Ninja Storm: Rise of the Eclipse- Chapter 34: Storm Before the Calm: Part II
Disclaimer: Saban owns all Power Ranger line and anything from the shows.
Copyright: All unrecognizable parts and characters are copyrighted by December's Phoenix.
Note: Omg. It's here—the final chapter.
Crystal couldn't describe it. She knew she was conscious. Her body was literally standing up, moving around, and talking. But it isn't her. Like an itch in the back of the brain, Crystal had no idea what was happening. Physically, she was fine. Nothing was wrong. It was all mental. She felt like she was watching herself and that someone…something was in control.
But the worst part was she didn't even remember waking up. All she remembered was being unceremoniously dumped onto the med-bay bed by Lucy, and then…she was starting at Shane, Tori, and Dustin.
It was like her mind was slower than her body, and it was struggling to keep itself sane enough to convince her that she was okay. But she wasn't…was she? Her powers had taken a hit when Hunter exposed her to the gem, and its had dove right off the deep end the second she laid eyes on that stupid crevice in the ground.
Her brain throbbed at that. Something was off…and the Abyss had to be the center.
Kyrah
"What do you mean 'Lucy joined them'?" Shane turned to the Gold Ranger.
"Whoa, what happened here?" Hunter asked, standing at the bottom of the stairs. He and Blake make their way into Ops, seeing the four Ranger there. They scanned the destroyed ops, seeing the ceiling had collapsed.
Dustin laughed. "You guys made it."
Blake clapped hands with him. "Vexacus torched the Thunder Megazord, so we ejected."
Hunter glanced around. "Where's Cam?"
"Taken." Crystal answered, moving through the Rangers to settle herself on the back of Cam's chair. "Lothor managed to get in here, took him and teamed up with Lucy."
"We were too late." Dustin sighed.
"Better late than never, I always say."
The Ranger turned, seeing Sensei - in human form - moving from a destroyed corner. "Sensei!" They called, moving to him.
"You're okay!" The three Winds moved to hug him.
Sensei enjoyed that, smiling brightly at his students.
"It's great to see you, finally." Hunter nods.
"And… you're like, totally normal again." Dustin noted.
"Lothor's blast reverse the transmutation and allowed me to return to my human form." Sensei explained.
"Wait, back up, teamed up with Lucy?" Blake asked.
Crystal sighed. "I think that whatever is happening to me, is happening to her."
"What do you mean?"
"I overheard Hunter and Lucy two days ago." Crystal told him. "Look, when the gem weakened used, me more than her, it allowed a past Guardian to take over." She glanced at all the confused looks she was getting. "Guardians are meant to stay at full strength. That's why Lucy and I never lost morphs easily. But when something - like the Gem of Souls - gets close, it starts to wear down the power."
"So when the gem got close, a former Guardian was able to take over?" The Navy Ranger inquired again.
"Essentially. It's a protective measure to ensure that the line of Guardians remains intact. There is only one time when the line was broken. Zira and Kyrah passed before the power could find a new guardian to carry on the legacy."
"How many Guardians have there been?" Tori questioned.
"5 sets of siblings." Sensei answered. "The story gets unclear around Kyrah and Zira, the two before Crystal and Lucy."
"Why?"
The golden Guardian smiled. "It is told that there are siblings destined and foretold as the powerful Guardian throughout history. Helios and Selene were the first. Artemis and Apollo. Then Romulus and Remus. Finally, the Guardians bestowed the powers on Kyrah and Zira. Following the imprisonment of Shimazu, it was said Zira went crazy. Believing that no one loved her for her sacrifices to defeat the warlord."
"Sacrifices?" Shane asked.
"Shane, don't interrupt." Crystal jokingly snapped. The Rangers chuckled. "She sacrificed the constellation Hydra to ensure that the spell they cast on Shimazu would work. Hydra did return to the night sky, but not at once. As a result of her belief, the two dueled. Zira used the power of Enceladus, one of Saturn's moon, to overpower Kyrah. And as we all know, history favors the victor and Zira told the story before passing on."
"You guys can channel stars?" Hunter blinked at her.
"Not anymore. Before Lucy and I inherited the powers, the Selene and Helios locked that power locking away the ability to use celestial bodies is gone, it came a price. Without a siphon, the powers are unstoppable."
"That is a very terrifying thought." Dustin pointed out.
"Terrifying, yes. But true. If Lucy and I hadn't become Eclipse Rangers, the power would have forced us to choose between saving Earth and sacrificing ourselves or Zira might have reigned earlier. But, we didn't know that choice until after we made it. So, we need to focus on getting Cam and my sister back."
"It will not be easy." Sensei sighed. "My darkest fears have come to pass. Lothor is preparing to open the Abyss of Evil."
"Are you serious?" Blake asked. "I thought that was ninja folklore."
"You also thought that about us, and, yet, here we are." Crystal joked.
