Disclaimer: Saban owns Power Rangers and the characters within, not I.
"There it is.." Jason said as he stopped and felt the other three bump into him from behind. He turned to see Kim seemed fixated on the spot. No doubt she was having the same memories he was.
"Or what's left of it.." Kim stated.
"Yeah, definitely a big explosion happened here." Zack said as he looked around at the charred trees and the mountain in front of him with a giant hole in the side of it.
"Yeah.. it was more than just a lava eruption." Jason responded before he started to take a few steps. Kim reached out to grab him to hault his momentum. He turned to her.
"Maybe we should morph before we go in there?" Kim suggested. Jason glanced back at the other two before reconnecting with Kim's gaze.
"We should wait... we don't want to run out of power before anything even happens." Jason responded. Kim nodded.
"Hold up.. what you expect we are going to find in there?" Zack asked as he stepped up to stand next to Jason.
"Not sure what's left, but it was a pit.. a temple to Maligore.. and that's about it." Jason answered.
"And you are sure Maligore is gone?" Trini questioned.
"We saw him get destroyed by the Megazord." Kim answered to which Jason nodded in agreement.
"I have a bad feeling.." Trini confessed.
"I think we all do." Zack replied.
"If Billy is in there.. we gotta go, just be ready." Jason stated. The rest of the group nodded and fell in line behind him as he made his way down a path that led to a door on the side of the mountain. It was standing half open and Jason tentatively reached out to pull it the rest of the way.
"I hate this place." Kim stated, almost to herself as Jason disappeared inside the door. Zack was close behind him and then Trini. Kim took a big breath and then followed the group inside.
"Hold up.." Jason said as he stopped and the group gathered behind him.
"What is it?" Trini asked.
"I hear something." Jason responded. The rest of the Rangers strained to hear what he did but none did. All three trusted Jason's instincts enough to know there was definitely something there. Jason turned to them. "Around this corner will be the temple... the plan is simple.. find Billy as fast as you can and get out of here."
"Got it." Zack replied, while Trini and Kim nodded. Jason started to slowly make his way around the corner to the opening of the temple. Immediately his eyes fell on the pit in the middle of the room and he felt a shiver go up his spine. He closed his eyes and pushed the negative thoughts out of his mind. Soon he felt the other three in line with him and he glanced over at Kimberly and could feel she was doing the same as him right now.
"Seems.. deserted." Zack said as he glanced around.
"I don't think so." Kim reacted as she slowly made her way over to the pit. Jason started to stop her but suddenly he felt compelled to follow her. Zack and Trini exchanged glances and followed behind the other two as they were now within a few feet of the pit opening.
"Oh my god!" Kim exclaimed.
"Billy!" Jason reacted as he got a look inside the opening to the pit. Zack and Trini raced up to peer inside to see Billy lying on a net just a few feet above what appeared to be boiling lava.
"Jason we gotta get to him." Kim said.
"Billy.. Billy!" Trini shouted at him for any sign of life. She felt her heart sinking when he did not stir. She looked up at Jason who was clearly clinching his teeth, from either anger or worry.. or both.
"He's too far down." Zack said as he knelt over the pit and reached as far down as he could.
"Let's form a chain." Jason suggested. Zack nodded and got up.
"I'll go down." Trini volunteered and stepped up on the ledge. Zack then took her by the hands to allow her to lower herself over the edge. Kimberly then grabbed Zack's free hand to allow him to begin to climb over the ledge. Jason grabbed Kimberly's hand and sunk his feet into the ground behind them to hold the whole thing steady.
"Be careful guys.. if you fall, you may break the net." Jason said through clinched teeth as he supported the three people.
"Got it." Trini responded from inside the pit as she felt her feet come in contact with the net. She locked eyes with Zack who was extending himself head first down holding onto her. She nodded and he did to. "Let go."
"Be careful girl." Zack said as he reluctantly released her full weight onto the net to allow her to attempt to reach down to Billy.
"Billy.. Billy.. can you hear me?" Trini asked as knelt down on the net, unnerved at the way it teetered. She felt for a pulse and found one. She turned back up to Zack. "He's breathing."
"Thank God." Zack said. "Grab him and pull him over to me."
