Previously on Poké Rangers: Eon Force...
Gathering together with friends and allies at the Vanishing Shrine, the Eon Rangers went over the report Walter had sent to the Elite Four and made plans to reveal their identities to the other Elite Four members. Meanwhile, Mask of Ice, having also discovered what was occuring, sent the Chaos Beast Gatertoise to attack the region, hoping that he would provide an opportunity for the Rangers to prove themselves. Together with the Kanto Rangers, the Eon Rangers managed to ultimately defeat him after Phillip unlocked his secondary ability, Liquidation. Afterwards, as Richard tried to sort through his thoughts and feelings, Ryan offered him some advice he learned from his time as a Ranger. Victoria left with the Kanto Rangers to take an opportunity Jessica offered her, while Richard decided to give a relationship with Phillip a chance. However, things Mask of Ice told him in their battle still bother him...
Richard lay on the sloping roof of his family's house, his back against the shingles as he looked up at the sky. His Noctowl sat behind him, its wide eyes surveying the town around it. With a frown, he drew his Morpher and looked at it curiously.
"Flare? Can we talk?" he asked. The crystal glowed and the Flareon Spirit emerged to land on the roof beside him.
"Something bothering you?" he asked.
"What's my secondary ability?" Richard asked him. Flare stared for a moment before shaking his head.
"Sorry. I can't say. I really would tell you if I could." he apologized.
"See, that's what bothers me." Richard returned his gaze to the stars. "It's not just Celebi keeping things from us anymore. Now he's actively stopping you guys from speaking up even when you want to. I just wonder how far he'd go...what is it he's so scared of us finding out?"
"Listen, Rich." Flare walked up the roof to lay just above him. "You can't let Mask of Ice get to you. He just wants to cause doubt and confusion."
"Is that coming from you?" Richard asked him. "Or from Celebi?" Flare gazed at him with an unreadable expression. Richard sighed. "Not answering doesn't give me a good impression."
"I'm just...All I can tell you is that I trust Celebi." Flare told him. "I'd suggest you do the same."
"I really wish I could believe that was entirely you." Richard said sadly, holding up his Morpher as the Eon Spirit frowned and returned inside it. Richard held it up and looked at the flame burning inside.
"I thought I saw a red glow on your roof." Richard glanced over as Phillip sat down beside him before laying back. "You come up here at night a lot?"
"When I can't sleep." Richard smiled. "Back at the orphanage, me and Vicky used to escape to the roof. It was our safe place. Being up here, it reminds me of that."
"It helps calm you down." Phillip nodded. "I get it." Richard placed his Morpher away and frowned.
"You didn't have to come over." he said. "Not that I don't appreciate it."
"Well it is..." Phillip held his watch up, squinting at it in the moonlight. Richard's Noctowl hooted twice. "Right. Two in the morning." He turned his head to face Richard. "If something's bothering my boyfriend enough to keep him up at that hour, I want to know what it is." Richard couldn't help but laugh.
"You never cease to amaze me, Phil." He frowned. "Why didn't our Eon Spirits tell us about secondary powers? Emma's Hyperspeed, your Liquidation?"
"Vapor says she couldn't." Phillip told him. "Physically couldn't, not that she didn't want to."
"Exactly." Richard rolled up on his side so he was facing him. "If Celebi has that kind of control of them...then what are we, really? Pawns of his? What else could he be keeping from us?"
"Where is this coming from?" Phillip asked.
"Mask of Ice talked to me, during the fight in Goldenrod." Richard told him. "He claims that all of our crystals brought together have powers beyond comprehension. That they could turn this world into an utopia. He says that's all he wants to do with them, and that if it wasn't for Celebi standing in his way, he would've already."
"And you believe him?" Phillip raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know!" Richard sighed and returned to laying on his back. "But he knew about your Liquidation before you did. He mentioned it and I didn't believe him, but then you did it. And he was right about Celebi being able to control our crystals...I don't know what to believe." He glanced at Phillip in worry. "What if he IS telling the truth? What if we've been fighting for the wrong side this whole time?"
Phillip spent a long moment letting that sink in before he reached over to find Richard's hand.
"Well, I think the answer is clear then." he said. "If Celebi won't tell us what they do, then we'll just have to find out for ourselves. Experiment with them a bit."
"You think that's safe?" Richard asked.
"You think not figuring out the answer to that question would be safer?" Phillip countered. Richard shrugged.
"You have a point." With a sigh, he nodded. "Okay then. We'll talk to the others and see if we can't figure out what the crystals are capable of. You with me?" Phillip smiled.
"Always." he agreed.
(Theme Song inspired by Power Rangers: Wild Force Opening)
*beat begins with a strange ethereal pulse (replace all roars with such) before quickly building into a rock beat* (The Eon Crystals awake and float into the air)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (The original five Rangers enter the Vanishing Shrine...)
Eon Crystals are forever! (...and are bonded with their respective Eon Crystal.)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (All seven Rangers' helmets appear to complete their morphing sequences)
We'll defend Johto together! (The seven pose together as an explosion bursts behind them.)
Eon Force! Eon Force! (The Rangers soar through the air on their Spirit Boards.)
Ancient powers have awakened; (Go!) (Richard tosses a basketball into a hoop, his Cyndaquil letting off a showy burst as it swishes. Turning to the camera, he flashes a thumbs up as the Red Ranger and Flare are shown.)
Eon Force gonna save them. (Eon Force!) (Sally steps off the bus into Azalea Town with her Mimikyu right behind. Noticing the camera, she waves as the Pink Ranger and Esper are shown.)
Our whole timeline in danger; (Go!) (Phillip reaches out and pulls a plastic bottle from a river, dropping it into a bag his Croconaw is carrying. Seeing the camera, he nods as the Blue Ranger and Vapor are shown.)
We will save (Emma is working on an explosive in a lab with her Voltorb on the table observing. She jumps back from a spark and grins at the camera as the Yellow Ranger and Jolt are shown.)
this world! (Matt looks over the Underwood Ranch as his Tyranitar walks up beside him. Petting her, he sees the camera and smiles as the Black Ranger and Umbre are shown.)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (Sam and David laugh together with their Meganium and Swinub as the Green and White Rangers are shown with Leaf and Glace.)
Eon Crystals are forever! (Alicia raises a Pokéball and clicks it open/Professor Diggswell looks up from his notes)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (The Rangers summon their weapons.)
We'll defend Johto together! (The Rangers aim and fire the Eon Cannon.)
*guitar riff* (Celebi and Hypnotica are talking in the shrine, Xactowl and Ditgle bow to Mask of Ice in his lair/Walter puts on his Terror mask)
Eon Force Poké Rangers! (The Eon Zords join together into the Eon Force Megazord...)
We'll defend Johto together! (...that is then shown using the Eon Spirit Charge.)
Eon...Force! Eon Force! (All seven Rangers pose together as the Eon Zords appear behind them, followed by the logo being shown (use your imagination, cuz I don't have the artistic skill to draw one))
The following morning, the Underwood Ranch...
"You do realize just how crazy what you're saying sounds, don't you?" Sally asked. She, Matt, and Emma were sitting across the table from Richard and Phillip, having been called there by their fellow Rangers. They had elected to meet there rather than the Shrine for obvious reasons, given the subject under discussion.
"What I'm saying is, how much do we, any of us, really know about the crystals, Celebi, Mask of Ice, any of it?" Richard asked. The other three Rangers looked at each other. "Only as much as Celebi has told us."
