Happy Power Rangers Day!
Chapter dedicated to FallenArcana. She's been with me since the beginning, and reviews all chapters, without fail. Happy Birthday, lovely! Hope you have a great day!
Meet me at the Petrified Forest. It's on the outskirts of the Woodland Realm, so be careful. Not all creatures there are fond of humans.
Reading the message again, Anabel looked up as Conner and Ethan, both of whom had driven to the outskirts of Reefside in the Mustang, arrived.
"Are you sure he said here?" Conner asked, looking around. The strip of road was deserted, and on both sides of them were tall trees.
"Petrified Forest," said Anabel, showing them the text message, she had received from Doctor Oliver. "Hayley sent me the coordinates, and this is where they lead us."
Kira nibbled her lower lip. "So, how do we find Doctor Oliver?" she asked.
"I saw stick to the trail," said Ethan, pointing at the dirt road cutting between the trees. He shared a look with his friends, all of whom looked as nervous as he felt.
Anabel shrugged and stepped off the road first. Her shoulders brushed the low hanging branches on either side of her and she swivelled her head back and forth, making sure to keep her eyes and ears open for any disturbances. The idea that there were creatures out here that didn't like humans was enough to set her teeth on edge.
Darkness started to crawl in the deeper the foursome walked, and after what felt like hours, they broke through the trees into the middle of a clearing. Doctor Oliver, and a woman they didn't recognise, stood on top of a heap of rubble.
Doctor Oliver was holding a detector of sorts, and was sweeping it around the area, watching the screens.
"Who are you?" a voice snapped, and on all sides, figures started emerging from the trees.
Anabel squeaked and stepped back, colliding with Conner as he planted his hands on her wait, steadying her.
The figures, the foursome realised were actually people dressed dark clothing and had capes attached to their shoulders, circled up around them.
"At ease," the woman beside Doctor Oliver called. She snapped her fingers and the group fell into line either side of the Rangers. Their arms locked behind their backs, their bodies rigid as their eyes stared off into the distance.
They looked like soldiers waiting in a command line.
Conner released Anabel and she hurried over to Doctor Oliver. He, Kira, and Ethan followed.
"We came as soon as we could, Dr. O," said Ethan. "What did you find?"
"Some sort of storage unit," Doctor Oliver answered, switching off his device. "The energy readings are so intense this metre can't register them."
"What kind of energy?" Conner asked.
"The same kind that's in your morphers."
Kira raised an eyebrow. "You're saying there's a Dino Gem in here?" she asked.
"Not anymore," said Doctor Oliver, turning finally to face his students. "But there was."
"I thought you had all kinds of things that could pick up if there was a Gem out here," said Kira.
"Someone must've hidden it," Doctor Oliver said. "When the cloaking device was deactivated, the readings went off the scale."
Ethan turned, wide-eyed to his friends.
"So, is this good news or bad news?" Conner asked.
"I guess that depends on who's got the gem," said Doctor Oliver. He glanced at Anabel, she was being uncharacteristically quiet for someone who was interested in the Mystic Realm and was now standing on the outskirts of the very place, and found her staring, brow furrowed at the stone beside the one he was standing on.
Anabel reached out, tracing her finger across the white marble pedestal. The head of it had been blown off, but she could faintly make out a word etched into the side. "Drago…" she murmured.
"Drago?" the woman beside Doctor Oliver asked. "Does that mean anything?"
Reaching over, Conner nudged Anabel and she whipped around and found the others staring at her. "Oh. Sorry," she said. "Did you say something?"
"What's so important about the Drago?" the woman asked.
Anabel shook her head. "Nothing, really. Only that there is no dinosaur called a Dragosaurus," she said, looking up at Doctor Oliver. Sure, he had a hand in creating half, if not most, of the creatures they dealt with on a daily basis, but most, if not all of them were based on an actual dinosaur fossil. He was a scientist, he wouldn't just create a new Dinosaur from scratch, it didn't work like that.
"Then what -?" the woman started.
Anabel's gaze dropped to the woman's clothing, and her eyes found the mystic symbol on the top of her robes. "You're a Mystic Defender," she said.
