Zane tries to persuade a photography student not to reveal the Power Rangers' secret identities.
It was almost dawn as Zane, in his active clothing, jogs along the park before stopping to have a sip of water and was about to resume running when someone bumps into him, knocking whatever items they had onto the ground. "Oh, sorry." The individual had a feminine voice.
"No, it's okay." Zane replied as he knelt down to help pick up her stuff before looking at her. She had black hair, done up in a ponytail, and green eyes, wearing a silver and purple sweater, purple jeans and black high heeled boots. "Hey, haven't I seen you at Ninjago Academy before?"
"Yes, I transferred there just last week. I'm Pax. Pax Ilona. But, my friends call me Pixal."
"Zane Julien." They soon stood up before Zane hands him the stuff he picked up.
"Well, I'll see you later." Pixal immediately takes off as Zane watches her leave.
In an office at a building called 'Ninjago Times', a middle aged man with greying hair, sits as he looks at some photos. "Not a single one showing the Rangers' real identities." He said, dropping the photos on his desk.
"Well, there is also another problem." An assistant replied. "Our photographer had to resign for family reasons, so we'll need a new one."
"Fine then, put an ad on the front page. 'Large sum of cash for a photo of the Spinjitzu Power Rangers, unmasked.' We'll see whoever is brave enough to find out the secret identities of the Power Rangers, and they get the job."
Later that day, in a classroom at Ninjago Academy, Kai, Jay, Cole, Nya and LJ look at a newspaper as Zane, in his regular clothes, came up to them. "Hey, Zane, take a look at this." Jay said. "'Ninjago Times is requesting $1,000,000 to the person who captures photos of the true identities of the Spinjitzu Power Rangers. Anyone brave enough can be accepted the job as a photographer of Ninjago Times in the process as well.'"
"How can I take a look if you had just read it to me?" Zane asked, not understanding what Jay said.
"More importantly, they're gonna expose us." LJ replied, not bothering to tell him about the meaning of the sentence.
"I doubt that's going to happen." Kai said before the school bell rang and the students start heading off to their classes, as well as the Rangers while LJ throws the newspaper in a nearby bin and Chad heads over to it, grabbed the newspaper, and looks at it, amazed.
In photography class, Zane is looking at his camera at a photo of a falcon, similar to his pet falcon, before Pixal came up to him. "Hey, you don't mind if I sit here?" She asked.
"Go ahead." Zane replied as Pixal soon sat down and he looked at her for a bit.
A teacher soon came in. "Morning, class." He said as he closed the door. "Now, I understand that you read in the newspapers that there is a reward for photos of the secret identities of the Power Rangers. Now, I want you to know that just because you want to, I'm afraid you can't. Okay, now, the difference between polaroid and digital, who can tell me that?" A few hands are raised, including Zane and Pixal's.
Later that day, the bell had rung as Chad was showing Tani and Mini the newspaper in the hallway. "I'm telling you, we find the Rangers, wait until they demorph, and they're on front page." He said. "Imagine what we would do with $1,000,000?"
"I could buy a lot of beauty products." Tani replied.
"No, I want to have one of those fancy houses." Mini said.
"Let's go grab my camera then." Chad replied as they take off.
In Lloyd's camp on the Dark Island, Sipal was looking at the newspaper as Lloyd came up to her. "I see that someone wants a reward for my family and their fellow Rangers' true identities." He said.
"What do you think, my lord?" Sipal asked.
"No, that is a bad idea, Sipal." Kozu replied, coming up to them. "We must not meddle in-"
"Shut up, Kozu." Lloyd cuts him off before taking the newspaper. "If a reward is what they want, then a reward they will get. And I know just the monster. Throw one of the Garmatron Missiles into the Dark Matter." A few seconds later, two Stone Warriors throw a Garmatron Missile into the pool of Dark Matter and the spot it landed in starts glowing before fading and something comes out in its place. It looked like a missile silo with robotic arms and legs. "Garmasile, you know what to do."
"Yes, my lord." Garmasiile said.
At the academy, the bell had rang as students started leaving their classes, some making plans since they had the rest of the day off. Zane walked over to his locker and was about to unlock it. "Uh, excuse me, Zane." Pixal was heard as he turned to see her nearby. "I was wondering if you could help me with my camera equipment."
