A/N: A very pleasant Thursday from the Great State of Texas. 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: In this one, it's the battle on Murianthias. Also, whether Jayden gets turned against his family and friends or not.

A/N 3: Couples featured are Jayden/Mia, Memily, Jason/Kat, Adam/Tanya and a slew of other old-school pairings.

A/N 4: Usual disclaimer. Power Rangers doesn't belong to me. Used to be Saban, then Disney, then Saban, now Hasbro owns them.

Chapter 45 – Save the Phoenix III

Thursday, December 6, 2012, early evening

Chamber of Command

Angel Grove, CA

As the veteran Rangers, and the "Junior Rangers," as they were known as by some of the older team members were heading out of the main room for the Brachiozord Mark I, out of the corner of his eye, Rocky suddenly saw something and said, "Guys, hold on a second."

He pointed to a pedestal that was near the glass cases where replica copies of the past Ranger uniforms were housed. On that pedestal was something that was glowing.

"It's the Gold Samurai morpher," Kevin said knowingly.

"God, now? At THIS moment?" Kim groused. "Seriously, with what's about to happen with me and my son, we don't have time for games. We need to move!"

"We may need that power to save your son, you know," Rita reminded Kim. Grudgingly, Kim nodded. She was really impatient to go save her son.

"I've got a hunch…" Rito said thoughtfully. Kim and Kat barely stifled a laugh and Tommy just shook his head.

'No way,' they thought. Absolutely no way was this going to work. But then they saw Rita and Zedd's reaction. They were both simply stoic.

Sure enough, when Rito picked up the gold Samurai morpher, the light that emanated was so bright that none of them could see what was in front of them.

When the light finally died down, they were looking at a fully morphed Gold Samurai Ranger.

"I can't even believe it," Justin said, "But then, maybe I should. After all he played a key role in Jayden's rescue the first time."

"Well, as Sis said, it's not the old Council of Meledon, but the Samurai team is at full strength again for now," Rito said, then took off his new helmet and looked at Lauren. "When this is over, you're going to have to find a permanent one."

"In the meantime, dear brother, we have to move. We've already wasted too much time," Rita said.

"Yes. Let's go. Everyone on the ship," Tommy said.

When they got to the ship, they got another surprise. A pleasant one.

Standing before them were all the Space Rangers, lined up as one.

"Nice to see you guys show up," Jason said. "I guess word got back?"

"Yup," Andros said. "We got the word and got here as quick as we could. The ship we took from KO-35 is parked at NASADA. We wouldn't miss this for the world."

"Then let's get going," Tommy said as they all entered the ship, together, to try to prevent a catastrophic outcome.

As they all went into the ship single file, Tommy looked at Kim, and Kim looked at Tommy.

"Meditation?" Kim said.

"Yes. Meditation so it will be easier to calibrate how far the Dark Fortress Mark II is ahead of us. It can wait till the morning though. We've been doing some hard work. I suggest we rest tonight and do it in the morning."

Kim nodded before they headed to the room that she and Tommy would share together on this trip.

The fact that the Space team had shown up when they weren't there in the last fight was a good sign. They would have even more firepower and veteran Rangers for this round.

"When you came to try and save me," Kim asked when they were near their room, "I just need to know what the hell you guys came in?"

"A hunk of junk called the Ghost Galleon. I haven't been on it since and have no desire to be on it again for obvious reasons," Tommy said. "This baby is powerful and fast. Should be able to get into the Nemesis Triangle fairly easy, I am told."

Friday, December 7, 2012

Brachiozord Mark I

Somewhere between Angel Grove and the Nemesis Triangle

As they said they would be, Tommy and Kim, as well as the rest of the Ninjetti, were meditating in the Brachiozord's main control room. Meanwhile, Justin and the rest of the technical wizards were nearby, helping keep the ship on course.

Having practiced this over and over again, they were a lot better at being able to center their powers, and combine them if they had to, to be able to do things they couldn't do otherwise.

They had also successfully buried Udonna and Antonio within the grounds of the Chamber of Command before they'd left. It didn't make the pain go away, but it did increase the resolve of the entire group to complete this mission for those they had lost.

"Let's try this again, guys. Maybe we can find out where Jayden is compared to our location," Tommy said.

