Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers.
Chapter 36 – Call to Adventure
Kira and Connor arrived at the Hartford mansion with little delay, though largely this had to do with the Sentinel Knight showing up and taking them, both of them this time, out of the loft at JKP and transporting them directly to the Overdrive Rangers' basement command centre not even giving them enough time to say goodbye to their friends.
"Ok, next time you just show up and teleport, or whatever it is you do, without even waiting for the ok, I'm going to kick your ass." Kira told the Sentinel Knight, quite seriously.
"She's not kidding dude." Connor added when no one seemed to believe her, though you'd never be able to tell with the object of Kira's ire for he was covered head to toe in armour.
"You have a body." Was the next thing out of Kira's mouth when she'd actually taken a moment to look at the being in front of her. "You didn't have one last time."
"No I did not, but the return of the Sword Excelsior into my possession returned me to my physical form."
"Right." Kira said as if she knew what that meant. The key thing here was that he had a physical form now, the why and how was practically irrelevant. "So let me guess, you heeded our warning, and we were right, your old enemies are back."
"That sounds about right." Mack muttered.
"So what exactly do you need our help with?" Connor asked. "Are they more powerful this time around or something?"
"No…" Said Ronny. "But Thrax has also returned."
"Ah." Kira acknowledged the problem at hand.
"He's come for you?" Connor asked the Sentinel Knight, having heard all about his and Thrax's rivalry from Kira.
"Looks like it." Said Dax.
"We'll of course help where we can." Kira assured them. "We're still trying to get Thrax back, return him to being good. We're not giving up on that."
"Thank you." Said Andrew. "Once again you've come to our aid."
"Like she said back then, once a Ranger, always a Ranger." Said Connor.
"Right…" Will drew out the word as he looked at Connor. "So…what do we do now?" As if to answer him, the alarms blared throughout the basement.
"Well Connor and I are gonna chill, while you guys handle Flurious." Kira said. "No pun intended."
"And whoever those other guys are. We'll join you if Thrax shows up, or it looks like you're getting overwhelmed." Connor added.
"Right." Said Mack.
"I must protect the Corona." Said the Sentinel Knight. "I too shall join you if need be, but I cannot leave the Corona unprotected in case this is a trap."
"Of course." Mack agreed. "Let's go guys!" The Sentinel Knight disappeared to who knows where and Kira and Connor stood back as the Rangers ran up the stairs and out the door. Now while they took a back seat for this battle they were by no means going to completely shut themselves off from it, meaning they watched the entire battle take place, starting with the un-morphed Overdrive Rangers arrival downtown.
"Flurious!" Mack cried. "That's far enough!"
"Ah, Rangers. So nice of you to join us."
"Sorry we can't say the same about you." Said Tyzonn. "Any of you." He addressed the Moltor, Miratrix, Kamdor and the Fearcats.
"I think we'll live." Kamdor said.
"Sure about that?" Will asked as they all pulled out their Morphers.
"Ready?" Mack called.
"Ready!"
"Overdrive Accelerate!"
"Kick into Overdrive! Red Ranger!"
"Kick into Overdrive! Yellow Ranger!"
"Kick into Overdrive! Blue Ranger!"
"Kick into Overdrive! Pink Ranger!"
"Kick into Overdrive! Black Ranger!"
"Kick into Overdrive! Mercury Ranger!"
"Call to adventure! Power Rangers Operation Overdrive!"
The Rangers each pulled out their individual weapons, readying for the onslaught of enemies that came seconds after their morph and roll call. Kira and Connor watched alongside Andrew and Spencer as the Overdrive Rangers fought their battle, noticing something peculiar almost immediately.
"Who's the big boss?" Kira asked. "I thought it was Flurious but it doesn't look like any of the other guys, except his Chillers and that one monster, are taking orders from him."
"There are many 'big bosses' so to speak." Andrew explained. "Flurious is certainly one of them, and arguably the strongest, he certainly gave us the most trouble. But Moltor, Kamdor and the Fearcats are their own bosses as well, while Miratrix takes orders from Kamdor."
"Wait, so you have four arch-enemies?" Connor clarified, turning to look at Andrew with an incredulous expression. "And that's only if we're grouping those Fearcats together. But four arch-enemies? How does that even work?"
