Well now, how are my fellow readers? Are you all ready for another new chapter of my Power Rangers/Thomas story? If you are, then behold! This is a part original chapter/MMPR episode that will focus on Thomas dealing with his guilt and depression for failing to save Stanley.
And now, I must mention something else here: This chapter is actually based on an idea that a fellow reviewer had recently left for me, by the name of Mywinx14. To that reviewer: If you're out there and are reading this new chapter, then I really must say thank you for the suggestion because it was one I was looking for… However, I regretfully state that I didn't use ALL of those ideas from your suggestion, some bits of the suggestion were not used for certain and very specific reasons. I think I've used about 60% of the chapter idea (The Rangers being captured bit was definitely used), along with 20% coming from the MMPR Season 2 episode *Missing Green*, and about 20% from my own ideas (though the monster that I used here had come from the S2 episode *The Beetle Invasion*, though it's not the exact same monster).
But what were the 20% of my own ideas, some of you may ask? Why tell you all now? Just read the new chapter and find out.
And as I mentioned before: Thomas belongs to HIT Entertainment, and Power Rangers belongs to Saban Brands. Please don't sue, because this story is just here for entertainment purposes.
Chapter 49: Missing Friends
MMPR Episode Basis: Missing Green (minor)
Thomas Episode Basis: N/A
It has now been over a week since Lady and Burnett had both departed the Island of Sodor to move to America with the rest of the Hudswells, and almost four weeks since the death of Stanley himself. While things were getting back to a normal routine for all of the students from Sodor High, with the end of the school year coming in just a few more months. However, there was still one student who was still feeling depressed from Lady moving away, as well as Stanley dying. And that teen was Thomas Billinton.
One day, towards the end of March, a few days before April 1st. Inside the Youth Center, Thomas was busy in the gym section, sparring with Percy.
"Come on, Thomas, hit me with your best shot!" The green-haired boy dared.
Thomas did indeed try to give him his best shot, but he seemed too distracted to make good of his attempt, and this allowed Percy to block his attacks and counterattack with a spin kick to Thomas's chest, knocking him onto the floor. Percy, normally would be happy that he won, seemed to be disappointed with Thomas's lack of focus.
"What's the matter with you, Thomas?" he asked, helping his best friend up off the mat. "You always defeat me in sparring matches, but suddenly you've lost your touch and also got beaten by me."
Thomas looked away solemnly. "Sorry."
Percy quickly understood what was wrong.
"It's Stanley and Lady, isn't it?" he brought up. "You miss them both, don't you?"
Finally, Thomas turned around to face his green-haired best friend.
"It isn't just that." he sighed. "It was my fault they're gone. I was the one who drove Lady away from us back on Valentines Day thanks to Arry, Bert, and Diesel making that school news story, and Rita for disguising those two Putties as Stanley and Lady."
Flashback
Thomas was outside the school berating Lady after he saw a copy of the school news he got from Duck.
"How could you do this?!" Thomas shouted. "How could you?! After all the fun times we've had together!"
"T-Thomas, I-I'd never-" Lady tried to speak, but was interrupted.
"I'm a laughing stock now, thanks to you!" Thomas continued, growing angrier by the minute. "And don't go and try to say that *look-a-likes* of you and Stanley were in that photo smooching, because I don't believe you!"
"Thomas, please stop." Lady whimpered, her eyes welling up with tears. "We would never go out behind your back, and the same with Rosie, too."
Thomas responded by holding up the newspaper to her face, it showed the picture of Stanley and Lady showing affection for one another.
"Well, whoever came up with this story sure seemed pretty accurate on the truth." Thomas retorted.
"B-but, Thomas." Lady started to talk again. "Those aren't me and Stanley. Sure those two teens looked like us, but they-" she was interrupted again.
"Shut up!" The blue-haired boy bellowed, pushing Lady away. "Just shut up and stay away from me, forever! As of this moment, you and I are through!"
With that said and done, Thomas stormed back inside the school to find Stanley. While poor Lady, feeling very heartbroken over what Thomas said to her and him breaking up with her, finally broke down to cry her eyes out over some Valentines Day this was turning out to be.
End Flashback
"And it was also my fault that Stanley's dead." Thomas continued. "Because I didn't get that Green Candle."
"Come on, Thomas." Percy replied. "You had no other choice. I know, because I was there."
"No. I should've gotten the candle!" Thomas returned, a little more emotional.
Flashback
The person that was lying in the sand near the shore was…Stanley!
"Oh no!" Rosie shrieked.
"STANLEY!" screamed Thomas, running over to the gray-haired boy.
Rosie, Emily, Percy, and Toby ran over to join their blue-haired friend. Thomas kneeled to Stanley and shook him gently.
"Stanley! STANLEY! Wake up!" cried Thomas. "I'm so sorry I didn't get the candle back! I'M SORRY! Please forgive me for this!"
Stanley's eyes fluttered open and he looked at his true blue friend.
"H-hey, guys." he greeted with a weak voice.
"Stanley!" exclaimed Rosie, coming over to see her boyfriend. "Oh, thank goodness you're-"
"No." Stanley replied. "I'm afraid t-this is the end of-me."
Tears welled up in poor Rosie's eyes.
"No! You can't die, Stanley! Please! I can't bear to lose you!"
"I-I'm sorry, but-" Stanley briefly closed his eyes. "Maybe this…this is for the best."
"But if you die now, Rita will get your powers!" Percy protested.
Stanley coughed hard. "Even if I…do die, I-" he coughed again. "-won't let Rita get my powers. Because…I'm transferring them over…to you, Thomas."
Thomas's eyes widened. "M-me?"
Stanley smiled a bit before weakly raising a hand over to Thomas's belt region, pressing the Power Coin on his Power Morpher. Then Stanley went and pressed the Power Coin on his Power Morpher. Both teens began glowing with their respective color (Thomas: Red, Stanley: Green), and when both of the glows each faded away, they were morphed as Red Ranger and Green Ranger respectively.
"Okay." Stanley moaned. "Brace yourself."
With that said, he went and grabbed Red Ranger's left hand and placed it onto the Dragon Shield's center diamond shape, causing green energy to shimmer on the said shield. As Green Ranger continued holding Red Ranger's hand to his chest, the golden shield shimmered green, before sending a yellow light down Red Ranger's body, transferring the Dragon Shield over his shoulders and chest, the armbands included, and then Green Ranger released Red Ranger's hand from his chest and weakly handed him the Dragon Dagger.
"The power of the Green Ranger and Dragonzord are now yours permanently." Stanley said. "I know…you…you will use it…well."
Red Ranger looked down at teammate/friend with grief showing in his body movement.
"Stanley…" Thomas mumbled softly.
Then the two Rangers demorphed back into Thomas and Stanley. The gray-haired boy looked over to Emily, Rosie, Percy, and Toby.
"I'm…glad I got to…meet such wonderful people." he said weakly. "I…just wish that this…didn't have to…happen."
