Part 6
Leslie stood looking over the side of the mountian. For some reason that she couldn't explain it felt right for her to be up here high above the rest of the world. Most of all she was greatful for the chance to be alone so that she could think. Her life had taken a strange twist in the past few weeks and to make matters worse she couldn't even remember how she had gotten to be in the situation.
The first think that she had remembered was Jarrold and Ashlyn fighting off Scorpina and her soldiers. To Leslie Cortez that was where her life had began. She wanted to know more then anything why she couldn't remember but didn't let it stress her out, even though she couldn't shake the feeling that she was meant to be somewhere else. Leslie wished she could remember more about herself or how she had ended up in the situation with Scorpina. She shuddered at the thought of what the warrior had in store for her.
'I'm glad Jarrold and Ashlyn were there that day. Who knows what would have happened if they weren't. I just wish Jarrold was here now.' she said to herself. "I wonder why he doesn't like me. He's so wrapped up in Ashlyn that he doesn't even notice me or see how I feel about him. I'm totally in love with this guy and all he does is swoon over some other girl. It's driving me nuts, why can't he just pay attention to me!?"
"Look how pathetic you are. I wonder how you ever got away in the first place."
Leslie turned around to see who had just spoken to her and her eyes went wide as she saw Scorpina walking towards her. "What are you doing here?" she stuttered.
"Why I've come for you Leslie. Emperor Nicandros is requesting your presence and he does not take kindly to the word no."
"Well I don't really care, there's no way I'm going anywhere with you." Leslie told her nemesis as she backed away from her. "Why don't you just leave me alone?"
"My emperor wants you and you're coming with me." the warrior women said to Leslie as she reached for her.
Leslie stepped to the side to avoid her. "What's your problem, I said that I don't want to go with you, so why don't you just leave me alone dammit!?" Leslie yelled.
"I believe that this game is over. It's time to go meet your future husband."
"Ewwww. I'm not marrying him." Leslie said in disgust.
"You should be honored that his highness would choose someone like you to be his queen. Now come with me." The Scorpian warrior reached for the Pink Ranger and this time was able to grab her arm.
Leslie tried to pull free but found Scorpinas strength to be to much as she was forcibly dragged along. "Let go of me" she ordered. Scorpina simply ignored her and continued to pull her along. "I'm getting sick of you" she shouted and dug her heels into the ground, causing Scorpina to be pulled back and trip. The warrior released her grip and used her hands to catch herself. Leslie took a few steps back and stared at her.
"You will pay for that" Scorpina threatened.
"How come I keep having to deal with you guys? Why don't you realize that this is our planet and just leave us alone?"
Scorpina got a puzzled look on her face and then started to laugh "your planet..." she said, grabbing her stomach.
"What's so funny?" Leslie asked, her expression changing to a frown. "you don't have the right to be here, we humans were born here and this is our planet."
Scorpina was now laughing hysterically "You really don't know, do you?"
"What are you talking about?" Leslie asked, puzzled.
"Now, now I don't want to ruin your surprise." The warrior laughed. "Now come with me."
"I think not, you stay away from me." Leslie warned her, jumping back. "I'm not going anywhere with you."
"You have no choice."
"I'm not as weak as the last time you saw me." Leslie said taken up a fighting stance.
"So you want to fight. Well you're no Ashlyn but I've been spoiling for a fight and the emperor probably won't mind as long as I don't hurt you to much."
"I hope you know that your going to be in for a heck of a surprise." Leslie said reaching behind her back to pull out her morpher. "It's Morphin Time!"
Scorpinas eyes went wide as she looked in recognition at the object that her prey had pulled out. The words that the girl had uttered stung as they hit her ears. 'Can it be, after all of these years? Is this girl really a Power Ranger?'
Scorpina had fought the Power Rangers many times before under Rita Repulsa, then Lord Zedd and now it seemed as if she was going to have to fight them again. 'Oh well if I have to fight them so be it.'
