MMPR Dawn of Primacy: Dark Maelstrom

by J Raine

When a time shift alters the past and history is rewritten Rangers from several generations are caught up in the conflict as Earth becomes the battle ground for the ultimate battle between good and evil. MMPRtoPRTF&PRNS. Check profile for release schedule

10. Chapter 10

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

Dawn of Primacy: Dark Maelstrom

-10-

Trip materialized in the Medical Bay as Kimberly entered the room. With a sudden gasp Trip's body snapped up into a sitting position. Kimberly jumped. Without a word Trip rose from the bed and began to walk toward the door as Billy and Jason were entering the room.

"What the?" Jason said.

"Trip?" Billy asked.

"He just got up," Kimberly said.

There was a moment where Trip looked at them with a lack of recognition, as if he were looking through them. Then, as if waking from a dream, his eyes began to refocus.

"Trip?" Billy repeated.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Trip said as he raised his Chrono Morpher and activated the built in communications device. "Circuit, prepare the Time Shadow, we have to leave immediately."

"What's going on?" Jason asked as Trip began moving quickly for the door.

"I got a message, or something," Trip said seemingly a little hazy on the details. "I have to go right now," he pushed passed Jason and Billy and exited the Medical Bay.

The three of them followed Trip out.

"This doesn't make any sense," Billy said. "Why do you have to leave now?"

"I don't have all the answers," Trip said not slowing as he approached Circuit. "I'll be back with help, I promise." He looked over to Circuit. "Circuit,"

"Right," Circuit replied.

In a flash Trip and Circuit vanished from the main chamber. Billy quickly rushed to one of the consoles.

"Beta, track the Time Shadow," he said.

"Compliance,"

The Rangers gathered around the holo-display as they watched the Time Shadow materialize in the skies over Angel Grove, the cloaking field already activating. With no visual left the display created an orange sphere in place of the vessel's signature, a small cone on one side indicated the ship's facing. With a quick turn the craft darted into the sky toward space.

"He's leaving the planet," Billy said.

In mere moments the Time Shadow was free of Earth's atmosphere.

"The speed is…incredible," Billy said.

"Wormhole detected," Beta announced.

The orange icon suddenly vanished from the display. There was a moment of silence; no one was quite sure how to react to the suddenness of the situation.

"Where did he go?" Ashley finally asked.

"I'm not sure," Billy replied. "There wasn't enough time to follow the wormhole's energy signature, he could be anywhere."

"Does that mean Zedd won't be able to track him either?" Jason asked.

"I hope so," Billy replied starring at the display, a red circle flashing around the last known position of the Time Shadow. "For all our sakes."

There was a moment of panic as her eyes snapped open. The light, even though it was dim was still painfully bright to her eyes. She squinted for a moment as she tried to get her bearings. She began thinking back, what had happened? Moments flashed in her mind, those burning eyes then the pain. Astronema's hands leapt from her sides and clutched her abdomen and chest. There were no holes, but she was certain… it had happened hadn't it? As she sat up she could feel something different, the contraction in her stomach was different. She slid her hand under the black cloak she found herself wrapped in along her stomach. She could feel her skin, but something wasn't right, something deeper.

"It won't ever feel normal," she suddenly heard Lokar's voice. "But it's better than death,"

"What did you do?" Astronema asked turning toward Lokar.

"I convinced our Lord to spare you, and not a moment too soon," Lokar replied. "Well I suppose it was not soon enough to save your whole body,"

"I'm a cyborg?" Astronema asked.

"The best we can make," Lokar said. "We used the Eltarian technology we gleaned from that Phantom Ranger. It will enhance your core strength and help with other abilities as well as make your inner workings more, durable."

"Why?" she asked.

Lokar starred at her a moment not sure how to take her question. "Why what?"

"Why would my Lord sacrifice me? And why would you, of all people, talk him out of it?" she said glaring at him.

"Those questions are one and the same," Lokar said with a cruel smile.

"Explain it quickly," she said finding her strength returning rapidly.

"Have you not noticed it once in the time since we've been here?"

"Be more specific, my patience is growing thin."

"Lord Zedd is not all knowing like we once thought," Lokar said with a grin.

"That kind of talk will get you beheaded," Astronema said, though in her heart she felt little loyalty for Lord Zedd at the moment.

"Don't misunderstand," Lokar said. "I know that my Lord's power is unmatched, but whatever foresight he once possessed is now gone, and I fear that his inability to acknowledge it will be our downfall."

"So why did you seek to spare me?" Astronema asked.

"Several reasons," Lokar said. "It would be harder to keep Ecliptor in line without you, the Psychos were your idea and only you truly understand them, but most importantly, I need an ally."

"For what?"

"To help ensure the survival of the Empire." Lokar replied. "If Lord Zedd is unwilling to have us search for answers and discover the truth of things, then we must do it for him."

"Can I ask you a question?" Astronema asked, her voice softening. "Why are you so loyal to Lord Zedd?"

"Because he accomplished what I could not after millennia of trying, he gave me a manifest body in this realm and I have no desire to return to the Astral Plane."

"Couldn't you do that on your own now?"

"No," Lokar replied. "Three millennia ago I came close, but the process could not be reproduced with me."

"What happened?"

"I had created a masterwork of spirit arcanery, spirits that could inhabit inanimate objects in this realm, they could leave the Astral Plane and manifest in other worlds. I tried to replicate their abilities in others, but it either resulted in failure or transformed the subject causing them to lose all their previous identity and revert to mindless destructive behavior, it soon became apparent that such abilities as moving between planes came with a price, and one that I was not willing to pay. So as you can see my child I am quite limited in how I choose to be in this realm, now will you support me in my endeavors or not?

"I will, but I have conditions." Astronema replied.

Lokar grinned. "Name them,"

There was a mixed atmosphere in the Command Center. Kimberly and Ashley had really connected with Aisha and Shawna and were discussing everything from clothing to favorite sports. Kimberly and Shawna were both passionate about gymnastics which was forming a fast friendship between them. There was even talk about teleporting out to another city to go shopping if thing settled down a little.

Jason was watching quietly while Adam was going over the Command Center Systems. Jason thought it was about time he learned how to use the computers after the incident the other day and Rocky seemed eager to be of use as well, though both Adam and Jason had told him that he would need complete team approval before using anything.

Adam was glad to see that Aisha and Shawna got along so well with Kimberly and Ashley, there had never been any real doubt in his mind that they would, but he had begun to wonder in the last few months before the destruction of Angel Grove if they would ever meet. It seemed even with all the hardship they had suffered some good was still left in the world.

Billy was sitting at his workstation going over portions of the data that Circuit had been able to decode hoping that maybe, in all these files he would find something of use. He had located information on many events that had occurred since the battle against Rita. There was reference to the Demons they had battled recently; they had apparently ruled the Earth for a period of time except for the Kingdom of Animaria which had been protected by a great power. Though after the Demons' imprisonment there was an upheaval as a race of spirit beings called Orgs had emerged within Animaria and a new war began. Unfortunately, no data existed regarding the present location of this ancient kingdom. As Billy looked over the data and reviewed parts of the visual records many of the ancient myths and legends of various cultures began to make more sense. It seemed that the wars between mankind began after the Orgs had been defeated. With millennia of fighting powerful creatures it seemed unlikely that some civilizations knew much else beyond war, so it was probably only to be expected that some cultures would use their war craft to build their own cultures. One thing that puzzled Billy was that with all these other wars that arose on Earth in the time following the final battle with Rita why were the Power Coins that Zordon possessed not used?

What Billy was more interested in, yet unable to locate in his search, was any record of the original war between Zordon and Rita that had left Zordon imprisoned within another dimension. He was also having trouble locating any solid information on Eltar, but he knew Circuit had mentioned something about it, so it must be in the files somewhere. As he continued to cycle through the list of files he came across several with names written in a language and with characters he could not identify. Pulling up a translation cue he found that the files were written in Old Eltarian, still the computer was able to translate most of the file names with a modern translation key. Billy could only speculate that Zordon had never intended anyone else to view these files and therefore no simple means existed for decoding them, or perhaps the translation key existed somewhere within the list of files.

Billy narrowed the list to all files written in Old Eltarian, there weren't many. Several of the files were small containing information about army deployment and some vague reference to Galaxy M51 and a power that required transportation. They appeared to be some form of formal communications to Zordon himself. As Billy continued to look through the rest of the files he found one that caught his eye, 'Sol War'. Circuit had mentioned it, but had never really said what it was about. Still, given the name it must have something to do with the ancient war on this planet. Billy accessed the file to discover several visual records as well as notes and other data. Opening one of the files he found diagrams of their morphers, or rather a morpher. The notes appeared to be written out on paper with notes; the form of the writing was unfamiliar to Billy. He continued to look through the diagrams; he highlighted a section of notes and activated the translator. There was a brief pause before the display returned 'Unable to translate, file needed'. Billy looked around through the other files searching for a file that might be a translation key. An idea suddenly sparked in Billy's mind. He set the computer to scan all files in every matrix and upload all relevant data for translation into the main array. He sat back and watched as the computer began running through all the known files looking for anything relevant to his search.

Within a matter of minutes the computer informed Billy that all files had been scanned and twenty-three new languages had been added to the database. Billy activated the translator and flipped through the pages on the morpher again, however the strange symbols were still unreadable.

Billy jumped as he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.

"What are you doing over here all by yourself?" Ashley asked with a smile.

"I was looking over the files that Circuit was able to decode for us, there's a lot of history and information in here."

"Anything useful?" Ashley asked.

"Well I did find this file on the Sol War, it apparently was fought here on Earth a long time ago."

"Sounds like a lot of reading," Ashley replied.

"Actually there are several visual files in here," Billy began to scan down the list, the names of some of the files now displayed in English. One in particular caught his eye. "The Green Ranger." He pondered aloud.

"What? The Green Ranger?" Ashley asked, her voice raising more than she intended. Kimberly and Jason both turned their attention toward Billy and Ashley, though neither of them noticed.

"There's a file in here on the Green Ranger," Billy said astonished. He suddenly noticed the files were dated; some of the unknown symbols must have been from an obsolete numbering system. "Here's one after it labeled the Last Day."

"Can we watch those files?" Ashley asked.

"I can pull them up," Billy said.

"Did you find something about the Green Ranger?" Jason asked walking over to Billy's terminal. Kimberly followed him over, standing off to the side where she could see the monitor.

"Billy has some old files from a long time ago with the Green Ranger." Ashley replied.

Jason suddenly became very interested. "Did you really find something on the battle ten thousand years ago?"

"It appears to be," Billy replied. "But I haven't watched any of these files yet."

"Can you put them on the main display?" Kimberly asked from behind them.

"Yeah," Billy replied.

The Rangers, along with the others began to gather around the holo-display again. Billy sent several files to run on the main display and came to join the others.

"We should dim the lights." Ashley said with a grin.

"Dimming Lights," Beta responded.

