Disclaimer: I do not own the franchise, but I do own this team.
*Italic indicates thought
' ' indicates Zach using sign language
Episode XVI: Green-Eyed Ranger
Chapter Three:Power of Pink
A/N: finally! I found the concentration to finish this epsiode! Yay! Please review!
"The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves." -William Penn
Miley knew the situation could've been better. It also could've been worse. She was facing a monster by herself with no kind of back up or support from her friends. She suddenly didn't know if she could do it. Facing monsters with the red and blue rangers by her side was one thing, but taking out a monster on her own was another one entirely. She had never done it before, and it was quite the daunting task. I have to try though, she told herself mentally. I have to try.
Miley carefully got to her feet so she was crouching down. This was a familiar position, since it was a common one to use to get up and have some kind of defense. She bent in a way so that he entire body was hidden behind her shield. A plan started forming in her mind. She wasn't strong like Kyle, or tactical like Zach, but she was smart. She was smart and skilled. That was all she needed.
She heard Argus laugh. "Pathetic demigod. Not so tough without your little friends, are you?" Miley took a calming breath. She need to stay calm. Argus approached the cowering pink ranger. Miley counted to three. One...two...three! She jumped up suddenly and swung her sword. She hit Argus squarely across the chest. He screamed and jumped back in shock. "Grrrr...stupid ranger!"
Miley was suddenly pelleted with eyeball looking rocks. She raised her shield; her arm shaking as a couple of particularly big ones bounced off. I need a new plan. "Argus," Miley said carefully. "Argus, monster of eyes, stop attacking me." She stepped closer when there was a small pause in the bombardment. "Argus, monster of eyes, stop attacking me." She put as much force behind her words as she could muster. It wasn't easy though. Seducing took a lot of her energy and focus, even though she'd become considerably better.
"Argh! Don't try to trick me daughter of Aphrodite!"
Miley flinched as a rock hit her knee. She stepped back. I need help. She didn't know what to do. She supposed that a new plan was needed. She tensed the muscles in her legs, then ran as fast as he could at Argus. He didn't expect her to come at him, so it gave her and edge. Not for long though. Miley shouted in pain when a rock slammed into her knee. She feel on it in pain. Help. Someone. Anyone.
She looked at the sky. What do I do? She suddenly heard a rumbling sound. She looked at the ground as it shook. Now is not the time for an earthquake. She suddenly dive to the side as a pilar of fire shot up from the ground. She looked over and gasped. Standing before her was a Greek soldier. Except for the fact he was made of bronze. He carried a spear and shield, and had a short sword on his waist. Another pillar shot up, and another; and another.
Miley smiled and got other feet. She had an idea of who these might be from. She turned her head and saw a man in a heavy apron and scarred face leaning against a car. He smiled at her and nodded before disappearing. Miley grinned now and pulled out her Hephasteus coin. She flipped it in the air. "Power of Hephesteus, god of the forge and fire!" She closed her fingers around the now blazing coin and placed it on the end of her sword.
The bronze warriors came to her side and stood in a row beside her. Miley swung her sword, the blade crackling with orange flames. How do I control them? she thought. "Um...robots. No...that doesn't seem right. Uh-" Miley suddenly dove to the side to avoid a new onslaught of rocks. "Automations," the word was out of her before she could really think about. The robots snapped to attention. Alright then.
"Automons," she said again, nick-naming them. "Protect me from the rocks." Columns of flames shot up where the seven automons stood. They suddenly appeared in a row in front of her. She smiled and stood up. The barrage of rocks hit the protective wall of bronze warriors for a few moments, then stopped. Miley tried to figure out what to do next.
"Automons, form an arrow!" The automans did as she said and formed an arrow with one of the robotic humanoids as the point. Miley stood in the middle, still thinking over her plan. "Automons, attack in formation!"
Again they did as asked. With surprising speed, considering their composition, they ran at the monster. Argus laughed and pelted their line with rocks. Miley raised her shield up instinctively, preparing herself for the confrontation. She tightened and adjusted her grip on her sword. "Automons, break rank!"
They'd suddenly peeled off onto opposite sides. Miley picked up the speed and charged the monster with all her force. She stabbed her flaming sword straight through him. She flinched as something hard hit her in the torso. She quickly stepped back, retracting her sword, then swung it around. She sliced Argus's head clean off in a single sweep. He disintegrated into ash a second later; his head a second late, a simple pile as it hit the ground.
The automons disappeared in the columns of flames they'd appeared in. Miley looked up at the sky and smiled. "Thank you, Hephesteus. Thank you."
She heard a soft, yet hearty laugh in her ear. "Just a special gift for my favorite demigod."
Miley laughed. I probably didn't have to beat out too many people for that title. She stepped back as the monster grew back in its second, gigantic form. "Animal, zord mode!" she yelled stabbing her shield. She let go as her zord activated. She was lifted up and put her hands on ether side of her pedestal. Now she hesitated though. Argus was a tough monster, and she doubted about ether she could best him with just her own zord.
