A/N: Hey everyone, I'm back with the next chapter. I know how frustrating it can be when I leave cliffhangers and don't update for a while, but I took the time to go back and rework some of the continuity errors I had in the previous chapters so the story would flow better. All of the changes that have been made were very minor, meaning you won't notice the difference if you were to go back and read the chapters over again. Over all, I had to correct some mistakes and ax any unnecessary sentences or paragraphs that didn't fit well with this story. So, hopefully you all enjoy the changes. Now, on with the update.
Reminder:
-KARONE WILL BE REFERRED TO AS ASTRONEMA FROM THIS MOMENT FORWARD. This is due to the fact that she is now posing as a villain. So rather than write her name as Karone in third-person perspective, I will be addressing her by her evil persona's name.
- This story is an AU. It follows the events of the series; but for the sake of my O.C. Molly, the time frame in which each season of Power Rangers has lengthened. So yes, this story does take place during the season of Dino Thunder, but everyone's ages have been altered to better fit this original idea of mine. If you can't accept that, you might as well click away now.
- I have switched Tommy's profession to history at this point because I am HORRIBLE at science & chemistry and felt that writing about history would be a lot easier. Plus, I think that studying dinosaurs and fossils leans more towards the history side of the educational world.
- Tommy x Kimberly are the main pairing of this story, but there are SEVERAL other pairings that will be used during the course of this story as well. For starters, Hayley and Tommy are a couple when this story begins. As with most romances, theirs is going to take a while to blossom. So don't expect things to be all "sunshine and rainbows" in the beginning.
- Although I edit this story frequently, I do tend to make a few mistakes. So if you spot them, KINDLY let me know and I will take care of the issue immediately. Insulting my intelligence or skills as a writer for such minor mistakes is not only rude, but I will not tolerate it.
- Most importantly, I have made this story a personal challenge for myself and have written it ENTIRELY in the present tense so it seems like the story is happening right before your very eyes. It has proven to be a difficult challenge, but fun nonetheless. So I hope you guys like it too.
Disclaimer: I do not own the popular television series Power Rangers, which is based off of the Super Sentai series that air in Japan. I do not own the rights to any of the show's characters that are used in this story. Both aspects are being used for entertainment purposes only. I am the creator of Molly Hart, Samara and Austin Scott, and all other original characters featured in this story. The plot of this story was also developed by me. DO NOT REPRODUCE ANY ASPECT OF THIS STORY. Thank you.
"A Legend of Color"
Molly can't stop herself from grinning as Trent wheels her out of the school and onto the front sidewalk. Conner, Ethan and Kira follow close behind as they head for the large fountain in the center of the front walkway and stop for a rest. Trent helps Molly out of her chair before leading her to sit beside him on the fountain ledge. The others sit beside them while the rest of the students file out of the building and out into the parking lot.
"You girls really sounded awesome today." Ethan says as Conner begins rubbing Kira's stiff shoulders. "Kira, you should feature Molly during one of your sets at the Cyber Café. You guys would be a hit!"
"That actually sounds pretty rad." Kira agrees as Conner finishes her shoulder rub and wraps his right arm around her waist. "You totally have to meet the guys in my band - Kegan, Tyler and Ian. They'll flip when they hear you sing Molly."
Molly smiles at the thought before giving Kira a high-five and leaning into Trent's arms, much to the White Ranger's delight. The five teens sit in silence for a while as they stare up at the sky, the occasional cloud or bird passing through their line of view. Conner suddenly sighs, pulling everyone's attention to him as he continues to stare into the air.
"It won't be too much longer until the Master actually gets here." he reminds everyone, causing their moods to fall. "Here we are hoping for a bright future when we don't even know what is to become of it. Everyone on earth is going about their lives as usual, not even realizing just how much danger they're in. Aren't you guys worried too?"
"Way to kill the mood Conner." Ethan says as he crosses his arms and pouts.
"I'm sorry, but I just can't stand walking around and pretending like nothing's wrong. The Master has got to be the toughest opponent that any of the Power Rangers have ever gone up against, and his Comdrites are killer vixens waiting to mount our heads on his wall. We're the youngest and currently the most powerful rangers in this team up, and with Molly out of the game, i feel like we won't fair well."
"Just because my dad took my Dino Gem, that doesn't mean I'm out of the game forever." Molly says as she places her hands on her hips. "I know he means well, and I know that my mom is worried, but neither of them truly know what power lies within that Dino Gem. It could very well be free of all evil influence. I have to get it back and try it out."
"Your parents won't let that happen." Trent says. "Molly, you may have to accept that your time as a ranger was limited. We can't take the risk of losing you to the Nega Ranger's control again."
