Power Rangers #3.11

"Power Play"

Written By Tobias Christopher

46 Hours Later

Justin and Jeremy sat on the edge of the pier, their fishing lines out in the water, waiting for the line to be tugged so they could in reel in their catches.

"Where'd you learn how to fish?" Justin asked as his feet kicked in the water alongside Jeremy's. "I haven't caught one yet, and we've been out here for an hour."

"Jason taught me," Jeremy replied as he looked out over the water. "He taught me more than anyone else has. I'm sorry that this had to be your birthday present, but it was all I could think of."

"It's cool," Justin replied. "I always wanted to learn to fish. And it is the thought that counts. I just wish my parents were here today."

"They're probably on their way home right now," Jeremy assured him. "And they've probably got tons of presents and a cake waiting for you. And maybe Rocky's with them."

"I don't care if he is or not," Justin told his friend. "If Rocky doesn't care about me, then I'm not going to care about him."


The Stewart Home

Doug and Carly rushed through the door, hoping to find Justin and Rocky waiting for them. Instead they found another-

"SURPRISE!" The teens shouted before realizing the two people weren't who they thought. Kim, Trini, and Christian had decorated the house for a surprise party while Jeremy distracted Justin for a few hours by taking him fishing.

"What's going on?" Carly asked as she looked around. "Oh my God, we completely forgot about Justin's birthday."

"We were just trying to make him feel better," Kim explained. "Ever since Rocky left-"

"Has Rocky come home?" Doug hopefully asked. "He left the Ranch over a day ago, and left us a note, saying he had to get home to Justin no matter what. The airports were shut down, and we're afraid he may have tried to hitchhike home. We left on the first flight last night as soon as the airports were open."

"Rocky's coming home?" Kim asked. "We haven't heard from him since he left."

"You really care about Justin and Rocky, don't you?" Carly asked as she looked around. "We didn't even know the sitter canceled until just before we left New Mexico."

"Jeremy's been staying with him," Trini told the Stewarts. "We know you told him he couldn't see us, but he needed-"

"We were wrong," Doug replied. "I can see how much you care about him. Thank you. Where is Justin?"

"At the pier," Christian replied. "Jeremy took him fishing while we set up the party. We'll go get him."

As soon as the teens left, Carly started feeling sick.

"Are you alright?" Doug asked.

"Yeah, I just feel like I'm going to be sick," Carly told him. "For the last few mornings I've felt like this."

"I think we should take you to see a doctor," Doug said as he walked her toward the door. "We'll call from the doctor's office in a little while, once Justin's come home."


Lord Zedd's Palace

"Finster, have you translated those scrolls yet?" Zedd asked as he paced around. He looked at himself in a mirror and looked at the 'Z' attached to the base of his crown, which had been reattached recently, after having been cut off by Rocky in a furious battle. "The sooner we figure out how to open the Abyss of Evil, the sooner we can destroy the Rangers."

"I have translated the scrolls, Lord Zedd," Finster said as he laid the scrolls on the table. "It will take a very large amount of energy to open the Abyss, more than we have I'm afraid. Fortunately, there is a large source of energy just waiting to be tapped into."

"Where?" Zedd impatiently asked.

"In a place called the Devil's Freezer," Finster replied. "Down on Earth. Once every millennium, a gateway to a dimension made entirely of energy can be opened when the planets are aligned. Today is the day that the portal can be accessed, but it must be done within the next few hours."

"Rita, gather the troops!" Zedd commanded. "We're going to Earth! We're going to Antarctica!"

"A place that's not Angel Grove?" Squatt asked. "I never thought I'd see the day!"


Kim, Trini, and Christian found Justin and Jeremy sitting on the docks, and ran up to them just as Jeremy's communicator went off.

"Rangers, you're needed at the Command Center!" Alpha's voice said over the frequency. "Hurry!"

"Damn," Jeremy said as he stood up and grabbed his shoes and socks. "Duty calls."

"Justin, your parents are home," Kim told the boy. "And Rocky's on his way back, too."