"Don't say that!" Toby cried, tears were streaming down his eyes. "This just can't be the end!"
Stanley laid back down. "I'm sorry, but…it looks…like it…is."
"No, Stanley! I refuse to accept that! I won't accept it!" Emily was now crying her eyes out.
Poor Rosie couldn't take it anymore, and pushed past Percy and Toby and embraced her dying boyfriend while crying her eyes out too.
"NO! PLEASE STANLEY, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU!" she screamed.
Stanley looked at his soon to be ex-girlfriend. "I understand…that, Rosie. But…we were just…not…meant to be."
Rosie was positively devastated to hear that, and she hugged Percy while crying harder than ever. Stanley then looked at Thomas one last time, before using all his remaining strength to take his Power Coin out of his Power Morpher and hand it over to Thomas.
"Give this Power Coin…to…Lady." he gave another heavy cough. "It will heal her up enough…to regain consciousness."
Thomas nodded and took the coin while tears streamed down his eyes.
"I will… Old friend." he sniffled sadly.
Stanley gave one final smile. "Do me…one last…favor." he asked, trying to speak his last breath. "Defeat…Rita. And…protect the…Earth from…her. Please, don't…let…her…"
He couldn't finish his sentence, as he then coughed three more times before his head drooped and his entire body finally became limbed and lifeless.
"Stanley? Stanley?! STANLEY!" Thomas screamed, shaking Stanley's body three times for a response as he began sobbing uncontrollably.
End Flashback
"It was ALL my fault that we lost two friends." Thomas continued to blame himself. "If Zordon chose me to lead you guys as Red Ranger, then why did I let all of those events occur?"
"Thomas…" Percy honestly didn't know what to say to help his depressed best friend feel better.
"I thought so." Thomas grumbled, before turning away from his green-haired best friend. "Sorry, Percy, but I'd like to be alone for now."
With that, the sad blue-haired boy walked away, leaving Percy wondering what he could do to help him.
Between Earth and the Lunar surface of the Moon in outer space, Rita's wicked laughter could be heard. At the Lunar Palace on the Moon, she could also be heard speaking as well.
"This is wonderful!"
Inside, Rita was in her bed chambers looking over herself in the mirror.
"I may have failed to get the Green Ranger's powers with my Green Candle, but Stanley still died from it burning out, and now the Enchantress had left her friends." she said aloud to no one but herself. "And Thomas seems to be depressed over those events."
Her reflection in the mirror showed her smile growing wider and more evil.
"Well, if Thomas and the others thought the Green Candle was bad enough, wait until they see what I have in store for them starting now!"
Uh-oh! What could old Rita be up to now?
Later on, at the Sterling residence. Inside, Percy, Toby, Emily, and Rosie were all in the kitchen, sitting at the table enjoying some sweet and freshly made lemonade and peanut-butter cookies that Mrs. Sterling had baked, and were also thinking about how they could help Thomas.
"I feel bad that Thomas is going through such a depression right now." Percy started.
"Me too." Rosie agreed.
"If only we could help cheer him up." replied Toby, chewing on a cookie.
"Unfortunately, I have no idea how we could do that right now." Emily sighed, taking a sip of her lemonade.
None of the other three Tidmouth Teens had any ideas either, but they were determined to help their blue-haired friend.
Inside the Lunar Palace, Rita was in the main chamber and headed out to go visit Finster in his workshop.
"Time to see what delightful creature Finster came up for me today." she thought to herself with an evil smile.
Inside Finster's workshop, the monster maker himself was busy doing some cleaning up around the place.
"My, oh my, what a filthy workspace. It simply won't do." he muttered to himself.
As Finster continued to clean the place up, his back was turned as Rita entered the workshop.
"Finster! What do you have for me?!"
Finster was so startled by his Queen's sudden shouting (doesn't help that his back was turned) that he tossed whatever was in his hands up into the air before turning around to face Rita, catching the thing he threw up in the process.
"O-oh, m-my Queen!" he stuttered.
"Finster." Rita began calmly and slowly. "We've now got the Rangers right where I want them, now that Stanley is finally dead." She started to raise her voice angrily right around here. "And you're busy CLEANING YOUR WORKSHOP?!"
Finster started shaking nervously from his Queen yelling at him, and began repeatedly bowing apologetically.
"My apologies, my Queen." he stuttered. "It won't happen again."
"It'd better not." Rita frowned, but then a evil smile appeared on her face. "But like I asked, do you have a monster all prepared for me?"
Finster recovered and nodded. "I do indeed, your Evilness." he gestured a hand for her to follow him.
Rita followed her monster maker to the back of the workshop, where he had a clay model of a stag beetle all prepared on a counter.
"This is the feared Stag Beetle." Finster explained, holding the clay model up. "You remember him, right?"
Flashback
Somewhere on an unknown Planet, the powerful Stag Beetle was shown. It was coloured black. With its sharp pincers, its great strength, and the ability to absorb the energy out of anyone who got pinched by its pincers, the Stag Beetle was indeed a monster to be feared.
"We used him to conquer two planets over the last 10,000 years." Finster narrated. "And with the ability to absorb the life force out of anyone who gets caught within his pincers, he truly is a force to be reckoned with."
End Flashback
Rita seemed to look very pleased with this new monster.
"It's just what I need to capture four of those five Rangers." she said excitedly. "When Stag Beetle is all finished, send him and some Putties down to Earth to go find Percy, Rosie, Toby, and Emily."
"As you wish, my Queen." Finster nodded again, this time while holding onto the clay model of Stag Beetle.
Back down in Knapford, the city was all lively as usual. In Knapford Park, most of the Tidmouth Teens (minus Thomas) were all playing some good old fashion BBall (Basketball) at the Basketball court while trying to find a way to help cheer up their depressed friend.
"Does anyone have a good idea of what we could do?" Henry asked.
Percy shook his head. "No. Toby, Emily, Rosie, and I tried coming up with something earlier, but all we drew was a blank."
"Bah! There has to be something we could do!" James groaned in frustration.
But out of all of the Tidmouth Teens, Rosie was perhaps the most worried about Thomas. Although she missed Stanley terribly, deep down she still has some feelings for her blue-haired friend and wanted to help him the most.
Emily quickly saw the distressed look on her best friend's face. "What's wrong, Rosie?"
"Huh?" Rosie snapped out of her thoughts.
"You seem to be the most worried about Thomas right now." Emily commented.
Rosie couldn't help but blush. "Well, I-"
"You still really like him, don't you?" Gordon demanded, but not unkindly. "As in more than just a friend."
"Even though you miss Stanley?" added James.
Finally, Rosie spoke up.
"Yes, I still like Thomas more than as a friend." she admitted, as small blushes appeared on her cheeks. "And I'm also the most worried for him right now."
"Well, don't worry, Rosie. We'll figure something out." Edward said to the pink-haired girl.
"Thomas will be back to his old self in no time." Toby added positively.
Those comments made Rosie feel much better. Just then, three Putty Patrollers jump flipped into the area. Quickly, there were now eleven Putties motioning before the eight Tidmouth Teens.