"He's right, you know?" Kira agrees as she gives her friend a sympathetic smile. "We need you here in one piece. Don't get me wrong though. Just because you can't fight as a ranger, that doesn't make you any less a ranger than the rest of us. You're still a part of the team."
Molly can't help but to smile at Kira's words. Still, she knows that her friends will need her help more than anything, and getting her Dino Gem back will be the first step in keeping helping them to thwart the Master's plans.
Astronema is sitting on the edge of a long metal table in one of the Mothership's many conference rooms when Hellina walks in with the other four Comdrites right on her tail. The amethyst beauty does her best to look angry to keep her nervousness within the depths of her mind as the door slides shut behind her magic wielding sisters. Once she is sure they are alone, Hellina sighs before placing her hands on her hips.
"Cole managed to escape from the Mothership." she announces, earning looks of disapproval and a few curses from the others. "The Master is on his way back to base as we speak, and he is not happy - especially with you Inferna. Cole escaped during your shift and you will pay dearly for letting him slip past you."
"I went to slide his food into his cell and he wrapped his arms around my throat." Inferna protests as her hands start shaking with fear. "I tried to conjure up a spell to subdue him, but he snatched my wand and managed to free himself. He seemed like he had been preparing for this for quite some time. I know the Master is angry, but I shouldn't be punished for being tricked."
"You really are the weakest link Inferna." Kitana says, earning a glare from the orange-haired vixen. "You are a Comdrite. You should have been on your guard and subdued him as soon as you go the chance. Now, he's gone and we have no way of tracking him down."
"The Master was going to dispose of him anyway, so you might get out of this scratch free." Hellina says, earning even more surprised looks from the gathered coven. "The legendary bow has been located and is being placed into storage with the Bambiraptor Ranger morpher as we speak. We no longer have use for the Red Lion Ranger."
"Why does the Master want the powers of the Pink Dino Ranger so much?" Luna can't help but to ask. "The Power Rangers are our sworn enemies. Why would he want to become a Power Ranger himself."
"The Master does not reveal much of his plans to me, but if I had to theorize, I'd say he wants to use the powers to destroy the rangers. The Bambiraptor Ranger has powers beyond our belief and they can be deadly when placed in the wrong hands. The Master will probably use that to his advantage and beat the rangers at their own game; but until he gets his hands on the Pink Dino Gem and the Sacred Arrow, the powers will remain inoperative."
"He's going to skin me alive." Inferna says, her voice shaking as panic rises in her chest. The others watch as her knees begin shaking, her eyes wide as her brain begins to concoct several terrifying scenarios.
"We won't let him kill you Inferna." Astronema blurts out without even thinking. The others turn to her, curious as to why she is dragging them all into this. "Look, we're all a part of a cult and we have to do what we can to stick together. I know it was your fault that Cole escaped, but we need you to stay alive and well so we can work together for the Master's sake. He will have to spare you once he realizes that you play a huge part here."
"There is no need for you to panic." Hellina reassures the wind witch. "It is I who will be facing punishment. I am the leader of our cult and it is my duty to ensure that you all are trained properly to handle such situations just like Cole's escape. You will be spared, don't worry."
"Why should you take all the blame?" Astronema asks, once again earning concerned looks from her siblings. "Hellina, you have been a great mentor to us all and you shouldn't have to pay for our mistakes. The Master may be in charge of us, but he does not hold our loyalty and you all know that. He has us held here against our wills with our memories altered and our hopes of escape snuffed out. That bastard sits high and mighty on his throne while we and the rest of this gruesome crew of villains do his dirty work for him. I mean, who's to say he won't dispose of us all once we've defeated the Power Rangers and served our purpose to him? Think about this for a second. Should we really let him walk all over us like this?"
The witches are silent as they brood over Astronema's words. They cut deep and Astronema feels relief when she sees the pain on each of their faces. "The Master killed my parents when I refused to join him." Nebia admits, earning a surprised look from Kitana. "He threatened to kill everyone in my village if I didn't come with him. I wanted to spare the lives of my people, so I did what he asked of me. He erased all memories I have of my life with my parents so the grief wouldn't eat away at me. I guess I should be grateful, but not remembering them is torture in itself."
"The Master had my husband imprisoned on a faraway planet and won't release him until my duty here is done." Kitana admits before hugging herself. "He allowed me to travel to the prison compound to bid my husband a farewell, but he removed the location of the prison from my memories to keep me from venturing there on my own to free my beloved."
"He enslaved all of my planet." Inferna says, her eyes brimming with tears.
"He bribed me with information he may possibly have on my birth parents." Luna chimes in.
"Don't you all realize what has happened?" Astronema asks with a smile as she finally feels connected to the five witches around her for the first time since they had met. "The Master is using all of our memories, our lives, to keep us prisoners on this ship. He has hurt us in more ways and he keeps using false promises to keep us under lock and key. We may be his servants, but just how loyal are we? I mean, are any of you really happy to be his personal assassin squad? We are more than a cult you guys."