Sensei glanced around. "It is no coincidence that Blue Bay Harbor is home to the Wind Ninja Academy, or that the Lunar Guardian has been training with us for years. We are the keepers of an invisible gateway, a gateway that once opened, will allow all the evil of all ages gone by, to escape."
"Then why hasn't Lothor opened it before." Shane asked.
"He can only open it when it reaches capacity. But, even then, it can only be opened by a might force."
"The Samurai amulet." Tori announced.
"Yes, with the Lunar Guardian behind him, I believe that Lothor intends to use Cam and Lucy's powers to open the abyss." Sensei agreed. "And allow the army of evil to enter our world."
"Yes, drain its powers." Lothor mumbled, watching his technology work. The Samurai morpher flared green and continues to be frozen as the power is drained from it.
"Lucy, what are you doing?" Cam harshly whispered to the very close Lunar Guardian.
She turned, silver eyes narrowing. "I want respect. I want honor. I gave everything I had, and I still was never enough."
Choobo came bumbling in. "I've set the self-destruct sequence on the ship's bridge, sir. Just like you ordered." The ship started to count down to detonation.
"Excellent." Lothor smiled.
"Yeah, Uncle, what about us?" Marah asked from Lothor's throne that she was in with Kapri.
"What about you?"
"Well, now that we've proven that we're evil. Don't we get to play a part in your victory?" Kapri asked.
Lothor stared at them. "Well, now that you're evil, I suppose I can't really trust you, can I?" He demanded. "You were a little bit enthusiastic when you were planning with Shimazu against me!"
"But, Uncle!" Marah tried. "You told us to do that."
"Remember? We were all in on it to try and trick Vexacus into trying to get rid of your generals?" Kapri laid out.
"Yes. Yes." Lothor breathed. "We had to make sure that the abyss was at maximum capacity." Lothor turned to the two with a smile. "But you know, there's always room for two more. Choobo!"
"Kelzaks!" Choobo ordered. "Take them away."
The Kelzaks around the two on the throne reach out and grab them, yanking them from the seat. They argued with the Kelzaks, demanding to be put down as they were removed from the throne room.
Zira allowed her rapier to scrape across the ground as she moved to the throne. "I used to have one." She muttered, resting a hand on the arm. "Until my sister destroyed it." In a second, the Lunar Guardian is sitting on the throne, rapier on her lap. "Feel right."
"We have to stop the abyss from opening." Shane spoke, drawing the attention of the Rangers to him. "There has to be a way."
"We need help." Blake stated. "Ninja help."
"And where are we going to find that?" Shane asked.
Hunter turned. "Lothor's ship."
"The captured students." Crystal announced. "Every ninja on the planet is locked up there."
All the Rangers stood. "We could take the dragon-force vehicle." Dustin suggested.
Hunter pulls Crystal up to her feet. "Wait, Blake and I should go alone. Crystal, don't give me that angry look. We know Lothor's ship better than anyone."
"The dragon force vehicle is in the zord bay." Sensei spoke up from the damaged library. "Be careful…and thank you for your courage."
"You can thank us when we return." The Navy Ranger stated to Sensei.
"Don't die."
Blake turned to the Guardian. "Are you ever going to say something encouraging when someone heads to Lothor's ship?"
Crystal smiled. "Just trying to keep you guys on your toes." She watched the two brothers take off. She breathed, murmuring a blessing under it.
"I keep think it's my fault." Shane muttered, sitting down on the broken table.
"That's crazy. How could you have don anything differently?" Tori returned.
"Been a better Ranger. If we had destroyed Lothor sooner, none of this would have happened."
"You guys ever think what would have happened if we hadn't been late to class that day. We would't have even been Power Rangers." Dustin sighed.
Crystal stood from her spot. "I don't think you guys get this. You were always meant to be Rangers." She moved to stand by Sensei, who had a black box in his hands.
"What do you mean?" Shane questions.
Sensei pulls a piece of ripped paper from the box. "This is the last entry of the Scroll of Destiny."
Dustin pulled it closer. It was a painting of the three of them. "No way! It's us."
"You were precisely late so that you would become Power Rangers." Sensei encouraged.
"If you knew about this before, why didn't you show us earlier?"
Crystal leaned on the railing. "Would you have believed Sensei, Lucy or I? The three of us have never questioned the efficacy of the scrolls."
"So, what happens now?" Shane placed his hands on his hips.
"This is the end of the scroll. It does not stay who is victorious. Only that you must be there to face Lothor. At the Abyss of Evil." Sensei told the four.
"That's where we will be." Shane agreed.
Sensei turned to Crystal. "Lady Kyrah, it is time."
Crystal ducked her head, blinking before lifting. Her eyes shifted from green to gold in seconds. "Can never pull a fast one on you, Watanabe." She laughed.
"There was a shift in energy." Sensei probed.
The Winds faced Crystal. "Who are we speaking to?" Shane demanded.
"So formal, little red." Crystal smirked. "You know me as Kyrah. Crystal's predecessor. I'm here so you don't have to fight Zira."