"Bust my Buttons!" cried Percy. "We have company!"
"What's Rita up to now?" demanded James.
Pretty soon, joining the squad of Putties was the newly created Stag Beetle monster, who claps his arms together three times and then clapped his pincers twice in an intimidating way.
"Oh dear! What is that?!" cried Rosie, pointing forth.
Stag Beetle clapped his pincers again and chuckled wickedly.
"Well, well. What do we have here? Eight weak teenagers."
James was cross. "Who are you calling weak, beetle face?!"
Stag Beetle chuckled again. "Never mind. My name is Stag Beetle, and I'm here to destroy you all."
"That figures." Gordon muttered to himself.
"No way!" Emily declared. "There is no way we'll let you do that!"
"Then come at me!" Stag Beetle yelled, as he raised his arms and gestured them forth.
With that command, the Putties lunged forth and battled the Tidmouth Teens. While Edward, Gordon, Henry, and James kept the Putties all busy, Percy, Toby, Emily, and Rosie each focused their attention to Stag Beetle.
Although they were fighting unmorphed, the four Tidmouth Teens were surprisingly putting up a good fight against the beetle-like monster…but unknown to any of them right now, Stag Beetle was actually toying with them and hoping that they would try to morph.
Percy and Rosie both went through the air for an aerial punch. Stag Beetle, however, merely grabbed them by their necks as they neared him and hurled them to the ground. Emily and Toby both went over to see if their friends were okay.
"Percy! Rosie!" cried Emily.
"Are you two okay?" Toby asked.
"Just fine." Percy groaned.
"But that beetle is so strong." Rosie added.
Nearby, Stag Beetle yet again clapped his pincers together in an attempt to intimidate his enemies.
"Well then, do you fools give up?" he asked.
"No we won't!" Percy declared firmly. "As long as you're still around, then we'll never give up!"
Just then, the four Tidmouth Teens all held up their Power Morphers, which was what Stag Beetle was hoping that they would do.
"It's Morphin Time!"
The morphing sequence was as followed; each teen is seen holding out his/her open Power Morpher inside the image of a giant open Power Morpher, with the teen being surrounded by Ranger-colored electricity shown within what would have been the Morpher's red inside area.
Percy: "Mastodon!"
Rosie: "Pterodactyl!"
Toby: "Triceratops!"
Emily: "Sabertooth Tiger!"
Black Ranger, Blue Ranger, Yellow Ranger, and Pink Ranger were now at the Quarry, each do their signature pose. But did Stag Beetle look worried? Not at all.
"Ah, now that you're all morphed, I shan't have to hold back any longer!" he said arrogantly.
"Bring it on!" dared Percy, as he ceased posing.
Using their Power Weapons, the four Rangers began to battle the Stag Beetle more forcefully, but the monster himself also began to fight more fiercely too.
Stag Beetle deflected Black Ranger's axe swipe, then ducked under Yellow Ranger's overhead kick, and then he sparkily slashed her with his pincers. He then went and blocked Blue Ranger's Power Lance and Pink Ranger's Power Bow strikes, before ducking under the former's kick, sparkily slashing the latter, and then doing the same to the former.
The four Rangers briefly regrouped, watching as Stag Beetle motioned his arms around and laughed.
"What was that?" he asked mockingly. "Was that all you've got?"
"Hey! We're not done yet!" Emily retorted heatedly.
Stag Beetle didn't look or sound too convinced, and ultimately decided to bring the fight to a seeming closure.
"Well then, maybe this should convince you otherwise!"
Suddenly, both of Stag Beetle's pincers were fired off from the sides of his mouth like a grappling hook. Black Ranger, Pink Ranger, and Yellow Ranger all dived to the sides in time, but Blue Ranger wasn't so lucky, however, as the pincers had grappled and pinched him on his neck. Causing Stag Beetle to start draining much of Blue Ranger's life energy, a bright greenish glow surrounded him as he shouted in agony.
"Yes… YES!" Stag Beetle cried gleefully.
"TOBY, NO!" screamed Rosie, reaching out in protest.
Too late, Blue Ranger continued to scream as his body glowed green and the two pincers remain attached to his neck. As soon as he decided that it was enough, Stag Beetle retracted both of his pincers back to his mouth. Blue Ranger stopped glowing green and collapsed onto the ground. Black Ranger, Pink Ranger, and Yellow Ranger all regrouped and tried to help their unconscious teammate.
"Toby! Toby! Wake up!" Percy shouted, shaking Blue Ranger by the shoulders.
But Blue Ranger would not wake up. It was like he was dead or something.
"You creep! What did you do to him?!" Emily shrieked with rage.
"It's easy. All I did was absorb his life force energy." Stag Beetle explained. "But don't you worry, I've just absorbed a small bit of his life energy, so he'll live. After all, Rita wants to keep you four alive for what she has planned."
"Well, you'll never take us!" Percy declared firmly.
In response, Stag Beetle jerked his arms about as he stepped forth, leaned down, and fired green electricity from his pincers. The three remaining Rangers were thrown back by a combination of their chests and the ground spark bursting in succession. Causing them to fall down onto the ground, but they wearily recovered.
Again, both of Stag Beetle's pincers were fired off from the sides of his mouth like a grappling hook. Both of his pincers had been fired right at Black Ranger, but he dove to the right and dodged them, while Pink Ranger dove to the left, also dodging them. Both pincers then went and connected with Yellow Ranger's upper torso. Pinching down on…err, well, her chest, hard.
"H-hey, what the-?!" Emily cried out in complete surprise, looking down at the two pincers pinched on her chest, and then over to the source of those pincers.
"Ah ha! Now I've got you, my pretty!" Stag Beetle boasted rather lasciviously, as if he was happy that he had snagged his female opponent by her chest.
Yellow Ranger was utterly disgusted. It was as if that monster had used his pincers to deliberately grab her breasts in a sexual harassment-like way.
"Let go of me, you pervert!" Emily snapped indignantly.
Stag Beetle merely responded by going and absorbing much of Yellow Ranger's life energy, causing her to scream in pain as she glowed green. Yellow Ranger continued to scream as her whole body glowed green and the pincers remain attached to her chest. Finally, once he had enough of draining her life energy, Stag Beetle retracted both of his pincers back to the sides of his mouth. Yellow Ranger stopped glowing green as her upper torso smoked slightly. She then fell to her knees, and then fell onto the ground, unconscious. This left only Black Ranger and Pink Ranger both remaining.
"This isn't good." Percy commented.
"What do we do, Percy?!" Rosie asked, looking at Black Ranger.
"Well, we can't just let this monster go after our other friends." he stated quietly, referring to Edward, Gordon, Henry, and James. "Maybe if we try a sneak attack, we might be able to catch him off-guard."
"It's worth a shot." Rosie shrugged, hoping it would work.
While all of that was going on. Over at the Billinton residence. Inside, Thomas was up in his room and lying down on his bed. It would seem like he was doing some deep thinking.
