Episode Three "Green with Envy, part two"
Kira held her head in her hands, weeping. The Rangers, Zordon, and Ninjor stood behind her, each sharing her pain.
When Rita had turned to Kira, she fired a shot from her staff, which was directed towards the Princess. But Lex wouldn't let that happen, and flew towards her, knocking her and himself out of the way. The Dragon Ranger and Kira had made it out of harms way, but Queen Nell and Kingston had not.
"Loyal to the side of good," chanted Rita, "morph like evil minions should!"
Rita had planted a spell on the two, and it had been successful! Kira and Lex, along with the other Rangers, had watched as Nell and Kingston were being transformed into hideous beings. Nell grew more muscular, and was covered in gold armor all over. Kingston's regular gold armor seemed to form to his body, and his face became that of a bizarre animal. Large wings sprouted from his back.
When the two newly transformed figures opened their eyes, they were of a completely different nature. When once they were good, they were now evil.
"Meet Scorpina and Goldar!" shrieked Rita. "My two newest friends!"
This had driven Lex to go mad - he charged at Rita. Before he reached her, she, Scorpina, Goldar, and the Putty Patrollers left as quickly as they had appeared.
Now, Kira had to cope with her loss. It wasn't only her loss, but the entire planet's! Queen Nell, a once kind and generous woman was now transformed to an evil being who knew no kindness! And Kingston had no humanity left in him.
"I'm sorry, Princess," said Lex, putting his unmorphed hand on her shoulder.
"Don't touch me," she returned, jerking away from his touch. She turned around, tears in her eyes. "It's your fault this happened!" she screamed. "If you had just stayed off our planet, if you had just kept out!" Lex cringed. She was right, but somehow, he felt that she didn't mean her words. He walked back and joined the other Rangers.
"We'll do everything in our power to gain revenge," said Lucretia.
Kira shook her head. "No! As the new Queen of Dande, I command you - never return to Dande again! You are hereby banished from this planet!"
On command, eight silver-armored guards grabbed hold of the Rangers and their mentors; many more took up the A.F.E. agents.
"But Kira-" pleaded Lex.
"You will call me Queen Kira and bow in my presence," she replied. "Take them to the transport. They will be transported back to Eltare."
"But your Queen," announced a knight. "if we transport them all, there is not enough power to support the use of any transport device."
"That is fine. They are banished from using our services also."
"Kira!" shouted Lex. "You can't do that - we need the transportation power!" Lex tried to step forward, but the guard holding him wouldn't allow it.
With tears in their eyes, the Rangers, along with the others, were lead off into the transportation chamber. The new Queen followed.
The transportation chamber was a large, circular chamber in the heart of the palace. The walls were made of steel, and in the center was a large platform with a blue glowing light surrounding it. Two guards stood at the control panel when the Rangers arrived.
"Kira, think about this," pleaded Amone. "If you just give us a chance, we can get your mother and Kingston back - trust us!"
"You had my trust until I lost my mother," said Kira, keeping her glare straight ahead. If looks could kill, the Rangers would be dead one-hundred times over…
"Enter the transport," commanded the now head knight. The large group did so, although somewhat reluctant. First the A.F.E. agents, then Zordon and Ninjor, then the Rangers, and last Lex. Before they were transported, Lex turned to Kira.
"I know you're hurt by what Rita did to your mother," he said, "but so are we. I know it's harder for you than for any of us, but I'm speaking for everyone when I say I'm sorry. But this isn't the right thing to do. Don't banish us from Dande, don't take away our transportation powers. You're only helping Zedd to disarm us." Kira kept her nose up. "Instead, join us in the fight. Do what your mother never did - allow Dande to fight for the side of good! Don't stay neutral, or stay out of the fight - take action!"
"Lex, that's enough," said Zordon.
"Don't turn your back on us!" yelled Lex. Kira was reluctant. "If not for the fight against evil, do it for the man who loves you!" Those words are what made Kira back down, but as soon as Lex had gotten them out, they were transported away.
"I love you too," Kira whispered.
On the dark plant Jintax, Zedd sat on his stone throne, in his castle. The skies were dark, the ground barren. This was the homeland of the Bolirox, and anywhere you looked, there were Bolirox about. Zedd had captured the planet over fifty years ago, and had since then, taken over the population and used them as his own personal army. And they had actually proven to be a good match against Zordon and the side of good, that is, until the Power Rangers came along.