"I can't think like that," she told herself. "I can do this. I have to." She steadied herself and placed her finger on the grid, she drew the command for 'attack'. Her zord opened its beak and shot a pink light at Argus. It hit his arm, but did nothing.
"Hahaha," he laughed. "Pitiful daughter of love. Without the help of your friends and the gods, you're weak."
"Weak? Weak?! I'll show you," Miley growled. She quickly moved her zord to the side to avoid a rock attack, now boulder sized. She groaned in frustration. She needed to find a way to make her blasts stronger. She suddenly got an idea. She pressed her entire palm to the grid in front of her. Taking a deep breath, she focused on her zord. She could feel its energy beneath her.
The cockpit shook and sparked as a boulder hit it. She stuns do a bit, the regained balance. Please let this work, she prayed. She focused on her internal energy. It started coursing through her veins. Then, something strange happened. Miley suddenly felt different. Almost, detract he'd form her body. Her body moved of its own accord and give a new command. 'Double strike.' She watched as two blasts hit Argus; one in the head, one in the chest.
The impact was noticeable this time, as they left a dark burn where they hit him. Miley smiled with satisfaction. "Come on Swan Zord. Lets do it again!" She drew the command again. The is time she adjusted her aim to the places she'd already hit. Argus stumbled back, injured. Miley grinned. "Look who's the weak one now."
She drew a final command, 'attack' and mustered all the strength she could between herself and her zord. She watched with satisfaction as Argus was finally defeated by her final blast. "Nike be praised," she said, wondering how Kyle would feel about her using his post-battle-saying.
-Olympic Force-
When Miley's feet touched back on the ground she ran to find Zach. She skirted around boulders that had initially missed her, but had created creators in the road. She looked around and saw their was some buildings and bridges that had been damaged. I never realized the damage that our battles cause. But, I think the city could consider the fact we're saving people's lives as an even trade.
She spotted Zach and ran over to him. "Zach!" She said uselessly and shaking him. "Zach, wake up!"
He moaned and stirred. Flinching, he sat up painfully. 'Miley?'
"How do you feel?"
'My head hurts.'
"Lay down so I can see your back." Zach complied and Miley looked at his back. Luckily the wound was bleeding a lot. She tapped Zach on the shoulder and he sat up again. "It doesn't look too bad."
'Thats good.'
"Come on, lets get back. Can you walk?" Zach started to get to his feet. Miley caught him as he stumbled. She was drained of energy herself, but she knew Zach would need her help to get back. She pulled his arm over her shoulders. He sagged against her a bit; causing Miley to stumble. "We'd better hope no sees us," she said even though Zach couldn't see. "People might think that we're drunk. Or high."
Miley and Zach both kept an eye out for anyone, but the sites of the battle were usually deserted afterwards. Today was no different- or so they thought.
The sharp blue eyes watched, unseen. She made face. Stupid pink ranger! she thought. I was so close to getting my coin back. She looked down at her yellow converse. She frowned. The 'L' is backwards, she remarked. She started to follow them, making sure to keep her distance. She didn't want the, to hear her following. She wove her way through the city as they stumbled and limped along.
She smiled when she saw them enter the Mount Olympus Dojo. Should've guessed. "See you soon, Greeks."
-Olympic Force-
Kyle was relieved when he saw Miley and Zach. "Thank god, I was getting worried about you guys."
"Don't worry, we're both still alive."
"I can see that, but Zach looks only half there."
"Isn't that where he usually is?" Miley joked as Kyle helped Zach stand up with his good arm.
"True." Kyle helped lower Zach to the ground. Chiron came downstairs and shook his head.
"Why am I not surprised that Zach is the one that's inured?"
"Maybe because he's the one who always is," Kyle suggested.
"Well that certainly doesn't explain why your arm in in a sling," Chiron pointed out.
"Ahhehehe, right," Kyle said nervously, sitting down next to Miley. "I...um...don't you have to take care of Zach?"
Chiron gave him a, 'this isn't over look.' "So Miley, what exactly happened?"
Miley started telling him about the battle. She described how Zach was unconscious and she tried to beat Argus. She got to the part about the automons and Kyle gave her a look of disbelief.
"Robots?" he asked. "The gods sent you, robots?"
"Not the gods, just Hepheasteus."
"But why robots?"
"Because Hephesteus is also the god of mechanics," Chrion answered.
"Oh. Alright then. Continue."
Miley told them how she defeated the monster and had trouble in the zord battle. She told them how she connected with her zord in order to gain enough power to defeat Argus. Chiron nodded approvingly.
"Very well done, Miley," he praised. "It's truly takes a gifted demigod, and ranger, to achieve a connection with a zord like that."
"Thanks."
Zach sat up and put his hands over his eyes. Chrion pulled them away so he could ask the blue ranger what was wrong. 'The light hurts my eyes.'
"Probably just a concussion from you knocking yourself out," Kyle said, half teasing.
Zach made a face at him.
"Why don't you three go home and rest?" Chiron suggested.
