Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize from Power Rangers in this story.
Okay, before you all send Internet projectiles aimed to my head, let me explain. With the end of the school year comes many a happy student. Well, until AP testing starts, that is. So there's my excuse for waiting almost two weeks to post. Hopefully, the next chapter won't take as long. Please understand, I really did try to finish this chapter and make it good. Oh, and it didn't help it was so friggin' long! So, I hope the wait was worthwhile and here you go.
Thanks as usual to the reviewers!
Jenna Summers: You know, you might have something there...the next chapter may find if your theory is correct...
Crimson-Ranger: Haha, don't worry, he did bathe. I would have mentioned that, but if I added a description, it might not be appropriate for this site...
Ghostwriter: Y'know, I think it is...I don't know which movie, though.
Titanium Gold: Yes, Ivanox fried would be rather nice...I hope the demise at the end of this chapter satisfies you.
Okay then, you've all waited long enough, so here it is!
Chapter 15
A Heavenly Reward at a Devastating Price, Part I
Peace. As Sensei meditated in the serene atmosphere of the gardens adjacent to the academy, feelings of utter tranquility flowed through the aura of the surrounding plants and flowers. Lost in his meditation, Sensei breathed deep and steady, the simple act calming his turmoiled mind from the present circumstances. Inside the depths of his psyche, Sensei shivered, a looming darkness clouding over his peaceful ponderings. The end was coming.
xxx
Conner lounged in a lawn char on the back patio of his house, surveying the scene before him with amusement. Normal. That was how this day was, and that scared the Chosen Ranger. Both teams had gathered at the McKnight home and were enjoying in various forms of relaxation. Ethan, Eric, and Trent faced off against Dustin, Shane, and Cam. Conner chuckled as Shane knocked Eric head over heels, jarring the ball loose. Seeing the pigskin oval tumbling through the sand, the remaining rangers, not presently groaning in pain, pounced, piling onto each other in a fierce struggle to gain possession of the ball. Blake and Max huddled near a log, chatting on a cell-phone with their manager, sorting out their current absence with Factory Blue, assuring they would be back for Nationals in a month. The inferno ranger caught the strands of Billy, Dr. O, and Hayley's conversation, the extensive scientific terminology making his head spin, and the jock averted his gaze, the conversation making him feel extremely stupid. His eyes traveled to a more pleasing sight, and Conner smiled, glimpsing Kira and Tori lazing back on chairs, idly chatting. The Chosen Ranger noticed one teammate absent from the gathering, and sweeping his amber gaze over the length of the beach, he spotted Hunter isolated by the cove.
The crimson ninja breathed in the deep, salty ocean air, the aroma slightly stinging his nostrils. The object in his hand weighed heavily against his palm, as he fiddled with it, absently opening and closing the lid. The thoughts mingled through his head, but all seemed to revert back to a single person.
"Hey."
Hunter grinned at the younger man approaching. Standing in the balmy summer air, the two rangers stared out into the ocean abyss in comfortable silence. Turning his head towards his companion, Conner nodded at the object grasped in the thunder ranger's hand twirled idly through his fingers.
"What's that?"
A small smile worked his way across Hunter's face as he opened the object to reveal a beautiful princess cut diamond set between two smaller diamonds dashed with a pale light blue set on a white gold band. As the younger man's eyes widened at the ring, his gaze flickered over to their girlfriends, settling on Tori, pushing back her wave of blonde hair over her shoulder. Returning his stare to his crimson counterpart, Conner raised an eyebrow.
"You're proposing."
Hunter nodded, "Yeah. I asked her parents this morning. She's the one, Conner. I've known it for a long time."
Conner quirked a grin, "So how do you know when she's the one?"
Hunter shrugged, "When waking up next to her is the most natural, comfortable thing in the world. When just holding her feels better than anything."
Conner lapsed into silence, contemplating his friend's words, "So how are you gonna do it?"
The thunder sensei waggled his eyebrows, "I have an idea. All I know is when this fiasco is over, I'm settling down."