"It hasn't before." Kira said. "The closest any other team of Rangers came to having multiple arch-enemies were the Originals with Rita and Lord Zedd. Even during The Countdown back in '98 Dark Spector, and then Astronema, were at the top, even though arch-enemies like Rita and Zedd took part in the battle."
"We are dedicated to protecting the Corona Aurora," Said Andrew. "From those who would use it to wreak havoc across the universe. Our enemies are any evil beings who sought the Corona, of which there were more then one."
"It makes sense." Connor said. "It's just unusual."
"But not unheard of." Kira added, not wanting Andrew or Spencer to think they were speaking of Operation Overdrive's battle in any negative terms. "So, what's so special about this Corona Aurora? I'm assuming it has a great deal of power, but what does it actually do?"
"The Corona Aurora is the Crown of the Gods." Said the Sentinel Knight as he reappeared in the Overdrive command base, satisfied that the Corona was safe. "It possesses a power like no other. It has the powers of life and death, healing and destruction. It can bring about peace, or see the world fall into chaos. It is the ultimate power."
"No, dude, there's only one ultimate power in this universe and it doesn't come from a crown." Connor said, clearly without thinking. Kira smacked him upside the head and gave him one of the most withering looks she'd ever given him, calling him an idiot through their bond and wondering why they even tried to keep the prophecy a secret if he was going to blab about it at any given time.
"You're twenty-six years old. Grow up and get it together!"
"Sorry." Connor mumbled, knowing too late that she was right. Thankfully for them, anything the Sentinel Knight might has said in protest, or any questions he may have asked, were cut off as a large blast was heard from the screen. They turned towards it in time to see the Overdrive Rangers be blasted backwards by something that didn't come from one of their standard enemies, but the mastermind behind it all.
"Thrax." Kira muttered, seeing the villain appear, his father's staff, or one that looked exactly liked it, held in his hand.
"That's our cue." Connor said the two made to head upstairs and out the door but were stopped by the Sentinel Knight.
"I shall transport us there. You have your fair warning." Kira had just enough time to nod her acceptance before they disappeared in a flash of golden light, reappearing in downtown San Angeles.
"Not exactly what I meant by warning, but it'll do." She muttered. Thrax saw them as soon as they appeared and turned his sneer in their direction.
"I will see to the end of you, Sentinel Knight, then to the rest of the puny Power Rangers!"
"If we were so puny we would have been destroyed long ago and you wouldn't be around to even have a go at us." Said Connor.
"You want the Sentinel Knight, Thrax, you'll have to go through us." Kira added. "We have a score to settle."
"And what would that be?"
"Well let's see, just off the top of my head there's trying to kill us and take over the world, resurrecting all the evil we worked so hard to destroy, kidnapping our family and forcing them back into the life they've tried to forget about, and then of course worrying your parents sick, and then no doubt having turned them evil again as well. You having a little family reunion now that they're evil again, Thrax? You may find it strange that we care so much about those who tried to kill us in the past, but they're good people. And I know, even if they are evil, that both Rita and Zedd are thrilled to have you back, because love is the one thing you can't destroy, Thrax, no matter how hard you try."
"If you feel so strongly, why don't you come over here and do something about it? Or are you scared?" he taunted.
"I'm not afraid of beings like you. Never have been and never will be."
"With your ultimate power, I'm certain you wouldn't be." He said, causing Kira and Connor to both freeze. "Yes, I know all about you and your power. Dark Spector was only too keen to speak of it."
"If Dark Spector's back, why's he letting you call the shots?" Connor demanded, trying to change the subject.
"I'm nothing more then my master's humble servant." Thrax said, laying it on very thick, clearly telling them that Dark Spector obviously thought he was calling the shots. "But whether he lives again or not is of no importance, it's the information he gave me."
"How did Dark Spector know it was me?" Kira asked, giving up any pretence of denial. "Or was that you guessing and trying to call my bluff?" She knew it was very possible Thrax had been reaching. As far as they knew, Dark Spector had only known of the existence of a being of ultimate power, not who that being was. Either way, it was too late to turn back now. "Actually I've decided it doesn't matter. You see, Thrax, you're right, I am a being of ultimate power, a being with a power like never before seen, a being with a power that no one can beat. Not Dark Spector, not you, not any ancient power. So what are you trying to accomplish here? You can't win. Not while my heart still beats."
