Summary: All is not well in the Land of Earth for his Majesty Returns…
A/N: I hope you guys are enjoying this story for I may write a new one. Bye!
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The black boots crashed heavily against the metal surface as the cloaked being made his way through the halls. Closely at his tail was his trusted General, Merios. Vertox wore the scowl of death as the double-door's slid open to the main chamber. Cursed Space Rangers…Cursed Dino Thunder Rangers…ruined my plans… he fell into his chair and scowled deeply.
"Merios." He called, shooting a glare at his general. "Do not return until you have brought back that Dino Gem."
Merios fell to his knees and bowed low. "Permission to speak, Master?"
"Be quick." Vertox hissed, clutching the chair arm. "We do not have time to waste."
Merios jabbed a finger at the 5 Zeonizers. "What are you going to do with them?"
For once a grin returned to Vertox's face. He looked to the Zeonizers and waved his hand. The morphers raised into the air and began to shake. "Have you ever heard the Legend of the Zeo Crystal?" He said as the metal crumbled and then shattered. Another wave and the crystals combined together.
"Yes master, of course. Who hasn't? The Zeo Crystal is said to be the m-" Merios grinned and nodded. "A smart plan, my master." He stood up and turned to the door. "I shall not return unless I have the Dino Gem."
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Hayden stared down at the Golden Gem and closed his eyes. Just what had he done while under its power? How many people did he kill or harm? He tried not to let his mind dwell on it, but the thoughts, images and memories just kept coming back. He sighed, rubbing his forehead and then shook it. He turned around and stopped, seeing Conner standing in the door way.
"I had all intentions of going into that battle to kill you." He said angrily and took a step forward. "But I realized that if I did…I'd sink to your level."
Hayden sighed and looked away. So he did kill someone…
"Conner, who did I kill? How many did I kill?" Hayden closed his eyes, trying to fight back the tears. He fell into a near by chair, clutching his head. "What did the Dino Gem do to me?"
Conner stared at him for a moment and then sighed. "You killed two of our friends…and even tried to kill us all one point."
Hayden sighed and barred his teeth as several tears hit the floor. He clutched his golden-brown hair tightly, nearly ripping it out of his head. "Why did I do it…why did I do it…"
Suddenly, the alarm went off and the two Rangers looked at each other. Without another word, they disappeared down the hatch…
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The rangers peered over the Technical Advisor's shoulders at the massive monster on screen. Even with him being gone for so long, he was unmistakable. "Merios." Conner said calmly, glaring at the screen. "Hayley, what of our Dino Gems?" Hayden moved away from the group with a sigh.
She shook her head. "No chance, Conner. They haven't even reached 50 yet. If you guy's took the Gems now, you would surely die." They all sighed and hung their heads. With no powers and a monster on the loose, things were not looking up at all. Conner looked at the faces of his team mates and frowned, seeing two missing. "Where's Tommy and Hayden?"
Everyone looked around as well, their faces contorting into confusion. "Tommy went out for a while…said something about a waterfall." Kim sighed, rubbing her forehead. She grabbed her coat.
"I know where he's at. I'll go get him and bring him back." She threw on her coat and walked towards the forest entrance. She stopped beside Hayden and smiled. He returned it and nodded calmly.
For a moment he looked down at the gem, thinking about the atrocities he had committed with it; the things he would have done if Conner hadn't stopped him. Glancing over his shoulder, the others stared at the screen as the General continued to reek havoc on the city. Sin's can be forgiven, can't they? Especially if the sin really wasn't the persons fault. No, it was his fault. He looked down at the gem again and closed his eyes. But if he truly wanted to be forgiven then…
"Hayden, what are you doing?" Conner's voice.
This was it…now or never. He sighed and moved to the Forest entrance and shook his head. "Setting things right." He raised his arm, feeling the happiness rush over him. For once his powers were going to be used for good; for something to help humanity. This is what the gem should be used for; to bring happiness, not to destroy it. "Gold Ranger, Dino Thunder, Full Power."
The Golden aura consumed his being and replaced it with the all to familiar suit. He stopped at the entrance and sighed. He tapped the button and it slid open with a hiss. He looked back at the other rangers, seeing the bewildered look on their faces and smiled. Finally, things were going to be okay…
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Merios stood atop the building peering down at the screen below. People screamed and cried, begging the monster from the heavens to have some sort of mercy on them. The General threw his head back in laughter and shook his head. "There is no mercy for the weak." He hissed and laughed again. Sudden he felt a vicious blow strike his stomach and he curled forward in pain.