"Phoenix!" Leslie called out. A halo of fire circled her head and she and began to slowly inch down her body transforming nto clothing into her Ranger uniform. The now fully morphed Pink Ranger assumed a fighting stance.
'This isn't going to be good' Scorpina thought as she and the Pink Ranger stared each down. Scorpina never being the one to be attacked rushed the smaller framed Pink Ranger, who in response flipped over her. The two circled each other for a few moments and then Pink decided that it was her turn to charge Scorpina. The two locked up and wrestled for moment but Scorpina was stronger and got the upperhand on her smaller opponent, lifting her over head and tossing her into a tall tree. The Pink Ranger slumped against the tree and then stood up.
"That all you got. Well why don't you try this. Phoenix Fire Whip Strike!" The Pink Rangers weapon materialized and she swung the whip over her head. Scorpina leapt out of the way and pulled out her sword. Leslie swung the whip at her again but Scorpina lifted her sword and blocked the attack.
Leslie pulled the whip to untangle it from Scorpinas sword but during her momentary distraction the warrior executed a jump kick, sending the Pink Ranger crashing to the ground.
Leslie stood up slowly but had her legs swept by Scorpina and went down again. Scorpina then leaned and picked her up by the neck. In desperation Leslie kicked her legs out, hitting Scorpina in the face and causing her to stumble back. Thinking quickly the Pink Ranger draw her pistol and fired sending her opponent over the side of the cliff. "Have a nice fall" she quipped as she leaned over to see look.
"You can't get rid of me that easily Pinkie, I've been fighting rangers for centuries and I'm not letting some rookie take me out." Scorpina grabbed Leslies leg and pulled, sending both over the side of the cliff.
Leslie could see the ground moving closer to her and she began to panic. Her hand moved down to her morpher but she couldn't seem to teleport.
"If I'm going to die at least I can take you out with me!" Scorpina laughed.
"Jarrolddddddd!!!" Leslie screamed as she saw the grond spiralling towards her, 'I'm about to die, so why am I thinking about him?' she thought to herself. 'Because I love him that's why. I just wish that I had told him, maybe he would have said that he loved me too.'
The Pink Ranger looked up, she didn't want to look down but she kept her eyes open to try to face her death bravely. There was a gleam of light in the sky above her. She swore it looked like a large metallic bird had flown overhead. 'Great now I'm seeing things.' Even though she wasn't looking she know that the ground was getting closer. She could feel it and knew that in just a matter of moments before see would meet her end.
Turning her head she looked down at Scorpina and saw that the warrior didn't seem to be scared at all, but was in fact laughing.
'How could she be laughing when we're about to die?' Leslie asked herself. "What's so funny, we're about to die." Leslie yelled.
"No Pink Ranger, you are about to die. My emperor is calling for me." she chuckled as she teleported away in a blaze of fire.
"This is just great not only am I going to die but she gets away." There was a loud buzzing and a large hornet like creature appeared above the Pink Ranger. 'Now what?' she thought as the creature dove towards her. "Great I guess she wanted to make sure I was finished."
The hornet monster dove down at her and she quickly aimed and fired her blaster at it. The energey beam hit sending the monster into a spin. It crashed into the side of the mountain and began to grow. "How perfect, this is just what I need." Leslie looked in horror as the huge monster came streaking down at her.
'This is it. I'm finished' she thought. The monster moved closer to her and she closed her eyes and waited for the end. After a couple of seconds she realized that she was okay and her fall had stopped, Then she realized that she was actually moving up. The bewildered teen looked up and saw that something was holding her. Her eyes scanned the length of the what was holding her trying to find out what had saw her life. That's when she caught site of the bright pink metallic color of the giant robotic bird that held her in its grasp. "You must be the PhoenixZord" she said.
The Zord leaned its head down to look at her. Two pink beams of light shot out of its eyes and the Pink Ranger found sitting at the controls of her new Zord. "This is great. Lets take that thing out." she said grabbing the controls. "Wing Blade!"