"Lady." he thought to himself sadly. "How I miss you and Stanley both. I sure wish I could see you two again."
Back in Knapford Park, Black Ranger and Pink Ranger were both lunging through the sky while armed with their Power Weapons (Power Axe and Power Bow respectively). They brought their weapons down onto Stan Beetle, but he kneeled and blocked them with his pincers, just before getting up and pushing the two Rangers back with everything he had. Black Ranger and Pink Ranger both stumbled back before pacing themselves.
"Well, that didn't work." Rosie said sarcastically. "Got any better ideas?"
"I'm working on one!" Percy replied.
As soon as he said those very words, both of Stag Beetle's pincers were fired off from the sides of his mouth like a grappling hook. Black Ranger quickly saw them coming this way.
"Rosie, look out!" he warned, as he started to roll forth.
Black Ranger rolled along the ground and out of the way. Pink Ranger, however, took notice much too late, and was not fast enough to dodge either. The pincers had caught and pinched Pink Ranger around her waist. Stag Beetle then began absorbing much of her life energy, making her scream in pain as she glowed bright green. Black Ranger rolled back onto his feet and reached out in concern for his teammate.
"Oh no! Rosie!" exclaimed Percy, watching in horror.
Once he had enough of her life energy, Stag Beetle again retracted both of his pincers back to the sides of his mouth. Pink Ranger stopped glowing green as her midsection to torso started smoking slightly. She was feeling very faint right now, and just as quickly, she collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
"YES! I've got almost everyone!" Stag Beetle laughed triumphantly, raising his arms upwards before looking at Black Ranger. "And then there was one."
Black Ranger was feeling frightened over what happened to his three teammates, and began backing away slowly.
"What's the matter, Black Ranger?" Stag Beetle taunted. "Feeling scared without your friends to back you up?"
"N-no!" muttered Percy fearfully. "I-I'm n-not s-scared of y-you!"
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" The monster responded in a sing-song tone.
Black Ranger clenched a fist in determination, trying absolutely hard to act brave and not scared.
"I…said…" he started quietly, before raising his voice in anger. "I'M NOT SCARED OF YOU!"
With that said, Black Ranger leaped up into the sky towards Stag Beetle with Power Axe in hand. However, the monster quickly went and fired off both of his pincers from the sides of his mouth like a grappling hook…again…a third time. Black Ranger felt both of the pincers grappling and pinching him on his neck, stopping his aerial slash attack, and causing him to drop onto the ground.
"You were foolish to attack me like that, Power Ranger." Stag Beetle scolded. "And now your time is up!"
Looks like it's curtains for Black Ranger.
Meanwhile, at the Command Center. Inside the interior, Alpha and Zordon were watching the Viewing Globe, which was showing images of the four Rangers getting defeated and captured.
"Ay-yi-yi-yi! Percy, Toby, Emily, and Rosie were captured by that Stag Beetle!" Alpha wailed. "What do we do now, Zordon?"
"Summon Edward, Henry, Gordon, and James back here." Zordon replied. "Then contact Thomas and bring him here."
"Oh, I just hope he does come." Alpha groaned, as he went over to the the console.
"Agreed. We must hope that Thomas is able to pull himself together enough so he can go rescue the other Rangers."
Inside the cavern that contained the special wax which created the Green Candle, Black Ranger, Blue Ranger, Yellow Ranger, and Pink Ranger were chained to the cave walls. Watching as Goldar watched over some Putties shoveling some stuff off the cavern walls nearby.
"What do you think they're going to do to us?" asked Rosie nervously.
"Probably the same thing Rita did to Stanley." Toby replied.
"You mean another set of Candles?" Emily was not happy to hear that.
"We just got to break free!" Percy said, struggling against the chains. "B-but it feels like I don't have the strength to do it."
Goldar had overheard the Rangers' struggling and he looked over to each of them.
"It's no use trying to struggle, Rangers." he told them. "You've lost too much of your life force to even try to break free. So do me a favour, and pipe down!"
"What do you want with us, Goldar?!" Toby demanded.
"It's very easy." The dragon grinned. "Since it was the Green Candle that finally got rid of Stanley, Rita decided to go create a set of candles linked to each of your powers and life energy."
"But we've never touched any of that wax!" Percy protested.
"Not yet." Goldar retorted, looking over to four Putties behind him and bringing over a tray containing some of that special wax. "But as soon as you each touch that wax, then all my Empress has to do is use her magic to create those new sets of candles."
"We'll never touch that wax, Goldar!" Emily sneered. "You can't make us!"
"You don't have to." Goldar replied, before snapping his fingers. "I'll instead FORCE you to touch it!"
From there, four more Putties materialized and approached of the four chained up Rangers. One Putty went and forcefully grabbed Black Ranger's right hand. Just as quickly, the four Putties began pulling and tugging the four Rangers' right hands against their will to go and touch one of the four trays of special wax that the four other approaching Putties were each carrying. Black Ranger struggled to not let himself touch the wax on one tray. Yellow Ranger struggled to not let herself touch the wax on another tray too. Blue Ranger struggled to not let himself touch the wax on a third tray too.
"N-no!" Rosie mumbled, struggling to not let herself touch the wax on the last tray.
But it was too late to try and resist. In a four split combo, the four Rangers each wound up touching the special on each of the four individual trays with their right hands. Goldar started laughing in evil triumph.
"Excellent!" he said victoriously, then he looked over to the Putties. "Go see Empress Rita with the touched wax, and get her to create those new candles."
The eight Putties all bowed and they disappeared from the cave, leaving Black Ranger, Blue Ranger, Yellow Ranger, and Pink Ranger all alone and at the mercy of Goldar.
A little while later… Inside the Command Center interior, Alpha, Zordon, Edward, Henry, Gordon, and James were all waiting for Thomas to arrive.
"Where is he?" Gordon asked.
"He's late." James added.
"He'll be here." Edward reassured. "Thomas knows full well that we're all very important to him."
"Agreed, Edward." Zordon nodded. "Thomas would never let anything happen to his friends."
Pretty soon, a red beam of light landed nearby in a corner, faded, and revealed Thomas.
"Zordon, what's going on?" He walked slowly forth. "Where are Percy, Toby, Emily, and Rosie?"
Alpha immediately spoke up. "Ay-yi-yi-yi! Rita's new monster had captured them and taken them to the Dark Dimension!"
Thomas's eyes widened with horror. "What?!" He clearly didn't hear that right.
"Alpha is correct, Thomas." Zordon said. "Your friends were ambushed at the park by the Stag Beetle. But the monster drained much of their energy and then took them to the Dark Dimension, where Goldar had created four new candles."
"Where did you hear all of this?" Thomas asked.
Zordon sighed heavily. "The Viewing Globe will answer your questions, Thomas."
The five Tidmouth Teens and Alpha all looked to the Viewing Globe. It was now showing an image of Rita inside the cavern on the Moon.
