Chapter Three
Immediately after morphing, we teleported back to the school, an experience I'm sure I won't get the hang of any time soon. In a flash of light the five of us materialised back on the oval, the other four Rangers spreading out behind me. Our uniforms were all similar barring our respective colours - we were all wearing white gloves and boots and a white belt, with a white diamond on our chest and a single blaster hanging by our side. Teresa's white suit, I noticed, was outlined in black stripes, giving it a more streamlined look. Our helmets were all modelled after the dinosaurs engraved on our Power Coins, our visors set in the beasts' open mouths.
"Wow," said Scott. "So this is it? We're actually Power Rangers."
Teresa nodded. "Yeah, but we've got more important things to worry about."
"Like the monster we just lost," said Aaron, scanning the oval. "Where'd he go?"
"Probably up towards the school," said Sarah.
"C'mon, we gotta find him," I said. "Keep your eyes open." With that, we turned and ran back towards the school buildings, passing empty classrooms and silent gardens as we ran. The whole school was pretty much deserted, which meant that everybody was safe in the monster-shelters the school had recently built. I'm pretty sure none of us had much of a plan at that stage, and even if we did, certainly nothing more than hunting down this Monitar and punching him.
A lot.
We reached the smaller of the two paved assembly areas and turned down towards the school office.
"Well look at this," came a slimy, sickly-sounding voice from behind us. We all turned to see Monitar standing behind us, and immediately raised our arms and formed a five-strong line of defense. "You're not the same Rangers I fought yesterday, are you? By any chance, are you looking for a fancy- dress party?"
I stepped forward. "No. We're the Junior Team of Power Rangers."
Sarah nodded. "Yeah, and by the time we're finished with you, you'll wish you were still facing the Senior Team."
The monster stepped towards us. "And you probably really believe that, too," he snarled. "But I was designed to destroy Power Rangers. I accomplished what no other monster has ever done, and I did it with ease. You really don't stand a chance." The beast grinned a wicked smile and held out his arms wide - the diamond in the centre of his chest began to glow, and blue lightning bolts shot out in all directions, the entire area erupting in a storm of sparks and smoke.
I dived to the ground beneath several bolts while Sarah somersaulted backwards behind a row of drinking taps. Scott followed Sarah, while Teresa nimbly spun to the side behind one of the metal support poles that held up the roof. Aaron glanced around quickly and saw a long wooden bench beside him. Knowing how heavy the benches were, he gripped it with both hands and picked it up, only to find it was as light as cardboard and he could lift it easily with one hand.
"Super-strength," he said to himself with a tiny smile. "Awesome," and raising the bench above his head, he launched it at Monitar overarm with all the strength he could muster. The bench slammed into the beast and snapped in half from the sheer force of the throw, instantly sending the surprised monster flying backwards through the air.
The stormed ended as Monitar crashed to the ground, and we all regrouped.
"Whoa man," I said, "good move."
Aaron nodded. "Thanks."
Monitar slowly picked himself up out of the garden bed where he'd landed. "How dare you?!" he cried, shaking with rage, his eyes flashing. "I will not let you spoil my triumph! Super putties, get them!" And suddenly, the five of us were surrounded on all sides as humanoid grey and black warriors materialised out of nowhere and charged towards us.
I glanced around. "Let's take these freaks!" I cried. "Spread out!"
Desperately recalling every karate lesson I'd ever had, I charged towards the nearest group of putties, who all attacked as I approached. I leaped up and over a low swipe, instantly taking an opponent down with a spinning high kick. Without slowing down, I dropped to the ground, spun to the left, blocked a high punch and slammed my fist into the putty's chest. Another putty to the right lunged at me - I struck his fist away, blocked his right, spun around and knocked him off his feet with a right backhand, before leaping into the air and taking three more opponents to the ground with a spinning barrel kick.
I stopped to catch my breath, my heart racing, and gazed in disbelief at the carnage around me. Did I just do all that?