Across the room, unbeknownst to the adults, the five kids of the Rangers with Ninjetti abilities spared glances towards their elders, watching closely what they were about to do.

When they were fully centered, they began making the calls.

"Ninjetti! The Falcon!"

"The Crane!"

"The Bear!"

"The Wolf!"

"The Frog!"

"The Ape!"

"The Moose!"

"The Panther!"

"The Dolphin!"

"The Nightingale!"

"The Dove!"

"The Dragon! Help us to find the location of the Phoenix!"

Even as they meditated, the adult Rangers were surprised at what they heard next. They had no clue who else was in the room with them.

"Ninjetti! The Polar Bear!"

"The Penguin!"

"The Iguana!"

"The Raven!"

"The Unicorn! Help us find our cousin Jayden in our quest to rescue him!"

The result was a large punch of power that momentarily shook the Brachiozord before it settled again. When it settled again, the kids and the adult Rangers found exactly what they were looking for, although Jayden was not in good shape.

Shackled to the wall and being taunted by the angel from Hell herself, Flammia. But they got some good news immediately before their spirits could be dampened.

"Got the coordinates!" Justin said, and the Rangers immediately relaxed their meditation stances. "Good news. We're actually a little bit ahead of them. We might actually get to the Triangle first."

"And if we do that," Diana said, "it is possible that the natives could become temporary allies."

"You're kidding, right?" Rocky asked as if she'd become incredulous.

"My sister is right," Dimitria said. "The natives are hostile towards people of the light, but they dread Flammia just as much. A conquest by her could mean the end of them as well, they fear."

"Hm. So they may not attack us like they did last time?" Tommy said. "That would certainly be nice."

"I bet I could schmooze them enough. They know me," Diana said. "They may not attack that angel from Hell's forces but they won't stop us either."

"Nah, I've got something even better," Andros said as he walked into the room with Ashley, holding up what looked like some form of currency.

"Wait, you guys are talking about buying them off?" Kim said.

"Could work. Money talks pretty loudly," Andros said, looking at her, "as you know well."

"All I'm saying is before we left, the King and Queen told us to take some Zenematars with us," Ashley continued, "just in case we need them. Those natives are pretty primitive you know."

"Hey, son," Jason said to Derek and the rest of his team as he approached their circle. "I had no idea you guys came in with us."

"Anything we can do to help get him back, we will do," Derek said, and the rest of his four teammates nodded solemnly.

"Just…keep yourselves safe, OK? I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to any of you," Kat said.

Dark Fortress, Mark II, same time

Jayden didn't think it was possible, but the torture he was going through from the dark lady herself was quite possibly even worse than what he'd gone through the last time he was captured.

It was rough, but he had to wonder, if Flammia wanted to turn him evil, then why would she do the things that she was doing?

She was laughing sinisterly at his broken, battered body when all of a suddenly the ship shook and suddenly power flared from Jayden, forcing her back.

Flammia hissed in annoyance. That was not supposed to happen.

This meant the Rangers knew where they were. Would they try and rescue him now, she didn't know, but she knew she needed her people to be ready for an invasion.

"Scorpina," she said to her top general, who was standing right next to her, "gather those that have come with us and man them at every entrance to this ship. I want every door, every crevice in this ship guarded. Do NOT fail me."

"Yes, your Majesty," she said as she hurriedly left.

"You are fighting a battle you cannot win and I have proven that to you over and over and over again," Jayden said, doggedly. "You have absolutely no idea but it is about to be your day of reckoning, not mine."

"We will see about that, little Phoenix," Flammia hissed as she huffed out of the room.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Murianthias

Sure enough, as Justin had predicted, the Rangers had entered the Nemesis Triangle first. They'd just barely landed the ship on the shore where Kim had been taken back by the Natives after temporarily working themselves free.

But they saw the ship in the sky that was just coming into view. They knew who it was. If they were going to get rid of the Natives problem, now was the time.

"Ashley, Karone, Andros, I suggest we all go out there together," Diana said. "And definitely bring those Zenematars."

The four nodded and headed out of the ship. There were some anxious moments for those back on the ship, but so far they had not been attacked which, they felt, was a good sign.