"Rune Tessler," the woman said. "Pleasure to meet you. You must be Anabel Brookes'." She glanced at Doctor Oliver, who nodded.
Anabel looked from Rune to Doctor Oliver. He had been talking about her. In what capacity?
"I'll take your word about the Dragosaurus," said Rune. "I'm not much of a Dino expert. The mystic realm deals with demons and other various creatures; besides, Dinosaurs are more of the human world's history."
Doctor Oliver placed his hand on Rune's shoulder. "We're sorry to have disturbed you," he said.
"On behalf of the Mystic Defenders, I thank you for taking the time to come out here and investigate," said Rune. "With the Hellhound away, and the other Mystic Force still busy with their human lives, the Patrol in this area has increased. My team," she nodded at the six men and women still standing in line at the path. "Found the explosion and I was ordered to contact you immediately."
"Thank you for that," said Doctor Oliver. "But, there is nothing more we can do here. I'll take what I have found back to the lab and analyse it. If I find anything worth reporting, I'll contact Root Core."
Rune nodded and shook Doctor Oliver's hands. She turned to leave, paused, and turned back to the four teenagers. "If you're good as everyone says you are, then Reefside and the Mystic Realm is in good hands. Good luck, Power Rangers."
As Rune and her team disappeared back into the trees, Conner, Ethan, and Kira turned to Doctor Oliver.
"She knows we're Power Rangers?" Conner asked.
Anabel stared at Doctor Oliver. "The video diary," she said. "It was put together as a form of historical relevance. An archive. It's a record of all Mystic Defenders."
Doctor Oliver nodded.
Anabel smiled.
"Let's get out of here," said Doctor Oliver. He jumped down from the rubble and put his hand on Anabel's shoulder, his thumb curving along her collarbone and making her shiver.
The others nodded and headed for the path.
"You okay?" Doctor Oliver asked, as he walked alongside Anabel.
Anabel forced herself to meet his gaze. She smiled and nodded, even though Doctor Oliver was no longer touching her, she could still feel the light pressure of his skin against hers, even if it had only been a single, innocent touch.
~X~
Once back at the lab, Anabel smiled at Hayley as she sat in front of the mainframe. How long she had been there was anyone's guess, but Anabel was sure that Hayley opened the cafe around 7am and then locked up until 3pm while most of her customers were at school.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The four screens of the mainframe melted into one, showing a dandy-lion like creature patrolling around the streets of Reefside. His head swung from side-to-side and, despite the people running in the opposite direction, screaming, he didn't seem to pay them any attention.
"Is it me or does it look like he is actually searching for something?" Anabel asked, watching as the creature walked straight past a group of cowering teenagers. She arched an eyebrow and shared a confused look with Ethan.
"Well, it's not going to like what it finds," said Conner.
The others nodded.
"Come on, guys," Conner coaxed, stepping back from the mainframe and turning his back. "Ready?"
"Ready!"
"Dino Thunder, Power Up!"
"Dino Power!"
~X~
Tearing around the corner, the team of four cut across the monster's path, blocking off his access to the rest of the city. While he was heading in their direction, he still seemed so focus on his task that he didn't quite seem to realize they were there.
"Where are yooou?" the monster asked.
"Hey, over here!" Conner called, waving his arms. The monster turned and stepped back, almost like he was stunned at their appearance.
"You look lost," said Anabel, folding her arms. "Maybe we can help you."
The monster held out one finger, pointing it at each ranger in turn. "Red, Blue, Yellow, Green," he shook his head. "Nope. I'm looking for something in basic white."
"Do you have any clue what he's talking about?" Kira asked, cocking her head.
"None," Conner replied. He glanced at Ethan and Anabel, both of whom were shaking their heads.
Anabel paused; her eyes wide as she felt a familiar tingle at the base of her neck. Usually, when this happened, two things happened - either something really bad, like the hydro-regenerative rain cloud, or something really good, like Doctor Oliver's sudden reappearance after his Dino Gem had chosen him. So wondered what it could be this time?
"What's going on?" the monster suddenly cried.
