SEQUEL TO: ORDINARY WORLD
SUMMARY: The battle taks a turn for the worse and the power of the dino gems may not be enough to save them from destruction.
DISCLAIMER: Power Rangers is not mine. But be prepared for another action-packed chapter. I hope you like the work I've put into this series. It was a lot of work and very time consuming, but I've loved every step of it. Enjoy what you can.
The end is near.
A/N: No lie. The end is near and this battle is getting harder to win. And hard to develop. As epic as their battle with Mesogog is, this one is even bigger. See you when I do.
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"Remember that a ranger never gives up no matter what happens. You got to believe that you can do anything or we will never make it out of this alive. With great power and strength comes the responsibilty of knowing how to use it and when. The battle starts from the very first step you make toward your destiny" -Eclyptyk Neo
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May 11th, 2005. Mid-day, 12:00pm.
The line of rangers were too frozen to move. They had thought it was a dream. They were hoping it was a dream. But it wasn't. The horrid images of seeing their friend and legendary ranger get locked into his own energy orb as he seemed to drain the two psycho rangers of life played like a broken record in each of their minds. And there he was, standing before them, unharmed by the intensity of the energy or the battle. A new person. A new evil.
Another evil laugh echoed in the area as the last of the smoke had finally cleared. There was no sign of the two psycho rangers, and the team could only conclude that they had met their fate. The team watched in horror as the black dino ranger laughed darkly, a shield that fixed him with great power, stood on his chest. The gold armbands to complete his uniform. And his helmet seemed to take some look to the psycho rangers design. A hint of red, yellow, green and black resonated off of him as he gripped the weapon in his hand.
But in the depths of his mind, he was screaming, wanting to get out of this mayhem and break away. That the actions his body was now doing was not his own, but in the control of the sword and its power. But in his mind, the spirit of the falcon where he was locked away, he could feel the changes going through him. That he needed to reach out, but a barrier had locked him in the cages of this astral plain of his primitive side. And something else would have to find another way to get to him. And the only thing he knew that would work, would in fact, be the destruction of that sword.
"Tommy, don't do this!" Rocky bellowed as he felt his own rage fill him. He had hoped never to face this again, didn't want to see his friend fall victim to his evil reign, but there he was standing before them looking meaner and tougher than ever.
"This cannot be happening again," Conner shook his head as he was still trying to get over the fact of what he saw before him. It was in fact his mentor, he knew, could sense it, but there was something different about him. Really different that only made him much darker than he was used to seeing from the black dino ranger.
"Oh, but it is, Conner!" the black dino ranger replied. "I have returned, and none of you will be able to escape me this time."
"Tommy, this isn't like you! Don't do this!" Billy barked out. His body tensed in the fear of seeing his old leader in his evil state.
The black dino ranger turned to look at the blue wolf ninja. He chuckled and shook his head. "Billy. It's been a long time since you've stepped out onto the battlefield. Things have changed since you last saw me like this."
The dino rangers were frozen in their own world as they looked at their teammate and mentor. They didn't know what to do or expect out of this battle. It just never made any sense. There were no signs. Were there? They swore there was nothing leading up to this unexpected surprise. And they didn't like it one bit. They were shaking with fear, but trying to hold their ground just because they were rangers. But this was one nightmare they just weren't ready to face again. A nightmare that led them to believe that if they didn't win, no hope would remain.
By now, Kim had fallen to her knees as tears fell like waterfalls down her face. Aisha and Adam had been there to console her. Her grip had tightened around their own hands as they tried to keep her mental stability leveled. But it was a heartbreak not only to her, but to everyone there. The yellow and black ninja rangers had looked over at the black dino ranger with heavy eyes of determination and fear.
"We don't want to fight you, Tommy. It doesn't have to be like this," Adam barked out as he bent over running a calming hand over the pink ranger's shoulder.
The gesture seemed to make Tommy tick as he took a step forward, his grip tightened around the sword's handle even more. He let out a low growl. "You! Out of all people I thought I could trust with my wife..."
"I'm not trying to hook up with her, Tommy!" Adam bellowed as he shook his head making only one conclusion to the black dino ranger's heated words. He had heard from both Kim and Tommy of the unwavering trust the legendary ranger had over the black ninja for keeping an eye on Kim. But he was merely doing his job as a friend and doctor. Nothing more.
"This is crazy talk, Tommy," Aisha said as she followed in the words of her friend in the black ninja suit. "Kimberly loves you. No one else. Adam, Rocky, Billy and the others are merely just brothers looking out for both you and her."
The black dino ranger continued to advance toward the trio, but was stopped by the blue and red ninja rangers. The four dino rangers took their place before them acting as a barrier and shield to the older rangers. Their gazes, though their hearts burned with fear, was of determination and strength that made it clear they wouldn't stop fighting until they had to. That they would do whatever it take to keep their teacher/mentor from doing any harm.
"Out of my way, dino rangers!" Tommy growled as he lowered his head for a moment.
"I'm afraid we can't let you do that, Dr. O," Conner spoke up matching the stride of any leader before him, including his mentor.
"If you want to step up to the plate, you're gonna have to go through us before you strike out on them," Trent said.
"Cute," the black dino ranger scoffed. "Pathetic words and puns won't do you any good in this battle, Trent. Now, out of my way! I will deal with them first. You'll hardly be a challenge to me."
The four dino rangers took a step toward their mentor, their gazes grew more serious and heavy on him. Arms crossed and stances holding their ground, they weren't ready to back down.
The black dino ranger took a step back, sheathing his sword and clapping his hands, congratulating his former teammates. "I gotta hand it to you guys. You've learned a lot from the battles you've faced, and you've even listened to what I've told you in the past. I'm surprised. But you haven't even seen the entire level of my powers. Do you really want to see them?"
"Bring it," Ethan challenged, not wanting this verbal confrontation to go on any longer than it needed to. "We got what it takes."
"You have no idea, Ethan. I'm not who I was months ago. I'm more powerful than all of your powers combined."
"Then prove it," Kira managed to say.
The black dino ranger removed the sword from its holster holding it in position. Conner pulled up his dino morpher as it charged up for battle, his teammates followed suit behind him. And they all called out their morphing call and morphed within seconds. And as the light cleared, they were all suited up and heightened with the powers of Super Dino Mode as they fell into a fighter stance.
Billy and Rocky had exchanged a look as they peered over at the trio of ninjas behind them. Adam had nodded toward the yellow ranger as she pulled Kim to her feet, taking a few steps back, finding some protection behind a car. Adam met his two ninja friends as they pulled out their specially-made morphers and forced it out in front of them, letting out the respectable morphing call to these morphers.
"We call upon the power of Ninjetti!" they announced in unison.
"The frog!" Adam replied as he felt a rush of energy fill his body.
"The ape!" Rocky announced as he watched his morpher glowed to life.
"The wolf!" Billy stated as his suit was lit by a hint of blue.
For a brief moment, as the four dino rangers watched the three ninjas transform – if that's what they could say – watched as their suits glowed to life in the respective color of their status on the team and see as the spirit of each of their animals come to life. It played out in gold and when it was completed, they flexed their arms and hands. Their nose and mouth was guarded off like any respectable ninja would look, leaving enough breathing room for their eyes and their heads, much like how they looked when they first got their powers. Some of the darkness around them was lifted and the echoing cries of each of their animals rang throughout their ears and the area. They fell into a fighter stance beside the young dino ranger team waiting on their newest enemy – their friend and mentor.
