Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me.
Chapter 7: The Worst Team-up Ever (after "Time for Lightspeed," jk)
"This one's mine!" shouted Cole and Hunter simultaneously as they both ran toward Samurai Smogger. "I'm going to impress Alyssa!" they each thought to themselves as they leapt up into the air to attack.
Cole and Hunter's similar strategies didn't equate to successful battle field results though as the boys ended up striking each other rather than Samurai Smogger. Proceeding to draw out his Thunder Staff, Hunter slashed Samurai Smogger down across his chest… and accidentally into Cole who he hadn't realized had moved forward to punch the monster in the stomach. Grabbing his arm in pain, Cole glared at Hunter heatedly.
"Watch who you're trying to hit next time!" complained Cole.
"Maybe I actually hit the right monster the second time," thought Hunter haughtily to himself. "I'm sorry," apologized Hunter out loud, feeling guilty and thus changing his tune. "But you're not morphed, and I can't look out for you while trying to fight my best!"
"I can't let this monster pollute the Earth or hurt my friends!" pleaded Cole. "I have to protect Alyssa and the others."
"You can't protect Alyssa if this monster makes a bloody mess of you," retorted Hunter, pushing Cole out of the way. "Now let me finish this freak!"
"And you think you can protect Alyssa better than me?" challenged Cole fiercely, pulling Hunter backward.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" asked Hunter angrily, swatting in return at Cole.
"Who are you guys fighting here?" taunted Samurai Smogger. "Me or each other?"
Meanwhile, Blake and Max were making just as little progress as they tried – actually working together – to defeat Duke Deforestation. Pouncing on top of Blake's shoulders, Max somersaulted through air and aimed to sideline Duke Deforestation with a strong, scissor kick. Unfortunately for Max, the monster caught both of the boy's feet in the air and swung him off to the side with no more care than the tossing out of trash. Giving a furious battle cry, Blake ran at Duke Deforestation with his Navy Antler only to be pushed back by the monster and tossed on Max at the top of the ranger trash pile. Struggling to get up, Blake prayed that Tori and Alyssa were having more luck with the last, lady monster than the boys were with theirs.
"Think you girls can do better than your boyfriends?" laughed Ms. O'Zone as she readied herself to attack. "Heat wave!"
"Alyssa, get out of the way!" cried Tori to her newfound friend, pushing the unmorphed girl to the side and taking the intoxicating, radiation blow herself.
"Tori, no!" shouted Alyssa in horror as she saw the blue Wind Ninja ranger fall to the ground by the river and struggle to get up. "Oh, you're going to get it now!" threatened Alyssa to Ms. O'Zone.
"You don't even have your ranger power," laughed Ms. O'Zone evilly.
"So," challenged Alyssa. "My family's fighting style is the best, and I will prove it to you!"
Bringing her arms vertical beside each other in front of her chest and drawing a small, circle with her foot on the ground, Alyssa dropped into a crouch similar to a white tiger preparing to pounce. Ducking under Ms. O'Zone's kick, Alyssa expertly blocked the monster mistress's series of punches and back-flipped away from each of her attack advances. Sensing she was outmatched, Ms. O'Zone decided to go for the one advantage she had over Alyssa: a weapon. Grinning maliciously, Ms. O'Zone slammed her Radiation Revolver hard into Alyssa's stomach.
Alyssa reeled backward. Seeing her opponent temporarily stunned, Ms. O'Zone ran at Alyssa. Launching her into the air, Ms. O'Zone threw Alyssa right at Tori who was charging across the surface of river using her ninja powers. Uncontrollably crashing into each other, both Alyssa and Tori were sent plunging into watery abyss below.
"Tori!" called Blake in worry, but was too busy being disposed off by Duke Deforestation to be able to help.
"Alyssa!" cried Cole and Hunter in unison as they both rushed over to help her out of the water only to end up running into each other.
