Chapter 3: Rise of the Royal Zords
Dedicated to Jason David Frank. Rest in Peace. And May the Power Protect him, Always.
The five teens met up at Cammie's, with Lance buying drinks for everyone. They'd been helping Richard adjust to the modern day, and surprisingly he was making very good progress. If anyone asked, they just claimed he was a transfer student from England.
Richard was also integrating into their group well. He'd taken to wearing a more modern outfit. A Black T-Shirt, Black jeans and a red Jacket. The group was happily chatting away as Cammie brought them her drinks personally.
"Here you are kids. Hope you have an enjoyable time." The Kindly woman said with a smile. She looked at Richard a moment and added, "Nice to see you all making new friends. First time here Young man?"
"Ah, yes. I'm… new in town. My name is Richard." he replied, having to resist bowing as he was used to.
"Well, I hope you enjoy our little town. Not much happens here. That incident with the Power Rangers the other day was the most exciting thing to happen in years." Cammie said, with a shrug. She left the table and the five made sure nobody was nearby or listening before they began to discuss Ranger business.
"So, Richard, what's this special project Merlin said he was working on?" Lance asked quietly.
Richard smiled, "Massive living constructs which can form together into a single-"
"Oh my god Merlin is making us Zords?" Gwen squeed, interrupting Richard.
"..Yes. I suppose that's what they're called. The Royal Zords." Richard explained, chuckling a little at Gwen's excitement.
"I'm excited to see what mine is." Penny said with a bright smile.
Gary rolled his eyes, "Guys, obviously it's the animals from our Transformation sequence." he stated.
"Yeesh, Gary, way to be a killjoy." Gwen deadpanned with a smirk.
Gary scoffed. "I'm a realist alright? This ranger thing is cool and all but seriously guys? We're teenagers fighting an ancient war. This isn't about fun and guessing games." he calmly explained.
Lance gave him a look, "We have a duty as knights of Camelot. Power Rangers or not we WILL take this seriously." He replied.
Gwen nodded. "Yeah I'm taking it seriously. I can still ENJOY myself."
Richard shook his head. "Perhaps this is best discussed another time. For now, let us just relax?" he said, bringing the conversation to a calming end.
Meanwhile, in Lafee's Black Citadel:
Corvus silently entered the great hall, flipping through a Bestiary of demons to summon. Gnaw was in the middle of screaming at Feleene while rubbing his throbbing tail, and Wart was catching flies. He signed in irritation. "We have an important job to do, why must you all perform such petty acts." he commented.
"Corvus it isn't my fault Feleene doesn't have a handle on her instincts!" Gnaw yelled out, swatting Feleene on the nose when she got closer.
Corvus raised his voice, "Feleene that's enough!" he said in a commanding voice, causing her to back off. "We need Gnaw, and your constant prodding of him isn't helping at all."
Feleene's ears dropped and she nodded. "Sorry Corvus." Her ears perked back up seeing the book. "Didja find anything good to send?"
"I have been researching some of Morgaine le Fey's finest creatures for our usage. I will simply need to ask out mistress which ones she desires." He explained, flipping through the pages. "Speaking of which, where is she." He looked around in curiosity.
Wart waddled over. "She was meditating to get as much magical power out of the gathered fear from the previous attack. That way she can start using some of her magic properly." he said, giving Corvus a pat on the back. "Something about a growth spell?"
Corvus cackled, "Ah yes, the All-or-Nothing spell. It can return a monster from the dead and turn them titanic sized, increasing their strength, at the cost of their remains becoming entirely unusable upon death. A Last stand for the defeated monster." Corvus explained.
"Indeed Corvus." Lafee's voice chimed in as she returned to the great hall. As she entered, all four familiars kneeled in respect. "Corvus, the tome if you will." She aid holding out her hand. Dutifully, Corvus handed her the bestiary. She scanned through the pages before coming upon a reptilian monster. It was a lanky, humanoid reptile with blades running up its arms and along its tail. "Slashclaw, perfect." she announced handing the Bestiary back with the page pointed out.
Corvus stepped into the summoning circle and drew out a rune with his staff. As he chanted out the summoning phrase, the deep blue skinned reptile rose out of the runes and let out a shrill cry. "Slashclaw, welcome to the land of mortals." Corvus greeted.