About 25 minutes later, Diana and her three compatriots walked back up the steps.

"We did it. They won't attack us. If we're lucky they'll attack Flammia's forces but won't hurt Jayden," Diana said. This elicited cheers from Rangers both young and old.

"I know we have to save Cousin Jayden, but I honestly think I want to watch the show of those freaks getting beat up a little bit," Derek said.

"I have no problem with that," Kim said, "not after what they did to me. I'd be amused at watching that."

"If we're going to do that, we should get out of sight," Matthew Park said.

"No problem," Tommy said, as he cast a large invisibility cloud over the rest of the team.

"And just to make sure…" Karone said as she began muttering some words.

Suddenly, the ship disappeared.

"Brilliant. They won't even know the ship's here," Rocky said. "Let's go watch those bozos for a little bit."

"Only for a little bit," Lauren said. "I have no doubt they know we're here."

As it turned out, the Rangers were able to walk and chew gum at the same time. They were able to watch the natives attack Flammia's invaders, and quite efficiently at that.

"You were right, Derek," Rito said. "This IS great entertainment. We're getting close to the temple as it is. They're going to be tired when they get there."

"What did you bribe them with? Your whole set of Zenematars?" Kim asked Diana, giggling.

"Some of them, but also I gave them some precious metals from KO-35. The returning King and Queen let these guys take a few," Diana said. "They love precious things like that."

"I've come to like your style, you know that?" Kim remarked to Diana who smiled slightly. "Flamboyant but someone who has learned from her mistakes."

"I have, Kim. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about the last time we were here. I've had to live with that day from then until now," Diana said solemnly. "We're gonna get him back. It's not gonna be the same story this time."

Mia was just watching the whole thing and said nothing though mentally, she continued sending positive energy her boyfriend's way. But everyone had been watching her to make sure she didn't go off the rails at any point.

It took about 30 minutes, but eventually Flammia's army, as expected, overwhelmed the natives, took Jayden back and began dragging him towards the temple.

"He's fine, let's get inside before they suspect," Mia said to everyone. "They got him back but their power will be weaker than Divatox's was."

The Rangers went in, took their spots as they planned out before the rescue mission, and were in the Temple, but unseen by anyone when the bad guys dragged Jayden in.

"Can you imagine if the Rangers had jumped in and we'd had to fight the Rangers and the natives?" Draco asked.

"Don't remind me. We were fortunate there," Scorpina responded.

"I don't think they're even here, Mom," Nepa said.

"No, they're here," Flammia snapped. "They're in this room. You can't see them but I feel their power."

Meanwhile, from out of sight, Tommy, Kim and Mia telepathically gave instructions to the rest of the Rangers there.

Right as Draco was about to tie Jayden to the rope that would hang above the pit, without warning, three kicks to the back of his head suddenly, temporarily, freed Jayden. Unfortunately, he landed in a bad spot, right next to Scorpina, who promptly punched him right in the face.

The Rangers dropped their guises, with the kids remaining out of sight, and Tommy hissed, "Damn, it didn't work!"

"Tie him up and prepare to lower him, Scorpina!" Flammia rasped. "The rest of you, attack the Rangers!"

A fierce battle ensued between Flammia's footsoldiers and the veteran Rangers, with the Rangers doing their best to get to Jayden to free him. Unfortunately for them, it was déjà vu all over again as the footsoldiers were effective in keeping them at bay.

After about 10 minutes, Kim looked at her son, then looked at Tommy and said, "Shit, Tommy, they're about to lower him!"

"Right. Mia, come with us!" they called to the Turquoise Ranger, who was standing right next to them. They broke through the line and headed for their son, only to realize it was too late. He was already being lowered and their hearts went into their throats.

"He's ours, Rangers!" Flammia cackled. "Prepare to meet your end!"

Meanwhile, Jayden steeled himself for what was to come. He'd had plenty of time to prepare a plan of attack, and had practiced with this over time, but had never performed this in actual battle, much less in a situation like this and he was about to find out if it was going to work.

The last anyone saw of Jayden before he was lowered into the pit was him saying, "Spirit of the Phoenix, full power!"

As the Rangers saw him disappear, he transformed from the handsome human he always was into the majestic legendary bird.