But now, Rita Repulsa, daughter to Master and Mistress Vile, belonged to him. She was a talented witch who knew almost every evil spell there was, and her Putty Patrollers were not to be messed with. Her first match against the Rangers had sent them fleeting, and her second had been a total success. She had been able to put a spell on the Queen and her Major - originally intended for Princess Kira, but effective nonetheless. Queen Nell and Major Kingston were now minions of Rita's, named Goldar and Scorpina, and had no recollection of their pasts. If anyone was keeping score, Zedd was winning.
"My dear Rita," said Zedd. "When your mother and father had reached me - after years of trying - and offered you to me, as an apprentice, I was hesitant. My first reaction was that I was going to have another pest on my shoulder who said she could do anything and turned out to do nothing. But I am glad I adopted you, for you have come through."
"It is only because of your teachings, Lord Zedd," Rita replied with a bow.
"Yes, yes, it is a result of my brilliance," Zedd said with pride. "What is the progress on the Psycho Morphers?"
"They are still under construction, sire. All except the Silver Morpher, the prototype, of course."
"Ah. It isn't a big deal as of right now, so they shall keep under slow construction. The Silver Morpher is the only thing we need to worry about. Since it is a prototype, it isn't programmed for the use of evil only, as will be the other ones."
"Yes, sire. It is under the protection of Goldar and Scorpina as we speak."
"Good, good. Now go rest, my student. You have to conserve your energy for the next attack." With a wave of his hand, Hexxacus Zedd dismissed Rita.
Lex slammed his fists on the concrete rail the kept him from falling fifteen stories to the ground. "This isn't fair!" he yelled. "It was our fault that Rita even went to Dande - and look who had to pay!"
"You know as well as I do, Lex, that everything happens for a reason," said Ninjor. "Don't blame yourself for what the Fates had planned."
"Enough of that fate crap!" shouted Lex. "Rita will pay!"
Zordon put his hand on Lex's shoulder. "You couldn't take on Zedd by yourself. You know that, Lex."
"Watch me." Lex stormed from the balcony.
The five other Rangers stood on the ground below, each in their own silence. They replayed the earlier scene in their heads - regretting not being able to do anything. If only they had jumped Rita - or left Dande - or had been able to some how destroy Rita on Gali.
"Damn it!" yelled Rue.
"Calm down," Xander said. "There's no use shouting."
"There sure isn't a use standing around here and doing nothing!" shouted Rue, once again letting his emotions take over.
"I feel sorry for Lex," said Rina. "He must have a lot of guilt in him."
"Shouldn't we all?" asked Rue. "We are the cause of this. If we had just left Dande, none of this would've happened."
"But it was the Queen's order that kept us there," said Amone. "Wherever her mind is right now, she knows that it was her choice to let us stay. She knows she could've made us leave, but she didn't, and that's the point."
"No one's to blame," said Lucretia. "Everything happens for a reason - the belief of all A.F.E. agents and the Power Rangers."
Lex entered the secluded room. It had been there since Zordon had received the transporting powers from Queen Nell - it was the backup power, if they ever needed it. He decided that if they ever needed it, it was now.
He was now morphed and standing in front of the control panel. After pushing a few buttons, the small room lit up will a brilliant green light. All he had to do now is step on the platform.
Here we go, he thought. This is for Kira - for Queen Nell and Kingston too. Rita will pay.
He pressed a few more buttons, setting the coordinates: Jintax. He took a long, deep breath and started walking toward the platform. He knew that if he stepped on the platform, he would be in for the fight of his life, and maybe even the last fight of his life. But it was worth it, that much he knew.
He put his right foot on the platform, then his left. He was enveloped in the green light as he was teleported away.
Jintax was worse than he had imagined. He had heard that not even a spec of light had existed on the barren planet, that much he believed. But he didn't count on it being a - a gigantic wasteland.
The reserved transport power had been enough to get him in the lower level of Zedd's castle, which was good, because he had no chance in hell of making it otherwise. The castle, he could tell, was the most lavishing thing on the entire planet. He hid behind a wall, which was cold stone, just like the other walls; he made sure there was nothing coming from behind or in front. He held his Blade Blaster, ready to shoot anything that did come his way.
He advanced down the corridor, coming to a long, steep stairwell. He supposed it was the way to Rita - or Zedd. He'd rather meet Rita, as Zedd had ten times her power. But he had to take the chance, and he started to climb the stairs.
"What have you gotten yourself into?" he asked himself, his heart beating hard in his chest.
He suddenly heard footsteps coming down the stairs, and he quickly latched to the wall, trying to make himself unseen. It didn't work (green against gray is kind of obvious), and the Bolirox that had been walking down started shrieking. That is, until Lex destroyed it with five blasts from his blaster.
