The battle of the Rangers raged with unbelievable power. Drakkon's forces each had the fused powers of more than one Ranger within them, while Drakkon himself had the power of dozens, possibly more. However, the Nexus Prism had done something completely unexpected when the Rangers had sacrificed their Power Stars and all the remaining Super Ninja Steel. It had re-created not one, but seven Ninja Nexus Stars.
Mick watched from the lab, his equipment going absolutely haywire. The power levels coming from the battle site were far beyond anything that had been seen in any of their previous battles, or indeed possibly any battle before.
"Mick, are you seeing this?" Levi asked him over the communicator as he and Jason staggered away from each other, having traded numerous blows which went off like neutron bombs. "This is incredible!"
"Uh…yeah, it's really something guys." Mick agreed.
"The Nexus Prism's really been holding out on us with this!" Sarah interjected as she dodged several of Trini's swipes, before kicking her backwards, where she rebounded off a parked car. "If we'd had these powers from the start, I don't think the bad guys would have lasted a week!"
"Mick, I think you should see this!" Redbot rushed out in a panic. Mick turned around to see what he was talking about. The Nexus Prism was still glowing, and getting only brighter by the minute, spinning wildly. He could hear a faint cracking sound through its chimes, and put on his welder's mask to take a closer look.
"Guys, I think there's a REALLY good reason the Nexus Prism didn't give you these powers earlier." Mick told them. "It's starting to crack up."
"It's doing what?" Brody asked.
"It's starting to break up! I think its struggling to pump out this much power!" Mick told them. "Look, Grace told me once it's too dangerous to have too much Ranger power of the same type in one place at one time. It's why teams are generally only five or so strong."
"So, what you're saying is…"
"What I'm saying is each of you is pumping out the equivalent of the whole team's power at once!" Mick clarified. "This is the Morphing Grid version of a critical meltdown!"
"So you're saying…?"
"I'm saying you need to take this as a weapon of last resort and finish this fight fast!" Mick confirmed. "Because when the Nexus Prism's gone…that's it."
"Alright, you heard the man!" Levi responded as he looked to the others. "I'm going to help Brody with Drakkon. Guys you need to finish these guys as quick as you can."
"On it!" Calvin responded as he pulled out his blaster, opening fire on Zack. The Black Ranger started blowing through the mouthpiece on his weapon, powering up his shield, which was glowing under the power, rebounding the blasts. Calvin never intended the blasts to finish him off though, just force him to guard, giving him time enough to get close.
"It's time for the last dance!" Calvin called out as he started hammering home with his sword.
"I…don't…DANCE!" Zack called back as he blocked his blows, before rallying back with the Power Axe. Calvin recalled one of Brody's early lessons in the yard. Being tall, and also one of the stronger members of the team, Calvin was used to using power to resolve a lot of issues. Brody had made the demonstration of what happened with a lot of enemies that used heavier weapons like hammers and axes. While they were powerful, people were prone to over-swinging them, over-extending to use the weight to its advantage. Stepping past the blade, getting right inside, Calvin managed to hook the haft and rip the axe from his grasp, before spinning around, bringing Zack's own weapon to bear on him.
The Black Ranger's shield shattered under the blow, and the blast levelled him on the ground. Even Calvin was barely standing from the blast, but it gave him all the time he needed to turn the weapon around, converting it to cannon mode.
"Say hello to extinction!" Calvin told him, opening fire. Zack's suit could only hold up for so long, before he was blasted to the ground, where he de-morphed. He started scrambling around, looking for his corrupted Power Coin, but as he saw it and started crawling towards it, Calvin brought his blade down, shattering it to pieces. Zack just slumped to the ground, utterly defeated as Calvin strode away.
In another part of the battle, Sandy was battling with Kimberly, exchanging volleys of energy arrows from their bows.
"You know, some people would be insulted by getting the rookie!" Kimberly called out. "Not me, I don't mind who I destroy. After all, winning is the best…GAAH!"