The Slashclaw cackled maniacally. "So good to be back! Alright boss, what do you need me to carve up?" It asked with glee.
Lafee stood up from her throne. "March upon the city of Radiant Hills. Cause as much terror, as much dread, as much misery as possible. I need more power. And while you're at it," she sat back down with a smirk, "Destroy King Arthur's new Power Rangers."
Slashclaw bowed, "I'll have it done in a flash ma'am." He announced before marching through a portal to the city. Lafee turned and shoved an urn into Gnaw's hands.
"Follow him and collect the human misery." she demanded.
"Wha- why me?!" Gnaw yelped. Lafee gave him a glare and he gulped, "Y-yes ma'am."
The five friends were just leaving Cammie's as their morphers beeped. Richard quickly answered, "Father, what's going on?"
"Rangers, Lafee has deployed a new monster to the city. Hurry there." Arthur replied, before Merlin shoved into the call.
"If things get too dangerous, contact me, The Zords are nearly ready. I can hopefully send them when needed." he explained.
Richard nodded and the team ducked into an Alley. "Ready Everyone?"
"Ready! For the Glory of Camelot!"
The five rangers intercepted Slashclaw and his army of Fearies as they marched through town square. "Hold it right there fiend!" Richard yelled.
The monster cackled, "About time! I've been looking for a good fight!" it replied, motioning for the Fearies to charge.
Gary, as with previously, opened fire with his morpher, cutting down whoever got close to him. Gwen leapt over his head and smashed a Fearie that snuck up on him. "Gary, watch your back!"
"Thanks Gwen, appreciate it." he replied, slamming his axe into the ground and Earthquaking a number of the foot-soldiers.
Lance was fighting back to back with Richard and moving in such a way that he was blocking any blow that would nearly hit him. "You've really taken to this Knight thing haven't you Lance?" Richard asked, cleaving a fearie in half.
"I've always wanted to be like the Knights of old sir. This is a perfect chance." he replied. "Furthermore, you ARE still nobility."
Richard laughed, "I'm a prince of a no-longer-existent kingdom Lance."
"But you ARE still my boss, you're team leader." Lance explained. Penny then dashed by the two, cutting down more fearies.
"Anyone focusing the monster?" She asked, exasperated with their arguing.
Richard and Lance both facepalmed. "Right, sorry." Lance said, quickly rushing to take on Slashclaw. Richard followed up behind him. Slashclaw roared and struck at both of them. Lance quickly deflected both blows and ducked, allowing Richard to leap over his head and cleave Slashclaw down the middle. The Blow caused sparks to fly and the monster to stagger backwards. Lance then followed the attack up with a stab, throwing the monster off its feet.
"Had enough, ugly?" Lance taunted, sharing a high five with Richard.
Slashclaw staggered to its feet and snarled. "Oh you think you're so tough do you?" It yelled in anger. "I'll chop you to ribbons!" Striking its claws against each other, the monster charged forward.
"We're done playing games with you." Gary declared. "Guys, let's just end this freak."
Gwen nodded in agreement. "I'm getting tired of looking at it. You ever use a mirror?" She teased.
"Guys, please don't taunt the monster…" Penny groaned.
"I agree with Gary however. It's time we end this." Richard said, raising his sword. "Mystic Knights, let us unleash our finishing attack!" As he made the declaration, the others crossed their weapons with his own, channeling all their magic into his claymore.
"Oh this doesn't look good…" The monster whimpered, stopping his charge and raising his claws to defend himself.
"Farewell, foul beast! MYSTIC SMITE!" Richard shouted, unleashing the energy at Slashclaw, and cutting him down in a fiery explosion.
Gnaw, meanwhile, was hiding away in the bushes. "Ooooh mistress is gonna be furious with me…" he said in a panic, until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Corvus standing over him. "C-Corvus. Hey uh...I was just-"
"Cease your panic Gnaw. You've gathered ample energy for your first mission." He told the terrified rodent. "I have merely come to test a new spell Mistress Lafee has granted me."
"A new spell?" Gnaw asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Corvus stepped out of the bushes before the rangers, drawing their attention. "And who are you supposed to be, Beaky?" Gwen asked.