Everyone, both good and evil, waited for the outcome. They knew he was going to come out of the pit, but no one was for sure if he would be good or evil, although the Rangers felt better about their chances now.

Then, there was a massive explosion and red hot flames shot up into the air, turning the temple into almost a literal inferno.

In the next moment, the majestic Phoenix roared out of the pit and nailed an unsuspecting Draco in the back. Draco had cornered Mia in an effort to destroy her and never saw the attack coming.

The attack, which wouldn't have been as lethal from a normal Ranger, left burn marks on his back and left his armor badly damaged.

The bird lowered to the ground and transformed into Jayden, basically unchanged. It was then, and only then, that Flammia and her army felt true fear.

It had been a bad idea, they only now realized, to try and turn him in this fashion. Fire was his element, and when he literally channeled his spirit and his element, he was unstoppable. The flames of Maligore could do nothing to him.

If anything, the attempt pissed him off.

"Nice try, Draco," Jayden said. "This isn't 1997 and Maligore's fire does nothing to me. I am your worst damn nightmare. Now get away from my girlfriend."

"Make me Phoenix Ranger!" he roared as he shot spikes at Jayden, hoping to at least dent the Phoenix Ranger's armor. The attack never had a chance as Jayden batted it away like a fly swatter would an ant.

"You OK?" Jayden said as he looked at his girlfriend, who did the same.

"I'm fine. Thank God you're OK," Mia said. "My God this place is on fire!"

"By design. This is my element and the flames of the Phoenix would never hurt the Rangers," Jayden said.

"Welcome back, Kiddo," Kim called from where she was fighting Scorpina and Flammia with Tommy. "You guys got Dragon boy over there?"

"Absolutely. He's toast," Jayden said, giving a thumbs up to his parents, before turning back to his girlfriend.

In the next moment his mother tossed him his Morpher.

He knew what to do.

"Crimson Ranger Power!"

"Turquoise Ranger Power!"

In short order the rest of the Rangers had morphed also.

"Let's show him what the Great Power is truly capable of," Mia said.

"Prepare to die, Rangers!" Draco roared as he swung his long tail at them. Only for Jayden and Mia to both grab him by his tail and literally lift him into the air.

"Put me down, humans!" he shouted.

"As you wish," Jayden said. "Round and round the dragon goes…"

"Where he lands…who cares?" Mia said, laughing as the two Rangers threw him, literally, through the Temple walls. The Temple shook as the Dragon crashed right through the wall.

"I'm about through with this guy, what do you say?" Jayden said.

"I agree. Turquoise Dove Crossbow!"

"Phoenix Fire Cannon!"

Mia loaded her bow with an arrow that tinged with Phoenix fire, while Jayden prepared his cannon and waited until it hit critical mass.

"FIRE!" they both called.

The monstrous dragon had just climbed out of the mess he made with the walls, but had absolutely no chance against Jayden and Mia's combined firepower.

"You will pay one day for your treachery, Ranger scum!" were his last words before he was reduced to nothing but ashes.

Rangers and villains all turned to the scene of what had just happened. Three to four months in, they finally had a major victory. Beating Pistrix and the Landers was nice, but this was one of Flammia's top generals from the beginning. Now, he was gone.

Meanwhile, Flammia's black heart sunk as well as her generals. Draco had been a loyal servant and had done everything she asked him to do. It was only now they realized how truly outmatched they were. The Phoenix's power was accelerating at an alarming rate and at this point he was nearly unstoppable.

But Flammia wasn't about to go without a fight.

"You will pay for killing Draco, Rangers! Make my Scorpina grow!"

The Rangers party was short lived, as Flammia's power hit Scorpina and began her transformation. She was now the familiar scorpion monster they were all familiar with.

With that, Scorpina's body broke through the roof of the Temple and the walls began to tremble and crack.

"We need to get out of here! And get the Zords!" Kim shouted to her son.

"Right. Get outside, make sure the kids and everyone else get to the ship and call your Zords! Samurai Rangers, you're with me and the Ninjetti. We're going to take this scorpion freak out once and for all!"

Review box is at the bottom. Please review/follow/favorite if you don't mind. Scorpina's final fight with the Rangers is next chapter.