She was knocked to the ground as Sandy flipped through the air, nimbly avoiding her arrows, before smashing into her with her morpher. Kimberly looked up in time to watch her snap the Power Bow over her knee.
"You…you think I need that?" Kimberly shrieked, pulling out the Drago Sword. "I'll carve you up like Thanksgiving…"
"You're talking aren't you?" Sandy asked. "I bet that's a great distraction to some people."
Kimberly shrieked as she ran for Sandy, who stood perfectly still. She knew her timing had to be perfect for this to work, otherwise, it was possible Kimberly could regain the advantage. Kimberly swung for her, only for Sandy to disappear just as the glowing Drago Sword came for her. She stumbled past a few paces, feeling her energy leaving her as she did. She looked down to see her weapons and her suit disappearing. She turned around to see Sandy standing, holding her Power Coin. She'd snatched it straight off her belt.
"I might not have mastered all the best fighting moves, but sleight of hand…well…my boyfriend's been helping with that." She said as she closed her hand around the Power Coin. Her energy flared up, before she dropped the pieces to the ground. Kimberly looked to her in horror as she saw her powers destroyed before her eyes.
"BITCH!" Kimberly yelled at her. Sandy just walked up to her, back-handing her to the ground.
"Being a good guy, I should probably be above such things." Sandy commented. "But you know? That actually felt pretty good."
"Guys, it's working, it's really working!" Preston called out as he summoned a dragon, which slammed Billy into the ground, his powers finally fading and disappearing. "We're doing it!"
"Don't count the W just yet!" Hayley responded as she took down Trini, tearing the belt from her uniform, before surging power through it, causing it to explode, destroying her powers. "We're still on the clock."
"Not to mention we've still got the toughest ones to go." Sarah reminded them as she parried Jason's powerful strikes.
"You rookies ain't got nothing on us!" Jason ranted as he hammered into her guard. They locked blades and he tried to drive them back down into Sarah, but she surged back, backed up by the power of the Nexus Prism Star. Jason struggled to hold her back as she unleashed a pulse that knocked him flat on his ass. Calvin and Preston both grabbed him, holding him fast as he struggled, unable to break free. He could only watch as Sarah took his Power Coin, and with it his powers.
"Really? Because from where I'm standing…" She said, before tossing the coin up into the air. She swung her sword, which shattered it in mid-air. Jason screamed as he watched his powers being obliterated. "You just look like a kid who lost his toys."
They all turned to where Levi and Brody were battling against Drakkon. Even on his own he was powerful enough to keep pace with them both. He managed to knock them both down with Saba, before looking around the field, seeing his followers lying on the ground, powerless and defeated. He looked to the team assembling before them, helping Levi and Brody to their feet, and stood firm.
"You...you weak, worthless fools!" He yelled at his own subordinates. "I gave you everything! I gave you the power of Gods, and this is what I get in return?"
"Give it up Drakkon." Brody told him. "We'll go through you if we have to, but if we don't…"
"Do you think I got to where I am by standing down?" He asked. "I am a GOD! I've faced down the Morphing Masters. I've stared into the very Grid itself and triumphed! You fight for a world, a universe of uncertainty, of chaos and conflict instead of order?"
"Order, but at what cost?" Calvin asked him, his hand finding Hayley's and his fingers lacing with hers. "If it's a contest between your order and a world where I have to tell the occasional asshole to go to Hell, I choose this one every time!"
"You're going down Drakkon." Brody told him, the Rangers all powering up. "How you go down is up to you!"
"Like your boy said." Drakkon sneered, pulling out the Dragon Dagger and holding it in his off-hand, while he prepared to attack. "If it's a choice between your world and mine…I choose mine every time!"
"Then I guess we'll just have to see how this ends!" Levi answered, at which everyone yelled and rushed towards each other. There was a huge blast, and a light that flooded the entire city in a blinding flash.
At the Command Centre, Mick peeled himself off the floor, throwing debris off him. The blast was so powerful that buildings suffered damage for several blocks, even the school. He coughed as he struggled to his feet. Redbot lent him a helping hand.
