CAST UPDATE:
Arum Ryder - Chase Ellison
Evan Morgan - Zachary Gordon
May 31st was there, and Summer was in full blast.
Alicia flipped through the Destiny Book inside HQ. It was late at night, and no one was around. Ignoring the dimmed lights and occasional flash of the main monitor screens, she chanted a spell over and over again. To her irritation, it hadn't worked at all.
"Incendia!" She commanded. A small ball of fire appeared in her hands, causing her eyes to widen with joy. Unfortunately, it exploded and sent smoke in her face. Jamming her eyes shut because of the sting, she backed away wiping up the escaping tears.
"What're you doing here so late?" Came Rachel's voice.
Sniffling then wiping her eyes one last time, Alicia turned around. "Oh, um... Hi, Rachel. I'm just practicing."
Alicia noticed that Rachel's clothes were a little ripped up. Her sword was clutched in her right hand. No doubt, she was fighting something or someone.
"You do know what time it is?" Rachel asked gently.
Alicia took a quick breath and shook her head. "I really don't actually..."
"3 AM."
Alicia wiped sweat from her forehead. "3 AM? Really?"
"You should get some sleep." Rachel suggested crossing her arms.
"I have to get this simple spell, though."
"It'll be here tomorrow."
"No, I need to get it done... It's important. Jared and Asher mastered this spell on their first few tries... The others? Ever since they got their second Spirits, their own Spell-casting abilities have improved so much."
Rachel sat down and motioned for Alicia to join her.
"It's not a competition."
"No, it's not that either." Alicia informed her friend, pulling her knees to her chest. "It's just, I feel singled out and useless."
"Have you talked to Bobby about it?"
"No, he's sick... It doesn't matter. I mean, I'd still feel this way..."
Rachel knew right away where this was going. "You feel inadequate because you still have one Spirit?"
"Yeah... Everyone is so strong and I'm just me..." Alicia looked over at the spell book with shaken eyes. "I'm a witch. I need to master the craft to help everyone."
As Alicia made her way back to the book, Rachel looked at the ground.
Memories of her days of training to be a Warrior flashed through her head...
Swinging a wooden sword, struggling to get up, seeing her brother's solid face... The aching muscles, smell of sweat and blood, feeling weak. Rachel looked back up to Alicia's determined face.
~ Cue Theme ~
Isis made her way down the hall of the Bount lair. The dim flames on the wall illuminated the ominous looking area. The smell of rotten wood intruded her nose.
Cringing she talked aloud. "How do humans deal with such horrible scents?"
She approached a giant pair of doors. These doors were bright crimson instead of dark cobalt like the rest of the lair.
Opening them, she entered her Master's main room.
"Master Natas, I have arrived."
Natas's face did not change nor react. "I trust you have a plan?"
"I do, my lord."
"Convey it for all of us to hear."
"All?" Isis studied the giant room. Natas sat in a big red chair that sat up against a tall window. Around him were shelves of books with floating candles. However, the room was exceptionally covered in darkness. Glowing eyes of different neon colors seemingly floated around her. They were her fellow Bounts.
"I require the assistance of Genji."
"Genji?"
"I could use his power. Where is he?"
"I'm afraid he fell off the grid last night."
Isis was shocked. Genji had always been the most reserved of all the Bounts. He practiced the most restraint when it came to violence and soul absorbing.
"What happened?"
Natas explained, "It seems Genji ran off into the night. For some reason he absorbed some human souls. The first time in over a century. I fear that because of his restraint, he is extremely thrilled with each kill."
Isis thought it over for a few moments. Then, she grinned.
"Actually, Master... That could work to my advantage."
~ Next Day, Bayview, Ryder House ~
The Rangers decided to take the day off by spending it in Noah's backyard. There was a massive in ground swimming pool with slides and ledges. The hot sun showered them with heat, but was no match for the cool rush of water. The Rangers, except Liam who was making food and Asher who sat on a chair, Cody, Arum and Alicia's younger brother Evan were in the pool while Daisy and May were in the Jacuzzi.
"Hey!" Arum called out. "Watch this!" He splashed up water and raised his hands. Letting mist release from his palms, he froze the water much to everyone's irritation.
"Arum!" Noah warned. He raised his own hands and stopped the icicles in mid air. Alicia squinted and made the icicles burst.
"Sorry..." Arum said bowing his head.
