Chapter 19 Inner Beauty

Myndor has advised the Rangers to continue their day as normal teenagers well at least three of the Rangers anyway, he will tell them when the time is right to search for the lost star gems, but for now they must stay to protect their city from Dragonlord's monsters. Jesse stands at her locker looking in and getting some needed books for her first hour class, she's wearing a black jean skirt and a pink blouse with white comforter shoes, she glances at herself in a mirror she put up on the inside of her locker's door, and as she does this she sighs as she looks at a pimple that had recently developed on her left cheek.

Jesse-Oh I can't believe it. It's still here.

Her friend Nakia walks up to her, and she is wearing a bright yellow shirt with white jeans and black tennis shoes. Jesse doesn't notice Nakia behind her and looking at her wondering what she's complaining about. Jesse turns around and is startled, she says.

Jesse-Nakia! Jeez don't sneak up on me like that.

Nakia-Sorry,. I wasn't sneaking up on you. I was just walking by and decided to say hi this morning.

Jesse-Well that's rare, you hardly ever talk to me anymore.

Nakia-I know and I'm sorry. I have been really busy.

Jesse sighs. And all of a sudden Nakia notices the semi large pink pimple on Jesse's left cheek, she says.

Nakia-Hey you've got a pimple?

Jesse gets frantic.

Jesse-What?! You noticed it?!

Nakia-You can't help but notice it. It's not exactly invisible you know.

Jesse-Oh man, I was hoping it would of went away by this morning.

Nakia-What's the big deal? Just go use something when you get home to help get rid of it.

Jesse-You don't understand Nakia. I have been waiting all week for Jared to ask me out and now when he see's my pimple he won't even look twice at me again.

Nakia-Oh don't even go there. Jared likes you. I know he does.

Jesse-Yes he may like me but he won't ask me out. What guy would?

Nakia-Jesse don't be so hard on yourself. If he treats you differently because you have a pimple then well he's not really worth your time. And anyway it doesn't matter what's outside, it's what's on the inside that counts.

Jesse sighs again.

Nakia-Hurry up and get your books, class will start in a few minutes.

Jesse-I know.

Dragonlord gets an image from the eye of Cawdor as he stands staring into the cauldron and thinking of a way to get more energy so that Sinistar will be able to return. The image is of Jesse and Nakia, and with Jesse complaining about how she looks simply because she has a pimple an evil idea stirs up in Dragonlord's mind.

Dragonlord-Hmm I have the perfect idea that will ensure Sinistar's return.

Skylark appears and asks.

Skylark-What's your idea?

Dragonlord-That girl doesn't know it yet.

He points to the image of Jesse.

Dragonlord-But her problem is about to get worse.

Dragonlord's eyes glow green as he begins to extract his power through his claws and into the cauldron, he then says.

Dragonlord-With this flash of dark energy fill her mind and body with an essence capable of draining energy the moment another human looks at her pimple, and with this energy shall she transform slowly into a monster.

Skylark laughs evilly.

Dragonlord-This time we won't fail.

Nakia gets impatient and tells Jesse that she'll meet her in class, so she leaves. Jesse is still worried about her pimple, so she looks into her mirror again and as soon as she does a blast of green energy emerges from the mirror and strikes Jesse, and very quickly the energy begins to surge through her body, when its complete Jesse says.

Jesse-What in the world.. Ugh! I feel kind of sick.

Jesse takes out the rest of her needed books and closes her locker, she shrugs off the event and walks over to her first hour class, when she makes it she isn't even close to the door of the classroom when one of her classmates by the name of Marie notices her pimple and says with a smart remark.

Marie-Eww, like that's totally going to ruin your social life.

She laughs and walks a bit past Jesse. A second later Marie is found face down on the cold school floor. Jesse doesn't notice anything she just walks into her classroom. But when she sits down a strand of her hair turns gray.

Dragonlord witnesses this and becomes very happy. Skylark asks as she becomes puzzled.

Skylark-There's one thing I don't understand.

Dragonlord-What is it?

Skylark-Why is a part of her going to change when she unnoticeably drains another human's energy?

Dragonlord-Simple, that way she will be totally under my control and return here with the energy.

Skylark-Oh I see. Brilliant.

Dragonlord-Mmm yes..

Soon voices are heard outside of the classroom and everyone rushes to see that Marie has been knocked out cold. She is taken away and sent to the hospital. Jesse tries her best to conceal her pimple due to it making her feel embarrassed but nothing really works. When she holds up her hand in attempt to hide it the teacher tells her to put her hand down, she does since she really doesn't have a choice.