Metallic feathers fired from the tips of the PhoenixZords wings and cut through the Hornet monster, which exploded in a ball of fire.
Leslie stood on top of the PhoenixZord as it zipped through the air. She had left her helmet in the cockpit so that she could feel the wind rushing through her hair.
"This is great, I can't wait to show you to Jarrold and that Scorpina is in for a big surprise the next time we meet." The giant pink Phoenix did a spin and flew off to the Power Chamber with its Ranger.
"This place is a lot bigger than it looks. I've been down here for hours and I still have no idea of where to find the proto-form. Well I guess I better stop to rest for a little while." Jason sat down on top of a box and kicked his feet up on another. The White ranger took his boot off and rubbed his foot, he looked around at the huge room. "Man I could be in this palce for years and still never find what I'm looking for." Then something caught his attention, he stood up and walked over to a large storage closet. The door read "ALPHA UNIT-Model 8".
Jason placed his hand on the door and began to slowly open it. He quickly stepped inside and found huge boxes. "What are these?" he wandered aloud. Leaning oevr he opened one of the boxes and saw that it contained what looked like a large golden disk. He pulled the disk out of the box and examind it. 'What is this thing?' he put it down, deciding that this was not what he was looking for and headed out of the storage locker.
"Don't think that it's here." Jason said to himself. "Maybe mom and dad were wrong."
Jason turned and looked in the direction that he thought was the door but quickly realized he had gotten himself lost. 'Man this is great, now not only can I not find the proto-form but now I can't even find my way out.' he looked down at the communicator on his wrist 'good thing that we found these.' The White Ranger reached down to activate the teleporter on his communicator when he heard a large crash. Turning around quickly he saw a shadow run past him. "Who's there? he called out." A shadow ran between two of the large shelves that were near him. "Whoever you are come out now." There was no answer. Jason started to walk towards the shelves, he didn't know what was there but was sure that he could handle whatever it was.
"I said come out" he called. There was still no answer. Jason moved behind the shelves and saw nothing there but a puddle of water. 'Somethings back here, I know it.' He saw another shadow move and turned around to see where it was heading. By the time he made the turn it was gone. 'That thing is fast, whatever it is. I better catch it or at least find out what it is before I leave. I could be dangerous.' Jason started walking to the last location he had seen the shadow and looked around. He heard a growling noise and turned around.
A small white creature was standing in front of him. Jason approached the little animal and leaned over to pick it up. "Was that you, come here" he said. The creature responded by slashing the White Rangers hand and running away. Jason pulled his hand in, the cut on it was pretty deep and blood was pooring out of it onto the floor. Pulling the sleeves off of his shirt the young man made a bandage and wrapped it around his hand. He then looked to see if he could spot the creature.
It was sitting on the other end of the aisle staring at him. "What was that for?" he asked as he walked towards the animal, this time approaching more carefully. "I just want to talk to you." The creature arched its back and hissed at him. Jason stopped in his tracks and watched for a reaction. He didn't get quite what he was expecting. The small animal started to walk slowly towards him.
"I must have startled you before, is that it?" the creature stopped to look at him again. "How are you little guy?" Jason asked. The creature seemed to be curious about the White Ranger and stared at him. Jason reached out to grab the creature, which in return promptly reached its claw up and slashed face.
Jason feel back and covered the gash on his face. "That's it your dead meat fella" Jason dove at the creature but in moved out of the way and he slid into a wall. The creature turned to face Jason and he could almost swear that it was laughing at him.
"You want a piece of me you little jerk!" Jason yelled angrily. "That's it let's rumble." The creature stood up on two legs. Its front paws grew longer and more slender, with the rear paws becoming feet. It's ears shrank down until they were just two points on the sides of it's head.
"You are so much like your father White Ranger. Quick to anger and use violence instead of your brain." it told Jason "Well if this is how you need to learn than so be it." With that the creature charged at Jason and tackled him. It raised a claw and took aim at his face. Jason trembled at the thought of what a claw that large would do to him.