"I wasn't being serious," Ashley said.

"Leave them off," Jason said before Beta could readjust anything. "It's less distracting."

There was a flicker on the display as the file began playing. The teens quickly stopped talking giving the display their full attention. To the Rangers this was part of their history, their heritage, to the others this was a side of the Power Rangers no one else would likely ever see.

An image began to form of a white city, a construct of marble and crystal, that shown bright in the morning sun. The ocean could be seen in the distance with nothing beyond it…

A warrior clad in plate armor covered in gold and platinum was walking up the hill toward the citadel in the center of the city. The armor was form fitting yet still bulky with thick plating and large shoulder guards on which were badges. One was the image of a Phoenix intertwined with a Dragon, on the left shoulder were symbols indicating the legion to which the individual belonged and their rank. A regal purple cape flowed behind the warrior, held down in the wind only by the staff that was attached to his back, though no visible harness existed. The staff was a polished gloss white with a globe at the top containing a sky blue crystal sphere. From the frame of the sphere, which housed the crystal, three razor-sharp, curved fins extended to one side. On his left side a sword was strapped on, housed in a scabbard at his waist. The helmet on his head extended to the base of his skull and jaw line which sat below a raised neck guard. The face was exposed, the armored face guard raised above the forehead of the helmet.

As the warrior approached the large doors to the citadel two huge armored war machines stepped aside. The automatons stood just over three meters tall and were armored similarly to the warrior, but instead of rank had the letter omega on their chests and right shoulders. In their right hands each clasped a large weapon similar to a spear. Below the forearms large cannons of some kind were attached.

The warrior proceeded through the entrance passing the towering guards. As he passed large twin pods were visible on the backs of each machine. The doors opened slightly, enough to allow the warrior to pass through with a gracious amount of room. Inside the room was lavishly decorated with carvings and statues of great warriors and elements of nature. On the far wall was a waterfall that ran down and curved around a raised disc before being guided to the left and right out of the tower. On the disc was a small thin looking automaton. It wore a deep crimson robe with the letter alpha centered on the chest in gold. The thin neck tapered out to support a flat almond shaped head, though the overall shape was closer to a circle than an oval. The metal plating was curved and shown like burnished gold. On the curved thin face a small yellow point of light darted back and forth as the machine stood silently.

The warrior continued forward stepping onto the platform.

"I was summoned by the Masters," he said, his voice sounded very familiar.

"I will take you to them," the Alpha replied. Long thin fingers manipulated the placement of several transparent stones on an otherwise plain pedestal and the lift began to rise.

In moments the lift had ascended to the top of the citadel and stopped in the small room at the top. Around the lift were six podiums behind which stood six individuals all robed in white with hoods over their heads. On the fringes of the robes and hoods was golden artwork of the Dragon and Phoenix. Banners ringed the room with similar iconography, several depicted battles, while others esteemed attributes of great valor and courage.

"Masters, I present Lord Commander of the First Legion of the Armies of the Capital of Athellon," the Alpha began; the warrior knelt as he was introduced. "Zordon of Eltar."

"That's Zordon?" Adam asked.

"This was before he was imprisoned by Rita," Billy said.

Jason shushed them. "I can't hear them."

"You may rise," one of the six said.

Zordon removed his helmet and rose to his feet.

"How may I serve the Alliance?" he asked, his voice sounding more natural than the ominous booming voice the Rangers had known.

The six began to speak as one, "As you may have heard our warriors in the East were recently able to defeat and imprison Dai Shi, his forces are now scattered and many have gone into hiding. This victory has come at a high price and has left our forces in the East weakened. To help in this matter one of the warrior mystics of the new established Pai Zhug has created six powerful icons which use the power of the Construct to raise their warriors to superhuman levels using the spirits of some of this planet's mightiest creatures. Unfortunately, the witch some how learned of these icons and sent her minions to acquire them. Behold."

As they spoke a heavy mist began to form in the air forming an image of a large room. Statues of various animals lined the hall. In the center of room was an altar. On it sat a single gold coin along with several strange tools. Behind the altar through a pair of doors, which stood above a steep flight of stairs, two figures emerged. Both were dressed in Kung-Fu Gis, the three stroke mark that was the symbol of the Pai Zhug was over the left of the chest. The one on the right was an older man, his head clean shaven, wearing a blue gi with gold markings. On the left was a younger warrior with short hair and a green gi with black markings. As the two proceeded down the stairs toward the altar there was a sudden commotion coming from somewhere out of view.

The warrior in blue leapt down onto the floor. "How dare you profane this temple with your presence."

"Why are the oriental guys speaking English?" Ashley asked.

"The computer is translating," Billy replied. "The Eltarians and Ath'zyn weren't speaking English either."

From out of view two warriors rushed in. One, adorned in golden armor, was recognized by the Rangers immediately as Goldar, there was another with him though. He wore a black armor that was similar in design to Goldar's but lacked more of the ornate features such as the halo around the head and the design work on the plating. Like Goldar his face was also very cat-like in appearance, but was white with dark black strips that arced across his face like lighting. His eyes were a piercing silver and he wielded a pair of swords. The first was a long curved twisted blade with engravings marking the lower part of the blade and a red jewel encrusted in the hilt. The other was a straight double edged blade with twin clawed paws reaching from the hilt and gripping the blade, which he held inverted in his armored claw.

"That's the sword Josh had," Kimberly remarked.

As Goldar and the other warrior with him charged the two Pai Zhug warriors another figure could be seen coming into view. He wore a long dark cape over bulky deep green armor. A sword was held in a strange sheath on his back, as if meshed with the sheath itself. His face was not visible, concealed by long silver hair that came down over his shoulders and ran down to his upper back and onto his chest. He continued forward turning his back to the source of the recording.

Goldar and his associate clashed with the two Pai Zhug warriors. Goldar engaged the one in blue while the other took the warrior in green. The two Pai Zhug warriors were unarmed and at a severe disadvantage. The green warrior managed to dodge the black warrior's first slash with his long sword, but was back handed with the hilt of his smaller weapon sending him spinning to the ground.

"Burai!" the blue warrior called out as he deflected the flat of Goldar's blade with a palm strike.

Burai did not respond; he was motionless on the ground. The black warrior approached him cautiously, the curved blade across his chest as a guard, the other pointed down as he stood over the fallen warrior. The blue warrior threw a series of wild strikes at Goldar trying to put him off balance, but Goldar remained grounded, his armored frame absorbing most of the strikes before throwing a strong jab to the warrior's gut. With an expulsion of air the warrior fell at Goldar's feet.

The black warrior brought his sword down attempting to run the blade through the side of the Burai's torso, but there was a sudden burst of green energy like a phantom serpent that rushed forth from Burai's body. The discharge hit the black warrior like an upper cut sending him flying up and back. Burai suddenly jumped to his feet. Spiraling like a snake uncoiling he leapt into the air and landed a hard strike with both fists against the black warrior's chest sending him back into the altar.

The warrior in blue suddenly sprang up and stuck Goldar's throat using a mantis strike. Goldar stumbled back struggling to breath. The blue warrior stepped in placing a side kick square into the gold armored chest sending Goldar sliding along the temple floor.

These efforts were futile however. The third warrior had already reached the altar and taken hold of the small golden coin there.

"Goldar, Cirth, we're leaving." The warrior said.

Burai and the blue warrior rushed in, but in a flash of dark light the trio had vanished leaving only a black haze behind.

There was an exchange between the two, but it went unheard as the mist faded away and Zordon found himself facing the Masters once again.

"Since this incident the Pai Zhug have shunned the use of these icons as they can fall into evil hands and thereby strengthen their enemies."

"My lords how long ago did this occur?" Zordon asked.

"Nearly a month ago, it was useless to tell you sooner as the nature of the icon was unknown and the other five were ordered to be sealed within the most hidden of all the Pai Zhug temples. Now it seems that the Pai Zhug do not feel they can continue to hide the power from the witch and have arranged to have the other five icons transported to the capital where they hope we can protect them. Though to be honest Lord Commander we hope to use the icons to defeat whatever warrior the witch may send forth with the power she has stolen. We are also concerned with the recent departure of Lord Zedd and fear he may be gathering a greater number of followers for a renewed assault on Earth. You will therefore depart at once to meet with the Pai Zhug warriors who are bringing the coins from the cursed desert. But beware Lord Commander there are chaotic powers at work in that place that align with no known army."

"I would wish to take my son with me on this mission Masters."

"Unfortunately, we require his services here, should the witch attack while you are away he is the next best Commander we have. We will however send your Personal Guard and a squad of Omegas to accompany you. Now go, and may the power protect you."

"And you as well Masters."

The Alpha activated the console and the platform descended from the tower. The image stayed on the Ath'zyn a moment longer.

"What do you think of this man, Master Jeor?" One asked.

"I think he has had contact with the Dragon and the Phoenix." Another replied. "Long have we known this time was coming, it appears that Lord Tiamat and Lady Phoenix have chosen their Prophet to bring their power to humanity."

"Do you think that this means they will delay their coming?" Another asked.

"We cannot know unless they should reveal it to us, so long as the vessels for their arrival exist they may come when they choose, but we must remember that time is nothing to them, only the final outcome."

The images faded out and a new view entered the display, a black spire reaching to a darkened sky. On the top of the spire was a Palace Fortress, the look of which was very familiar. On the ground below gray golems scurried about like ants bringing in plunder and slaves from destroyed villages and mobilizing forces for further incursions. High above on the balcony stood the man who had entered the temple with Goldar and Cirth. His face was thin and ghostly, his skin a pallid gray. His eyes were dark and narrowed as he looked out over the activities below. Images of death were engraved throughout his armor, several skulls on which the jaws had been fixed open in a scream, hung from the left side of his belt.

Scorpina emerged from the darkness behind him. She took immediate notice of his countenance.

"Something troubles you Prince Rito?" she asked holding her right hand to her chest and bowing slightly.

"This bothers me," Rito said in disgust pointing out toward the Putties below.

"My Prince?" Scorpina asked not understanding what he meant.

"While my sister spends night and day on that infernal device our armies are reduced to pillaging these, these dregs of the human society, we should be attacking the Alliance, with Dai Shi defeated we need to move quickly before the Alliance has a chance to regroup and strengthen their defenses. If we still served with our Father in the Khoras Empire instead of allying ourselves with Lord Zedd we would already be at the gates of Athellon!" The Death Knight slammed his armored fist onto the black stone railing. "And just because she followed in his footsteps Father makes me her caretaker? And where is Lord Zedd? Gone! Left to strengthen his own position of power while we rot away on this planet slaving for his empire!"

"Forgive me my Prince, but I fear that the news I bring is rather urgent." Scorpina said nervously interrupting his ranting.

"And what news is that?"

"Our spies within the Eastern Kingdom have informed us that the other coins are about to be transported to Athellon by Zordon himself."

"Have you told anyone else of this?" Rito asked.

