Chapter Ten

Duel Under the Pale Moon

Princess Shayla approaches with caution in her step, wariness in her eyes. Zen-Aku smiles as she does so, releasing the blade from Merrick's neck.

"So wonderful of you to join us." Zen-Aku sneers, as she continues her saunter. They heft up Merrick by the scruff of his shirt, and toss his limp body in front of the princess.

"Merrick…" The princess gasps. He was in a worse state than she thought. His eyes were glazed over, his breathing haggard, as he teetered on the edge of consciousness.

"Not a step closer." Growls the Duke Org, pointing their energized blade at Princess Shayla.

"What do you want, Zen-Aku?" She abides to his wishes- and even takes a cautious step backwards.

"Is it not obvious?" Their golden eyes gleam, and they rush forwards, raising their blade. As Zen-Aku swings down, he roars- "I want you!"

The blade collides with a barrier of light- the impact sending a shockwave through the fields and trees, rippling through the lake and rain with a boom. Zen-Aku grunts, skidding back from the force.

"Don't resist me, you witch!" The Duke Org growls. "Stand down, or the next blow will be fatal!"

BANG! Zack is startled awake by a sudden noise, pulling himself upright with a jolt.

"Gah… Did anyone hear that?" Zack asks- voice loud enough to reach the others.

"I heard you, jackass." Pavel's muffled voice speaks in his makeshift cushion, the blue jacket he deemed tacky. "I'm trying to sleep. Shut up."

"Dude, you're even louder." Sammy groans, slowly shuffling upright. "Hearing your stupid voice pulled me out of my dream."

"Hey, that's enough, both of you…" Zack grunts. "If you have the time to argue, you have the time to investigate."

"I have the time to get back to my nap." Pavel rolls over, using the jacket to cover his ears instead.

Emily sighs, before turning to notice the fountain- boiling over. "Didn't she use that to see where the… Orc-thing was?" She mutters, standing up and approaching it cautiously.

"That reminds me. Where is the princess anyway?" Mutabae approaches the fountain as well, as Emily attempts to look in the waters.

There's another crash, this one louder than the first. Zack shakes his head, and approaches the fountain as well.

"What do you see?" Sammy asks, turning towards the grouping rangers, yet not approaching herself.

Zack frowns. "It's the princess- and she's fighting some kind of armored beast!"

Emily's eyes widened. She recognized this Org in black, and the hostage laying behind him as well.

"D… Dad..?" She whispers.

"We have to go down and help her." Zack commands. "He looks strong, but we can outnumber him."

"Good luck with that." Pavel mutters, still laying down. "I'm heading back to dreamland."

Sammy raises a hand to her temple, and sighs. "You're actually kind of the worst, you know that?"

"I'm not going to fight demons for some chick I don't know." Pavel mutters with a yawn.

"Do we have to do this song and dance every time with you?" Mutabae frowns. "Just do the right thing!"

Pavel sighs, sitting upright to face the rangers. "How do you know that this is the right thing?" He asks. "For all you know, maybe the Sonic and the Black Knight down there's trying to stop the princess's evil plot. I'm not going to act blindly for someone I don't know."

"And if she was right, do you plan to take responsibility for letting her die?" Zack growls, clenching his fist.

"Her fault for choosing the wrong knight." Pavel smirks. "Have fun being under her heel."

Zack only frowns, knowing he's not going to get the answer he wants. Another crash- another swing of the glowing blade slamming on the blue barrier.

"We don't have time for this." Zack frowns. "The rest of us can go."

Mutabae nods- and turns to Emily- but his eyes widen. Already she was clad in her golden armor. "Well… I guess she's one step ahead of us."

"H-huh?" Emily blinks- surprised herself. She… Didn't mean to morph. Did she? Her mind was a haze. "Uh, let's just go down!" She yells, and dashes off.

"You guys go on ahead…" Sammy mutters. "I'll catch up."

