Once A Ranger, Forever A Hero
Chapter 4 – The Ties That Bind
It had been a normal day at the Wind Academy. Blake and Hunter were visiting and all the students were abuzz about the upcoming break that they were supposed to have. All in all, it was peaceful and the Ninja Storm rangers were content to sit with Sensei, have some tea, chat and just be. However, the serenity was broken by sudden screaming and fire erupting near one of the training areas. "What the hell is that?" Shane jumped to his feet.
"SENSEIS! SENSEIS!" One of the students, a young woman named Jessica whom Cam was seeing, came brokenly running to them. She was a mess; dirt and mud was smeared all over her uniform which was also ripped and there were fine trails of blood at the side of her head.
"JESSICA!" Cam rushed forward to catch her as she nearly collapsed to the ground. "What happened? What's going on?"
"Some kind of…creature," she said weakly. "I was with Marah and Kapri at the training ground when it attacked. It went after everyone but it seemed focused on us."
"Where are Marah and Kap?" Dustin asked urgently. "Did they get away?"
Jessica shook her head, starting to lose consciousness, "Told me to get you…stayed to fight."
"We have to get over there right now," Hunter turned his eyes to the fire. "Right. Now."
"I'll take Jessica in and get the morphers," Cam took her in his arms. "You guys go ahead, I'll be right behind you."
Just then there was another explosion and the ground trembled ominously. "You had better go with them Cam," Sensei took Jessica from him. "I'll bring the morphers. GO!"
The rangers took off, ninja streaking to the site of the destruction and were in awe from the second they landed. It was impossible to believe one monster had done this itself. The ground was scorched, turning the emerald grass into pitch-black ash. There were large craters and trenches carved into the ground and the surrounding tree were either gone or broken in half. There were a few bodies strewn the ground but they did not have to time to check on anyone. There was another blast and a terrifyingly familiar voice shrieked nearby. "MARAH!" Dustin shouted running straight towards it, the rest right with him.
"Dustin!"
"Hunter!" another shouted.
"Kap! We're here! We're coming!" The team broke through into another clearing and spotted Marah and Kapri crouched on the ground, struggling to stand, the monster a short distance away. They got over to the girls and helped them up before turning their attention to the creature. It looked like a deformed lizard that stood upright. All of its features were strangely proportioned and it was covered in thick green-black scales and black frill down it's back. Its clothes were so torn and tattered that they were indiscernible but somehow rang familiar with the team. It stared at them intently, looking at each one in turn.
"What is that?!" Tori asked.
"I think it's -" Kapri started but that thing cut her off.
"Rangers," it growled. "Good to see you again."
"Do we know you?" Blake eyed it warily.
"What? Do you not like the improvements? Such a strange thing to be exposed to, dinosaur DNA," The creature held up a hand and flexed its fingers.
"Dinosaur DNA?" Cam repeated. "You mean like Mesagog?"
"Quick on the uptake as always nephew," it chuckled and the rangers were stunned.
"That's not possible," Shane shook his head.
"Oh but it is," the creature casually flicked that same hand and an enormous laser blast flew out, striking the ground near them and they scrambled to move out of the way. "It's very possible."
"Lothor," Blake breathed.
"Rangers," Sensei arrived bearing the morphers.
"Hello brother," Lothor greeted and Sensei staggered.
"No…."
"Yes."
"Kiya," Sensei was stricken. "What have you done to yourself?"
"My name is Lothor," he growled dangerously. "I can't take credit for this one. Mesagog had me trapped in a jar in his lab when the whole place exploded. I was free but the surrounding chemicals doused me and I became this."
"Different body but the same ending," Shane countered. The rangers strapped on their morphers.
"Thank you Sentinel Knight," Tori nodded and the rangers fell into line. "Ready?"
"Ready," the others chanted back.
"That won't be necessary," Lothor forestalled them. "For now at least. I didn't come here to fight you rangers."
"You have a funny way of showing it," Dustin gestured around at the carnage.
"I was merely proving a point," Lothor dismissed. "I came here for you two." He turned to Marah and Kapri. "I'm going to give you only one chance. I'm going back. I am willing to forgive you and take you with me however choose to stay and when we return, you will perish with the rest of them."
The rangers were confused but Marah and Kapri paled. They both looked at the rangers with genuine fear in their eyes. "No." Kapri said finally not taking her eyes off of Hunter. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Neither am I," Marah concurred. "This is our home now."
"What!?" Lothor bellowed. "Did you understand what you're saying? Do you know what happened to Thrax?"
"We know," Kapri replied with a steely tone. "And we've made our choice."
"After everything that's happened and you stay with them," Lothor spat. "He will ensure you get what you deserve." With that, he took out a remote and pressed a button. Lothor disappeared in a swirling void of energy and all eyes were Marah and Kapri. The sisters were visibly distraught and shaking.
"Guys what's going on?" Shane asked. "Where did Lothor go?"
"Is he going to someone?" Blake
"And why Lothor did mention Thrax?" Tori added. "What's he got to do with anything?"
Marah stopped them, "Okay, okay we'll tell you everything but first, we have to call the Dinos."
A/N: DUN DUN DUN, hey guys. So I came up with this really weird mythos/backstory for this but I'm totally loving it and hope you guys will too. Until next time, ENJOY! R&R PLZ!