"Greetings, Zordon and Thomas Billinton." she began. "As you probably know, my Stag Beetle has kidnapped each of your fellow Power Rangers."
She motioned her left arm over to the left, and there was Black Ranger, Blue Ranger, Yellow Ranger, and Pink Ranger all tied up to the cavern wall. Thomas gasped.
"Percy, Toby, Emily, Rosie." he muttered, shocked to see his friends captured.
"And in addition to this, I also made a little surprise too." Rita continued.
Motioning her right arm this time, she showed to the right four already lit coloured candles: The Black Candle, the Blue Candle, the Yellow Candle, and the Pink Candle. All of this made Thomas gasp with horror again.
"No…" he mumbled. "It's just like what happened to Stanley."
"In exactly six hours, these candles will burn out." Rita continued. "Not only giving me their powers, but the link to their life energy will also kill them!"
"Kill?!" Thomas, Gordon, Henry, James, and Edward all shouted in shock.
"You're more than welcome to try and stop us." Rita continued to mock the blue-haired boy. "But I'm not taking bets on that happening anytime soon. Toodles!"
With that, she waved goodbye tauntingly and started laughing wickedly as her little message came to an end, thus leaving the Viewing Globe turned off. James, Gordon, Henry, Edward, and Alpha all didn't know what to do or say over the situation. Zordon also remained silent…yet stoic about it. Thomas, however, was furious over the situation that had cost them Stanley was coming right back, and this time it would cost Percy, Toby, Emily, and Rosie their lives.
"I can't believe Rita would go and try this plan again!" he thought to himself. "Wasn't losing both Stanley and Lady enough for me?! Well, I'll show her!"
Zordon had seen the angry look on Thomas's face and began to talk to him in an attempt to calm him down.
"Thomas, you must control your anger." he said firmly. "It's obvious Rita wants you to get upset, so you cannot let her get to you. Here, come over to me."
Thomas obeyed his mentor and walked over near the plasma tube.
"Thomas, a true leader is always faced with tough decisions. He must control his emotions, and act based on who has the greatest need."
That was when Edward decided to speak up too. In an attempt to help back up Zordon's words.
"Thomas, you've made the right decision when you left Stanley's candle." he said. "I know it was hard for you, and in the end he did die…but he left you his strength, wishes, and a solid and special friendship that will never end. You don't want to betray his wishes, do you?"
"The other Rangers needed you then, as they need you now." Zordon added to that. "That's what Stanley and Lady both would've wanted."
The blue-haired boy was very quiet for a moment. Right now, he was thinking over what Zordon and Edward both had just told him. After what seemed like forever, Thomas finally turned around and spoke.
"Edward, is there any chance you can get me into the Dark Dimension?"
Gordon, Henry, James, Edward, and Zordon all smiled in relief. This must have meant Thomas was feeling like his old self again.
"Ay-yi-yi! There is a possibility." Alpha spoke up. "Edward and I can try to rebuild the Trans-Dimensional Portal, but it will take some time."
"But time is something we don't have." Thomas argued.
"I will assist them." Zordon said. "With my help, it shouldn't take long to finish the device."
Just as Thomas could take a breath of relief, the alarm started going off loudly.
"Hey, what the-?!" cried Gordon.
"What's the problem, now?" asked Henry.
Edward started checking on the console for the answer. "More trouble."
"What's up, Edward?" James asked.
That was when Zordon spoke up. "Observe the Viewing Globe."
The five Tidmouth Teens all looked to the Viewing Globe again. This time it was showing images of the Stag Beetle in Knapford Park with some more Putties.
"The Stag Beetle has returned to Knapford Park!" Alpha wailed.
"I'll go handle him." Thomas declared. "No one captures my friends and gets away with it!"
"But Thomas!" argued Gordon. "That thing can absorb your life energy!"
"You forget, Gordon." Thomas replied. "That I also now have Stanley's powers. If needed, I could call upon them."
"That is true." Gordon admitted, while folding his arms.
"We'll get working on that Trans-Dimensional Portal." Edward told Thomas. "Good luck out there."
"Sure."
Thomas looked over to Gordon, James, and Henry and they each nodded. The blue haired boy was really lucky to have friends like them, but right now he had a job to do. He quickly reached for his Power Morpher.
"It's Morphin Time!"
A stylized lightning bolt strikes in front of a purple circle, behind was a black background; crackling around the lightning bolt and circle were blue energy bolts (with some yellow and pink also present). The morphing sequence was as followed; Thomas is seen holding out his open Power Morpher inside the image of a giant open Power Morpher, with Thomas being surrounded by Ranger-colored electricity shown within what would have been the Morpher's red inside area.
Thomas: "Tyrannosaurus!"
Red Ranger appeared in Knapford Park, and greeted his opponent with a pose. Stag Beetle and a small squad of Putty Patrollers had been waiting.
"I've been expecting you, Red Ranger!" The monster chuckled. "Ready to join your friends in the underworld?"
"That isn't going to happen!" Thomas stated firmly. "As long as I have someone I'm fighting for. Like my friends, then there is no way I will lose to the likes of you!"
"Then show me what you've got!"
Gesturing both his arms forth, Stag Beetle sent the nine Putties into battle, and Red Ranger began to fight them. Ducking under a Putty's kick, and then countering with a high kick to its face, before turning to backhand another Putty.
Inside the Command Center interior, the Viewing Globe was showing images of Red Ranger battling and defeating all of the Putties. Gordon, Henry, and James were each busy watching the globe and the battle going on. Meanwhile, Alpha and Edward were both busy working on the Trans-Dimensional Portal with Zordon's guidance.
"Come on, Thomas!" shouted James.
"We know you can win!" Henry added.
"Show that overgrown bug the power of friendship!" Gordon threw in.
Back in Knapford Park, Stag Beetle held both his claws together, but still spaced apart, to his right. Creating a small crackling ball of yellow energy, which he then tossed forth. Red Ranger was surrounded by spark bursts, getting knocked away to his left by the explosions, and he fell smokingly to the ground.
"You're not quite as tough as I was expecting, Red Ranger." Stag Beetle taunted. "Are you sure you wish to continue? You'd be saving yourself from the humiliation if you just give up now."
Red Ranger slowly started to get back onto his feet. "Never!" he declared.
"Well then, I think it's time I went and ended this battle then."
With that all said, like he had done to Red Ranger's four teammates previously, Stag Beetle went and fired off both of his pincers from the sides of his mouth like a grappling hook. The pincers went and grappled around Red Ranger on the neck, pinching down hard on him.
"Well, Red Ranger. Say goodbye!" Stag Beetle laughed.
He started to drain Red Ranger's life energy, who also started shouting in pain while struggling to escape from Stag Beetle's strong grip. If nothing was done soon, then I'm afraid this could be the end of Red Ranger.
Inside the Command Center interior, Zordon was watching the Viewing Globe, which was showing images of Stag Beetle draining out Red Ranger's life energy.
"Thomas, remember, you're not alone in this." he spoke. "Stanley is still by your side in spirit. He will always be there to help you."