"Can I go with you guys?" Justin asked after a brief pause. "I really don't want to go home just yet. Maybe I can just watch you guys on the view screen or something."

"Well, you're the birthday boy today, so what the hell?" Jeremy replied. "Trini, Christian, you want to come?"

"We'll cover for Justin with his parents," Christian replied. "Just try to make it back soon."


The Command Center

Jeremy, Kim, and Justin arrived as Alpha was trying to get the alarms under control.

"Rangers, Lord Zedd is in the Devil's Freezer!" Alpha said as he rushed around, pushing buttons to get things under control. "He's trying to gain access to a dimension of pure energy!"

"Like the song?" Jeremy asked as everyone looked at him strangely. "Hello? Pure Energy? Information Society? 80's pop tune? Am I the only here who listens to 80's rock?"

"Does Duran Duran count?" Justin asked.

"Anything they put out pre-1990 would," Jeremy replied.

"Where are Tommy and the others?" Kim asked, ignoring the two boys, as the viewing screen turned on and the Rangers saw Zedd and Rita arrive in the Devil's Freezer.

"I'm trying to get in contact with them, but they're not answering their communicators," Alpha replied. "I'll keep trying, but you have to keep Zedd from opening that portal!"

"We're on it," Jeremy replied as he reached for his morpher, then looked over at Kim. "Do I get to say it, or do you? I'm not sure how the chain of command works around here."

"Go ahead," Kim replied. "You are the Red Ranger and all."

"It's Morphin' Time!" Jeremy shouted.

PTERODACTYL!

TYRANNOSAURUS!


Trini and Christian were on their way back to the Stewart's home when Adam and Aisha stopped them on the sidewalk.

"You guys got a few minutes?" Adam asked.

"We're on our way to talk with Justin's parents," Trini replied. "What's going on?"

"Come with us," Aisha said. Before Trini and Christian could say anything, they were teleported away.


Jason was packing his bags, getting ready to get on the road when a knock came at his bedroom door. He opened it and found Tommy on the other side.

"Tommy, I was just on my way out of town," Jason told him. "I have to go see-"

Tommy teleported himself and Jason away before he could finish his sentence.


Jeremy and Kim had arrived in the Devil's Freezer and found Lord Zedd and Rita, along with Goldar and Scorpina, trying to find the spot they'd need to open the portal.

"It's here," Zedd said as he pointed his staff at the snow. "This is where the portal will open. We just need to activate it."

It was then that several energy arrows fired around them, as Jeremy and Kim ran toward Zedd and his minions with their weapons drawn.

"The Power Rangers," Zedd said as he held his staff forward. "Can't a person be evil in peace? Destroy them!"

Goldar and Scorpina pulled out their swords and rushed forward as Jeremy and Kim met them.

Kim and Scorpina were both evenly matched as Kim used her bow to block Scorpina's sword.

"I will kill you," Scorpina said as she struggled with Kim. "Then maybe I'll take a shot at your boyfriend."

"Not even if you dyed that armor pink," Kim said as she kicked Scorpina, then used her bow to land several blows, knocking Scorpina back into the snow.

"You're even scrawnier than the last Red Ranger!" Goldar shouted as he brought his sword down, which was blocked by Jeremy's power sword.

"Hey, I'm drinking milk, and someday I'm going to be big and- Ah, the hell with it," Jeremy said as he rammed the butt of his sword into Goldar's face, and did a spin kick to knock him back.

While Scorpina and Goldar were keeping the Rangers busy, Zedd and Rita were getting to open the portal. They put their staffs together and prepared to open the gateway.


"Ay yi yi! Where are the other Rangers?" Alpha asked. "Zedd and Rita are going to open the portal!"

"Is there any way to close it once it's been opened?" Justin asked.

"If the portal is hit with a powerful enough force, it might close," Alpha replied. "Maybe I can rig a laser to hit it with enough force, but it will take time to assemble."

"Then I'll buy you some time," Justin said as he looked at the view screen.

"I can't let you go," Alpha told the boy. "It's too dangerous."

"I'll be fine," Justin replied. "I'll stay out of sight and try to close the portal while Zedd and Rita are distracted."