"Get off of me." Jason said, lifting his hand to block the attack and then kicking the creature off with one leg.
"You,re no where near as good as Tommy was so why don't you give up?" The creature taunted.
"What do you know about my dad?" Jason yelled. "He taught me everything and I know enough to beat you." The young Ranger assumed a fighting stance "Let's do it."
"Let's do it indeed" the creature charged at Jason and brought a knee up into his stomach. Jason grabbed his stomach and doubled over. "Your father would have never fallen for that, your not good enough to be a Ranger, let alone the White Ranger."
"I'm getting sick of you." Jason said reaching behind his back.
"Let me guess, next your going to say It's Morphin Time and pull out a morpher of some type, call out some animal. Then you'll become the White Ranger and we'll fight. Been there done that, at least your father was original."
Jason pulled his hand away from his morpher. "I'm not trying to be my dad. Sure I've always wanted to be a Power Ranger but my dad has no bearing on this. I would have wanted it even if he had never been."
"But the thing is that if it wasn't for him you wouldn't be one. He trained you to be what you are. But he couldn't train you to be a leader, that's why that kid who's parents never even had anything to do with the team is in charge. You are following the orders of a former slave and it's all because you aren't good enough. I bet Tommy was real proud when he found out that you were only a follower."
"My dad would be proud of me even if I never became a Ranger, he and my mom both love me, they wouldn't care if I never became a Ranger."
"By the way Jason, which mommy would that be. Your step-mommy or you dead mommy." the creature taunted.
"That's was the last straw, my mom was a good women and doesn't deserve that." Jason said, furious that his mom had been mentioned in anything other than a positive light. "Your finished fur face. It's Morphin Time!" Jason pulled out his morpher. "Lynx!" A white light burst from Jasons chest and wrapped around his body. His ranger costume materialized and he stood in front of the creature fully transformed. "Now what was that you were saying?"
"I give the morph an A but you still aren't going to beat me plus I think your dad's suit was a lot cooler looking. Now lets fight."
The White Ranger and the creature rushed at each other. They both lept into the air, the creature bearing it's claws and White pulling out his weapon. "Ice Cutter" he called.
Both combatants weapons impacted and they both hit the floor hard. Jason was quick to get back to his feet. He saw that his opponenent was down and moved in to continue his attack.
The creature saw what was coming and moved to get up quickly. Jason ran in a little faster then the creature was expecting and managed to trip it up before it could regain its balance. Bringing his weapon up the creature looked at him as if he was daring him to finish him off.
"Do it White Ranger, finish me." the creature taunted.
Jason looked at the creature for a moment and then lowered his weapon "I'm not going to kill you Saba" Jason told him.
"Good work White Ranger." the creature said as it began to grow smaller and then transform into its original form. "You have done well. Tell me though what made you realize what I was?"
"It was the way that you kept praising my dad and making it seem that he was the best ranger ever but mostly it was when you mentioned my mom. Remember I was there and I saw they way that you reacted when the shot hit my mom. You're the one that tried to help dad get revenge so I recognized the stiffness in your voice when you made that comment."
"Your just as smart as you were back then and I'm just as proud of you. Now here take this." A white beam of light erupted from Sabas eyes and the light hit the puddle of water that Jason had stepped in earlier. The puddle began to grow and take shape. "Go to your proto-form it will take on the shape of the Zord that will serve you."
Jason slowly walked to the growing mass. The young White Ranger slowly lifted his hand and touched the glowing, colorless mass. The proto-form reached out as if alive and part of it wrapped around his arm. "What's going on?" Jason asked Saba.
"It's all right the proto-form is adapting to your aura." The proto-form began to take shape. "It will now transform into your a Zord version of your spirit animal."
Jasons morpher flew from his belt and hovered in front of the proto-form, the same white light that had transformed him into the White Ranger now bathed the newly forming Zord. When the light faded the room was clear except for Saba, the Morpher that had dropped to the floor and Jason, who was standing there unmorphed with his wounds completely healed. "Where'd it go?" White Ranger asked as leaned over to pick up his morpher.