Noah swam over to him. "You're just lucky Evan did see anything!"
Evan and Arum were best friends and classmates in the rising Sophomore class AKA Class of 2016.
Arum nodded and swam to Evan and the two started to horse around.
"Careful!" Sonia called to the two as she laughed.
Jared and Cody were splashing each other while Alicia and Jules watched laughing with amusement.
Alicia looked over at a very bored Asher and called, "Come join us, Asher!"
"No thanks. Besides I should be working on-"
"-saving the future. We know! Take a day off!" Alicia beckoned.
"I am taking the day off." Asher huffed.
Sighing, Alicia went back to watching Jared and Cody wrestle.
Liam walked off the back porch and over to the ledge of the pool.
"Ok, guys! Food's ready!"
Everybody pulled themselves out of the water and dried themselves off.
Liam blasted some music as they all ate burgers and chips.
Jules nodded her head in delight. "Thanks for the food, Liam."
"No big deal."
Jared noticed something in the wind. It was ominous and bloodthirsty.
Cody saw this in Jared right away.
"Everything alright, Jared?" He asked his twin, patting his shoulder.
"I-" The ground started to shake violently.
"Earthquake!" Evan shouted.
"That's no Earthquake." Jules informed sensing it too. The pool water started to shift like crashing waves. The slides vibrated like the triangle instrument. Tables and chairs flopped over while Alicia and Noah threw themselves over their respective siblings. Cody grabbed his younger twin and shielded him.
The shaking ceased and the neighbor from next door screeched.
A howling laughter followed as the screaming was cut off.
"Get inside." Asher said to the kids and Cody. "Now!"
"What're you gonna do?!" Cody protested.
Jared ordered, "Go inside and stay with those kids! We're getting help."
As soon as they knew they weren't being watched, the Rangers materialized their morphers.
"Spirit Legend, Awaken!"
The seven jumped over the wooden fence to see Noah's neighbors on the ground with pale skin.
A Bount stood over them. His hair was spiked brown and his skin had slightly normal color. His eyes were neon red and his glare was menacing but calm. He wore a red t shirt with black stripes. His black pants were ripped at the knees. In his right hand was a orange and yellow flower.
"Hello, there."
"Who're you?" Jules asked.
"I'm Genji and that's all you'll need to know because I'm going to absorb your souls."
"We'll see about that." Jared shot back.
Lava Soldiers appeared from thin air and attacked.
"These things are getting annoying." Noah commented as he charged forward. Mid way through the battle, Rachel appeared.
"I've been looking for you, Genji!" She shouted as she sliced down minions.
"Oh, it's the Knight!" Genji clapped. "Haven't seen you since last night!"
While the Rangers clashed with the soldiers, Alicia summoned her bow.
She fired a few arrows at Genji, but he was too swift.
"Gigas Ventus!" Firing a magical tornado at Genji, she had no idea that the orange and yellow flower was moving towards her.
Genji blocked the spell with one hand. "That weak magic is no match for me!"
Rachel, seeing this, jumped forward.
"Alicia, look out!" She landed in front of her with her arms out wide. The flower stuck to her chest and caused Rachel to scream out in pain and collapse.
"Rachel!" Alicia shouted with worry. She dropped to her knees and held her friend.
"Good enough..." Genji said. He snapped his fingers and disappeared. Rachel disappeared as well.
~ HQ ~
"We have to find her!" Alicia informed again and again.
"We will." Lydia said typing away at the keyboard.
Jared was scrying for Rachel while Asher meditated.
"This is my fault." Alicia said with her eyes watering. "I'm not strong enough."
Jared stopped scrying and walked up to her. Taking her hands in his own, he said "That's no way to think, Alicia."
Seeing Jared's soft brown eyes calmed her down and flushed her with joy. But somehow, she felt compelled to fix this on her own.
~ Sunset ~
Isis found Genji under a bridge.
"Hello, Genji."
"Isis? What is it you want?"
"I don't want anything. I'm just here to watch you destroy the Power Rangers. It seems you've captured their friend."
"Indeed."
"So..." Isis started as she crossed her arms. "Use her power to fight the Rangers. Of course they won't be able to attack her."
Genji laughed. "And what? I succeed and you get all the credit? I don't think so."
"But, what if I let you have the souls of the Rangers? As well as their ancient spirits?"
This offer was too much to refuse. Genji smiled. "Deal."