"I am Corvus, a Familiar of my Mistress Lafee." He replied, summoning his magic staff to his side. "I am not here to battle you myself. Merely to grant this beast another chance." He turned to face the debris that was once Slashclaw and pointed his staff. "Darkest powers of eons past, I call to thee this spell to cast! Fallen demon now arise, grow in power and in size!" With that declaration, dark magic sprung forth from his staff and spiraled around the deceased monster. Within seconds, the rubble reformed into Slashclaw and grew him to titanic size.
Slashclaw let out a mighty laugh and glared down at the stunned rangers. "It's on now you little brats!" It shouted, slicing a nearby building in two.
"Oh man, I was hoping we'd be able to skip this part!" Gwen yelped, as Slashclaw began his rampage.
Richard quickly activated his communicator and called his father in Camelot: "Please tell me Merlin's done!"
"Don't worry rangers, Merlin has just finished work on your Zords." Richard confirmed. "Merlin, send them out immediately."
"Of course your majesty." Merlin replied, rubbing his hands together and casting his magic to warp the Ranger's new Zords to the battlefield.
Before Slashclaw could harm the team, he was suddenly sent flying backwards by a massive mechanical Pheonix, wreathed in flame. Upon landing, He was suddenly coiled by a large Blue levathan, a Yellow Kirin rushing in and kicking him. When the flying Leviathan uncoiled, a Green Minotaur charged in and struck Slashclaw with its horns. Finally, he was kicked into the ground by a humanoid Fairy, Penny's Pink Sprite Zord. The Zords landed behind their respective rangers, staring down the disoriented monster.
"Oh my god I can't believe it, my own Zord!" Gwen squeed in delight, hugging the leg of her Kirin. In response, it lowered its head and allowed her to pet it.
"Heh, mine's kinda cute." Penny admitted as she looked up at her Sprite, itself nodding at her.
"Gotta admit, I like the look of mine." Gary added, watching his Minotaur flex. "Nice and strong. Like me."
"I'll never understand why Water based Zords seem to fly." Lance commented as he watched his Leviathan fly overhead.
"Merlin, you did a fine job on these." Richard stated as he patted the leg of his Pheonix.
"Thank you, Prince Richard." Merlin replied. "The Zords are sapient, and wholly loyal to each of you. IT wasn't easy to put them together. I ended up linking several mythological beast of Camelot to the Morphin' Grid. I think the end result speaks for itself."
"Now all you need to do rangers is board your Zords and bring them together." Arthur told them firmly. "Together, you'll unleash the full power of the Mystic Kingdom Megazord."
"Got it." Richard replied, facing the others. "You heard the king!"
"Right!" They replied in Unison, each one leaping to the head of their Zord. They each found a hatch allowing them access to their individual Mechs.
"I'm not even gonna try to figure out how a living being has a cockpit." Gary deadpanned as he took hold of the controls.
"Don't ruin this for me Gary." Gwen noted with slight irritation, taking her controls.
"Yeah let Gwen fangirl some more." Lance joked, sitting at his controls. "Hey think we're gonna get T-Shirts like the other teams?"
"This is strangely comfortable…" Penny commented quietly as she readied hers.
"Alright team, let's do it!" Richard interjected as he readied his controls. "Form the Mystic Kingdom Megazord!" Every Ranger shouted in agreement, and they began the Megazord sequence.
The Minotaur rushed forward with the Kirin and both slowly shifted into the Megazord's Legs and Torso, connecting together. The Leviathan flew arouns the body and wrapped itself across the back, forming both of the arms. The Sprite attached itself to the front of the Body to form a chestplate, its legs combining together into a Sword while the Wings formed its shield. Finally the Phoenix attached itself to the machine's back, forming a cape with its wings and unfolding a head. The Beak of the Pheonix formed the Megazord's helmet.
"Behold, the Mystic Kingdom Megazord!" Richard announced as the other rangers joined him in the cockpit.
"Now THIS is awesome." Gwen replied, bouncing a bit in her seat.
