Chapter Seven

In hindsight, I should've known something was wrong the second I began to open my eyes and couldn't hear Matthew snoring. Indeed, the total silence I was registering was almost deafening. A second later, I could feel someone's hands on my shoulders shaking me awake, and I looked up and saw Scott, leaning over my bunk with his hands on my shoulders, and Ian pacing the cabin behind him.

"Peter, you awake?" asked Scott, a strange tone in his voice.

I nodded. "Barely," I replied, shaking away the haze of sleep.

"Good. Something's wrong..."

"Yeah, you're out of bed before I am."

He shook his head patiently. "No, there's something going on," he said, and his voice told me everything he needed me to know.

I was awake in a second, leaping out of my sleeping back and glancing around to the other inhabitants of the cabin. But I immediately saw that the cabin was empty. The three of us were the only people in sight.

"Where is everyone?" I asked, confused.

Scott nodded. "That's the problem."

I looked from him to Ian. "I woke up about five minutes ago," explained the Grey Ranger, glancing nervously from Scott to me. If we could handle this, Ian knew he could to. "I figured we'd slept through the wake-up call, but it was way too early and the others wouldn't have left without us. I looked outside but couldn't see anyone out there either."

I nodded. "So we've lost our camp?"

"Well," began Scott, "if everybody left for the run, they went in their pyjamas. We checked before - everyone's running clothes and shoes are still here. And the sleeping bags..."

"Yeah," I agreed, looking around the room. The various sleeping bags looked as if their inhabitants had left without actually getting up and leaving. That was strange in itself - usually this place was a mess first thing in the mornings. Scott was right. "It's like everybody just vanished."

"So where are they?" asked Ian.

"Let's not jump to any conclusions," I began. Something was very wrong, and I could see Ian holding back panic behind his eyes. What would the Seniors do? "Let's get dressed, head outside and take a look around. Maybe it was a prank, and we'll find everyone lying in ambush or something."

The guys nodded, and we turned back to our bags and quickly got dressed. We were just tying our shoelaces when there came an urgent knocking on the door. Scott glanced to Ian and I, got up and went to the cabin door. Whoever was on the other side would determine whether we were looking at a best or worst case scenario.

Scott pulled the door open and groaned - Brendan, Sarah and Teresa stood framed in the doorway. Ian and I immediately jumped to our feet and went over.

By now, everyone was in full Ranger-mode, and Sarah quickly glanced around the interior of the cabin. "You guys lost your room-mates too?" she asked.

Scott nodded. "So this isn't a prank?"

Brendan shook his head. "After I woke up, I checked every cabin. Even had a look in the teacher's quarters and dormitories. Nobody," he said. "I thought I was the only person left on site until I checked the girls' rooms."

"Are you okay?" I asked.

He nodded. "Fine. A little creeped out, but nothing happened."

"After he found Sarah and I," said Teresa, "we went out to the road, but everything looked fine. People were driving past, shops were opening up, that kind of thing. Then we came over here to check on you three."

Sarah nodded. "Whatever happened, it only affected the camp."

"And the entire campsite is now totally deserted," I said, walking out of the cabin with Scott and Ian behind me. "So the million dollar question is why? And why weren't the six of us affected?" I shook my head, and doing the only thing I could think of, I raised my communicator to my mouth and lightly tapped the second button. "Zordon?"

"Yes Peter?" replied the sage, and the six of us let out sighs of relief. At least we weren't totally alone.

"There's something going on here at Tallebudgera Camp," I said. "When the six of us woke up this morning, the place was deserted. We're the only people here, and we don't know what happened. Could you maybe run a scan of the campsite?"

"Consider it done," Zordon replied.

There was a second of silence as thousands of kilometres away, Alpha quickly scanned the area for any unusual energy readings, and the six of us worriedly glanced back and forth, wondering what they'd find. Brendan was right - one of the things that defined this place was noise, and the silence of the surrounding camp was becoming increasingly eerie.

"Rangers?" came Zordon's voice.

"We're here," I said.

"Alpha has indeed detected an unusual energy signal that seems to be covering the whole campsite. From the readings here, I'd say the six of you were protected from the effects of this energy because of your power coins."

We all took a second to digest this information. Scott spoke up first.

"Zordon? That energy signal wouldn't happen to resemble a mass teleportation effect, would it?"