"All right then." Shane nodded. "Ready?"
"Ready."
Ninja Storm, Ranger Form!
The four landed in the middle of the US Action Games site. The three primary Rangers blasted the Kelzaks away with their tsunami cycles, landing in the middle of the site and diving right into the battle. Shane kicked the closest one away, punching another one. Tori flipped off a picnic table, sweeping a leg to take out a kelzak. Dustin rolled off the table, blocking a kick. Instead, he whipped around, swinging his arms out to hit a few more.
A t-shaped object came into view, spinning to a stop. It was a large Megazord. It had a red headpiece that looked like tentacles that matched the tentacles coming from the body. A maniacal laugh resounded form the Megazord.
"Looks like we found Lothor." Shane gaped, staring at the Megazord. "Come on." He climbed on his bike, noticing that Kyrah wasn't moving towards Crystal's. "Kyrah."
Kyrah turned to him. "My mission is my sister. Yours is Lothor." She stated, using her strength to flip a kelzak over. "As your Guardian says 'go crack some crowns'."
"Right." Shane nodded. The three took off.
Back on Lothor's ship, Hunter and Blake hid out in a crack just off the main tunnel. They pressed themselves up against the wall when they heard the familiar whiny voice of Choobo…the bumbling general. "We don't have much time before this place self-destructs." Choobo panicked. "Let's get out of here." He tottered away with a miniature pack of Kelzaks behind him.
Once they were clear, Blake sighed, moving from the spot. "Great. Ticking clock on top of everything else."
"We better find Cam." Hunter told him. The two take off in the direction Choobo came from.
The Winds arrived at the edge of the moto-track just in time to see Lothor blasting the Abyss. His plan was falling into place. Distract the Rangers. He turned away from attacking the Abyss to catch the Wind Megazord standing across from him. He laughed, watching the Rangers make the first move. A dumb one. But a move. They called on their sword, charging at Lothor. Only for Lothor to blast them back, causing their Megazord to spark and fall.
Zira had never felt so much power in her life. Yes, she had sacrificed Hydra and channeled Enceladus, but the power that Lucy Brewer held was intoxicating to the former Guardian. Her silver eyes swept the field, watching her overrated older sister destroy Kelzaks. Finally, Lothor was beating the Rangers at their own game.
Her plan was working.
Lothor distracting the Rangers and the Guardian, unable to stop her, Zira would have all the time in the world to open this Abyss. The one she caused all those years ago. It was like she had been born again, breathing in the stench of evil and the sweet florals of victory.
She stood on the fence around the Abyss, samurai amulet in hand. Why she couldn't just rip the Abyss open was beyond her. She just wanted the army.
"I wouldn't do that."
Zira instantly knew who it was. She felt the shift in power the second she had stepped foot onto the battlefield. Kyrah had returned, absorbing every ounce of magic and power Crystal Brewer held. She knew that her sister wasn't delirious of power. She had never been.
A chuckle ripped from her chest. She turned around. "Why not?" She nearly snarled, grip tightening around the amulet. She felt like she was going to crack it. Then she could display her strength and rip this world in half. "It's not like you care about this stupid planet."
"You severely underestimate how much I care." Kyrah snapped back.
"Sunspot's got her fire back, huh?" Zira pushed herself off the fence, landing on the hill's grass behind her. "Shame really, this world is going to be ruled…by me."
It was Kyrah's time to laugh. When she calmed down, the Guardian turned back to her sister. "Do you really think that Lothor is just going to bow to you? That he is going to give up everything for a Guardian who hasn't been around until it was convenient for her? If you do, you are more delusional that I thought, baby sister."
Zira growled. "This world will be mine!"
"This way." Hunter directed, following his brother into the throne room. They stopped for a second, hearing something. Their heads turned to find Cam, Marah, and Kapri tied to pillars in the room. "Cam!" Hunter took off, running to the Samurai.
Cam sighed in relief. He heard Marah and Kapri moan, but he was more ready to get his hands down and feel his arms again. "Thanks guys." He muttered, sighing again when his shoulders stopped throbbing.
"Hey! Hello!" Marah cried out.
"Guys!" Kapri added in.
"You can't just leave us here!" The bug-eyed girl complained.
Hunter scoffed. "Why shouldn't we?"
Neither girl had an answer. Instead, they just stared at the three ninjas. Then, finally, it was Cam that answered. "Because their family. And if I've learned anything about family from the Brewers, you don't give up on family."
The girls sighed in relief. Even more when Hunter and Blake moved to untie them. "Thank you." Kapri repeated, sighing when Blake finished untying her.
The ship rocked violently. "We need to get out of here!" Blake yelled.
Came turned to the girls. "How do we free the ninja student pods?"
"Yeah, cousin, do you know the Yellow Ranger. Is he still mad at me? Cause I totally like him and…." Marah rambled.
"Can we talk about this later?" Cam interrupted, pushing the two towards the students.