"What's that?" Conner asked, watching as the monster spun around, batting at something that neither of them could see. Then, the monster toppled over, and elementarily, a leg cased in white spandex with black stripes down the back, and the cuff of a white boot materialised in thin air.
Anabel's eyes widened and she gasped.
"What is it?" Ethan asked, turning to her. He grabbed her arm, jostling her.
"I don't -" Anabel started, shaking her head. She watched as the monster exploded and something brushed past her. Without a word, she turned on the spot and took off towards the centre of town.
"Anabel!" Conner called.
Anabel slipped around an office building and looked up, she couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, but she could just tell that something wasn't right.
"You look lost."
Anabel spun around and found herself face-to-face with a Ranger clad in 'basic white' as the monster had described. However, he wasn't entirely in a basic white suit, just like she and the others had white triangle patches down her arms and legs, this new Ranger had black ones, and his helmet was shaped like a bird. A bit like Kira's, but hers was a lot slenderer.
"And you're not from around here," said Anabel.
The new ranger laughed. He stood less than three feet from her; his arms folded. His visor, unlike hers was red and the gold trim around it highlighted the stripes over his helmet.
"Where are you friends?" the White Ranger asked, propping one hand against the pillar beside him and resting his weight on it. He cocked his head to the side, and Anabel had the strange feeling that he was looking her over from head to toe.
Anabel glanced to the left as Conner, Ethan, and Kira rounded the corner. They made a beeline for her.
"Whoa," said Conner, noticing the White Ranger. "Is that -?"
"How come he gets the phat helmet?" Ethan whined.
Anabel rolled her eyes, but her attention drifted once again to the White Ranger. Why did she feel like she was being drawn to him? Like some invisible force was pulling her in. He obviously felt something too, because despite the others arrival, he hadn't taken his gaze off of her. She could feel it burning into her, through her helmet and suit.
Normally the intensity of someone's gaze was enough to make her shrink away and cover herself. 'Undressing you with their eyes' is what Conner's brother Eric would have said.
"This a friend of yours Dr. O?" Conner asked.
"Never seen him before," Doctor Oliver replied.
"Okay," said Conner. He jogged forward a few steps, stopping as Anabel grabbed his arm, her gaze remaining fixed on the white Ranger.
There was something about him that she didn't like, and she didn't want the others getting hurt because of it.
"You should heed your friend, Red Ranger," the White Ranger rumbled. "Her awareness could save your life."
"What do you mean by that?" Conner asked. With his arm still caught in Anabel's clutches, he turned back to face the new Ranger. His body tensed at the threatening tone.
The White ranger chuckled and unsheathed his short-handed blade from his waist. "White Drago Blade," he said, running a gloved finger along the edge.
Anabel could faintly see the serrated lines cut into the side. She swallowed hard, and her grip heightened around Conner. This guy, whoever he was, was dangerous, she could tell from the way he held himself, the way he spoke, and the way he delighted in presenting his weapons.
Gripping the handle of his blade firmly, the White Ranger dragged it through the air in several different directions, causing many little white arrows to appear. He flicked the blade toward them, and the arrows all turned, facing them directly.
"What are you -?" Kira started. She cut off as the arrows slammed into their, piercing their suits and skin before exploding.
Anabel breathed heavily as she fell to her knees. Her shoulders and upper chest ached from the collision, and she pressed the palm of her right hand to a sore spot at the top of her breast bone.
"Was that really necessary?" Conner asked, breathlessly. He struggled to his feet.
"That was just a warning," the White ranger rumbled. He tapped the blade to his shoulder, and then drew it down, over himself. He disappeared before their eyes.
Ethan looked around. "Where'd he go?" he asked.
"He's gone," said Anabel, staring at the place where the White Ranger had stood.
Kira turned to Anabel. "How do you know?" she asked.
Anabel shrugged.
"Rangers, return to base," Doctor Oliver said.
~X~
Hayley typed at a furious pace. She was searching for a way to identify the White Ranger, while the others stood around behind her, waiting for an answer.
"Nothing yet?" Doctor Oliver asked.