"And how are you planning to distract them?" Alpha asked.

"Trust me," Justin replied. "Just keep trying to get through to Tommy and the others. I might need a coat for this one."


"Where are we?" Trini asked as she looked around. Christian and Jason were looking around the large, nearly darkened room. The only light came from fixtures overhead, and there was fog covering the ground.

"You're deep in the Command Center," Tommy said as walked in with Adam and Aisha. "This is a room you never got to see."

"What is this place?" Christian asked. "What are we doing here?"

"We're in the ceremony 're here because it's time to fulfill your destinies," Tommy replied as he pulled out his power coin. "Adam, Aisha, and I... We're leaving Angel Grove at the end of the school year."

"Why?" Jason asked as the three Rangers approached.

"We're going to Tokyo," Aisha said as she came face to face with Trini. "To train with Master Hup at his academy. It's something that we need to do."

"What about the Power Rangers?" Christian asked as Adam put his coin in Christian's hand, where a surge of black energy shot up his arm, automatically morphing Christian into the Black Ranger armor.

"Christian, you demonstrated bravery and a level head when Jason was turned evil. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have had the means to make Jason good again." Adam said as he shook Christian's hand. "That's why you are the new Black Ranger."

Aisha put the yellow coin in Trini's hand as a yellow surge of energy flowed up her arm, morphing her into the Yellow Ranger.

"As the original Yellow Ranger, you were wise and fearless. That's why I decided to make you the Yellow Ranger again," Aisha explained.

"I had a tough choice when I was making this decision," Tommy said as he pulled out his coin. "Jason and Richie both have the traits needed to be the White Ranger. But I could only choose one."

"Tommy, I told you," Jason said as he looked at his friends. "I can't be a Power Ranger. Not after-"

Tommy put his coin in Jason's hand as a white energy went up his arm and turned him into the White Ranger. "There's no better leader for the Power Rangers. The White Ranger's powers can never be turned to evil. Use them to find peace."

"Why are you doing this now?" Christian asked as the three Rangers pulled off their helmets. "The end of the school year's not for another few weeks."

"We didn't want it to be a last minute surprise," Aisha explained. "We wanted to see the Rangers in action a few more times before we left."

"Now all we need is to do find the Blue Ranger coin, and we'll be a complete team," Jason said as Tommy's communicator went off.

"Rangers, where are you?" Alpha asked. "Jeremy and Kim are being outnumbered!"

"Good luck, guys," Tommy said as Jason, Trini, and Christian prepared to teleport.


Jeremy and Kim were trying to keep Goldar and Scorpina at bay, while Zedd and Rita were opening the gateway to the dimension of pure energy. They brought their staffs together and fired at the snow, where a large circular portal began to open over it.

"Perfect," Zedd said as he looked into portal, which was glowing light blue with flashes of white, as if it were shooting sparks of energy. "This will be more than enough power to open the Abyss. And possibly to power Serpentera forever."

Zedd prepared to put his staff into the portal to absorb the energy when a rumbling was heard. Zedd and Rita turned around and saw a giant snowball rushing down a hill, growing as it raced toward them.

"You've got to be kidding," Zedd said as he fired at the giant snowball, destroying it, but not before burying Zedd and Rita in a small avalanche.

"What just happened?" Jeremy asked as he punched Goldar.

"Looks like we finally caught a break," Kim replied as she knocked Scorpina in the head with her bow.

Justin ran down the hill and looked around for something heavy enough to toss into the portal, and spotted a large chunk of ice. "That'll work."

Justin picked up the chunk of ice with his gloved hands and rushed toward the portal, carrying it over his head. Before he could get close, the ice exploded into a million pieces, sending Justin flying forward until he was face down in the snow.

"You weren't thinking of tossing that ice into the portal, were you?" Zedd asked as he walked up to Justin. The boy rolled over on to his back in just enough time to have Zedd's staff pointed at his throat. "It's over, boy. You've been nothing but a nuisance to me for the last few weeks. So much so, that the first thing I'm going to do when I collect all the energy is kill your entire family, starting with your brother!"