They ruined around, just in time to see Choobo standing there. "Hello." He sang, looking down at the two. "Going somewhere?" He pushed the two back, calling on his pod of Kelzaks to come in. "And I see you have some new friends. This should be fun."
The Bradley brothers shared a look. "For old times sake?" Hunter asked, eyes not moving from Choobo. He was raging on the inside. Still made about the whole island experience, mind control, and tricks.
"Oh, yeah." Blake smirked.
Thunder Storm, Ranger Form!
The instant that the two morphed, they pulled their staffs from their backs and ran into the fight. They ducked and dodged swings while handing out their punches and kicks.
All while the clock counted down.
Lothor was having fun with this now. He currently had the head of the Wind Megazord in his hand, shooting bolts of electricity through the Power Rangers.
Oh, was he having fun.
He threw the Wind Megazord through a mountain, shaking and cracking the Earth beneath them. He smiles darkly. "This is the most fun I've had all season!" He joked.
Blake and Hunter seemed to be having an easier time. They were knocking out Kelzaks right and left with each punch, kick and swing of their staff. Hunter went for the legs, sweeping a few Kelzaks off their feet and onto their backs. Cam was knocking them out punch by punch.
The ship rocked again. The ship's tilting caused many Kelzaks to tumble to the ground. Marah stumbled over to Cam. "Hey, cousin, if you hit that console, it will shut down all of the ship's systems and free the students."
"You're not really that dumb."
"Yeah, I keep telling people that. No one ever listens to me."
The ship violently shook. Enough to send Cam to one knee. "Hunter, Blake." He called, earning the attention of the two Thunder Rangers. "You got to blow that console."
"Right." Blake nodded.
The two moved over to the mainframe console. Forming their Thunder Blaster, the two took aim at the technology. "Thunder Blaster. Fire." They called, firing the blaster.
The singular blast sent a shockwave of electricity throughout the ship. The bubbles containing the pods of ninja students burst, scattering the pods.
But destroying the mainframe meant the ship was going to blow sooner. Chocobo and the Kelzaks managed to escape, but the Rangers weren't as lucky. They ducked and covered as electricity and blasts shattered the ship's structure. Cam grabbed the arms of both Kapri and Marah, hauling them over to Hunter and Blake.
"We got to go!" Blake ordered. They moved to one side, but a pillar was coming down fast. The brothers managed to stop it from crushing the five, but Cam had a better idea.
"Teleporting now." Cam announced. In seconds, the five were gone. The pods of students spewed from the ship, and the dragon force vehicle followed.
Lothor's ship was destroyed.
It had only taken seconds to send Kyrah away. And Zira felt exhilarated. She turned to the Abyss, holding the samurai amulet above her head.
A prickling pain seared down her body, flooding every sense and nerve in her body. She released a scream, but Zira was sure no one heard it. Gods, everything was hurting, and she was suffering…
Lothor.
How could she have been so naive to think that this would have been easy? To think that she would take Lothor out? Oh, not; he was trying to take her out. And she let him. She handed him everything he needed to conquer the world and destroy the Guardians.
Because without one, the other passes. It was a blessing for Zira. She could finally rid herself of the twisting powers. All caused by her sacrifice of Hydra. But it was a curse. She had to die. She couldn't have lived her life after Kyrah. No, she had to die so the cycle could continue.
"Zira!"
It was barely a whisper for the Lunar Guardian. Even Lucy, sleeping, felt the samurai amulet's power suck from her. Like a battery, the Guardian was almost on empty. Dangerous for one so powerful…one with so much potential.
Then it stopped. Her body collapsed, free falling. Someone caught her.
"Zira, wake u…Zira…Z?"
The evil ninja cackled, standing tall over the primary Rangers. He moved to stand on them. "Taste your defeat." He snarled, looking down at the helpless Rangers. Then, he lifted a three-pronged hand and went for a hit.
"Never!" Shane called. "Locked and dropped."
As soon as Lothor got close, he was pushed back. The red sphere spun in the air, having been the thing that hit Lothor in the chest. That sent him stumbling around and sparking. Lothor grunted when the Winds took the opportunity to push against him.
The sudden connection between the two and the instability of Lothor's zord was a bad combination. Both Megazords sparked violently, causing all four to scramble around to avoid getting hurt. But it took seconds for an explosion from both Megazords to form.
"Eject!" The winds called, jumping from their zords and rolling on the ground.
"The Megazord!" Shane stood. Tori and Dustin followed. "It's gone." The three rushed over to the hill's edge, seeing the Abyss open. "What's happening?"
"I don't know."
Just then, the ground shakes. The Abyss opens further and further, emitting more and more purple light. Tiny spheres chase and dance around the sky…the soldiers of the evil army.
"Not good." Dustin sighed.
Tori couldn't tear her eyes from the dancing souls. "No."
The three watched the souls turn from spheres to their physical shapes. "They're back!" Shane gasped.