Back in Knapford Park, Red Ranger continued to struggle as he Stag Beetle continued to drain his life energy. He then started to think about how he had failed to rescue to his teammates.
"Everyone, I'm so sorry. But I've failed you all." Thomas thought to himself in despair. "Toby, Percy, Emily, Rosie, please forgive me, guys. Lady, I'll never forget you. Stanley, I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to keep my promise to you."
It was then that the strain of both stress and emotion became too much for Thomas to handle, and he let out one huge scream.
"STANLEY!"
But then, something miraculous happened to him. The Tyrannosaurus Power Coin in Red Ranger's Morpher belt buckle had started shimmering red, and then green. As he weakly spread both his arms out, it caused the all too familiar golden Dragon Shield, arm bands, black holster, and Dragon Dagger of the Green Ranger to all materialize equipped to him in a flash. Red Ranger had now become the mighty Armored Red Ranger.
Feeling his strength returning thanks to the Dragon Shield's recovery capabilities, Armored Red Ranger used his free hand to pull out the Dragon Dagger from the black holster on his left hip. He also had his Power Sword in his right hand.
"All right, Stag Beetle. I've had just about enough of you!" Thomas yelled.
Crossing both of his blades together into an X shaped formation. The Dragon Dagger started glowing green, while the Power Sword started glowing bright red. Then, while swinging both of his weapons fiercely with a mighty yell, Armored Red Ranger slashed both of Stag Beetle's pincers by their chains, causing them to spark and burst just before breaking apart. Stag Beetle was pushed back as he started screaming with both pain and outrage. It also allowed Armored Red Ranger to land back onto his feet, now that he was safe and sound.
"Now do you see, Stag Beetle?" asked Thomas, as he motioned his Power Sword forth. "Like I've mentioned before: As long as I have someone that I'm fighting for, then there is no way I would ever lose to the likes of you or Rita."
Stag Beetle was too busy gripping the sides of his mouth in agony to bother paying attention.
On the balcony of the Lunar Palace, Rita was pacing around looking quite furious.
"Just when I finally get him, he turns the tide!" she grumbled, before looking over to the railing. "Well then, I'll just have to make my beetle grow!"
With that said, Rita readied her scepter, and threw it off the balcony.
Rita's scepter soared to Earth through outer space. Soon it passed through the atmosphere. The scepter then staked into dirt from the side. It proceeded to unleash energy from its center orb. The scepter energy rippled into the ground beneath, thus causing a quake. Smoke bellowed from the big fault in ground. Fire spewed up within the Earth until it smouldered, smoke flowing skyward through the ridge at the top.
Stag Beetle became overwhelmed by upward spray of growth smoke from the quake. He then rose gigantically amid the fading smoke, holding both his arms up and forth, menacingly. He had also regained both pincers on the sides of his mouth.
Down below, Armored Red Ranger looked upward and slowly backed away from the approaching menace of the Stag Beetle.
"I can't let him stop me." Thomas thought to himself, before turning and to the left and raising an arm into the sky. "Come forth, Tyrannosaurus Dinozord!"
From the middle of nowhere, the nearby ground began breaking open to reveal bursting flames from within a fault line. A crack in the ground spreads open, releasing a fireball from within. The head of the Tyrannosaurus Dinozord came rising up from the volcanic crevice, roaring, as mist and heat spray about around it.
Down below, Armored Red Ranger looked upward to the left, nod-speaking, while raising the Dragon Dagger,
"Let's do this!" he declared, before spreading his arms out and leaping up.
Armored Red Ranger leaped up into the sky.
Armored Red Ranger dropped into the cockpit of the Tyrannosaurus Dinozord, and he gestured an arm.
"Time to show you what happens when you mess with me and any of my friends!"
The Tyrannosaurus Dinozord roared and arm motioned in the foggy area.
Inside the Lunar Palace, Rita was busy pacing around impatiently. Baboo, Squatt, and Scorpina were all present and watching her while waiting for orders.
"How much longer until I win?!" she demanded. "Those candles should've burned out by now!"
"Those four candles only have about two hours left to burn." Scorpina answered, motioning her right arm (the one holding her boomerang) slightly up near her chest.
Rita was unhappy to hear that, because that was far too long for her liking. So she went back onto the balcony and immediately went looking through her telescope to watch the showdown between Stag Beetle and the Tyrannosaurus.
Back down in the quarry, Stag Beetle and the Tyrannosaurus were going at it. The two grappled arms in close combat trying to overpower the other, but Stag Beetle quickly broke free of the lock and sparkingly slashed the Tyrannosaurus back. But just before the Zord could try to retaliate, Stag Beetle fired both of his pincers off from the sides of his mouth like a grappling hook. The Tyrannosaurus got grappled by its neck, and began trying to prey itself free, but Stag Beetle wasn't going to let that happen. Rather then trying to drain the Zord's power, Stag Beetle instead started releasing an electric shock through the chains, causing the Tyrannosaurus to start spark bursting brightly.
In the Tyrannosaurus cockpit, the entire cockpit exploded spark bursts and shook violently, beginning to tilt to the right as Armored Red Ranger was thrown about. The Tyrannosaurus continued to spark burst until it fell down onto the ground, with Stag Beetle's pincers still wrapped around its neck. Then, to make matters worse, the monster then walked over and proceeded to kick the downed Tyrannosaurus, causing a very bright burst of sparks and smoke, and also making it turn over onto its side. Stag Beetle started motioning around in a triumphant manner.
"Well now, that was just too easy!" he said arrogantly. "I think it's high time for me to finish you off. Once and for all!"
In the tilted to right Tyrannosaurus cockpit, Armored Red Ranger weakly tried to keep himself conscious.
"There's no way I will lose to you!" Thomas retorted heatedly, pulling the Dragon Dagger up to his mouth and beginning to play it.
Down in the ocean, the head of the Dragonzord arose from beneath the waves. Now fully submerged, it reached up while leaning back and roaring loudly, spraying water everywhere in the process.
As soon as the Dragonzord walked onto land, missiles popped out of its fingertips. The Dragonzord then went and fired those missiles from its fingertips. Stag Beetle was just about to start draining the energy from the Tyrannosaurus when three spark bursts erupted from his body, throwing him away from the downed Zord and removing both of his pincers from it too. Stag Beetle fell down and landed on his back, quaking the quarry a bit.
"What was that?!" he bellowed.
The Dragonzord approached the downed Tyrannosaurus and gave it a hand up. The Tyrannosaurus, once back on its feet, motioned its left hand like it was saying *thank you for the help*, and then the two Zords turned to face Stag Beetle and they both posed for battle. In the Tyrannosaurus cockpit, Armored Red Ranger pointed the Dragon Dagger forth at the cockpit window.
"Your time is up, pincer-head!" Thomas declared.
The Dragonzord gestured its arms like it agreed with its new master, and then spun to its right, whipping its tail up. Stag Beetle got sparkingly smashed in the face by the tail and fell down onto the ground, quaking the whole quarry. In the Tyrannosaurus cockpit, Armored Red Ranger pounded both his fists together and then punched them both forward.