~ That Night ~
Genji jumped from rooftop to rooftop with glee. Looking up at the Full Moon, he grinned. "So, this is what it feels like to absorb souls."
He didn't know that he was being followed. From the shadows, Alicia, wearing her mission uniform (In case you forgot: Pink T-Shirt, black pants, black boots), glared with full intention.
"Got you." She whispered.
Landing in an alley, Genji stood where he was. The bricks were losing their color. Rats scurried around the wooden crates, storage containers and dumpsters. Alicia jumped down from the building and blocked the way out to the street.
"Stop, Genji!"
"Oh, Pink Ranger. Nice to see you." The Bount jumped through the air and landed on a storage container.
"Where's Rachel?!"
"Your friend? She's right here!"
Snapping his fingers, a figure jumped down from the roof sending dust into the air.
Rachel stood with her sword drawn. A blank expression was etched on her face and the orange flower was perched on her chest.
"Rachel, destroy!" Genji commanded.
The Knight swung forward, but Alicia ducked and backflipped away.
"Rachel, stop!" Alicia pleaded as she avoided another swing.
Genji laughed. "She can't hear you! Rachel, dear? Show her your power!"
Rachel's blade started to glow a bright white. She swung her sword and sent a wave of glittering white wind. Alicia jumped into the air and propelled herself with wind. Looking behind her, she saw that the wave of wind froze a crate in white ice.
Turning back around, she saw another wave rushing at her.
"Triangulum scutum, nego!" A triangular pink shield appeared in front of her and blocked the wave. However, the force sent her spiraling to the ground.
"Frigidus Motum!" A faint pink aura appeared around her and stopped her fall inches from the ground.
"Nice magic tricks, girl." Genji said. "But my magic is greater!"
Alicia stood up weakly. "I can't hold out."
A bigger wave of frozen wind sailed at her, but a blaze of fire disintegrated it.
"Alicia!" Jared shouted as he and Jules ran to down the alley, both in their Slayer outfits, which consisted of an Under-Armor top that shared their respective Ranger Colors and black pants.
"Why'd you take off?" Jules asked in disbelief, "You could've gotten hurt!"
"Please, I have to save Rachel."
Jared nodded. "We all do. You're not alone."
Jules informed her, "The others are spread out dealing with more Bount attacks. It's just us right now. So let's work together and we can end this."
"Don't think so!" Genji shouted. He snapped his fingers, and Rachel raised her sword above her head.
It glowed and changed form. When the brilliant bright light faded, the Knight wielded a buster sword. She charged forward and swung down.
Jules materialized her Pike and blocked it. However, Rachel flashed behind Jules and kicked the Potential Slayer into a crate.
"Jules!" Alicia shouted.
Jared darted forward, grabbed Alicia, and jumped high into the air. He stretched his left hand outward and aimed his palm at Genji.
"Incendia Maximum!" A sphere of fire launched from his palm and roared toward Genji. However, Rachel flashed in its path and took the full hit, multiple parts of her body singed. As she rocketed to the ground, she fired off an attack. Jared turned his body to shield Alicia and landed on the storage container opposite of Genji.
"You okay?" He asked, his face seared with pain.
"Jared?" Alicia whispered. The Slayer lurched forward. Checking his back, Alicia saw that his shirt was ripped in a diagonal line. The exposed skin was raw and weak. Rachel had somehow nailed him with an attack causing a severe cold burn.
"No..." Alicia whispered holding Jared close.
"I'll be fine..." Jared whispered to her. "Get out and get help. Jules and I will find a way to slow him down..."
Something in Alicia snapped. Realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She dragged Jared to a wall and laid him against it.
"Prohibere dolor." Alicia chanted. A pink light enveloped her hands and she placed them on Jared's chest. The light spread through his body and all pain he was feeling was eliminated.
"Sorry, Jared. But this is my battle now." She turned around and began to walk away, but Jared grabbed her hand.
"I'll support you. Good luck." He assured.
Smiling with gratitude, she jumped down. Jules limped to her and struck a battle stance.
"No, Jules. Please let me fight by myself."
"What?"
"Please..." Alicia asked fiercely. Jules nodded because she felt something new with Alicia. The girl was giving off a rose colored aura.
"I'm not going to stand by and let my friends get hurt. I'm a witch and the Pink Ranger. I'll use my power to save everyone!"