"And what the spirits have told us." Emma said.
"But that's the thing." Phillip spoke up. "If Celebi can stop them from talking to us about specific things, like, say, our secondary powers, then couldn't he also force them to tell us things they don't really want to? I hate to say it, but unless we trust Celebi, we can't trust them either."
The other three Rangers looked at each other uncertainly. He had a point, but still, they found the idea that Celebi might actually be their enemy hard to believe.
"I want to be up front with you guys." Richard said. "Before you make any decision, I want you to know why exactly I'm thinking about this so hard right now."
Richard quickly explained the details of his discussion with Mask of Ice during the fight in Goldenrod. Once he had finished, Matt leaned back in his seat with a frown.
"And what makes you think we can trust Mask of Ice?" he asked. "The guy has been sending monsters to attack the region for how long? How many times have we almost met our end at his minions' hands?"
"But if what he's saying is true, then he could turn the world into a paradise and it would be like none of that had ever happened." Richard pointed out. "So what would it matter? If that's the case, then it's honestly surprising he hasn't taken even harsher steps."
"There's an awful lot of 'what ifs' in this, Rich." Sally said.
"I know, I get that." Richard nodded. "But can we afford the risk? We NEED to know where we stand, who we stand by, and we can't decide that if we don't know for sure what's going on."
"And besides..." Phillip leaned forward. "Even if it isn't true, wouldn't it be better if we knew just what our crystals can do? Even if Mask of Ice is in fact the villain that we've believed him to be, wouldn't having that information make us better equipped to stop him?"
"It's a good point." The whole group stiffened and turned to find Ms. North leaning against the doorway. Smiling, she stepped forward. "Very well thought out, Phillip."
"Uh...thank you?" he said nervously. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough." Pulling up a chair, she took a seat with them, folding her arms as she placed them on the table. She looked to the other three Rangers. "Well, we know what Rich and Phil think. What about you three? And please, be honest with me."
"I think..." Matt frowned. "That it would be rather hard to admit anything of the sort to you, given how close you and Celebi have become."
"I understand." Ms. North nodded. "It's true, Celebi and I have spent a lot of time together. I consider him a good friend. But you should know that I care about all of you as well. Most of you are my students, all of you are my friends. I want nothing more than the best for you. So please, for just a moment, disregard my relationship with Celebi. Just tell me what you really feel."
"In that case..." Emma leaned forward. "I'm with Rich and Phil on this one."
"Really Emma?" Sally asked in surprise.
"I've been thinking..." Emma told them. "About my Hyperspeed. Imagine how much easier off we would've been if I'd known about and mastered that earlier?" She held up her hand and starting counting on her fingers. "With how fast it burns calories, maybe it could've nullified the effects of Flabboil's spell on me a bit. When Xactowl was capturing us, I might've been able to avoid it moving that fast. I could've ran and got earplugs fast enough for us to help David when he was fighting Yandian. Striking Slowster before he could close his shell, searching the town for the Remnants' bombs, getting into their base and freeing Rich before they even knew I was there, the list goes on." She shook her head. "I cannot fathom what the point of waiting for me to discover that on my own was."
"Same with my Liquidation." Phillip nodded. "These are extremely useful abilities. If we had known we could do these things, how much better of Rangers would we have been?"
"And who knows what mine is." Richard pointed out. "It could be something equally helpful, and we have no way of knowing!"
"Not to mention Sam and David's." Sally added. Richard and Phillip looked to her in agreement and she sighed. "I do wish Celebi would be more open with us. I mean, have you noticed that he won't ever give specifics about his past, or what Mask of Ice really wants to do with the crystals?"
"He did brush that aside when we asked, way back when we first became Rangers." Matt remembered. "There are many things Celebi has said and done that I find...questionable. So far, they have all worked out, but...who's to say one won't someday?"
"He has no check." Richard nodded. "Like with telling Walter about the Green and White Crystals. He makes those decisions entirely himself, and they put all of us at risk."
"So, are we all in agreement?" Phillip asked. Sally and Emma nodded.
"It would seem so." Matt turned to Ms. North. "So, there you go."
"Thank you for being honest." Ms. North smiled. "My turn to do the same. Celebi knows you're having this conversation."
"Of course he does." Richard muttered.
"He sent me here to talk you out of experimenting with the crystals." She said. "However..." As they looked at her curiously, she glanced down in thought. "I am going to do the opposite."
"What now?" Phillip asked. Rising, Ms. North walked to the window and gazed out.
"There is much Celebi does not tell you..." She said as she looked out at the ranch. "It is...difficult for him. The things he has seen, what he has lost...it makes it hard for him to trust people. Moreover, he doesn't want to put the same burden he carries onto all of your shoulders as well."
"He'd rather hold it all himself?" Matt asked.
"Exactly." Ms. North turned to face them. "When he allowed me to look into his mind, there were many things I saw that I wish I could tell you about. But I promised not to speak of them, and I am a woman of my word." She smiled. "But that doesn't mean I have to stop you from finding out for yourselves."
Rising from the table, Richard walked around until he was standing face to face with her.
"Do you think Celebi will notice?" he asked.
"Let me worry about him." she told him. "You five need to go find Sam and David. Figure out what your crystals can really do."
"Thank you." Richard looked back to the others and nodded. "Let's go, guys." The four Rangers stood and followed him to the door.
"And Rich?" Stopping, he looked back to Ms. North. "Do you remember Celebi calling your crystal by a different name?" Richard frowned as he thought about it.
"He said it was known as the Control Crystal." he remembered. Ms. North nodded.
"Keep that information in mind." she said. "It should help you unlock their true potential."
"Right." Richard smiled. "Thanks again."
Ms. North watched them go before sighing to herself.
'Okay...' Holding up a hand, she stared at her Illusion Ring. 'Now, to keep Celebi occupied...' In a flash of light, a perfect replica of Mask of Ice stood where she was. Hypnotica smiled to herself under the illusion. 'This should do the trick.'
Burned Tower, Ecruteak City...
"To think..." On the top floor of the structure, Professor Diggswell turned in circles, shining his flashlight around the tower's remains. "People have talked about the legends of this tower for years. I've known about it all my life, and never once did I imagine that it might be the key to my ultimate discovery." No response came and he frowned. "Eusine?"
Turning, he spotted his fellow researcher standing near a window, examining a journal with interest.
"Eusine!" he called. Eusine turned and closed the book.
"Sorry, Dirk." He held up the journal. "When we're done here, you'll have to introduce me to this Phillip guy. He has some truly clever and fascinating ideas on Suicune." Reaching behind him, he slipped the journal into his bag. "What were you saying?"
"Do you think we'll really find anything here?" Professor Diggswell turned back as he continued to examine the structure. "It's been a few weeks now, we've been over and over this place, and we've come up with nothing. But SOMETHING has to be here. There has to be some clue..."
"Not necessarily..." Eusine frowned. "Any clue could've been destroyed when the tower burned. Maybe there's nothing left. I know you really, really don't want to hit another dead end...but this could be one." As his old friend turned to face him, he sighed. "And if it is, I'm sorry for getting your hopes up."
"I would've been mad at you if you hadn't." Professor Diggswell shook his head. "I'd rather hit a thousand dead ends than miss even one possible path. Surely you get that?"
"Yeah." Eusine nodded. "Right, of course."
"Professor!" David came running up the stairs and the two turned to face him. "You'd better come quick!"
"What is it, David?" Professor Diggswell asked. David frowned in confusion.