"Okay, let's do it, buddy!" said Thomas to his Dinozord.
The Tyrannosaurus spread out both its arms and looked directly at the ground below it. Following a quick surge of yellow electricity, the Tyrannosaurus spewed out a yellow-ringed breath onto the ground, causing a surge of dirt to burst up in front of it. The earth shot out into a rolling wave of erupting dirt in the ground in front of the Tyrannosaurus.
Stag Beetle roared in pain as he was smothered by the powerful gust of dirt and wind. Causing him to throw his arms up in defeat before collapsing on the ground and exploding massively.
The Tyrannosaurus and the Dragonzord slapped each other a high five, then they both posed victoriously. In the Tyrannosaurus cockpit, Armored Red Ranger raised his right fist up in triumph.
"All right! That takes care of Stag Beetle." he said in relief, then he spoke into his communicator. "Edward, how's the Trans-Dimensional Portal coming along?"
Inside the Command Center interior, Edward and Alpha nearly had the device finished.
"We're almost done, Thomas." Edward replied. "Thanks to Zordon's help, it didn't take us quite as long as last time."
"How long do we have left to save the others?" Thomas's voice asked.
"Approximately one hour." Zordon answered. "Teleport back here for further instructions."
"I'm on my way!"
Between Earth and the Lunar surface of the Moon in outer space. Inside the Lunar Palace, Rita looked pretty upset over what happened to her Stag Beetle monster, and Baboo, Squatt, and Scorpina were trying to calm her down.
"Blast that Thomas Billinton!" she shouted. "My lovely Stag Beetle has been destroyed by him!"
Then Rita angrily went and slammed a fist down on the table next to her, causing Baboo and Squatt to start embracing each other in fright, while Scorpina kept a calm and neutral look on her face. After taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down, Rita suddenly looked up with a sinister smile on her face.
"But that was still a minor setback." she continued. "I still have my ultimate trump card: Those candles."
"That's the spirit, my Queen!" smiled Scorpina, raising her left fist up. "They only have half an hour before they burn away into nothingness."
"We're about to win! Eh, Baboo?" Squatt said, as he looked up at Baboo. Shaking his head from side to side before jerking his left arm upward.
Rita, feeling highly pleased with herself, enter another evil laughing fit.
At the Command Center. Inside the interior, Edward and Alpha had both finally finished building the Trans-Dimensional Portal.
"There. It's done." Alpha sighed.
Thomas (still morphed and wearing the Dragon Shield, but also helmetless), Gordon, Henry, and James were all glad to hear that.
"Will it work?" Thomas asked.
Edward nodded carefully. "Unlike the last one, this one is far more stable."
"Thanks to Zordon giving us some guidance on some of the programming." Alpha added.
"Which means we can now send Thomas into that Dark Dimension to rescue the others, right?" Gordon observed.
Edward and Alpha both nodded to the older blue-haired boy's question. Soon, all eyes were focused on a determined looking Thomas.
"I will save the others before it's too late." he said seriously. "That's a promise."
"We know you will, Thomas." Henry stated, while Gordon and James both gave a thumbs up to their younger friend.
"Kick some butt while you're there." James threw in.
"Good luck." Zordon added. "And may the power protect you."
Thomas nodded to his mentor before looking in Edward and Alpha's direction.
"Open the portal up."
Alpha obeyed and pressed a few buttons on the device, and then flipped the switch. Like the previous Trans-Dimensional Portal, the machine started sparking and malfunctioning before a large colourful portal shaped like a flat-screen TV materialized before the portable portal. Staring at the colourful portal for a few seconds, Thomas took a deep breath before raising the Red Ranger helmet above his head.
"BACK TO ACTION!"
And from there, he quickly brought the helmet down over his head and face. This caused him to officially become Red Ranger once again. Now ready to enter and face his greatest challenge yet, Armored Red Ranger quickly stepped into the colourful portal and disappeared. Leaving Zordon, Alpha, Edward, Gordon, Henry, and James all behind in the Command Center.
"There he goes." James mumbled.
"Here's hoping everyone returns safely." Gordon threw in.
Back in the Dark Dimension, Black Ranger, Blue Ranger, Yellow Ranger, and Pink Ranger were all still chained to the walls, but their strength was diminishing very fast due to their respective candles being very low.
"So…weak." moaned Toby.
"Can't…last…much…longer." came from Emily.
"I…guess…this…is…it." Percy sighed in complete defeat.
"Oh, Thomas. Where are you?" Rosie thought to herself, despite feeling very weak herself.
Goldar saw the four Rangers looking very weak and began laughing tauntingly.
"You poor pathetic Rangers." he sneered. "Are you all so tired? Well don't worry, you're all going to get a VERY long rest in just twenty minutes."
"Leave them alone, Goldar!" a familiar voice rang through the area.
That new and familiar voice made Goldar look around in surprise. Black Ranger, meanwhile, had managed to raise his head up weakly from hearing it too.
"Was that-?"
On cue, a colourful portal opened up nearby, and Armored Red Ranger stepped out of it while armed with his Power Sword. The four captured Rangers thought him to be the most beautiful of sight.
"Thomas…" groaned Percy, Toby, Emily, and Rosie in union.
"Welcome back, Red Ranger." Goldar chuckled. "Nice armor. I bet you got it from that loser, Stanley."
"Nice try, Goldar." Thomas replied heatedly, shaking his head slowly yet firmly. "But I won't let your taunting get to me. I will stop you here and now to save my friends!"
"My life is dedicated to destroying you!" Goldar retorted.
Armored Red Ranger merely motioned his Power Sword and got into a fighting stance, causing Goldar to do the same with his own sword.
Facing each other down for a full minute, Goldar then let out a roar and charged forth to his slight left. This was followed by Armored Red Ranger reacting with a yell, a quick sword pose, and then he also charged forth to his slight right. The two rivals begun a fierce duel to determine wither if the captured Rangers would live (Red Ranger) or fall (Goldar).
The two warriors clashed Power Sword to sword, locking them into place.
"Is this the best you've got, Billinton?" asked Goldar. "Because right now, you disappoint me!"
"Oh really?" Thomas questioned. "Then how about this?"
Breaking free of the lock, Armored Red Ranger did a quick roundhouse kick. It knocked Goldar down onto the misty floor, but he quickly rolled back onto his feet.
"Nice try, fool!" he snarled.
Charging up his sword with flaming energy, Goldar went and hurled five fireballs forward. The fireballs were aimed straight for Armored Red Ranger, but he responded by quickly pulling out his Dragon Dagger and putting it up to his mouth piece. There, he began to play a tune on it. Like the last time it happened, his Dragon Shield started gleaming with green energy as it powered up significantly. The fireballs soon reached and hit Armored Red Ranger, but the green glowing Dragon Shield managed to deflect them all right back to where they came from. Four pairs of sparks and bursts erupted on the ground around Goldar, knocking him off his feet and onto the misty floor.