The jock beside him averted his eyes to rest on the peacefully rippling waves. His heart hurt with the knowledge that someone had to die, and he couldn't reassure either Hunter or Tori that they would live to the prospective proposal.
xxx
Tori giggled, hearing the description of Conner the fateful day the meteor rock gave the Dino rangers' personalities a complete 180. Raising herself up on one elbow, the water ranger shook her head.
"Conner as a geek..." Tori mused, her torso trembling with her mirth, "I would pay good money for that."
Kira nodded in earnest agreement, "I know, funny, huh?"
"Almost as funny as Hunter and Blake getting trapped in a vat of popcorn and having to use their thunder powers to pop themselves out." Tori smirked, "And glasses and everything?"
"Yeah," Kira chuckled, "Turns out he uses them for reading, which is why we never see them. And, of course, he looks amazingly sexy and intelligent in them."
"As opposed to his normal state?" Tori ventured.
"Well..." The two lone female rangers shared a laugh, "It's not like I had it any better. I got turned into a friggin' Barbie doll."
Suddenly, Kira burst out into hilarity, "You know, thinking about it, I turned into the type of girl Conner said was his pastime when we first became rangers."
"I guess you're too big and bad to surf the web. Well, what to you do in your spare time?"
Conner cocked his head, smirking down at the shorter boy. Chuckling to himself, Reefside High's most eligible bachelor swaggered forward, his thumbs hooked casually in his front pockets.
"Me? I date girls. You know, they're the ones at school that smell good with the long hair and the makeup."
Ethan's eyes flashed in annoyance at the jock as the computer whiz turned to face his companion, "Oh, so it's like that?"
Conner gave an arrogant toss of his head, the corners of his mouth quirked upward in an amused expression as he met the deep brown eyes of his shorter counterpart, "Yeah, it is."
Both boys drew back as a breeze of yellow brushed past them, eager to escape the overload of testosterone with a huffed, "Whatever." Ethan followed Kira, shooting a meaningful glance at the jock behind him. Unbeknownst to either passing party, Conner's amber eyes continued to gaze in fascination at the departing musician, one eyebrow cocked in interest.
Tori grinned, "Yeah, I can totally see Conner saying that. But, somehow, I think his standards have changed."
"Assuming he had standards in the first place, right?" Kira chided gently.
"Why do I get the feeling you two are sharing a laugh at my expense?"
The blue and yellow rangers peeked up at the amused, masculine voice knifing through their conversation. Tori beamed up cheekily at their leader.
"Possibly because we are?"
Conner treated the water ranger with a withering glance, "Thanks, Tor."
"No problem," The surfer replied, a smirk still firmly attached to her features, "We were actually discussing your standards or lack thereof."
"Hey, I have standards!" The jock protested indignantly.
"And they are...?" Tori goaded, relishing teasingly in the Chosen Ranger's slight frustration.
Conner threw out his trademark grin, "Why bother naming them? I found someone who meets them all."
Tori rolled her eyes, "Smooth, McKnight."
"I thought so." The jock shrugged, leaning down to claim his reward from an appreciative girlfriend. Kira shook her head at Conner, laughing at the satisfied expression on his face.
"I think that's the most intelligent thing you've ever said."
Conner growled, an adorable scowl flitting across his face, "I'm going to leave you all before my ego takes another brutal beating." Turning his back, the soccer player strode away amidst the gales of feminine laughter.
xxx
Around noon, the team sat around a picnic table, indulging in the light conversation transpiring in the aftermath of a satisfying meal. Conner smiled at the idle chatter drifting through the air. The Ninja Storm and Dino Thunder teams along with Billy and Hayley formed a cohesive unit, bonding together tightly in the months they spent fighting together. The days off were spent hanging out together in random activities, enjoying the companionship. They were a team, with no dividing line between their two groups.
As the brisk summer air was thick with their leisured, animated talk, a single beep cut through the conversations, and the babbles died immediately as silence reigned heavy in the air. Slowly, Conner placed down his drink and raised his communicator to his lips.
"You got us, CyberCam."
"Rangers, we need you back at Ninja Ops."
