Disclaimers
All characters appearing in IDW comics and Hasbro are the property of their respective owners. No infringements of these copyrights are intended and are not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters and concepts are the property of Celgress.
Special thanks to my creative consultant Gaara King of the Sands who helped me flesh out this premise.
And to SpecialK92 who has enthusiastically embraced this idea. Thanks to SpecialK92, I've expanded my concept for the original premise extensively enriching what I have planned for this story.
Power Rangers Upended Fate – Chapter Five: A New Era Beings
By
Celgress
Hart Residence Angel Grove, evening
'This will work. It has to work.' Kimberly mentally told herself. "Here goes nothing." She said aloud. Using her computer she video phoned her best friend in the whole wide world, Trini Kwan. It took several agonizingly long minutes before Trini answered. The wait was so long Kim was about to give up when the tired face of Trini appeared.
"Hi, Kim, wazzup?" Trini said stiffing a yawn.
"Hi, Trini, sorry I know it's late there, nothing much." Kim lied. "How are things where you are?"
"Same old same old," Trini said. "The UN school here is cool and all but I sure do miss Angel Grove."
"Why don't you return, you and the guys?" Kim said.
"I would but I'm about to graduate, same for Jason. Zack has already graduated. He's going to start pre-med in less than a month." Trini said.
"Wow, Zack will be a doctor. He never struck me as the medical type." Kim said genuinely excited for her friend.
"Yeah, me either," Trini said. "Zack really buckled down after the peace conference. He decided he could do more good as a doctor than a diplomat, I guess."
"Sounds like Zack got frustrated," Kim said with a mild frown.
"He did," Trini confirmed. "At the peace conference, he found out directly battling bad guys was a lot easier than negotiating treaties. He said he's done with the kind of heroics we did as Rangers he wants to concentrate on other ways of helping people."
"What about you and Jason, how do you two feel about fighting the good fight in a more head-on fashion?" Kim probed.
"We still do what we can. We haven't become disillusioned liked Zack if that is what you're asking." Trini said. Her face brightened considerably when she spotted something shiny on her best friend's hand. "Nice, you have a new ring."
"Oh, this little thing," Kim said coyly flashing the small diamond at Trini.
"I know you don't wear much jewelry so it must be special. Where did you get it?" Trini asked. She was thankful for the change of subject to something happier.
"Tommy gave it to me. It's a promise ring." Kim said grinning all the while.
"No way," Trini exclaimed with a huge grin of her own. "So, when are you getting officially engaged?"
"After we graduate this coming summer," Kim said. "My dad is being a sourpuss. He won't let me get engaged until I'm eighteen or I've graduated whichever comes first. I don't think he's gotten over the divorce. It was rough on him especially after mom moved to France to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer." Kim decided to change the subject. She hated talking about her parents it was one thing she had been unable to change, if for no other reason than she was not sent back in time quite far enough to address that problem. "Enough about me and Tommy, how are you and Jason doing?"
Now it was Trini's turn to frown. "We could be doing better." She admitted.
"Wait a minute, aren't you guys going steady anymore?" Kim said with a note of concern.
"We were going steady until Jason said we should 'cool things down'. He was afraid if we break up it would 'ruin our friendship'." Trini huffed crossing her arms over her chest.
"I see," Kim said. "Do you still love him?"
"Of course, I love him. How could you ask me that? I love him so much, I wish we were the ones getting engaged, not you and Tommy." Trini snapped then quickly amended her statement. "I'm sorry, Kim. I shouldn't take my anger out on your good fortune with Tommy."
"It's alright," Kim said. "Have you told Jason how you feel?"
"No," Trini admitted. She grumbled. "I wish he was as romantic as Tommy. If Jason asked me to marry him I'd say yes in a heartbeat."
Kim considered the situation for a few moments then she said snapping her fingers. "Why don't you asked him to marry you?"
"Are you serious?" Trini said wide-eyed.
"Completely," Kim said. "It's the twenty-first-century girlfriend. Girls can propose to guys you know."
"What if he says no?" Trini said her words full of trepidation.
"What if he says yes? You'll never know unless you ask," Kim said.
"Okay, I'm going for it. Wish me luck." Trini said after only a momentary hesitation.
"Before you go, I have something to ask you," Kim practically shouted.
Trini gave her bestie a stunned look. "What is it? It must be important if you are this upset."
"It is important, very important," Kim said. She explained to Trini about the Zeo Crystal and the upgraded power grid.