Landing just before them, an army of every monster and creature that the Rangers had taken down since day one. Each ugly and disgusting monster snarled and laughed when they stared at the four Rangers in front of them. Finally, parting the crowd, Lothor made his way to face the four. "How does it feel to fail, Rangers?"
Shane pointed to him. "You should know."
"Not this time." Lothor snarled.
"Ready?" Shane asked. The three turned their shoulder, their visors snapping back into place. They reached for their swords, unsheathing them.
It was quiet. The calm before the storm…the silence before nightmares.
"Destroy them!" Lothor ordered.
The generals led the army of monsters against the five. The three primary Rangers are pulling out all of the stops. Specialty weapons included. Shane went to hit the trigger on his hawk blasters, and a monster knocked them out of his hands.
Dustin landed flat on the ground, swinging his sword wide. Then, one monster stomps on the blade and kicks it away from the Yellow Ranger. "My sword!"
The three are flipped onto their backs and land in a circle of monsters. They close in on the three, struggling to climb to their feet. They were toast. Until a crimson blast knocked some monsters back. They turned, finding Hunter flying high above them in the ninja glider. "Mind if I play through?" Hunter asked, circling the group.
"You will never stop me!" Lothor yelled at him.
"But we will!" Blake called, earning the attention of everyone. He stood in front of the pods of ninja students from all academies.
Wind and Thunder ninja stood together, ready to fight. Hunter flipped from the glider, landing right behind the three Wind Rangers. "Awesome!" The three agreed.
Shane had an idea. "Battlizer!" In an instant, he was armored up with the battlizer.
"Kelzaks!" Lothor ordered.
Choobo and his pod of Kelzaks appeared around him. "Ready when you are, sir."
"Attack!"
To an average person, the battle looked chaotic. And it was in the opinion of someone who had once locked away an evil warlord and battled it out with her sister. The Guardian stood watch, seeing every ninja from her school there. She should be in the fight, yes. Unless her sister decides it is high time to overthrow Lothor before anyone can seize the opportunity. So she stood, watching over the fight, watching for Zira.
An Air ninja had been the first to throw a monster back into the Abyss. Blake followed with a Kelzak. Another monitor tumbled in after. Each time, the Guardian felt the balance shift before when a monster or evil spirit returned to the Abyss.
Shane had been handling himself well. He took on three of Lothor's generals; Vexacus, Motodrone, and Shimazu. He used his forearms to block every attack. But it was the gold streak that saved him. He turned to see Kyrah duking it out with Shimazu…one last time.
"Ah, my sunspot." Shimazu called.
Kyrah rolled her eyes. "Yours?" She asked, planting her staff and slamming it back into Shimazu's head. She jumped up and nailed him in the chest. "What are you? 12?" She tucked her staff under her arm, blocking a blade swing with her forearm. She pushed him back, using her foot to send them back into the Abyss.
Dustin glanced around his pod of Kelzaks and monsters. "Ready to split?" He asked, splitting himself into two people.
"Oh yeah!" The duplicate responded. The two jumped up, kicking and punching with force behind them. That scattered his pod.
Shane called on the flight mode of his battlizer, using it against the pod of monsters he was facing. He stared down at Lothor, who had come to see all the ruckus was about. Seeing his furious expression, the Red Ranger could only watch as one blast from Lothor had him on the ground. He landed roughly on bays of hale and rolled to the ground.
"Shane!" Tori called, running over with Blake in tow.
"Are you okay?" Dustin asked with hunter behind him.
"He short-circuited the battlizer." Shane groaned, holding his arm.
Lothor flipped onto the skateboard ramp. The Rangers fell into stances. With the rest of the students dealing with the Kelzaks and the monsters behind them, Lothor and the Rangers finally had their chance to duel.
"You…backstabbing…little weasel!"
Zira appeared in front of the Rangers in a flash of silver. She was breathing heavily. She threw her head back, sending most of the brown hair behind her shoulders. "I should throw you to the wolves." She snarled.
A golden light flashed, and Kyrah was standing in front of the Rangers. She had her staff tucked under her arm. "You need to learn, Lothor. You never double-cross a Guardian."
Lothor laughed. "What makes you think I would give what I earned to you?"
Zira tilted her head to Kyrah. "Just this once,"
"Then we duel."
Eclipse Storm, Ranger Form!
Guardian of the Moon
Guardian of the Sun
The Guardians stood with the Rangers around them, weapons all drawn and all on the edge of the battle they were about to face.
Lothor flipped off the ramp, right into the pod of Rangers. Shane went first, aiming a well-placed slice, but Lothor blocked and sent him back. The Thunder Rangers went for a kick and swing combination. Lothor caught both their arms and sent them back. Their weapons flew out of their hands as they went flying themselves. The brothers groaned when they landed roughly on their backs.
Tori and Dustin go in next for hits. They both try to sweep his feet from under him, but Lothor anticipated this and flipped out of the way. Then, mid-flip, he sent power blasts at the Blue and Yellow Rangers, flying through the air and crashing onto the ground.