Back in the hospital, Mike, the registered nurse assigned to a patient who's really the evil sorceress Sinistar looks upon his job as not easy and with worriment. He sits in the room and in the usual chair as he watches the unknown woman lying there peacefully or so it seems. He thinks about Dr. Keyes recommendation about him taking time off, maybe it all was just a dream he thinks, but it seemed way too real to be a dream. He sits and thinks all to himself and doesn't let a single thought slip his mind.

Hours pass and many students and teachers pass out at Terra Falls High School. Nakia looks at her friend Jesse during lunch, but she doesn't look at her pimple, no, she just looks at her right in the eyes, she notices the dramatic change in Jesse's appearance, she now has a head filled with gray hair, a long crooked nose with a wart on the end, and her hands have seemed to change as well, her eyes are dark marbles with absolutely no white out rings and all she seems to be interested in is eating her lunch as they walk in and sit down in the cafeteria. Nakia says to Jesse without looking at her pimple which really isn't very hard to miss.

Nakia-Jesse?

Jesse says in a loud scrunchy voice.

Jesse-Yeah?!

Nakia-Um, what happened to you? Halloween isn't for a long while.

Jesse-What are you talking about? For some reason I feel better than ever!

Nakia-Huh? Well you surely don't look it.

Jesses-Huh?

Nakia-Look in a mirror.

Jesse gets insulted by Nakia's remark.

Jesse-Look in a mirror!? How dare you say that to me. I'm not ugly! You said yourself this morning that I was making too much of a deal because of a pimple which seems to have not bothered me since I went to first hour.

Nakia-Seriously Jesse, if you look in a mirror you will understand what I'm saying.

Jesse-Bah!

Skylark alerts Dragonlord of Jesse's transformation. He looks into the cauldron and see's but says.

Dragonlord-No, she's not finished yet.

Skylark-The Yellow Power Ranger is sitting right next to her, and she's looking at her, why isn't her energy flowing through your creations body?

Dragonlord-Its obvious that she isn't looking at her original facial disfiguration! But that doesn't really bother me, she needs to gather more energy so that we can transfer it to Sinistar and create a portal for her return.

Skylark scuffs and says with less enthusiasm.

Skylark-Yes of course.

Time passes on and Jesse completely changes as she leaves the school building to go home, she drops her books and starts moaning and groaning. A few seconds later Ryan, Nakia and Zelda leave the building and notice her lying on the grass in pain. Nakia rushes over to her.

Nakia-Jesse are you okay?

Jesse pushes Nakia away and reveals how even more hideous she looks, Nakia gasps.

Nakia-What is this?!

Tichuba-I am not "Jesse." Oh no. I'm the witch Tichuba! And I am here to return all of this fresh energy that flows within my body!

Nakia-Oh no, not again!

Nakia backs away and into Zelda and Ryan.

Zelda-Another monster.

Nakia-No, she's not, that's Jesse.

Zelda-Jesse?

Nakia-Yeah, those evil creeps must of did something to her!

Ryan-That's obvious.

Nakia-Well we've got to help her!

Tichuba is in a long black robe, she opens it only to reveal that the rest of her body is nothing more than a smoky cloud filled with lots of human energy. She laughs out loud and says.

Tichuba-You are powerless to stop me! All of you!

Nakia pleads.

Nakia-Jesse this isn't you! You've got to fight to the evil!

Tichuba-Jesse's not here right now! Sorry! But I must deal with you before I can return my master, you will pay for your interference Rangers!

They gasp.

Nakia-We have no choice, we've got to save those people and Jesse.

Zelda-Right!

Nakia, Ryan and Zelda materialize their morphers but Tichuba sends out a huge cloud of dusty stinging spores, the cloud covers the three and starts stinging and choking them. The evil witch laughs and says.

Tichuba-How do you like my new remedy for removing your beauty? Hahaha!

The cloud disappears and the three find themselves looking really old and ugly but with the same bodies. The witch then says.

Tichuba-Now give me your energy!

Just as she is about to attack both the Black and Blue Rangers leap in to the rescue, they land in front of their friends and quickly materialize their weapons, they both rush over to her and strike her with the blue trident and black cannon, and soon when she falls the ugly spell becomes broken and releases Nakia, Zelda and Ryan. They all make sure they are their normal selves again and soon they morph and become the Yellow, Pink and Red Star Force Power Rangers.

