==Palisade, North Carolina, United States==
When Friday rolled around, it was time for those to leave to Ukraine to bring all their bags to school. Only late Thursday night did the Harwood transfer students find out that it would be Jake Holling and Gia Moran that would be leaving to Ukraine with everyone else.
Jake was very thrilled by the fact that he would be spending his weekend with Gia. Since she didn't seem like the type of person who would be awkward and that Jake was the only person she actually knew decently, he felt like he would be able to make some progress with her.
What Jake didn't know, though, was that Gia was in no way, shape, or form willing to spend her weekend with Jake. She would rather be strapped onto an electric chair and zapped to death than have to get to know the creepy boy from her town who had been following her around everywhere.
Chase and Alli, on the other hand, had been making great progress with each other. From being arch-enemies at the start of the year to near best friends, they were doing great. Also, the fact that they secretly liked each other helped out their cause.
It was no surprise that Chase liked Alli. He had gone out of his way to do things for her, such as pick her up and drop her off whenever she needed to go somewhere. However, since Chase had a reputation as the guy who 'didn't date girls', he could only make it public to Kenzie that he loved Alli's company.
Alli liked Chase just as much as he liked her. She had dropped signs everywhere and had even tried to make herself look extra cute when in his presence. However, she had to hide her feelings from Chase to avoid any sort of awkwardness between them. She didn't know how he felt about her and didn't want to kill their friendship, despite the fact that he actually did like her.
At the end of the school day, the twenty-two students, including Jake and Gia, had to get on the school bus and head off to the Palisade Airport for their flight to Kiev. Chase and Alli already knew what to expect, so they had informed the two Harwood students that this wouldn't be as much of a vacation for them as it was for everyone else.
They were also informed that these overseas threats were worse than anything that had attacked Palisade. The wyrms that attacked Palisade only attacked the city to slow the Rangers' progress down, while the wyrms that attacked Eastern Europe did so with their real intent lying in the surrounding area.
"So you're saying that we're not going to have any sort of fun?" Gia asked, wide-eyed.
Jake shook his head. "Wow, sounds like a great vacation..." he groaned.
"We're not saying that you won't have fun." Chase reassured. "We're just saying that you're fun better be from kicking some serpent ass."
"Some terrifying serpent ass." Alli corrected.
"So let me get this straight." Gia said. "I'm supposed to find enjoyment in getting my ass handed to me?" she asked.
Chase nodded slowly. "Yeah, that's pretty much it."
Gia scoffed. "Is it too late to go home?"
Alli chuckled and shook his head. "You have no choice. Whether you like it or not, we need you. There's no turning back, now."
Gia slumped onto her seat and covered her face with her hands. "Being a Power Ranger sucks..."
"Yeah, but doesn't it feel rewarding saving lives?" Chase asked.
"No." Gia affirmed. The three of them weren't expecting Gia to give that sort of one word answer.
Alli signed and crossed her arms. "Too bad." she said. "You're doing this whether you like it or not."
Emma sat in the hotel room by herself. Since Gia was about to go to Ukraine, there was no one for her to talk to. The only thing she could think about was Troy. The love of her life was only a few doors down, and she couldn't even talk to him.
She pulled out her phone and went through her contacts. Ryleigh gave Emma her number just in case she needed any help. Emma sent a quick text to Ryleigh. "i need help" it read.
Ryleigh replied back rather quickly. "With what?"
"i need to deal with some emotions"
"What kind of emotions?"
Emma bit her lip and typed. "love"
"Meet me at the Java House. There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Emma sighed and changed into her decent clothes. She didn't like being open about her feelings, but if it made her feel better, she was all for it.
==Valthume Depths, Crimea, Ukraine==
Raylan had made his way deep in the caverns of Valthume. He had been in the extensive underground system for quite a few days trying to search for both the wall and the Dragon Priest. While the task had been long and daunting, he had no difficulty in navigating the caves. Whenever he got hungry, he would harvest some cave plants that grew in the moist areas. Whenever he needed something especially filling, he fished in some of the thermal pools, which were surprisingly filled with vibrant colored and healthy fish.