"No my Prince," Scorpina replied with a smile that betrayed her true feelings.

"See to it no one else knows, now get Goldar and Cirth and get ready to leave. I'll take care of my sister."

"At once my Prince,"

Scorpina departed disappearing into the darkness behind the balcony. Rito starred out at the sky for a moment as if lost in thought before turning and entering into the Palace.

The image shifted again showing the inside of Finster's workshop where both Rita and Finster were working on something. The object they were manipulating was out of sight, hidden behind scattered books and arcane paraphernalia.

"I think that has finished it my Queen," Finster said.

"Now all we need is a volunteer to test it on," Rita said picking up the object.

In her hand she held a golden box, the top was barely visible, but a circular indentation could be seen with a golden coin held inside.

"That's a Morpher!" Jason exclaimed.

"So Rita really did develop one first," Billy said under his breath.

"Quiet," Kimberly said.

"…And I don't think it would be advisable to test it on a slave unless we can guarantee that we can control him." Finster said.

"A spell of that type is child's play," Rita said.

"But, if I may my Queen, once the power is infused in him he might be able to break free,"

Rita pondered this for a moment, "Not if we tie the spell to the coin, then the more they use the power the stronger my hold."

"That is quite brilliant my Queen," Finster replied.

"It still leaves the matter of who to give the power to," Rita stood up and began to pace around the laboratory. "It should be Goldar or Cirth, but both are questionable in their loyalty,"

"If I may my Queen, Cirth is equal in skill to Goldar, but unlike Goldar he is more easily manipulated as you have already given him the Sword of Darkness, perhaps if you promised the release of their armies in exchange for the destruction of your enemies?"

"Perhaps," Rita said removing a small round mirror from the folds of her robe. She gazed into the surface seeing thousands of warriors behind her own reflection. "But they would also have to promise never to oppose my Father again. Otherwise it would not seem too convincing an offer. Still Goldar is bound to try and convince him that he is being used."

"But we could use the deceptive influence of the sword to create a rift between them," Finster suggested.

"If we preyed on Goldar's foolish pride and planted the idea of jealousy within the clouded mind of Cirth I think it could work out well."

"What would work out well with Cirth?" Rito asked entering the room.

"I have a task for Cirth," Rita replied. "One that I think he will excel at."

"But I need him to disrupt an Alliance supply line."

"Then take Goldar and Scorpina, you can even take Squat and Baboo."

Rito scowled. "Those two would only make my task more difficult, let them continue to plague the tribes of man, at least then they are out of the way."

"Then take Goldar and Scorpina, but Cirth remains here." Rita replied.

"Very well," Rito replied turning to leave the room. "I will return in a day or two,"

"By the time you return Athellon will probably be a smoldering ruin," Rita said taunting him as he left.

"I doubt that witch," Rito said under his breath as he walked down the hall.

"One more thing Brother," Rita said as she manifested a small crystal orb.

Rito walked back to the doorway not bothering to hide his impatience.

"Give this to Goldar," she said tossing him the orb. "Tell him it is a temporary gift to aid him as a reward for his service, and send Cirth to me right away."

"Yes sister," Rito replied turning his back to Rita and storming down the hall.

Moments later Rito entered into a large chamber where Goldar, Scorpina, and Cirth all stood ready to leave.

"There's been a change of plans," Rito said, his voice saturated with annoyance. "Goldar, my sister sends you this gift for your service," Rito tossed the small orb to Goldar. "Cirth, my sister has another task for you. She requires your presence immediately."

There was a moment of hesitation from Cirth as a large pair of black feathery wings burst from Goldar's back, golden armor was hinged over the wrist joint.

"You look like a flying monkey," Rito mocked. Goldar shot him a hostile glare. "She said they were only temporary though,"

"I think the wings make you look more fearsome," Cirth remarked, his voice was deep and noble, lacking the gruffness that Goldar's tone held. "Do you suppose this means Rita is pleased with your service?"

"I doubt it," Goldar replied. "The witch only gives gifts to benefit herself. Still, I hope they will prove useful."

"Cirth, I suggest you stop gawking at Goldar's gift and go see what my sister wants with you." Rito repeated.

"Yes, of course." Cirth replied departing.

"You could stand to learn from his obedience Goldar," Rito said.

"He still believes that your sister will someday release the others from the prison in which she placed them. I have no delusions of that kind."

"Then why are you even still here," Rito asked intrigued by Goldar's bluntness.

"My reasons are my own," Goldar snapped.

"Keep your secrets then," he said giving a side glance to Scorpina who nodded in understanding. "Let's go,"

In a swirl of dark light the three of them vanished. The image faded again and faded into an empty desert. Rock formations were scattered around the otherwise desolate landscape. A lone figure in a green Pai Zhug Gi was walking through the burning sand. In his arms he held a small wooden box overlaid with gold design work. The Rangers recognized him as Burai, the Pai Zhug member they had seen at the other temple when, what they presumed was the Dragon Coin was stolen. The warrior paused glancing around for a moment, then with great speed wrapped the box within a cloth he produced from his gi and tied the box on his back falling into a fighting stance.

There was a sudden disturbance in the sand as skeletal warriors emerged from the ground wielding swords of assorted bones, a strange purple mist, which was barely visible in the bright sunlight, wafted from the blunt blades. In a blaze of darkness Rito, Goldar, and Scorpina emerged behind their warriors facing Burai.

"This is it?" Rito asked looking around. "One warrior, this is the one they send to guard their most powerful icons?" Burai held his position giving no answer to Rito. "Kill him,"

Burai struck suddenly decapitating one of the skeletons with a round house before landing and striking another below the rib cage shattering the spine. He flung his body back avoiding a strike as one of the warriors slashed at him, his movement fluid like a serpent's. Landing on his hands he arced his feet up kicking the advancing warrior in the head sending its skull into the sky and coming down on another warrior behind him smashing the head with the impact of his foot and sending the fragments raining to the ground. As two more closed in he reached forth taking their sword arms and propelled himself over the two warriors tearing their bone arms free. Landing he slashed through a third warrior with the twin swords before flipping the weapons in his hands and running them through the backs of the two warriors; the dark energy of the blades tearing their frames apart before the swords crumbled themselves. More skeletons continued to come up through the earth adding to their numbers much faster than Burai was destroying them.

Burai turned to face his next opponent to find Goldar rushing in at him. With no time to react Goldar struck Burai in the face. Burai cart wheeled as he went with the punch and landed on his feet. Goldar moved in, but was blindsided by a warrior in red who threw a kick into his side sending him stumbling away. Goldar regained his composure to find that four other warriors had also emerged seemingly from nowhere.

"Wait, pause, or something," Kimberly said, the image froze.

"What's wrong," Jason asked.

"Who are these people? I mean I get that they're from this Pai Zhug group, but this video keeps jumping to the next big event, which is fine, but then we don't get any information on who these people are."

"Beta, display any information present on individuals in these records that we presently haven't encountered."

"Compliance,"

The display began to show figures from the records. The first to appear was one of the Omegas, the image spinning in the display. "Omega Mark Two, warrior class machine developed by the scientist of Eltar, used in military operations of the Ath'zyn Alliance. These machines were instrumental in securing locations as well as providing an untiring class of heavy soldier for patrols and guard duty. After the Sol War all Omegas were decommissioned. Omegas continue to be developed by the Eltarians." The image shifted showing the figures in hooded robes that the Rangers had seen in the tower. "The Ath'zyn; six mysterious individuals who emerged on Earth near the dawn of humanity, origins unknown, names unknown, ages unknown."

"That's sure helpful," Billy mused.

The image shifted to show the Pai Zhug warrior in blue and gold. "Master Nengaki Jeor, alleged creator of the Power Coins, exile of the Pai Zhug, commands the spirit of the falcon." Next the warrior in green appeared on the display. "Burai Koyomi, Pai Zhug candidate for the sixth Power Coin, Kung-Fu Master, commands the spirit of the viper." The display shifted to show Cirth. "Cirth, Fear Cat, race imprisoned by Rita in a dimensional pocket within a mirror, first subject to ever use a Morpher or Power Coin." Rito appeared next on the screen. "Rito Repulsa, Death Knight and Prince to the Khoras Empire, firstborn of Master Vile, brother of Rita Repulsa, some magical abilities, primarily conjuring."

"Who's Master Vile?" Adam asked.

"I'll look into it," Billy said.

The red warrior appeared next, like Burai his hair was cut short with a strong looking face and fierce eyes. "Ryou Saizou, Pai Zhug candidate for the first Power Coin, Kung-Fu Grand Master, commands the spirit of the crocodile." Another warrior dressed in a black Pai Zhug Gi with white markings appeared, his head was clean shaven with small features which were out of proportion with his large frame. "Sasuke Natsuda, Pai Zhug candidate for the second Power Coin, Kung-Fu Master, commands the spirit of the piranha." The display showed a warrior in blue, his hair was longer but kept back in a ponytail. His face was slim but his eyes held a deep strength. "Tsukumaro Kakeru, Pai Zhug candidate for the third Power Coin, Kung-Fu Master, commands to spirit of the gorilla." A warrior in yellow appeared next. He was a slender man, clean shaven with a serene expression. "Kai Sion, Pai Zhug candidate for the fourth Power Coin, Kung-Fu Master, commands the spirit of the spider."

"Gross," Ashley blurted out.

The screen changed to show a young lady in a deep pink gi with black trim. Her dark hair was braided and rolled into a bundle held in place by an ivory rod. Her face was thin, her skin glowed, but her eyes burned with a fierceness that seemed unnatural. "Lin Koyomi, Pai Zhug candidate for the fifth Power Coin, Tai-Chi Master, commands the spirit of the Jaguar."

"Is she related to Burai?" Rocky asked.

"Yes," Beta replied accessing the records.

"It's interesting," Billy remarked.

"What is?" Kimberly asked.

"That while it seems the color schemes of our powers were derived from the Pai Zhug, that the spirits of each coin were not the same as those possessed by the warriors selected. I mean I realize that it is unlikely that any dinosaurs are still alive at this point in history, but why Ninjor didn't use the spirits that were common to their order is interesting."

"From what we've seen though all their warriors have powers that I can't even begin to understand," Jason began. "So then it would make sense to choose a power you couldn't harness otherwise right?"

"I suppose it's possible," Billy said. "Maybe I don't understand something about the nature of the Power Coins, I would assume that they would enhance the abilities of the warriors just as we have our abilities enhanced."

"The only one who could have answered that question now is Josh," Kimberly said softly.

There was a moment of awkward silence as the Rangers contemplated that fact, while none knew what to say in response. They all had reasons for believing Josh was dead, but no one wanted to state it as fact.

"Let's get back to the visual records," Billy said ending the silence.

The display flickered going back to the freeze frame in the desert with Goldar and the growing number of skeletons surrounding the group of six Pai Zhug warriors.