"Mick…the Nexus Prism." Redbot said, pointing to the wall. Mick could only stare at it as it sat inert, unmoving, blackened and charred. It slowly started to crumble and turned to ash on the ground. Mick ran over, picking it up and seeing the ash run through his fingers. "Is it…?"
"Dead." Mick confirmed. "The Nexus Prism is gone."
He could see one of the screens was still active, but the picture was hazy, bright, and unrecognisable. He looked to it in horror as he grabbed his communicator.
"Rangers?" He asked. He didn't get a reply. "Rangers? Brody? Levi? Preston? Anyone?"
He still didn't get an answer. His shoulders slumped and he staggered back away from the monitor, slumping down into a chair. Tears started to well up in his eyes.
"Mick…I…"
"Mick?" A faint signal finally burst through. "Mick? Mick, are you receiving?"
"Brody?" Mick asked hopefully, before going back to the monitor. He saw the picture starting to clear up, before seeing the Rangers stumbling into view, battered, bloody, almost certainly in need of a hospital, but alive. He thanked all the Gods he had stopped praying to many years before in his native tongue, before seizing the microphone. "Brody! You…you…you did it!"
"We did!" Brody corrected him. "The Nexus Prism made its sacrifice, but…it's finally over."
Just then, they all heard something shifting behind them. They all turned to see some debris shifting, before Drakkon stumbled out. He was bleeding heavily, thick, dark, almost black blood. He coughed, and more spilled onto his chin, which he wiped away with his wrist.
"No…"
"…Way." Hayley completed Calvin's thought. Drakkon stumbled, tumbling over some debris, before getting to his feet once more. His suit was gone, and by the looks of things, its protection with it. Quite what was holding Drakkon together, never mind on his feet was anyone's guess! But if his own boasts were to be believed, his own will had kept him alive inside the Grid itself.
"You…you…you took everything!" Drakkon stammered. "The power…it's…it's…"
"Gone!" Brody stated. "And your insane dreams along with it!"
"No, I…I can't…it can't end like this!" Drakkon stated. "I was a God, and now I'm just…nothing?"
"No, you're less than that." Sarah told him, stepping forwards. "You're a murderer, one that has seen more death than anyone combined, and while there's no doubt a whole hell of a lot of people that want a piece of you, my choice? I have a feeling the Prince of Zandar would like to put you on trial."
"On trial?" He asked.
"Yeah, the small matter of his dad?" She reminded him. "We're done with you. They can pick up the pieces."
"You want to put me on trial, like some common…human?" He laughed in pained gasps. "I am Lord Drakkon, the master of…"
"The master of fuck all now!" Levi barked at him. "Now just give it up! It's over!"
Drakkon took a couple of steps forward, which caused them all to pull into a guard, preparing for an attack, before he finally fell to his knees. Brody looked to him, and just sighed.
"We should…gather them up." Brody told them. "No doubt the authorities will be here soon and we want to have them all secured before then."
They started to go around the fallen Rangers, finding things to tie them up with while they awaited someone to come and take them away. They weren't quite sure WHO would take them, but they were sure that someone would be able to secure them.
As Sarah went to reach out to Drakkon to start tying him up, he suddenly grabbed her, snatching her wrist.
"Let…let GO!" She screamed as he rammed something into her gut. She looked down to see a huge, gaping wound in her stomach. Drakkon was holding a sharp piece of metal debris he had secreted in his hand.
Sarah clutched at her stomach, trying to stem the flow of blood as she looked to him. He was preparing to strike at her again, but before he could, Brody had blocked his hand and kicked him away. Drakkon quickly got back to his feet and lunged for Brody, bringing the steel towards him, but in a move none of them saw, he knocked his hand away, before slamming a hand straight into his throat.
Drakkon fell to his knees, his eyes bulging as he struggled to breathe. He looked up at Brody one last time, before falling to the ground and stopped moving. The Rangers all gathered around him.