"I can't see you in the dark, Professor." he pointed out. Diggswell looked down at the flashlight in his hand before pointing it up to illuminate his own face.
"I was just asking what it was." he repeated.
"Sam's found something." David told him. "You'll have to come take a look at this." The two quickly followed as David led them down to the ground floor.
The found Sam with one leg stuck in the floor, wedged between the wood after smashing through. He folded his arms as they approached.
"I've really stuck my foot in it now." he told them. David sighed sadly.
"I knew you couldn't hold off saying it." he grumbled. The two researchers knelt beside him.
"Can you get it out?" Eusine asked. Sam nodded and pulled up, silently using his powers to make the wood retreat and release his foot.
"That's not the big thing." he said. "My foot was touching something under there. I think...it felt like a head, of a statue or something."
Leaning forward, Professor Diggswell shined his light into the hole and the image of a silver statue glinted beneath them.
"Astounding..." Holding the light in his teeth, he grabbed onto a plank of wood, waving for the rest of them to help him. Soon, they had a hole big enough to enter made. Eusine located a rope in his bag and secured it, the group quickly descending one by one.
"What is this place?" Sam asked in amazement as he looked around. Their lights showed two towering statues to be the most prominent feature in the room. The one directly under the hole, the one Sam's foot had stepped on, was of a man with Lugia wings instead of arms and a Lugia head, while the other was a woman with a Ho-oh head, Ho-oh wings growing from her back, and long rainbow-colored robes that flowed around her. The former was carved from silver, while the latter was carved from gold, their true material showing through a few patches of their paintjob.
"Who are these two?" Eusine asked in interest. "They bear features of the region's most famous Legendary Pokémon." Professor Diggswell examined the base of the first statue.
"The God of Storms." he read from the writing there. Moving over to the over, he took a look at it. "The Godddess of Calm." After a moment of silence, he straightened up and threw his hands into the air. "YES!"
"This is huge!" Eusine grinned. "Genuine statues of the supposed gods, barely touched by time! I've never heard of anything more than broken, barely intact idols."
"This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for!" Charging to Sam, he wrapped his arms around him. "Good find, Sammy! Top-notch work! I knew bringing you two on board was the right choice!"
"Uh, yeah, thank you." Sam laughed. "Glad to be here."
"Professor, can you read this?" David called. Diggswell released same and eagerly ran over to the side walls of the room, where David was running his hand along symbols carved into the wall. Diggswell examined them curiously, drawing out a book and comparing a few things in it.
"This is a story..." He frowned. "Interesting..."
"What's it about?" Sam asked, leaning forward beside him. "C'mon Professor, tell us the bedtime story."
"How can you think of sleep right now, Sammy!?" Diggswell shook his head. "This is all far too exciting!"
"It...it was a...nevermind." Sam sighed. "What is it a story of?"
"A man with a dark heart..." Diggswell moved along the wall, following the lines of symbols. "Who sought power above all else. He had long been an ally of the God of Storms, but decided to betray him in the service of stealing extra power. The divine energy transformed him into a nearly unstoppable creature known as..." The Professor frowned and tapped one symbol in particular. "I'm fairly sure this is a name, but it's not one I have a translation for."
"What happened after he turned?" Eusine asked.
"The God of Storms sought the aid of his sister, the Goddess of Calm. With her and her human allies..." The Professor hesitated as he came upon the same symbol as before. "Uh, the monster, was eventually slain...but the power he had stolen was too great to be destroyed for good. From his destruction arose three artifacts..."
At this point, the group came across a set of three images on the wall. The Professor translated the text under the first, a sword with a blade made of fire.
"The Golden Flame, a fiery sword that could burn or not burn anything, as following its wielder's desires..." He moved on to the second. "The Silver Armor, a suit that allowed the wearer to traverse anywhere they wanted..." His finger went to the third image. "And the Crystal Shield, a defense capable of raising powerful crystalline barriers that were virtually impenetrable."
"Hold on..." Eusine knelt by the third image and narrowed his eyes. "Does this shield look kinda familiar to anyone else?" The others examined it as he quickly drew in his journal. "Look at this." As he held the book up, they saw that he had sketched a quick image of Suicune's face, which he held up beside the image.
"It does look similar, doesn't it?" Professor Diggswell nodded in agreement. "Most curious."
"And the sword's hilt..." Sam looked at it closer. "It has a sort of Entei look, doesn't it?"
"And the armor, it has a very Raikou-esque design." David told them. Eusine quickly looked the first two over.
"You're absolutely right." He nodded. "Good catch, you two." Professor Diggswell moved past the images to continue reading.
"The three artifacts were sealed away in this chamber, never to be used by mankind again, for it is believed that should anybody wield all three, they will become, uh, the monster once more." he finished.
"Do you think they're still here?" Sam asked.
"I don't think so..." Eusine pointed. "Look there." The other three turned to see what he had. At the opposite end of the room from the statues, three slots were carved into the wall; one in the shape of a sword's hilt, one in the shape of a suit of armor, and one in the shape of a shield. All were empty.
"I wonder where they are now?" Professor Diggswell scratched his chin. Sam and David glanced at each other, both thinking the same thing. Hopefully far away; the last thing they needed was another powerful monster running around the region.
"And I wonder if this room, these artifacts, might not have something to do with the tower's burning." Eusine looked up in though. "The legends have always been sketchy on just why and how the fire broke out. All they state is that three Pokémon died in it, but Ho-oh brought them back to life."
"This will definitely require further study." Diggswell nodded. "Sammy, David, can you two run and grab some equipment from the hotel? I have a feeling we're going to be spending a lot of time here in the near future."
Mask of Ice's lair...
"Something bothering you, Xactowl?" Ditgle asked as he drew on a icy stalactite. The birdlike Chaos Beast was pacing back and forth through the chamber, occassionally muttering something to himself that Ditgle couldn't pick up. At his words, Xactowl looked his way and approached.
"Do you have any idea when Mask of Ice will be back?" he demanded. Ditgle shook his head.
"Not a clue." he said. "Why? Something urgent on your mind?"
"The plan he put into motion years ago, it nears fruition." Xactowl said. "It is time to start taking action on it. But where is he? Nowhere to be found."
"He told me he was giving the Rangers some time to think." Ditgle said. Xactowl threw up his wings as he turned away.
"Of course he would. Sometimes I wonder if he really wants to defeat them at all." Xactowl folded his arms. "It's been a few weeks. Isn't that enough?"
"Depends on point of view, really." Ditgle shrugged. "In any case, if you're so worried about this plan, why not do something about it yourself?"
"I can't." Xactowl sighed. "I am not eqipped for that kind of mission. I would need help, and I've not been able to find..." He stopped as Ditgle looked to him in interest. "Uh, anybody." he finished.
"Then make someone." Ditlge quickly put a final stroke onto his drawing and it transformed into a frozen statue. Ditgle stepped back and waved Xactowl towards it. "I cannot risk exhausting myself again, but you? You may be able to bring him to life without suffering those effects."
"Me?" Xactowl frowned uncertainly. "I've never tried something like this before."
"Oh, it's simple." Ditgle laughed. "Remember how you made Unowna giant? It's just like that, except instead of recreating his life force, you just create it."
"That doesn't sound similar at all!" Xactowl protested.
"Psah, you'll be a natural!" Ditgle moved behind Xactowl and gently pushed him forward. "Besides, this monster is perfect for capturing reluctant Legendary Pokémon like Entei."
"You know about that?" Xactowl looked back him in surprise.