"You're not thinking about going for those photos, are you?" He asked.
"Not really." She tried to lie, but Zane glares at her. "Okay, I am. Look, the money could help out my family."
"Okay then." Zane frowned a little as they take off.
In a white 2020 Ford Transit Cargo Van, which had a giant dent on the left side, drove down the street with Pixal driving it and Zane in the passenger seat before static was heard and Pixal adjusts her radio. "Unidentifiable creature spotted in the industrial site." A police officer said through the radio as Zane's Spinjitzu Watch beeped, but Zane placed his hand on it to muffle the sound"
"This is it." She said. "No turning back."
By the industrial area, the van stops at the entrance as Kai, Jay, Cole, Nya, LJ and Wu, all morphed, fight Garmasile before Zane and Pixal get out and head for some nearby rubble to hide behind. Garmasile had knocked Kai and Cole down before doing the same to Jay, who spins before landing as Pixal takes a shot. Garmasile then threw LJ in the air as Pixal took another shot. LJ lands near the fence as Garmasile turned to the others and fired its cannon at them, knocking Kai down. "Kai, are you alright?" Nya asked as she came up to him before turning to Garmasile. "He is going down!" She then charged at it.
"Nya, no!" Kai yelled. Nya somersaults over Garmasile and kicks it, but it doesn't faze it before it pushes her back with Pixal taking another shot.
"Don't demorph yet." She said as Zane looked at her and then the others, worried, as Pixal took another couple of shots. Unaware to both of them, Chad, Tani and Mini were all close by, behind some oil drums, taking photos on their cameras. Garmasile then fired its cannon, knocking them all down with Pixal taking each of them as they land. "Zane, give me the zoom." She turned to see Zane wasn't around. "Zane?" She looked around more before grabbing the zoom lenses herself from where Zane left the bags behind and attached it to her camera. She soon smiled before looking through her camera again and took a shot of Kai landing on his back with the others coming up in front of him as he got up.
Suddenly, Zane, in his Ranger form appears and kicks Garmasile back as Pixal took a shot before he charged at it, tried to kick it, but it moved to the side before he turned to kick it, but it doesn't faze it before he jumped back to avoid a punch and bounced back up to block the elbow and punched it twice, knocking it down. Wu kneels down to try and strike it from underneath, but Garmasile grabs hold of him and throws him at the oil drum, causing an explosion that not only sends Wu flying, but also Chad, Tani and Mini. They all get up and look at their now broken cameras. "Forget that, I'm outta here." Chad said as he threw his broken camera down and took off.
"Me too." The twins reply while throwing their broken cameras down and went to catch up with Chad.
Kai, Jay and LJ then ran at it to try and kick it, but the metal hide forces them back, making them land on the ground as the others help them up. "Fun time's over." Garmasile said as Pixal took more photos of the fight.
"Spinjitzu Blaster!" Zane yelled as they get out their weapons.
Jay held the flail out while Zane places his bow on top of the flail, Cole places his hammer on top, Nya places her spear underneath the bow and Kai places his swords one each end of the bow, creating the Spinjitzu Blaster. Kai and Nya held the sides while Jay and Cole were knelt down, using their respective shoulders while holding onto the sword handles and Zane held the flail handle. "Ice Power!" Zane places his hand on top of the blaster. The end of the blaster soon starts emitting energy and expands. "Ready? Fire!" The blaster fires its shot.
The shot hits Garmasile, but it barely fazes it again. "Let me show you some real firepower." Garmasile fires a blast of energy at them, knocking Kai, May, Zane, Cole and Nya down.
"Energy Sword!" LJ yelled, holding out his sword.
"Holy Cane!" Wu yelled, holding out his cane before they charge at Garmasile. They move to a side each to avoid a shot from it before they swung their weapons at it, only for it to not be fazed.
"What?" Garmasile laughed before pushing LJ and Wu down and a portal appears behind it before it goes through it and the portal disappears.
Kai groaned as he got up. "He got away!" He said.
Pixal takes another photo. "Come on, come on." She quietly said.
