RJ stared at Leanbow. "What do you mean she isn't here?" he asked. "She left a message with Rylie to have me meet her here. Where did she go?"
"I do not know," said Leanbow. "If Kali left a message for you to meet her here, then she will be here. As for where she is now, I'm sure wherever it is, or whatever she is doing, is particularly important. She would not just up and leave without telling anyone."
RJ sighed and run a hand through his hair. He didn't have time for Kali's games. He needed to figure out a way to save the other master's before it was too late. He had already lost his father, but he refused to take Master Swoop and Master Phant away from their families, too.
The Dragon's mouth opened and Leanbow smiled, indicating to something over RJ's shoulder. "Ah," he said. "Kali, you're here. Oh, and you've brought company."
Turning, RJ froze as he saw his father enter Root Core. "Dad?" he breathed, pushing away from the table, and approaching the older man. The pair embraced, and Kali smiled as she stood off to the side.
"RJ!" Master Finn beamed, hugging his son tightly.
Pulling away, RJ held his father at arm's length. "But… I don't…" he glanced at Kali. "I don't understand. How did you -?"
"Your father wasn't destroyed. He was trapped in the Crystal Eye," said Kali. "Didn't Rylie tell you?"
"She tried," said RJ sheepishly. "But I wouldn't listen. It didn't sound plausible, so I'm ashamed to say I stormed out."
Kali groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Oh, RJ," she whined.
"I know. I know, I'm sorry," said RJ. "I'll apologise to Rylie later. But, first, tell me how you did this. If dad was in the Crystal Eye, how did you get him out? The Starlight has passed."
"I have a friend," said Kali. "Her abilities consist of Celestial powers, and she was able to recreate the starlight and bring your father back."
RJ smiled and pulled Kali into a hug. "Thank you!" he said. "I don't know how…"
"You don't have to repay me," said Kali, shaking her head and smiling. "We friends, RJ. Practically family."
RJ nodded. "Where are the others?" he asked. "They weren't at the loft."
"There was an attack on the city," said Kali. "Casey requested I stay behind and explain everything to you when you returned, and he's taken the others to, well, try and slow down the trouble."
"We should get out there."
Kali caught RJ's arm as he started for the Dragon's mouth. "We can't," she said. "We're still at a disadvantage. We can't fight two Spirit Rangers and a Phantom Beast alone. We need to help."
"What kind of help?" RJ asked.
"The Spirit kind," said Kali. "If we can save Master Swoop and Phant, we'd have three Spirit Rangers on our side. Our odds would triple, and we'd be able to stop whatever threat is terrorising Ocean Bluff."
RJ frowned. "But Phant and Swoop are at Dai Shi's temple, we can't get to them," he said, shaking his head.
"Not alone," said Kali. "But we can with help."
RJ looked from Kali to his father and back again. "No," he said, shaking his head. "No. He's been through enough. He should rest."
"RJ," said Finn, taking his son's arm. "Kali is right. Together, we can save the others. We know the way to the temple."
"But there are only three of us," said RJ, still unsure.
Kali raised an eyebrow and nodded at someone behind RJ. "I think you've miscounted," she said.
RJ turned as a wall, dividing the main room of Root core from the rest of the tree, slipped aside and revealed a group of uniformed warriors. He frowned and turned to Kali. "Who are they?" he asked.
"Mystic Defenders," Kali replied. "For years, the Mystic Realm recruits fighters to train under Leanbow, Daggeron, Udonna, and my mother. We also have the Mystic Force Rangers, but they're busy right now with the rest of our team. These fighters have volunteered to get the masters back from Dai Shi. They've been trained by the best, and they know what they're getting themselves in for."
RJ hesitated. He watched as Kali approached the group. There was only three, but one stepped out of ranks and hugged Kali on her approach.
"How you doing, Lorna?" Kali asked, smiling at the fire fairy. "You sure you want to do this?"
Lorna removed her hood. "Ready as I'll ever be," she said. "Xander will freak if he finds out, but this is my choice. Guess he'll just have to accept it."
Kali clapped Lorna on the shoulder and turned back to the last two volunteers. "How about you, Blade? Circe?"
The two volunteers removed their hoods, revealing two dark-skinned individuals with brown hair and dark eyes. Despite being opposite genders, they looked identical in terms of appearance, and RJ guessed that they were siblings.
"Out of one assignment and straight into another," said Blade.
"He means we're ready," said Circe, nudging her brother. "Thanks again for this opportunity."