The black dino ranger didn't move for a moment, but swung his staff around several times before pointing it out, sending out an electrical shock, branching out to strike each of the rangers before him. It was so fast and quick, that none of them had expected it and took the blow head on. One second, the seven rangers were up ready to battle, and then they were sprayed on the ground in pain from the electrical surge.
"Give up already?" the black dino ranger barked darkly as he shook his head. "You're no match for me."
"Now, where have I heard that before?" Conner asked rather amusingly looking over at his friend in white.
Kira smacked him on the back of the helmet as she peeled herself off the ground beside her teammates. "No time for jokes, Conner. Focus here."
"Kira's right," Rocky breathed as he grabbed his chest. "We gotta stay focused."
The seven rangers huddled for a moment as they began to discuss among themselves the next phase of the battle. It was clear that it was unexpected and they had not expected it, but they had to hold on and keep their cool. It was only fair to all of them.
The black dino ranger shook his head as he let the staff rest on his shoulder, tapping it gently trying to find some amusement in waiting on his aggressors. He was in no rush to defeat them when he would rather play with them a little before he wanted to destroy them for good. He paced only briefly, waiting and clenching his fists hoping not to lose his patience right then and there. His job was to destroy them, but it was better to tick them off a little bit first. It would only make them more vulnerable to his attacks later on.
"So, Billy? Or Adam? Or Rocky? Mind briefing us on your findings?" Ethan asked quickly as he looked over his back, watching as the black dino ranger was starting to lose his patience with them.
"That's not his brachio staff. It's something else..." Adam began.
"To keep it simple. I can only conclude that Mindshatter has somehow found a way to re-create the Sword of Darkness for Tommy to make him evil again. If we don't destroy it, he will be like this forever," Billy said.
"And we don't want that. Got it," Conner nodded as he broke from the circle, but Billy grabbed him.
"I've seen that power before. It won't be easy to defeat. So, be prepared for anything he has in store for us."
"And we can't forget that he has the powers of the ninja and invisibility running in his blood, too," Rocky instructed.
"I'm just full of surprises, aren't I?" a voice replied.
The team broke formation and Trent was struck by an invisible force, crashing into Rocky and Billy. And as they lined up for a brief moment, they saw the invisible force around the black dino ranger drop as he stood among them. Ethan and Rocky had moved against him, but he had zoomed out of their attack as he disappeared again. For a moment, the team looked around in a panic, hoping to find their hidden friend somehow.
But they were at another stand still. He would attack in the shadows of the ninja powers and his invisible abilities at a speed they couldn't quite keep up with. They almost felt like they were dealing with a phantom, forcing all of them to look within the shadows and open air for any sign of him, but he didn't seem to be anywhere in sight.
"Focus," Adam barked out as he froze in place, dropping his head and concentrating.
For a moment, the rest of the team had followed suit. The three ninjas had already been well aware of their heightened ninja skills, and were glad to have them, guiding them through the shadows to pinpoint their enemy. The four dino rangers were a bit slower, but each of them had allowed some space to get lost in the nothingness of their minds, in the open light of the battle and let that inner strength guide them in the battle.
And swiftly, the black dino ranger had moved against them. But didn't attack. He had his goal set on the two hidden ninjas behind a car. Despite the pregnant woman, both of them had also morphed to their added protective suits, still keeping an eye out. Aisha had been a little consoling, trying to relay thoughts of an evil Tommy out of both of their heads, but didn't quite work.
The black dino ranger had continued to advance against them, his staff held in a deadly blow. And as he brought it down, with lightning fast speed and reflexes the black ninja ranger and the red dino ranger had locked their swords with the deadly sword of the black dino ranger.
Tommy dropped his invisible state as he growled, kicking the red dino ranger to the ground. Conner winced under the impact as he grabbed his stomach crashing to the ground beside the pink and yellow ninjas. They asked if he was all right as he nodded. Adam had forced all of his weight into the staff, the original brachio staff, that he now held in his possession against his friend. In close sparring and deadly attacks, Adam was not used to using a sword in battle. It wasn't his specialty, his hands and feet were enough to do the damage he liked, but he didn't want to take his chances with his friend.
"Tommy, you gotta snap out of this!" Adam demanded.
Tommy growled as he swung high, catching his friend off guard. Adam lost his footing and slipped. But where he faltered, the other dino rangers had jumped their teacher, forcing him back. And under SDM, they had moved at a much faster speed than what they were used to. Or the black dino ranger was used to as he came crashing to the ground. The other ninja rangers had moved against him as he rolled away swinging his sword as a threat, letting out another electrical shock. The nine rangers had all sprung away from the attack as the electrical shock shook the area, setting off small explosions as it tried to make contact with them.
They all hit the ground, catching the impact in a knelt position and sprang to their feet and over the shock as it seemed to catch the black dino ranger by surprise for their quick thinking. The White and Red dino rangers moved against him first, weapons drawn, but hesitant to use against their friend. But they knew they had to do whatever it took to take him down. He was a threat to them, meaning he would be a threat to the rest of the world if he would stay like this. He had to be taken out and as soon as possible. The black dino ranger quickly disposed of them as the blue and yellow dino rangers moved against him where their teammates fell.
But soon, Ethan found his arm being twisted behind his back as he winced. He could almost feel the icy breathing run down his spine as the black dino ranger held him back. Kira called out to him as she rushed her teacher, but the black ranger had stopped her with the staff swinging and striking, making contact with her suit. She hit the ground, but Billy and Aisha weren't too far behind as they jumped their friend, but he had released Ethan as he came crashing onto Billy.
Aisha and Rocky had moved against him, using a double team to send the black dino ranger back. But Tommy was there to catch each attack as they came his way, using an arm, a leg or the staff to guard him against their attacks. They fell back only for a second as Adam and Kim had rushed him, the staff still held tightly in the frog ninja's grasp. He knew if he could just get Tommy to snatch up his original brachio staff, it should break the curse of the Sword of Darkness, or so he hoped. Adam used the staff, but it was clear that he was struggling with it. He wasn't used to it, let alone, he couldn't harness its real power. Not without the morpher in his own hands.
The black dino ranger caught another blow from the black ninja, holding him in place for a second. Kim had pulled out for only a moment, but came charging at her husband. She pushed against him, and despite the round belly, it didn't seem to be in the way of her action to knock some sense into him. But he had grabbed her wrist, gripping it tight as she felt her knees weaken and wince.
"Are you gonna cry for me, bitch? Don't!" Tommy spat out in an angry hiss. His grip tightened around her wrist as her stance faltered. Adam had his own problem trying to pull the staff away, but it didn't seem to budge. He was stuck unless he just let go of the staff, and it was the last thing he was gonna do. "Once a cheater, always a cheater! Now, tell me the truth. Have you hooked up with Adam!"
Adam tried to pull the staff away, kicking the shin of his friend. But Tommy didn't seem to flinch at the move. The black dino ranger turned his head to meet the gaze of the black ninja as he let go of the hold, kicking Adam to the ground. He gripped the wrist of his wife harder before tossing her to the ground beside the black ninja. Adam shielding her behind him as the black dino ranger approached them. He was really getting worried about her well-being. Despite what protection these morphers gave them, anything really dramatizing can still destroy the chances for the unborn baby.
