Death Duel at Mt. Fuji

Spider-Man leaped off the rock and attacked! He kicked the Red Ranger in the chest, sending him flying into the water! Spider-Man blocked the Blue Ranger's dagger and punched him, sending him flying into the Pink Ranger! The Black Ranger reconfigured his dagger into a gun and fired at their assailant! Spider-Man leaped out of the way and reached for the Spider Bracelet. "Spider Strings!", he yelled, and a line of web shot out of the Spider Bracelet! He used the web to pull the gun away from the Black Ranger! With the gun in his hand, Spider-Man fired, driving the other Rangers back! But then, the Red Ranger kicked the gun out of his hand and punched Spider-Man, sending him into a tree trunk! Then, he turned his arm into a sword glowing with blue energy and started to slice at Spider-Man, who dodged the attack! The other Power Rangers tried to attack, but then, Spider-Man yelled: "Spider Net"! A net flew out of the Spider Bracelet, trapping the other Rangers! Spider-Man dodged a strike from the sword, then kicked the Red Ranger in the face! The Red Ranger tried to thrust the sword forward, but Spider-Man knocked the blade away and punched the Red Ranger in the face! But then, the other Rangers broke free and all five kicked Spider-Man, knocking him down. "What should we do with him?", asked the Yellow Ranger. Before anyone could answer, a red and white car with a yellow spoiler and pincers on the front bumper drove and knocked the Red and Black Rangers away! Spider-Man leaped into the Spider Machine GP-7 and drove into the air. "Holy cow, that car can fly!", cried the Pink Ranger. The Marveller flew out of Lake Saiko and the Spider Machine GP-7 docked inside of it. "We need Dino Zord power, now!", said the Red Ranger.

Spider-Man chuckled to himself, when he suddenly saw the Dino Zords appear in a flash of rainbow light! "So that's how it's going to be, eh?", said Spider-Man, "OK, then. Marveller, change Leopardon!" Suddenly, the leopard head on the Marveller opened up to unveil a humanoid head with golden crest attached to a black helmet. The forward thrusters folded out a pair of outstretched arms, and the rear wings folded up and became legs, Leopard then landed on the ground, ready for battle! The robot let out a cry that sounded like a hybrid of a beeping computer and a human shriek. "Shield!", cried Spider-Man, and a large, golden spider-web shield emerged from the robot's left arm. Leopardon used to block tank shells fired by the Triceratops Zord, then kicked the blue dinosaur tank! As the Saber-Tooth Tiger leaped at it, Leopardon grabbed it by the neck and tossed it into the Mastodon Zord! Leopardon then punched the Tyrannosaurus Zord in the face! "Alright, guys, let's bring it together!", said the Red Ranger. The Power Rangers then brought their Zords together. The Triceratops and Saber-Tooth Tiger crouched down and attached to the Tyrannosaur's knees, with the Mastodon's head attaching to its chest and the back legs becoming massive guns that rested beside each side of the Tyrannosaur's head. The Mega Tank then fired to massive laser blasts, knocking Leopardon into the rocky cliffs! "Arch Turn!", cried Spider-Man. Leopardon stretched out his arms, and the golden crest starting glowing. It flew off the helmet and hit the Mega Tank! Leopardon stood ready as the Mega Tank stopped. "Alright, let's go to Battle Mode", said the Black Ranger. "Alright", said the other Rangers. The gun barrels folded up and became arms. Then, the tank stood up as the heads of the Triceratops and Saber-Tooth Tiger folded at right angles. The Tyrannosaur head folded into a secret compartment as the Pterodactyl Zord folded its wings and head and became the chest piece that fitted onto the Megazord as its horns folded outward!

(Power Rangers Metal Cover-Jonathan Young)

"Arm Rockets", cried Spider-Man. Suddenly, Leopardon's fists flew off its wrists and knocked the Megazord over! The fists flew back on as Leopardon readied its deadliest attack. "Leopardon, Sword of Vigor", said Spider-Man, and Leopardon pulled a massive sword out of its holster. It lit up with blue energy, and Leopardon threw it! But then, the Megazord caught the sword with both hands! "Impossible", said Spider-Man, "That should have destroyed it instantly!" The Megazord tossed the sword back to Leopardon. Suddenly, out the clouds came a sword glowing with lightning. The Megazord picked up the sword and prepared to fight.

Elsewhere, Walter Simmons as getting off a train near his office, when suddenly, he got a call. "Talk to me, Kenji", he said, "What? Both of them? No, no, I'm going to my office now. Send me the video". Walter rushed into the elevator, and as soon as the doors opened, he walked into his office and caught the live footage of the Megazord and Leopardon engaging in a sword duel. "Magnificent", smiled Walter.

Leopardon blocked a sword strike and slammed the Megazord with its shield! But then, the Megazord used the mastodon shield to slash at the side of Leopardon! Leopardon roundhouse kicked the Megazord, then thrusted its sword forward! The Megazord used the tusks of the mastodon shield to knock the sword away! But before it could attack further, Leopardon smashed its shield against the Megazord's chest! "Alright, Power Rangers,", said the Red Ranger, "Let's give this guy all we've got!" The Megazord then fired its laser vision! But Leopardon fired its own laser vision, starting a beam struggle! The Megazord and Leopardon both kept powering up, until the combined energies of the lasers exploded, sending both robots flying! Leopardon landed in the lake, while the Megazord crashed into the rocks! Taking the opportunity, Leopardon turned back into the Marveller and flew off. "Damn!", said the Pink Ranger. "He got away", lamented the Blue Ranger.