"We shall see." Was all Thrax said. "Attack!" As the monsters charged, Kira and Connor pulled out their Morphers and quickly morphed into their Jungle Fury Ranger forms, rushing Thrax and leaving a confused and shocked group of Overdrive Rangers, and the Sentinel Knight, to take on the rest of them.
"I'm glad you have not denied your power." Thrax said as they continued to battle. "It will make it easier to turn you without worrying of any dormant power ruining my plans."
"That's your play?" Kira asked. "You plan to turn me evil and use my power to take over the universe? That's funny." Amusement certainly laced her voice, and through their bond, Connor could see why.
"You think you're too strong to fall to darkness?"
"I may very well fall to darkness, Thrax, but it'll be my life, not my goodness that falls. We're too strong for that." Thrax didn't respond and so Connor took over; they'd gone this far, might as well go all the way, or at least further then this.
"There's a lot you don't know, Thrax." He said. "You know Kira's a being of ultimate power, but that's about it, and there's so much more. You see, millions of years ago a prophecy was made foretelling of Kira's birth, but it didn't just say that she'd have an unbeatable power."
"It said I'd have a mate." Kira picked up. "And it would be our bond that determines the power I have. So long as our bond prevails, you'll always lose."
"Then I shall ensure it does not prevail!" He snarled, not liking that there was more to this then just having to turn this one slip of a girl evil.
"That's where you're wrong. You can't do anything about our bond." Connor said, confirming that he was indeed her mate.
"The bond is our love for each other." Kira added. "That one force all the evil in the universe couldn't suppress. For our bond to fail, we would have to truly, and I mean truly, with all our hearts, not love each other anymore."
"But that's never gonna happen. Death, separation, turning one of us evil in the hope that the evil would destroy that love, none of it will work, for it's not real. We'll still love each other in death, or if we're apart, and even if we're evil, no matter how much the evil tells us otherwise."
"You're about ten years too late for even the chance of our bond failing. As we are now, our bond cannot fail. You will lose, Thrax, it's only a matter of time." The two dodged a poor shot, sent at them in anger, as Thrax jumped away and snarled at them.
"If that is true, then I shall simply have to see to the end of both of you and your power! I will destroy you all!" He cried before making his retreat, closely followed by the Overdrive Rangers' enemies, who were not faring too well against them. When they were gone, all the attention was turned to Kira and Connor, as they'd expected it to.
"Let's get back to your place." Connor said to Mack. "We'll explain there." With the Sentinel Knight's help, the return to the Hartford mansion was quick and painless, but also saw to the beginning of the explanation Connor had promised before either he or Kira had had time to breathe.
"Yes we have an ultimate power." He started. "We can't tell you everything-"
"Why not?" Kira interrupted. "Thrax already knows. Maybe now's the time to come clean and finally see an end to this. The prophecy has to come true at some point, and this is about as dark as our universe is going to get. If there's ever a time for 'The Child to be the saviour' it's now." Connor conceded her point, and only hoped that Tommy and Kim would see it that way as well when they learned of this.
"Millions of years ago a prophecy was made. It said that there would be born a Child of Power, The Child of Power, who would have a power unknown, unforeseen and unbeatable. It said that The Child would be bound to another and should the bond prevail, The Child would be the saviour, but should it fail, The Child would bring destruction to everything around."
"Kira is that child. And I'm the one she's bound to." Connor said, as if that part needed any clarification. "We are mates, true soul mates, we literally share a soul; are one soul, one person, divided between two bodies."
"The bond, as cheesy and overdone as it sounds, is our love for each other. So long as we love each other, ruin can never befall this universe."
"Which means Thrax can't win. Though he'll certainly try."
"You may believe us or not believe us, that is your choice, but every word we say is true." Kira said. "Others know of the prophecy, the Originals through Space Rangers, the Dino Rangers and Jungle Fury Rangers, know everything in its entirety while others know bits of it, and many have seen proof of our power, the RPM Rangers could certainly tell you stories about it."