Slashclaw stared in surprise at his new foe, before shaking himself out of his panic and sharpening his blades. "I don't care how big you are, I'm gonna cut you up all the same!" HE charged the Megazord and struck. The Rangers quickly got to work operating the Megazord, the knowledge being given to them through Merlin's Magic and their link to the Morphin Grid. The Mystic Kingdom Megazord parried Slashclaw's attacks with Sword and Shield, taking any chance it could to strike with its own blade, causing sparks to fly with every blow.
"This thing is pretty cool." Lance commented, as the Megazord blocked another strike. "A lot faster than I'd expect from something so big."
"We might want to wrap this up fast before we crush the city." Penny added in a worried tone.
"Agreed." Richard replied, the Megazord shield bashing Slashclaw in the face and shoving it back. "Let us end this, Mystic Knights." The Five Rangers held a hand forth and charged the Megazord with their energy. Images of the five Mythical Beasts of the Rangers spiralled around the Megazord and flew into its blade, supercharging it with energy.
"Sword of the Kingdom!" The team announced, slashing an X of energy into the air and striking it towards the monster. It passed through Slashclaw and caused him to begin sparking with energy.
"AAARGH! NO FAAAAIR-" Slashclaw yelled as he collapsed and exploded in a massive fireball. There was no returning from this finishing strike.
"Mystic Knights. The Day is ours."
Gnaw trembled in the presence of Lafee, who simply glared at his as she snatched the urn from his hand. He covered his head, expecting to be struck by her staff, but she simply examined the Misery he had collected, then smiled. To his surprise, she gently pet his head. "Good boy Gnaw. Slashclaw may have failed but this, this is a good start to our collection." She told him, moving to her throne and taking her seat. "Plus, Corvus has proven my mother's spells are still as effective as ever."
"Hm, shame the rangers have upgraded a bit." Feleene commented, grooming her hair a bit. "I was hoping to get to nibble on Gnaw again."
"It doesn't matter." Lafee replied, leaning forward in thought. "The Rangers grow stronger but so do we. I just wish I could find the Underworld Grimoire."
"Your mother's ultimate book of beasts?" Wart questioned in surprise.
"It was lost during the great war. The monsters within are some of the finest in mother's Bestiary." Lafee mused, looking over her Familiars. "When we aren't gathering Misery and fear, I demand you turn this castle upside-down for mother's Grimoire!"
Back in Camelot, the Rangers were again celebrating a well fought victory. "Those Zords were awesome Merlin." Gwen noted, shaking the wizard's hand.
"Why thank you young lady, I put a lot of effort into it." Merlin replied, smiling brightly.
"Indeed, he didn't sleep for days." Nimue joked, deflating Merlin's glee.
"Still, the fact that one of Lafee's familiars appeared, and the magic he used.." Arthur commented, deep in thought. "Lafee's powers must be starting to return. Be wary Rangers. She is both cunning and ruthless." The rangers nodded as he turned to face them once more. "And her mother...she was far worse. It took the shattering of Excalibur to defeat her."
"What happened to Excalibur's shards your majesty?" Lance asked, looking at the Hilt of the fracutred sword, up on display.
"Scattered to the winds." Arthur sadly told them. "Lost to time…"
Unaware to those within Camelot, at a quarry outside Radiant Hills, There would be a shocking discovery. A small shard of metal, glowing with unearthly magic, was beginning to hum to life among newly upturned rubble…
To Be Continued…
*Looks at the Date of the previous update*
Well, I got no excuses…
Yeah this story has been something of a lower priority compared to some of my other work, but I do genuinely love writing it, and have been wanting to keep this going. Honestly its lack of attention was originally a bit of a demotivater when I uploaded the first chapters...god a whole year ago now? But with recent events, I feel now would be a good time to resurrect this old story, especially due to the fact me and a friend recently finished Dino Fury, which reinvigorated my love of Power Rangers. Seriously that show is way better than it has any right to be.
Some notes. Yes the style of writing changes halfway, this chapter was initially worked on years ago and I like to think I've improved since then. Secondly, I tried to showcase the individual rangers a little better this time. Third, I really hope that I gave the Megazord a good first appearance. If not, I sincerely apologize.
Power Rangers as a whole is owned by Saban and Hasbro.
NEXT TIME: An Ancient Relic Revealed! The Race is on!