"Is he…?" Calvin asked. Brody just nodded his head wordlessly as he looked down on him.
"Someone remind me to be thankful Brody went easy on us in practice." Preston commented. Sandy just hit him. Now wasn't the time for jokes.
"He didn't leave you any choice. He was never going to stop." Levi assured him, putting a hand on his shoulder. Brody just nodded.
"I know." He replied.
"You know, not to be a drama queen or anything, but…I really could use a hospital." Sarah told them. With that, they all turned and left. They had done all they could, now they would leave the authorities to pick up the pieces.
The next couple of months were hectic for the city of Summer Cove. Although the Nexus Prism had done its job and delivered the power to save the planet, the blast had damaged a significant portion of the city. A lot of people had to be temporarily re-homed and the students of Summer Cove High had to take their last couple of weeks of classes and their end of year exams in community halls but in the end, by the time it came to the closing weeks of term, the students were back in a brand new school, fully funded by a number of generous donations from some very high profile supporters.
The last of Drakkon's supporters, without powers and cut off from their own dimension were very quickly hunted down and brought to justice. Grace Sterling and Promethea assisted greatly with ensuring that any remaining threats were contained. There was a lot of speculation as to the fact that the Rangers had not been seen since the final battle. Many wondered if they had survived, and while there were more than a few competing ideas how best to honour them, the one thing that was pretty consistent was that the city wanted to immortalise their unknown heroes.
It was graduation day and the students and staff were all starting to gather in the school for what would be the last time for most of them. There were a lot feelings running high as the students and the parents were preparing to watch their kids collect their diplomas and make the next steps onto the next adventures in their lives.
Sarah was by her locker, rummaging through it and cursing loudly as she pulled the last of her things out of the locker and looking for something.
"Stupid Sarah, stupid!" She grumbled. "How is it I can get a 99th percentile in chemistry but I can't remember where I put my stupid…"
A mortar board appeared over her shoulder.
"Looking for this?" A voice behind her asked. She smiled as she stood up and turned around, seeing Victor standing behind her with a smile. "You left it in my car."
"Do you have to say that so loud?" She asked, snatching it from him. "I told my mom and dad I was here helping Mick set up the new paint room."
"You know, a guy that's less secure would be a little hurt by the fact we've been going out for over a month and you've still not told your mom and dad…"
"Just…not yet, OK?" She asked. "We don't want to seem like we're stealing anyone's thunder, the wedding's not that far away and we don't want…you know…people talking about us and not that."
"You know, I just think you're ashamed of me." He said with a little pout. She just looked around, before wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm not ashamed of you. We'll tell people." She assured him. "You know, just…in a little while. Once you've got yourself settled into the Academy and I've been at uni a little while, I'll just invite us around to mom and dad's place."
"I guess that works." He replied as he put the mortarboard on her head. "So, are we joining the others Ms Valedictorian?"
"That sounds good to me." She answered as they parted and headed down the hall together.
In another part of the school, Levi was talking with his dad as they waited for the ceremony to start. Dane was fidgeting a little nervously.
"Will you quit that?" Levi asked him. "Jeez, you're more nervous than some of the kids, and I swear to God I've heard more people vomit in that bathroom than at the rodeo."
"Most of these parents are only watching one of their kids graduate." Dane reminded him. "Are you sure about this career move?"
"What can I say? All the travel? The new city every night? The screaming fans? It all seems rather…samey and boring now." Levi told him with a shrug. "I can still tour in the summer, but I think for now, I want a real challenge, and if there's one thing I know, teaching High School kids is pretty much the toughest challenge I can think of."
"Really?" He asked. "Even tougher than…?"
"Yeah, even tougher than that." Levi replied. Just then, Mrs Finch walked past, giving him a little smile and a nod, before heading past. Levi smiled.
"Not to mention there's other attractions?" His dad asked. Levi just smiled.
"I'd be lying if I said no." He answered. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I should really…"
"Get going!" Dane chuckled as he ran off to join his fellow teachers on the stage.