Hayley shook his head. "Nothing," she sighed. "I can't get any sort of read on his genetic makeup. It's like the Ranger powers bonded with his DNA and it's all jumbled into one."
"Meaning what?" Conner asked, confused.
"Meaning, I can't tell you his identity until everything solidifies," said Hayley. "But that could take days, weeks, maybe even months."
Conner sighed. He glanced over his shoulder and spotted Anabel sitting on the stairs, staring at her wrist. "Hey, what happened out there?" he asked, walking over to her. The others followed.
"What do you mean?" Anabel asked, looking up. Her brows knitted together as she met Conner's gaze.
"How did you know he was there?" Ethan asked. "I mean, we couldn't see anything, but you knew someone was there."
Kira nodded.
"And, when I went to approach him, you stopped me," said Conner. "He said that I should heed your warning. Did you know he was going to attack us like that?"
Anabel shrugged. "Don't they always attack us?" she asked.
"Yeah, but you've never physically stopped me before," said Conner.
"Why were you two staring each other down when we arrived?" Kira asked. "Do you know him?"
Anabel looked down but shook her head.
"Then what?" Conner asked. "How did you -?"
"I could sense him," said Anabel. She sighed and buried her face in her hands. She hesitated for a second, relaxing in the darkness and solitude it provided before she raised her head.
Hayley and Doctor Oliver were watching her now, too, both with a keen interest on their faces.
Anabel sighed. "Since getting my Gem, I've been able to feel a lot of things," she said, looking down at the glimmering green rock in her bracelet. "I get this weird sensation, like a tingle, at the base of my skull…" she reached back and pressing her fingertips to her hairline.
"And that tells you when something is about to happen?" Hayley asked.
"It the first time it happened was when we found the Raptor Riders," said Anabel. She looked to Ethan. "You accused me of being paranoid, remember?"
Ethan nodded.
"That's why I didn't think anything of it," said Anabel. "The second time I felt it was at Mesogog's lab when we came to get you, Doctor Oliver," she looked up at him. "It happened just before Mesogog could use his mind beam thing on us."
"You mean the one he accidentally used on Elsa and Zeltrax?" Ethan asked.
Anabel nodded. She looked down again. "I always put it down to like having a sixth sense," she said, quietly.
"What's the ability connected to the Green Dino Gem?" Hayley asked. She looked from Anabel to Doctor Oliver.
"Size Manipulation. Why?"
Hayley shook her head in answer. She then stood and walked over to Anabel, kneeling down in front of her. "You said this started happening after you received your Gem?" she asked.
Anabel nodded.
"And you didn't get yours in the same the way the others did?"
Again, Anabel nodded.
"If you'll let me, I'd like to run a few tests on your Gem," said Hayley. "If my calculations are correct, your gem may have more than one ability attached to it."
Anabel cocked her head to the side, frowning. "More than one?" she asked. "How is that possible?"
"It's not," said Doctor Oliver.
"But it's worth checking to be sure," said Hayley. "Only problem is, it'll take you out of battle until the tests are complete."
Anabel turned quickly to Conner, Ethan and Kira. With her out of battle they would have to face the White Ranger, and any creeps that Mesogog sent their way alone.
"It's your choice," said Hayley. "But if you really want to know, then…?"
Over Hayley's head, Anabel met Doctor Oliver's gaze. He looked curious, and she couldn't deny that she felt the same way. But, there was also a hint of something else in his eyes. Concern? Fear? For her?
~X~
The main frame beeped again, alerting the team to the reappearance of the White Ranger. With Hayley in possession of her Dino Gem, Anabel turned to her friends as they prepared for their first battle without her. Despite agreeing to let Hayley test her Gem, Anabel didn't like the idea of the others going out while they were a Ranger down.
"You guys better get over there," said Doctor Oliver. "Make sure he doesn't go completely medieval on innocent civilians."
"Good thinking," said Conner. "Let's go," he added to Kira and Ethan.
"Be careful!" Anabel called. She sighed and then swung her chair around to face the monitors, her heart feeling heavier by her decision to hand over her Gem. Hayley had admitted that she wasn't sure how long the tests would take, but she was hopeful that it would only be a few hours at most.