Behind me, Teresa and Scott had been forced back-to-back, and were keeping a wide circle of opponents at bay. But as the putties steadily closed in, the Rangers went on the offensive - Teresa dropped one with a lightning judo chop, and struck a second back with a blow to the stomach. A third putty aimed a high punch, but Teresa caught his outstretched arm, dragged the putty forward and sent him crashing with a high kick. Even as Teresa turned to defeat her remaining adversaries, Scott was dropping two opponents with a spinning high kick, before taking two more down with a low foot sweep. Three more rushed towards him - Teresa automatically spun to Scott's side, and they floored two of the putties with simultaneous high- kicks. The third putty struck out at both of them, but Teresa blocked his attacks and Scott sent him to the ground with a low kick.
"Whoa," breathed Scott. "That was so..."
"...ordinary," nodded Teresa. "Like we've fighting this way..."
"...all our lives," finished Scott. "Like we were born for it."
Teresa turned as another troop of putties charged towards them. "Hold that thought for a second..."
Across from them, Aaron was plowing through opponents, a trail of unconscious opponents behind him. He elbowed one in the ribs, spun around to slam his fist into another, before somersaulting over a low kick, lashing out on either side and downing two more as he landed. Four more rushed him - he blocked a high punch from one, struck away a low kick from another, and catching a grey first from the first, launched that opponent at the second, downing them both. The other two hung back briefly before swinging simultaneous high punches. Aaron blocked both, jumped sideways over a low sweep and batted away a chest-high lunge. They immediately moved to followed after him, but Aaron took one down with a high kick, before a powerful uppercut sent the other head-over-heels to the ground.
"Wow," said Jason, amazed. The Senior Rangers were watching the battle on the viewing screen, the monitoring-device set in the back of the Central Chamber. "They're incredible."
"I believe that's why we chose them," nodded Zordon.
"And given their success," added Billy, "we definitely made the right choice."
"I know, but still..."
"Weren't expecting them to do so well on their first day?" asked Kimberly, pausing as Teresa leaped into the air with a flying tornado kick that left the White Ranger without any opponents. "Don't worry, I was like thinking the exact same thing." And they all continued to watch in silent appreciation.
Sarah slammed her final adversary to the ground and quickly rejoined the team, as we launched an attack on the monster himself.
Aaron attacked first, charging towards Monitar, jumping into the air and kicking forward, but the monster ducked under his boot and slashed at the Aqua Ranger with his claws. Aaron dodged the swipe and retaliated with a kick to Monitar's stomach - the beast batted away Aaron's boot and sent him crashing with a blast from its eyes. Aaron's suit erupted in sparks as he was thrown backwards, but as he rolled to a stop, he realised the suit had actually absorbed the effects of the blow. Quickly dusting himself, he climbed to his feet.
Across the battlefield, Teresa had leaped forward to take up the attack, and was furiously trading blows with the monster. She blocked a high punch, batted away a low kick and aimed high, but Monitar ducked under Teresa's glove, kicked away a low jab and landed a blow the White Ranger's stomach. Teresa stumbled back but recovered quickly and swung a judo chop at Monitar's snout - the blow connected, jarring the monster and spinning him sideways, but when she followed after him with a high kick, Monitar caught her foot and spun her around him and before throwing her away.
Scott and Sarah attacked with side-by-side high kicks, but Monitar effortlessly struck Scott away and blasted Sarah with a burst of energy. She dived under the blast, rolling to her feet and retaliating with a right backhand that sent the lizard stumbling. Scott returned to her side as Monitar regained his footing, and the two Rangers attacked again, Scott landing a blow to the beast's shoulder and Sarah sending him stumbling with a low kick. Monitar recovered quickly from the blows, and moving with such speed that he caught the Rangers off-guard, slashed at both of them with his claws, sending them back towards Aaron and Teresa in a blaze of fire and sparks.
Monitar glanced around as the Rangers slowly picked themselves off the ground. "It's pretty obvious you're new at this," he growled, as the blue diamond on his chest began glowing. "Now hold still, and this won't hurt a bit. Sadly."
Without warning, I grabbed the beast's shoulder, spun him around and smashed both fists against his head. He batted away my fists and slashed his claws at my chest - I caught his arm, blocked his left fist and aimed my strongest punch straight for his gut. The blow connected, and he laughed - he actually laughed - and pulling my fist away, knocked me back with a rapid high kick. I stumbled back towards the other Rangers, and we all retreated as Monitar steadily advanced.
"What now?" asked Sarah. "That barely fazed him."