"We'll get him someday, Kai." Wu replied as he came up to him before they prepare to touch their Spinjitzu Watches. "Okay, Rangers, power-"
"No, wait!" Zane grabs hold of Wu's wrist.
"What's wrong?" LJ asked.
"There's a girl by the rubble, watching us. She wants pictures to expose our identities."
"What?" Kai asked as Jay was about to turn to where she was, but Zane stops him.
"Don't look. Just act natural and walk away."
"But, what if-" Jay was soon cut off.
"It's okay. I'll keep an eye on her. See you guys later."
"Be careful." Nya said to Zane, who nods.
"Let's go." Cole said as they immediately take off. Pixal groaned as she looked up from the rubble, disappointed at her one time opportunity before Zane came up to her.
"Hey." He said.
"Where did you go?"
"I had to look for a bathroom." He lied. "Forgot to go before we left." They soon started to leave. "Did you get those photos?"
"No, but I ain't giving up." Pixal walked away as Zane looked at her, in both concern and disappointment.
Later that day, in the girl's dormitory at Ninjago Academy, Pixal and Zane were in Pixal's room as she was printing out the photos she took while Zane looked at the photos on her wall. Some were of her family, some of her friends, but there was an entire wall of photos, showing the Power Rangers. But the most out of all of them was the White Ranger. "You took all of these?"
"Yep." She takes the photos she printed to a nearby desk and started cutting out the edges. "I often followed the Power Rangers ever since I came to the academy."
Zane then took off a photo of himself, in his Ranger form, holding a bow an arrow, which was doodled on, the tip of the arrow was replaced with a love heart, and there were several more surrounding him. "You seem to have more of the White Ranger than others."
Pixal then took the photo and puts it back on the wall. "Because white is my favourite colour."
"It's sort of mine, too."
"Besides, I think I'm in love with the White Ranger."
"I bet your parents would be proud." Pixal then frowned. "What's wrong? Did I touch a nerve?"
"No, it's okay. My mother... she was a famous photographer. Documented the Serpentine War, photos from the fights, and the victory."
"How old were you when she-?" He couldn't bring himself to say the word.
"11. The driver relentlessly rammed every car just to overtake them. She was the only one who died. The van I drive is the same one she drove. The left door can no longer be opened." She sheds a small tear.
"And your father?"
"He lost feeling in both his legs that day. He is a big company investor. Harmless stuff, like taking photos."
"Maybe not that harmless. Maybe the Rangers keep their identity secret for a reason. If you expose them, you might be endangering their whole mission."
"I...I can't think about that right now, and the reward, it'll get me out of this dormitory. Maybe move somewhere close to my father. Listen, can you pick up some lunch for us?" She grabs some money out of her pocket and hands it to him. "Tuna salad sandwich, multigrain, no crust."
"Sure thing." Zane then leaves the room.
By the mall, a portal appears and Garmasile comes out of it. The nearby citizens scream and start running away as Garmasile laughed.
Just outside the girls' dormitory, Zane opens the door and allows Skylor and Seliel to enter. "Thanks, Zane." Seliel said as they went in and Zane started to walk away from the dorm as the door closed before his Spinjitzu Watch beeped.
He briefly looked around before heading over to a nearby tree and pressed it. "Zane here."
"Garmasile has returned." Cole said through the Spinjitzu Watch.
"On my way." He immediately takes off.
By the mall, Garmasile laughs as it moved along the road. "I got to blow off some steam, and I know just how to do it!" Garmasile looks around before it started firing its cannon, blowing up nearby benches and some tables from the mall's cafe before laughing. "Those pitiful Power Rangers don't stand a chance against Garmasile!"
In her room at the girl's dormitory, Pixal was writing on some pad paper before hearing static and adjusts a nearby radio. "Unidentified creature sighted again by the Ninjago City Mall." A police officer said through the radio.
"I'm gonna get those photos this time." She said as she got up and grabbed her camera.
By the mall, Garmasile sees the 7 Rangers show up. "Took you long enough to get here." It sarcastically said and laughed.
"This time, you won't get away!" Kai said.
"I'm not going anywhere, but you are." Garmasile fires its cannon, hitting Kai, LJ and Wu, knocking them all down.