Zira cracked her neck, tilting her head towards Kyrah. The two took off, charging the evil ninja. Zira caught one punch, hitting Lothor in the side. Kyrah swept his legs from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. It was quick, though, as Lothor was back up in seconds. Lothor used his blasts to send the two away.
"What just happened?" Kyrah muttered to Zira.
"No idea." Zira grounded out.
The space ninja made his move once more, stomping over to the downed Yellow and Blue Rangers. Shane got in his way. He sent a powerful blast to the Red Ranger, expecting him to fall like his teammates, but he did no such thing. Shane blocked the shot, splitting it in half and sending them away from his friends. But it took too much out of him. The air ninja fell to the ground in seconds.
"Enough!" Lothor called. He lifted the samurai amulet above his head, facing the Thunder and Eclipse Rangers. "Time to finish you all. Give me those Rangers Powers!"
The amulet grew brighter and brighter, feeding on the Rangers and Guardians. The two brothers significantly struggled, but in the end, it was hopeless. Their morphs shattered, and the two fell to the ground in pain. Unfortunately, the Guardians weren't any better. They struggled a bit longer, trying to retain some power, but it proved fruitless, and the two ended up the same way as Hunter and Blake. On the ground without morphs.
"Nothing can stop me now!" Lothor celebrated.
"I believe that belongs to me." Cam announced, appearing behind his uncle on the skate ramp.
"Not anymore." Lothor snarled. He fired a blast, sending his nephew back across the ground. He laughed as he moved to him. "Goodbye nephew." He was ready to blast Cam out of existence.
Until the Rangers got in his way. "He's not going anywhere, got it?!" Shane demanded, pointing at the ninja.
"Fine, then. I'll take you in his place." Lothor lifted the amulet above his head. He pushed hit out, sending the power at the Rangers.
It sent the three flying back. Shane landed first, his morph disappearing in a flurry of red sparks. Tori roughly hit the ground on her side, her suit gone in seconds. Dustin was the last; a storm of yellow sparks buzzed around the second he collided with the Earth. They climbed to their feet, watching Cam, Hunter, and Blake move to them.
"Fools! Haven't you had enough?" So Lothor went to blast them again.
Kyrah cut in, literally. She sliced the blast in half with her rapier. She stood straighter. "You idiot." She laughed, shaking her head and shouldering her blade.
A blast sent Lothor back. He crashed onto the ground. Full of anger, Lothor rose back to his feet to see Zira standing with her arm extended. A miniature ball of light was curled in her hand. She smirked. "The power of Enceladus, the brightest moon in the system."
"What?!" Lothor demanded.
"When you took the powers from the morphers, you took the lock that Lady Selene and Lord Helios had placed on the our powers." Kyrah explained. "Rangers, finish this!"
The six Rangers nodded, advancing on Lothor. Each took turns, punching, kicking…pretty much anything that they could use from their ninja training to help them defeat Lothor. Each time, Lothor retaliated with kicks, punches, and flips. Eventually, it got to the point where Shane, Tori, and Dustin were shoving him back towards the Abyss. If they couldn't destroy him, they would lock him away.
Lothor stands before the three Primary Rangers, his back to the Abyss of Evil. "I have your Rangers powers." He snarled. "You are at my mercy once and for all."
Shane shook his head. "We won't let you win."
"What can you do to me without your powers?"
"We may not be Power Ranger, but we still have power." Shane returns. "Power of Air!"
"Power of Earth!"
"Power of Water!"
"Ninja Powers!"
They combined their powers, sending Lothor over the barricade surrounding the Abyss. Then, holding him above the pit, the powers dropped the evil ninja into the Abyss. When Lothor's yelling fell silent, the Abyss exploded. Purple energy spouted everywhere.
The Rangers breathed.
It was finally over.
Until it wasn't.
Kyrah hit the ground between the Rangers, groaning as she rolled. When she finally stopped, her head snapped up. Narrowing her eyes, Kyrah glared at her younger sister. "Why can't you accept this?!" She yelled, shoving herself off the ground and onto her feet.
"They never respected me!" Zira bit back. "I was the one to lock Shimazu away…but you got all the credit."
"You are so stupid." Kyrah called her staff to her, tucking it under her armpit. "Really? You really think that our people forgot about you? About what you did? Z…you sacrificed an entire constellation to lock that madman up. No-one forgot. You were just to blind to see that everyone celebrated us…as equals."
Zira shook her head. "No…no. They forgot…and this world will pay for it!"
The now-former Rangers moved around Kyrah, determined to bring their friends back. "Bring Lucy back!" Tori called.
"Sorry, the little Ranger is unavailable right now." Zira charged Tori.
She swung and hit Tori, shoving the former Blue Ranger back. She kicked Shane away while Dustin went in for a ground slide. She jumped, missing Dustin and kicking Blake in the chest. Hunter managed to get close to Zira, stopping her from doing anything, but she used her strength to flip the boy over, sending him crashing to the ground.