"Out of my way!" shouted Cole as he pushed Hunter back. "Alyssa needs my help!"
"She's already hurt," replied Hunter contemptuously. "We don't need you getting more injured, too. Plus, you can't even morph."
"There's more to being a ranger than just your power," retorted Cole. "If you were a really ninja, you'd know that."
"Don't tell me how to be a ninja, Jungle Boy!" shouted Hunter angrily as he pushed Cole, causing the boys to break into a heated wrestling match.
"Hunter!" gasped Tori, horrified at her friend's childish behavior as she emerged from the water. "We're supposed to be working as a team!"
"Cole, stop it please!" begged Alyssa as she wiped herself dry. "Hunter can help us!"
"Or so you prefer him to me?" shot back Cole as Blake and Max also stumbled over.
"I…" stammered Alyssa before falling silent as the three monsters approached the group.
"And I thought you said more rangers would be reason to worry," laughed Duke Deforestation to Samurai Smogger. "Let's recycle these rangers once and for all!"
"Why would we do that?" puzzled Ms. O'Zone. "Isn't recycling good?"
"Shuddup, you poor excuse for a pollutant!" jeered Samurai Smogger. "I'll show you how to really clog up the atmosphere. Smog Cloud!"
"Heat Wave!" drawled Ms. O'Zone as she fired at her enemies.
"Abominable Ax!" declared Duke Deforestation as he swung his weapon outward to send devastating, electric waves at the six rangers.
Alyssa, Blake, Cole, Hunter, Max and Tori all cried out in pain as the attacks hit them in one huge blow of fire, sending all of them flying up into the air. As the returned to earth, hitting the ground hard, the Ninja Rangers found themselves demorphed while the Wild Force were even more wounded with the protection of suits.
"Alyssa," whispered Cole as he took the girl in his arms, whipping a trail of blood off her forehead. "I'm so sorry. I was just so worried about you, because…"
"Cole, I need to tell you," interuprted Alyssa between ragged breaths. "When you asked if I prefer you or Hunter, I like… I…" she stuttered before being cut off by Danny, Shane and Dustin approaching.
"There too many of them!" shouted Danny as he away from the relentless group of Kelzacks and Putrids that kept popping up to attack him and the red and yellow Wind Ninja Rangers.
"And our Ninja Ranger powers aren't working on the Putrids," worried Shane out loud as he and Dustin fell out of their morphed form.
"Dudes, we have to get out of here, like, NOW!" suggested Dustin, seeing the three monsters readying for another attack.
"RUN!" shouted Hunter, grabbing Alyssa as they and the other rangers headed for the dirt bikes.
Mounting their motocross cycles, the group barely made it away from the explosions that had landed just behind them.
"We just got our butts kicked back there," groaned Blake in frustration from the cycle he was sharing with Tori.
"What are we going to do?" worried Tori in back of him on the bike, burying her head in his shoulder.
"Danny, I'm scarred!" bawled Max as he threw his arms around his driver's neck.
"Don't worry, Max!" cheered Danny as he patted the thigh of the boy behind him. "Besides, with the Ninja Ranger guys on our side, we can take them! Never give up, remember!"
"Never give up!" repeated Max happily.
"Oh great, here they go again," groaned Alyssa as she wrapped her arms tighter around Hunter as he drove their bike. "Have they been like this…"
"… all day," said Hunter, finishing her sentence. The two looked at each other and smiled cutely, but for once Cole was too concerned about monster problem to care.
"How are we going to beat those guys?" wondered Cole concernedly to Shane. "We don't have our Wild Force ranger powers, and your Ninja Ranger powers seem to be ineffective against these monsters."
"I have no idea why," answered Shane worriedly. "But I think I know someone who can help us."
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has been reading, and especially to those who have left reviews. Y'all really are the greatest, and I appreciate the support and feedback so much.
In the next chapter, a familiar face makes their first appearance, but it might not be who y'all are expecting. Stay tuned!