I shrugged. "Anybody got any ideas?"
"C'mon guys," said Trini, watching the Junior Team back away. "Don't give up, you can do this!"
Tommy turned back to Zordon. "No, they can't," he said. "We have to go help them."
Zordon shook his head. "Impossible. Without your powers, Rangers, you'd fare no better."
"Don't worry guys," said Jason. "They can do it, they just need their Power Weapons." And under his breath, whether realising it or not, he began chanting, "Power Weapons, Power Weapons..."
As if he was standing beside me, I realised what to do - we needed to use our weapons.
"Guys," I said, as Monitar advanced. "We need our weapons."
"Good idea," nodded Teresa. "How, though?"
I shrugged. "Let me try something." And I held out my hand and raised my voice. "Power Sword!" I cried. Nothing happened. Damn.
I shook my head, clearing my mind. Closing my eyes, I focussed on my Power Coin, and holding out my hand, I tried again.
"Power Sword!" Whatever I did, it worked - a thin beam of orange light appeared between my fingers and rapidly became solid, and my fist closed around the hilt of my fully-formed Power Sword. The handle was black with orange stripes, while the blade's hand-guard was also black and featured curling orange designs on either side. Above the hilt was a circular design inscribed with the same Stegosaurus that was on my Power Coin, while the blade itself was long, razor-sharp and silver, glowing in the afternoon light. The sword was light and felt comfortable in my hand, like I'd been using it all my life.
"Cool," I said with a grin.
"I think I'll try that," said Scott. "Power Staff!" And with that, a long blue staff formed in the Blue Ranger's hands.
"Power Whip!" cried Teresa, and the weapon's grip appeared in her hand with the whip trailing away behind her.
"Power Mace!" said Sarah, and a purple mace materialised in her hands.
"Power Blasters!" cried Aaron, and twin laser blasters appeared in his hands.
"All right," said Scott, before turning to me. "Shall we?"
I nodded. "We shall."
Monitar sneered. "It'd take an entire armoury to stop me!"
Aaron raised both blasters and held them at arm's length. "Thanks for the challenge," he said, and began firing. At such close range he couldn't have missed - blasts of aqua light smashed into the monster, the entire area erupting in sparks and fire. Monitar raised his arms to shield himself and staggered back through the cloud of smoke.
I turned to the other Rangers. "Let's take this guy!"
"Right!"
Scott took to the air, somersaulting down in front of the monster and spinning his staff as he landed. Monitar immediately struck at the Blue Ranger with his right fist - using the staff, Scott blocked the move, batted away his left fist, landed a blow to Monitar's head and swung the staff back around into the monster's chest, spinning on the spot and slamming his boot into Monitar's gut. Before the beast had time to recover, Teresa leaped down beside her brother, cracking her whip across the monster's scaly hide. Monitar raised his hands to protect himself, but Teresa wrapped the whip around his wrist and dragged him forward, just as Scott leaped into the air and landed a powerful high kick, the blow sending the monster reeling.
Teresa pulled the whip back as I stepped up beside her. "You know I've never held a whip before in my life," she said, "but I know exactly how to use this weapon."
"I heard that," I nodded. Even as I turned to face the monster, I could feel the skills suddenly in my head, shaping my movements and telling my body how to fight. Raising my Power Sword, I leaped towards Monitar with a wild battle cry, slashing in a wide diagonal stroke as I landed. He dodged the slice, blocked another and ducked under a third. I swung again but he caught my wrist - I dragged him forward and landed a rapid high kick to his chest. Monitar stumbled back but I followed after him, slashing again and again. He blocked two swipes but I was moving too fast, and cleaved my blade down through his chest armour before a spinning roundhouse kick forced him to retreat.
The monster hurriedly backed away from me but came under attack as Aaron and Sarah charged towards him. With a clear shot, Aaron fired, the barrage of blaster fire leaving the monster defenseless and giving Sarah the opportunity to attack, landing blow after blow with her Power Mace. Monitar tried to block the weapon but Sarah batted his arm aside, smashing the weapon into his stomach before knocking him sideways with a blow to the jaw. Dazed from the assault, Monitar staggered backwards, and without slowing down, Sarah spun around and slammed her mace with all her might into the diamond on the beast's chest.