"It was teleported to the outside there is no room in this storage room for him any longer. Now go meet your new Zord."
Jason pushed the teleport button on his communicator and in a flash found himself standing outside of the command center holding Saba in one hand and his morpher in the other. He looked around at the area and found that he had been taken to a snow covered area overlooking a cliff. Jason walked over to the cliff and looked down to see a large White Zord staring up at him.
"This is the LynxZord, he will guide, serve and protect you, treat him and use his power responsibly Jason. "Now go and let the protect you."
"Aren't you going to come with me Saba?" the new White Ranger asked.
"No I must go await my destiny elsewhere but we will meet again." With that the talking saber vanished.
"Well buddy we'd better get back to the others. I bet they'd love to see you."
The LynxZord let out a small growl as Jason once again pulled out his morpher. "Lynx!" the familiar white light eradiated Jason and he was once again morphed into the White Ranger. "Let's go home buddy." he said jumping onto the Zords back from the top of the cliff. The Zord ran off towards the Power Chamber with the White Ranger on its back.
Aron had been on this world for only a short period of time, but had already come to see it as home. He had made new friends and had a home. Things had not gone exactly as he had wanted and he had yet to find any clue of what happened to Jayna after she had left the village. He hadn't even thought of his homeworld that much. Of course he was still worried about what was happening on Keldeha but he needed, no wanted to free this world and find his Princess before he went home. Besides now that he had new friends maybe they would be willing to come back with him to chase the Vandairre off of Keldeha. After all that's why Jayna was sent here anyway.
The Red Ranger liked what he had seen of the new world all excpet for the place that he now found himself at. It was cold and felt strange to him. Which was actually saying alot considering the fact that he was already on a different planet all together. 'I have to find this Zord and get back to the others as soon as possible' he told himself. "I'm going to tell them who I am when I get back, they'll understand."
A female figure approached the Aron "Will they understand my love?" asked the female figure. "how can you be certain?"
"Jayna is that you!" Aron said running towards the women.
"Yes it is my darling" Jayna told him as she looked him.
"How did you get here, where have you been." Aron had a hundred questions for the princess but didn't want to overwhelm her.
"It doesn't matter an long as we're together now. Do you have the coin that you were given?"
Aron stepped back for a moment. 'How did she know about the coin, she wasn't there when her mom gave it to me. Oh well she probably figured that since I was here I must have had it.'
"Aron there is something that I have to tell you. Emperor Nicandros sent me here to find you. He wants us to rule his empire by his side."
"What are you talking about Jayna. He conquered this planet and now he's on Keldeha trying to take it over. He's causing suffering to everyone, even when I left he was on the verge of completely taken over our world."
"What does it matter who's side we're on as long as we're together."
"What have they done to you Jayna, you'd never think about something like this."
"The Emperor set my mind free, he taught me that I was meant to do more than wait for my mom to die so that I could rule some little back water planet. He wants me to rule the universe by his side and I want you to rule by my side, so come with me and the three of us could take what we deserve."
"Jayna listen to me. This is not like you at all. I don't want to rule anything and I will fight Nicandros to my last breath to free all of the worlds that he's enslaved." Aron told her. "I want you to come with me."
"I can't come with you Aron. But have you made your final decision about coming with me."
"Yes I have princess, I will not join with some evil dictator that only wants to cause pain and destruction. I'm a Power Ranger now."
"Well then you can die along with your new friends. Soldiers destroy him." A hoard of soldiers came from the inside of a building and ran at Aron. He in return jumped over them into the center of the group and began his attack. He kicked the first in the head sending him flying into another. A third spun around and caught the young warrior with a back hand slap that left a large red bruise on his face. Aron responded by extending his leg and catching the offender in ribs with a kick. Jayna laughed and looked over her shoulder "Arthrax, help these weaklings. My love is a very powerful fighter he will be a challenge."