"Of course I do." Ditgle chuckled. "Go on then. Bring them to life."
"...alright then." Xactowl sighed and stepped closer to stand before the frozen figure. "I can try." Closing his eyes, he focused the chaotic energy within himself before opening his eyes and firing two red beams forward. They entered the statue and the red glow spread throughout it until it at last transformed.
Xactowl stumbled and Ditgle held out an arm to stop him toppling over.
"It's...harder than it looks." he gasped. "I'm okay. Just give me a second."
"Mask of Ice's staff has far more power than you or I." Ditgle nodded. "It is much simpler for him." As Xactowl caught his breath and stood straight, he smirked.
"Does that mean I have more power than you?" he asked.
"Yes." Ditgle said simply. "But on the other hand, you can be destroyed. I cannot."
"Oh. Right." Xactowl frowned as the new monster stepped forward.
"Master Xactowl." The creature had the appearance of an Exeggutor, with a pair of wooden arms growing from his sides, each ending in a Beedrill arm stinger. Instead of eggs, beehives hung from the tree, the one at the front split open to allow a Beedrill head to poke out. "I am Hivemind, ready to serve."
"Master?" Xactowl looked at Ditgle with a confused raise of his brow.
"You created him, in the same way that Mask of Ice created you." Ditgle told him. "Hivemind is as loyal to you as you are to him." He chuckled. "I wonder how it feels to know that your unflinching loyalty is fake, that you have no choice in the matter?"
"You should know." Xactowl reached out a wing and flicked it against Ditgle's mask. "Real or artificial, it doesn't matter. Loyalty is loyalty."
"I had a feeling you'd say that." Ditgle stepped back. "In any case, good luck to you. I hope your endeavors prove...fruitful." Laughing to himself, he turned and walked out of the chamber. Xactowl watched him go before at last turning back to Hivemind.
"I have a very important job for you." he said. Hivemind bowed to him.
"Of course, master." he agreed. "Just give me the word and I shall do it for you."
"Good." Xactowl stepped forward. "Here's what I need you to do..."
Ecruteak City...
"You know..." Sam mused as he zipped a backpack full of gear shut. "I could get used to this line of work. It's rather exciting, isn't it?"
"That's because I do all the tedious parts for you." David told him. "Also, our first two expeditions ended up stumbling upon something big, even if we can't tell the Professor about the first. I'd imagine most of the time it's much more disappointing."
"Yeah, I suppose." Sam admitted. "Still, that kinda makes it better in a way. Can you imagine how excited the Professor is about this, after all that letdown?"
"Which means we'd better get this stuff back fast." David said as he shoved a second bag into Sam's hands. "Wouldn't want to keep him waiting."
Sam groaned as his phone began to ring in his pocket. Trying to balance the bags he was carrying, he managed to pull it out and look at the screen before answering.
"Rich?" he asked. "What's up?"
"Me and the others are maybe a minute from Ecruteak." Richard told him. "Can you meet us at the Poké Center? It's very important."
"Sure...I suppose so." Sam gasped as the bags slipped away from him, before sighing in relief as David managed to catch them and set them gently down. "Okay, we'll see you there. ...is it Ranger related?"
"In a way." Richard told him. "I'll explain when we get there. See you soon." Sam pulled the phone away as Richard hung up, frowning.
"C'mon." he waved to David. "Leave the stuff, we'll come back for it later." Nodding, David followed him outside and they made their way from their hotel to the Poké Center. Soon, the others came running up to greet them.
"Hey." Sam grinned. "What's going on, guys? And why the phone call instead of the Morpher call?"
"We didn't want to risk Celebi overhearing." Richard said. "I don't know if he can do that, but I didn't want to take the risk."
"...what's that supposed to mean?" Sam asked in confusion. "Are you guys sneaking around behind Celeport's back?"
"Clearly." Phillip nodded. Sam and David looked to each other in surprise and concern.
"And what exactly are you doing?" David asked.
"We want to find out what our crystals can really do." Sally explained. "If we put them all together, what kind of powers do they have?"
"Interesting..." Sam pulled out his Morpher and looked at the crystal inside it. "I am curious." He glanced at Emma and Phillip. "Especially after you two got new powers." After a moment, he smiled and shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
"You should realize that this could be dangerous." Richard warned. "We don't know what they could do. And...you should hear where this is coming from." He quickly explained to the pair about Mask of Ice and his claims.
"Hmm." David frowned. "He has conducted himself in a surprisingly restrained manner, monster attacks aside. Until Gatertoise and his storm, anyway."
"But he indicated he only did that to help us clear ourselves." Richard told them. "I don't know if any of what he says is true or not, but we have to find out."
"I agree." David nodded. "And I believe that makes us unanimous."
"Okay." Phillip stepped forward. "We'll need to do this somewhere safe, not in the city. We don't want other people around if the crystals, like, explode or something."
"If they explode, I'm going to be very annoyed." Emma sighed. "That I after everything would be taken out by a blast. Ironic."
"That's not irony, Emma." Phillip told her. "That is EXACTLY how most people would expect you to go."
"So where are we going to do this?" Matt asked. Sam thought for a second before nodding.
"I know a place." he told them. "C'mon. I'll show you."
Ducking behind the center, the team summoned their Spirit Boards and Sam led them in a flight west and slightly south. They passed over Olivine City and soon flew over the wilderness beyond.
"What's out here?" Richard asked as he flew up beside Sam. "I didn't think anybody came out this far."
"Look down there." Sam pointed and the others looked down, squinting. Far below, they could seem some sort of fence. "We're near the cabin now."
Sam soon flew lower and the others followed, spotting a log cabin tucked away in the woods. Sam hopped off his Spirit Board and it vanished into his crystals, as did the others as they landed.
"What is this place?" Emma asked in amazement.
"My mom and dad own this." Sam told them. "They use it as a retreat, a sort of vacation home for when they need to get away from the world. Mostly before I was born, but we've come a couple times."
"It's perfect." David nodded. "There's nobody around for miles."
"Not even Pokémon." Sam said. "The fence utilizes the same scent as Repels and keeps them out. There's not a lifeform in the area except for us."
"Well, there's no sense wasting time." Matt drew his Morpher. "The longer we're gone, the more likely Celebi will notice."
"And we've got to get back to the Professor with his gear soon." David agreed. "So, let's see what we can learn." The group looked to Richard in question of the next step as they all drew their Morphers.
"Okay...let's take them out of the Morphers." He suggested. "Just...on the off chance they somehow restrict them." The others nodded and followed his lead as he drew the Red Crystal out of the Morpher and examined it.
"Now what?" Phillip wondered. Richard frowned.
"My crystal is supposed to be the Control Crystal..." he mused. "So maybe it has the power to unlock something within yours."
"We can try mine." Phillip held his Blue Crystal out and Richard held his Red Crystal against it, trying to focus their power together. After a time, it became apparent nothing was happening.
"Nothing." Sally frowned. "Nothing we can see, anyway."
"How about all of us?" Emma suggested. "Try using it on all of our crystals." Richard nodded and reached out with it again as his friends all held their crystals forward. Looking at it, Richard suddenly had an idea.
"Spread out." he told them. "Form a circle around me." The others agreed and moved out into a ring around their leader. As Richard held up his crystal, the others began to glow brighter.
"Something's happening!" Sam called.
"Is anyone else's trying to pull upwards?" Matt asked, making an effort to keep his crystal from doing so.
"No. Mine's to the side." David said.