"So, you use yourself as a guard to protect her? That was my job, Adam!" the black ranger growled.
"And it still is, Tommy! You don't have to do this. You're supposed to be on our side!" Adam stated.
"You will be destroyed! Every last one of you! Including Mindshatter and anyone else who is a threat to me."
"That's treason waiting to happen," Adam shook his head. "That's not your way, Tommy. You're a Power Ranger. Not a damn tyrant!"
"Noooo!" Conner jumped his teacher again. He knew that the black ranger was trying to use psychological tactics to disrupt their thoughts and didn't want to take his chances and hear any of it. He had to stay focus as his three teammates joined him for a moment. The black dino ranger growled as he pulled himself off the ground.
"Challenging me again, dino rangers?" the black dino ranger replied.
"You're one of us!" Ethan barked.
"Don't do this, Dr. O!" Kira commanded more than pleaded. "You gotta fight it!"
"We can help you!" Trent said.
The black dino ranger stood up straighter, lowering the staff. He dropped his head, looking at the morphers affixed to each wrist. His dino morpher and his falcon morpher. His body began to boil with more rage. They were right. With that dino morpher he was one of the dino rangers. With that falcon morpher, he was a ninja. And that's not what he was feeling like at all. The staff – the sword he now held in his hands – was no longer a disguise to the team, but truly looked like a facsimile to the Sword of Darkness.
"Power down!" he announced and the black suit dropped, revealing the man in his civilian form. But he still held a dark and evil power over his body, he had not looked up at any of the rangers lining up before him.
The nine rangers fell silent for a moment, confused as they tried to figure out what exactly was going on. As much as Kim just wanted to race to her husband's side, crack him open like an egg while he was in his civilian form, the team didn't take any chances. They had not seemed to care about their own welfare at the moment, but more for hers, even if she refused their pampering and protection. They didn't see it any other way. She wasn't gonna go out there.
The man donning the powers of the brachio had casually dropped the brachio morpher to the ground before him. And then slipped off the falcon morpher, too. He stood there, morpher less, but still had the Sword grasped tightly in his hands.
"So, what! You're gonna fight us like that?" Ethan had to tease, seeing to make sure that this guy was still in fact evil. "Don't you think that would only make you that much more of a target for our attacks?"
The man finally looked up, that evil smile fell over his face as his eyes grew in a darkness of more evil. They glowed in a hint of green that had the blue and pink ninja rangers shift a little uncomfortably. They knew of Tommy's reign in the very beginning, and had not liked it now. It would make no difference to them, but it was clearly something they didn't really want to deal with, but had to. The man held up the Sword of Darkness as he pulled out what appeared to be a coin of some kind from the bottom of the hilt. And when he had reached behind him, he had revealed a facsimile to the original dragon morpher in his grasp.
The team took a step back in shock. They had freaked about how he had gotten that, let alone stood in fear praying that didn't link to what it shouldn't link to. But they had to hold their ground, many of the guys' grips bled in a sea of white knuckles.
"I told you I'm full of surprises," the dark man sneered as he sent the sword in a deadly dance of movement and let out his morphing call. The call none of them swore they would ever hear from again, in reality. "It's Morphing Time! Dragonzord!"
"Noo!" the team called out, but were too late as the green light covered the man that was donned in the black dino suit.
And when it had cleared, along with a line of green smoke, the man whose current suit was black, was now back in his old and original green suit. The suit where he had caused enough damage that would leave scars upon anyone who was there to witness his destruction years ago. Scars that struck the world, if not more, crushing the dreams of young children years ago. But it looked slightly different. The helmet was marked with a silver lining, the same design as the evil ranger he had faced in a test to see what he really wanted in life – power or love. The shield was also modified, still taking on the design that suited him earlier in battle. And it seemed like any battles he had fought in as the black brachio dino thunder ranger had been lost or never existed at all, and he had died. Returning as a new man, an evil being.
The green dragon ranger gave out another thunderous evil laugh, that had the blue and pink ninja rangers crash to their knees. As being the originals who had fought to destroy the evil in their friend, they were living this painful deja vu moment all over again. And the rest of the rangers were feeling their pain. It had hit the black and red ninja rangers on a scale of anger and rage to see their friend, donned in red – in his Zeo suit – take on them with several other red rangers, under Mesogog's spell, to destroy them months ago. The teens and Aisha had in turn known and seen the dark side of Tommy, and had hated it with a passion, even if they wanted to help him.
Frozen in fear, the green dragon ranger took a step forward, tapping the sword against his shoulder. "What! Don't look so surprised, Rangers. Black is out and green is back in!" He let his hand fall into an array of motions as he pulled out his Dragon Dagger and pushing it to his mouth.
The team called out against him, trying to stop him. Conner, Kira and Ethan were quick to draw their blasters and fired, but the green ranger had already blown out the fanfare, using it as another shield to guard him from danger. The blaster bolts were deflected, a few set course for the rangers. They rolled away catching their breath as the laser fire came their way. Conner and Ethan tried again, but had found their own laser fire race back their way.
Adam and Rocky let loose their limps as they raced for the green ranger. He had been waiting for their attack as they engaged in a line of punches and kicks that could do enough damage to someone who was not used to martial arts or fights. Adam would go high, using his fluid Kung Fu style to keep the green ranger on his guard. Rocky's movements were a little more rigid, but held power behind each blow. But with that sword, they had to avoid his attacks at any cost, all strikenly deadly. They knew Tommy's skills with weaponry like that, and had not mastered his own skills with a sword. The green dragon ranger finally made contact with the two swift ninjas, but where they faltered, Billy and Aisha had joined the fight.
Locking him in their grasp, the two tried to get to the green ranger. Trying to make him remember what he was fighting for and for who. That they were not the enemy and his thoughts were being manipulated by the power of the sword. But he had pushed them away as the four dino rangers rushed him again from all sides. He had moved against them at lightning fast speed, moving away as they struck each other unable to keep up with his speed.
Kim had had enough of this as she raced forward, using all of her weight throwing the green dragon ranger to the ground. Adam and Rocky rushed to keep him down, trying to pull the sword free from his grasp, but it seemed to be glued to it.
"Tommy! Snap out of it!" Rocky demanded trying to pull the sword free, but Tommy had twisted out of their grasp.
Kim lost control as Conner caught her before racing into the action. She urged him into battle though he was still worried about her condition. She was too determined to reach her husband to think about her own health and condition. Conner had crashed into the green dragon ranger trying to talk to him, but his mentor had not heard him as he threw him to the ground again.
Ethan and Trent double-teamed him again with Adam and Billy following suit, but the skills of the green dragon ranger had them striking each other again as he moved away. Kira let out a ptera scream hoping to falter the moves of her mentor, but he had merely stopped, turning his head toward her unaffected by her attack. He slowly approached her but Aisha had rammed into him with the strength of a bear, the ape not too far behind.
The green ranger crashed to the ground in a groan as he slowly got to his feet, growling. "I will not be defeated, Rangers!" He extended the sword, slamming it into the ground as an electrical shock traveled across the ground striking the team.