Kali nodded and turned back to RJ. "So?" she asked, folding her arms. "Are you in?"
RJ looked between Kali and his father. He then nodded. "I'm in," he confirmed.
~X~
Lorna cracked her knuckles as they approached the gates of Dai Shi's temple. Outside was a small patrol of Rinshi, each one bouncing around as they checked the area for intruders.
"I got this," said Lorna, flexing her fingers and creating a fireball.
Circe turned her head. "You may have it under control," she agreed. "But I'll go with you, just to be safe."
Lorna nodded and the pair set off. They split as they got closer, with Lorna coming in from the right and Circe from the left.
The Rinshi looked up, startled, as both women burst out of the underbrush. Lorna hurling fireball after fireball at the foot soldiers, while Circe slammed into them with a flickering wall of fire.
RJ raised an eyebrow and turned to Kali.
"What?" Kali asked, shrugging. "What's the point in having magic if you can't use it?"
"I don't use my animal spirit for everything," RJ argued.
"That's your choice."
Finn rolled his eyes. "If you two weren't already respectfully taken, I'd give my blessing," he said.
"Ew!" Kali gagged.
RJ wrinkled his nose.
Blade chuckled and shook his head. "Looks like Lorna and Circe are almost finished," he said. "Shall we continue before they send more Rinshi?"
Finn nodded and led the way toward the gate.
"Fire and Darkness always did pack a punch," said Kali, nodding approvingly at Circe and Lorna. "Well done, you two."
Lorna and Circe smiled at one another.
"Let's not celebrate yet, though," said Kali, nodding towards the gates. "Let's get the Masters, first."
Master Finn led the small group into the Temple. He passed several doors and finally entered the last one at the end of the row, it was barred by a red metal gate, which Blade kicked open. The lock shattered and the gate crashed against the stone wall of the room.
More Rinshi waited inside. They were guarding the master's Swoop and Phant as they stood in front of two brightly glowing Crystal Eyes, punching, blocking, and kicking the air, as if fighting invisible assailants.
"Talk about puppeteering," said Blade.
The Rinshi bounced around and then forward. Kali grabbed the first one, spun it around, and kicked it into the far wall. She turned and caught the arm of another, flipping it over her shoulder and slamming it into the floor. A third crept up on her, but was knocked aside as Lorna danced around Blade, pressing her hand into his shoulder, and using it as leverage to vault herself into the air. She kicked the Rinshi in the side of the head, knocking into the door frame.
"Xander should bring you on missions more often," said Kali.
Lorna grinned. "I'll make sure to tell him," she said.
While the others kept the Rinshi at bay, Master Finn, and RJ rammed Swoop and Phant into the wooden boards they were chained too. The Crystal Eyes dimmed, and the lights went out, leaving the two men panting and severely weakened.
"What's going on?" Phant asked. He lifted his head and looked around, his gaze taking in those present.
"You're okay now," said Finn. "We're getting you out of here."
Kali looked around, her body stiffening at the encroaching darkness she could feel. "We need to hurry," she said. "Dai Shi knows we are here. He's coming."
"Help me unchain them," said Finn.
Blade and Circe dashed forward, each one using their swords to cut through the chains locking the two masters to the wall. The two older men staggered forward, slumping over RJ and Finn once they were released.
"They're weary," said Finn, holding Swoop up the best he could.
Stooping down, Kali swiped up one Crystal Eye while Lorna got the other.
"Let's get out of here," said Lorna.
Kali nodded and turned to the others, urging them towards the door. They stopped as a large, black mass, filled the room and Dai Shi stepped out of the shadows. He glared menacingly at them; his lips pulled back into a snarl.
"What do we have here?" Dai Shi asked. "Four Pai Zhuq masters, a Hellhound, and three Mystic Defenders. It must be my lucky day." He met Kali's gaze. "You're not so mighty if you need protection to come here."
Kali scoffed. "Says the one that resurrected three Overlords and Phantom Beasts to hide behind," she snapped. "Not to mention sought a Higher Power because he couldn't defeat three cubs not yet even graduated from their academy. Yet, I am the one that's not so mighty?"
A growl rumbled in the back of Dai Shi's throat.
"Dai Shi, if you could, you would destroy us as you would blow out a candle," said Finn. "But Jarrod's black lion spirit cannot be crushed."
"Jarrod is buried deep within my darkness!" Dai Shi hissed.
"Buried? Maybe," said Phant, nodding. "But lost? Never. His humanity is an antidote to your poison, and someday soon he will cast you out."