With a surge of multi colored energy, phantom beasts broke free from the six warriors, carving lines of destruction around them. Goldar was swept back in a wave of black piranha, even through the armor he felt like he was being riddled with hundred of large knives. Rito halted his warriors advance for a moment, yet more continued to rise from the ground.

"Well this is certainly better," Rito called out to the warriors. "But you are hopelessly out numbered, surrender the other coins and you can die quickly."

There was no response from the warrior. They continued to hold their fighting stances standing in a defensive circle. Rito knew they wouldn't give up; he wasn't even sure why he bothered to offer them a shred of mercy.

Rito pulled a small ornate knife from his left gauntlet. As the blade slipped from its sheath a section of the armor slid open revealing a jagged symbol carved into Rito's flesh, a crude skull with curved horns that turned down and inward. Behind the skull was a triangle with the base line extended out beyond the points and another line extending from the triangle halfway up. With a subtle motion Rito slit another line in his flesh at the top of the triangle parallel to the others. Blood poured from the wound, the flesh on his arm began to smolder as a dark energy began to engulf his body. His eyes began to glow with a red fire. Then with a loud anguished scream Rito dropped to his knees. There was a sudden burst of black fire that consumed the skeleton warriors.

Then, emerging through the flames came four towering warriors of bone. Their bodies were human except for the claws on the hands and their heads had now widened with two sets of horns one pair twisting down and the other projected straight out the sides. Their bodies were consumed in the deep black light of the fire and their eyes burned with a deep green. Each held a large crescent blade at their side that stood as tall as the Pai Zhug warriors, which came up to the creatures' chests. Without a word the warriors reorganized, Ryou and Lin each faced off against one of the beasts, while the others formed into two teams, Tsukumaro and Kai facing a creature and Burai and Sasuke taking the last one.

"You plan to fight my Nightmare Fiends?" Rito laughed with amusement. "Let's get a better view my dear," he said taking Scorpina's hand, the two of them teleported to the top of one of the rock formations.

Goldar reluctantly ignored the battle and flew up to where Rito and Scorpina were watching. He had wanted to test his skills against these warriors. Still, if any survived he was certain that he would still have a good fight.

There was a tense moment of silence and then the warriors charged in. Ryou charged the Fiend leaping over the slash of his blade and striking his chest with a kick. He pushed off the chest, flipping backward and catching the creature in the head with another kick. The Fiend's head jerked back, but the creature itself remained firmly planted. As Ryou landed the Fiend swung again just missing Ryou as he stepped back. With a burst of red energy Ryou clamped down on the blade with his palms and was taken into the air as the beast finished his swing. Letting go of the blade Ryou sailed up into the air behind the Fiend. The creature turned as Ryou unleashed a phantom crocodile. The beast opened its massive jaws and bit down on the Fiend. There was an explosion of red energy as dark fire flew from the jaws of the specter. Ryou landed in a crouch in front of his target. With a roar the Fiend came tearing through the red energy catching Ryou off guard. With a slash the creature cut a deep wound into Ryou's left shoulder as he tried to evade.

Then the Fiend suddenly dropped to a knee, pausing for a moment. Had he hurt it? Maybe not enough to stop it, but he had done some damage, hadn't he? Ryou quickly tore the cloth from his sleeve and wrapped his arm in what almost appeared to be a single movement. With the blood loss slowed Ryou charged again at the monster. Red energy coruscated around him as his spirit beast formed again thundering as he approached. With an abrupt spin the crocodile whipped its tail around striking the Fiend and sending it into the side of a large rock. Ryou could hear the crack of bone as it hit. The monster staggered to its feet, black fire was dripping from its torso. As the strange fire dripped onto the ground it melted into the sand creating beads of glass where it landed. Ryou summoned his strength and charged in for a final strike.

Lin rolled over the blade of her attacker and threw a punch into the Fiend's stomach, a ghostly claw appearing over her hand as she struck. The Fiend tried to kick at her, but she danced gracefully around his attempts and with a sudden burst of light sent an astral jaguar flying upward into the creature's face. The Fiend staggered back and toppled over as the jaguar vanished. Lin jumped into the air spinning in a flurry of kicks and punches, each generating an aura of energy that grew with each attack. Coming down on the Fiend she struck and the chest cracking bone and sending a spray of dark flame out from the wound.

With sudden force the fiend swung its blade cutting into the pink energy of her spirit form. Lin stepped back feeling the sharp pain as her spirit was struck by the arcane blade. As the Fiend rose Lin suppressed her pain and sent a quick strike from her spirit unbalancing the Fiend for a moment. She charged in, the jaguar spirit forming around her with a roar. The Fiend managed to regain its footing just as Lin leapt slamming into the creature's torso. There was a loud crack as the ribs of the monster bent inward. Unexpectedly the creature dropped its weapon and closed its arms around Lin bringing her against its chest. Lin could feel the intense heat from the Fiend's body as it began to pull her inside its damaged torso, her spirit energy the only thing between her and incineration.

Inhaling deeply and raising her arms upward pushing off two massive ribs Lin managed to slip through the Fiends grasp. Landing on the ground she swept its legs out from under it. This thing was unrelenting, she continued to cause damage, but it still kept coming. There had to be someway to finally bring it down.

Acting on instinct Lin leapt at the large crescent blade on the ground and grabbed it as she began to spin in place. With a final cry of exertion she flung the weapon at the Fiend as it was rising to its feet. The blade spun through the air carving through the Fiend's left arm as it flew passed it and embedded in a rock. The limb fell to the ground sending up a splash of sand.

Burai and Sasuke both launched a spirit strike at the Fiend, the stream of Piranha and the strike from the viper doing little more than forcing the Fiend to step back. With no flesh to devour and no blood to poison it appeared as if their greatest strengths had been removed. The Fiend moved in bringing his weapon down like a club, the two jumped in opposite directions.

Sasuke landed and ran in from the left and threw a mid level kick into the creature's knee. At the same time Burai leapt from the left and delivered a spinning crescent kick to the Fiend's head striking the back of the skull and causing the creature to fall forward. Sasuke jumped back barely avoiding the creature's attempts to grab him as it fell. The two exchanged a nod before jumping into the air and bringing their full force down on the spine of the creature. Bone cracked and splintered, but the spine remained intact.

The Fiend lashed its body to one side throwing both the warriors onto the ground. With a sudden jolt it threw itself back to its feet. It slashed at Burai who managed to roll back, the blade missing his body by inches. Burai lashed out with his phantom viper entangling the Fiend causing it to drop its weapon; the force of its grasp causing small cracks in the rib cage of the monster.

While the Fiend sat helpless Sasuke took the creature's blade and leapt up, swinging the weapon with all his strength he decapitated the creature sending the head rolling off. The Fiend fell as Burai released his hold on the monster, the flames of its body searing into the sand.

Tsukumaro unleashed his astral gorilla striking the Fiend in the face and sending it toppling over backward. Kai immediately released a swarm on spiders spinning a web to contain the beast. The Fiend struggled for a moment before tearing free of the thousands of web strands that had formed almost instantly. Quickly coming to its feet the Fiend hurled its weapon at Kai with frightening speed. Kai dove to the ground rolling to one side as the blade boomeranged and returned flying at Tsukumaro. Tsukumaro clenched both hands together into a single fist and slammed down on the weapon sending it to the ground.

In this moment the Fiend ran forward punching Tsukumaro in the back. The warrior gritted his teeth as a forced breath escaped his mouth in a groan. Kai was quick sending forth a throng of spider forms that entangled the Fiend's legs. Tsukumaro punched the ground in frustration as he returned to his feet and turning toward his opponent before slamming a fiery blue gorilla fist into the monster's chest. There was a loud crack as bones splintered and black flame flew from the wound. The Fiend fell on its back in the sand as the spiders continued to entomb the beast in ethereal fibers.

"It appears that your Fiends aren't going to last much longer," Goldar remarked tightening his grip on his sword.

"Their not losing," Rito replied causally. "They're simply absorbing energy."

"What do you mean?" Goldar asked.

"Just watch," Rito replied with a sinister grin.

Suddenly a blast of black darts shot from the body of the Fiend catching Tsukumaro and Kai off guard. Kai attempted to dodge, but failed due to the abruptness of the attack. One of the darts pierced through his body puncturing a lung. He fell to the ground spitting up a small amount of blood. The Fiend tore free from its prison easily as if imbued with new strength. Stretching forth its hand it summoned its blade back to its hand.

Tsukumaro rushed in manifesting his animal spirit and threw a hard punch to the head of the creature. A wave of energy washed over the Fiend as it absorbed most of the strike staggering only slightly with the blow. With a whip of its body the Fiend turned back on the astral beast and tore into its otherworldly flesh. There was a surge of dark energy from the blade. Tsukumaro fell to his knees clutching his chest as he felt the same pain in his own soul.

With the tables turned the Fiend lunged forward with his blade to attack Tsukumaro. The blade was coming down on the helpless warrior when it suddenly stopped, held in place by a thick web mesh. The Fiend chuckled for a moment before turning and unleashing a flurry of darts. Kai leapt into the air doing a cart wheel trying to stay ahead of the darts, but was caught in the leg by one of the darts splintering his shin and nearly removing the leg just below the knee. Kai collapsed on the ground an expression of anguish on his face, though he remained silent. The Fiend unleashed another torrent of darts spearing his body through, his blood seeping down into the dry sand.

As the Fiend turned it was assaulted again being clubbed over the head by twin gorilla fists. The attack smashed the Fiend's head into the ground cracking the back of its skull. With a roar the blue gorilla began to pummel the back of the Fiend's head expanding the existing cracks.

Suddenly dark tentacles burst from the sand spearing Tsukumaro from below. There was a moment of dazed confusion from the warrior, his eyes opened wide, before he channeled the last of his strength and punched into the skull of the creature shattering it sending bone fragments flying in a spray of dark flame. With a sigh Tsukumaro fell, as he did the spectral beast also fell away fading into oblivion before it reached the ground. The Fiend began to dissolve into a bubbling black liquid that quickly evaporated.

Ryou staggered back as the Fiend slashed its blade across the upper jaw of his animal spirit. Fighting through the pain he whipped the tail around knocking the creature over. The Fiend quickly leapt to its feet and sent a lash from its hand wrapping it around Ryou's neck and pulling him forcefully toward itself extending its blade in an attempt to skewer him. Ryou twisted in flight and managed to only be grazed by the blade, the weapon cutting a gash across his abdomen. Blood ran down his stomach soaking into his gi and the sand as he landed at the feet of the behemoth. With forceful determination Ryou threw another sweep sending the creature off balance. The pain from his wound was intense, but not wanting to lose the momentum he still possessed he charged in manifesting his phantom crocodile snapping the massive jaws down on the Fiend as it staggered to regain its stance. There was an explosion of energy as the Nightmare Fiend was crushed and dismembered in the maw of Ryou's fierce spirit form. Black fire flew out from the jaws as the extremities of the Fiend were severed by the pressure and fell to the ground sending up a spray of sand.