"I'll try." Trini replied as he pulled Billy's arm up to place it around her neck in an attempt to stand him up with her. She found the task difficult, not so much due to Billy's dead weight, but more so to their unsure footing. She used all of her strength to push Billy's body over to Zack's open arms as he got a grip on him.
"I'll be right back down for you, okay?" Zack said directed at Trini as he held Billy tight to him.
"Okay." Trini replied.
"Okay guys.. lift.." Zack called up to Jason and Kimberly. Trini watched as slowly but surely Zack and Billy began to be lifted up and away from her. After a few moments all of them disappeared from sight. She glanced around and felt an overwhelming sense of fear and dread as she felt the heat of the pit below her. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. She was startled when she heard movement above and opened her eyes to see being lowered back down to her. She smiled at him and he returned the gesture.
"It's good to see you again." Trini remarked as she walked over and grabbed onto his hands.
"Always a pleasure." Zack responded. "Okay guys.. we are ready."
Trini felt them being raised and the air around her got cooler and cooler a she got farther away from the pit. Soon she was above the ledge and could see the Herculean effort Jason was putting in to pull the group as most of it fell on his shoulders due their configuration. With one last pull she was free and hurriedly lifted herself over the ledge and to the ground.
"Check on him.." Jason said as he caught his breath and nodded over to where they had placed Billy. Zack reached him first and confirmed Trini's earlier report of breathing and a pulse.
"He's alive.. but why won't he wake up?" Zack asked as he turned to the group. Trini raced over to his side and took Billy by the hand.
"And how did he get down there?" Kim asked as she too knelt beside Billy.
"Someone put him there." Jason stated as he glanced around the temple.
"Yeah.. but why?" Zack questioned as he too stood up and began to look around.
"Kimberly and I.." Jason began. "We were lowered into that pit to be sacrifices to Maligore."
"You think that's what this was too?" Zack inquired.
"It can't be.. I mean.. Maligore is gone." Kim answered as she stood up to join the two.
"Doesn't make sense.. if they wanted to kill him.. why the net?" Zack asked.
"Beats me.." Jason replied.
"Why would anyone want to kill Billy anyway?" Kim added to the growing number of questions they all shared.
"Let's just get out of here." Jason said as he walked over and knelt down next to Billy. "Prepare to teleport."
Jason pressed his communicator, there was a spark but then it faded out. No one had teleported.
"What gives?" Zack asked.
"It's probably this place... let's get outside and we'll try it again." Jason answered, trying to remain calm. He reached down and scooped Billy off the ground. The group started making their way towards the exit when Jason cried out in pain. The group turned to see him being held from behind the throat. Billy's body had fallen to the ground at his feet and Jason was struggling to break free from his captor.
"Jase!" Zack exclaimed as he started to move towards Jason.
"I wouldn't." Jason's captor warned and Jason let out an audible groan as he squeezed tighter.
"Let him go!" Kim shouted as she clinched her fists and stepped forward to get a better look at who held Jason. She could see the figure was dressed in a black cloak that concealed all of his body. She strained to see his face but could only make out two light red reflections, she assumed where the eyes.
"Why are you here... who are you?" The unknown assailant asked as he backed Jason farther away from the group.
"We came here for our friend.. who are you?" Zack asked as he fought the urge to rush to free Jason.
"Why did you remove Maligore's sacrifice?" the cloaked figure asked.
"That's our friend, he is no sacrifice." Trini answered.
"And Maligore.. he's dead." Kim added. The figure stopped and turned his attention to her.
"Dead... you lie." was the response.
"I don't.. he was destroyed." Kim answered.
"How?" The cloaked figure questioned in disbelief.
"The Power Rangers." Kim replied. There was silence and Kim turned to make eye contact with Zack.
"Maligore... gone.." The figure stated.. his piercing voice now sounding distraught. "I have failed.."
"I don't know what you are going on about.. but let Jason go." Zack said. Zack was surprised when he saw Jason fall to the ground. Kim wasted no time rushing over to him. Zack stepped between them and the cloaked stranger who turned around and walked over to peer into the pit.
"Okay.. we gotta get out of here now... Jase.. you with us?" Zack asked as he knelt down over Jason. Jason nodded his head and with Kim and Zack's help he got to his feet. They all three walked over to Trini who was hovering over Billy. Zack knelt to pick Billy up.