"Actually Scott," replied Zordon, "that's very close. To hazard a guess, I'd say that all your friends have indeed been teleported to another location, sometime early this morning. At any rate, the energy signal is very localised. The source of it should be in your immediate vicinity."

"Okay," I nodded. "We'll take a look around and see if we can find anything."

"Be careful Rangers," said Zordon. "Alpha and I will be monitoring the situation. Call us if you need us," and the communicator fell silent.

Teresa glanced around the group. "We should split up, we'll cover more ground that way."

I nodded. "I agree. Brendan, Scott and Teresa," and I turned to the three Rangers on my right, "you guys head over towards the main hall, and check all the cabins and sheds. Sarah, Ian and I will head around the other way."

Everyone nodded. "Sounds like a plan," said Scott. "But take care."

"You too," nodded Sarah. "Call if you need help," and the two groups turned and split up.

Lochlan slowly opened his eyes, a dull ache throbbing in the back of his head. What on Earth had just happened? One minute, he was having an unusual if not memorable dream where he was an official scorer in a dance competition involving boot-scootin' leprechauns, and the next, it was like his subconscious had switched tracks on him and he was now flying. Only it wasn't just a dream - he really felt like he was weightless, moving through a void of nothingness at top speed. Then, there was a muffled thud, and he felt something cool and hard beneath him. Thinking he'd fallen out of his sleeping bag, he climbed to his feet, still massaging the back of his head, and looked around.

What he saw was something out of a nightmare. He was standing on solid ground, at least, but not in the cabin and maybe not even on Earth. Grey mist swirled around him, and far above, the sky was a blanket of darkness. And it was very, very quiet. Peering into the darkness, he could make out some of his fellow cabin twelve inhabitants nearby, all with the same look of fear and dismay. In the distance he could see more kids, and even the large form of Mr Di Certo a few metres away looking around in confusion. But no best friends in sight.

"Ian, where are you?" he asked, but glancing around, he recognised the two shapes closest to him. "Petey? Luke?" he said, offering his hands and helping them to their feet. "Are you guys okay?"

The two boys nodded. "I guess so," replied Luke slowly. "But what's going on? Where are we?"

Lochlan shrugged. Around them, more and more students were slowly getting to their feet. "I guess..." he began, but he was cut off by a sudden, loud voice from the gloom.

"Good morning to you all," said the voice, deep and gravelly, and Lochlan involuntarily shivered. All the kids and teachers turned until they saw the speaker, and once they did, immediately jumped back in fear, several ducking behind Mr Di Certo. Lochlan took a step backwards, frightened and suddenly wishing more than ever that Ian was there with him.

Uh oh...

The speaker stood about six feet fall, silhouetted in what little light was shining in that dark place, covered from head to toe in shining metallic armour that was black with twisting gold designs on its chest and shoulders. Rings of pointed spikes encircled its gauntlets and boots, and two large metal plates protected its shoulders, small blue gems visible on either plate. Glowing orange eyes looked down over a grey mouth-plate, and a dark helmet with gold stripes covered the speaker's head. Atop the figure's helmet was a huge crescent-moon design, one point curving higher than the other.

The speaker took a step forward, and a long staff with a curved blade formed in its hands. "I'm Nightmare," he announced loudly. "Welcome to my world, you'll be staying for quite some time!"

Everyone around Mr Di Certo looked to him for guidance, but all he could do was say, "Don't worry kids, let's stick together. The Power Rangers will be here soon..."

Sarah, Ian and I walked slowly down a path running between several equipment sheds and the shower block, on the look-out for anything out of place but wary of danger. After checking inside one of the sheds and finding nothing but gardening equipment, I jogged back to Sarah and Ian, and we continued.

"I hope they're all okay," said Ian, glancing back and forth as we crossed the campsite. "I mean, if something happens to Lochie, or..."

"They'll be fine," said Sarah, turning to him. "We'll get to them in time. It's what we do."

"Yeah, but, how do you know?" asked Ian, and he suddenly sounded a great deal smaller. "I mean, when the world goes crazy like this..."

"We're the ones who don't," nodded Sarah. "It's what the suit means. We're the ones who fight the badguys, save the people caught in the middle, and make sure tomorrow gets here. It's just what happens."

"And it's really that simple?"

I nodded. "Most of the time. We're the good guys and we win. Anything else just gets in the way."

