A/N: A very pleasant hello from the former (and may soon be again) United Shutdown States of America. Welcome to the main event of the Project Phoenix series. As a disclaimer, this series is inspired by Kctimes2's The Adoption. Before reading this, you should read The Crane's Destructive Path and its accompanying one shot, Granted Wishes.
A/N 2: Apologies for being out of this game so long. In case you may be wondering where I've been, blame it on my country's fake 'President,' Trump. If you're a Trump fan, fine, but I hate this guy. He's a traitor. The way I see it, it's possible that we've got maybe 18 months left before the US becomes a dictatorship under Trump's control, so I gotta get stuff done here before the possibility occurs that don't even have internet and fanfiction access anymore. By the way, I've voted for Presidents from both parties in my country. Also, I don't like putting my political opinions here, but if I were to give any other excuse for my absence it'd be a lie. And I don't lie.
My biggest concern is whether he wins or loses in 2020, around the time of our Presidential election then, he will create a manufactured crisis and use it as a pretext to declare martial law by executive order as Ferdinand Marcos did in the Philippines in 72. If that happens, we won't have fanfiction or internet in this country I assure you and that will be the least of our issues.
A/N 3: This is the story of when Jayden leads Rangers old and new into a fight for Earth's survival...with his corrupted mother. This chapter continues an arc that is as described...havoc on Halloween. In this chapter, the leader of the Rangers shifts strategy slightly.
A/N 4: Couples featured are Jayden/Mia, Memily, Lantonio, Jason/Kat, Adam/Tanya and a slew of other old-school pairings. You'll have to read on to see if there is Tommy/Kim at the end...hehe.
A/N 5: Usual disclaimer. Power Rangers doesn't belong to me. Also, RIP, Pua Magasiva, aka Shane Clarke.
Chapter 26: Halloween Havoc III: A Shift in Strategy
Saturday, October 27, 2012, close to midday
Rangers Chamber of Command
Angel Grove, CA
Mia Watanabe hadn't been back 10 minutes from her (successful) quest, and already the party was in full swing.
The funny thing was, even a week ago no one could have predicted this turn of events. In a lot of ways the Rangers had taken advantage of Flammia's absence. Kimberly was still in control of that body as Flammia was recharging, so with her out of commission, the Rangers had successfully added to their ranks and Maligore's last spawn didn't even know it yet.
Boy would she be in for a shock when she woke up.
Then, at that thought, some of the Rangers visibly sobered.
They knew what was coming.
And what Jason had been told from Kimberly, via Jayden, that it would take everything the Rangers had to win, sent chills down his spine.
This was going to be bad.
Then, he went back to partying again just as quick as Kat simply nudged him on the shoulder to get him back on track mentally. They could deal with the fallout from what was coming up later. Today was about Mia and her accomplishment...and it was great.
Meanwhile, mother and daughter were embracing. It was amazing that just a few days ago, Mia had been so worried that her mother would want to tear her head off. Now, it was like all the misguided animosity had been washed away.
"I'm so, so proud of you," Makiko murmured as she sobbed into Mia's pink blouse...though she had a new color Mia hadn't had time to go shopping yet, so for the moment pink was still in. "I never imagined..."
"I know. This is all so sudden, I didn't even think about this a week ago," Mia said. "But as the Master Warrior, Dulcea, told me, to all those who possess the Great Power, all things are possible."
"Can you guys win?" Makiko asked through broken tears. "That Flammia is a fierce one."
"She is but we know we can do it. She's going to have to pry the Earth from our cold dead hands," Mia said confidently. "And that isn't going to happen."
The Moon Palace, same time
However, what had just happened did not go unnoticed, even though Flammia was still recouping. The frustration in the Palace was beginning to boil over.
"Great," Scorpina snapped to the Wizard of Deception, who had both just seen what happened. "Now that girlfriend of Jayden's is Ninjetti too. How in the hell are we supposed to beat them with BOTH of them being Ninjetti?"
"It's simple, Scorpina. There is strength in numbers. They are both great, there is no question. But there is no way that just the two of them could beat an entire army if asked."
"Yeah, but I've faced those Power Brats too many times to underestimate them. They always find a way no matter the numbers disadvantage...you obviously weren't here when we had that stupid Phoenix Ranger in our arena, outnumbered 200 to 1," Scorpina said.
The skepticism was all over her face...even behind that big game she talked to the Rangers a few days ago, she expressed doubt. It was obvious she was simply going along with the plan to get along.
She liked initially that Draco was planning a surprise for Jayden on Halloween...but she hadn't been briefed about the details before the Wizard of Deception was. As Flammia's second in command and best friend, she felt she had been short changed and deserved better.
"Besides, I didn't like that you went to Draco about this plan and not me. Last I checked, Flammia and I hired Draco in the first place," Scorpina said.
"And last I checked, I almost beat those brats the first time as well by isolating the Phoenix Ranger's father, I pushed them to their limits," the Wizard said. "And as I recall, Goldar made you and I'm sure he could break you if he was alive. You better be all in, Scorpina, and keep your mouth shut."
Scorpina sighed. She just knew this plan wasn't going to work, she could feel it in her bones. Nevertheless, she did indeed be quiet. That said, when the plan was thwarted and Flammia was awake, she was going to report this.
And some asses were going to be kicked. She missed her superior and her leadership...without her, it was like the inmates were running the asylum.
Monday, October 29, about midnight PDT
1492 Valencia Drive
Reefside, CA
The dream Jayden had the previous night had been off the charts weird.