Dai Shi reared his arms and then spread them wide, a roar echoing around the room as an aura of darkness cast itself around his whole body.
A howl followed, as a second cloud of darkness bloomed from between Kali's hands. She raised it above her head and then thrust it at Dai Shi. The two blooms collided, like two repelling magnets trying to force each other away.
The room shook violently as Kali and Dai Shi fought for the upper hand.
"Let's get out of here!" Blade yelled, grasping at Circe's arm, and pulling her towards the opposite door. RJ and Finn turned, each one forcing Phant and Swoop out into the cold, dark hallway.
Lorna lingered. "Kali, come on!" she called.
Heaving, Kali threw the last of her weight into her Zokado attack, and then shoved away, almost colliding with Lorna. The two tripped over another, with Kali grasping the fire fairy's arms and dragging her out of the way, just as Dai Shi hurled both his own and Kali's Zokado attack at them.
The two blooms of darkness hit the wall, causing it to shudder and explode.
~X~
Maddie groaned as she lay between Xander and Vida. She and the other Mystics had been sent to aid the Jungle Fury team while Kali was off on another mission somewhere in Briarwood, why she needed to be there and them here when should have been the other way around was a mystery to them, but she had noted early on that RJ was also missing, too.
The monster - a Phantom Beast known as Unidoom - laughed as he stood over the two fallen teams. "With you gone, the Beasts shall rule the worlds!" he declared.
"Hey!"
Maddie looked around, a small sigh of relief rising in her chest as she saw RJ and Kali arrive. Both were fully morphed.
"I've already beaten two Ranger teams," said Unidoom. "Two more Rangers aren't going to be a challenge!"
Kali smirked. "You sure?" she asked. "Because, last I checked, we were more than just two."
Maddie gasped as three Mystic Defenders and the three Spirit Rangers approached from behind Kali and RJ.
"How is this for a challenge?" RJ asked.
Camille laughed as she stepped out onto the battlefield. "That's nothing," she chuckled, snapping her fingers. An army of Rinshi appeared, growing out of the ground like weeds, she then transformed herself. "Here's a challenge. Bring it on!"
"Gladly," said Kali. She turned to Casey and nodded.
"With the Strength of a Tiger, Jungle Fury Red Ranger!"
"With the Stealth of a Jaguar, Jungle Fury Blue Ranger!"
"With the Speed of a Cheetah, Jungle Fury Yellow Ranger!"
"With the Fury of a Hellhound, Jungle Fury Black Ranger!"
"With the Courage of a Wolf, Jungle Fury Wolf Ranger!"
"With the Power of a Rhino, Jungle Fury Rhino Ranger!"
"With the Spirit of a Bat, Jungle Fury Bat Ranger!"
"With the Spirit of the Shark, Jungle Fury Shark Ranger!"
"With the Spirit of the Elephant, Jungle Fury Elephant Ranger!"
"We summon the animal spirits from within! Power Rangers Jungle Fury!"
Unhooking his Magi Staff from his belt, Nick reached Kali's side and gripped her arm. "We're with you," he said, nodding at her.
"Well, I weren't expecting you to be with them," said Kali, nodding at Camille.
Nick chuckled and turned the rest of his team. "Ready?" he asked.
"Ready!"
"Element of Earth, Green Legend Warrior!"
"Element of Wind, Pink Legend Warrior!"
"Element of Water, Blue Legend Warrior!"
"Element of Lightning, Yellow Legend Warrior!"
"Element of Fire, Red Legend Warrior!"
"We call forth the power of good magic, Power Rangers Mystic Force!"
Lorna clenched her hands firmly together as she grinned at the two teams before her. "Best team up, ever!" she said, forcing the words out from behind clenched teeth.
Circe laughed as Blade pinched the bridge of his nose.
Camille bristled as she stared down at the two teams. "Get them!" she hissed.
Splitting off, the two teams and three Mystic Defenders quickly separated the Rinshi into groups. Having not met until that afternoon, Circe, Blade, Lorna quickly fell into an easy alliance, each one using the others strength and weakness to their advantage. Where one fell, another rose, and when more than one ability was needed, the other two were ready to assist.
Meanwhile, fired her backward jets and sliced through the Rinshi with her Jungle Swords. She landed before Unidoom, flipping into a sideways cartwheel, and double kicking the Phantom Beast one after another, he stumbled back, slamming into a brick wall as Kali drew back and crossed her swords over her chest.
"Zokado Power!" Kali called, uncrossing her swords, and unleashing a wave of black mass onto the Phantom Beast. He panted and fell to his knees, looking up at her through lidded eyes.
