Forever Red 2
Chapter 11 – The Wizard's Fall
Eric, Cole, and Jayden formed a triangle around Octoroo. The creature swivelled on spot, looking for all appearances to be trapped and helpless but Jayden knew better. This one was crafty and he had told Cole an Eric not to fall for his tricks. Size did not guarantee power and that was never more true than with Octoroo.
"It's been a while," Jayden kept his spin sword trained on him. "Not since the last time you tried to kill me."
"Ooh-ah-ooh I know why you hate me red ranger but what have I done to you?" Octoroo pretended to plead with Cole and Eric. "I don't even know who you are! Why would you want to harm something that hasn't hurt you?"
"Haven't hurt us?" Cole ground out.
"First you try to kill Jayden," Eric's nostrils flared with repressed rage, "then you nearly take away our reasons for living."
"Those stupid girls?" Cole growled and made to jump but Eric held him back. Octoroo dropped the act and cackled, "Fight me if you can rangers!" His tentacles quickly grew and whipped all three causing them to be flung back. They struggled to their feet and charged forward to attack. Eric dodged and weaved around the flailing limbs attempting to shoot the thing but all his shots were deflected easily or else missed. Cole tried grappled with them, trying to hold them down so he could reach the wizard in the centre.
Jayden was having an easier time with his spin sword but even he couldn't get through. Seeing his fellow fighters in trouble he called out, "Eric!" and tossed the quantum ranger the blade. Eric caught it and slashed the feelers back finally landing a shot on Octoroo who stumbled back, crying out in pain.
Eric grinned in triumph then turned to the wildforce ranger, "Cole heads up!" The blazing lion took the sword, his powerful strokes actually severing the arms.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Octoroo screamed. He pounded his staff on the ground producing an energy blast that literally sent the rangers flying. For a moment they were too weak to move and Octoroo laughed, "You cannot hope to defeat me! I will finish you off myself then I'll go after your precious girls!" At that the men roared in defiance and leapt to their feet. Limping slightly they moved to stand in front of their enemy and gathered themselves, squaring their shoulders.
Eric cut a glance at Jayden, "Ready?" he muttered.
Jayden nodded slowly, flipping open his samuraizer. "GO GO SAMURAI!" he roared writing his symbol in midair.
Eric punched the sky, "QUANTUM POWER!"
Cole put his growl phone to his ear, "WILD ACCESS!" In a blinding flash of light, the red rangers stood fully morphed in front of Octoroo. But the small one wasn't going to give up that easily and prepared to fight. He used his abilities to disappear and reappear, dodging their attacks while shooting them with his own magic. "We've got to get that staff away from him!" Cole shouted. He pulled out his crystal dagger and hit the ground causing sparks to shoot up but the wizard was fast and got out of way before he could be hit.
"I got an idea," Jayden yelled. He placed his disc on his spin sword and activated it. "FIRE SMASHER!"
"Give me your best shot ranger!" Octoroo taunted.
Jayden whirled the large weapon around as if about to strike but before he actually did so he screamed, "NOW COLE!" Octoroo had been so focused on the samurai ranger that he had not noticed the wildforce ranger edging nearer to him. In one quick move Cole somersaulted over Octoroo, grabbing his staff by the top and wrenching it out of his grip.
"Give that back!" Octoroo screamed but Cole already had it well beyond his reach.
"Eric!" Cole called and the quantum ranger rushed to his side. Together they pointed the staff at Octoroo, visions of the girls being tortured played vividly in their minds, and said together "DRAIN!" A purple light began to flow from Octoroo to the staff making the wood glow. Octoroo struggled futilely but could not move while his magical energy was being sapped away. Suddenly the light began to grow fainter while the staff grew hot, finally the connection broke and Octoroo was panting heavily but furious.
"YOU STOLE MY MAGIC! But I still have my alien abilities!" He raised his arms and lighting began to fall around him causing the rangers to take cover.
"Tommy didn't mention that," Eric got up again after rolling out of the way. He tossed the staff near the sacred pool far away enough that the wizard wouldn't get it again.
"He didn't say the stuff was untested," Cole clutched his arm where a bolt nearly scorched it.
"Together then," Jayden took a deep breath. They reformed the triangle, circling their opponent. This was it, Jayden tightened his grip. "FIRE SMASHER!"
Cole produced a Gatling-like gun, "LION BLASTER!"
Eric took out his trusted weapon and aimed at his target, "QUANTUM DEFENDER!"
The three roared in unison, "FIRE!" Octoroo called forth more lightning and the space seemed to be engulfed in a haze of electricity, flames, lights, and lasers culminating in a giant explosion. When the smoke cleared the rangers stood together in front of the pool while Octoroo remained in his position for a long moment. The reds waited with bated breath until at last, he began to sway and fell to the ground. The force of his implosion was enough to make the reds step back. But it was over, Octoroo had been defeated.
The three men powered down as they watched the sky, the last wisps of smoke and spark disappearing into the air. Cole swallowed, taking in big gulps of air, "We did it."
"I can't believe it - he's actually gone," Jayden smiled with relief.
The satisfaction was palpable in Eric's voice, "He's done." Then reality set in, "But it's not over yet."
Cole nodded, "I have the most experience with Master Org, I'll go help that team. Eric you should join the others against the Mut-Org." Eric nodded his assent.
"I'll go with Cole," Jayden decided. "Sounds like Master Org requires as many hands as possible."
"Right," Eric clapped Jayden's shoulder then Cole's. "At risk of sounding like our spiked-hair leader with a colour for every season; may the power protect you both." Cole and Jayden laughed lightly and with one final nod, they split up to join their comrades leaving only a black patch of charred earth behind them.