The jewel instantly shattered - there was an explosion of blue light as Monitar was thrown backwards through the air, before crashing to the ground in a crumpled heap and moving no further. A second of shocked silence followed.
We'd done it. I don't know who was more shocked, him or us.
But we'd done it.
"All right!" cried Trini, watching the battle. "They did it! They beat him!"
"Awesome," said Jason with a grin.
"Everyone okay?" I asked, as we all regrouped.
"We're all fine," said Teresa.
"That was a damn good move," laughed Aaron.
Sarah smiled. "Thanks."
"We did it," said Scott simply. "We won."
There was a sudden flash of flame behind us, and we turned to see an old woman standing beside the monster's body. In fact old was something of an understatement - she looked almost Mesozoic. She wore a long red and brown dress, complimented by a strangely-shaped armoured breast-plate. Numerous charms and jewels hung around her neck, her hair was styled up into two long horns, and she carried a thin staff that ended in a large red orb.
"I wouldn't count on it," she said, turning to Scott.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Rita Repulsa," she scowled, gazing at the five of us. "Who the hell are you?"
Teresa stepped forward. "We're the Junior Team of Power Rangers."
Anger flashed in Rita's dark eyes. "Zordon finally used those extra Power Coins, huh?"
"You'd better believe it. Is that thing yours?" asked Sarah, pointing to Monitar.
Rita ignored her, taking a step back and holding her wand high. "You may have fought well enough on the ground, but let's see you fight my way. Magic wand, make my monster grow!"
Bolts of lightning immediately blasted out from the red orb, illuminating the area, dancing off the buildings and trees around us and striking the downed body of Monitar. There came a hissing sound and a great roaring, as if somebody had just split open the Earth itself, and Monitar's scaly body was suddenly replaced by a giant foot. We all realised what had happened - Monitar had grown. He was enormous, easily as tall as a fifteen story building, and he now stood with one foot on the oval and the other on the road, towering over us and raising his claws triumphantly.
Rita grinned a cruel smile. "Have fun," she said, before melting into the air and leaving the five of us alone with the vengeful Monitar.
Immediately after morphing, we teleported back to the school, an experience I'm sure I won't get the hang of any time soon. In a flash of light the five of us materialised back on the oval, the other four Rangers spreading out behind me. Our uniforms were all similar barring our respective colours - we were all wearing white gloves and boots and a white belt, with a white diamond on our chest and a single blaster hanging by our side. Teresa's white suit, I noticed, was outlined in black stripes, giving it a more streamlined look. Our helmets were all modelled after the dinosaurs engraved on our Power Coins, our visors set in the beasts' open mouths.
"Wow," said Scott. "So this is it? We're actually Power Rangers."
Teresa nodded. "Yeah, but we've got more important things to worry about."
"Like the monster we just lost," said Aaron, scanning the oval. "Where'd he go?"
"Probably up towards the school," said Sarah.
"C'mon, we gotta find him," I said. "Keep your eyes open." With that, we turned and ran back towards the school buildings, passing empty classrooms and silent gardens as we ran. The whole school was pretty much deserted, which meant that everybody was safe in the monster-shelters the school had recently built. I'm pretty sure none of us had much of a plan at that stage, and even if we did, certainly nothing more than hunting down this Monitar and punching him.
A lot.
We reached the smaller of the two paved assembly areas and turned down towards the school office.
"Well look at this," came a slimy, sickly-sounding voice from behind us. We all turned to see Monitar standing behind us, and immediately raised our arms and formed a five-strong line of defense. "You're not the same Rangers I fought yesterday, are you? By any chance, are you looking for a fancy- dress party?"
I stepped forward. "No. We're the Junior Team of Power Rangers."
Sarah nodded. "Yeah, and by the time we're finished with you, you'll wish you were still facing the Senior Team."
The monster stepped towards us. "And you probably really believe that, too," he snarled. "But I was designed to destroy Power Rangers. I accomplished what no other monster has ever done, and I did it with ease. You really don't stand a chance." The beast grinned a wicked smile and held out his arms wide - the diamond in the centre of his chest began to glow, and blue lightning bolts shot out in all directions, the entire area erupting in a storm of sparks and smoke.