Zira threw her head back, laughing evilly. The Rangers are scattered in front of her. She moved closer to them, her lance forming in her hands. "Poor pathetic Rangers. Can't seem to get anything right these days, huh?" She chuckled darkly. "Well, in a few minutes, this world is mine, as it should have been."
A blast of yellow hit Zira square in the chest and sent her flying back. She rolled to a stop after crashing to the ground. Her eyes found Kyrah, who has her star in hand. "Sirius, the brightest star."
Zira climbed to her feet. "I forgot you had the power of the suns." She wiped her nose. "Hit me with your best shot." Another blast had Zira down for good. She groaned. "I don't understand. Why am I weak?"
"Lothor taking the power drained us both, but you used Enceladus before Lucy as ready for it."
"I was meant to rule!" Zira struggled to get up. But instead, she crashed back onto the ground. Finally, after everything, Zira closed her eyes. She gave up fighting the Guardian, who wanted her body back.
Kyrah knelt beside her. "No, you were meant to protect, little sister." She stood and faced the Rangers. "Thank you. Without the six of you stepping up, we do not know what this world would have brought with Lothor controlling it."
"What's gonna happen to Crystal and Lucy?" Tori stepped towards the Guardian.
"They will wake up and they will continue the legacy set forth by the Guardians of old. Never let them forget that." Kyrah stated. Seconds later, she crashed to the ground next to Zira.
The ninjas scrambled over to the two, trying to give them space while being worried about them. Lucy was the first to wake, blinking rapidly and rolling over to protect her eyes from the sun. "Gods, what happened?"
Crystal soon followed, grunting and shading her eyes with her arm. "Five more minutes."
"Crys?"
The Solar Guardian sat up instantly, turning around and finding her whole team staring at her. "What are you guys doing here?" She glanced around. "What the hell am I doing here? And how did I manage to make it into my suit?"
"You don't remember?" Hunter asked her, helping her to her feet. His hands didn't leave her sides when the blonde stumbled.
"Remember what?" Crystal glanced up at him, then at the team. "Something tells me I missed a lot."
"You and Lucy were taken over by two former Guardians." Shane responded.
Lucy shoved herself up. "I remember that." She spoke. Her face melted into one of guilt. "I also remember wanting to take over the planet…sorry."
Tori moved over to her, hugging her tightly. "It wasn't you."
Crystal leaned heavily on Hunter for a moment. "I high doubt that you - Lucy Brewer - would be able to take over a planet and not feel guilty about it."
"Yeah, but…"
"No buts Lu. None, what-so-ever. Look, if it was about taking over the world, it was Zira." Crystal glanced around. "What happened? Where's Lothor?"
"In the Abyss. There was an explosion. Lothor's evil must have overloaded the Abyss." Blake commented.
"That cause it to implode on itself." Cam added.
Dustin pointed to the Abyss. "So, he's really gone? And Lucy and Crystal are back to normal?"
"If he's in the abyss, you really think he's going to jump pop out after this whole mess?" Lucy returned, pulling herself up to her feet with the help of Tori and Cam.
"What about the Ranger powers?" Hunter asked, looking down at his and Crystal's morphers.
Shane glanced at his morpher. "They're gone too."
"Let the games begin!" The man called, pulling the postponed sign down from the poster of the US Action Games. He turned around, seeing the large crowd of people run to him. Each of the Rangers had fun celebrating. Dustin had his first run back in freestyle. Shane had his run.
After the day was over, Hunter, Blake, and Dustin met up with Tori, Kelly, and the sisters at the van. Dustin had a trophy in his arms while Hunter and Blake were smiling. "Hey, Dustin, third place, that's awesome!" Tori smiled.
Blake patted him on the back. "Yeah, my boy came through."
"I'm so glad you changed to freestyle." Kelly told him. "You've got a real career ahead of you."
Shane called out to the group, running over to them. "You guys! You won't believe this. You guys know the guys from truth Trucks? They want to sponsor me." Everyone celebrated. "National tour and everything."
"That's great. What did you tell them?" Kelly asked.
The doors to the Wind Academy opened, revealing six of the eight former Rangers. Walking through the throngs of standing students from all three academies, they found the two guardians standing in front of Sensei. They wore more intricate outfits than the ones they usually wore, plus new armbands. One on their right arm had their respective symbol plus the phases of their celestial body.
"Shane Clarke." Shane stepped forward, accepting the scroll from Sensei. He bowed.
"Tori Hanson." Tori took Shane's spot. She accepted the scroll and bowed before Sensei. Then, she fell into line with the former Red Ranger.
"Dustin Brooks." Dustin followed the same steps that Tori and Shane did. He joined his teammates.
"Blake Bradley." Blake smiled as he moved in front of Sensei. Even though they weren't Wind ninjas, they were ninjas. One that had earned the right to graduate from wherever. He walked over and fell in line with the Winds.
"Hunter Bradley." Hunter followed his brother's moves. He bowed to Sensei, accepting his scroll. He stole a glance at Crystal, who glanced back. The two smiled at each other before parting.