Jeremy and Kim were too far away to get to him in time, as Zedd prepared to push his staff forward and take Justin's head off. Just then, a power lance blocked the staff, pushed it up and sent it flying until it landed in the snow.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were about to hurt my kid brother," The Blue Ranger said as he held his power lance toward Zedd, while looking at the boy on the ground. "Hey, Justin."

"This can't be!" Zedd furiously shouted as Rocky twirled his lance and sent Zedd stumbling back. "I disconnected you from your powers!"

"You took away my powers as the Red Ranger," Rocky said as he leapt into the air and kicked Zedd backward. "But luckily I have friends in very high places. And personally I think I look better in blue."

Jeremy and Kim had sent Goldar and Scorpina retreating when they saw the Blue Ranger fighting Zedd.

"Who's that?" Jeremy asked.

"Don't know, but I hope he's on our side," Kim replied as a stray blast knocked them to the ground.

"You forgot about me, didn't you?" Rita asked as she fired her staff at the two Rangers as she laughed wickedly.

Jeremy and Kim picked themselves up and began to run, ducking behind a snowbank.

"We could really use some help right about now," Jeremy said as Rita ran toward them. Just as Jeremy said that, the White, Black, and Yellow Rangers jumped in, with the Black Ranger using his power axe to block Rita's staff.

"The cavalry's arrived," Kim said as she ran up the White Ranger. "How's your leg?"

"Fine, thanks," Jason said as Kim stumbled back in shock. "But I'm sure you meant to ask that to Tommy."

"If you're White, then where's-" Kim started to ask as Trini put hand on Kim's shoulder. "Long story, but we'll explain after we stop Zedd. Guess who's back in Yellow?"

Christian and Rocky knocked Zedd and Rita back into each other, as Goldar and Scorpina joined them.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Rita shouted. "They're a whole team again!"

The White, Red, Pink, Blue, Black, and Yellow Rangers walked side by side towards Zedd and his minions, with their weapons drawn.

"The Rangers are back!" Jason shouted as he held Saba forward towards the villains.

"You should have known you can't keep us down!" Kim said as she held her power bow.

"If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!" Jeremy said as he held his power sword.

"One for all, and all for one!" Trini said as she held her power sais.

"The good guys are back to kick your butt!" Rocky said as he held his power lance.

"We're a team, and you can't break us!" Christian said as he held his power axe.

The Rangers posed as a large fiery explosion happened behind them to signify that the Power Rangers were whole once more.

"It doesn't matter how many Rangers there are, I'll destroy all of you!" Zedd shouted as he joined his staff with Rita's and fired at Goldar and Scorpina, making them over fifty stories tall.

"Alright, Rangers, let's take these creeps down," Jason said as he prepared to call on his Thunderzord, just as Kim tapped on his shoulder.

"Uh, hello? You destroyed three of our zords!" Kim reminded him.

"Dammit, woman, I was under a spell!" Jason told her. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Kim, Christian, Trini, you keep Zedd from opening that portal," Jeremy told them. "The rest of us will deal with Goldar and Scorpina."

Rocky looked over toward Jeremy. "Who's the short guy? You guys didn't pick a 12 year old to replace me, did you?"

"TRICERATOPS UNICORN THUNDERZORD POWER!"

"TYRANNOSAURUS RED DRAGON THUNDERZORD POWER!"

"WHITE TIGER THUNDERZORD POWER!"

The sound of Thunder was heard as the three zords appeared, and all three soon transformed to Warrior mode as soon as the Rangers teleported into the cockpits.

Goldar and Scorpina, who was now a hideous Scorpion monster, rushed toward the zords with their swords drawn. Goldar brought his sword down as the Tigerzord blocked with its saber, then knocked Goldar's hand down and kicked the monster in the chest.

Scorpina fired a blast of energy at the Red Dragon, which twirled it's staff and deflected the blast, as the Unicorn zord swung its sword at the monster, knocking Scorpina to the ground.