"Exactly," Sarah said. "I kinda prefer being on this side, anyway."

Ian turned to her. "You do?"

"Well, when the bad guys show up, we don't have to sit there, act helpless and wait for somebody to rescue us," Sarah replied. "When they shove in one direction, we can shove back." She paused thoughtfully. "Or punch..."

"Or kick," I added helpfully.

Sarah nodded. "Sometimes headbutt. Whatever works."

Ian smiled despite himself, and Sarah continued. "Like I said, we're good at what we do, and..." when suddenly, our communicators chimed. Sarah immediately raised her wrist to her mouth and spoke.

"We're here," she said.

"Guys," came Teresa's voice, "we've found something. We're beside the driveway, behind cabin six."

Sarah nodded. "We're on our way," and the Purple Ranger lowered her wrist and turned to Ian and I. "Let's roll."

Brendan, Scott and Teresa had been working their way towards the main hall, and had followed a path around cabin six which led to a grassy area beside the gravel driveway. Scott was the first to spot the stone statue of a black panther, resting on a short marble column about thirty feet away and staring at them through two yellow topaz jewels set in place of eyes.

"What do you think it is?" asked Teresa, after she'd called the three of us.

"A panther," replied Scott with a small smile, approaching the statue, "although what it means is still up in the air."

Teresa stopped as Brendan and Scott continued to edge closer. "Guys, be careful."

"We'll be..." began Scott, but as he put his foot down, it went right through the ground, sinking down through the grass like it wasn't there. Unable to shout a warning, the Blue Ranger lost his footing and fell forward, tumbling face-first through the ground. Behind him, Brendan reacted without thinking, diving to the ground even as Scott was falling. His head and torso dropped through the grass, but never losing sight of Scott, his hand shot down and wrapped around the Blue Ranger's right ankle in midair, digging his feet into the ground behind him.

Suddenly yanked out of his downward plunge, Scott turned and looked up at Brendan, but finally saw the full extent of his situation. Above him, Brendan was dangling out of a blue 'hole' of sorts, and looking closely, he could see the morning sky above the camp, and leaves from nearby overhanging trees. Around the circular portal in the air, though, was a purple sky, and around on all sides were jagged mountainous peaks. Far, far below, he could see a violet-coloured earth of canyons and crevices.

Both Rangers took this in instantly, and Brendan desperately glanced up and back when he felt himself slipping forward on the wet grass, steadily sliding into the abyss.

"Teresa!"

The White Ranger immediately put the pieces together - hidden portal to nowhere, it was a trap - and seeing Brendan sliding forward, Teresa launched herself towards him, wrapping her body around his legs and, while unable to pull the combined mass of Brendan and her brother back, Teresa successfully held the Aqua Ranger in place.

"Scott!" Teresa cried, unable to see into the hole.

"I'm here!" her brother shouted back

Teresa let out a sigh of relief. "Can you... Try to teleport out!"

Hanging upside down, Scott nodded, and reaching for his wrist, he tapped the top button - nothing happened. Pleading silently with his communicator, he tried again but got the same result.

"Teresa? It's not working! I can't teleport!"

"The others will be here soon enough," said Brendan, grunting with the exertion. "I really hate to use this pun, but we'll just have to hang tight. Can we get you right side up?"

Scott nodded, glancing down. "I like that idea," he said. "Hold on for a sec," and he swung forward once, back once, and forward again, reaching up towards Brendan - never letting go of Scott's ankle, Brendan caught Scott's outstretched hand and gripped his wrist tightly, before letting go of Scott's ankle and catching the other wrist, the Blue Ranger swinging briefly underneath.

"I got you," Brendan nodded. Scott smiled a thank you, before glancing down and letting out a loud sigh.

"Guys don't worry!" came Teresa's voice suddenly. "The cavalry's here!"

Sarah, Ian and I had heard Teresa cry out and rounded the cabin at top speed. Seeing Teresa lying on the ground with half of Brendan, we immediately figured out what had happened and raced over.

"Scott down there?" I asked.

Teresa nodded. "Hurry."

"Gotcha," I said, and having the longest reach, I dropped to the ground and began crawling to the edge of the hole. "Sarah! Ian! Hold me! When I kick with my left foot, start dragging me out!" And with that, both Rangers grabbed a steady hold of my legs.