As Spider-Man flew off, he got a call from Detective Mamiya. "I saw a live-stream of the fight", said Mamiya, "What happened?" "The Power Rangers happened", said Spider-Man, "All five them and I engaged in a scuffle. I only just barely got away". "What do you think they're up to?", asked Mamiya. "I don't know", said Spider-Man, "I only know that they somehow detected the energy signal given off by the Marveller". "Well, did you see anything that could identify them?", asked Mamiya. "No, but I did hear the Yellow Ranger speak", said Spider-Man, "If I hear her in her civilian identity, I might be able to track the rest of them". "How can you be so sure?", asked Mamiya. "She spoke with an accent that isn't a apart of any Japanese dialect", said Spider-Man, "Rest assured, I will find them again".

The next day, the Power Rangers changed back to their civilian forms and put on their formal attire for the peace conference. "OK", said Jason as he put on his red tie, "Does everyone have their responses memorized?" "You know it", said Trini as she pulled on the blazer for her yellow pant-suit. The five teens got into the limo and drove to the Tokyo Midtown Hall and Conference Center. "Hey", said Billy, "Where's Mr. Simmons?" "Work related things", said an assistant, "He apologizes for missing out, but these things require a delicate approach". The limo stopped at the conference center and the five teens were lead to a panel as their names were announced in both English and Japanese. Jason noticed several people with cameras. "We're on TV, fellas", he said, "Let's make a good impression." "Hi, Mom", smiled Zack as he flashed the peace sign. This earned him a few chuckles from the audience before the teens took their seats. "We've got this, right?", asked Kimberly. "What could go wrong?", asked Billy. "OK", said the MC, a woman with dyed, red hair, glasses, a white blouse and black skirt, and an intense stare, "Our first series of questions pertain to the role of the Power Rangers". To say the five teens were floored would be an understatement.

Meanwhile, at a remote testing facility in Okinawa, Detective Mamiya put on an Apex uniform and began to sneak in. He made his way into the office and tripped into another worker. "Watch it", said the worker as Mamiya awkwardly walked off. Mamiya smiled to himself as he used the access card he took off the worker to open a door to the control room, where a Latina woman with long brown hair, black skirt, and brown blazer over a green business shirt was waiting. "You're late", she said. "It's getting harder to break in, Melanie", said Mamiya, "Luckily, my friend should be here in a moment". Suddenly, an air duct burst open and Spider-Man leaped down. "Jesus, you scared me", said Melanie. "Oh, I forgot to introduce you two", said Mamiya, "Melanie Sheer, the man who breaks air vents, Spider-Man. Spider-Man, Apex liaison, Melanie Sheer". Spider-Man gave her a bow. "So this is the Emissary from Hell?", asked Melanie. "There is no other", said Spider-Man. "OK", said Mamiya, "You said you had something to show us?". Melanie smiled and booted up the main computer.

"What are looking at here?", asked Spider-Man. "What we have here are some documents I found while doing due diligence for Mr. Simmons", said Melanie, "Check it out. We have shipping manifests, lab results, hell, we even have orders for defensive weapons". "Why?", asked Mamiya. "That's what I want to know", said Melanie, "All I know is that they're being shipped to Osaka and from there to Tokyo". "You think the terrorists might attack the convoy carrying them?", asked Spider-Man. "That's what I'm trying to tell you", said Melanie, "I think the attacks are a diversion. Something bigger is going down". Suddenly, the building was rocked by an explosion! "What was that?", asked Mamiya. "Security breach", said Melanie, "Looks like one of them is making an escape". "What is?", asked Mamiya. "I don't know, some kind of tree thing", said Melanie, "If were your friend, I'd probably..." She then noticed that Spider-Man had disappeared.

Security guards tried to shoot at the escaping monster, a man-tree hybrid with long branches growing out of its back. The tree monster knocked them all back with extending vines, but then, Spider-Man leaped over and used his webs to tie up the monster's feet! But then, the tree beast broke free and punched Spider-Man into a wall! Before the beast could attack, Mamiya appeared and took a gun. He fired several lasers at the tree monster, killing it instantly! "Thanks", said Spider-Man. "We're partners, right?", smiled Mamiya. Just then, Spider-Man noticed something. "Wait a minute", he said as he pointed to the dead beast's shoulder, which had a V2 tattoo, "If this is V2, where's V1?" "Guys", said Melanie over Mamiya's radio, "We have a situation in Tokyo. Another monster has escaped". "Where's it headed?", asked Mamiya. "To the Tokyo Midtown Hall and Conference Center", said Melanie. "That's where Hitomi is", said Spider-Man.

Hitomi brushed her black hair out of her face before snapping a picture of the five teens as the answered debate questions. "So, I'm confused", said the MC, "Why exactly do you think the Power Rangers, a non-governmental superpower, should be allowed to keep military grade weapons on their person?" "In case something worse shows up", said Trini bluntly. "Expand on that", said the MC. "You've seen what Rita did to Angel Grove", said Trini, "Had the Power Rangers not been there, it could have been a whole lot worse. Keep in mind, we don't know for certain that she's the only hostile alien out there. Having the Power Rangers around is, like, the planet's way of telling those guys to back off". "Well said", said Jason. "I agree", said the MC. "I don't", said a voice. Everyone turned to see a tall, bulky fellow in a fedora and trenchcoat approach. Suddenly, the hat and coat were shredded as the man threw several spear-like thorns at the five teens, who all dodged the attack! Everyone screamed and ran away as the tree monster stepped forward. "Who the hell do you think you are?", asked the MC. "I am Machine Bem Groot", said the tree monster, "and I'm going to kill you!"

Stay tuned...