With the beast defeated Ryou dropped to his knees, his body and spirit spent and unable to continue, his eyes closed on the battle that continued to rage around him, he could feel the blood still flowing from his wound and knew that if his friends failed he would perish. Still he had defeated his enemy, and that alone gave him comfort as he slipped into darkness.

Lin stared in disbelief as a burst of dark flame flew from the stub that once was the creature's left arm reforming the limb. Reaching back the creature took hold of its blade and pulled in from the rock. With a roar it hurled the weapon at Lin. In a burst of magenta energy Lin went forth in her spirit form leaping over the blade as it whirled under her before landing on the ground in a crouch, avoiding the weapon's return.

Lin launched forward pouncing on the Fiend and knocking it to the ground. She took a swipe at its face with her claws sending small bone fragments flying before leaping away, avoiding the Fiend's attempt to grab her. Lin landed on the rock behind the Fiend, turning in flight to face her opponent. As if unable to learn the Fiend again hurled its weapon at Lin. This time however Lin flipped over the spinning blade and took hold of the handle, in an amazing feat of agility, redirecting the energy of the weapon's flight. As she landed she drew the weapon up over her head and hurled it in a straight line at the Fiend. Too slow to dodge, the creature was cleaved in two as the spinning blade flew through the Fiend's body with little effort. The two halves of the creature fell to the ground searing into the sand as the fire consumed the bones. As the creature fell its blade faded away, unable to maintain its cohesion in the material plane.

Lin looked around; Tsukumaro and Kai were already dead. Then she saw Ryou lying on the ground, the sand a deep red around the edges of his body. Without another thought she leapt from the rock to Ryou's side working quickly to stop the loss of blood.

Burai and Sasuke watched as the Fiend rose to its feet, the head of the beast reforming in a blaze of darkness. With an out stretched hand the Nightmare Fiend called its blade back, the weapon tearing free from Sasuke's grasp.

Raising its other hand the Fiend sent a web on black tentacles bursting forth from its palm that entangled Burai holding him tight in its embrace. Sasuke summoned forth a torrent of spirit energy which twirled around the Fiend like a dark tornado. The small astral fish tearing tiny pieces from the tentacles with each pass until seconds later the tentacles snapped dropping to the ground with Burai wrapped in them. Free from the main body the flail like limbs began to dissolve as Burai pushed free of their hold.

In a sudden burst the crescent blade of the Fiend flew from inside the darkness winging Sasuke as it flew out past him. The strike to the young warrior cut a deep gasp into the upper right arm and broke through part of the bone. The impact spun Sasuke to one side as the blade arced in the air making a return trip. Burai saw the attack coming and dove to carry Sasuke from its path. The two tumbled to the ground as the blade whirled over them, just brushing against Burai's back.

The two warriors rose, Sasuke quickly tore part of his gi with his left hand and wrapped his arm tying off the wound in fashion similar to a tourniquet. He nodded to Burai and the two charged forward unleashing their astral forms. Again Sasuke shrouded the Fiend in the black torrent of piranha as Burai sent twin serpents forth which entangled the Fiend, twisting around its body from the feet to the head. The two serpents began to strike at the creature doing little damage to its exposed head.

The Fiend began to push outward on its spectral bonds. Burai could feel the strain on his own spirit as the snakes were torn from the inside. With a sudden gasp he released his grip on the Fiend, his serpents returning to him. As the fiend roared in defiance Sasuke redirected the torrent of ravenous fish down the beast's throat. The creature howled as the phantom piranha picked apart at its core. Burai took a knee and began to focus intently as the creature thrashed about trying to tear its body open. It dropped its weapon onto the ground, the blade sinking in leaving the weapon standing upright.

Then with a final act of desperation the Fiend lashed out with twin tendrils. One struck Burai in the left shoulder spearing through his body, the other smashed through Sasuke's sternum tearing through his heart and breaking out his back. Burai held his concentration despite the pain as Sasuke fell to the ground, his piranha fading with his life force.

Burai suddenly thrust his hands forward opening his eyes wide. A large phantom viper burst forth from his body, the width of the creature much greater than that of the Fiend. With lightning speed the enormous snake wrapped itself around the Fiend and with one strike swallowed the creature, the massive serpent vanished in a burst of green energy leaving nothing where the Fiend had stood.

"They did better than I thought," Rito mused watching the last of his Fiends meet its end. "Okay Goldar, Scorpina…"

Rito's words were interrupted as the hillside suddenly exploded as a mass of firepower struck just below where the three had been standing.

"Target lost, elevation off by point two seven four degrees. Correcting for wind" The lead Omega replied.

Zordon stood before six Omega warriors all with arms raised and pods opened exposing some form of projectile launchers all of which were fixed on the hillside where Rito and the others had been standing. With Zordon were five other warriors, his personal guard. Zordon placed his hand on the side of his helmet activating a crystalline plate that lowered over his eyes allowing him to magnify a given location or see through the eyes of any of the other warriors present. He couldn't see Rito or the others that had been on the hill, though he could see several fallen warriors in an open area to the left.

"Omegas, locate targets and eliminate, the rest of you are with me," Zordon ordered.

"Affirmative," The lead Omega replied as the six warriors began moving toward the dust cloud that had once been a rocky hill.

"Yes Lord Commander," his men replied in unison as the group proceeded toward the small group of warriors in the center of the battlefield.

As they approached they could see two warriors, one in pink and the other in green clothing helping a third in red who was down. When they drew closer however the warriors vanished from sight leaving nothing but a small object wrapped in a white cloth on the ground as if they had only be a mirage. Zordon approached with caution as his men covered him.

"Were those spirits sir?" One of the soldiers asked as Zordon unwrapped the small box from the cloth.

"No," Zordon replied looking around, he noticed that the bodies of the other warriors had also vanished. He opened the box to find a map resting on top of five small golden coins. There was an indentation where a sixth coin was suppose to be. "At least I don't think so. I think those were the Pai Zhug warriors we were sent to meet."

"So where are they then?" Another soldier asked.

"Their mission was complete, and I suspect they had matters to attend to with having lost some of their already diminished number to Rito's Nightmare Fiends," Zordon replied.

"What are Nightmare Fiends?" a young member of the guard asked.

"Trouble," another replied with a grim look.

"Nightmare Fiends are powerful illusions summoned into battle from the astral plane. They have no form when called forth outside of the illusion they wear. Their powers are weakest at this point, but they are indestructible and absorb energy from their opponents until Rito brings them forth completely from the immaterial plane. When this is done they take form and fight with the power they have gathered."

"How do you know they were here?" the young soldier asked.

"I felt them," Zordon replied. "When you have spent millennia practicing Eltarian Arcanum you learn to sense the movement of all power both great and small. Judging by the power I felt though it seems that Rito did not allow much time for the Fiends to grow in power, he must have anticipated our interference."

"Looks like he didn't count on us arriving so quickly," one of the older soldiers remarked with a laugh.

"Indeed," Zordon replied. "What concerns me is how he was able to divine any of this."

"Sir?"

"This meeting, the coins, somewhere there is a breech, a traitor among the Alliance."

"With all due respect sir," his second in command began. "There is the possibility that they have developed a new form of arcanery that has given them insight into these matters."

"That is possible," Zordon replied gravely. "But if that is the case then surely he would have seen the time of our arrival as well." There was a moment of silence as Zordon pondered the question in his mind. "No matter, this is a concern for the Masters to address, we have secured our charge and must see it safely back to Athellon."

"Yes Lord Commander." The soldiers replied as they mobilized.

"Omegas, status," Zordon commanded activating his com.

"Unable to locate targets, residual traces of dimensional instability, likely the result of a time space fold."

"Return to formation but maintain battle alert." Zordon replied. "They're gone," he said to his men.

"Returning as ordered Lord Commander," came the reply over the com as the lumbering war machines began their descent to the group of soldiers below.

"You wasted too much time," Goldar growled as he and the others materialized in the palace.

"Don't lecture me," Rito snapped. "I could kill you were you stand,"

"Try it," Goldar replied bringing his sword up and spreading his wings.

"Stop it!" Scorpina said getting between them.

"Yes all of you stop," Rita said coming into the room. "We have important business to discuss."

"I'm not in the mood sister," Rito said still brooding.

"Watch your tone brother," Rita said. "Your failure to obtain the other coins is of no concern to me, let Zordon and his pathetic Masters have the other five, they'll all be dead before they'll have a chance to use them."

"And what makes you so confident of that sister?" Rito said, spite still in his tone, showing no surprise that his sister had uncovered his true objective.

"We have a new warrior," Rita said stepping aside as a shadow behind her stepped forward into the light.

The armor was a deep green with a golden shield over the chest and shoulders. Around the waist was a belt which held a small golden box at the center with a taloned gold coin at its core. On each side of the belt was a dagger, one like a flute, the other like a strange weapon of a deep crimson with a small bladed tip. The mouth was covered in a silver liquid metal curved in a fanged smile that Goldar recognized immediately. The hands and feet still retained their clawed cat-like features. Goldar froze staring into the dark face plate surrounded by teeth as if the mask were the mouth of the dragon-like head.

"Cirth?" Goldar asked in disbelief.

"He is now our Green Ranger," Rita said with a smile, "And with him we will crush Athellon, destroy Zordon, and finally subjugate this world for the glory of Lord Zedd and the Empire!"

"This is it?" Rito asked half mocking. "For weeks you've been locked away in the workshop with Finster trying to unlock the power of that coin and this is all it produced? A single warrior?"

"This single warrior is greater than half our army," Rita replied. "And you will see that power unleashed against the Ath'zyn Alliance, now prepare our forces, before the sun sets we will open the gate and march over the ashes of our enemy's pathetic capital."

"Yes, sister," Rito replied walking out of the room. Scorpina followed after him.

"You should practice before we leave," Rita said to Cirth as she left the room. "We want you to have as much mastery over your new powers as possible."

"Yes my Queen," Cirth replied with a short bow as Rita left.

"What are you doing?" Goldar said striking Cirth on the shield.

"Don't do that," Cirth said hostilely grasping Goldar's hand and pushing it aside.

"Why are you bowing to her, the monster that imprisoned our people?" Goldar demanded.

"Empress Rita has given me a great honor to serve as her Green Ranger, I will not be lectured by you," Cirth replied pointing a clawed finger in Goldar's face. "You're just jealous that I was given this honor and not you."

"You are being used and you are too blind to see it!" Goldar roared. "She will destroy you just like everyone else when your use is at an end."

"You forget your pride as a Fear Cat," Cirth replied. "I have ascended above all those who have come before me. I am the pinnacle of Fear Cat evolution. Don't forget I also received the Sword of Darkness through the trial of combat not you."

"You disgrace us all with your blind arrogance. No Fear Cat would ever trade their loyalty for power," Goldar snarled.