The nine rangers groaned under the sudden shock from pavement under them. Too weak to move, they all winced and groaned in pain. The green ranger slowly approached the weaken team shaking his head.
"Hardly a challenge," he scoffed. He turned away, pulling out his dragon dagger. "Now, to destroy the city." He pushed it to his mouth and gave out the dreadful fanfare to his zord.
The team called out in protest, but the green ranger had continued to play as the sea began to erupt to life before them. Bubbles and waves rose like an underwater volcano had just exploded, but the sight of the Dragonzord's head had emerged from the depths. And slowly but with no rush, the Dragonzord was free from its long nap for several months. It let out a thunderous roar that shook the area, sending the rangers back to the ground as they lost their footing.
With the fanfare continuing, the Green Ranger took the giant leap to the top of its head. It gave out a roar as he looked down at the small multi-colored rangers below calling out to him. "This is your end, Power Rangers. And no one will be able to stop me!" He pushed the flute to his mouth and played out the orders to his beloved zord.
The eyes of dragonzord glowed to an eerie red haze as it roared under the command of the dagger. It rocked, walking out of the sea and onto the pier, looking down at the small ants – the rangers – below it. And in an instant, pulled up a hand aiming it at the defenseless rangers. They called out in protest, pushing each other aside trying to clear the area as the pier exploded in a line of smoke and fire all around them. The impact sent them to the ground again, moaning and groaning.
"Give up, Rangers. Your end is near!" the evil green ranger laughed as he commanded the zord to move toward the city.
"Noo!" Conner called out as he slowly peeled himself off the pavement. He caught his breath as he watched the dragon zord move away from them, heading into the heart of the city.
"We have to stop him!" Trent winced as he helped Kira to her feet.
The ninja rangers had moved toward the pink ranger worried about her own thoughts and mental stability. They weren't quite sure what was going on in her head, but it worried all of them. They didn't want to think twice about what would happen if they didn't succeed, or if their lives were already destroyed. But they had to hold on and as the teens rushed over, despite the helmets that guarded their facial expressions, their stance were of worry, fear and guilt.
"How are we supposed to go up against that? I thought the zords were non-accessible," Ethan breathed.
The team's gaze fell over on the technical director of the original team. Billy took a step forward as he pulled up his morpher. He threw a switch on it as it flipped open to reveal what looked like a gemstone, a sapphire. Their gazes widen with shock and confusion, unsure what to make of the gesture.
"We may still have a chance," he said slowly. But as the team was protesting about the gemstone, saying that wouldn't have the power to save them, he shook his head. He looked at his fellow ninja rangers, directing them to follow suit as they pulled up their morphers, flipping a switch.
A gemstone hidden in each of their morphers. Rocky held a ruby in his, Aisha with a tiger's eye gemstone, Kim with a rose quartz and Adam with a rare black diamond. Trent had retrieved the two morphers, the remains of their mentor, handing it over to Billy as he flipped open the hidden compartment of Tommy's falcon morpher to reveal a diamond.
"So, to keep things really short, what do they do?" Kira asked looking back to see that the dragon zord was moving farther and farther into the city.
Billy held his breath. "I found these gems, in a cave not too far from the underground lab. They match the components of the dino gems and will act as an added boost to control the zords. In theory it should create this dino rage megazord I've heard so much about. If it is done correctly, we should be able to stop Tommy before he destroys the whole city."
"Well, let's do it," Ethan said as he was about to call forth his zord.
"What about Kim?" Aisha blurted out and noticed an uneasiness in Trent, noticing the colors of the older rangers. The white ninja ranger had kicked out his ninja roots to go on an evil rampage. "Or in this case, Trent?"
Billy sighed as he handed over the two morphers and the staff to Kim. He whispered something into her ear as she nodded in turn taking a step back. " Trent will be bunking with Adam. I'll be with Ethan. Rocky and Conner you're another team and Kira and Aisha, you'll make the last team. Let's move. We don't have much time."
The four teens looked at each other before pulling their morpher to their mouth, in turn calling out their respective zord. The echoing call of each of their zords filled the area as the four zords emerged from the hidden comfort of the forest. And as one, the four rangers jumped for their respective zord as each let out a piercing cry.
The four ninja rangers had exchanged another look as they looked over at Kim. For a moment, she was hesitant to move until Billy gave her a nod. In return, a determined nod came his way as she gripped the gear in her hands. The four ninjas followed suit and leapt for the respective zord they were closely assigned to leaving the pink ninja ranger alone.
"If all else fails, he is our last chance to save you, Handsome. Please, hang in there," she whispered and turned, racing out of the plaza.
XXXXXXXXXX
Sitting in the cockpit of his zord, Ethan had to get used to the feel of it. He hadn't seen the inside, let alone, the zord in the last few months. And with the many battles they had faced, only one being had to bring it to this grand scale. And that was Dinoshade. And now, this incident. Billy had stood behind him in the small cockpit, and though it was only really meant for one, they managed to find it accessible to the two of them.
"You ready to do this, Ethan?" Billy asked him.
The blue tricera ranger held his breath for a moment and nodded. The original blue ranger had instructed the blue dino ranger to put his hand on a panel on the main control base. A hand print scanner held his hand in place as the blue ninja loomed over him, holding out his morpher as it glowed in a hint of blue as he began to concentrate on the power of the gem. The two blue rangers watched as the entire cockpit glowed to life watching on the small monitor as the parts of the tricera zord began to re-configure.
Meanwhile, Rocky had been doing the same with the red dino ranger. Rocky, himself, had to get over the fact that he had not been inside the pit of a zord in a long time and it took him by surprise. But, with that surprise, he had to get down to business and get serious. He told the red dino ranger to place his hand on the panel marked with a hand as he set his arm above Conner, concentrating on the power of the gem. It began to glow to life, feeding into the cockpit as it lit to life in a line of bright light and red trimmings.
On the monitor, they watched the reconfiguration begin to take form around them.
Adam had his own insights on the things going on around him. With Trent running the controls to keep the drago zord stable in the air, Adam had instructed him to do the same as the others, placing his hand on the indicated panel. Adam worked his own patience and concentration into the rare black diamond as it began to glow, giving life to the cockpit of the drago zord. And they watched the configuration take place as parts began to break away, take formation for the megazord.
Aisha had to keep from feeling like she was gonna throw up. She had been in airplanes several times, even sky diving, but she had not in some time which made the feeling of zooming through the air sickening to her. Kira had kept the zord stable as it zoomed through the air, waiting for its own configuration to take place.
Kira looked over at her friend in the yellow ninja suit noticing she looked a little more sick than need be. "Are you okay?"
Aisha nodded, grabbing her stomach, throwing up a thumb's up. "I'm all right. I'm cool. Yeah, no problem here. Just set up for the formation. Place your left hand on the panel to the side..."
Kira did as she was told, feeling the rush of energy ran through her at the very moment her hand and touched down on it. Aisha had caught her breath as she began to concentrate on the gem in her grasp. The entire cockpit began to glow to life as it took on its own re-configuration.
Within their place in the cockpit, the teens felt the rush of energy and power run through them as their zords were energized with a new line of power. A part of them, in their soul, the very zords that had once been destroyed, was now living in their souls once again.