Zack nods, turning to Mutabae. "Let's go."

"Princess!"

Zack lands in front of Princess Shayla, crimson shield in his hand. "Stay back. We can take this guy."

"I told you to come alone." Zen-Aku growls. "It doesn't matter. I'll strike down your new knights first!"

Mutabae gulps, readying his boomerangs. "Hey, uh, Princess?" Mutabae gulps. "Is that one of those Dukes you warned us about…?"

Princess Shayla nods. "Zen-Aku is a very powerful foe… Not to mention persistent."

"Spare me your meager praise!" The black-armored org rushes Zack, and his shield morphs to its kanabo form as Zen-Aku presses down.

"Zen-Aku, huh? I won't let you hurt the princess, or anyone else!" Zack grunts as he holds the weight of the crescent blade, the strength of three animal crystals burning at him.

Pavel yawns once more, trying to ignore the battle, eyes closed. But, he hears footsteps to his side, and knows he's not going to have peace.

"What is with you, really?" Sammy asks. "I know you're awake, don't try to ignore me.

Pavel sighs, and opens a single eye. "I thought you were going to protect the princess."

She frowns. "Well, if you want me to be honest, I'm not all that down with this ranger-stuff either. But you're… On another level." Sammy mutters. "So spill it. What's your deal?"

"I simply don't give a damn about any of you."

"That's not an explanation!" Sammy snaps. "Why are you so apathetic to people you've never met? Why don't you even pretend to cooperate?"

Pavel closes his eyes again, and sighs, rolling over. "To put it simply. If I don't let anyone in, I can't be hurt anymore. And it's worked so far, so I'll keep it up." Pavel mutters, curling his body closer. "I have a nap to get back to."

Sammy frowns, and looks away. "I'll leave you to it." She mutters, and makes her way to the lake.

Zack sweeps Zen-Aku's blade away, the golden gaze of the wolf focused on the Red Ranger.

It left Emily with enough time to grab her father. Merrick grunted as she lifted him up, glazed eyes slowly becoming conscious.

"E… Emmy?..." His voice is tired, raspy, but she gives him a nod.

"Hang tight, Dad." She mutters, carrying him away from the fight. She hides her relief and tears behind her golden helm.

"You fight well for a newbie. But you're nowhere near as strong as the last Red Lion!" Zen-Aku yells, catching Zack's shield mid-throw. Although they toss it aside, it quickly warps back onto Zack's forearm.

"Are you supposed to be some kind of black wolf? That color's taken!" Zack spits. Yet, his breaths were heavy. That blade was strong- it had the weight of ten behind each strike.

'Zen-Aku… That's enough.'

The wolf growls- "Shut up!" and readies their blade once more.

Mutabae sees an opportunity in the distracted org. He quickly throws a boomerang at the Duke Org's face- hard enough to cut. And the face of the Duke Org falls off. It's a girl- her eyes blown wide in shock. The black armor fades and crumbles away.

Merrick's eyes open wide. "That's impossible…" he mutters. "Olivia..?"

Olivia opens her mouth to speak- but is cut off by a slow clap. A wolfish helmet and a red visor stares through the night.

"Well. This is quite the surprise." They speak casually, before placing a hand on Olivia's shoulder. "I didn't think the mask was so fragile."

Olivia shivers- as the two are enveloped in black smoke. When it clears, they're both standing in Master Org's lair.

"Luxwulf..?" She mutters. "Were you sent to follow me?"

The white-clad wolf chuckles a bit, tail swishing back and forth. "Just happened to be in the area. Come on, back to your room."

Olivia sighs, but agrees, shoving Luxwulf's hand from her shoulder. She could never quite tell what he was thinking...

"To think, all this time…" Merrick mutters to himself. "She was being used like I was, all those years ago…"

Emily frowns, and de-morphs. "Dad? You know that girl? What the hell is going on?"

Merrick sighs, and turns to Emily with a sad smile. "That was your older sister, Emmy."