"Mine's down." Emma put in.
"Let go of them." Richard said thoughtfully. "See what they do." Nodding, the others slowly opened their hands. The crystals floated out of their grip and gathered nearby, forming a vertical circle in the air.
"Interesting..." Phillip walked closer to them and held out a hand. "I feel a strange energy about them...like they're charging up."
"Let me try..." Richard pointed his crystal towards the floating ring and a red beam of energy emerged, shooting into the center. Beams in the other crystals' colors came to join it, all of them swirling together. Soon, an image appeared between the crystals.
"What is that?" Sam asked in surprise.
"I think the better question is WHERE is that?" Sally said. "It doesn't look like anywhere around here."
"I think it's a portal." Richard stepped closer. "I'm going to check it out. You guys wait here."
"You sure?" Phillip asked. Richard nodded.
"I'll be fine." Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the image. The Rangers watched him walking through the landscape on the other side.
"Huh..." Richard frowned. "I wonder..." He stiffened as if hearing something before whirling to look behind him. As he did, the image of him and the area vanished.
"Rich!" Phillip leaped forward as the crystals flew back to their wielders' hands. Looking at the Blue Crystal in shock, Phillip reached out and waved a hand where the portal had been. Nothing. "He's gone...we have to get it open again!"
"How?" Matt asked. "It was Rich's crystal that opened it, and he still has it with him!"
"What are we going to do?" Sally asked. "How do we get him back?" Nobody had any answers. Soon, the Rangers drew their Morphers and replaced the crystals in them, unsure of how to proceed.
"Should we tell Celebi?" Emma asked. "Maybe he can help?"
"I don't know..." Phillip sighed, cursing himself internally for letting Richard go through alone. "He'll be mad, I bet. I don't blame him. I'm mad that we let this happen..." He growled. "I bet this is what Mask of Ice wanted. He wanted us to accidentally lose our leader, or maybe he thought we'd all get lost...he'll pay for this." As the others looked at each other, their Morphers beeped.
'Rangers!' Celebi's voice came through. 'Things are going crazy. Where are you?'
"We're, uh..." Phillip racked his brain for an answer of their location.
"At my place." Sam put in. "What's going on?"
'Mask of Ice is all over Azalea. He keeps leading me in circles and disappearing.' The Rangers looked at each other and came to the same conclusion. Ms. North's distraction had worked. 'I think he's just trying to keep my attention, because I'm detecting a Chaos Beast trying to capture Entei on Route 39.'
"We'll check it out." Matt told him.
'And do you guys have any idea where Rich is?' Celebi asked. 'I can't get ahold of his Morpher.' The Rangers all looked to Phillip, unsure of what they should or shouldn't say. The Blue Ranger debated it before closing his eyes and deciding they might as well just go for it.
"About that..." he said.
'What have you done?' Celebi said quietly, anger in his voice.
"We were trying to find out what the crystals can do." Phillip explained. "We opened some sort of portal, and Rich went through. Then it closed, and we don't know how to open it again."
'Do you have ANY idea what a disaster this is!?' Celebi snapped. 'I thought Hypnotica talked to you about this!?'
"She did!" Phillip told him. "But we decided to go ahead with it anyway. I'm sorry..."
'The least you can be.' Celebi growled before sighing. 'Rangers, you deal with the Chaos Beast. I will go find Richard.' He went silent for a moment before going on. "I don't know how long I'll be gone. Keep the region safe while I'm away, please?"
"Can do." Phillip agreed. "I'm sorry, again."
'Just hope Richard ended up in an actual dimension and not in between them.' Celebi told them. 'Because if it was the latter, well, chances are you'll never see him again.'
"I don't think he did." Sally pointed out. "There was a real landscape he was standing in."
'We'll see.' Celebi said quietly. 'Good luck.' As Celebi hung up, Phillip continued staring at his Morpher before looking back to the portal's former location in worry. At last, he placed the Morpher away and summoned his Spirit Board.
"Come on, guys." he told the others. "We've got a monster to stop."
Soon, Route 39...
Entei shook his head dizzily as he stumbled through the road between Olivine and Ecruteak. Staggering tiredly, he collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily as he rested. His one eye glowed bright red and Entei clenched his eyes shut, struggling to suppress what he could feel happening inside him. The change, the dark push to attack and destroy.
Something buzzed overhead, but Entei ignored it. Bug Pokémon were no threat to him. Not like what was happening within himself. That was growing stronger day by day, and he didn't know how he could fight it, or how much longer he could resist. Slowly, it was wearing him down.
"There you are!" Entei looked towards the voice as Hivemind stepped towards him, rising to his feet and backing up. What looked like a group of tiny Beedrill flew down to land on his arm. "Good work, my pets." The swarm entered the beehives around his head and Hivemind chuckled. "No use trying to run. You're mine, now."
Entei growled, shaking its head and trying to push the force inside him away. He wasn't sure if he should fight or flee, but he felt tired and in a precarious position. He opted for fleeing.
"Honey Trap!" Before he could turn to run, Hivemind sprayed a blast of sticky yellow goo from his mouth, coating Entei's feet and sticking them to the ground.
Entei roared in anger and opened his mouth to breathe fire at the honey, hoping to bake it away. The flames licked at it, but it only became stickier. Hivemind laughed at his struggle.
"You can't burn my honey." he chided. "You'll just make it worse." Entei looked at him and started to breathe flame his way, but he spat another honey shot that covered Entei's mouth and sealed it shut. "None of that! My master has demanded your capture, and so I shall." The miniature Beedrill emerged from his hives again and buzzed forward. "My pets' stings will render you completely helpless soon enough."
Entei struggled harder, pulled with all his might, but he could not break his way free. The mini-Beedrill came closer, stingers drawing back.
Before they could strike, shots of water struck them and blasted them away, dropping to the ground and turning to ice before bursting apart.
"Huh?" Hivemind turned as Phillip lowered his Aqua Jetters. Entei looked towards him and the other Rangers gathered behind him. "Who are you?"
"Who are we?" Phillip frowned. "We're the Poké Rangers, and we're busy right now."
"So go back to it!" Hivemind snapped. "Mind your own beeswax and stay out of mine."
"You won't take Entei." Sally stepped forward. "Leave him alone!"
"And you're going to stop me?" Hivemind laughed. "I'd like to see you try."
"You got it." Phillip drew his Morpher and held it up, doing his best to push his current worries from his mind. They had to focus on this guy for now, there would be time for the rest later. "Ready, guys?"
"Ready!" the others agreed, raising their own Morphers.
"Bring on the power of Eon!" As they pressed their Morphers to their chests, glowing lines spread around their bodies and their Eon Spirits rose into the air, forming their respective elements and hurling them down to coat the Rangers in their suits. The spirits circled around and transformed into helmets to finish the sequence.
"I don't have time to deal with you." Hivemind waved a hand. "Cryoclopes!" Around him, the frozen minions rose up and assumed battle positions. "Get them!" The Cryoclopes charged forward and the Rangers ran to meet them.
Sam leaped and landed a flying kick to the first Cryoclopes heading towards him, sending it flying back. Another swung an ice sword his way and he flipped aside as it slashed through the air where he had been standing.
"Hey, wanna see a trick I learned from one of your monster friends?" Sam grinned and summoned his Seed Bomber, firing a blast that hit the ground shortly in front of the Cryoclopes, one of the seeds created being flung up into its chest. "It works best on mindless golems like you guys!" Holding out a hand, the seed grew and spread throughout the Cyroclopes' body.