The cave, however, had been teeming with wyrms. Every other corner, Raylan would have to turn around to hack the head off of another pesky wyrm. The cave system had been littered with the mutilated body parts of the serpentine species, something Raylan took pride in leaving behind.
Finally, that Friday evening, Raylan found the loot he was looking for. The stone World Wall curved on the side of the cave and gave its words an emanating glow. Raylan stepped up in front of the wall and tried his best to read the glowing words.
"Nau daar revak golt drey Fredo zah rah miik ek laas..." Raylan read off the wall. "On this sacred ground did Fredo sacrifice her life..." he translated. "Het nok yngnavar gaafkodaav wo drey yah..." he continued. "Here lies Yngnavar Ghost-Bear who did seek..." he translated the second part. Finally, Raylan looked at the third part of the Word Wall. "Her man faasnu ronaan undveld aar kriid grohiik ahrk drog do lot nir..." Raylan read. "Here feel the fearless archer Undveld, servant, slayer, wolf, and lord of the Great Hunt..." Raylan translated.
That's when Raylan caught the three words that stood out. "Laas yah nir..." he mumbled. "Laas yah nir!" he shouted, firing a red wave out of his mouth.
The red wave scanned the room for life forms, showcasing the power of the shout. That's when Raylan understood the meaning of the Aura Whisper shout. It was a shout that allowed Raylan to detect hiding life forms. Raylan noticed that there was a life form hiding behind a rock that looked awfully familiar.
"Yol toor shul!" Raylan roared, breathing a blast of fire at the rock.
Hevnoorak floated from the area and levitated over to Raylan. "You've found me...now defeat me!" the Dragon Priest taunted, flying around the room.
Raylan growled his fists and followed Hevnoraak around the room. "Yol toor shul!" he continued shouting, trying his best to hit the evasive Dragon Priest.
Hevnoraak, on the other hand, was more accurate with his attacks. The Dragon Priest used his own Fire Breath shout on Raylan, which happened to his him directly each time.
Raylan stammered back after each hit. "Fighting fire with fire doesn't work..." he mumbled. "Fo krah diin!" Raylan shouted, blasting a beam or ice at Hevnoraak.
The ice froze Hevnoraak in the air and his frozen body crashed to the ground. Raylan pulled out his trustly Glass Sword of Fire and slashed at Hevnoraak until the Dragon Priest was no more than a pile of ashes. Raylan picked up the mask the Dragon Priest and brushed it off. The mask made a fine trophy.
Raylan looked all the way up and saw a small hole with light flooding in. He saw that as a perfect way to escape the cave without having to trek all the way back. "Odahviing!" he shouted, waiting for the dragon to arrive and carry him out of Valthume.
==Underground Temple, Saudi Arabia==
Exo gloated on his throne while awaiting word of the crisis in Valthume. It was only a matter of minutes before he heard that the Dragonborn had infiltrated their security in the dungeon.
One of the messengers race into the room. "I have news from Valthume!" he broke in.
"What is it?" Exo asked, hopping off his throne.
"It is terrible news...' the messenger mumbled.
"Out with it!" Exo exclaimed.
"Well, the Dragonborn got to the Word Wall. We have lost access to the Aura Whisper shout."
"Damn it!" Exo shouted. "What else?"
"Hevnoraak is...well...dead."
Exo clenched his fists. "That's two Dragon Priests down, seven to go." he muttered.
"Don't you mean eight counting yourself?" the messenger asked.
"Shut the hell up!" Exo roared. "I'll kill him myself!" he exclaimed.
"That's dangerous..."
"I said shut up!" Exo shouted. "Feim zii!"
==Kiev, Kiev Oblast, Ukraine==
The Rangers packed everything they had into their rooms. Chase and Jake chose to room together while Alli and Gia 'chose' to room together. Gia didn't want to room with Alli, but Alli forced her into submission.
Gia had been quiet the entire plane ride. She didn't open her mouth to any of her fellow Rangers. She thought that they were below her and already wanted to switch out of her role as the Yellow Ranger.
