Summary: Hayden and Amanda returned to home to meet the new Power Rangers. However, deep within the Underground Lair, a sinister plot is brewing.
A/N: So what do you guys/gals think of this story arc so far? It's about to get a lot more interesting - And don't worry, Wes isn't just there for a cameo appearance. He, too, has his own arc, but it is not centered around just him. For all those who wonder where he is, he is in Reefside City, staying at a hotel.
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Hayden Christopher James locked his girlfriend in a hug so inconceivably powerful, he made Hercules grip feel like a baby's. He crushed Amanda close to him and she smiled, resting her head on his chest. Her arms slipped around his waist and pulled him close. After six years, they were finally together again.
"Oh, Hayden…" Amanda cried, her tears spilling over again and she felt him hug her tighter. "I've missed you so much…"
Hayden smiled, glancing down at her and then kissed her forehead. "As have I…" He whispered, resting his head atop hers. "As have I…"
A soft, cool wind washed over them and he felt Amanda shutter in his arms. He looked up at the sky, inhaled powerfully and when he let it out, the golden suit had returned to him. Amanda gasped and pull back a bit, looking him up and down. She looked genuinely surprised and then frightened as his dragon-esc wing's expanded…from out of no where. Perhaps it was a little too much for her first time being back.
"H-Hayden…w-what…b-but…h-how?" She stuttered gazed at the visor. She didn't see the mischievous grin behind the mask. For if she did, she would have realized she was about to take the rid of her life.
He gripped her close suddenly and with a single, powerful flap of his wing's, they lifted into the air. She screeched loudly and clung to him as they continued to rise.
"H-Hayden…" She whimpered, looking up at him. "I-I hate h-heights…"
His head lowered fractionally. "I know." Was all he said.
She looked absolutely horrified and bewildered. He knew? She clung to him tighter and continued to shake in his arms and let out one piercing wail as they suddenly rocketed into the distance…
God it felt so good to tease her again…
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To Hayden, the minute's that past felt like hours as he held his one true love in his arms. It had been so long since he'd done this; since he'd cradled her and explain how much he loved her. Now he was going to get that chance again…he was going to get the chance to show her how much he loved her.
Their feet touched the ground and Hayden smiled as she shook hard in his arms. "Its okay, Angel, we're on the ground." Now he said soothingly as his suit melted away. "It's okay…"
Amanda's head peeked up a little bit and looked at her surrounding's. They were in a forest and near a rather…sizable log cabin. She looked up at Hayden and he smiled. "This is where my friend's live." He said and wrapped an arm around her. "Come on, I'll introduce you to them."
Before either of them could move towards the door it open and Conner stood in the doorway, a grin on his face. "HEY GUYS! HAYDEN'S GOT A GIRLFRIEND!"
Hayden smacked his forehead and shook his head. Amanda glared at the man in red; her cheek's a flush red. Kira and Kimberly's head peeked over one of his shoulders, each holding a grin. Ethan and Trent were staring out the side windows while Tommy peeked out the second story window. Hayden looked at each of them for a moment and then let out a heavy sigh.
"Rangers, I'd like you too meet my girlfriend, Amanda." He said and slipped an arm around her shoulder. She didn't return it, still a bit frightened and confused by what was happening.
Tommy shrieked as he fell out the window and landed hard in the bushes. Everyone else looked mystified by his words. Hayden raised a brow and glanced at them. "Did I say something wrong?"
"You said she was dead!" Conner remarked, staring at Amanda like she was some kind of ghost.
"I thought she was…until I got a vision of her in Darius' layer." He cleared his throat and glanced at Amanda. "Then I went to save her." His eyes flickered to Trents and then he sighed. "Darius, unfortunately, wouldn't let me leave with Anton as well."
He saw Trent's head lower and Hayden sighed. "Anyway, I'll explain what happened when get inside."