'Wait, I think Kyle should tell you what's wrong with his arm.'
Kyle returned Zach's look from earlier."hahaha...see what happened was earlier yesterday, when we were in battle I got hit with a rock. Really hard."
Chiron shook his head. "What is the damage?"
"My shoulder is fractured."
Chiron went over to the locked cabinet and pulled out the mysterious water bottle. "Drink," he handing it to Kyle.
Kyle took a sip of the sweet, honey like liquid. Chiron quickly took the bottle and returned it to its home. Kyle felt warmth spread down his neck, to his shoulder, and to his fingertips. When it went away he took the sling off and tested his arm. "Good as new!"
"Just remember to wear that sling in public," Chiron reminded him. "We won't be able to explain how your shoulder suddenly healed."
"Got it." Kyle was happy was fixed so that next time he could join his friends in battle.
"Kyle, are you leaving with us?" Miley asked. "Because Zach kind of needs to go lay down or something."
"Right," Kyle said joining them. He helped the blue ranger steady himself and the three of them, ironically enough opposite of the state they'd originally come in that day, left for home.
-Olympic Force-
Miley collapsed on her bed when she got home. She was exhausted and her muscles were aching to no end. She fell asleep instantly and slept dreamless.
She stirred when she felt someone on her legs. She turned around to see Sparta laying on the back of her legs. She smiled and reached behind her awkwardly to pet the purring kitty. "Are you comfortable?" Sparta purred in response. Miley sighed and looked at her phone. It was 4 in the afternoon. She sent Zach a text to see if he was awake.
Hey, beautiful, was his reply.
Hey. Did you sleep?)
Yeah, but I had to keep waking up because I'm concussed.
Right. Does that mean you can't go to dinner tomorrow?
Nice try.
I had to take a shot.
Miley, you seriously don't like this woman?
No. I don't.
She can't be that bad.
You've never met her.
Just give her a chance. Please.
No.
The time he sent a picture of himself pouting. For me? I want you and your dad to be happy.
Of course you do.
Another picture of him pouting. I know it would mean a lot to your dad.
She sighed. Zach, agreed to dinner. Once I get to know her then I'll decide.
Fair enough.
Thank you.
-Olympic Force-
The next day Miley stood with her dad outside the location of their double date. Miley shuffled a little nervously. Partly because she still don't want to have dinner with Martha, and partly because she was nervous for her dad to meet realized earlier that somewhere along the line she'd forgotten to mention he was deaf.
"I'm really glad you agreed to this," Miley's dad said.
"Yeah," Miley said evasively.
"Hey, I know it's not easy having things change like this, but it means a lot to me if you and Martha can get along."
"Ok Dad."
"Here she is," he said smiling as Martha walked towards them. Miley looked away and saw Zach walking up an opposite way. She smiled and went to meet him. She gave him a hug and his kissed her on the cheek.
"Hey."
'Hey. You ready?'
"No. Are you?"
'Not terribly.'
Miley laughed. "Come on." She held his hand as the two of them walked back. "Dad, this is Zach. Zach this is my dad and his...friend, Martha."
"Hello Zach," Miley's dad said holding his hand out.
'Nice to meet you Mr. Olson,' Zach signed before shaking it.
Miley's dad gave her a confused look. "Um...I may have forgotten to mention that Zach is deaf."
"Well that would've been nice to know in advance."
"Yeah. But he speaks sign language and he can read lips. I can translate for him."
"Since when do you speak sign language?"
"Since I started hanging out with him."
"So, what did he say?"
"He said it was nice to meet you," Martha stepped in quickly.
Miley's dad nodded. Miley frowned. "You speak sign language?"
"Yes. Didn't your dad tell you what I do?" Miley shook her head. "I work at a youth center for kids with disabilities. I work with deaf kids to help them learn sign language and other forms of communication. I also help them with school work and ways to live as normal as possible do they can connect with other their own age."
Miley glanced at Zach and saw that he was nodding. It occurred to Miley that years ago, someone like Martha had sat down with Zach for hours and taught him to read lips and to speak with his hands. Somehow, this made her feel like Martha wasn't as bad as she thought.
Miley's dad cleared his throat. "Um...why don't we go in?"
"Lead the way," Martha said.
"So Zach," Miley's dad asked. "do you like movies?"
The whole night went very smoothly after that. Miley's dad managed to have conversations with Zach about silent films, with a little transiting from Miley and Martha. The two of them though, had conversations about everything from school and Miley's hobbies to Martha's work. The pink ranger found that she actually enjoyed herself. It wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. And maybe...just maybe...she decided, that she could like Martha.
She glanced at Zach and smiled. Giving people a chance was worth a shot. She still had misgivings, but small steps. She didn't want everything to change fast.
But none of the three rangers, or even Chiron knew a change to the tides was coming. One that would certainly be a shock to them all.
-Olympic Force-
Next Time on Power Rangers Olympic Force: Zach finds himself captured in a battle, and tries to stay alive while the others look for him.