Kim, Trini, and Christian were trying not to be hit by Zedd and Rita's energy blasts, and ducked behind a snow bank. Kim had her power bow drawn to try to counter when they stopped firing long enough to get a shot in.

"This battle is so not going our way," Kim said as she looked over the bank, and ducked just in time to avoid losing her head.

Justin was also hiding, waiting for Alpha to send him the laser.

"Alpha, how's the laser coming?" Justin asked into his communicator.

"Ay yi yi, it's not coming at all!" Alpha replied. "I can't even find half the parts that I need!"

"The Rangers can't keep Zedd distracted too much longer," Justin told the robot. "We need to shut that portal now."

"The only other is way to toss an object heavy enough into the gateway," Alpha replied. "That might destabilize the portal and close it."

Justin started to think about what would be heavy enough to toss into the portal. If the portal wasn't closed, and Zedd got the energy, his step-mom and dad would be the first one's Zedd went after. He couldn't let that happen. Justin reached down his shirt and pulled out the coin necklace Jason had given to him.

"Jason said you're supposed to bring me luck," Justin said as he held the dragon coin in his hand. "I hope he's right."

The Rangers had Goldar and Scorpina on the ropes as Justin contacted everyone.

"I figured out how to shut the portal," Justin said to the Rangers. "I just need to toss a heavy object into it."

"Heavy object?" Rocky asked as he fought. "You're only about 95 lbs. What could you possibly pick up that was-," Then the realization hit him. "You wouldn't dare!"

"I have to," Justin said as started cramming snow and ice into his pockets to get more weight."If Zedd gets that energy, the first thing he's going to do is kill my dad and your mom. I won't let that happen."

"Justin Jacob Stewart, you stay put!" Rocky ordered as he tried to keep Goldar from bringing his sword down on top of his zord's head.

"Oh no, you used my middle name," Justin sarcastically replied. "Now I HAVE to stay put!"

"Good, now just teleport back to the Command Center and... you were being sarcastic, weren't you?" Rocky asked.

"Take care of my dad," Justin said as he looked toward the portal. "He's going to need a son if I don't make it."

"Justin, don't do this, please," Rocky pleaded as he tried to put Goldar down so he could get to Justin. "I'm sorry I left you behind. I'm sorry about everything, I'll do anything you want, just please don't do this."

"I'm sorry, Rocky," Justin said as a tear ran down his face. "I have to protect our parents. At least I have an excuse for leaving my family behind"

Goldar rushed toward the Unicorn, but it slashed the monster with its sword, and prepared to use its finishing move, just as Scorpina was sent crashing to the ground by the Tigerzord.

"Let's finish these guys," Jeremy said as the three Zords powered up.

"Next time, Rangers!" Goldar shouted as he disappeared along with Scorpina. Rocky wasted no time in bailing out of his zord and rushed toward the portal.

He arrived just in time to see Zedd and Rita trying to keep the Rangers at bay while Zedd headed toward the portal. It was then that Rocky saw Justin racing through the snow, trying not to stumble.

"Justin, NO!" Rocky shouted as everyone looked toward the portal, where Justin was getting closer. Zedd and Rita turned their attention from the Rangers and fired at the boy, missing the mark as Justin jumped and tossed himself into through the gateway.

"NO!" Zedd shouted as a surge of energy flew out of the portal, which seemed to expand before quickly returning the portal, which quickly shrank and created a large crater in the ground, which was quickly covered by snow as the wind blew over it.

"That brat has sealed the portal! Now we can't open it again for another millennium!" Zedd said as he motioned toward his wife."Come on, Rita, let's get out of here."

Rocky's power lance stopped him. "You're not going anywhere."

"And who's going to stop me?" Zedd asked with a laugh as the six Rangers gathered around. "I've already killed one Blue Ranger. I can surely take out another one."

"You killed Billy," Rocky said as he paced around Zedd. "And now my little brother's gone because of you. We're ending this here."

Zedd twirled his staff as the other Rangers prepared to get involved in case Rocky needed help.

"Kick his butt, Zeddy!" Rita shouted as Kim punched her.