I dived to the ground beneath several bolts while Sarah somersaulted backwards behind a row of drinking taps. Scott followed Sarah, while Teresa nimbly spun to the side behind one of the metal support poles that held up the roof. Aaron glanced around quickly and saw a long wooden bench beside him. Knowing how heavy the benches were, he gripped it with both hands and picked it up, only to find it was as light as cardboard and he could lift it easily with one hand.
"Super-strength," he said to himself with a tiny smile. "Awesome," and raising the bench above his head, he launched it at Monitar overarm with all the strength he could muster. The bench slammed into the beast and snapped in half from the sheer force of the throw, instantly sending the surprised monster flying backwards through the air.
The stormed ended as Monitar crashed to the ground, and we all regrouped.
"Whoa man," I said, "good move."
Aaron nodded. "Thanks."
Monitar slowly picked himself up out of the garden bed where he'd landed. "How dare you?!" he cried, shaking with rage, his eyes flashing. "I will not let you spoil my triumph! Super putties, get them!" And suddenly, the five of us were surrounded on all sides as humanoid grey and black warriors materialised out of nowhere and charged towards us.
I glanced around. "Let's take these freaks!" I cried. "Spread out!"
Desperately recalling every karate lesson I'd ever had, I charged towards the nearest group of putties, who all attacked as I approached. I leaped up and over a low swipe, instantly taking an opponent down with a spinning high kick. Without slowing down, I dropped to the ground, spun to the left, blocked a high punch and slammed my fist into the putty's chest. Another putty to the right lunged at me - I struck his fist away, blocked his right, spun around and knocked him off his feet with a right backhand, before leaping into the air and taking three more opponents to the ground with a spinning barrel kick.
I stopped to catch my breath, my heart racing, and gazed in disbelief at the carnage around me. Did I just do all that?
Behind me, Teresa and Scott had been forced back-to-back, and were keeping a wide circle of opponents at bay. But as the putties steadily closed in, the Rangers went on the offensive - Teresa dropped one with a lightning judo chop, and struck a second back with a blow to the stomach. A third putty aimed a high punch, but Teresa caught his outstretched arm, dragged the putty forward and sent him crashing with a high kick. Even as Teresa turned to defeat her remaining adversaries, Scott was dropping two opponents with a spinning high kick, before taking two more down with a low foot sweep. Three more rushed towards him - Teresa automatically spun to Scott's side, and they floored two of the putties with simultaneous high- kicks. The third putty struck out at both of them, but Teresa blocked his attacks and Scott sent him to the ground with a low kick.
"Whoa," breathed Scott. "That was so..."
"...ordinary," nodded Teresa. "Like we've fighting this way..."
"...all our lives," finished Scott. "Like we were born for it."
Teresa turned as another troop of putties charged towards them. "Hold that thought for a second..."
Across from them, Aaron was plowing through opponents, a trail of unconscious opponents behind him. He elbowed one in the ribs, spun around to slam his fist into another, before somersaulting over a low kick, lashing out on either side and downing two more as he landed. Four more rushed him - he blocked a high punch from one, struck away a low kick from another, and catching a grey first from the first, launched that opponent at the second, downing them both. The other two hung back briefly before swinging simultaneous high punches. Aaron blocked both, jumped sideways over a low sweep and batted away a chest-high lunge. They immediately moved to followed after him, but Aaron took one down with a high kick, before a powerful uppercut sent the other head-over-heels to the ground.
"Wow," said Jason, amazed. The Senior Rangers were watching the battle on the viewing screen, the monitoring-device set in the back of the Central Chamber. "They're incredible."
"I believe that's why we chose them," nodded Zordon.
"And given their success," added Billy, "we definitely made the right choice."
"I know, but still..."
"Weren't expecting them to do so well on their first day?" asked Kimberly, pausing as Teresa leaped into the air with a flying tornado kick that left the White Ranger without any opponents. "Don't worry, I was like thinking the exact same thing." And they all continued to watch in silent appreciation.
Sarah slammed her final adversary to the ground and quickly rejoined the team, as we launched an attack on the monster himself.