Wordlessly, the twelve rangers, Billy, Hayley, and Max rose. Hush ruled as the fifteen bodies vanished to be transported to their destination.
Landing in Ninja Ops, the team gathered around the central monitor while Billy and Hayley rushed to the adjacent modules, and Max retreated to stand beside Sensei. CyberCam glanced backwards at the ranger, worry creasing his brow. The team averted their gazes to the monitor before them to see Khyuss standing at the edge of a cliff adjacent to the Blue Bay Harbor mountains, Ivanox at his side. The sorcerer reared his head back to shout into the distance.
"Come, Chosen One! Meet your destiny!"
Conner's eyes hardened to amber stone as he gazed out at the image of his hated foe, and his jaw set with anger. His hands clenched to fists at his sides, the white spreading through the knuckles. Slowly, the inferno ranger directed his gaze to CyberCam, the whispered words heavy with rage.
"Send us in."
xxx
Twelve multi-colored blurs landed behind Ivanox and Khyuss, the background of the mountainous valley staring at the rangers. Leisurely and deliberately, the sorcerer turned to face the assembled group, a pleased smile barely perceptible beneath the veiled hood. The villain spread his arms wide in greeting.
"Welcome, Rangers. Welcome to your demise."
Conner stepped to the front of the group, "Don't bet on it."
The sorcerer inclined his head in mock respect to the inferno ranger, "Well then, Chosen One, why don't we allow that to be seen?" With a wave of his hand, hoards of Dryads materialized, converging on the rangers. Nodding to his team, Conner sped out to meet them, as his team split up to take on their attackers.
xxx
Dustin led a group of Dryads away near the base of a mountain. Ducking, the earth ninja allowed a fist to whiz over his head, and straightening, Dustin snapped off a fierce backhand flush on the Dryad's beak before whirling to fall another with a right cross. As the two minions exploded in a puff of feathers, a hard snap kick found its way through the yellow ranger's defenses. As he struggled on, the earth ninja felt his determination rise, thinking about all those he was fighting for: the earth, the universe, his team.
Falling to a knee, Dustin avoided a kick to the head as he swiped the feet of a minion out from under it. Flipping to his feet, the wind ranger took two more down with a split kick, landing in a fighting stance, anticipating more. Glancing up, Dustin used his elemental power to send a chunk of rock protruding from the mountains to come crashing down on the remaining Dryads. Through the ruckus of battle, one single thought resonated through his mind.
This is for Conner.
xxx
Ethan backed up slowly, avoiding a flurry of blows coming from the sea of Dryads advancing upon him. The blue ranger sidestepped to the right as a fist flew by. Doubling over the crony with a sidekick to the groin, Ethan rolled over the bent back. Sliding between the legs of a Dryad, Ethan lashed out, sending it tumbling into his fellows. In the chaos of battle, the blue ranger's unconscious mind thought of the reasons he fought on: peace, sanity, innocence.
The computer whiz whirled just in time to activate his reptilian armor as he blocked an overhead strike. A kick to the stomach brought the blue ranger to his knees, and Ethan rolled away from his pursuer. Kneeing a creature in the midsection, Ethan thrashed upward, snapping off an uppercut. Pushing another Dryad away, the Dino ranger connected squarely with the offending creature's beak. Looking down at his handiwork, the blue ranger nodded in satisfaction, dedicating this battle to one person.
That was for you, Conner.
xxx
A wave of crimson and navy thunder tore through a group of Dryads, flinging them backward. With a shared look, Hunter, Blake, and Cam rushed at their attackers. Blake unleashed a tornado kick, thumping a lackey in the chest. As a Dryad attempted a roundhouse punch, the thunder ranger threw up a block, striking back with a back knuckle. Hooking his foot behind the kneecap, Blake swept the Dryad to the ground. The simple movement reminded Blake of a certain Chosen Ranger that fell for the same move.