A large white and red monster came roaring from behind the princess. "I serve you princess, he will be destroyed." The creature charge through the soldiers sending them flying in all directions. He then looked over at Aron and pointed to him. "You will be destroyed ranger." Arthrax charged at Aron and grabbed him by his neck, lifting and choking him.
Jayna simply stood in the background laughing as her monster choked the life out of her former love. She laughed at his predicament "Are you sure you won't reconsider my offer darling?"
"No, but I might consider this" he said reaching behind his back to pull out his morpher. "It's Morphin Time!" Aron raised the morpher into the air. "Bull!" Fire shot out from the Power Coin and hit Arthrax causing him to bellow out in pain and drop Aron. The fire then surrounded the Red Ranger and compressed around his body. When the flames died down Aron was standing fully morphed holding a flaming pair of sias.
"Very impressive darling but lets see how you deal with this." the princess reached into her cloak and pulled out a tube that contained the same susbtance as Barberon had been carrying.
"Jayna you don't have to do this, you can come with me. The rangers will help us free Keldeha." The Red Ranger told her.
"You don't understand Aron or should I say Red Ranger. I don't want to go with you but I do want to do this." Princess Jayna made her point clear by throwing the tube at Arthrax, which shattered releasing its contents to flow over the injured monster. Jayna looked at Aron in a way that said she was sorry that it had come to this but also that she wouldn't back down.
"I love you Aron but since you chose to stand against my Emperor I have to destroy you. This is the last time that we will see each other." And then with a walk that can only be described as royal, Princess Jayna of Keldeha turned her back on the man who loved her and walked away.
Aron shook his head trying not to cry then turned to face the now fully grown monster. "You're a big one one aren't you? Well it doesn't matter you'll go down just the same." Red assumed a fighting stance. "Fire Wave Strike!" he crossed the two weapons to form an X pattern. A stream of flame shot out at the giant and struck him in the chest. Arthrax laughed and lifted his leg to crush the Red Ranger. Aron rolled out of the way as the big creature brought his foot down.
"The princess demands that you die and so it will be." Arthrax then pulled out a large sword and swung down at the Red Ranger, who flipped out of the way and then looked up.
"It's going to take a lot more then you've got to get rid of me." Red threw one of his sais at Arthrax striking him. The monster slapped the tiny weapon out of the way and once again raised his foot to step on the Red Ranger. Aron rolled out of the way. "This is ridiculous, I need to find the Zord and take this guy out." Arthrax reached down and slapped Aron sending flying into a building. The Red Ranger was dazed but managed to stand up. "I need that Zord now!" he shouted.
There was a loud roar and the ground began to tremble. Aron turned around to see if he could the find the source of the quake and saw a huge building that he had barely notice explode. A large robotic bull stood there amongst the rubble looking at him.
"You must be the BullZord". The Zord looked up and roared.
"Your little cow isn't going to stop me Red Ranger, I'll turn it into scrap metal and twist your head off." Arthrax threatened.
"We're not going to take that from this guy are we?" Red Ranger asked his Zord.
BullZord responded by charging Arthrax and sending him flying into the air.
"I like your style." Aron said jumping to the Zords back. "Let's finish him now."
BullZord leapt over the monster and charge it from behind knocking it into the lava pit. Arthrax screamed as he hit the lava and then exploded.
"Well that takes care of that. I have to find out what they did to Jayna, maybe there's a way to reverse it." Aron said, looking up at the BullZord. The Red Ranger put his helmet back on and climb into the Zord. "Lets go home." The two ran off towards the Power Chamber with a trail of fire following behind them.
"They have acquired seven of the Zords my Lord" Barberon informed Nicandros.
"Those Zords are of little importance as long as the last ranger does not get his. You must take our most powerful troops to stop him. Those Zords are can ruin everything if the Rangers can bring them together. You must go quickly Barberon destroy that ranger and his Zord and do not fail me again otherwise your life and everything that I have promised you will be forfeit."
"I will not fail you again my Lord Nicandros." Barberon said as he turned to leave the Emperors site.