"This is all stupid." Gia groaned as she placed her packed clothes into the hotel drawers.
"No it's not, you'll get over it." Alli reassured. It was evident that Alli was getting tired of Gia's crap.
"I don't want any of this."
"Okay, what is it that you want?" Alli asked.
"I want that clown Jake to leave me alone." Gia crossed her arms.
"What's so bad about him?"
"He's a creepy piece of ass. He thinks he can get with me, but he's wrong."
"But you're a Ranger, you have to look past those things." Alli suggested.
"I hate being a Ranger." Gia stated.
"Why?"
"I'm busting my ass trying to save lives and don't even get any credibility?" Gia threw her arms out.
Alli scoffed. "If credibility is all you care about, then don't even bother helping us."
"Does it look like I want to?"
"Gia, I know you don't, but-"
Gia cut her off. "I'm going to go take a walk. Goodbye." she said, storming out of the room.
Alli shook her head. "She'll learn eventually." she mumbled to herself.
"Dude, it'll be fine." Chase reassured Jake.
"Why is she such a bitch to me?" Jake asked.
Chase shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea. Maybe it's because she knows how you feel about her."
Jake nodded. "Yeah, she knows..." he sighed.
"Then give her some space. Maybe that's all she needs."
"But, I love her..."
"I can understand why she feels this way." Chase said. "I mean, I feel you, don't get me wrong, but you're probably creeping her out. If you want to show her you care, then leave her alone."
"But, she's my biggest weakness..."
"Look, I'm going to tell you my biggest weakness: it's Alli. I'm mad crazy for that girl, but I value the friendship we share. We came a long way from despising each other to actually making up, and I don't want to stall that progress. Of course I think she's beautiful and all that, but I respect her space. Maybe that's all Gia wants."
Jake was silent.
"How does that sound?" Chase asked.
"I think you're right."
Chase smirked. "Aren't I always?"
Gia had been walking around Kiev for about half-an-hour doing absolutely nothing. She didn't know any Ukrainian, so shewas completely lost. Part of her wanted to be lost forever, while the other part was scared.
Gia walked into a dark alley and looked around her. Nothing was familiar; she was scared. There were several loud thuds behind her and she cowered.
"Yellow Ranger..." something hissed.
Gia turned around to face Exo. "Who are you? What do you want?" she asked weakly.
"You." Exo smirked.
Gia shook her head and trembled. She was just a lost little girl who wanted someone to help her. Everything strong about her was just an act. When she needed help the most, nobody was there for her. She fell on her knees and looked up at the terrifying monster.
"No..." Gia whimpered.
A dragon flew above them and a shadowy figure jumped off its back. "Fus ro dah!" the figure shouted from midair, blowing Exo back a bit.
Raylan landed in between Gia and Exo.
"Damn Dragonborn!" Exo exclaimed. "Why do you always have to ruin my plans?"
"It's my job." Raylan smirked. "Fo krah diin!" he roared, breathing ice on the wyrm.
Exo got up slowly. "I'll be back! Feim zii!" he shouted, teleporting away.
Raylan walked over to Gia and helped her up. "It looks like you could use a hand, Gia." he said.
"Who are you and how do you know my name?" she asked with a hint of tears in her voice.
"I'm Raylan Westbrook, you may have heard about me from Ryleigh."
Gia sniffled and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I think so. You're the leader of the Power Rangers, right?'
Raylan shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I was. Not so much anymore. I think Ryleigh boasts that title, now."
"How did you know I was here?"
"I didn't, I was actually looking for Exo." Raylan answered.
"Who's Exo?" Gia asked.
"The thing that tried attacking you a few minutes ago. He's the leader of the monsters you guys are fighting off." Raylan noticed the tears in her eyes. "Are you okay? Is there something you need to talk about?" he asked her.
"Yeah, there's a lot I need to talk about." Gia replied.
Raylan put his arm around the younger girl's shoulder. "Come walk with me, I'm a good listener." he said.