"Dino rage megazord formation," they spoke in unison within their cockpits.
Echoing in their heads, they heard the cry of their given zord as the zords themselves began to break and reform into a new megazord before them. Their eyes fell shut only for a moment as they felt their hands extend out before them almost like they were about to jump off a cliff. And when it had cleared, they had found themselves in a cockpit similar to the one they had been in months ago when they faced Mesogog in the grander of scales. Positioned in the front, Conner took the center stage, the round red dome that connected his very spirit to his zord stood before him. Ethan was on his right and Kira on his left, also holding in hand the very controls that linked their spirits to their zords. Trent stood behind them on a sorta pedestal a bit higher than them. But he too, also had control of his zord through the round white dome before him. The cockpit glowed with their presence as the marking of the three-pronged dinosaur foot stood big behind them.
For a moment, they were speechless to ever be in the same cockpit again, and had not expected the change with Trent had his own set of controls for the zord. And that he might have been the higher of power out of all of them. But it wasn't like that at all. They were all there to stop the dragon zord from destroying the city.
They had commented on the completed formation as they heard the voice of the elder rangers ring through their morphers. It seemed as if the cockpits in which they were once in was set for the ninja rangers as they took the place of their successors. The dino rangers themselves, would be operating the main controls of the megazord.
And as the configuration was completed. It had in fact, looked like the dino rage megazord, but had been powered by more than just the dino gems. But the spirits and strength of the ninja rangers and equipped with a new line of weaponry the team was anxious to test out.
"All right, let's go!" Conner announced, pushing forward as the 30-story zord roared to life and headed for the city.
The dino rage megazord didn't have to get far when it had spotted the dragon zord, tail swinging and missiles escaping its fingertips, sprinkling buildings with damage. A strike from the pterarang caught its attention as it stopped and turned around to see the looming size of the megazord that had come to disrupt him.
"Brings back a lot of memories, doesn't this?" Rocky breathed as he began to push a few buttons on the panel, calling up the status of the weapons' system on his monitor.
"It does. But stay focused guys. Tommy is a tricky guy, even tricker when he is evil," Adam warned them.
"I can see that. Hang on!" Conner blurted out.
The dragon zord had turned around, swung its powerful drilling tail toward them as the dino rage megazord had no time to react. It came crashing to the ground as the team lurched forward, the teens nearly landing on top of one another at the impact. The dragon zord gave out a roar as it began to stomp on the other zord, sending sparks everywhere.
"Not again," Ethan let a breath escape his lips. He pulled himself off the ground using his blue dome as a support.
"Our first time in the megazord in a few months and we're already on the ground," Kira stated as she shook her head.
"C'mon, guys. We gotta stay focused!" Conner ordered to his teammates.
"I got an idea," Trent stated as he ran the control of his zord.
The wings of the drago zord sprang to life working like a helicopter as it cut the tactics of the dragon zord down to size. The dragon zord stumbled back as the wings stopped spinning and flapped, pulling the megazord back on its feet. Turning to face the power of the dragon zord, the head of the tyranno zord let out a piercing roar charging forward, the head of the tricera zord working as a shield and punched the other zord. Sparks flew as they made contact on the two zords.
A hand to hand combat went down between the zords. A tricera zord fist flying or the tyranno tail drilling to catch the dragon zord by surprise. But it seemed, despite the time of not being in the zord, the dragon zord was moving at speeds and a skill mastered only by a ranger who has manned zords for a long time.
The battle continued to rage on. At times, the team would make contact with the dragon zord, but it didn't seem to do the same damage as the dragon zord was doing to them. They had hit the ground more times than they would have liked and didn't expect to be on the losing end, despite the use of technology and weaponry difference between the two zords.
For a moment, the dino rage megazord had taken a break to catch its breath, as did the dragon zord. Each compiling a new line of strategy to help them in battle.
The ninja rangers were trying to keep their cool, but their own frustration was clouding them from seeing through all of the mistakes. The teens themselves were already getting antsy and jumpy about the whole thing. They didn't understand how or why it seemed to take so long to have either of the zords fall. They were getting more tired and exhausted as the battle went on. And they had hoped it was just the exhaustion of battling for so long and nothing more, but it was too hard to tell.
"Hey, Billy. You were around to see the destruction of the dragon zord during its evil reign in Angel Grove. Mind giving us some pointers now?" Ethan called out.
From his cockpit on the zord, Billy shook his head trying to figure out what they were missing. It was clear, that though eight rangers were locked in the control of a megazord, they didn't seem to find a weakness within the zord of their adversary. He didn't understand why it was like this, only concluding that the dragon zord had more power to it than meets the eye, or Mindshatter had given it more juice. He knew that the dragon zord was tough, but with their new line of technology it shouldn't be a problem. But it was. A major one. And that's what bothered him the most.
"I'm working on that, Ethan. I just don't understand why it's so hard to defeat him. There's gotta be something about that sword or something we're missing about all of this," Billy sighed.
"I think it is the obvious," Adam replied. "We have to get rid of that sword..."
The megazord jolted forward as another attack struck it from behind. The megazord turned around to see the dragon zord beckon it over for another attack. The megazord moved toward the other zord as they engaged in another hand-to-hand combat. Punches from both sides were thrown, mixed with the deadly spin of the dragon zord.
But as time passed, the megazord found itself flat on its back again. The evil laughter escaped the cockpit of the dragon zord as it loomed over the fallen megazord. The dragon zord bent down to pick up the fallen megazord, the eyes glowed in a hint of red as it made contact with the cockpit housing the four dino rangers. All were battered, weak, tired and sick of losing to their own mentor, friend and teammate.
"Do you give up, rangers? It'll be so much easier for you to accept defeat rather than try to go up against me any further," the intercom from the dragon zord blared out.
"We won't go out like this! Not to you, Dr. O," Conner spoke up, his determination peaking over his uncertainty. His role as a leader had been tested on several different skills, and at times he had doubted his place as a member of the team, but he had a line of friends that were there to back him up and support him in anyway possible. A fist forming as his determination grew.
The ring of the evil laugh filled their ears again. It was clear it wouldn't be that easy to reach him this time around, but they couldn't give up. They just couldn't, for the sake of each other, the world and balance between good and evil. They had to keep telling themselves, especially the teens, that Tommy was not at all trying to be bad or evil, but was controlled by the calling of that sword he held in his possession. And it had to stop, anyway possible.
"Do you think you have what it takes to destroy me? You don't stand a chance," the green dragon ranger bellowed with a deep laugh.
"We're still standing now," Ethan said.
"And we're supposed to fight whatever evil is in our way," Kira said.
"Even if it is one of our own teammates," Trent had to agree.
With those words being spoken, the cockpit in which the teens were housed, began to glow, nearly blinding them. But it didn't seem to bother them. They could feel a new line of energy and power course through their bones as they tried to make sense of what was going on. They had remembered this feeling months ago when they were called into zord action. And yet, they didn't have any answers for it. And now, they didn't either. But it gave them more determination to end this.
Conner grabbed the controls of the megazord as they shook to life, feeling the universal dino energy surge through him all over again, throwing its weight onto the dragon zord as it hit the ground. The megazord pinned it to the ground not moving. And in the spared moments they had to play off the offense for a little bit, a shadowed figure had entered a hatch of the dragon zord.