"Crystal Brewer." Like the Thunder ninjas, Lucy and Crystal had earned every right to graduate from their schools. The Solar Guardian moved to stand in front of Sensei, bowing and accepting her scroll. Then, she moved to stand next to Hunter.
"Lucy Brewer." The Lunar Guardian followed in the footsteps of her counterparts. First, she bowed to Sensei and accepted the scroll in front of her. Then, she stopped to stand right next to Crystal.
"And finally, Cam Watanabe." Cam stepped up, bowing and accepting his scroll from his father. Then, he turned and made his way over to stand next to Lucy to end the line of former Rangers. The students celebrated.
"You have all earned the badge of honor. That is to graduate from the Wind Ninja Academy." Sensei spoke, looking down at the eight students he had the honor of guiding throughout the year. "I could not be more proud of you. For the sacrifices you have made for your school. And, indeed, for your planet. The world is a better place because of you."
The eight celebrated, hugging and cheering for each other.
"So, when do you leave?" Tori asked, glancing over at Blake. It had been a few hours since the eight graduated. The party was in a big swing. It wasn't often that the ninja academies got to mingle, so the celebration of the Rangers and return of the Guardians was definitely a big deal.
"We start testing next week." Blake answered, guiding the two through the empty parts of the Wind Academy. "My first race is in a month."
Tori smiled. "You must be really psyched."
"Yeah. It's great. So…uh, you think you wanna come out and watch me sometime?"
"Yeah, I'm all over it."
"Hunter!"
It was too late. The Crimson ninja had already tumbled down to where his younger brother and former teammate were walking. "I can't believe it." He smiled crookedly. "Sensei Omino just asked me to be the Head teacher at the Thunder Academy."
"That's great!" Tori smiled.
Blake clapped hands with Hunter. "Right on." He grinned. He turned to where Crystal was standing. "And what of the Guardians?"
"What about us?" Crystal moved down to them. "Oh, Sensei Hamato has asked that Lucy and I take over as Masters of the Eclipse Academy. Of course, Lucy had to finish high school and then she can start."
"Just because I'm younger than everyone, doesn't mean you have to point it out." Lucy joined in front of the top of the hill. "But yeah, one more year at Reefside High."
"That's amazing you two." Tori hugged Crystal, swaying side to side with her.
Shane and Dustin walked up behind the four while Lucy made her way down. "Hey, you guys ready to do this?" Shane asked.
Crystal and Lucy stood with Cam, watching new students make their way into the Wind Academy. It would be a long process to see if anyone had what it takes to be thunder or Eclipse ninjas, but it was a challenge that the three returning ninjas were ready for.
"Keep it moving." Cam ordered, watching the ninjas file in. "New student check in is over there."
"You're joking." Lucy breathed.
Marah and Kapri stood at the entrance of the Academy. Marah was in orange and Kapri in pink. "Hello, family, right?" Kapri asked.
"Hey Cam, we really need to talk about these outfits. Because they make my butt look really big."
"Not as big as your head."
"My head is not big!" Marrah protested, moving away from the entrance.
Sensei moved over to the three standing there. "It's a shame one cannot chooses one's family."
Cam smirked. "I'm just glad I don't have to feed my guinea pig food anymore."
"Wait!" A voice yelled from the opposite side. The three kids that Crystal saw at the US Action Games appeared, all in ninja uniforms this time.
"You three?" Crystal asked hands on her hips.
"Ninjas dude." One boy spoke.
Lucy turned her head, eyebrows scrunching. He looked like…Conner McKnight. The Guardian groaned. Great. She was going to have to deal with Conner's brother and probably him next year.
The blonde turned to him. "No one says dude anymore."
"Yes they do." Th there moved off.
Cam sighed. "Dad, I don't think I have it in me to do this all over again."
"Then perhaps," Sensei smiled at the three. "We should leave their training to the three new teachers." Shane, Dustin, and Tori walked up, all wearing the gear of the Wind teachers. "A happy ending is nothing more than new beginning. Besides, one should never break up a winning team."
"Damn straight."
"Crystal, you can't say that anymore!" Lucy laughed.
Finally, it was over. The battle for good and evil ended that very day. It was tough to say farewell to the powers we had known for over a year. But we knew that it was temporary, for everything that we had learned and had been through brought us closer together as a team. Nevertheless, it left behind a legacy of power.
One that will never be forgotten.
Lucy glances up from her spot on the bench, away from her journal. She closed the journal before her, sighing as she finished the final chapter. Her eyes watch the Eclipse students in front of her. Finally, she rises, moving further in the Academy.
It was time for the next chapter of her life.
The Guardians will return in… Dino Thunder: Return of the Eclipse
Oh my gods, we're finished. Thank you to everyone who was encouraging through the entirety of this book. I really could not have done it without you guys. and I promise that I will be better at posting the next one.
Until then, December's Phoenix, signing off.