"This is the safest for you, Anabel," said Doctor Oliver, sitting in the last available chair. He reached over and squeezed her knee, as she, once again, drew it up her chest. "Until we know that your Gem is clear of any dangers, at least."
Anabel sighed and dropped her head against the back of the chair with a thump. "Do you really think it's my gem?" she asked, rolling her head to look at him. "My father and I may not be on the same page right now, but do you really think he would send me something that could hurt me?"
"I'd like to think not," said Doctor Oliver, shaking his head. He couldn't imagine Anton Mercer, the man he knew from years ago, sending something to hurt the daughter he spoke so fondly about. It was clear to him that Anton had loved Anabel and wanted the world for her. But to send her something that could possibly put her in danger? No, he didn't believe that.
But, on the other hand, he still couldn't understand why Anton would send something so valuable to his daughter anyway. Yes, he had explained that Anabel liked rocks and crystals, and he always brought her back something from his digs, but Anton knew how important the Dino Gems were. Had he sent the Green one away for safe-keeping? Meaning, did he know that something like this would happen? If he did, why send it to his daughter, of all people?
The yell of Conner, Ethan, and Kira echoed over the mainframe speakers, and Anabel, Doctor Oliver, and Hayley looked up in alarm. The trio were struggling to hold their own against the White Ranger, and in her anxious state, Anabel rose mid-way out of the seat, her hand bracing against the edge of the table, as one foot slid from her seat.
"What's the deal?" Conner asked, rising to his feet. "We tried to be nice, just extending a little Ranger love, and this is what we get?"
"I'm not here to make friends," the White Ranger replied. "Although, that Green Ranger of yours seems rather interesting."
Anabel focused on the screens as, from the corner of her eyes, she saw both Doctor Oliver and Hayley turn in her direction. What was this guys' fascination with her?
"Then what is it? What do you want?"
"That isn't something you need to know. All that's important right now is there are four Rangers to many, and I'm here to change that,"
"Go for it," Conner challenged.
Anabel groaned, her eyes closing.
With a laugh, the White Ranger raced forward. He disappeared, but Anabel could tell he was still there by the tiny strikes that appeared across her friends' chests, arms and sides.
There was a mini explosion, and the trio hit the ground as the White Ranger reappeared, mere feet away. "That should do it," he said, turning back to face the down and out Rangers.
"You think we're just going to walk away?" Kira asked, struggling to her feet.
"Not going to happen!" said Ethan. He and Kira aimed their Thundermax blasters, opening fire.
The White Ranger raised his Drago blade and bounced the beams back.
"No, guys!" Conner called, racing over and kneeling beside his two teammates.
Shoving her chair back, Anabel reached across Hayley and plucked her Dino Gem from the dock. The screen it was linked up to flashed, as the words "test interrupted" flashed in block red letters.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Hayley asked, trying to grab the Gem back. Anabel swung her arm up high and turned away, storing the Gem back inside her bracelet.
"I'm going out there," said Anabel. "Letting them go without me was a bad idea, I have to help!"
"But -" Hayley started.
Doctor Oliver placed his hand on her shoulder and turned to Anabel. "Let's go," he said to Anabel.
Anabel nodded and followed him from the base.
~X~
Ethan shrugged Conner from his shoulder and stood up, his Thundermax trained back on the White Ranger. "Alright!" he said, anger getting the better of him. "Party time's over!"
"No, wait!" Doctor Oliver shouted, halting beside Ethan and forcing his firing arm toward the ground.
"What's the matter?" Ethan asked.
"What are you doing here?" Kira asked Anabel.
Anabel shook her head, her gaze trained on the White Ranger, as Doctor Oliver placed himself between his students and the newcomer. "We don't know what he's capable of," she said. "You just can't go attacking him, not when he can deflect it back. You're just helping him destroy you."
The White Ranger laughed. "Hello again," he said, speaking directly to Anabel. "I see you decided to return." He turned his gaze to Doctor Oliver and scoffed, as he stepped in front of Anabel, shielding her from view.