Inching forward with a steady weight on my legs, I half-climbed and half-dropped down into the portal, the purple and blue world soon appearing around me. As Sarah and Ian steadily lowered me, I turned and came face-to-face with Brendan.

"Hey there," I said. "You okay?"

"Been better," he grunted, and grinned.

"Peter!" said Scott, looking up to me with a smile. "Damn, am I glad to see you."

I smiled, extending my arms. With one hand, he reached over and clasped my wrist, before letting go of Brendan and taking hold of my other hand. I kicked back with my left foot, and I was immediately dragged back out of the portal, steadily hauling Scott to safety. Finally, Sarah and Ian pulled me back onto solid ground, and coming forward, Ian lifted Scott free and helped him down beside me. Finally, as Scott and I sat recovering our breath, Sarah and Ian helped Teresa drag Brendan to safety, and he collapsed on the grass beside us.

"Well," said Brendan cheerfully, "that was fun. Scott, you okay?"

He nodded and smiled. "Heights never worried me," he said. "Until twenty seconds ago. Thank you both."

Brendan nodded, and turned to Teresa. "What he said. We'd both be down there if it wasn't for you."

The White Ranger smiled. "I do what I can."

Suddenly our communicators all beeped. "Rangers!" came Zordon's voice. "Rangers, are you okay? Alpha and I were watching on the viewing screen..."

"We're fine," replied Scott. "Everybody's okay. But what the heck is up with that statue?"

"The statue is a totem for the demon monster Panthor," Zordon explained, "which explains your present situation. Panthor has the powerful ability to warp space around itself."

"So it could easily create portals to nowhere," began Sarah.

"And magically teleport hundreds of people to another location," I finished.

"Precisely," Zordon replied. "Our scan shows the rift before you is being powered by the crystal on the panther's collar. Destroy the crystal, and the portal should close."

At that, we all turned and saw the small blue crystal hidden in shadow under the panther's stone chin. "Always a crystal," I said, shaking my head. "You'd think they'd learn..."

Beside me, Ian picked up a large stone from the driveway and threw it with all his strength - his aim was flawless, the stone smashing into the crystal, shattering it and releasing a sudden pulse of blue light. A second later, the pulse dissipated, and Scott picked up another stone and threw it forward - it landed harmlessly on the grass.

"All right," he said with a thumbs-up. "Portal's gone."

Ian nodded. "One problem down, one to go."

"That's what you think," came a sinister, silky voice from behind us. Acting on instinct, we automatically leaped to our feet and spun around. A tall, dark creature had suddenly emerged from behind one of the cabins and was steadily stalking towards us. It was covered from head to toe in black fur, and sculpted-muscles were stretched taut beneath its skin. The beast wore blue boots, blue body armour and silver gauntlets, either gauntlet carrying a large blue sapphire. Its head was catlike and fierce, with menacing yellow eyes and a mouth of jagged teeth, while behind the creature, a long slender tail twitched in the sunlight.

"Let me guess," I said. "You're Panthor?"

The creature facing us growled. "You'd better believe it," he replied.

Sarah took a step forward. "Then you'd better release our friends, right now."

The monster laughed, his mouth twisting into a cruel smile. "You're making demands? How pathetically noble. I'll have your friends for lunch!"

Ian instantly paled and took a step back, but without looking I reached down and caught hold of his wrist. He turned to me, took a breath, and looked back to the monster.

Panthor continued. "You're going to pay for smashing my totem," he said, and holding out his arm, a long black sword materialised in his hand. Raising the blade, he advanced towards us.

"Now we get to the monster fight," grinned Brendan.

I nodded, and reached for my back pocket. "Okay guys, it's morphin' time!"

"Iguanodon!"

"Dilophosaurus!"

"Rhamphorynchus!"

"Brontosaurus!"

"Velociraptor!"

"Stegosaurus!" I cried, completing the sequence, and in a flash of light, the six of us were fully morphed and ready for battle.

"Let's take this guy," nodded Teresa, and we all raced forward to meet our advancing opponent.

