why do you want to see Odonna?"
The four Powerless Rangers look to one another. Finally Xander speaks again. "It's a long story, and I'm not sure if you'll believe us."
"You'd be surprised what we'd believe," The Black Ranger says.
"I'm not really sure how to say this, but up until a little while ago, we were Power Rangers," Xander says.
There is a moment of silence. "Excuse me?" The Black Ranger says.
"You four, Power Rangers? Not likely," Korrag says.
"It's the truth!" Chip says. "I was yellow, Vida was pink, Maddie was blue, and Xander was green. We don't know what happened, but our powers disappeared. And the city's in ruins. And we don't know what's going on!"
"The city's been in ruins for months now," The Black Rangers says. "And as for your claim to being Rangers, I have to agree with Korrag. I'm the only Power Ranger now."
"What?" Vida says. "That can't be! There were six of us and we were fighting evil almost everyday."
"Sorry, only one."
"But what about the Red Ranger?" Maddie asks. The Black Ranger turns to her.
"What about the Red Ranger? Thought I told you there's only me, the Black Ranger."
Maddie shakes her head as tears come to her eyes. "NO! That's not true! There is a Red Ranger! His name is Ranma! And he our leader!"
The Black Ranger and Korrag both flinch at her words. They turn to one another. "It would seem that there is some truth to their story. We'll have to take them back to the village." Korrag says.
"Guess so."
"You four will follow us, but don't make any sudden moves." Korrag scans the area around them. "I can't sense anything coming," He turns to his comrade. "You?"
The Black Ranger grips his sword tightly. For a moment he says nothing then finally his Ranger form and sword disappear in a mass of swirling black smoke and clouds. "No, nothing."
Once more the four Powerless Rangers receive a shock. For the Black Ranger is really, "RANMA!" They all cry. Maddie immediately moves to hug him. However, Korrag steps in front of her.
"I said no sudden movements!" He yells at them.
"Korrag," Ranma speaks. "It's all right. Lets just get back." Korrag nods. He turns and begins to walk. Now that their joy and excitement has died away their Rangers finally stop and look at Ranma. Finally they notice how different he appears. His hair is the first thing they notice. Ranma's hair had been semi-long before, often his bangs would fall down in front of his eyes while he could have easily put the rest in a small ponytail. This Ranma's bangs also fall down in front of his eye, but the rest is much longer, hanging loose and reaching down to his shoulders. His eyes are hidden behind both his bangs and very dark sunglasses. His clothing is also different. The Ranma they knew favored blue-jeans, t-shirts, and leather jackets. This one is decked out in a brown cloak. The cloak hides his body from view, but there is no doubt in the Ranger's minds. This is not their Ranma.
It takes nearly an hour before the group reaches a small village. Small cottages and tents dot the surrounding forest. A few small fires light the night. "What is this?" Xander asks.
"The Village of Rootcore," Ranma says.
"The people who escaped the city live here with the creatures of the forests," Korrag explains.
"About that, what exactly happened to the city?" Chip asks.
"You're questions will be answered soon enough," Korrag says. They head for the large tree in the center of the village. The Rangers recognize it immediately.
"Rootcore!" Vida exclaims. Her smile droops a little. "Why is it here?"
"Yeah. This isn't where it was originally," Maddie says.
"Its originally location became too dangerous so it was moved," Korrag explains. "Save your questions until we are inside."
The inside of the giant tree is nearly the same, except that they magic ball that once warned of danger and the table it sat upon are now gone. "I see you've returned with a few new refugees." A kind voice greets them. Odonna descends the stairs from the library. "Welcome to Rootcore."
"They are not refugees," Korrag says. "That is, if their story is true."
"Is it that unbelievable?" Claire asks from a balcony near the library.
"Very. It would have been better to leave them wandering in the forest," Korrag says.
"You still haven't learned to trust anyone, have you Korrag?" Daggeron asks. He is leaning on a piece of the tree.
"The Black Ranger is too trusting," Korrag says.
Ranma sighs. "And you don't trust anyone so we balance one another out."
Odonna smiles. "Well I for one would love to hear their unbelievable tale."
Ah hour later, and one story later
They are seated on the floor in a circle, the four Rangers to one side, with the others on another. The Rangers have just finished their tale. Udonna takes a sip of her tea. "That is quite a tale," She says as she sits her cup down.
"It's the truth! You've got to believe us Udonna!" Maddie exclaims.
"Oh, I do believe you," She says with a smile.
"Huh?" Chip looks surprised. "You do?"
"Of course. Ranma would have said something if you were lying."
"He would have?" Chip asks.
Ranma nods. "They're telling the truth, every word of it." The Rangers all breathe sighs of relief. "Though I am surprised that the four of you became Power Rangers."
"What do you mean by that?" Xander asks.
"He means that you're not warriors," Korrag says. "You're untrained kids. It's amazing that you did as well as you did."
"Hey! We worked really hard to become good Power Rangers!" Xander defends his friends.
"And this so called hard work ended with your leader injured and Jenji captured," Ranma comments.
Xander grits his teeth. "We worked hard and sacrificed allot to defeat evil. At least our city's not in ruin."
Ranma laughs. "Sacrifice. What did you sacrifice? A few dates? An hour or two of free time? You don't know what sacrifice is."
Xander snaps. He's up and across the group in a flash. He gets a handful of Ranma's shirt in his hand and lifts him into the air. "And what about you? Do you know what a sacrifice is?" He shakes the young man causing his cloak to slip from his shoulders.
Xander gasps and immediately lets go. "Xander, what…," Vida's question dies in her lips as she too gasps. Chip and Maddie are no less speechless. The cause of their shock is apparent to anyone. Ranma's left arm hangs lifeless at his side. The arm, from his hand to his bicep, is covered by a very thick bandage. A bandage that is red with blood. Blood has begun to drip from his hand and pool onto the floor.
"Sacrifice?" Their eyes move from the arm to Ranma's face. He slides his sunglasses up and finally allows the group to see his eyes. His scar covered, sightless eyes. "Yeah I know a little about sacrifice."