"Is that the best you've got?" Unidoom asked. He staggered to his feet. "Zokado has got nothing on my power - RINZIN!"
Kali threw up a shield. Her feet skidding across the pavement as the Rinzin slammed into her defence. "Whoa," she breathed, her eyes widening slightly. They had been kidding when they said Rinzin was powerful magic.
Unidoom called off the attack as three bodies leapt over the Hellhound's shield. He raised an arm, gasping as a ball and chain wrapped around it, tugging him forward. He stumbled, hissing as the tip of a sword grazed his side, while a serrated edge fan sliced down his back.
Kali watched as the Spirit Rangers surrounded Unidoom, each one inflicting an attack on his armour. It cracked, and the trio stepped aside.
The Shark Ranger turned his attention to her and gestured to the Phantom Beast. "Would you care to do the honours?" he asked.
"As much fun as it is to watch you three dominate," said Kali, "especially after everything they have put you through. I would love too." She rolled her swords between her hands, took a running leap forward, and launched herself into the air. "Jungle Swords! Darkness Inferno!"
A ball of black magic collided with Unidoom, sucking him in and then crushing him into nothing. As the cloud disappeared, Unidoom exploded.
~X~
Lily grinned as she sped into the loft later that afternoon. She spotted Master Phant and made a beeline for him, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly once she was close enough. "You're okay!" she gushed.
"Lily," said Master Phant, affectionately. He wound his arms around her and hugged her back, just as tight.
"Welcome back, Master Swoop," said Theo, grasping his own master's hand.
"What a relief it is to see you," said Casey, clapping Master Finn on the shoulder. "We thought after we fired the Claw Cannon…"
Master Finn smiled and held up a hand, cutting Casey off from apologising. "Hey, you can't get rid of me that easily," he said.
Casey smiled and nodded.
"From now on, you will have the Spirit Rangers to help you battle the Dai Shi," said Master Swoop.
Master Phant nodded.
"Fight strong," said Master Finn. "Fight together, and always -"
"Take the risk," said Kali and RJ. They shared a smile as Master Finn chuckled.
"Always take the risk," Master Finn echoed. "Regardless of what you may feel deep down, taking the risk usually works out in the end. Kali, I can't think you enough for freeing me from that Crystal Eye. You did what no one else could."
Kali smiled. "I refused to believe that there was nothing I could do," she said. "Not as the Hellhound or a Mystic Defender. It is like I told Mom, we're the Mystic Force, we've been taught that there is nothing we can do, and we teach our own students that as along as we believe in Magic, anything is possible. Why should now have been any different?"
"How did you get him out of the eye?" Casey asked. "I thought the starlight had passed."
"It had," said Kali. "But, I have a friend who deals in Celestial magic."
RJ smiled and approached his dad, clapping him on the shoulder. "I'm just glad everything worked out in the end," he said. "Although, Dai Shi is now more determined than ever to stop us."
"What else is new?" Rylie asked, entering the room with Fran. "He's not going to stop, regardless of what we do from now on."
"Indeed," said Master Phant. "You must be ready for him."
As the others reassured their master's that they would be ready for Dai Shi and whatever plans he concocted next, Kali walked away from the group, pulling a cord necklace from under her shirt, attached to which was a small black and white disc the size of a guitar pick.
RJ cocked his head as he watched her. Her body stiffened, her shoulder's tensed, and all too soon she ended the call, returning to their group. "Everything okay?" he asked.
"I'm not sure," said Kali, tucking the cord necklace back under her shirt. "I have to leave for a few days."
"What do you mean?" Casey asked.
"Where are you going?" Theo asked.
"Is everything okay?" Lily asked.
Kali shook her head and looked around the room. "That was Cam," she said. "Something has happened at the Wind Ninja Academy. Tori, Shane, and Dustin are missing," she glanced at Lily, "and there's purple goo outside the entrance."
"Purple goo?" Chip asked. "You mean -?"
Kali nodded. "Leona warned me that something bad was coming, she told me to watch my back. She meant this," she said, glancing at the other Mystics.
"The Abyss of Evil has been opened," said Lorna.
"But that means," said Circe, shaking her head.
Kali took a deep shuddering breath. "He's back," she said. "Lothor is back."
… and the Ninja Storm/Dino Thunder team up is here!
Check out A Call to Arms for more information.
To avoid confusion, make sure you are up to date on Dino Thunder: Expect the Unexpected before reading the team up.