"But you guys too have seen proof, even if you didn't know it."
"How?" Rose asked, being the first of them to speak up since returning to their base.
"You remember the trip to Eltar? How when we finally escaped the world had been destroyed, but then suddenly it wasn't, and it was like it never had been? Those billions of people who died were suddenly alive again, the five years that had passed, hadn't. That's why it's 2013 now, and not 2018."
"You saying that that's because of her?" Mack asked. "That she brought all those people, our entire planet back to life?"
"We both did." Kira amended for him. "It's not just my power it's Connor's too."
"I believe you." Tyzonn suddenly said. "Even for us Rangers it all sounds farfetched, but I believe you, somehow." The other Overdrive Rangers could not disagree with him. Somehow they all believed this story. When they'd returned to Earth from Eltar, they'd all been gathered in the Originals' Command Centre, had seen the battle with Venjix, but had not seen what had followed for while they were celebrating Venjix's defeat, Alpha had quietly turned the Viewing Globe off, knowing what Kira and Connor were going to do, and not knowing if they wanted people to know. Obviously they couldn't hide it from everyone, the RPM Rangers were right there with them, but Alpha knew the importance of the prophecy, and while there was never a more trustworthy group of people then the Power Rangers, he still believed that the fewer people who knew the better, the safer the universe, and his family would be. So, the next thing any of them had known, the Ranger children had reverted back to being the young children they were when their parents had gone to Eltar, with no memory of the past five years, and Earth had been restored to its former glory.
"You guys have to continue to protect the Corona." Was the next thing that was said, by Connor, as they veered away from the prophecy, having explained everything they were willing to explain. "I didn't mean to belittle its power with my careless comment." He told the Sentinel Knight. "I just wasn't thinking."
"Obviously." Kira muttered, still a bit peeved at him that he'd done that, even if everyone knew about the prophecy now.
"Yeah, well, an ultimate power or not the Corona has a great power, I've no doubt of that, and while Thrax may leave you alone now, having Kira and I to deal with, Flurious and whatever the others are named will not. And if they get their hands on the Corona it will be bad, no matter what kind of power Kira and I have."
"I have dedicated my life to protecting the Corona. I will not stop now." Said the Sentinel Knight.
"Nor will we." Mack said for his team. "You can count on us. For this, and for anything you need in the future."
"It'll come to a head one day in the not too distant future." Kira said. "Thrax may be content for now to let past evil get back to the battles they waged before they were destroyed the first time, but he won't be forever, especially when he finally accepts that he's not going to be able to turn either of us to his side and use our power to destroy the universe."
"You guys have it tough, with all those arch-enemies, I don't even want to think of having to deal with more then one." Connor shuddered. "Though, now that Thrax is gone for a bit we gotta go home and face two beings who are worse then any arch-enemy when pissed off."
"Who?" Ronny asked.
"My parents." Kira said. "They're scary when pissed off, mom especially."
"One glare from her has people running for cover." Connor corroborated. "And when they learn we've revealed the prophecy they've spent twenty years trying to keep secret they're certainly gonna be pissed."
"Yeah, remind me to mention that it was you who blurted it out in the first place." Kira told her mate, not afraid to sell him out to her mother if it meant she didn't have to face the Original Pink's wrath.
"Thanks, I'm definitely feeling the love." He said, seeing her reasoning through their bond.
"Let's just hope we get called away before mom gets really worked up." Kira said, and bidding goodbye to Operation Overdrive, the two returned to Reefside, hoping, praying, that another team of Rangers would call them in for one thing or another, for they'd rather face the evil of the universe then a pissed off Kimberly Oliver.
A/N - Thrax knows of the prophecy, it is truly beginning to be revealed. And Kira's right the prophecy had to be fulfilled at some point, and what better time then during the Legendary War? I dare you to tell me you didn't see that one coming. I have been clear that this story arch is the end of the story so if it didn't happen now then it'd have to happen sometime in the future which I'm not writing about, and for something that's been such a key part in the plot, did anyone really think I wasn't going to write about it?
Mystic Force is next with more on Rita and Zedd!
Review please!