Blake stormed from the infirmary to the air dojo. Conner waited in anticipation for his lesson. The thunder ranger gave the jock a curt nod and settled into a fighting stance. Immediately, the navy ranger went on the attack. Conner sidestepped Blake's kick, retaliating with a right snap kick followed by a roundhouse. Blake dodged around the red ranger, countering with a left jab and a right cross. Conner ducked the first strike and blocked the second, answering with a left roundhouse punch. Blake parried the blow, and catching the red ranger's wrist, the thunder ninja hooked his left foot behind Conner's kneecap and swept the jock to the ground.
As he held onto the Dryad's arm and, using the limb for leverage, flipped over the fallen creature, Blake felt his faith in Conner finally come full circle. The Chosen Ranger had done more for the earth than the thunder ranger had done in a lifetime. This battle was for Conner, and the faith he at last held.
xxx
Cam spun out of the way of a charging Dryad. Grabbing at the hand as it passed, the samurai wrenched downward, throwing the creature to the ground. Turning his attention to the side, Cam avoided a wild swipe from his pursuer, and blocking a roundhouse punch, the green ranger doubled his attacker over with a snap kick to the groin followed by a knee to the head. Cartwheeling through the air, the samurai darted in through a split in his foes advances.
Feeling the samurai amulet swaying at the base of his breastbone, Cam was reminded of Conner's own morpher, and the similarities between the two rangers. Both had risked their lives to obtain the spheres of power and were needed for a serious cause. Looking back at their respective quests, Cam understood what the Chosen Ranger was going through, but what the samurai couldn't understand was how Conner could give his life so unfailingly to a cause so dangerous and trying.
xxx
A series of back handsprings brought Hunter away from the group, and the crimson ranger lingered as the oncoming minions converged. Lowering his shoulder, the thunder ninja sent a Dryad flying. From his crouched position, Hunter straightened to catch a creature flush on the beak with a ferocious uppercut. A Dryad wrapped the thunder ranger from behind in a bear hug. After struggling against his bond for a moment, Hunter broke the hold on his body with a sharp elbow to the midsection. Flipping the creature over his body, the thunder sensei knocked his opponent out with a downward punch.
His breathing slowed to a light, even pace as the rush of adrenaline subsided. Breathing easy. Something so foreign to him at a time where pain ruled his body. Through the efforts of their Chosen Ranger, he was fine. He was in the battle, combating for his life, no doubt. Hunter was fighting, not only for the lives of so many people, but in gratitude for the kid who saved him.
xxx
A Ptera scream ripped thought the air, throwing a group of Dryads away from the yellow Dino ranger. Kira skillfully avoided wild swipes from her attackers, spinning and leaping out of the way. Handspringing backwards, the Dino ranger kicked down a Dryad with a spinning tornado kick. Sidestepping to her left, Kira parried a right cross from her opponent with a knife hand to the elbow. Chopping at the creature's neck, Kira felled her opponent with a swift cross body punch.
Looking down at the pile of feathers that once was a Dryad, Kira reminisced on one of the first interactions between herself and Conner. They had spent a day in detention fighting off a hoard of Tyrannodrones out for blood. He was so infuriating then, cocky, arrogant, full of himself. The stereotypical Golden Boy who fit his reputation perfectly. Now, well, Kira was in love with him, and it really showed how much being Rangers changed them. She wasn't just fighting for the universe anymore; she was fighting for the man she fell in love with and the ways he changed since this whole ordeal started.
xxx
Tori darted in between her attackers, staving off their progress. Whirling the wind ranger threw out her palms, sending a wave of water cascading over the group. Lashing out with a snap kick, Tori retaliated with a roundhouse followed by a mule kick. Running up the side of the mountain face, the water ranger flipped away, leaping over an attempted strike. Rolling to her feet, the wind ninja brought two more Dryads down with a split kick.
Glancing to her left, Tori spotted Hunter, battling two Dryads. Dropping to a knee, the crimson ranger sent a ball of thunder hurtling through the air. The water ninja thought back to the days when Hunter couldn't control his power, when the virus still reigned heavy in his system. Conner and Blake had healed the thunder sensei, allowing his life to resort to almost normalcy. Conner led Tori to the Orb of Lightning, guiding her through the trying journey in Phaedos. This battle was her way of giving retribution to the Chosen Ranger who led so selflessly.
xxx
Tommy and Trent fought back to back with Eric and Shane. Using their partners as defense, the two sets of rangers fended off fierce attacks from the hoard of Dryads pursuing them. Tommy ducked under a tornado kick, sweeping the foot used as balance out from under the creature. From behind the black ranger, Trent braced his palms against the older man's shoulders, launching himself off to bowl over three minions. The black and white rangers traded irate blows with the Dryads, prompting many to explode in gusts of feathers.