Aaron attacked first, charging towards Monitar, jumping into the air and kicking forward, but the monster ducked under his boot and slashed at the Aqua Ranger with his claws. Aaron dodged the swipe and retaliated with a kick to Monitar's stomach - the beast batted away Aaron's boot and sent him crashing with a blast from its eyes. Aaron's suit erupted in sparks as he was thrown backwards, but as he rolled to a stop, he realised the suit had actually absorbed the effects of the blow. Quickly dusting himself, he climbed to his feet.
Across the battlefield, Teresa had leaped forward to take up the attack, and was furiously trading blows with the monster. She blocked a high punch, batted away a low kick and aimed high, but Monitar ducked under Teresa's glove, kicked away a low jab and landed a blow the White Ranger's stomach. Teresa stumbled back but recovered quickly and swung a judo chop at Monitar's snout - the blow connected, jarring the monster and spinning him sideways, but when she followed after him with a high kick, Monitar caught her foot and spun her around him and before throwing her away.
Scott and Sarah attacked with side-by-side high kicks, but Monitar effortlessly struck Scott away and blasted Sarah with a burst of energy. She dived under the blast, rolling to her feet and retaliating with a right backhand that sent the lizard stumbling. Scott returned to her side as Monitar regained his footing, and the two Rangers attacked again, Scott landing a blow to the beast's shoulder and Sarah sending him stumbling with a low kick. Monitar recovered quickly from the blows, and moving with such speed that he caught the Rangers off-guard, slashed at both of them with his claws, sending them back towards Aaron and Teresa in a blaze of fire and sparks.
Monitar glanced around as the Rangers slowly picked themselves off the ground. "It's pretty obvious you're new at this," he growled, as the blue diamond on his chest began glowing. "Now hold still, and this won't hurt a bit. Sadly."
Without warning, I grabbed the beast's shoulder, spun him around and smashed both fists against his head. He batted away my fists and slashed his claws at my chest - I caught his arm, blocked his left fist and aimed my strongest punch straight for his gut. The blow connected, and he laughed - he actually laughed - and pulling my fist away, knocked me back with a rapid high kick. I stumbled back towards the other Rangers, and we all retreated as Monitar steadily advanced.
"What now?" asked Sarah. "That barely fazed him."
I shrugged. "Anybody got any ideas?"
"C'mon guys," said Trini, watching the Junior Team back away. "Don't give up, you can do this!"
Tommy turned back to Zordon. "No, they can't," he said. "We have to go help them."
Zordon shook his head. "Impossible. Without your powers, Rangers, you'd fare no better."
"Don't worry guys," said Jason. "They can do it, they just need their Power Weapons." And under his breath, whether realising it or not, he began chanting, "Power Weapons, Power Weapons..."
As if he was standing beside me, I realised what to do - we needed to use our weapons.
"Guys," I said, as Monitar advanced. "We need our weapons."
"Good idea," nodded Teresa. "How, though?"
I shrugged. "Let me try something." And I held out my hand and raised my voice. "Power Sword!" I cried. Nothing happened. Damn.
I shook my head, clearing my mind. Closing my eyes, I focussed on my Power Coin, and holding out my hand, I tried again.
"Power Sword!" Whatever I did, it worked - a thin beam of orange light appeared between my fingers and rapidly became solid, and my fist closed around the hilt of my fully-formed Power Sword. The handle was black with orange stripes, while the blade's hand-guard was also black and featured curling orange designs on either side. Above the hilt was a circular design inscribed with the same Stegosaurus that was on my Power Coin, while the blade itself was long, razor-sharp and silver, glowing in the afternoon light. The sword was light and felt comfortable in my hand, like I'd been using it all my life.
"Cool," I said with a grin.
"I think I'll try that," said Scott. "Power Staff!" And with that, a long blue staff formed in the Blue Ranger's hands.
"Power Whip!" cried Teresa, and the weapon's grip appeared in her hand with the whip trailing away behind her.
"Power Mace!" said Sarah, and a purple mace materialised in her hands.
"Power Blasters!" cried Aaron, and twin laser blasters appeared in his hands.
"All right," said Scott, before turning to me. "Shall we?"
I nodded. "We shall."
Monitar sneered. "It'd take an entire armoury to stop me!"