Cirth lashed out with a sudden backhand sending Goldar flying across the room into one of the stone carvings that lined the wall. In a second Cirth was upon him, his curved blade drawn, manifested in an instant from the new armor he wore. He pinned Goldar with a knee, the blade held against Goldar's throat.

"If you were not my brother I would kill you right now," Cirth snarled.

"You're a traitor to your people," Goldar growled in defiance. "You're no brother of mine."

For a moment the two sat staring at each other, Goldar's face reflected in the cold black surface of Cirth's mask. Cirth's body shook as he sat upon Goldar, though what emotion drove this was not known from the hardened expression that was visible through the mask.

Then with a sudden jerk Cirth rose off Goldar.

"You don't understand," Cirth said coldly. "When we are victorious Rita has promised the release of our people."

"If you believe that you really are a fool," Goldar said rising to his feet.

"You are the fool brother," Cirth snarled. "And when this war is over you will finally see it." With those words Cirth turned away and left the room.

"No," Goldar said quietly, his tone sad. "When this war is over you won't be alive to regret the truth."

The image faded out opening on a terrifying scene on the ground below the spire. Rita and the Green Ranger stood before a towering ring covered in fiery symbols on a stone platform that came a third of the way up and dropped off halfway through the ring. Beyond the ring were vast armies of Putties, Skeleton Warriors, and Zombies. Towering over these forces were large jagged golems, some looked like small mountains with arms and legs. Towers and platforms had been carved into their bodies on which various siege weapons were mounted. High atop these war golems were also groups of necromancers and sorcerers working their dark arcanum in preparation for the coming battle. Higher still were a multitude of bone white airships, their long slender forms with giant bat-like wings protruding from the sides near the aft, hovered ominously over the ground forces below. Among the ground forces also stood Cyclopsis along with a large humanoid scorpion creature in golden armor.

The view panned around to show another airship larger than the others with twin sets of wings and six slowly rotating large stone rings that seem suspended around the midsection of the craft. On the bow of the craft Rito stood; his cape and hair blowing in the wind as he looked solemnly out toward the horizon.

Rita raised her arms for a moment addressing her forces. "My warriors today we march upon the capital of the enemy, to the very gates of Athellon where we will finally burn the Citadel of Iledion to the ground and claim the power of the Masters for Lord Zedd and the whole of the Empire!"

There was a loud roar of approval from the assembled forces as Rita turned and raised her staff. The inside of the ring began to cloud and darken forming a black liquid within the ring. In the skies above, Rito's craft on which the runes for 'Night Lord' were engraved upon the hull, began to advance forward, the other ships moving to stay in formation, as the rings increased in rotation sending off small bolts of dark energy. The intensity continued to build. Arcs of energy flew out brushing against the hulls of the other craft. With a final burst a cloud of dark energy formed around the Night Lord enveloping the rest of the fleet. On the ground below Rita and the Green Ranger stepped through the darkness within the ring as the remaining ground forces followed them into the darkness.

The image followed the first wave of Putties in, allowing the black glow of the portal to fill the display before fading in on a lone warrior standing on one of the central bastions of the inner wall of Athellon. His armor was of Eltarian design, though unlike Zordon's he had no staff, instead he carried a strange pod on his back not dissimilar from those mounted on the Omegas. His hair was short, a deep red in color, and shuffled slightly in the cool evening breeze. The sun was setting in the distance below the shimmering ocean's horizon bathing the white splendor of the capital in a fiery warm glow. The warrior's helmet sat on the balustrade, gleaming in the fading light. He took a deep breath in, the cool ocean air filling his lungs as he looked around the city fortress below.

"Commander Jaelen," an Alpha spoke as it approached him.

"Yes?" he replied turning toward the small automaton.

"There is an atmospheric disturbance to the West."

Jaelen looked out toward the main gate of the capital, but he could see nothing in that direction. He took his helmet from the balustrade before him and placed it on his head activating the crystalline display. Zooming in on the terrain beyond the walls, on the edge of the deep ring of trees that rimmed the field outside the wall to the artificially created mountainscape, that made passage into the city from the East nearly impossible, he could see a deep black mist forming.

"Raise the defensive barrier and sound the alert, then inform the Masters that the Witch is mounting another offensive." Jaelen ordered.

"Yes Commander Jaelen," the Alpha replied returning to its nearby station and activating a series of runes that seemed to manifest from the flat crystal surface before it.

The sky turned blue as four energy shields emerged, the first over the Citadel, the next at the inner wall, the third at the outer wall, and the final shield raising at the inner edge of the tree ring. From the many towers along the various walls, stone tops divided into sections and slid down as large spear-like crystals rose up burning with a deep red light. Single man flyers began to rise from the city, their lightly armored forms bearing some resemblance to a bird of prey's head. On the walls below soldiers armored in brilliant blue plate with gold trim similar to the Eltarian pattern, but seeming to draw from other ancient cultures on Earth lined up with an array of cannon style weapons forming into two man teams. Their helmets in particular differed in that they had an extra wedge that attached to the lower part of the helmet, stopping just below the eyes, giving their helmets a lip not unlike a pitcher spout. As the flyers began to move forward their pilots became visible through the open sides of the pods, they also wore the bright blue armor of those on the wall below.

"Who are the guys in blue?" Adam asked.

"Computer pause and indentify warriors in blue and gold armor."

"Soldiers are the human component of the Ath'zyn Alliance," Beta replied.

"So then all the warriors in silver are Eltarians?" Ashley asked.

"Affirmative," Beta replied.

"Computer resume record," Billy said.

"Wait," Kimberly said quickly, "Is Jaelen Zordon's son?"

"Affirmative," Beta replied.

"I wonder why Zordon never mentioned him?" Kimberly thought aloud.

"We might not have known Zordon long enough," Billy theorized.

"Okay, resume, or whatever the command is," Kimberly said.

"Alpha Three what is the location of our Air Fleet?" Jaelen asked.

"Fleet is en route over the Atlantic Ocean estimated time of arrival is twenty minutes."

"Did they really keep time like that back then?" Shawna asked.

"Pause," Billy said. "No, at least I doubt it, the computer has a listing of all the data from our era and that of the era in the record and is translating what they are saying into words we understand, it's the same reason we get subtitles when something is written in another language, if the computer can translate, it does."

"What was so special about that sword that that guy Cirth has?" Aisha asked.

"It was called the Sword of Darkness," Billy said. "It was a powerful weapon and tool for controlling others; it forced the Green Ranger to obey Lord Zedd."

"So why isn't Cirth being controlled?" Shawna asked. "The way they were talking it sounds like he is just being confused by it,"

"Maybe these Fear Cats are more resistant to being controlled than a human," Billy suggested. "It did seem Cirth was more influenced once he also had the Green Ranger powers. Largely though we didn't see a lot of the Green Ranger's behavior while he was under Zedd's control, but it does seem that they do retain their personality to a certain degree."

"Well whatever," Shawna said. "We can find out later if it doesn't say somewhere else in the movie."

"This is a historical record of an ancient civilization that was on Earth before any recorded history we have today by nearly seven thousand years." Billy said.

"Let it go Billy," Kimberly said with a smile.

"Resume," Jason said.

"Alpha deploy the Battle Drones," Jaelen commanded.

"Yes Commander," Alpha replied activating more runes on the display.

On the face of one of the mountains behind Athellon a large doorway appeared releasing a swarm of large flying discs. The discs were nearly four meters in diameter and had a large polished crystal housed in the center protruding from the top and the bottom. Around the edge of the disc were twin groves with strange runes engraved between them running around the top and bottom.

There was a sudden boom as the fabric of reality was torn asunder. Dark clouds exploded into life bringing with it an icy wind and rumblings like thunder. A fleet of airships emerged from the darkness and through his optics Jaelen could see Putties and Rito's undead minions pouring through on the ground below.

"Looks like a full scale invasion attempt," Jaelen thought out loud. "Alpha, send a communication to Lord Commander Zordon and inform him of our situation. Send the Battle Drones to thin the enemy airships and mobilize all Omegas for battle."

"Yes Commander,"

The Drones shot forward at astonishing speeds, passing through the defensive barriers as if they were not present. Within seconds they had come within range of enemy airships. There was a burst of fire as blasts of energy and strange blazing darts that seemed to track the Drones launched from the fleet. The Drones maneuvered using their impressive agility and their speed to avoid most of the fire, some were unable to maneuver and avoid the blazing darts which plunged into their crystal spheres shattering the orb in a fiery explosion and sending the husk of the craft streaking to the ground below. The remaining Drones closed to point blank range and opened fire, intense beams of energy flowed from their central orbs raking burning lines of destruction across the hulls of the airships.

In response smaller craft began to launch from the airships, like the larger airships these too had large wings on the side with slender bodies each housing a single warrior with some form of energy cannon mounted on the belly of the ship. The Drones converged on a single ship, the concentrated attack tearing the vessel apart in a torrent of fire. Using the cover from the explosion the Drone spread to two other nearby ships and began strafing their hulls.

"Alright Cirth it's time," Rita said nodding to her Green Ranger.

Cirth grinned and brought the dagger to his lips and began playing a melody that was too familiar to the other Rangers. The view shifted to the western coast near Rita's Palace. A swell of water rose as the Dragon Zord burst forth from the ocean and began moving toward the shore.

The view shifted showing the ring gateway still opened. To the left Squat and Baboo could be seen returning through a canyon toward the spire. Behind them was a long line of humans guarded by Putties. A rumbling began that caused the group to stop where they were; Squat and Baboo looking around for the source of the sound. Dragon Zord suddenly emerged from behind another large rock formation and thundered passed them entering the gateway. The view zoomed in on the two revealing their look of shock.

"What was that?" Baboo asked his voice raspy, almost as if he were hissing.

"I don't know," Squat replied, his tone was gruff, though not deep. "Looks like Rita is attacking Zordon and the Masters again."

"Let's go watch," Baboo replied, a growing enthusiasm in his voice.

"Good idea," Squat said. "Putties, take the slaves to the dungeon."

As the rock warriors continued to escort the prisoners to the spire Squat and Baboo began to run toward the open gateway.

In the skies above Athellon Rito's fleet was getting a handle on the Battle Drones. They had lost several of their craft to the incessant attacks and many more had taken damage. Their own fighters were having greater success in taking down the Drones, but missed shots were often causing more damage to his fleet as the Drones continued to skim the hulls of his fleet in their precision attacks.

On the ground below Cyclopsis and Scorpina had begun attacking the shield stones; small triangular crystal pillars around the base of the outer most shield. With a sudden roar the Dragon Zord burst through the dark clouds onto the island, its massive strides carrying it over Rita's army and into the forest where it joined the others. Goldar and Scorpina jumped back as Dragon Zord unleashed a blast from its plasma cannons super heating the crystal pillar causing it to melt. The barrier faded slightly but still held. Dragon Zord began to move toward the next pillar.