The witch stands up as the Yellow Ranger steps forward.

Yellow Ranger-We can't hurt her, she's still Jesse.

Dragonlord watches from the temple and says.

Dragonlord-Yes my spell is finally complete and now Tichuba will destroy the Rangers!

Skylark-You hope.

Dragonlord growls.

Back at the school, the evil witch releases many dark energetic bombs, the bombs hit the Rangers and cause them all to be flung up in a hoard of flames, they land on their backs in pain. The Yellow Ranger groans out again and reaches for her friend who's under a heavy spell. Soon all of the Rangers stands up and preparing themselves to protect the area and save the captured people.

Tichuba comes up with an idea, she creates beings of ugliness, in ghostly forms of tortured beings, she calls them the ugly ghouls of pain.

Tichuba-My ghouls will take your energy for me! Haha!

Wailing and moaning are heard from the ghouls of pain, the Power Rangers stand their ground as all of the ghouls head over to them. They soon spread out and the Pink Ranger does a kick but it goes right through one of the ghouls, she gasps and says.

Pink Ranger-Huh?

The others try to fight and they too fail, the ghouls strike them badly and as they touch them they start draining the Ranger's energy .. Before all is lost the Power Rangers hear the voice of Myndor within their minds.

Myndor-Rangers the simple answer to solving this problem is look deep within your hearts and find that spot capable of releasing this spell, believe in yourself and remove the ghouls from this planet.

The Power Rangers think and look deep within their hearts, there they find a spot of which they can harness within themselves. A pack of ghouls head over to the Rangers once again as they spread out to now fight them with inner strenght.

The Red Ranger says immediately.

Red Ranger-I hold the power of a true and brave heart. The Firebird ignites my courage.

His body soon starts to glow for he has found his inner beauty and inner strength. He quickly materializes his sword and slashes through a band of ghouls, they scream out in agony and disappear quickly.

The Black Ranger says as he prepares himself.

Black Ranger-I hold the power of a noble and kind being. The Centaur provides me with great strength.

He materializes his cannon as his body glows brightly, he then uses his cannon and rips through his threatening enemies.

Next, the Yellow Ranger says.

Yellow Ranger-I hold the power of a striking but sweet love. The Hydra surrounds me with an aggressive caring power.

Her body glows Yellow and soon she materializes her daggers and with a few slashes and strike she vaporizes her threatening enemies.

The Pink Ranger is next to find her inner beauty spot, she then says.

Pink Ranger-I hold the power of soaring kindness. The hawk mentors me to show a snapping understanding.

She glows Pink and materializes her bow, she then releases a band of heavy arrows towards her enemies and sends them back to where they came from.

And last but not least, the Blue Ranger says as he glows brightly blue.

Blue Ranger-I hold the power of aquatic knowledge and peace. The dolphin shows me the light of the heart.

He materializes his trident and destroys the last of the ghouls.

The Rangers, now all glowing regroup and form their ultimate weapon, they feel that this will help return Jesse to normal, they fire a gentle blast which hovers over the witch and soon overpowers her, she screams out in agony as the ugly and evil soul leaves Jesse's body along with the captured energy. Eventually the energy returns to all of the rightful owners. Jesse is found returned to normal as she falls onto the green grass. The Yellow Ranger rushes over to her and holds her up a bit, she asks.

Yellow Ranger-Are you okay?

Jesse responds.

Jesse-Yes, what happened?

Yellow Ranger-You're back to normal now.

Jesse feels around her face and touches her pimple.

Jesse-Oh my pimple is still there. I thought it was all a dream.

Yellow Ranger-Hey sometimes it takes a bit of your inner strenght to destroy something on the outside of yourself that's bothering you.

Jesse-Yeah, either that or Noxzema.

Jesse chuckles.

Back at the temple, Dragonlord is mocked by Skylark.

Skylark-Oh yes you had a perfect plan, who would of thought that the Rangers wouldn't win this one! It was a weak plan!

Dragonlord-No it wasn't! They had help! My plan almost worked!

Skylark-Who cares anyway, I say we leave Sinistar where she is.

Dragonlord-What?

Skylark-Leave her where she is. And we rule this world!

Dragonlord-You don't know what you're saying.

Skylark-Oh yes I do. And.

She says to herself.

Skylark-Even if I have to make sure myself. Sinistar will stay where she is! Ha!