The sword wielding Cryoclopes charged forward and Sam spun his finger. The plant inside spun it back around and made it swing its sword down, slashing the Cryoclopes behind it. The others continued forward as it charged towards them, tearing through the group one by one. As it took down the last of that particular group, Sam stepped up beside it.
"Good boy." He patted the stuck minion on the shoulder. "Good thing you guys don't have a sense of pain." Snapping his fingers, the plant inside expanded and burst the Cryoclopes apart.
"Icicle Spear!" David summoned his weapon and jabbed forward, striking an ice shield one of the Cryoclops. Spinning, he swept his foot and took out its legs, rising and stabbing down through its chest. Pulling it free, he swung the weapon in an arc, slashing several Cryoclopes down. At a further distance, several formed ice bazookas and fired, David dodging back. "You guys wanna place with ice, huh?" Stabbing his spear into the ground, he held out his hands. "Try this!" The frozen blast covered the group of Cryoclopes, leaving them frozen solid in a block of ice.
Matt summoned his Night Slashers and leaped into a group of Cryclopes, spinning and slashing through several. Two summoned ice swords and slashed out him, the Black Ranger holding out his claws and blocking one with each hand. Leaping backwards as they pushed against him, he released them and let them collide into each other and shatter apart.
Another Cryoclopes swung an ice mace down and Matt dodged aside, slashing down and slicing the weapon's head off before cutting through its wielder. Turning, he saw Sally slashing a Cryoclopes down with Psycho Cutter not far away.
"Hey Sally, heads up!" He called, kicking the mace iceball head towards her. The Pink Ranger caught it with her powers. Thrusting out her hand, it shot forward, pinballing between Cryoclopes and breaking them apart.
One formed an ice club and batted it back towards her, forcing Sally to slice it in two with her sword. Drawing back an arm, she hurled the blade and it pierced through its chest. Grabbing the hilt with her powers, she pulled and it brought the Cryoclops with it, the Pink Ranger raising a foot and shattering it apart with a kick as she grabbed her weapon back.
Emma blocked several ice arrows flying at her with her Discharger before rolling aside as another Cryoclopes tried to swing an ice axe at her from behind. As it turned and raised its weapon again, Emma came up into a crouch and pointed, firing a bolt of lightning through it. Spinning, she fired more bolts from her hand that blasted apart the group of archers before they could fire again.
More Cryoclopes came towards her and Emma grinned as electricity sparked into her eyes and they slowed. Running forward, she quickly placed an explosive on one in the middle of the group's back before returning to her previous spot, having never appeared to move. The Yellow Ranger held up three fingers, lowering them one by one until the bomb went off and obliterated the group.
Phillip used one of his Aqua Jetters to catch the handle of a hammer, pushing it aside so its swing missed him and struck the ground. Spinning, he drove an elbow back into the wielder to shatter them before stabbing out into the chest of a sword wielder coming at him from behind. Seeing several more behind it, Phillip fired water from the weapons' hilts and sent them blasting through the group before flipping around and returning to his hands in time to stab out into a Cryoclopes with an ice club coming at him from the side.
The Rangers regrouped together after disposing of the last Cryoclopes, facing off with Hivemind as he growled at them.
"You Rangers won't interrupt my plans!" he snarled. "Bee Bombers!" More mini-Beedrill emerged from his hives and shot forward, glowing red as they divebombed the Rangers and exploded, blasting the Rangers off their feet. "Now, Bee Stingers!" Another group of tiny Beedrill flew free and shot towards the Rangers, jabbing at them with their stingers and managing to pierce through their suits.
Entei watched in curiosity as the Rangers forced themselves to their feet, swiping at the attacking bugs with their weapons. Their movements were sluggish, the venom injected into them doing its best to paralyze them in place.
"You're a stubborn bunch." Hivemind admitted as Sally held up her hand, unleashing a telekinetic pulse that flung the Bee Stingers away.
"We won't let you take Entei." Phillip growled. In his head, he was imagining Celebi returning Richard to them, only for him to find out that they had let Mask of Ice take Entei in his absence. He refused to let that be what their leader returned to. He wouldn't let him down like that. The others followed behind him, gathering in front of the Legendary Pokémon. "You'll have to go through all of us first!"
"Or around you. Honey Trap!" Hivemind sprayed a blast of honey and the Rangers, struggling against the venom, were too slow to avoid it, finding their feet stuck to the ground. "You lot just stay there. I'll be taking Entei..."
David tried to freeze the honey and make it brittle, but it refused to solidify, nor would it pull apart as Sally focused her telekinesis on it. Matt had been hit directly and was so covered he couldn't even reach out to find somebody's shadow.
"We've got to get out of this!" Emma said in anger as she struggled to try and get free. "We can't let him win!"
"Sally, toss me your Psycho Cutter!" Phillip called. The Pink Ranger hurled her weapon and he grabbed it, drawing it back. "When I say, throw me free!" Taking a deep breath, he liquidated his body and slashed through the water of his legs. "Now!"
Sally used her powers to toss the Blue Ranger free, his water body flowing down to reform his legs as he landed on his feet. Drawing one of his Aqua Jetters, he charged forward with it and Sally's sword.
"Nice trick! Bee Bombers!" More explosive Beedrill flew free and blasted Phillip, but they were unable to do anything that his water body didn't quickly undo, soon reaching the Chaos Beast and slashing him with the sword.
"You won't be able to hurt me like that!" he told Hivemind, stabbing out with his weapon. The Chaos Beast leaped aside.
"But you can't avoid the venom already in you." he laughed. Growling, Phillip fired his Aqua Jetter's hilt and used it to spin faster, slashing him once more.
"Doesn't matter." Phillip landed two more blows before kicking him back. "I'll just push through it!" The other Rangers cheered for him as he deflected a jab from Hivemind's stinger arm before slashing past him. Spinning, he leaped and slashed down, sending him flying back from the force.
As Hivemind crashed to the ground, Phillip ran to the other Rangers.
"Put our energies together!" he told them. Nodding, the Rangers focused their powers and formed a six-barreled version of the Eon Cannon, aiming and charging it up.
"Eon Cannon, fire!" They called together as Hivemind rose to his feet. Beams of their colors shot forward, swirling together into a rainbow sphere.
Before it could hit, Hivemind reached up and ripped a hive from his body, hurling it high into the air. The blast slammed into him, sending sparks flying from his body as it toppled backwards, icing over and exploding.
"We did it!" Phillip cheered. The other Rangers sighed in relief.
"Not so fast, Rangers!" The hive that had been tossed came falling down, stopping midair and splitting open to let Hivemind's face peek out. His body regrew around it in a matter of seconds.
Holding out an arm, Hivemind's leaves glowed and a beam of light blasted from its tip, striking Phillip in the shoulder as he tried to dodge aside. To his surprise, it seared against him and a wave of pain shot through him. The Blue Ranger screamed in pain as he was flung back, clutching his shoulder as he hit the ground.
"Well how about that?" Hivemind laughed as he marched forward. "It looks like a Grass-based attack can still hurt you, can't it?"
The Blue Ranger struggled to rise, looking to see a smoking circle on his shoulder where he had been hit. Hivemind pointed an arm at him and his leaves glowed again as he charged up. Phillip heard the other Rangers calling his name, but he couldn't force himself to get out of the way.