Eric and Shane glanced at each other, both understanding the passing look. The two air masters conjured up a tornado of air, sending it spiraling to the group of Dryads opposite them, blowing the minions off the cliff. Eric whirled as another advanced. Rolling to his right, the red Dino ranger kneed a minion in the midsection. Grabbing the Dryad, Eric grasped the creature's head in a lock, falling backward, and sending the Dryad over his body. Shane flipped up and over his assailant, taking it down with a side blade kick. Shifting to the side, the wind ranger parried a jab, retaliating with a sharp elbow to the temple and a back fist to the beak.
In the pause of action, the four rangers looked over to the Chosen Ranger evading the strikes from his many attackers. They saw Conner not only as the Chosen One but also as a friend, a leader, and a brother. He may be the savior for the whole universe, but Conner McKnight was also simply a teenaged boy doing his duty.
xxx
Conner's head whipped from side to side, surveying the situation before him as the Dryads circled. Sidestepping to the right, the jock caught the wrist of a minion. Swinging the creature counterclockwise, the inferno ranger threw out an elbow, knocking the Dryad to the ground. A series of back flips brought the Chosen Ranger away from his aggressors, and landing to rest on a knee, Conner threw out his palms, sending fireballs smacking into the subordinates on each side. As another Dryad rushed, Conner fell back, kicking his leg up, sending the minion tumbling over him. Flipping to his feet, Conner ducked as a punch flew over him, and the fire ninja leaped over a sweep. Blocking two roundhouse punches, Conner wrenched a Dryad's arm down and around in a hammerlock. Kneeing the crony in the head, Conner brought it down with an elbow to the back.
All around the Chosen Ranger, his team fought on, and Conner could sense every emotion coursing through the Ninja Storm and Dino Thunder teams. Anger. Hate. Frustration. Desperation. But one emotion resonated solidly among the others: retribution. They were all fighting for him, and he for they. This wasn't two teams forced to work together anymore. They were all fighting for the same cause, and in some way or another, for each other. It was all for one and one for all to the end.
xxx
The hoard of Dryads pushed the rangers back so they were huddled together. Regrouping, the team lowered their defenses for the moment to catch their breath. Looking to their leader, the group was surprised to find Conner's posture relaxed and his breathing light and steady. The inferno ranger grinned slightly before giving a terse nod of his head. With a sudden burst of strength, the group of rangers converged on their attackers. Together, they moved as one, supporting and protecting each other. Arms and legs lashed out, striking the Dryads. Elemental powers permeated through the air, quelling the angry onslaught. Clouds of feathers exploded, encompassing the group of warriors. With a fierce yell, Conner snapped off a vicious tornado kick, glaring in contempt as the final Dryad standing vanished in a flash of feather. The team barely had time to catch their breath when a purple blast exploded before them, flinging the assembled group backward. As they struggled to their feet, a faint applause knifed through the smoky atmosphere of battle.
"Well done, Rangers." Khyuss praised, "You have survived longer than I expected. Enjoy this triumph while you can." With a casual beckoning of his hand, a second group of Dryads joined him and Ivanox on the cliff.
"What do you guys say we pick it up a notch?" Conner appealed to the group. Eleven heads nodded simultaneously, and the Chosen Ranger raised his voice to address the sorcerer.
"To get to Earth, you have to get through us!" Conner turned his head to the team behind him.
"You guys ready?"
Eleven wrists rose as their owners confirmed the inquiry, "Ready."
Eric, Ethan, Kira, Dr. Oliver, and Trent fanned out in a triangle as their cuffs flashed to display their morphers.
"DINO THUNDER, POWER UP!"