"What is that thing?" Jaelen asked the Alpha.

"Unknown. Structural analysis reveals it shares common traits with the War Zord Cyclopsis, however it is drawing power from a nearby source."

"Can you track that source?"

"Yes Commander. Frequency two two nine seven."

Jaelen activated his crystalline visor and adjusted the harmonic. He could see the target, a bright red spot on his display with a thin line tracing straight to the new Zord.

"Notify all forces of the new Zord and relay any useful information. Then assemble a team of Crimson Knights and have them meet me at the outer gate and activate the Kalidens." Jaelen commanded.

"At once Commander," the Alpha replied.

In the trees below hundreds of little smooth crystal objects began sifting to the surface and scurrying off toward the warriors that had amassed in the forest waiting for the shield to fall. Like a wave the small objects pushed into the line of warriors knocking down Putties and undead alike, devouring the Putties whole and the bones of the Skeletal Warriors and Zombies. The warriors scrambled frantically as the sea of crystal stones washed over them.

"Ew," Kimberly said as chaos broke up the formed lines and more warriors were dragged under the swell of crystal.

"Amazing," Billy said. "They're lithovores,"

"What?" Ashley asked.

"Essentially, rock eaters," Billy replied.

"It's still gross," Kimberly said.

"What's going on?" Rita shouted as the growing chaos reached her and Cirth.

Cirth looked around but was unable to see the source of the hysteria. Rita pulled a small orb from her robe and gazed into it. From inside she could see a small creature that looked similar to a trilobite, the bottom of which was lined with rapidly vibrating claws and teeth. She then saw thousands of these beasts moving along in droves consuming the bodies of her warriors.

"What are those my Queen?" Cirth asked.

"Another of Zordon's creations I'm sure," Rita said with disdain.

The witch raised her staff into the air chanting some incantation before slamming the base of her wand into the ground. A wave of energy rippled out along the ground reducing the small beasts it struck to a fine powder.

"We need to hurry and get through that barrier," Rita said. "Goldar, Scorpina hurry with those other pillars, I want this barrier down at once!" she shouted at the small crystal orb in her hand.

"That thing is Scorpina?" Adam asked in disbelief.

"Apparently," Billy replied.

"Now that is gross," Ashley commented.

Above them Cyclopsis opened fire with all weapons on another of the pillars cracking it open and sending a spray of crystal shards into the air. Scorpina quickly manifested her sword and struck repeated blows against the unshielded front of the pillar finally cracking the surface. As the field deteriorated she slashed through the icon carving it in two.

Dragon Zord launched another volley of plasma fire into a fourth pillar melting through it. The shield faded in the center providing a gap in the barrier which warriors began pouring through as Scorpina and the Zords continued to destroy the remaining pillars.

"All Omegas to the wall!" Jaelen ordered. "All forces open fire!"

There was a sudden burst from the men on the wall as sonic weaponry and energy blasts discharged into the hordes of advancing warriors. Above them the flyers streaked out onto the battlefield, twin cannons mounted under the hull firing rapidly carving up the enemy in a downpour of energy bolts.

Partially destroyed warriors continued to drag their mangled forms forward as more from behind trampled over them to get to the wall. Omegas had begun to rise from ports just outside the wall and immediately started firing on the advancing hordes.

Suddenly the outer shield fell completely and the war golems began to move into the clearing. Fire erupted from the towers on the colossi pounding the walls and tearing Omegas to shrapnel. The flyers began strafing runs against the stone behemoths destroying weapon emplacements in giant fireballs of arcane energy.

From one of the war golems' platforms a dark energy burst forth striking the ground causing it to tear open with a terrible earthquake. Twin headed beasts that appeared to be a cross between a wolf and a rhino emerged from the chasms, their bodies covered in black armored plates and burning fur. As these enormous beasts broke free from the ground they began persistently throwing themselves into the wall of the great city. The men on the walls were shaken with each strike and struggled to maintain fire.

In the skies above, Rito had finished off nearly all the Drones and the fleet was now descending toward the city bombarding the shield barrier and the upper levels of the wall in attempts to bring down the shield. Blasts of energy began to pulse from the crystal towers within the city setting smaller airships ablaze and sending them crashing into the enemy ranks below.

Rita shuttered as an airship exploded to the left of her the burning wreckage smashing into a war golem sending the beast toppling over raining fiery debris and burning embers all around her.

"Cirth I want that gate opened now!" Rita ordered.

"Yes my Queen!" Cirth replied bringing the flute to his lips and playing another strange melody.

Dragon Zord turned from its attack on the shield pillars integrated in the city walls and came to the center of the field, trampling all that did not move from its path. With a whip of its tail the Dragon Zord punched a hole into the gate with its massive drill head, the whirling blades shaving away the remains of the gate; soldiers where thrown to the ground in pieces as the massive tail sunk deep into the portico and into a number of defenders on the far side. As Dragon Zord pulled back there was bottleneck as all the warriors swarmed into the opening. Putties transformed their limbs into hooks to better assist in climbing over the others that were choking the gateway.

On the other side of the wall heavy weapon teams were falling back under cover of fire from several Omegas. Advancing into the fray were several large warriors in deep red plate with gold trim. The design was the same as the Eltarian plate except the slight variation in color. Each was wielding a large two handed sword inscribed with runes along the flat sides of the blade. Standing two heads smaller than the warriors was Jaelen marching confidently alongside them.

"Fall back!" Jaelen ordered pointing to one of the two porticos that led from the small courtyard into the outer city.

The weapon teams began their retreat as Jaelen reached back with his left hand to the pod on his back. He inserted his hand into the circular opening at the top of the pod. There was a sudden whine as rings spun and coalesced binding the pod to his gauntlet. With a final click the pod detached from his back. Jaelen swung the heavy weapon up and out in front of him drawing a line on the portico from the main gate which was overflowing with enemy warriors. With a low thud he discharged a black orb into the mass of enemies. The orb landed in the midst of the invaders just inside the gate. There was a sudden swirl of energy as a vortex manifested pulling all those around it inward and crushing them under an intense gravitational force. Small chunks of rock were torn from the entry as well, unable to withstand the intense force of the attack.

Using the recoil Jaelen returned the pod to his back and drew his sword as the pod unlocked from his other arm and reattached to his armor. With a shout he and the Crimson Knights charged into the warriors still spilling into the courtyard. The two forces met like opposing forces of nature. With a forceful strike the Knights swung their weapons tearing through Putties and undead as if they were air, the bodies of the Crimson Knights slamming into the enemy with a deafening boom. Armor rang loud as rock and bone met with solid plate. The Crimson Knights absorbed the strikes like stone weathering the rain. Jaelen held back, striking from behind these unmovable warriors. From his enclosed position he could already see that some of the Putties had begun scaling the walls from the inside and were hacking away at the pillars.

Jaelen raised his left hand to his helmet activating his com and shouting. "Alpha, order the marksmen to eliminate the enemy forces on the wall!"

Jaelen only vaguely heard some form of response over the clattering of armor and rock that reverberated in the courtyard and the ringing on the wall from the onslaught outside.

Narrow beams of energy began to rain down from the inner wall, parapets, and towers superheating Putties causing them to crack and crumble and rending limbs from the undead. Unfortunately the available fire power was insufficient to keep up with the overwhelming number of warriors pouring in through the gate.

The barrier flickered as the first of the pillars on the wall cracked. The wall shook again as the Dragon Zord tore into it with its tail trying to drill another hole, but only succeeded in gouging a section of the wall by nearly a meter. Cyclopsis launched another volley of missiles which twirled and danced through the air detonating along the upper part of the wall doing little more that scaring and blackening the surface.

The strange summoned beasts roamed the grounds impatiently occasionally throwing their massive forms against the near indestructible wall as Putties and undead continued to bottleneck into the tattered gate. Rita paced impatiently as her forces continued their onslaught trying to bring down the next shield.

Above, Rito's fleet was pulling up out of the range of the city's crystal towers while continuing to bombard the shield. Nearly a fifth of his ships had been lost. These had been mostly the smaller support craft, but a few capital ships had also been brought down from the initial volleys from the crystal towers.

"Prince Rito we have Eltarian warships approaching from the West," an undead deckhand reported.

"Bring the fleet around and prepare to engage," Rito ordered. He raised his right arm to his chest, a ring around a crystal sphere expanded freeing the crystal to rise slightly from his armor. "Sister the Eltarian fleet is arriving; I need support if we are to maintain control of the skies."

"Very well," Rita's annoyed tone came through. "There will be a price to pay for this brother,"

"The price will be far greater without him," Rito said coldly.

Rito lowered his arm as the crystal retracted and the ring tightened around it again leaving only a small section of the top exposed.

On the ground below Rita was already giving orders to her warlocks aboard one of the many war golems which still stood ready for the invasion. The massive creature stepped forward as Rita levitated to the pinnacle where a large obsidian pillar rose toward the sky. Impaled on the obelisk were the dying forms of thirteen people, blood running from the near lifeless bodies, too weak to even cry out. Rita began her incantation. The sky darkened as black clouds began to roll in from all directions. Lighting flashed and thunder rumbled as the warm glow of fading daylight was swallowed up by a terrible darkness that hung over the area like a fog.

Rito's fleet sat in a standoff against the Eltarian fleet as their vessels arrived, neither side able to see the other. There was a sudden bone chilling laugh and an earthquake that shook the island with such force that warriors on both sides toppled to the ground. Dragon Zord fell, crashing into the outer wall with a loud crack. Cyclopsis reeled back barely managing to stay upright. The war golems seemed the only beings unaffected as they held their ground, though some warriors toppled from the heights of the great beasts falling to their deaths on the ground below. On the walls men struggled to hold onto the wall for support, some dropping their weapons onto the ground below.

Then with a burst of energy that swept away the fog, a giant fireball descended into the sky above the city and with an explosion that radiated in lighting and fire a monstrous head manifested in the sky; lighting crackled from the quills that covered the head like hair, the dark eyes stared out with a sinister malevolence as a smile spread across the almost human face.

"Oh no!" Squat cried looking for cover. "She's called Lokar,"

"Why did I ever let you talk me into coming along?" Baboo asked looking toward the gateway, but finding that it had closed.

With a scream of rage energy surged from Lokar's quills tearing into the Eltarian fleet sending nearly half their fleet hurling to the ground as flaming wrecks as they returned fire. Lokar laughed with sadistic satisfaction as the return fire roared around him doing no damage. Lokar turned toward the city ignoring the rest of the fleet as Rito moved in opening up with all weapon batteries. The Eltarian fleet seemed to be in a state of disarray with some of the vessels engaging Lokar while others fired at various ships in Rito armada.

Exhaling violently toward the city Lokar destroyed the shield barrier and shattered portions of the wall shattering Putties and undead sending them onto the ground far beyond the wall. Lokar laughed again as if thoroughly enjoying the destruction he was bringing.