"You're right Astronema. We are." Hellina says as everyone turns to her. "That is what he wants us all together - so we can become one being."
"What are you talking about?" Kitana demands to know. "For centuries, the powers of the Comdrites has passed on through generations of women throughout the galaxies, but there has never been a time where all six of the witches were gathered in one place. Legend has it, when the six witches come together and use a forbidden spell, the witches become one being - Comdrina."
"I've heard that name somewhere before." Nebia says as her face scrunches together. "The elders of my planet Mirinoi used to used to tell stories of a powerful witch who had unbelievable powers that were feared by everyone throughout the galaxy."
"You're from Mirinoi?" Astronema asks suddenly, pulling everyone's attention away from Nebia's story."
"Yes, I am. I was taken from there a few years ago when the Master threatened to burn it to the ground. Why do you ask?"
Astronema's eyes widen when she realizes that she could be implicating her role as one of the Galaxy Rangers. "I've heard the planet elders are very wise." she says, thinking up an excuse quickly. "During my original days of ruling the Dark Fortress, most of the information I gathered came from the elders there."
Her answer seems to satisfy Nebia, and the girls turn back to Hellina who is watching them with interest. "Comdrina is the original Comdrite - a beautiful vixen with hair that was six shades of the rainbow. Centuries ago, the legendary Pink Warrior, otherwise known as the Bambiraptor Ranger, went up against Comdrina to stop her from destroying Eltar. She was born on the planet, but she was exiled as a child out of fear of her not having control of her powers. Her parents tried to stop the planet council from making such a heartless decision, and they were killed for attempting to flee alongside the child."
"How cruel." Luna says, her eyes burning with un-shed tears.
"Comdrina lived alone on a desolate planet where she learned to manifest and control her powers. Eventually, they evolved, and she had the power to manipulate fire, the dark spirits, water, nature, the wind, and electricity. When she felt she was strong enough, she returned to Eltar and attacked the planet in a rage, determined to slay the people who destroyed her family. The Pink Warrior was called to action and she went up against Comdrina to try and save the planet. Legend has it, Comdrina attacked using a magic staff with a multi-colored ruby at its tip. The staff harnessed all of her powers and she was able to fire them simultaneously without exerting her own magic reserves. The two of them faced off for days, the staff going up against the sacred arrows of the Pink Warrior. On the final day of their battle, the Pink Warrior's arrow pierced the ruby of Comdrina's staff and destroyed it. The lights from inside the ruby split into their six respective colors before ascending up into the sky and shooting off into different corners of the universe."
"I know how the legend ends." Nebia says. "Comdrina's powers split off and were transferred into the bodies of six little girls. They would learn to control their abilities and when they passed on, the powers would move on to their next hosts. This cycle still continues to this day, and we six are the current wielders of her powers."
"So what you both are telling us is that we are all magic descendants of Comdrina, and we have the ability to become one being when we're all together?" Luna asks, making sure she heard right. Nebia and Hellina both nod.
"So that's what the Master wants with us?" Inferna asks. "He wants us to join together to become Comdrina so we can destroy the earth."
"That might be what he wants us to do, but we can use Comdrina's power to turn the tables on him." Astronema says, earning surprised looks from everyone but Hellina. "Just think about. Comdrina was seemingly unstoppable with all of her powers. I mean, she wasn't defeated until the Sacred Arrow destroyed the jewel of her Power Staff. The Master might be strong, but as Comdrina, we would be even stronger. We could overthrow him and avenge our friends and family who were wrongfully taken from us. We could go back to our old lives and be free to live as we please. Don't you guys want that?"
"What if we become Comdrina and can't separate again?" Kitana asks, expressing her fear. "I love my husband with all my heart and soul. What if we don't separate and I can't free him from the Master's prison? I wouldn't be able to see him again."
"Think of what would happen if we don't use Comdrina's power against him?" Hellina snaps, thoughts of her beloved being slain before her eyes playing on repeat in her head. "The Master is using us for his own evil purposes. I want my freedom from this metallic prison. Don't you?"
The rainbow witches all look at each other as silent understanding passes between them. They would be risking a lot by going against the Master, but the risks they are taking for working for him are even higher. Will they choose to come together as one, or is that risk the highest risk of all?
A/N: And so ends another chapter. Once again, I hope you all are pleased with the changes that I made during the editing process so far. This first chapter back isn't very long, but it is still very important. Is Kitana right to be worried about not being able to separate from the others should they reform as Comdrina, or is she overthinking things? Leave me a review, and I'll be back with you soon. See you next time!
-KairiAngel13
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