Zedd pushed his staff forward as Rocky swung his lance and blocked it, and raised his lance as Zedd pulled his staff back, and raised it above his head and brought it down, but Rocky raised his lance to stop it's descent. The 'Z' on the staff started to glow as Zedd brought it closer to Rocky's helmet.

"Now you die, Blue Ranger," Zedd said as something sharp his hands, forcing him to drop the staff. Rocky fell backward into the snow and looked over toward where the crater was. "What in that world-"

"It can't be," Jason said.

"I don't believe it," Kim added.

"Is that-" Trini started to ask.

The Green Ranger stood in the crater, holding his dragon dagger in one hand, and a blade blaster in the other, as Zedd and Rita started to back away.

"Hey, how come he gets a cool shield?" Jeremy asked.

"Not another Ranger," Zedd said as he joined his staff with Rita's, and fired at the new Ranger, but the Green Ranger put the dragon dagger to his mouthpiece and began to play a tune, powering his shield as he walked toward Zedd. The blasts were deflected off of the Ranger's shield, back towards the villains.

"Zedd, we'd better get out of here!" Rita said as the Rangers began to surround them.

"This isn't over, Rangers," Zedd said as he looked at the group. "Next time we meet, you will all fall!"

Zedd and Rita disappeared as the Rangers looked over toward the Green Ranger, who stood less than five feet tall.

"Justin?" Rocky asked. "Is that you?"

"We'd better get back to the Command Center," Jason said as he looked at the group. "I think we all have a lot of catching up to do."


Lord Zedd's Moon Palace

"Incompetent fools!" Zedd shouted as he stormed into his throne room. "All of you are worthless! Because of you idiots, the Rangers shut the portal, and now they have SEVEN Rangers on their side! Now we can't even open the Abyss of Evil!"

"Actually, Lord Zedd, I may have made an error in translating the scrolls," Finster said as he laid the scroll out on the table. "It wasn't the pure energy from that dimension that we needed to open the portal, but the pure energy of good. As in-"

"A sacrifice?" Zedd said as he started to cheer up. "As in a pure soul. And now we have seven to choose from..."


The Command Center

The Seven Rangers teleported into the Power Chamber as all but the Green and Blue Rangers removed their helmets.

"Ay yi yi!" Alpha shouted. "The team is whole again! Just like Zordon prophesied."

"But how did Justin morph into the Green Ranger?" Jason asked. "The coin was powerless."

"The portal," Trini realized as she thought about it. "When Justin threw himself into the portal, the coin must have absorbed the energy."

"I'll have to examine it to make sure," Alpha told them. "We don't want any surprises like the last time."

"And now Rocky's back," Kim said as everyone began to demorph. "But how did you get the coin?"

"It's a long story," Rocky said as he demorphed. "But now I'm the new Blue Ranger. Isn't that AHH!"

Justin punched Rocky in the gut as soon as he demorphed before powering down himself.

"What was that for?" Rocky asked as he tried to keep from doubling over in pain.

"You left me without even saying goodbye," Justin said. "I thought you said we were brothers."

"We are," Rocky said as he leaned back against the control panel. "And now that you have powers, we can-"

Justin held the power coin in his hand and threw it at Rocky.

"I don't want to be a Power Ranger," Justin coldly said. "And I don't want anything to do with you!"

"Justin, come on, we're brothers," Rocky said as he put his hand on Justin's shoulder, before a surge of energy sent him flying back, holding his hand in pain.

"We're not brothers," Justin said as he looked at Rocky. "Don't ever call me that."

Justin teleported away as the others gathered around Rocky.

"Happy birthday," Rocky quietly said as he closed his eyes.


Angel Grove Clinic

"Well, the good news is that you're not sick," The Doctor said as he returned to talk to Doug and Carly.

"That's good," Doug said as he held his wife's hand. "Then what is it?"

"Well, I ran the test a few times to make sure it's correct," The Doctor told them. "So now I can safely say... Congratulations, you're pregnant."

"Looks like Justin and Rocky are going to have a little brother or sister," Carly said as she held her stomach. "The way those two get along, we shouldn't have anything to worry about."