Aaron raised both blasters and held them at arm's length. "Thanks for the challenge," he said, and began firing. At such close range he couldn't have missed - blasts of aqua light smashed into the monster, the entire area erupting in sparks and fire. Monitar raised his arms to shield himself and staggered back through the cloud of smoke.
I turned to the other Rangers. "Let's take this guy!"
"Right!"
Scott took to the air, somersaulting down in front of the monster and spinning his staff as he landed. Monitar immediately struck at the Blue Ranger with his right fist - using the staff, Scott blocked the move, batted away his left fist, landed a blow to Monitar's head and swung the staff back around into the monster's chest, spinning on the spot and slamming his boot into Monitar's gut. Before the beast had time to recover, Teresa leaped down beside her brother, cracking her whip across the monster's scaly hide. Monitar raised his hands to protect himself, but Teresa wrapped the whip around his wrist and dragged him forward, just as Scott leaped into the air and landed a powerful high kick, the blow sending the monster reeling.
Teresa pulled the whip back as I stepped up beside her. "You know I've never held a whip before in my life," she said, "but I know exactly how to use this weapon."
"I heard that," I nodded. Even as I turned to face the monster, I could feel the skills suddenly in my head, shaping my movements and telling my body how to fight. Raising my Power Sword, I leaped towards Monitar with a wild battle cry, slashing in a wide diagonal stroke as I landed. He dodged the slice, blocked another and ducked under a third. I swung again but he caught my wrist - I dragged him forward and landed a rapid high kick to his chest. Monitar stumbled back but I followed after him, slashing again and again. He blocked two swipes but I was moving too fast, and cleaved my blade down through his chest armour before a spinning roundhouse kick forced him to retreat.
The monster hurriedly backed away from me but came under attack as Aaron and Sarah charged towards him. With a clear shot, Aaron fired, the barrage of blaster fire leaving the monster defenseless and giving Sarah the opportunity to attack, landing blow after blow with her Power Mace. Monitar tried to block the weapon but Sarah batted his arm aside, smashing the weapon into his stomach before knocking him sideways with a blow to the jaw. Dazed from the assault, Monitar staggered backwards, and without slowing down, Sarah spun around and slammed her mace with all her might into the diamond on the beast's chest.
The jewel instantly shattered - there was an explosion of blue light as Monitar was thrown backwards through the air, before crashing to the ground in a crumpled heap and moving no further. A second of shocked silence followed.
We'd done it. I don't know who was more shocked, him or us.
But we'd done it.
"All right!" cried Trini, watching the battle. "They did it! They beat him!"
"Awesome," said Jason with a grin.
"Everyone okay?" I asked, as we all regrouped.
"We're all fine," said Teresa.
"That was a damn good move," laughed Aaron.
Sarah smiled. "Thanks."
"We did it," said Scott simply. "We won."
There was a sudden flash of flame behind us, and we turned to see an old woman standing beside the monster's body. In fact old was something of an understatement - she looked almost Mesozoic. She wore a long red and brown dress, complimented by a strangely-shaped armoured breast-plate. Numerous charms and jewels hung around her neck, her hair was styled up into two long horns, and she carried a thin staff that ended in a large red orb.
"I wouldn't count on it," she said, turning to Scott.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Rita Repulsa," she scowled, gazing at the five of us. "Who the hell are you?"
Teresa stepped forward. "We're the Junior Team of Power Rangers."
Anger flashed in Rita's dark eyes. "Zordon finally used those extra Power Coins, huh?"
"You'd better believe it. Is that thing yours?" asked Sarah, pointing to Monitar.
Rita ignored her, taking a step back and holding her wand high. "You may have fought well enough on the ground, but let's see you fight my way. Magic wand, make my monster grow!"
Bolts of lightning immediately blasted out from the red orb, illuminating the area, dancing off the buildings and trees around us and striking the downed body of Monitar. There came a hissing sound and a great roaring, as if somebody had just split open the Earth itself, and Monitar's scaly body was suddenly replaced by a giant foot. We all realised what had happened - Monitar had grown. He was enormous, easily as tall as a fifteen story building, and he now stood with one foot on the oval and the other on the road, towering over us and raising his claws triumphantly.
Rita grinned a cruel smile. "Have fun," she said, before melting into the air and leaving the five of us alone with the vengeful Monitar.