"Could it of made more noise?" he whispered sarcastically. He continued advancing until he came to a new level. It was a weapon room, he presumed, as there were axes, bows and arrows, swords, and many more low-class weapons laying around. He was glad there wasn't a team of Putties on that floor - he'd be Ranger soup before you could say "Dragon Ranger Power!"
He crossed the room to another stairwell, and became climbing. He was getting tired of climbing when suddenly he heard a familiar cackle. He slowed his pace and listened.
"If that Green Ranger comes," Rita said, talking to her new minions, "which I'm sure he will, there will be a surprise for him waiting. That is, if he gets through you two."
"You are pure genius, my Queen," said Scorpina.
"I am, aren't I?"
"Yes, Queen," replied Goldar.
Lex had had enough. Royalty was bowing down the evil! And Rita, nonetheless, a stupid witch. He jumped from the stairwell, did a tumble, and shot green-colored lasers at the trio. Rita squealed, panicking and running around in circles. Scorpina and Goldar jumped out of the way of the lasers, and landed in front of Lex.
Goldar grabbed Lex by the neck and lifted him up. His black face and red eyes were that of pure evil, but Lex couldn't help but see Kingston in him.
"Kingston," he managed to get out.
"There is no Kingston here, Ranger!" Goldar growled.
"These Rangers are not only annoying, but they're delusional!" yelled Scorpina.
Lex didn't want to, but he was suffocating, and he wanted to get revenge on Rita. He kicked Goldar across the face, which loosened his grip on Lex, allowing him to escape. Lex held his throat while he coughed, and while doing so, didn't see Scorpina attacking him. She rose her sword in the air and brought it down on Lex's back, sending him into the stone ground.
Although the blow was strong, the Dragon Ranger was able to stand. He was able to block her next blow with his Dagger, although she was strong.
Who knew a Queen could be so strong? he thought. Green energy started to make the Dagger glow, and he pushed Scorpina away, falling to the ground. Then came Goldar - a brute. His sword was twice as long as Scorpina's, and he was double her size.
Needless to say, Lex was overpowered, and was slammed into the wall behind them. He drew his Blade Blaster and shot Goldar right in the face, then flipped over him, and landed in front of Rita, who, after his lasers had struck one cone of her hair, was trying to fix it.
"Hello Rita," he said. "I hope you didn't forget me!" He struck her in the stomach, then elbowed her in the back. The witch fell to the ground but quickly got up.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to hit a woman?!" she struck him in the side of the face with her wand, then kicked him in the stomach, and struck him again on the back.
Standing up and blood trickling down his mouth inside his helmet, he panted. "As far as I'm concerned you're not even human." Rita went to strike him with her wand again, but this time, he grabbed it, twirled it, and sent her flying into a table.
Goldar and Scorpina started to walk towards him, but Rita stopped them. "If this boy wants a fight, he'll get one!" Suddenly, she was in a slim jumpsuit, made out of the same rags her dress was.
She charged towards him, her wand extended. He was ready for the embrace, but instead of striking him in the stomach like before, she rose it above her head and struck him in neck. Collapsed on the floor, he felt like he couldn't move. She put the end of her wand in his face.
"How does it feel to go down in front of your love's mother?" she asked.
"I wouldn't know," he remarked, grabbing hold of the wand again and flipping her over him. He got up, jumped in the air, and kicked her across the face, then twisted around and delivered an uppercut to her jaw. He landed on the ground, tripped her, then rose his Dagger above his head.
"This is for Kira!" he yelled.
Before he could stab her, a bright red light illuminated the room. Lex had to close his eyes, even though his visor offered protection. The light slowly dimmed, and across the room stood Lord Hexxacus Zedd himself.
"Hello, Lexington." he said.
"Zedd!" yelled Lex. "Let me finish this witch off! Leave!" Lex charged at Zedd, both his Power Dagger and Blade Blaster Blade Mode extended. Zedd rose his staff and sent a red lightning beam at Lex, slamming him into the wall in which Goldar had done the same. The blast had been so powerful, it had blown Lex's helmet off. He was now unconscious.
"Don't command the King to get out of his own castle," Zedd mocked. He lifted his staff up once again, sending a red lightning bolt at Lex, lifting his body up in the air. Slowly, his suit began to reform, but this time, with a large gold shield covering his chest and back. Gold cuffs rest on his upper arms, gloves, and boots. His Dagger disappeared and his Blade Blaster was transformed into a new Power Dagger.
"You are now the Green Ranger," said Zedd. "With the power of the Dragonzord."