The fanfare of the dragon dagger had given the zord its boost as it let out an icy breath to freeze the megazord for only a moment. The dragon zord swiped the megazord off of him and threw it to the ground, returning to its feet. The team inside had been tousled around like rag dolls.
"Okay, I am getting really sick of being tossed around like a freaking rag doll," Aisha grumbled from her place within the ptera zord's cockpit.
"I think I'm about to lose my lunch after this," Rocky groaned as he rubbed his head.
"Can we make complaints later you guys? I think we're starting to get the upper hand here," Adam retorted as he shook his head, sitting upright in the cockpit of the drago zord.
The teens themselves began to feel a rush of dizziness and weakness fall over them, and they weren't sure if they were gonna last. Peeling themselves off of each other, for the moments they had gained an advantage, they thought they could make it. But it was only getting worse and harder to complete. They would never get the upper hand if there wasn't anyone on the other side of this battle. They needed an extra hand.
XXXXXXXXXX
From inside the cockpit of the dragon zord, the green dragon ranger hissed at another victorious fall for him. He figured he had played with the rangers long enough, and would see their demise soon enough. He just had to figure out what was the best way to take them out. He had to do it in a bang. He wanted to do it in a bang. A memory to the rest of the world and the galaxy if need be that no one should mess with him.
He clenched the dragon dagger in his hand, looking down at the Sword of Darkness mounted on the main panel to give him added power and access to the zord's control. He had to admit that it had been awhile since he had been in that cockpit, but it was a feeling and sense of home. That this is where he had truly belonged in the field of battle. In the seat of his original zord under the reign and power of evil.
He pushed a few buttons on the panel as he watched the vitals of the megazord. It was crumbling, slowly. But it was falling to his hands, just as he had hoped for.
"This is your demise, rangers. Time to say good..," he stated darkly as he turned a knob watching the numbers rise on another panel.
"Not if I could help it," a voice replied from behind him.
The green dragon ranger quickly turned around in his chair only to be met by the fist of a glove to his helmet. He shot forward against the panel, catching his breath for only a brief time. Another punch had him ready this time as he pulled the sword from the main console to lock with the weapon of the other figure. The two had engaged in a battle within the cockpit, sending sparks everywhere.
"Dragon zord. Finish off the dino rage megazord and the rangers!" the green ranger demanded just as he felt a hand grip around his shoulder. He slammed his fist into the panel to give out the final commands he had wanted to say for a long time.
He tried to wither around it, but found no way out of it. And his own nightmare, a signature move to defeat the rangers and their zords, the tables had turned on him as he had hit open air and went flying out of his zord to the hard pavement down below, 30 stories below. The other figure following close behind him in close pursuit of ending this now.
XXXXXXXXXX
From the other cockpit of the megazord, the teens had questioned why the dragon zord had finally stopped attacking. All of them were confused at the thought that they had gotten their wish and someone was helping them out. Protesting over the sudden stop in battle, Ethan had called everyone's attention to the figure falling from the head of the dragon zord to the ground below.
"Guys, check it out!" Ethan bellowed as he pointed at the green ranger plummeting the 30-stories to the hard pavement below.
"It's Dr. O!" Conner breathed.
"But wait! Who's the other guy? That's can't be Dr. O in the black dino suit on his tail," Kira protested.
Confused the four teens didn't know what to believe. It didn't make sense. But as they wanted to get down there and have a better look or question what was going on, the dragon zord roared back to life, letting out missiles and a deadly spinning tail toward the megazord. And despite the owner of the dragon zord was now on the ground, the dragon zord still continued to attack under new orders. To destroy the megazord and the rangers inside for good.
XXXXXXXXXX
On the ground, the green dragon ranger groaned under the heavy concrete that stuck him, breaking his fall. For a moment, he had found no strength to get up. He heard the crash of footsteps as the other figure had landed a few feet in front of him. He sat up looking over at the figure who had decided to challenge him. Wait! ...but how?
It was the black dino thunder ranger. And he swore – no, he knew – that he had taken off the morpher. That it was not him, or anyway, some other side of him in that suit. The man donned in the black dino ranger suit stepped forward, fell into a fighter stance with the brachio staff in a ready position for attack or deflection.
"How does it feel to be thrown out of your own zord, Tommy?" the man in the black suit questioned in a cool voice.
The green dragon ranger growled as he jumped to his feet raising the sword he held in his hands, his grip tightened on the handle. He shook his head almost feeling like he was in some strange and bad nightmare. "You'll pay for that, black ranger."
"I've been through this game before, man. It didn't make a difference thirteen years ago, and it won't make a difference now." the man replied. "I have to stop you, Tommy, no matter what."
"Your move," the green dragon fell back, forcing his weight to his back leg, holding out his sword his free hand wavered over it. His stance kept him on the move as it would in this battle.
And for a moment, the two had not moved watching and waiting, trying to analyze the power behind the suit of the other ranger. Though Tommy didn't want to believe what he thought about his challenger, he knew that he had to destroy him just as any other ranger that came between him and victory. Then the green ranger had advanced, making the man in the black suit smile lightly before racing off into battle.
XXXXXXXXXX
With their hands full, the team assembled in the megazord had to keep the dragon zord at bay from destroying the city and themselves. It wasn't easy, yet didn't quite make sense. The owner of the zord was not even in the cockpit, and the dragon zord still continued to battle. The teens could only conclude that it was the power behind the dagger or any other controlling item to both the owner and the zord itself. They didn't want to destroy the dragon zord, but felt if this didn't end soon they would have to make another sacrifice and trash these zords right along with the dragon zord.
Blocking shots from the dragon zord, the rangers within would try to keep tabs on the battle raging below them. They watched as the green dragon ranger and the black dino ranger had engaged in a grueling and deadly battle.
"But who is that!" Kira breathed again, still not being able to put two and two together about the battle going on below them.
"No clue," Conner shook his head.
The ninja rangers either were too determined to put an end to the dragon zord to notice, or they didn't want to mention anything.
"Guys! Can we focus on this bucket of bolts first or we'll all be roasted rangers faster than we could sprint across a track field?" Rocky protested as the megazord rocked from another attack.
XXXXXXXXXX
The battle had continued between the skilled rangers. For a moment though, the black dino ranger had the upper hand as the green ranger came crashing to one knee to catch his breath. He hadn't expected to go out like this, nor wanted to. But he didn't want to be the loser. It would destroy everything he worked so hard to accomplish.
"Giving up already, Tommy? You call this a challenge? I thought you were tougher than this," the black dino ranger teased. But grew more serious as he walked up to the green ranger. "You're better than this. All of this. Don't let Mindshatter take control of you. You gotta fight its control."
The green ranger dropped his head, tossing it around as the black dino ranger began to speak those words. He had refused to let those psychological tactics turn against him. He wouldn't have it this way. He would not get defeated. He didn't want to be defeated like this. But deep down within his soul, he was fighting to end this evil reign. "Shut up! Shut up!"
"Tommy, snap out of it!" the black dino ranger bellowed. "I'm here to help you. Not destroy you. Give me the sword. It has done nothing but destroyed the truth from you."