Hivemind was distracted by an angry roar shaking the ground. Turning, he watched as the red glow faded from Entei's eye and the honey covering his mouth was seared away. He breathed fire down, but unlike his normal flames, these were bright, shining gold in color. Phillip recognized them as the same flames Entei had used when they last saw him.
"That's impossible!" Hivemind said in horror as the flames quickly ate away the honey trapping Entei. "Nothing can burn through that!"
"Golden flames..." Sam narrowed his eyes. "Interesting..."
Entei roared in challenge and dashed forward, slamming into Hivemind and flinging him away.
"I can still get you this way! Bee Stingers!" As the miniaturized bees swarmed forward to sting the Legendary, he breathed another blast of golden fire in an arc, reducing the entire group to ash. Glaring, he fired a stream forward and Hivemind yelled in pain as it engulfed him.
The Rangers watched the flames eat away at his hives, burning them away until only his main head remained. Hivemind tried to hold up a hand, focus power, but sparks began to burst around his body. Collapsing, his body iced over before detonating.
Entei snorted in victory and turned, marching away. The honey disappeared around the Rangers' feet and they felt the venom fade in their bodies. Just before passing out of sight, Entei halted and looked back as Phillip made his way over to join his friends, giving them a nod of appreciation before he quickly ran away.
"Holy crap." Emma gazed at the direction Entei had gone in awe. "He destroyed him, no problem."
"The power of a Legendary isn't to be trifled with, I guess." David agreed.
"But his fire...there was something strange about it." Sam frowned as the others looked to him. "I wonder..."
Whatever thought Sam was having, it was interrupted by a red glow expanding from where Hivemind had fallen. His pieces swelled and rose up, fitting together until he reformed at tremendous size.
"This isn't over yet!" he snapped. "If I can't have Entei, I'll just have to settle for destroying the Rangers!"
Pointing his arm down, he fired a solar blast that the Rangers dove aside from, leaving a tremendous scorch mark on the ground as they rolled to their feet.
"What do we do now?" Emma asked worriedly. "We can't form the Megazord without Rich!"
"We have to do something." Matt said.
"Just fight smart." Phillip told them, reaching up to touch his crystal. "Stay sharp, work around his powers, and we'll do it. We don't need a Megazord to beat him."
"You really think so?" Sam raised a brow.
"We don't have a choice." Phillip told him. "C'mon, Vapor. Let's go!"
"On it, Phil!" Vapor emerged from her crystal and transformed into her Zord form, the Blue Ranger resolidifying his body before leaping up inside. The other Rangers quickly released their Eon Spirits and joined him.
"Spread out!" Phillip called. "Surround him!" The Rangers' Zords formed a ring around Hivemind, who spun in a circle to watch them.
"You'll have to do better than that!" he laughed. "Bee Bombers!" Miniature Beedrills flew free from his hives and divebombed the Zords, exploding around them. As they were distracted, Hivemind leaped out of the circle, aiming an arm back and charging up power as he landed. As he fired, Vapor narrowly managed to dodge aside and avoid a hit.
"We've got to keep him still." Phillip growled in annoyance.
"Honey Trap!" Hivemind sprayed a stream of yellow goo towards them.
"Watch it!" Sally directed Esper to leap into the attack's path, a pink glow surround him. The honey bounced off and flew back, splattering over Hivemind and sticking him to the ground.
"Hey!" he protested. "Nobody traps me! I trap you! Bee Bombers!" As the mini-Beedrills flew free again, Umbre quietly whispered a few words.
"Turn them on each other." he suggested. Matt grinned.
"Perfect, Umbre. Confuse Ray!" Umbre's rings glowed on command, firing a ray that sweeped over the swarm. The Bee Bombers buzzed disoriently, swerving and striking at each other as they started to explode.
"No!" Hivemind snarled. "Attack the Rangers, not yourselves!"
"We've got to get rid of the hives." Phillip told the others. "Or he'll just reform from one."
"Jolt's lightning should be hot enough to fry them." Emma suggested. "Let's go!"
"You got it, Emma!" Jolt grinned and charged up, shooting a Thunder into the air. A powerful bolt of lightning streaked down and channeled through Hivemind's body, his hives sizzling and bursting apart on his body as they were zapped.
Where they had been, the nubs they had been attached with started to swell.
"They're regrowing!" Sally called.
"Not on my watch." David said. "Glace, freeze them!" The Glaceon Zord nodded and opened her mouth, cannon extending to fire a series of quick Ice Beams at Hivemind, each striking one of the spots where a hive would grow and freezing it over
"Now we take him down." Phillip said. "Sam, you've got our strongest attack. Can you do it?"
"If you give me a little help." the Green Ranger agreed. Phillip nodded and directed Leaf forward.
"Soak!" A spray of water fired from Vapor's mouth and struck Hivemind, a watery blue aura spreading across his body. As he was doing that, Leaf's mouth opened and his cannon extended out, charging up with power as he aimed it forward.
"Beam Blaster, fire!" Sam called. Leaf fired the Solarbeam forward, the powerful blast piercing through Hivemind's body.
"It can't be..." Hivemind groaned as he looked down at the smoking hole in him. "Master...I've failed you." Falling forward, his body iced over before hitting the ground, exploding in a blast that took out a few straggler Bee Bombers hovering nearby him.
"We did it!" Emma cheered.
"Yeah!" Sam grinned. "You'd better bee-lieve we sent him packing." Phillip groaned and laughed at once as he leaned forward.
"Thank you, Sam, for that groan-inducer." he said.
"You're welcome, Philiquid." Sam smiled. "It's what I do."
"Good job, everyone." Phillip frowned. "You all did amazing." As the other Rangers' Eon Spirits agreed with him, Phillip didn't say what was truly on his mind at the moment.
'I hope nothing more dangerous comes up before Rich gets back.'
Mask of Ice's lair...
Xactowl stormed through the lair, hunting through cavern after cavern and only coming up with Cryoclopes that didn't even react to his presence. Just when he found himself at the peak of his annoyance, he at last located the being he searched for.
"Your creature failed!" he snapped. Ditgle casually turned from where he was drawing to face him. "Not only did he fail to capture Entei, but he couldn't beat the Rangers either, and they were oddly missing a member."
"That is not my problem." Ditgle turned away and resumed his drawing. "I merely create the design, the abilities and appearance, of the creature. Their power, intellect, personality, all of that comes from the one who brings them to life." Xactowl stared at him angrily as he continued to draw. "So if there's a problem with your Chaos Beast, it's on your end, not mine."
"You are just about the least helpful creature I have ever..." Xactowl stopped and frowned. "Hold on...does that mean Mask of Ice has been the one giving them these annoying personalities?"
"Yes." Ditgle said simply.
"I...I..." Xactowl sighed. "Never mind. I should've known better than to think you'd produce competent help."
"YOU. Should've known that YOU wouldn't produce competent help." Ditgle told him.
"Whatever." Xactowl growled. "I'm going to find somebody who can actually help me."
"Who would that be?" Ditgle asked, stopping midstroke. "Perhaps your little friend, Walter?" Xactowl, about to leave the room, stiffened and turned back to face him. Ditgle chuckled to himself. "Tell me, did you actually intend to help him with his, eh, request once you were through with him?"
"Of course not." Xactowl scoffed. "I couldn't have the boss knowing I'd worked with him. After I finished with him, he was done for."
"Well don't let him hear you say that." Ditgle laughed. Xactowl looked around in confusion, as if Walter might be hiding somewhere nearby. "He is close, you know. But he can't hear you."