"NO!" The cry of the cloaked figure echoed throughout the temple and Jason turned to see a green glow emanating from his body under the cloak. Soon the figure turned to the group and they got a look at his face for the first time. The face was merely a skeleton with glowing red orbs for eyes.
"Guys.. let's move." Jason said as he helped Zack with Billy.
"Stop!" the figure exclaimed as he somehow now appeared in front of the group blocking the exit.
"Woah.." Zack responded as the group stopped.
"If Maligore is gone as you say.. then it is my place to succeed him.. to continue his legacy." the figure stated to the group.
"Look.. bones.. I don't know who you are or what you are talking about, but you need to move." Zack said, growing more agitated.
"My name is Kiltore... I am Maligore's guardian.. it was my sacred duty to guard his temple.. and I failed." Kiltore replied. "I was away.. searching for power... I left him unguarded.."
"Yeah... look that sucks for you.. but if you don't let us go, you are going to join your old boss." Zack responded.
"That's enough.. you will not speak to me that way." Kiltore reacted. His eyes glowed a brighter shade of red. "I sensed power.. when this friend of yours craft was overhead.. it's why I pulled him to the island.. and now.. I sense the same power with you.."
"Yeah... even more reason to step aside." Jason spoke up.
"On the contrary.." Kiltore responded. "I desire power.. and I will have yours."
"Okay.. guys.. looks like we are going to have to fight our way out of here." Jason said as he stepped in front of the group. "It's morphin' time!"
"Mastodon!"
"Pterodactyl!"
"Saber-Toothed Tiger!"
"Tyrannosaurus!" Jason clinched his now gloved fist as he felt the power coursing through him once more. It was a high that was unique to this power, not duplicated as the Gold Rangers. He glanced around at his group and nodded as they seemed to be feeling the same way.
"Impressive magic.. I'll make great use of it." Kiltore remarked as he looked down the line.
"Gonna give you one last chance to let us out of here." Jason said. Kiltore changed him and grabbed him around the throat.
"And what do you think my answer to that is?" Kiltore asked before he flung Jason backwards into Trini and knocked them both to the ground.
"Take this." Zack said as he through a flying kick that Kiltore ducked. He hit Zack with a kick of his own that sent him spinning. Kimberly took advantage of this moment to flip behind Kiltore and kick him hard in the back of the leg, prompting him to lose his balance. She moved out of the way as she saw Jason charging him.
Jason tackled his larger opponent around the waist and ran him back into the rock wall. Their was a thud and dirt flew everywhere upon impact. Jason was about to step back and survey the damage when he felt a blow to his chest that knocked him to the ground.
"Over my many years of life... I have used my time to steal many magical powers.. and study many forms of combat.." Kiltore began as he stepped away from the wall. "You fight using modern martial arts training.. it is lacking in the discipline and power of the older forms."
"I'll show you power." Zack said as he threw a punch that was caught. He felt himself behind flipped aside with speed and ease.
"Your powers.. too.. I am familiar with... having encountered your kind before..." Kiltore continued.
"Jason... give me a boost." Trini said as she ran towards him. Jason ducked down and clasped his hands together to allow Trini to spring off of him. She did so and flew at Kiltore with a kick. He jumped up to meet her with a kick of his own that drove the air out of her and caused her to land at Jason's feet.
"I have taken those powers before..." Kiltore continued. "I feel a new form would be appropriate.."
Kim helped Trini to her feet and the group looked up to see their challenger changing his form. Kim looked over at Jason who was shaking his head as he saw the completed change.
"No.." Jason said under his breath as took in the sight before him. It was almost like looking in a mirror. Except the color before him was a dark hue of green with black in place of where his suit was white. There was no denying though, that the form he had taken on was that of a Power Ranger.
"Do you like...?" Kiltore asked with a sinister laugh.
"How...?" Zack asked.
"I told you.. I have taken the powers.. and lives.. of Power Rangers before.. this was my prize." Kiltore answered. Jason studied the costume and could immediately tell that it was drawing power from more than one Ranger. There were patches of it there were different colors and he could feel different energy radiating from those places.