"We don't want to hurt you," said Doctor Oliver. "Just tell us why you're here."
"Why am I here?" the White Ranger mused. "Let me see… to defeat you?!"
"That does it!" said Ethan, forcing himself to his feet. He shrugged Conner back, and Kira did the same to Anabel as she followed Ethan up and forward. The two drew their Thundermax Sabres and struck down.
The White Ranger raised his arm and blocked the two blades. He slashed across the pairs chests and stomachs and hurled them over the barrier to their lefts.
"Kira! Ethan!" Anabel yelled as the two disappeared over the balcony.
As Doctor Oliver rushed off to check on his two students, Conner turned to Anabel. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "I thought Hayley - "
"I couldn't sit back while he hurt you," said Anabel. "Let's stop this guy, then Hayley can do all the tests she wants on my Gem."
Conner smiled faintly and then nodded. He held out his hand and the pair rushed to the balcony; looking over the edge, Anabel gasped as Doctor Oliver raced towards the White Ranger, his Brachio staff raised.
"I'll take yours as well," said the White Ranger, raising his arm to block the staff. He lifted Doctor Oliver into the air and then slashed across his chest, sending him hurling through the air.
Doctor Oliver landed on his side, one arm outstretched and the other grasping his chest as he demorphed.
With a gasp, Anabel pushed herself over the balcony and summoned her Compy Claws as she landed on the lower level of the plaza. "Hey!" she called, surging forward. She aimed a kick at the White Ranger's side, but he pushed her away and raised his blade.
Anabel raised her claws and blocked, staggering back at the White Ranger's strength as he forcefully pulled down, but Anabel managed to ground herself and shove back.
The two glared at one another across locked weapons. "Why are you doing this?!" she asked.
"Because I can," the White Ranger replied. He freed his blade from her claws and reached up to grab her shoulder. "Now go!" he said, tossing her aside.
Anabel groaned as she landed on her back near Doctor Oliver. She demorphed and rolled over onto her stomach, her right hand sliding under her face to protect it from the ground. She breathed heavily and looked up, just in time to see Conner collide with the White Ranger, knocking them both into a wired fence, blocking off a construction site.
"You're messing with the wrong dude," said Conner, rolling back to his feet. "I'm giving you one last chance."
The White Ranger merely lifted Conner up and threw him into a solid wall. "You were saying?" he laughed.
Conner hit the ground and demorphed.
"You alright?" Doctor Oliver asked as he, Anabel, Kira, and Ethan gathered around Conner. He had his arm around Anabel as she clung to his side, her hand gripping the edge of his jacket tightly. He reached across behind her and patted Conner on the back.
Conner breathed in sharply but nodded. "Yeah, I think so," he said.
"You have been warned, Power Rangers," the White Ranger growled, turning slightly so he could see the team of five from over his shoulder. "Stay out of my way or be destroyed."
He sped away, disappearing from sight.
Anabel sighed and rested her head against Doctor Oliver's side as the feeling she had whenever the White Ranger was around, faded.
"Guys, we've got big trouble," said Doctor Oliver, softly. He placed his arm around Anabel's shoulder as she raised her head to look at him.
~X~
Anabel watched as Hayley placed her Dino Gem back on the testing podium. This time it was hidden beneath a clear cylinder, so that they could see it but not touch it. She had explained that it needed to be tested overnight, seeing as it had been interrupted earlier.
"It wasn't supposed to go this way, was it?" Ethan asked, his shoulders rising and falling as he sighed.
"An evil White Ranger?" Doctor Oliver asked. He shook his head. "Of course, it's been known to happen."
Anabel run a hand through her hair, rubbing the bottom of her head before dropping her hand back into her lap.
"So, what do we do?" Kira asked.
"How are we supposed to fight him, if we can't get near him?" Conner asked.
Doctor Oliver glanced around at his students, taking in each of their faces - his gaze lingering on Anabel, noticing how her eyes kept flittering back to her Dino Gem - and then shook his head. "We figure out who this is," he said, "and what he wants. Before it's too late."