While he had tossed and turned in his bed in the Chamber of Command, he was having another of those wacky dreams.
He'd already seen this movie play out once before, but he was seeing it again, which is what made it really weird.
This was the scene right after his mother's evil half was born...when she'd met Scorpina for the first time in years. Her evil half and one of Jayden's chief rivals had become friends that very day.
And had planted the seeds for what was to come in the years after.
Tonight, he was seeing it again, hours away from one of the biggest battles the Rangers would ever fight as one team.
But that begged the question once again. He'd already seen this before, but clearly someone was trying to get a point across to him.
As he understood it, the former Divatox had set up the meeting. Divatox, now Diana of Inquiris, was no longer involved in battles but had made it clear shortly after her rescue that she'd be there if anyone needed any guidance.
Maybe he could get some answers from her and then possibly he could figure out the message that was being sent.
7:30 a.m., that morning
The Mess Hall
Power Rangers Chamber of Command
Angel Grove, CA
"What's on your mind, young Phoenix?" Diana asked as she and Jayden sat down at a table, each with a plate of food. Diana was genuinely curious about why he'd asked to speak with her; she'd been a non-prisoner for three weeks and even though she'd gotten significantly better, he'd never asked her for anything.
So why now?
"I've been having these wacky dreams again the last two nights. I feel like someone is trying to tell me something," Jayden said. "The first time I had these wacky dreams, it was the time I first learned about my heritage and my true powers, which I have now. It's up to me to find the message but I'm just needing to ask for information."
"OK," Diana said. Just in the few minutes meeting him, she liked the kid. For someone who held intense power in the palm of his hand, he seemed a good person who wanted to do the right thing. "What do you need to know?"
"It's my understanding that you, as Divatox, set up the first meeting between my mother's evil half and Scorpina. Is that correct?"
"That's right," Diana said.
"Why did you set that meeting up?"
"Because, as we were both on the side of evil then, she was now batting for my team but she lacked direction. She had the power, but no guidance or knowledge of how to use it," Diana said.
Jayden nodded, letting the information wash over him. As it turned out, this was more than just a usual alliance on the side of evil.
"How did it affect her at first, do you think? I know you were fighting the Turbo Rangers then, but did Dark Specter keep you in the loop on those developments?"
"He did. She got a lot better after that," Diana said. "Flammia found direction and leadership after that. She found the confidence again to reach for her abilities. That deadly archer's bow she uses...she beat Lothor and Archerina for it years ago on Onyx."
Both of them sat and ate quietly for a few minutes before Jayden spoke up again.
"Last question," he said. "What do you think Scorpina means to my mother's evil half?"
"You want the truth?" Diana said.
"Yeah."
"Everything," Diana said and Jayden let that word wash over him. This was big. "She has the power, but without that guiding light that Scorpina brings her, she is rudderless. Scorpina is not only her top general, but is quite frankly I believe her best friend. Without Scorpina, I believe the power she possesses is just noise."
"That's all I needed to know," Jayden said as he hugged the old sorceress and former enemy of the Turbo Rangers. "Thanks, Diana."
"You're a great kid, Jayden," Diana said. "Thank you for rescuing me and my sister. Keep up the good work."
As Jayden finished his breakfast and walked back to his room, he had the room looking at each other as if to say, "What the heck was that about?"
"Man, whatever he was talking to the former Divatox about, this has to be big," Jason said.
2:30 p.m.
Rangers Chamber of Command
Angel Grove, CA
"Thank you all for coming on short notice. I get that it's tough with work and all that. But this is important," Jayden said.
"As you all know, my top goal is to end Flammia's empire and bring my mother back home. That is the long term goal still," Jayden said. "But right now, we're going to shift away from that. We're going to a slight change in strategy."
"So far, we've gotten a little ways, but we've only killed off a fraction of her army, if that," Jayden said. "To get to the queen, we have to take out her court jesters first, if you will. And in particular, we have to take out Scorpina before we can get to my mother's evil half."
"What do you mean by that, Jayden?" Adam said. "I have history with her, and she's a bitch and all, but why is she so important?"
"She's important, Uncle Adam, because she is not only Flammia's top general, she is in particular the individual that keeps Flammia from being a ship without a rudder," Jayden said. "What almost none of you know is that Scorpina met my mother's evil half on the beaches of Stone Canyon right after Mom was turned evil. Flammia was powerful but was a ship without direction. Scorpina gave her that direction and leadership to try again."
"That's in particular why she's at all these big battles Flammia shows up at," Tanya said.
"She plans with Scorpina more than any of her other generals too," Jayden said. "Draco seems important but not as important as Scorpina."
"So," Lauren said, "what you're saying is if we see Flammia, try and hold our own. We see Scorpina, or her daughter as well, take her out."
"Precisely," Jayden said. "Look, I know we're all going into a big battle here possibly at any moment, and I hate to change strategy so quickly, but when you have these weird dreams like I've been having the last couple nights, it's important to find the message. I truly believe that's the message here. We need to take out Scorpina before we can bring Mom home."
The older Rangers in particular looked at each other. How often was he going to keep having these weird dreams?
"Your mind must go insane over these weird dreams," Tommy said.
"Yeah, it's not easy but it's important to find the message. Now, I think we should all go prepare for battle," Jayden said.
"Affirmative," Billy said.
Review box is at the bottom. Please review/follow/favorite if you don't mind. Thanks. The next chapter begins the Lost Dimension battle that should have been done better in MMPR Season Two with Cannon Top. Until next time...