"The long and short of it is the Morphing Grid can now support ten rangers rather than its old maximum of six. We need two more new rangers. Tanya has already been chosen as the Orange Stegosaurus Ranger candidate but the Aquamarine Plesiosaurus Ranger and Magenta Spinosaurus Ranger slots are unfilled. Would you or Jason be interested in the positions? I can't think of anyone better suited for the positions, pun intended." Kim asked with a wink. She had been authorized by the others (including Zordon and Alpha) to make the offer.
"Wow, and here I thought I'd be the person making the life-changing offer today. I'll have to talk it over with Jason after I talk over the other thing. I'll keep you posted." Trini said.
"I'll be waiting, for news about both," Kim said pleased with her efforts.
The Island of Muiranthias, night
"Are you sure about this my evil cupcake?" Lord Zedd said gazing at the pit within the semi-active volcano. Zedd, Rita, and the Tengus with some effort had dispatched the native guardians of the cavern not long before.
"Yes, Zeddy," Queen Rita Repulsa said in her scratchy voice. "We need to avenge daddy."
"But to use a demon, my love. They are so, unpredictable. I know Finster claims this thing is our best chance, surely there must be another way?" Zedd lamented.
"Only a creature as overwhelmingly powerful as a demon can destroy these power pests. We have to make certain they perish. Daddy must be avenged!" Rita proclaimed stomping her foot like a petulant child. Zedd knew there was no reasoning with her when she got like this. "Oh, Maligore the Great Flame of Destruction we beseech you! Come forth help us conquer this pitiful world!" Rita chanted.
For a long time, nothing happened. Then a plume of smoke rose from the center of the cavern. Slowly the smoke coalesced into a towering transparent form that resembled a cross between Godzilla and a piece of granite with fiery red eyes.
"Who dares disturb my slumber?" Maligore rumbled.
"I am Rita Repulsa Queen of evil," Rita said.
"I am her husband Lord Zedd Emperor of evil." Lord Zedd said. "We want you to help us destroy our enemies the Power Rangers who protect this planet."
"I require massive amounts of energy if I am to be freed from my prison-tomb." Maligore rumbled. "Free me and I shall destroy these Power Rangers of which you speak before I lay wast to this world covering it in everlasting fire."
Zedd did not like the sound of this at all. He wanted to subjugate Earth not ruin it. Rita, on the other hand, was ecstatic to let this beast do as it so desired as long as she got her revenge.
"Okay, sounds good, we have a deal?" Rita asked hopefully.
"We have a deal, space witch." Maligore rumbled. "Drain the life force from enough creatures to free me and I vow your Power Rangers are dead."
"Splendid," Rita said clapping her hands together.
Teen Center Angel Grove the next day, morning
"Look who is officially engaged!" The social media notification buzzed on Kim's, Billy's, Tommy's & co's smartphones. Only Kat and Tanya (who did not yet possess such a device) were left out of the loop. The picture showed Trini and Jason hugging the pair were all smiles.
"I wonder who will make it to the alter first? Who wants to take bets?" Rocky teased earning himself a sharp elbow from his own girlfriend Aisha, "ouch!" Everyone laughed at his minor misfortune.
"Technically, Tommy and Kim are only engaged to be engaged so Jason and Trini have the edge in this race," Billy said showing Kat the notification on his smartphone.
"Only because my dad is old fashioned, so there," Kim said sticking her tongue out at Billy who gave her a good-natured shrug in return.
A second notification buzzed on the circle of friends' smartphones it read simply "you'll take the jobs". 'Everything is wonderful. I think I've done it, made the best world possible.' Kim thought happily while in the crowded booth everyone chatted with each other about the exciting news.
Kim and her friends failed to notice the two individuals who watched them intently. Seat a few booths away, a dark-skinned boy with long black hair and an East Asian looking girl with glasses committed everything they observed to memory. Goldar and Scorpina knew their master would want a full report. At present, their only responsibility was to covertly observe but take no action thus the human teenage forms they wore that had been conjured up by their master. When an occasional glance came their way they pretended to either be engrossed in their menus or to be engaged in ideal chit chat. There was no rush to do anything their master was playing the long game as he called it. They could wait.
To Be Continued
Author's Note -
The Magenta Ranger's coloration will be a dark shade of magenta so almost a burgundy. I went with magenta as not to confuse you my loyal readers when the Black Ranger and the Burgundy Ranger will be featured together in intense action scenes.
Author's Note Two -
While this chapter is a rather short one it does serve the purpose of setting up major events moving forward. The next two chapters will be slower-paced slice of life type outings. I need to do some world building and more character development before the action comes hot and heavy. I hope you my loyal readers both understand and have enjoyed this chapter for what it is. Until next time, farewell.