"Kai!" Nya said as she and Jay came up to him.
"LJ." Cole said as he came up to him.
"Master!" Zane said as he came up to him.
At the end of the street, Pixal's van stops at some traffic lights before she gets out to see the Rangers fighting Garmasile, and heads for a garbage bin to hide behind and starts taking photos just as Cole spun and kicked Garmasile before it strikes him, sending him spinning until he hits the ground. "Give up?" It asked.
"This guy's pretty tough." LJ said.
"We need more power." Nya replied.
"Right." Kai said. "Spinjitzu Blaster!"
Jay held the flail out while Zane places his bow on top of the flail, Cole places his hammer on top, Nya places her spear underneath the bow and Kai places his swords one each end of the bow, creating the Spinjitzu Blaster. Jay and Zane held the sides while Cole and Nya were knelt down, using their respective shoulders while holding onto the sword handles and Kai held the flail handle.
"Power Bisento!" LJ said. Wu holds his cane out as LJ places the bottom of his sword at one end of the cane and wraps the chain whip around the cane and sword handle, creating the Power Bisento. LJ swings it a little before raising it high. "Energy Power!"
"Fire Power!" Kai places his hand on top of the Spinjitzu Blaster.
"You'll be sorry!" Garmasile said.
The end of the blaster soon starts emitting energy and expands. "Ready? Fire!" The blaster fires its shot while LJ swung the Power Bisento at Garmasile.
Garmasile opened its mouth, absorbing the energy from both weapons. "What's he doing?" Cole asked as they held their weapons. Garmasile then spat out the collected energy, in the Rangers' direction.
"Look out!" LJ yelled.
But it was too late as the shot immediately struck them, creating an explosion and sending the Rangers into the air. Pixal cowers so that she wouldn't be hit by the blast wave. "I'll be back for more, Rangers." Garmasile said as Pixal looked on. A portal soon appears behind it. "See you on the next battlefield." Garmasile backs away into the portal and it soon disappears.
Pixal immediately started to move along the wreckage, taking photos as she did so before coming across one of the Rangers, demorphed, and sees their Spinjitzu Watch. It was Cole's as she came up to him, and took a photo of him, coughing before taking a photo of Kai, struggling to get up, a photo of Nya and Jay, trying to get up together, a photo of LJ, who got up slowly, and Wu as he slowly dusted himself off. She then turned to Zane, who was close by. She was shocked to see her new friend as he regained consciousness to see her about to take a photo of him. "Please." He said, holding a hand out to her. "Don't." Pixal looks down at her camera for a bit before slowly raising it, half reluctant. "Please." Pixal doesn't listen as she soon took the incriminating shot and lowered her camera to show his sad face before taking off for her van as the Rangers all look on, in disappointment, while Zane got onto his knees and punched the ground, in anger.
Later that night, Pixal, in a purple nightgown, smiled as she cuts the edges of the photos she had taken of the exposed Rangers before looking at the photo Zane's pleading and the collage of the White Ranger, torn on what decision she has to make.
The following morning, outside the Ninjago Times building, Pixal, with a folder in hand containing the photos, walks up to the building, only to find her path blocked by Zane. Scowling, she passes by him. "Pixal, wait." He immediately follows her into the building. "You don't know how much damage this can do to us."
"Not my problem." She simply replied as she came up to the receptionist. "I'm here to see Mr. Delbert. We spoke on the phone."
"10th floor." The receptionist replied, not looking up as Pixal started heading for the elevators.
"Look, $1,000,000 is an opportunity not to pass up on, makes me look like an idiot."
"Some things are more important than money." Zane said as Pixal presses one of the buttons with an arrow, facing up.
"Then, what is?" The elevator ding was soon heard before it soon opened up as Pixal then stepped in and pressed the '10' button. The elevator immediately closed before Zane could catch up to her. Briefly growling, Zane heads over to the stairs and starts going up them, hoping to catch Pixal in time.
On the 10th floor, the elevator opened as Pixal got out, allowing two men enter it before turning to a nearby receptionist. "Excuse me. Where's Mr. Delbert's office?"
"Oh, he'll be back in about five minutes." The receptionist said.
"Then, would you see that he gets these?" Pixal hands her the folder. "They're very important. My number's in the folder."