Then his gaze fell upon the warriors below him and the giants that strode along the ground toward the city. With a howling laugh Lokar began to send torrents of energy raining down from the skies falling on the fleets of both the Eltar and Rita and the forces on the ground below. A war golem was split in half as a large burning mass collided with the creature. The mountainous form crashed into the ground crushing many other warriors under its titanic mass.

"Break the obelisk!" Rita shouted over the deafening roar of chaotic destruction.

Two towering trolls with war hammers swung at the obelisk cracking the smooth black surface. Lokar roared with fury and the torrents of energy increased. The forces of Rita continued to advance through the destruction as hundreds were crushed and torn apart amid the shower of unbridled wrath. The trolls swung again smashing a large chunk of the obelisk and sending a crack through the whole of the spire. With a final blow the pillar fell.

Lokar screamed his defiance as the storm of destruction abated and the sky began to clear. Rita looked out over the terrain. Her warriors had been cut down, but many still marched forward toward the city, its wall now crumbling at the center where Lokar's attack struck. Dragon Zord and Cyclopsis both rose from the ground, blackened scorch marks littered their armor, but they seemed otherwise unharmed. Scorpina had vanished, but it was likely she had only returned to normal to seek shelter from Lokar.

Above Rito and his few remaining airships where bringing all their fire to bear against the last of the Eltarian warships. Rito's ship was worse for wear. The front left wing had been torn away and a hole had been blasted through the bow of the ship barely a meter in front of the bridge. Lokar's attack had taken a heavy toll on his fleet leaving few of his ships intact and those that remained were badly damaged. The Night Lord had several fires raging at various levels and he doubted the rift generator still was operational.

With a final volley of fire the last Eltarian craft burst into flames, fires spread over the lance-like craft as sections of the ship began to burst forth in violent explosions. The ship turned toward the ground as the antigravity ring exploded beginning its final descent to the Earth. The weapon pods housed at the aft of the craft fell free from the ship and tumbled to the surface like rocks.

"Is it over?" Jaelen asked rising to his feet.

Around him the Crimson Knights rose seemingly unscathed by Lokar's final attack, stone fragments fell from their armor onto the ground around them. Surveying the area Jaelen could see that the detestation had not been limited to a single side. Around them the wall of the courtyard was cracked and collapsed in many sections, scattered around them were the limbs and bodies of Putties, undead, and their own warriors, both living and mechanical. In the dimming light Jaelen could see that Rita's forces now held the skies, though it seemed a rather marginal victory given the condition of the remaining enemy airship.

Suddenly there was a massive explosion from the Night Lord destroying nearly the entire aft section of the ship. The large vessel twisted in its flight turning slowly toward the city as it began to rapidly sink from the sky.

"He's going to crash it into the city!" Jaelen shouted. He activated his com link. "All batteries target the Night Lord, destroy it! All ground forces get to cover and be prepared for hand to hand combat." Jaelen looked around to see the Portico to their right was still intact. "There," he directed as he and Crimson Knights took shelter.

As they ran for cover Jaelen looked back to see the Night Lord had successfully turned and was now falling fast toward the city. Energy blasts streamed from the towers tearing armor from the hull of the vessel, but the shear mass of the craft was too great. With an impact like a comet the city shook as the Night Lord plowed into the outer city carving a swath of destruction as it impacted into the inner wall exploding in a ball of fire as it smashed itself to pieces on the unforgiving defense. Cracks formed and the inner barrier flickered slightly, but the wall held. Fiery debris rained down over the outer parts of the city setting ablaze canopies, flags, and banners as larger pieces of debris blocked off streets and crushed building into burning rubble.

"Rito!" Rita cried out.

"I'll get him my Queen," Cirth replied running into the city.

He dodged through the masses of warriors that were still surging forward entering through the broken down sections of the wall to the left and right of the main courtyard. Above him Dragon Zord and Cyclopsis thundered into the city plowing through buildings with their massive strides as they headed for the inner wall of the city. Both Zords launched volley after volley of missiles reducing the crystal towers to ruins. Barrages of plasma continued to pour forth from the Dragon Zord setting ablaze all that it touched. Cirth turned right hoping the cityscape was not a maze of dead end streets. As he climbed over the rubble left by the wall he was suddenly confronted by several warriors, most of them in dark red armor, though there seemed to be an Eltarian amongst them. Many were engaged with the other forces that had gained access to the city, but these three stood before him barring his way.

Cirth froze for a moment staring at the warriors; specifically his gaze was fixed on Jaelen as if he recognized him. The moment was broken as Jaelen and the two Crimson Knights rushed in. Cirth quickly manifest the Sword of Darkness and parried an attack from one of the knights as he leapt back to avoid the other strikes.

"That sword," Jaelen remarked.

"You recognize this blade?" Cirth questioned

"It was entrusted to my father to guard," Jaelen said pointing his blade at Cirth. "I charge you to return it."

"That's right," Cirth said. "You're Zordon's son," he grinned, "His only son,"

Cirth leapt in knocking Jaelen's sword away and pulling his dagger attempting to plunge it into the Eltarian's throat. The blade came within inches, stopped only as the massive swords of the Crimson Knights crashed down on his golden shield. To the surprise of the knights the blades sparked and stopped upon the ridged surface. Cirth took advantage of this moment of confusion and leapt to the side knocking the face guard of one of the knights back and exposing its face before striking with his dagger. For a moment the cold metal face was visible before the dagger plunged into it with a loud crack. There was a discharge like blue mercury from the wound as Cirth pulled back. The Crimson Knight clutched his face in agony as he stumbled back falling to the ground with a clanging of metal plates.

"I didn't think any Engorians had survived," Cirth said with a smile. "The Alliance is certainly full of surprises. Now step aside,"

Jaelen and the remaining Crimson Knight rushed in swinging their swords in upward arcs to avoid the seemingly invincible golden shield, but Cirth stopped both their blades, the knight with his sword and Jaelen with his dagger.

Then Cirth pushed back against Jaelen throwing him off balance for a moment. Pulling his dagger back Cirth touched it to the Sword of Darkness and sent a powerful bolt of green energy into the Crimson Knight sending him flying backward into the rubble. A hole had been burned through the knight's armor and body. Jaelen struck at Cirth again, the Green Ranger just managing to get his sword around in time to block the strike.

"You can't beat me," Cirth mocked.

"We'll see," Jaelen replied bearing down on his sword.

In the citadel above the Masters looked out over the battle that raged below them. In the main courtyard they could see the green warrior engaged in battle with several of their warriors. With nods of agreement on some mutually understood thought the six turned away and entered the citadel. Gathering in a circle the six bowed their heads and raised their arms touching palms with another on each side. As they continued to stand there in silence a white ball of energy began to form in their midst.

Cirth brought his left arm around racking the dagger blade in a sparking streak across Jaelen's plate tearing a deep gash in the armor and nearly breaking through the Eltarian metal. Jaelen stepped back as Cirth turned and rose to his feet. The two stood facing each other for a moment as the battle raged around them. Cirth made the first move and brought his weapons together firing another blast of green energy, but Jaelen was prepared and leapt aside. As he did he reached back with his left arm, the pod locking onto his armor, and drew the weapon around, firing.

Cirth leapt over the attack as the rubble where he had been was collapsed into nothingness. The force of the pull was enough that it robbed Cirth of his momentum, with him just escaping the blast radius as the device detonated; he landed several feet in front of Jaelen and quickly moved in low with an upward slash of his sword cleaving the front of the pod from Jaelen's arm. Jaelen stepped back as the pod whirled unlocking from his arm and falling to the ground beside him.

Cirth stepped forward again unleashing a stream of blows from his twin weapons, but Jaelen managed to keep up, his expert swordsmanship enough to keep the Green Ranger from landing a blow. Cirth lunged in tearing a gash into Jaelen's cape as the skilled youth side-stepped the attack and slashing into the right arm of the Green Ranger. His sword had difficulty as it cut, as if the armor where repairing and adapting to the attack as it was happening. Jaelen spun off his attack putting a little distance between himself and the Green Ranger. To his shock the spot where he had scored a hit had not even been damaged, the polished green armor mocking his attempts.

Jaelen had little time to contemplate a strategy as the Green Ranger rushed in at him once more. Jaelen quickly dropped down and thrust both his arms up knocking Cirth's arms up into the air before rotating and slamming his hard armored shoulder into the golden diamond on the chest. Cirth fell over backward dropping his sword and dagger on the ground.

Jaelen charged in attempting to thrust his blade through the neck of his opponent, but with a flash Cirth had launched some form of energy from his hands, the blast impacted on Jaelen's chest knocking him back. Cirth quickly grabbed his blades and leapt up as Jaelen crashed into the rubble beyond him.

Jaelen quickly rolled away as a Putty attempted to smash his head with a mace-like appendage. Rising quickly Jaelen dispatched the Putty with a single swing of his weapon, the blade cut through both arms and the torso sending the four parts of the Putty to the ground. The head thrashed about wildly as the creature attempted to move its still animated body. Jaelen turned back toward the Green Ranger just as the Sword of Darkness fell across his chest, the blade ripping into his chest and abdomen cutting through flesh and bone.

Suddenly there was a burst from the citadel above. A white bolt of energy flew down striking Cirth. With a cry the Fear Cat dropped to his knees as the green armor that surrounded him vanished.

Goldar saw the Dragon Zord vanish in a burst of darkness and a horrible thought suddenly filled his mind. He scanned the battlefield with his scanners and located Cirth. Without thinking Goldar ejected from the cockpit of Cyclopsis and spread his wings soaring to where his brother was.

Seeing the Green Ranger fall Jaelen drew his sword back and thrust it through Cirth's chest as he fell with the last of his strength, the Eltarian blade piercing through the body of the Fear Cat as the two tumbled to the ground together. As they lay on the ground face to face Jaelen could see the burning hatred in the Fear Cat's eyes as the two fell into unconsciousness.

Goldar landed beside the two warriors pulling Jaelen off his brother and casting him aside, his body landing like a rag doll. Goldar shook Cirth slightly trying to rouse him. Carefully he pulled the sword from his body; blood began to trickle from the wound. Goldar frantically tried to close up the hole in his brother's body as each fading beat of his heart forced more blood from his body.

Suddenly the blood flow stopped. Goldar put his head to Cirth's chest, but was unable to detect a heartbeat. Goldar lifted his head unleashing a monstrous roar to the sky. He turned and saw Jaelen lying on the ground. Taking the Sword of Darkness from Cirth's side Goldar rose and walked to where Jaelen lay. Goldar could see from the slight movement in the armor that the warrior was still breathing. He raised the sword above his head turning the twisted blade downward pointing the tip at Jaelen's heart. Goldar's breathing got heavier as his eyes grew dim, rage washed over his face in an expression the Rangers had become all too familiar with. Each exhale of breath produced a snarl as Goldar's entire body began to shake. With a bellowing roar Goldar plunged the blade down.