"WHITE RANGER, DINO POWER!"
The wind rangers stepped up, Shane at the head, Tori and Dustin behind him.
"NINJA STORM, RANGER FORM!"
"THUNDER STORM, RANGER FORM!" Hunter and Blake followed, pressing their fingers to the morphers attached to their wrists.
The samurai amulet flashed as Cam held the sphere above his head.
"SAMURAI STORM, RANGER FORM!"
As before, the two group's voices culminated in a final, "HA!" completing their morphs. Powers surged as their respective costumes cascaded over the rangers' bodies, powering them up for one final battle. The team joined together, announcing their presence to the foe before them.
"TYRANNO!"
"TRICERA!"
"PTERA!"
"BRACHIO!"
"DRAGO!"
The five Reefside rangers thrust their fists up, voices uniting in the emphatic call of, "DINO THUNDER!"
The six from Blue Bay Harbor settled into fighting stances, also proclaiming their identities to Khyuss.
"POWER OF AIR!"
"POWER OF WATER!"
"POWER OF EARTH!"
"CRIMSON THUNDER!"
"NAVY THUNDER!"
"SAMURAI POWER!"
Grasping the weapons attached to their backs, the ninjas squared up beside their counterparts, "NINJA STORM!"
Finally, Conner stepped forward, the last of the team to morph. He was the link to the two teams, bonding them together, possessing the powers of both the Ninja Storm and Dino Thunder teams, and he was their leader.
Gazing up at the sorcerer, his amber eyes flashed with determination, "They say destiny can be changed." Conner yelled up to the hooded figure, "But that's for those who don't accept it. Mine is to destroy you, and I don't plan on changing that!" The Chosen Ranger threw out his palms as his morpher started to glow.
"BLAZE OF THE INFERO, IGNITE!"
A power unlike anything he ever felt before pulsated through his body, and Conner's head fell back as he absorbed the energy. Flames roared around the ninja as his costume materialized over his body. With one final flash, the inferno ranger emerged from the depths of the blaze around him.
"I am the Chosen Ranger, and I hold the POWER OF FIRE!"
With the call, the team braced themselves as a hail of Dryads swooped down, led by Ivanox. One by one, the group whipped out their weapons, anticipating the onslaught. Moving as a single unit, the teams met the slew of villains. Limps and weapons flailed and slashed, inducing a barrage of sparks. The Dryads attacked ruthlessly, and desperation hung heavy over the smoke and clamor of battle as the rangers fought on not only for their lives but also for each other.
Slashing a Dryad across the chest, Conner glanced up to find the empty visor of Ivanox gazing out at him from across the abyss of combat. Time lingered as the two warriors slowly made their way towards each other, an unseen force pulling them together. The opponents faced each other, neither uttering a word. Slowly, the cyborg raised his sword to his face before whipping down to his side, an unmistakable salute. Conner reciprocated the gesture, rage and hatred radiating between ranger and general. A brief pause ensued before the two combatants moved to intercept one another.
Conner whirled, catching a blow on his sword as he fought back, striking with a backhand slash. Ivanox turned away the assault, retaliating with two more of his own. The Chosen ranger back flipped away from the general's advances before flying backward as an energy orb crashed into the ground before him. Staggering to his feet, fury washed over his body, and Conner transferred that anger into a furious ball of flame. The fireball whistled through the air, striking the general square in the chest. With smoke wafting from his torso, the cyborg rose. Growling, ranger and general rushed each other, all pretenses of honorable combat discarded away. The sound of the two weapons clashing echoed through the flurry of their chaotic atmosphere as Conner and Ivanox fought on, oblivious to their surroundings. It was a grudge fight to the death, the months of tension and apathy coming to a halt in this final battle. The two swords locked and collided, bringing the two foes helmet to helmet.
"Give up while you're still alive, Chosen One. I am sure my Master will be lenient for your valiant battle." Ivanox sneered, his breathing heavy, "Destruction is inevitable."