The green ranger shook his head as he swung high, coming in contact with the black dino ranger. He hit the ground in a groan as the green dragon ranger finally found the strength to rise over his aggressor. He had had enough. He pulled up his sword for another blow, but it was knocked away when a gust of wind and the ghostly spirit of the crane flew through the area. The green ranger turned in the direction of where it came, seeing the pink ninja emerge from the shadows.
Though her face was stained with tears, she still held the will-power, courage and heart to continue in the battle. Her hands were clenched at her side to control the anger raging inside of her as she walked out into the plaza to greet the green ranger.
"You have returned, Pink Ranger," the green ranger bellowed as he slowly turned to face her. "I was wondering if it would be easier to destroy you first, or have you suffer and watch my dragon zord destroy the rest of your friends."
"Don't do this, Tommy," Kim spoke up above a whisper. Her voice still hurt from crying, but she wasn't gonna give up on him. Not on the man she had loved with all of her heart. The man that had given her the gift of a child. Her husband. And best friend. "Fight it. Don't give into the evil that Mindshatter wants to use against us. You're better than this."
The black dino ranger caught his breath as he rushed the green ranger, throwing him to the ground. The green ranger growled as he twisted out of the grip of his challenger, punching the hard helmet. But the ringing and impact caused the other man to release the hold on his foe. The green ranger kicked him to the ground as he raced to collect his prized sword from the ground. But the pink ninja had moved against him, locking her embrace around him, tightening it and not wanting to let go.
"Get the hell off me..." the green ranger growled.
But Kim had refused as her grip tightened around him. The green ranger withered out of the grip, but somehow, Kim had managed to hold on. Find another way to embrace him. Not in battle or a threat. Nor in fighting. But with the heart and strength within her soul. "Tommy, please. You gotta fight this! This isn't you. This is Mindshatter's doing. This is the sword you hold in your hands. I love you! And I will not give up on you!"
For awhile, a silence fell over the two. From a guarded distance, the black dino ranger stood, ready to strike when he needed to just in case. He didn't want to take his chances. He knew how tough his friend was. He knew the power behind the evil running through the green ranger's veins. Though, the staff had been lowered, it wouldn't be too hard to raise it and strike if he had to.
The green dragon ranger clenched his free fist raising it over his head to delivery a painful blow to the pink ninja ranger.
"Kimberly, watch out!" the black dino ranger bellowed out as he raced forward, pushing the fist away. But instead, got the impact of the hilt of the sword across the helmet. The impact rang in his ears as he felt his knees lock. And before he had a chance to think, the impact of the sword had also been charged with an electric shock that rocked him to the bone. And he couldn't hold his own as he de-morphed to reveal the man beyond the mask.
The pink ninja withered out of the grip of the green dragon ranger to the fallen ranger, checking the damage done. "Jason, no!"
Jason Scott, the veteran and original leader to the Power Rangers, groaned quietly as he sat up, grabbing his chest. "I'm all right. Just a little stung. It's been awhile."
The eyes of the green dragon ranger narrowed as it fell on the two rangers before him. His grip tightened around the hilt of the Sword of Darkness as a new rage fell over him. "You! Out of all the people who decided to challenge me, it was you? Jason, you're pathetic. You should be asleep with the rest of the world. You no longer have the powers to defeat me."
Jason winced as he slowly got to his feet supported by the shoulder of Kim. His eyes narrowed as it centered on the green ranger. "Once a ranger, always a ranger, bro. Thanks to your dino morpher, it woke me up. And now, as requested, I'm here to stop you from letting this evil take control of you and the world."
The evil ranger gestured his challenger over to him, lowering the sword. "Well, then, just like old times, isn't it? But this time, I won't lose."
"We'll see about that." He moved away from the pink ninja ranger as he pulled the morpher into place, letting out the morphing call to the dino rangers. "Dino Thunder! Power Up!" He drove the key into its socket on the morpher twisting it as it initiated the morphing sequence. When the light cleared, the man, the original red ranger, had stood in the spirit of the brachio powers in the suit of the black dino thunder ranger. He knew that his powers were limited, the powers itself were and always will be fused into Tommy, but he had what he needed to protect himself against the evil of his friend.
The evil ranger didn't hesitate to move against his friend in the black suit, using the sword at a speed that surprised Jason. He had not challenged his friend on a weapon basis in a long time, and knew he was the better half with a sword. But he didn't give up. He didn't want to give up. He wasn't gonna go out like this, no matter what it took to destroy the sword and evil in his friend, for good. He hoped.
But Kim was tired of sitting on the sidelines waiting and watching, hoping the tables would turn and the good guys would be winning. That was her 'big brother' and husband fighting over the balance of good vs. evil. And she knew she was slowly getting to him, in another light. She knew that the real Tommy behind the evil was trying to break out.
XXXXXXXXXX
The eight rangers in the megazord had managed to lure the dragon zord away from the city into the famous rock quarry where many battles had gone down for the history of the dino rangers. It was in this very quarry where they had faced the big bad Mesogog for the final time during his evil reign. But the vitals on both the dragon zord and megazord were on a critical mass. But the megazord laid dormant on the ground as the team tried to figure out a new plan against their aggressor.
"We can't go on like this! It'll implode on itself!" Ethan called out as he looked over the status of the zord.
"C'mon. We can do this!" Adam stated as he began to run codes along the cockpit of the drago zord.
"Tommy needs us to be stronger than this. Hang in there," Billy said.
"In case you haven't noticed, this megazord has gotten hit more times than I could count since we've been in our old zords months ago. It won't last!" Conner said as he shook his head.
"Self-doubt and failure are nearly the same thing. And that is exactly what you shouldn't be thinking about. C'mon, where is the fiery spirit of those teenagers I've come to love like siblings?" Aisha stated.
"Aisha's right. We can't give up!" Kira said. "This is not only for Dr. O, but for the rest of the world."
With a new line of determination, the four teens gripped the control of the dome before them, closing their eyes and concentrating on the power of their gems and the spirit of their zords. With that, a new energy and power rose over the megazord as it finally got to its feet. It struck the dragon zord, once...twice...three times... and on the fourth, let out a fire breath from the head of the tyranno zord as it roared to life.
The impact had sent the dragon zord to the ground, roaring weakly. And the team felt a victory was in their grasp soon enough. But their minds wondered about the outcome of the battle between the black dino ranger and the green dragon ranger.
XXXXXXXXXX
The battle continued to rage on between the pink ninja and black dino ranger against their fellow ranger. With thoughts spinning, Kim had not expected to see herself fight beside Jason in an attempt to free Tommy from his evil state again. Jason, himself, still trying to get a feeling for the ranger suit and the power behind it, never would have thought he'd be battling like this again. Neither of them had any idea what to do about it, but hoped that it would end sooner rather than later.
The green ranger had kicked the black dino ranger in the chest as he stumbled back a few feet from the fallen pink ninja. It was clear they were both showing signs of fatigue and hoped it would end soon. But they didn't know what else to do about all of this. They wanted it to end now. They needed it to end now.
"Have you given up?" the green dragon ranger bellowed as he leaned against his sword waiting for their attack. "You'll make it easier for me if you just said 'yes' so I can end your very existence right now."
Jason shook his head as he helped the pink ninja to her feet, letting her lean against him for added support. He forced out a breath looking over at the exhausted Kim. "I don't know about you, but either he has gotten stronger, or we've been out of the suit longer than I would have liked."