Hayden stood before him, snarling behind his mask. "In that case, Merios, I shall spare you none." He spat out and suddenly back-handed him to the ground. Hayden tapped the staff lightly against his shoulder all the while circling the fallen general. "Your Vertox's rat, are you not?" Merios grunted, clawing at the ground. When in God's name did they get that strong. "You're shameful for a General. You fell in one simple punch." He snapped to staff his side and the golden glow consumed him. "Dragon Morph – Dragon Dagger. It is time, Merios…time for you repent for your sins!"
Merios suddenly lashed out with a monstrous fist, but it slipped past Hayden and he felt another brutal knee crush into his stomach. Hayden wrapped one arm around his chin and lifted his head up, placing the dagger against his throat. "How ironic that your very life is in the hands of a Power Ranger…the one thing you vowed to help your master destroy…" He shook his head, digging the dagger a little harder into his throat. "Do you have any last words, General?"
"YOU WILL PA-" The dagger slipped across his throat and purplish-green blood oozed freely from the veins. Hayden shoved him to the ground, watching as he clutched his throat with wide, fearful eyes.
Hayden walked beside the General and knelt before him. He gazed deep into the man's eyes, knowing he could see his as well. "What you feel right now is fear; the fear of knowing you are going to die. Do you like it Merios?" Hayden glanced down at the dagger, seeing the blood drip freely from it. "I'll see you in hell."
The was the last thing the general saw before the blade plunged a final time into his face…
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Thomas A. Oliver sat on a rock, looking down at the raging waterfall. He remembered the first time he came here; back when he first built the house. He had been some trail hunting, looking for the ideal spot for the Inviso portal and he had stumbled upon this waterfall. Upon closer examination it held another secret besides the source of its beauty; the Shield of Triumph. Ever since then he had come back to this place when he needed to think; to clear his mind and piece everything together.
Now was one of those times.
So many things seemed to be going wrong now; the Death of the Space Rangers, the Death of Cassidy and Devin; his near-death experience at the hands of Mesogog. Things had just seemed to go the gutter; from bad to worse. He sighed heavily, rubbing his weary and heavy eyes, trying to figure out the next step.
"Tommy?" He jumped up and looked down at the voice to see Kimberly. He smiled and then sighed, sitting back down on the rock. He rubbed his eyes again and looked out into the forest.
"I don't know what to do anymore, Kimberly." He said softly, staring at the setting sun. "A leader is always suppose to know what to do…"
"Thomas Anthony Oliver." He winced at hearing his name. "I have never, in all my years of knowing you, ever heard you give up." He glanced down at her, seeing the fire dancing at her eyes. "Now you get down here right this minute."
Tommy sighed as he stood up and walked across the small bridge to the other side. He headed down the path to her, looking nearly terrified at approaching her. Kim grinned and raised her arms, seeing Tommy pulled back, but then threw them around him. "Hold me…"
He smiled and returned the hug, pulling her close. "Sometimes I wonder how I got through all those years without you, Kimberly." He whispered and kissed her cheek.
"Worry less about me right now, Tommy, and worry about yourself and your Students. Without you Tommy, your students would be lost and the world would no longer be in good hands. Without you Tommy, I can't live." She sighed, hugging him a little closer. "Vertox has returned…"
Tommy's eyes went wide as he looked down at her. "How do you know?" he asked, raising a brow.
She smiled and kissed his chest lightly. "Merios is attacking the city…it came on the screen as I was on my out."
Tommy sighed as he stared at the ground. Without his Dino Gem there was about two things he could do: Run and Hide. He sighed, hugging her tightly and closely. Kimberly smiled, feeling the pain and kissed his chest once more. "Don't worry, though. Hayden was on his way out to take care of the problem." She felt Tommy go rigid.
"What do you mean take care of the problem?" Tommy asked; not exactly liking the idea of Hayden running loose with a Dino Gem; much less his.
At that moment his bracelet chimed and he raised it. "Tommy here, go ahead." He said, clutching the bracelet, waiting for the reply.
"Tommy, its Conner." He sounded almost overjoyed but at the same time, sick. "We've got a problem."
"Let me guess, Merios?" He asked, glancing at Kimberly. She was smiling.
"Not at all." Came Conner's reply. Both of them looked bewildered.
"Conner, you better not be having another moment…" Tommy threatened, glaring at his bracelet.
"Hayden took his Gem…" Tommy raised a brow and then frowned. "…and he just killed Merios."
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A/N: Come on, you can't tell me having your throat cut and face split in half by a 2inch wide blade (that continuously gets BIGGER as it gets LONGER) WOULDN'T hurt? Yeesh, throw me off the building. At least that way, it'd be less painful. Anyway, since this story is nearly done, I've put up the first chapter of my next story. Go here: http/ Hopefully it shows up. If not, just keep checking fan for the story "Power Rangers: Snow Storm"
May the Powers Protect You.