Armored Red Ranger soon ceased playing on his Dragon Dagger, and rushed back forth to engage Goldar in battle. The two rivals clashed their swords a few times before Armored Red Ranger went and blocked a downward slash from Goldar with both his Power Sword and Dragon Dagger. But what Goldar had done just now proved to be a very fatal mistake indeed. Why? Well, by crossing the Power Sword and Dragon Dagger together into an X shaped formation, this caused both blades of the two weapons to start glowing red (Power Sword) and green (Dragon Dagger) respectively, thus powering both weapons significantly.
And Goldar noticed that too. "WHAT?!" he roared in shock.
Quickly breaking free of the sword lock, Armored Red Ranger went and slashed his glowing Power Sword into Goldar, causing him to crackle with blue electricity. Armored Red Ranger then slashed Goldar in the other direction with his glowing Dragon Dagger. And in doing so, send him flying through the sky until he hit one of the panels on the walls and fell down onto the ground. While Goldar had survived the devastating finisher, he was now unconscious.
Upon seeing that he had finally won, Armored Red Ranger eased up victoriously, just before his Dragon Shield (plus both armbands and black holster) all vanished in thin-air, leaving him normal once again. Then he went over to the table with the Black Candle, Blue Candle, Yellow Candle, and Pink Candle, and he quickly put those flames out before they melted away, thus saving his teammates powers and lives. Nearby, Black Ranger, Blue Ranger, Yellow Ranger, and Pink Ranger were watching in complete amazement.
"T-Thomas." Emily stuttered.
"W-what you just did-" Toby added.
"-was totally amazing." Percy finished.
Only Pink Ranger didn't say anything. If anything, I think she was staring at Red Ranger in both admiration and love-struck. Red Ranger approached his safe and sound teammates and handed them each their respective candle.
"Here, you'll need these." Thomas stated. "We need to give these to Alpha and Zordon so they can dispose of them properly so this doesn't ever happen again."
"Thanks, Thomas!" said Emily happily, taking her Yellow Candle.
"You're the best!" came from Toby, taking his Blue Candle.
"Nice save!" Percy commented gratefully, taking his Black Candle.
"Anytime, guys." Thomas replied, before looking over to Pink Ranger. "Rosie, here's your candle."
He held out the Pink Candle to its respective owner, but Pink Ranger didn't even take it. She was far too busy staring at Red Ranger (while blushing underneath her helmet too) to even listen.
"My hero." she thought to herself, with a small hint of love-sickness in her voice.
"Um, Rosie?"
Pink Ranger instantly snapped out of her thoughts, realizing that Red Ranger was still holding her candle out towards her.
"O-oh! S-sorry, Thomas." she said in embarrassment.
With that all taken cared of, the Rangers went and entered the colourful portal leading out of the Dark Dimension and back to the Command Center.
Inside the Lunar Palace on the balcony, Rita, as she leaned away from her telescope, clutched her forehead and groaned wearily.
"Nooo, that Thomas ruined another perfectly schemed plan! It's just not fair…" she whined.
Well, that just goes to show you, Rita; No matter how well your plans are thought of, they will always fail in the end.
Later on that evening. In Knapford Park, Thomas was sitting near the lake and think over the recent events of the day. Zordon and Alpha had both removed Percy, Toby, Emily, and Rosie's link to each of the candles so they could destroy them and prevent something like this from ever happening again.
"Boy, am I glad that that I saved my friends." Thomas thought to himself. "If it wasn't for Zordon reminding me about how Stanley will still live on in my heart, I probably might never have been able to regain my strength and will to fight."
"Hey, Thomas."
Thomas recognized that girlish voice instantly, but turned around anyway just to see who it was.
It was Rosie.
"Hi, Rosie." he greeted. "Go ahead, take a seat."
Rosie smiled and did what her blue-haired friend told her to do. Together, they watched the sun starting to set. It looked beautiful.
"That was some day we had today. Huh, Rosie?" Thomas said, as he looked over to his pink-haired friend.
Rosie nodded quietly and looked back at the setting sun. After some silence, she looked over to her blue-haired friend.
"You know. I've been worried about you the most."
"Huh?" Thomas looked over at his pink-haired friend again, clearly not hearing what she said.
Rosie looked at her blue-haired friend. "I said I was worried about you the most."
Thomas felt a small blush appear on his cheeks. "Y-you were?"
"Yes, Thomas." Rosie replied. "I've already told the others about how I was worried about you the most, ever since Stanley died and Lady moved away. Because…" She took a deep breath and decided to admit the truth. "-I secretly still have feelings for you."
Thomas opened his mouth in shock as he blushed furiously.
"Although I still do miss Stanley very much, I secretly still like you more than as a friend." Rosie continued. "Please try to understand, Thomas. You were the very first boy that I've met when I was new to Sodor. My times spent with you back then were ones I will treasure forever and never forget."
After a moment of silence and thinking, Thomas spoke again.
"I will never forget those moments either." he replied, his blush was still present. "While you were a bit of a bother early on, I still did enjoy your company. And now, I realize that maybe I really do like you back."
Now it was Rosie's turn to open her mouth in shock.
"Y-you do?" she asked hopefully, looking at her blue-haired friend.
"Yeah." Thomas nodded. "While you and your sister were both staying with us during that whole fiasco with George, I think I finally started to realize that you and I really would become something special…although I couldn't and would never have betrayed Lady like that at the time, once that incident when Stanley and I were under that hate spell happened and especially when she moved away to go to the US, I became lost in my thoughts. Thinking that I would never be able to stay together with a girl… until I rescued you guys."
Finally, Rosie recovered and started smiling as she blushed right back. It would seem she finally got her life long wish.
"Does this mean you and I can finally-?" she started.
Thomas decided to reply with a warm embrace.
"Yes, Rosie. It means I will go on a date with you." he finished. "Which I know is something you've always wanted."
Thomas and Rosie both looked into each other's eyes as they stayed in their warm, romantic embrace.
"O-oh, Thomas." started Rosie, a tear of joy fell from her eye.
"Oh, Rosie." Thomas finished.
With that, the blue-haired boy and pink-haired girl both went and shared their very first kiss. Although the two teenagers still deeply missed their respective partners (Stanley for Rosie, and Lady for Thomas), their grieving actually brought them much closer together now…
-as a couple.
The End?
Hip-hip hurrah! Thomas and Rosie are now finally a couple! Truth be told, I actually had this all planned out since the very, very beginning. But what about Emily? Will she finally be able to find that special *someone* in her life before the story comes to a close? Well, don't worry, she will once the next chapter is all finished up. And again, Lady will not be appearing very much anymore and Stanley won't be appearing either (mainly because he is now dead). But I just might have one or both of them reappear (Stanley as a spirit of some sort) at one point towards the very end of the story. Again MAYBE!
Have anything nice to say about this chapter? Then Read & Review please! Just NO flames and/or mean/rude comments.