"We can't give up on him, Jase. I know he's in there somewhere," Kim whispered as she rubbed her stomach. Though she couldn't see his facial expressions behind the helmet, she knew he was feeling the concern for her health and strength. "I'm fine. Just like getting a few bruises years ago."
Jason had to take her word for it as he nodded in turn. His body shifted as he looked up at the approaching green ranger. He pulled out the brachio staff creating a barrier in front of the weakened pink ninja. "I don't want to do this, Tommy. I don't want to fight you."
"Well, that makes one of us, doesn't it?" Tommy replied as he swung the sword about in his grasp, teasing the two rangers. "I thought you were better than this. Learned from the mistakes you made in the past? I guess I was wrong and you're no more a bigger challenge now as you were in the past."
The green dragon ranger struck the sword into the ground as it shook, sending an electrical trail toward the two rangers. They had no time to move away as they took the blow, hitting the ground again, wincing and groaning in pain. The green ranger continued to advance toward them until he came within range of the black dino ranger. He pulled the black dino ranger to his feet, gripping his suit even tighter as Jason tried to free himself from the grasp.
"This ends now, Jason. It's time to say good night. For good," the green dragon replied as he tossed the black dino ranger to the ground. He teased the weakened black ranger with the Sword of Darkness before raising it high over his head and winding up for the final blow.
Kim had seen what was going on as she forced out another painful breath, feeling some of the strength returning to her legs. She shook her head telling herself that it wasn't suppose to be like this. That it wasn't supposed to end like this at all. Her fists were clenched to white knuckles, despite the gloves on them. And she rose to her feet darting forward at a speed only guided by her animal spirit of the crane. She let out a cry as she dove forward, taking the blow meant for the black dino ranger and hit the ground, almost motionless.
"Noo!" Jason cried out as he watched the body hit the ground beside him, taking the blow.
A silence fell over the trio. The green ranger seemed to be scarred by his last attack as he took a step back. His grip around the sword loosen as he looked at the black dino ranger. It was clear that despite the fact he had wanted to destroy both the black dino ranger and the pink ninja ranger, he still had it in his heart to protect her. And now, his rage had brought her to an end. Or so it seemed. And he had hoped that it didn't.
He let out a growl. "You did this! You brought her into this!"
Jason shook his head as he lightly pressed a hand to the woman's neck. She was still breathing. That was a good thing; just unconscious and dazed. "You did that yourself, Tommy. Do you see what your rage has caused? It will destroy what you have with Kimberly. You're one true love and wife. Do you want it to get worse?"
The green ranger took a step forward lowering the sword so it was inches from Jason's face. His stance grew heavy and darker as more rage fell over him. But Jason stood his ground and refused to move. "This is all your fault."
"No. My fault would be to give up on you and I haven't. You're not a bad guy, Tommy. Mindshatter is making you think you are. Don't let him get to you, bro!"
The green ranger raced forward, but the black dino ranger had moved even faster as he moved the staff into a huge circular motion before Tommy. Quietly to himself, he held his breath. "I'm sorry for doing this, Tommy." His grip around the staff tightened with his strength. "Dino energy orb! Now!" he felt the surge of energy and let it loose and locked onto the green dragon ranger.
His cry echoed out in pain as the surge of energy forced him to stop dead in his tracks. He felt his grip loosen on the sword and as the electrical shock and energy surge enveloped his body, the very thoughts of being evil had left him. His mind screamed with pain as he heard the crying call of the falcon ring deep within his soul. As the energy orb broke away, the green dragon ranger's knees locked and he dropped the sword. The sword itself, hit the ground and smashed into a million pieces like a shattered mirror. And then the green dragon ranger hit the ground and hit the pavement face first as the final battle in the evil green ranger suit had ended.
And Tommy laid there motionless as he de-morphed. Jason let out a breath as he relaxed for only a moment, powering down the shield of the black ranger suit and bent down beside the pink ninja ranger. She moaned lightly as she finally came to, her eyes opening slowly to meet the concern and worry gaze of her 'big brother.'
"It's over, Kimberly," he replied in a whisper as he pulled her into a comforting hug. "It's all finally over."
XXXXXXXXXX
The megazord loomed over the fallen dragon zord as the hint of red left its eyes and it laid there motionless.
"Is it over?" Ethan breathed in confusion as he turned to look at his teammates in the main cockpit beside him.
"Vitals show that the dragon zord is now off-line," Billy stated.
"So, do we celebrate?" Conner asked as he rubbed his helmet in confusion.
The other dino rangers looked at him and shrugged.
XXXXXXXXXX
Kimberly rose to her feet slowly with the support of Jason as they slowly approached the fallen and dazed man before them. He had stirred for only a moment, when his reflexes brought up into a knelt position. Jason took a step back acting as a guard for his 'little sister' as he looked down at the confused science teacher.
For the first time since the battle begun, Tommy had looked up in confusion. It was clear that he must have forgotten what had happened, or had no real recollection of the recent events. He groaned as he grabbed his head, rubbing it as he let out a breath. As he sat there, trying to remember what had happened, Kim had walked over to him, bending down beside him to lay a hand on his forearm.
"I'm here, Tommy. It's over," she whispered as she fought to blink away the tears forming in her eyes.
As the man looked up into the eyes of his wife, the recent events had played like a broken record in his own mind as he looked away. The guilt and anger rolled over him for ever thinking he'd be in that state of mind again, and for harming his wife as he did. But the woman had not cared as she wrapped her arms tightly around him as his own hold pulled her even closer. His own fears were slowly leaving him, but still left the scars he wanted so badly to get rid of.
Jason still stood a step back to give the couple some privacy, but as the true black dino ranger looked up at his best friend and brother, by all but blood, he had nodded his thanks and approval for his sacrifice. Jason had nodded back in turn without saying anything more.
XXXXXXXXXX
Mindshatter growled as he slammed his fists into the chair. He had seen the battle unfold on the monitor, but his fury grew when the dragon zord couldn't do away with the rangers and their megazord. He grew even angrier to see the veteran and original red ranger go up against his prized ranger in a battle that had won over to the good side. And his Sword of Darkness was now destroyed.
He watched the five candles continue to burn, slowly. But surely be what he needed to end the very existence of the dino rangers for good. He clenched his fists raising them high over his head. "Get ready for phase three of the battle, rangers!" he growled. "You won't stand a chance."
to be continued...
A/N: I hope you guys liked part two of the final battle. And you can't forget that they still gotta face Mindshatter and his evil creation with Dinoshade and Mesogog. Don't freak out too much, but I hope you like it so far. The end is near, but yet so far. I must apologize for the long wait. I just started college and was trying to get into the gist of it. It is a new thing to me and has taken me by surprise just a little bit. So, wish me luck as I continued on to further my education and keep an eye out for another line of posts. I want to thank ZRacer7350 for his inspiration and ideas on this part of the story. I hope you liked it, man. It was a little hard to do. But I hope I got some of you guys freaked out or surprised about all of this. And if any of you guys know of people who have read my story, or are interested, mind dropping them in on my writing? I would appreciate it, just as much as any ideas you guys might have. See you when I do. And May the Powers Always Protect You.