"Yeah, of course."
"Thanks." She soon walked away, heading back to the elevator.
In the stairwell, Zane runs up the stairs, passing the 5th floor.
By the elevator, Pixal patiently waits until she heard the ding and the elevator opens up. She soon went in, pressing the 'G' button before the elevator closes.
Outside, Garmasile laughed as it soon fired its cannon at the building.
Inside, the elevator suddenly stopped as Pixal looked around. She immediately went to press the 'Open' button and the elevator opened, only to find it had already gone 1/4 down and she tries to open it. "Help! Somebody help!" She tries to pull on the door. By the stairwell entrance, Zane opens the door and looked around. "Somebody help!" Zane turned to see Pixal stuck in the elevator. "Help!"
"Pixal?" He asked as he came up to her.
"It won't open."
"Just hold on." He immediately tries to push the door open. Suddenly, the elevator cable snapped and the elevator starts going down. Zane could hear Pixal's scream as it went down. Thinking of something, Zane opens the elevator door before grabbing hold of the cable. The friction of the cable as it was going up was burning his hands, emitting steam as he silently yelled, but didn't care. The elevator then slowed down as it safely landed down to the ground floor and he backed away, looking at his burnt hands and was immediately shocked at the sight of them.
In the elevator, Pixal opens the escape hatch and climbed out just as Zane peeked his head out from the 10th floor. "I'll be right down, Pixal!" He soon went for the stairwell and started going down the stairs, quickly.
On the ground floor, Pixal opens the elevator doors just as Zane showed up and held out his hand. "Give me your hand."
Pixal takes it as Zane groaned from having his burnt hand touched before helping her out of the elevator shaft. "Why would you save me, even after what I did to you and your friends?"
"See, that's the difference between you and me. You only think of yourself." He soon takes off as Pixal watches him go and frowned.
Outside, Zane runs along the debris while touching getting out his Super Spinjitzu Blade and spins it in his hand before raising it high. "Super Spinjitzu Blade, ignite!"
Zane's Super Spinjitzu Blade ignites as Zane, helmetless, swings it downward, letting out a burst of snow that moves into him, turning his Ranger suit into its Super Ranger form.
Jay, in his Super Ranger form, swings his Super Spinjitzu Blade at two Stone Warriors, knocking them both down, while Kai and LJ, in their Super Ranger forms, respectively punch and kick some Stone Warriors before turning to use their Super Spinjitzu Blades to block the opposing Stone Warrior's sword. Cole, in his Super Ranger form, kicks a Stone Warrior back while grabbing another one and twists its wrist, making it let go of its sword and kicks it down. Nya and Wu, in their Super Ranger forms, with Wu's almost being a gold version of LJ's, swing their Super Spinjitzu Blades while in a circle of Stone Warriors, knocking them all down and look at each other. "I don't know, Master." She said. "I think we make a pretty good duet."
Zane yelled as he swung his Super Spinjitzu Blade at a group of Stone Warriors, slashing through them and causing them all to collapse just as cannon fire soon knocked him down and the other Rangers join him. "It's time to finish you Rangers for good!" Garmasile said just as it soon fired another blast of cannon fire, knocking them all down.
"Oh, no!"
"And this time I'm not stopping till the job is finished!"
"Guys, the only way we'll be able to beat it is spot take out the cannons." LJ said just as Garmasile prepared its cannons. "Zarbsornurthar Blaster!" They immediately extinguish their Super Spinjitzu Blades.
LJ holds his Super Spinjitzu Blade out as Kai and Jay put theirs together and place them on top of LJ's while Zane and Cole put theirs on the sides and Nya placed hers underneath as Wu placed his in front of LJ's. He holds it out to Garmasile while the other Rangers surround him. "Ready? Fire!" He immediately fired the shot.
The shot goes into the cannons, causing them to explode.
In Lloyd's camp on the Dark Island, Lloyd turns to Sipal as they were by the Garmatron. "Garmasile obviously needs another missile muscle." He said. "Fire one." The Stone Warrior by it and moves the controls.
"As you wish, my lord." Sipal replied as she got onto the Garmatron, pushes the Stone Warrior out of the way and moves the controls to raise its cannon before it presses a button and fires a shot, sending a missile through the clouds.