"All of those former Rangers.." Jason said through clinched teeth. He felt an anger rising up inside of him, that he hadn't felt before. He had never met any of the Rangers who has powers had been stolen, this was all likely thousands of years before he morphed for the first time, but he felt a kinship with any Ranger, past or present. This served to anger him and motivate him for justice for them.
Jason rushed at Kiltore and unleashed a flurry of punches that were all blocked. He then through a knee that landed but the subsquent kick was blocked. He again tried a series of kicks that were all blocked. Jason began to feel that he was being toyed with and he did not like it. Sure enough his last kick was blocked and immediately he felt an elbow hit him under the chin and he staggered back into Kimberly who steadied him before he could fall.
"This guy is legit." Zack stated upon seeing Jason's lack of success with him.
"We'll see." Trini replied as she moved up to face him next. Her style was different than Jason and she wanted to test it against their newfound enemy. She unleashed a series of open palm strikes, that were all swatted away. She dipped to hit an elbow to the midsection but was met with a knee to her face before she could land the strike. She saw stars before her vision was filled with dirt from the ground below smearing her visor.
"That's it.." Zack said as he ran in. "You may know different styles.. but you won't know mine."
"Try me." Kiltore replied. Zack moved quickly with a spin kick, he anticipated it being blacked so he ducked really quick and rose up with with an uppercut but found his fist being stopped right underneath the chin of his challenger. He felt himself being flipped once more, but this time he landed on his feet and immediately threw a side kick that was once again batted away.
"He's distracted.." Jason said as he moved in to try to land a punch from behind. He did not expect that Kiltore would anticipate it and catch his hand while at the same time blocking a kick by Zack. Jason felt himself being pulled into Zack and the two crashed together and fell to the ground. Kimberly and Trini were quickly by their sides.
"This isn't working." Kim stated.
"I know.." Jason responded. "Everyone toge.."
"Hey.. where am I.." a voice from behind the group stopped Jason. They turned to see Billy sitting up and rubbing the back of his neck. Trini reached him first.
"Billy.. are you okay?" Trini asked. Billy looked at the Yellow Ranger in front of him like he had seen a ghost.
"Trini.. is that really you?" Billy asked as he reached out to run his hand across her helmet.
"It's me." Trini replied.
"How?" Billy asked.
"We've no time to explain." Jason answered as he walked over to Billy and offered a hand to help him up. "If you feel up to it.. we need you to morph."
"Jason... morph.. how.." Billy responded with confusion. Jason took Billy's hand and opened it. A blue flash briefly reflected in his visor and he looked up to see Billy's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the power coin in his hand.
"We need your help Billy... you know what to do." Jason said. Billy nodded and looked behind him to see Zack and Kimberly trying in vein to get the upper hand on what appeared to be another Ranger.
"Triceratops!" Billy exclaimed and Jason stepped back at the Blue Ranger suit appeared over Billy.
"This guy is tough.. but we are all together now... so for old time's sake.. let's show him what we can do." Jason said as he placed a hand on Billy's shoulder.
"You got it Jase." Billy said, just as Kimberly landed next to him. Immediately Jason was reaching down to help her up. Zack backed up to stand with the group and smiled when he saw Billy.
"Alright.. the gangs all here." Zack said. Jason stepped forward.
"No more one on one.. let's do this as a team." Jason stated.
"You got it." Kim replied as all five of them charged Kiltore. Kim knew that he was bad news, but looking to her left and right surrounded by her friends, she had no fear.
Jason reached him slightly before anyone and through a punch. This punch landed, and immediately Zack's kick landed as well. Both Trini and Kimberly went low and kicked his knees. This action doubled him slightly enough for him to meet Billy's knee on it's way up. Kiltore staggered back into the ledge of the pit, steadying himself up against it.
"Well.." Kiltore spoke. He was seemingly at a loss for words as he looked at the group that was regrouping for another charge.
Kimberly reached him first this time. Kiltore was ready. He grabbed her by the arm and flung her behind him. He prepared for the rest of the onslaught that came and was rocked by punches and kicks from three of the four remaining Rangers.
"Kim!" Jason exclaimed in horror as he saw her flying over the edge of the pit. She was desperately reaching out for something to grab onto as she disappeared over the edge. "No..."