Leaping towards us, the monster slashed at the team with his sword. Ian and I were both sent crashing as the blade sliced across our suits, but the other Rangers dodged around the blow and attacked. Teresa leaped into the air and knocked the beast back with a high spin kick. Panthor regained his footing, turned to the White Ranger and raised his blade, but Brendan knocked the beast's hand away before landing several rapid punches to Panthor's chest-armour. The beast slashed at him with his blade and the Aqua Ranger ducked, but struck Brendan away with a low kick. Panthor turned to follow after the Aqua Ranger, but Teresa somersaulted down before him. Panthor lashed out with his claws - Teresa blocked the move, striking away a low kick and stepping back around the beast's sword before a lightning-fast kick to the beast's snout sent Panthor crashing.

The monster staggered back, disorientated, and now with a clear shot, I took the opportunity to attack, leaping towards him and kicking high. Panthor dodged to the side, turned to me and slashed with his claws - I blocked the move, striking away a chest-high swipe and batting away a low kick, before landing a solid blow to his stomach and aiming a high punch. He caught my first and threw it away, before raising his sword and slashing it towards me. I ducked under the blade, dodged right around a vertical slash and leaped back and over a low slice. Panthor roared and slashed again - I caught his wrist and struck it aside, before an elbow to the chest knocked him away.

The monster found his footing, turned and saw Scott within striking range. He raised his blade and slashed it at his opponent, but Scott wordlessly summoned his Power Staff and blocked the sword midswing in a shower of sparks. Batting the blade away, he landed a solid blow before bringing the staff back around to strike the monster's ribcage. Panthor roared and lashed out - Scott ducked under the blow, blocking another before landing a powerful high kick and sending the monster stumbling towards Sarah and Ian. Panthor lashed out desperately at the two Rangers, but Sarah struck away a low swipe and caught the beast's arm, before Ian stepped forward and threw all his strength into a powerful right hook that slammed the monster to the ground.

"Good work guys," I said, as we regrouped. Just then, our communicators all chimed, and I raised my wrist and spoke. "Zordon?"

"Rangers," came Zordon's voice. "Alpha and I have been analysing your opponent, and the energy field around the campsite is being powered by the jewel on Panthor's right gauntlet."

I nodded. "Thanks, that's all we needed to hear," and I turned to Ian, remembering the skill he'd shown earlier. "Can you make the shot?"

In reply, the Grey Ranger wordlessly held his arms across his chest, and his two Power Blasters formed, one in either hand. Across from us, Panthor had by now recovered, and with an angry growl, raised his blade and charged back towards us. Unfazed, Ian leveled the two blasters at the monster, and fired.

His aim was perfect, the laser blast smashing into the sapphire on the beast's gauntlet and shattering it, the resulting explosion of sparks and fire throwing Panthor to the ground. Like before, a sudden pulse of bright light lit up the area, and a shimmering blue portal began to open about thirty feet away from us.

"Wow, nice shot," nodded Sarah.

"Ian," I said, turning to him, "head into the portal, and bring everybody back. We'll stay here and finish off Panthor."

Ian turned from the portal to me. "But what if...?"

"You can handle it," I said, in a voice that was encouraging yet at the same time left no room for disagreement.

Ian nodded. "You really think I can do this?"

"I really think you can," I replied, "now go!"

"Right," the Grey Ranger nodded, and as the five of us once again charged Panthor, Ian turned away, gripped his blasters tightly and ran over to the portal. Not sure what to expect, he grit his teeth and leaped through, instantly entering into the nightmare realm on the other side. Well, that was kind of easy... But from the point of view of the students, teachers and camp staff trapped within, the sudden appearance of the Grey Power Ranger emerging from a shining portal and holding his weapons high was the most beautiful thing they'd ever seen.

Someone in the crowd shouted, "It's the Grey Ranger!" and there was a slow ripple as everyone in the space turned to look.

Ian smiled beneath his helmet. Everyone's okay. Phew.

"Okay everybody!" he shouted, pointing back towards the portal. "Anyone who's not having the time of their life, camp's right back through there!"

As one the crowd surged forward, and Ian stepped to the side to avoid being trampled. "Head for the main hall, you'll be safe there!" he yelled. The huge group of kids didn't need to be told twice, fleeing through the portal in droves.

Suddenly, he heard a roar from behind him, and he instinctively raised his blasters and spun around. In front of him stood Nightmare, raising his staff and slowly approaching the ever-diminishing crowd of students. Turning from the hostages fleeing capture, the monster looked back to Ian and gave the Grey Ranger a fiery stare, his eyes glowing with rage.