In Ninjago, the missile hits Garmasile, causing it to explode and laugh as it growed. "Spinjitzu Megazord, online!" The Rangers yelled.
The Red Lion Zord rises up and the front paws retract, revealing hands, the back legs retract before the Blue Octopus Zord come underneath it and as four of the tentacles combine into a leg while the other four did the same with the body and head moving up to connect with the Red Lion Zord while the Black Bear Zord and White Tiger Zord come underneath the Octopus Zord before their legs and head retract as the Black Bear Zord's body retracts back a bit before it and the White Tiger Zord attach to the bottom of the Blue Octopus Zord and the Maroon Phoenix Zord flies up to the back of the Red Lion Zord before detaching as the wings attach to the arms and the head and body connect to the Lion Zord's head before the head moves down to cover the Lion Zord's head, revealing its face before it poised. The Emerald Dragon Zord's back legs soon spread out and move close to the body while the front legs turn to the sides, turning it into Sword Mode before the Spinjitzu Megazord grabs it.
In the cockpit, LJ, Jay, Zane, Kai, Nya and Cole look on. The Rangers immediately held their hands together. "Emerald Dragon Sword, final strike!" The Rangers said as they move their hands down.
Outside, the Megazord raises its arm before moving it down on Garmasile. Garmasile screamed before it soon fell down forward and explodes.
In the cockpit, no one felt like celebrating. "A spinning victory." Zane simply said.
The following morning, Kai's car, along with two others, were at the docks as Kai, Zane, Cole, Nya and LJ were loading up boxes of their stuff onto the Destiny's Bounty as Wu and Misako look on from the stern section. "Hurry up." LJ said. "We've got to get out of Ninjago City fast."
"LJ, are you sure we have to leave?" Kai asked.
"When that paper hits the stands today, the whole world will know our locations, including my father."
Horn tooting was soon heard as they look to see it was Pixal's van. They all shook their heads, in disappointment, as Wu jumped onto the jetty while Pixal got out of her van and came up to them. "How did you know we would be here?" Nya asked.
"I followed Kai's car." Pixal replied.
"Well, what do you want?" Cole asked.
"I need to see Zane." She replied.
"He doesn't want to see you."
"Please?" Zane, who now had bandages on his burnt hands, soon came up from down below to see her before getting off and came up to her just as Kai passed by with a box. "Where are you guys going?"
"It isn't safe for us in Ninjago City anymore, thanks of you." He said.
"That's why I'm here." They fail to hear the sound of a motorbike coming up behind them before the rider took off his helmet, revealing to be Jay. "I came to tell you-"
"Hey, guys, look!" He cuts her off, coming up to them with a newspaper, just showing the Rangers' victory against Garmasile with the headline, 'Who are the Power Rangers?' "There's nothing in here about our true identities."
They all soon cheer as Zane turned to Pixal as she smiles. "That's fantastic." Nya said. "Let's go grab our stuff." They start heading into the Bounty as Kai turned back around to put the box back in his car while Pixal holds up the folder.
"I got these back at the last minute." She said as Zane took it and opened it, showing his photo. "I think you should have them."
"What about the reward?"
"Some things are better than money. And, I got a job at Mistaké's. So, I'll work alongside Montgomery. Though, I get the feeling that it's not even his real name."
"It isn't. He's our enemy's son. But he chose to fight alongside us."
"Zane, less talking, more packing!" LJ called out.
"I, uh, better go help out."
"Want me to help?" She asked.
Zane soon smiled. "Sure thing." They start heading for the Bounty.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you're the Power Rangers."
"Thanks." They smile at each other.
Later that night, in his dorm, Zane sits at his desk before he unrolled his bandages around his hands before getting up and sighed as he looked at them again.
Several Hours Earlier
At Ninjago Times, Zane backed away from the elevator before looking at his hands. For some reason, instead of blood, there was metal underneath the exposed skin.
Present
"What am I?" He asked himself before wrapping clean bandages around his hands to cover the metal parts.
To be continued...
(A/N: Uh oh. What is the truth about Zane? Let's see you try to figure it out)