A little while later, the music had stopped playing and the students were all being called up one by one to receive their diplomas. It was a testament to the teaching staff at Summer Cove High that even with all the trials and hardships Summer Cove had faced that there were a number of pleasant surprises. Calvin got a standing ovation as he crossed the stage, one so raucous that he felt more than a little self-conscious and was noticeably blushing. He'd managed to surpass all his expectations and was delighted to know that he now had a lot of avenues open to him for apprenticeships. Mick insisted that Principal Hastings allow him to present his diploma to him in person.
"Thanks for everything Mick." Calvin said gratefully. "I don't think I could have done it without you."
"That's flattering, but don't ever take away what you did yourself. Your friends, my friends and I could steer you in the right direction here and there but you were the one that was in those exam rooms. You were the one that did it."
"Thanks, I…" Calvin just paused. "Wait…your friends?"
"Oh, I meant to tell you, Joe wanted me to give you this." Mick said, getting a business card out. "He said that if you want to work for him for some extra cash while you get your accreditation, he's more than happy."
"Joe asked you to…" Calvin smiled as the penny dropped with him. "You set me up! You were Joe all along!"
"Well, you're NEARLY right." Mick told him. "Joe's an old buddy from my unit in the Lion Galaxy. I brought him back here after the rebellion. I asked him to do me a favour and he was only too happy to help me, and, as it turns out, you out."
He patted Calvin on the shoulder.
"Oh, and he doesn't really pad the receipts." Mick assured him. "That was all just for show. But the apartment that's not actually up for rent. It's his place."
"You totally set me up! I should have…" Calvin said, before laughing. "Mick, you are one weird as hell teacher, but you really know how to get a lesson across."
With that, Calvin hugged him before heading off the stage. They all went, claiming their diplomas and moving the tassel on their mortarboard to the opposite side to indicate their graduation. Sarah was giddy as she was called up last. Being class Valedictorian, a matter only decided between her, Emma and Monty by virtue of Emma being far too nervous to even consider making a speech and Monty insisting as Student Body President he should step aside, she took up her position at the podium. She looked out at the crowd before her.
"Wow, this is…um…wow." She said as the words she'd memorised just seemed to disappear from her mind. "This is a day that I think…well…I think it's changed meaning a few times for quite a few of us."
She looked out at the crowd, who were now respectfully quiet. She could see her mom and dad in the crowd, staring up at her proudly, willing her on.
"I think for many of us, at the beginning of the year, this was a day that we…kind of took for granted. We all just assumed it would happen. Maybe we were a little nervous as to what our results would be or where we'd end up afterwards but we were all sure we'd end up here and…dare I say, most of us…probably just wished we could get it over with so we could see the back of this place."
There was a laugh from the crowd as she said this.
"Now that we're here, I think…for some of us at least, we're relieved. Some of what we've went through is frankly the kind of thing I don't know if anyone is meant to go through. Some of us maybe started to have doubts if we…if any of us…would even be here to see this day." Sarah said a little sadly. "Some of us…unfortunately aren't."
There was a hush and a respectful nod from the crowd. Although they'd been lucky for the most part, there were casualties along the way. Most at Summer Cove High knew at least someone that hadn't made it. There was a memorial plaque now beside the trophy case which bore the names of people who hadn't made it through the year.
"And now, as we finally got here, some of us, I'm sure, aren't sure if we even want to go on. Some of us wish we didn't have to go." She said, wiping away a tear. "I moved around a lot as a kid, and there's nothing scarier than moving on. You get to know something, you get to know the people and you get comfortable and then it just means that leaving it is difficult. But I know, just as I'm sure it's true for everyone here. No one goes through the shit we did here and leaves it behind them. We will ALL always have Summer Cove, and we will ALL go on to do great things. And we'll do it because of what we went through here. May the Power Protect You!"
The crowd cheered as she accepted her diploma and a hug from Principal Hastings, before joining her family. Principal Hastings took up the podium.