"You did something to him?" Xactowl narrowed his eyes. Ditgle at last dropped his tail from his hand, spinning in his seat to face the Chaos Beast. "I haven't been able to find him in weeks...that would explain it. Where is he?"
"Oh...around." Ditgle shrugged. "You really should take better care of your playthings. Would you like to see him?"
"Show me." Xactowl demanded. Ditgle shrugged and raised a hand, snapping his fingers. A red portal swirled open and deposited Walter onto the floor of the cavern, his arms bound behind him with ropes and his mouth gagged. Seeing Xactowl, he glared. "Release him at once!"
Shrugging again, Ditgle grabbed his tail and the Ditto goo at the end shifted out into a sword blade that he swung down, slashing through Walter's bonds. Rising, he yanked the gag from his mouth and stomped over to Xactowl.
"What happened to you?" Xactowl demanded in confusion.
"This lunatic friend of yours kidnapped me!" Walter snapped. "Sealed me in some, I don't know, I guess it was a pocket dimension or something? I've been waiting with no idea what was to happen for weaks!"
"I didn't know anything about this." Xactowl told him. "And I don't think I'd call him a friend, either."
Ditgle laughed wildy, doubling over in amusement. Sighing, he reached up and flicked at the mask he wore as if wiping a tear away.
"You two are just precious." he said. "We're going to have so much fun together."
"What are you on about?" Xactowl snapped.
Ditgle raised his arms and grabbed both sides of his mask, gripping them tightly. Pulling out, a glowing red crack soon spread down the middle of the mask before it was ripped in two, the pieces being discarded onto the cavern floor and dissolving. Ditgle's true face grinned at them before shifting into a replica of Xactowl's.
"Did you really think even your master could control an Agent of Chaos for long?" he laughed. "My mind broke free, like, a month ago or so. Ever since, I've been watching you all very, VERY closely." He grinned evilly as he stepped forward.
"What is he talking about?" Walter asked. Ditgle turned to face him as Xactowl couldn't bring himself to respond, stunned by the shock of Ditgle's escape.
"Aw, it's so far beyond your understanding, isn't it?" Ditgle's face became a replica of Walter's as he reached out and patted the former Remnant on the head. "Don't strain yourself trying to figure it out. Just make yourself of use."
"Use?" Walter asked. Ditgle stepped back, his face returning to normal.
"You two work for me now." he told them. That at last snapped Xactowl out of his surprise.
"As if!" he growled. "I am loyal to my master until the end! I would rather die than betray him like that!"
"Ah, but you won't be betraying him." Ditgle chuckled. "Honestly, you won't be. We're going to help your master in his quest."
"We are...?" Walter raised a confused brow.
"What are you talking about?" Xactowl asked. "If you're free, why would you want to do that?"
"Your master's plans amuse my master." Ditgle shrugged. "He's given the go-ahead for me to see if they can be brought to fruition." Xactowl had the sneaking suspicion that there was some other reason that he wasn't saying, but he couldn't read his mind. Just like Mask of Ice, his telepathy bounced off that mental wall when he tried. "Just trust me, and we will see to it that your master emerges victorious in the end."
"And what about me?" Walter asked. Ditgle smirked to Xactowl before looking at him.
"Simple. You help us in secret, without Mask of Ice's knowledge, and in return we'll complete your little party trick." He nodded towards Walter's Pokéballs. "Or, we can kill you right now and be done with it. I'm okay with either option."
"...okay then." Walter frowned. "Don't have a lot to lose, I suppose." He looked to Xactowl, who finally gave a reluctant nod.
"Excellent." Ditgle laughed before holding a finger up to his mouth. "Now, not a word to Mask of Ice. We are all just the same obedient slaves of his as before." His face shifted into a perfect replica of the mask he had previosly wore. It was so real and spot on, Xactowl never would've noticed even a slight difference if he hadn't been there to see it. "Don't fret, Xactowl. Like I said..." Ditgle gave a low laugh as he walked behind the two and threw his arms over their shoulders. "We're going to have so much fun together."
That evening, Azalea Town...
Bugsy exited his Gym, closing the door and proceeding to lock the door behind him. As he turned the key, he froze, eyes narrowing as he sensed a disturbance around him.
Quickly springing to the side, he leaped through a narrow gap between a set of rising crystal walls, managing to avoid getting trapped within as they slammed shut. As he rose to his feet, Suicune passed through from the inside, examining him curiously.
"Suicune...why do you try and entrap me?" Bugsy asked. Suicune simply fired an Aurora Beam forward, the Gym Leader dodging aside as it struck the Gym behind him. "So that's what you're looking for. Alright then, I'll take your challenge."
Bugsy quickly drew a Pokéball and sent out his Scyther, crossing his blades as he faced off with Suicune. The Legendary fired a Bubblebeam forward, Scyther swinging and slashing through them before they could hit.
"Swords Dance!" Bugsy called. Scyther's blades glowed white as it quickly danced with them. "Now, Aerial Ace!" Scyther dashed forward, but Suicune leaped back and passed into the crystal dome, Scyther's blades connecting to the outside and bouncing off.
Suicune circled inside, watching Bugsy from the outside curiously. Scyther raised a blade to try and cut through, but Bugsy stepped forward and held out a hand to stop him.
"You'll only wear yourself out like that." He placed a hand on the crystal, feeling it cool in reaction to his touch. "But there must be a way...everything has a weak spot. If I can just sense it..."
Bugsy focused on the flow of energy within the crystal, but he couldn't seem to locate a weak spot. Every time he thought he was following the trail to it, he wound up at a spot even stronger than the one before it. The make of this crystal, it made no sense. He focused harder, determined to find that spot that would let them precisely shatter through.
As he tried to find it, Suicune leaped free, landing behind Scyther. Roaring, a Blizzard flew forward from it, pummeling the Bug-type with intense snowy winds. Scyther collapsed forward, a layer of snow over its back, as Bugsy looked on in shock.
"...well played, Suicune." Bugsy nodded in understanding. "You waited for me to become distracted with this...unique construct." He tapped the crystal. "You are a cunning fighter indeed." Suicune almost seemed to smile in agreement before turning and taking off, the crystals sinking away afterwards. "Alas...it seems I was not up to whatever this test of yours is. Hopefully the next participant will fare better."
Sighing in disappointment that he let himself be tricked so easily, he recalled Scyther and headed for the Poké Center to have him restored.
?...
Celebi flew through a darkened void, passing by streams of glowing white. As he passed them, he glanced over, each briefly showing the image of a world within. Celebi growled in frustration, finding no sign of the Red Ranger, and continued on his way.
On he soared through the emptiness, passing by entire universes in what would constitute seconds, if this place had time to pass. Celebi frowned as he continued his search.
'C'mon, Rich...' he thought desperately. 'Where have you gone...what reality did you send yourself too?'
Next Time on Poké Rangers: Eon Force...
?: It might be time you go into action.
Diggswell: Can I tell you a story?
Pryce: Certainly. I have nothing in particular to do today.
Natu: You guys! Fighting a monster! It winning!
?: I know all your tricks!
?: Who are you?
?: Your worst nightmare!
Chapter 22: The Secret from Sinjoh Part 1
(A/N: If you're curious just what Richard is doing while gone from this story, keep an eye on Blaze Productions' Poké Rangers: Relic Hunters, and you just might find out ;) Oh, and you remember how I said that Emma might be my favorite character in this story? ...I lied. Yeah, I love her wholeheartedly, but you haven't even met my favorite character yet. Let's see if we can change that...next time! Onward!)