"Those are my hostages!" the demon cried. "Who do you think you are?"

Ian stepped forward, keeping the monster's attention just long enough for the last few students to make their escape. "I'm your worst nightmare."

"No," began the monster, "that's me!" And with his orange eyes aflame, Nightmare unleashed a barrage of laser blasts towards the Grey Ranger. The whole area erupted in sparks and fire, but Ian dived forward over the blasts, rolled to his feet and somersaulted over his opponent in one smooth motion. Landing, he sent Nightmare stumbling with a kick to the back of the monster's helmet.

"In that case," Ian said, "I'm your early morning wake-up call."

Enraged, Nightmare spun back around and swung his staff low. Ian jumped up and over the blade, kicking Nightmare back with a blow to the chest. The monster recovered and struck back with a right roundhouse punch, but Ian ducked under the monster's fist, blocked a follow-up attack from the demon's staff and smashed his two blasters against the side of Nightmare's helmet. Pausing for a second to shake the ringing in his ears, Nightmare struck out with a low kick, but Ian sidestepped the move, spinning back around and aiming a high kick.

Nightmare countered quickly, spinning under the blow and slashing his staff at Ian's torso in one smooth motion. The blade missed the Grey Ranger by an inch, and when Nightmare swung again, Ian crossed his blasters and held them forward, halting the blade's downward stroke. Nightmare roared, and with the monster's eyes flashing, Ian took to the air as a barrage of laser blasts exploded from the demon's eyes. With the blasts passing harmlessly underneath, Ian dropped to the ground and raised his blasters.

"You want to play that way? Fine by me," he said, and began firing. At point blank range the Grey Ranger couldn't have missed, the blasts lifting the monster off his feet and sending him crashing to the ground several metres away.

Encouraged by his own success, the Grey Ranger charged forward to continue the battle.

The huge mass of students, teachers, camp staff and a milk delivery man who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time thundered out of the portal, heading right towards the five of us and Panthor. I glanced from the approaching tide of kids to our opponent and back again - this could be a problem.

"Brendan, Scott," I began, speaking quickly, "crowd control, now!"

"You got it," nodded the Blue Ranger, and the two raced away from the battleground to redirect the crowd.

"Giving up so soon?" growled Panthor, watching Scott and Brendan depart.

"Not hardly," replied Sarah, and the three of us leaped back towards him.

Reaching the monster first, I ducked a swipe from his blade, landed a left backhand and slammed him back with a jump kick. Regaining his footing, the monster turned to face me but stepped back as Sarah and Teresa dropped down in front of the monster, sending him crashing with a double high kick. They followed after him as the monster stumbled backwards - Teresa struck away a low swipe and landed a blow the monster's stomach even as Sarah aimed a high punch. Fighting side-by-side, the girls forced Panthor back with every step, raining blow after blow on the hapless monster. Teresa landed a judo chop while Sarah kicked low - the beast dodged to the side and desperately slashed his blade for the two Rangers, but Teresa nimbly ducked under the swipe and knocked the weapon away with a low kick, before Sarah spun around on the spot and smashed her boot into the beast's jaw with a roundhouse kick - Panthor was launched off his feet, and he crashed to the ground and moved no further.

Having turned the stampede of people towards the main hall, Scott and Brendan returned, and we all regrouped. All of a sudden, there came sounds of a tremendous explosion from through the portal, and we turned to see a large figure come flying out of the portal, spinning through the air and crashing to the ground beside Panthor. Behind the monster, Ian emerged from the portal and walked triumphantly over to us. The nightmare realm no longer in use, the portal automatically sealed itself shut and disappeared.

"Whoa," began Brendan, eyeing the fallen monster.

"Yeah," nodded Scott. "Good work."

"Told you that you could do it," I said with a smile.

Ian laughed. "That you did," he said, "that you did. So, did we win?"

Teresa looked around. "Captives are free, monsters are defeated. I'd say we did a pretty good morning's work," she smiled.

Far above us, Rita stood watching the battle, growing increasingly furious with every blow the Rangers landed, with the escape of the students and teachers, and with the ease at which the Grey Ranger had single-handedly defeated Nightmare. And now, as per usual, it was time to raise the stakes.

"You fight fine on the ground," the witch muttered, angrily raising her staff, "but let's see how you fight on my terms. Grow monsters, grow!"