"Well, Sarah, you've really not done me any favours having to follow that up." She said, to a little laugh. "So I'm not even going to try. Today is never about the teachers, or me, it's always about you. Which is why I'm leaving you now with your Student Body President. Monty, come on up!"
Monty got up on stage to a huge applause, nervously taking up the podium.
"Well, thank you for that." He said nervously. "Well, I don't really have too much to say, but since I'm also the head of the Yearbook Committee…I guess it's just time for me to announce the year-end awards. First of all, for Class Clown. Edward Stevens!"
"What? How did that happen?" Emma asked, leaning towards her friends. "Victor and Monty are way funnier than that guy."
"Most likely to win a Nobel Peace Prize, Frances Dunsmuir." Monty read out as another student started to make her way up.
"See, you can never take these things seriously, it's all just a popularity contest!" Hayley commented.
"Most likely to be voted President…"
"See, I'll bet you anything this is…"
"…Hayley Foster!" Monty read aloud. Hayley looked like she was ready to fall out of her chair as she heard this. She needed to be practically thrown onto the stage by her friends just to get her there to accept her award. Monty carried on reading out awards.
"Well, you have to be 35 to run so…I guess Foster for President 2037?" Calvin asked.
"She's got my vote!" Sarah chimed in proudly.
"And finally, the award for cutest couple…." Monty read out.
"Oh, we have got this in the bag." Calvin said with a cheeky little smile.
"I wouldn't be too sure man." Preston said as he put his arm around Sandy. He heard a little cough from behind him, reminding him that Sandy's foster parents were sitting behind him. He just pulled his arm back. He'd met them and the rest of the family, but that didn't mean he wasn't a little restrained with her around them, or that they didn't like to remind him to keep a respectful distance at times in their presence.
"…Victor Vincent and Sarah Thompson!" Monty read out. Both Sarah and Victor were so shocked that they were pretty well dragged onto the stage kicking and screaming as they went, protesting the whole way. The others just laughed at them as they were thrust onto the stage in front of the audience.
"Um…this is…really a little embarrassing." Sarah stammered. "We're um…we're not…um…"
"No, we're really…" Victor said, before grabbing Monty. "This is your doing isn't it?"
"What?" He yelped.
"You stuffed the ballot box or something didn't you?" Victor said accusingly.
"I…I did no such thing!" Monty yelled.
"Well, how else would…"
"DUDE!" One of the students yelled, standing up from the crowd. "We just voted for you!"
"You did?" Sarah asked. "But…why?"
"Oh, come on! It's totally obvious!" He continued. He then turned to the rest of the crowd. "Who else in here knew?"
Sarah and Victor just looked out into the crowd as one by one, they all put up their hands. Even the teachers and the parents. Sarah could see her own mom and dad putting their hands up. She just gulped before looking at Victor.
"Um…"
"I…guess the only people that didn't know was us." He responded.
"YA THINK?" The student called out. Sarah just looked to him and smiled.
"Well, since…apparently…everyone knows?"
"Gladly." Victor answered, taking her in his arms and pulling her in, kissing her passionately as everyone in the school cheered. No one knew what the future held for them, they'd only just made their first steps on the road forward, but the way behind had already been so long that they would never forget. Sarah had come to Summer Cove, suspecting that Kendall had sent her there to get her away from trouble. None of them could have known what would have happened, but the one thing that was certain was that now, the future was bright, and it was theirs for the taking.
Fin.
A/N: Well, there it is. Bidding a fond farewell to the Ninja Steel team. It's been a long time, at times, occasionally a little rocky, but it was fun getting there.
It's also time for another ending, and that is the end of this universe. It's been something I've been considering for a while, but with Beast Morphers, I've decided to start with an entirely new slate. As such, Beast Morphers will not be a follow-on to this series, but the beginning of a whole new one in a brand new universe I'm intending to craft for it.
Thank you to all my regular readers and reviewers, I'm glad you've enjoyed so much of my work, and I really hope to see you with the beginning of my Beast Morphers series very soon.