Conner held his ground, refusing to yield to the cyborg, "Mine or yours?" The inferno ranger shoved back in their clash of wills and strength, "Because I'm not giving up until you rip my heart out of my chest." With one final burst of strength, Conner forced the cyborg's weapon skyward, slashing the general across the midsection, and a fireball launched Ivanox backward. The cyborg lay still and unmoving.
Without pausing to admire his handiwork, Conner dashed away to help his team with the remaining Dryads. Within moments, the remnants of minions littered the ground beneath his booted feet.
Unbeknownst to the Chosen Ranger, Ivanox stirred. Hauling himself to his feet, the empty visor sought out the petite, bright yellow figure of the Dino ranger, and his lips curved into a sinister sneer. The cyborg's gaze locked onto his prey as Ivanox stalked over to the yellow ranger, his sword swaying menacingly at his side. It was time to avenge his first failure.
"Ready to meet your demise, Ranger?"
Kira whirled to stare up at the impassive helmet. Without warning, the sword came crashing down. Kira threw up a block, the collision of her Ptera Grips and Ivanox's weapon lost in the mess around them. Fending off the numerous advances, the yellow ranger began to grow weary. A solitary slice broke though her defenses, and Kira crumpled to the ground. Ivanox smirked sinisterly, delighting in his conquest.
"There's no one to save you this time, Yellow Ranger."
Spinning to dispense a Dryad, the phoenix screeched, and Conner sensed something was amiss with Kira. Frantically, his eyes scanned over the chaos of battle. As his gaze settled on the hulking figure of Ivanox looming over the fallen Kira, the inferno ranger felt his heart clench. Fighting his way through the barrier of Dryads, Conner broke into a sprint in the direction of the two combatants. Ivanox glanced up to gloat at the Chosen Ranger approaching. The cyborg sent a flare of energy that blew Conner off his feet. Landing hard on the ground, the inferno ranger struggled to a knee.
"How can a ranger fight without his heart?" The general reveled, raising his sword aloft.
"Say goodbye, Chosen One!"
White-hot fury permeated through Conner's veins, and his gloved hands clenched into fists. Drawing his Wildfire Sabre, the inferno ranger raised the wicked blade. Focusing his mind, the ranger concentrated his fire power, sending the energy pulsing through the weapon, igniting the sword to glow a fierce red. In one smooth, fluid motion, the Chosen Ranger flung his arm out to the side, sending the Wildfire Sabre whistling to the general, spiraling to its destination.
xxx
Ivanox grinned as he prepared to strike down on the yellow ranger. The sneer faded as the cyborg felt a searing pain assail his midsection. Glancing to his left, Ivanox glimpsed the Chosen ranger reach out to catch his weapon as it flew back to its owner, and the general didn't have to look down to see the deep cut in his stomach, smoke wafting from the injury. With the little amount of waning energy he possessed, Ivanox rotated to face his victor, sparks already crackling from the wound. Nodding his head in a distinctive gesture, the general collapsed forward, engulfed in an explosion of sparks. Conner shielded his eyes from the harsh light. Raising his sword, Conner whipped the blade out before sheathing it at his side in respect to his fallen foe. Helping Kira to her feet, the jock smiled in relief.
"Rock Star, you've got to stop getting in those situations."
xxx
Khyuss' voice drifted towards the regrouped rangers, "Well done, humans. But that was only the prelude." The sorcerer inclined his head to the inferno ranger.
"Look, Chosen One! Look at the monster you helped create."
A menacing roar burst through the air as the ground beneath the rangers shook. Clumps of rock and dirt flew as the monster stretched up to the brisk summer climate, purple energy escaping out to mingle in the atmosphere. Storm clouds drifted in, bathing the summer day in its gloomy darkness, shielding the sun, manipulated by Khyuss' withered hands, the sorcerer cackling madly.
"It has begun, Rangers! Welcome to the dawn of death, destruction, and demise!" The manic laughter continued, growing louder with each second the monster energized.
Coming Up:
The second half of the final battle
To quote my own story: The end is near. Yep, that's right folks. This tall tale is winding down as we speak. But the almighty question is still hangs in the air: Who will die? Well, good readers, with the end comes the answers to those inquiries...stay tuned.
Roxie