Everyone moved into the house to hear the explanation of how Hayden managed to defeat Darius. Everyone couldn't help but look upon the two lovers; Amanda had curled into Hayden and seemed to be drifting off to sleep. He was love struck and oblivious to all those around him. His hand ran slowly across her back and shoulder as she smiled; as he smiled. No one had ever seen him this happy before.
"So, how did you defeat Darius?" Trent said in a bare whispered, sitting down in the chair. He didn't look too happy anymore.
Hayden sighed and laid his head against the couch. "When everyone was talking to Wes earlier, I got a vision of Amanda, Anton and Darius. I realized it was his layer so I had to lure him out some how." He glanced at Trent and then looked away. "I fought and defeated Darius, including Omega and Terrorsaurus. He made a compromise with me that if I was to take Amanda I had to leave Anton. I wanted to take both…but Anton told me to leave him and go. He said instead of just Omega and Terrorsaurus, they'd probably send an army to retrieve me."
Trent shook his head and let his hands fall away. "He always was sacrificial. He'd give up his life just to see another happy…" Trent shook his head and stood up. "I'm…glad he is alive, though. I'm glad your girl is alive." He looked over at Tommy and then left the room.
Hayden watched Trent go and hung his head. Anton's words rang through his head over and over. He was going to keep the promise he'd made to him…he was going to bring him home and that's all there was to it.
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Darius stood at the bar's of the prison, peering in at Dr. Anton Mercer. The wrinkled lips curled into a thin, fractional smile as Anton returned the piercing glare. "A noble sacrifice, Mesogog." Darius said and waved his hand at the door. It popped open and he moved in. "I must say, you know the true meaning of honor."
"Honor?" Anton spat and scoffed. "You don't even know what that word means."
Darius' eyes narrowed to threatening slits. Anton grinned and looked away, staring at the floor. "Oh yes, I know of why you kidnapped Amanda; how you spouted your master plan to her." He shook his head in laughter and glanced at the angered Darius. "You sick freak…you come to Earth years ago a steal a single woman to be your bride? It's fitting what Hayden has done to you…"
Darius moved quicker then Anton could react too and his boney, wrinkled fingers wrapped around his neck. "Listen to me, Anton…" He hissed and drew Anton's face close to his. "Just because you were once Mesogog, don't let your insignificant power go to your head…that foolish Ranger may have taken my queen from me…" He drew him closer and Anton cringed at the blood red eyes. "…but this is my master plan." Anton was gasping for air now and Darius threw him back against the wall. "I suggest you watch your mouth next time, Dr. Mercer. I don't need you power to complete my plan."
Anton's chest heaved with each of his breath's and his eyes flickered to Darius' hand. It held a bluish-azure vial and his eyes narrowed. That potion looked familiar…
"I think it is time the Rangers meet an old friend, don't you think?" He glanced over his shoulder and Terrorsaurus moved into the room. Darius tossed the vial into the air and it landed into the monster's out stretched hand. "You have your orders, Terrorsaurus…do not return until your mission is accomplished."
Terrorsaurus sneered at Anton and then bowed low and respectfully to Darius. "Yes, Master." He replied in a low growl. With a crack of white-black light, he was gone. Anton's eyes shifted to Darius and they narrowed again.
"Step two of my plan begins now." He said and held out a hand. Energy gathered at his palm in the form of a crystal ball and he placed on a small stone pedestal that appeared. "Perhaps you'd be interested in watching?" He grinned and turned away. "After all…it was your intelligence that made all this possible…"
Anton's eyes went wide and beady. Now he knew what that potion was. He hung his head, staring at the floor as a few beads of sweat trickled down his face. "Oh Hayden…I'm so sorry…" He thought and then closed his eyes.
Thing's were about to get much, much worse.
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A/N: OHHH! THE SUSPENSE! Doesn't it just kill you:P What is that Anton Mercer created? The Senox Potion, what does it do and why is Anton so afraid of it? And just what is Darius' Master Plan and how does Amanda fit into it? Find out in the next chapter -
May the Powers Protect You.