With that, Alicia's vision flashed and instantly found herself in the white space.
"I admire your bravery." Came a woman's voice. The source was a cloaked figure. The black cloak had rose trimmings. She approached Alicia.
"Skyla, do you believe she is ready?"
Skyla answered, "More than ever."
"Alicia, my name is Artemis: Ancient Spirit of Ether. I have a bit to tell you before I grant you my power."
"Of course." Alicia said back.
"Long ago, my cousin was a great witch, 2nd to the Wizard Zordon. However, when the Twilight attacked, we were all badly outmatched. As you know, the twelve ancient warriors rose up. But we wouldn't have been able to if my cousin hadn't used a forbidden spell to grant us our overflowing power. To use the spell, she made a contract. And when the Twilight was sealed away, she became Rita Repulsa. She asked Zordon to seal her in a containment coffin. And he eventually did after eons of battle."
"Artemis, why are you telling me this?" Alicia asked.
"It's about time you've all learned of your power's origin. Carrying on, my cousin left me a magical gift. A new form of magic that complimented my domain. However, my time passed before I could master it. But you, Alicia. You have the potential to use this new magic and become a powerful witch. Will you accept?"
"I will."
"Then I will tell you the foundation of Ethereal Magic." Artemis held out her hand, and Alicia took it in hers.
~ Reality ~
Genji was getting worried. "Rachel, attack!" Rachel charged at Alicia who was still in a trance.
"Alicia!" Jules yelled.
At the last few seconds, Alicia raised her head and chanted, "Tcetorp em!" Pink energy flowed around her and force Rachel back.
Alicia started to walk forward slowly.
"Rachel! Don't let her get close!" Rachel fired off numerous waves of white wind.
"Tcetorp em!" A pink wall of energy blocked the attacks. Alicia glared up at Genji and raised her left hand.
"Ecrof Jineg!" Invisible force sailed at Genji. He pulled Rachel in front of him, but the attack passed through her and sent Genji into a wall.
"But how?!" He asked. "Rachel!" Rachel descended on Alicia once more.
"Potsym dneirf!" Rachel started to slow down, and when she touched the ground with her feet, couldn't move well. Alicia took Rachel into a hug.
"Rachel... I remember what you told me last night in the command center..."
~ Flashback ~
"Alicia, getting stronger to help your friends is a good thing. But your emotions aren't there and I can tell. If you're going to do this for others you have to make sure you're doing this for yourself."
~ End ~
"I'm getting stronger for me. So I can help my friends protect this world... Tcejer!"
Gold light wrapped around the two. The flower on Rachel's chest started to cringe as if it was in pain. The burn marks all over Rachel's body started to heal. Pieces of the light went over to Jared and Jules. When the lights passed over them, they healed as well.
When the light faded, Rachel collapsed to the ground. Before falling into unconsciousness, Rachel whispered, "Thank you, Alicia."
Jules and Jared approached Alicia.
"That was amazing!" Jared said with a smile.
"Thanks, Jared." Alicia answered, hugging him.
"Your magic is so beautiful." Jules complimented, "You were magnificent!"
Genji was hysterical. "This isn't over! I will still-" He was cut off because something unexpected had happened causing the Rangers to gasp.
A giant animal claw went through Genji's chest. Black fluid, no doubt blood, poured from his mouth and wound.
A howl resounded and a giant beast jumped into the air. The full moon behind it made it glow with white light. It landed in front of the three.
"A werewolf!" Jules stated. The werewolf was bigger than all three of them. It was mostly brown, but had chestnut and silver patches of hair creating streaks down its back, arms and legs. It's eyes were deep blue and gold.
"Where did it come from?" Jared asked. He looked down at Rachel who was in the most danger.
"Alicia." Jared said placing his hand on her shoulder. "You have to get her out."
Nodding, she held out her hands. "Dnes reh ot esab!" Rachel vanished in white lights.
"Let's deal with this thing." Jared said holding Alicia's hand. "Maybe we could use a combined spell on it."
The werewolf glared with growing anger. It was staring at the pair's joined hands. It howled and charged forward.
Jared instantly knew it was after him. Gasping, he jumped in the air and kicked it in the jaw.
It howled again and dashed at Jared.
"Tcetorp mih!" A blue bubble appeared around Jared and made the Werewolf rebound into a crate. It got up and looked around. It saw that Alicia raised the barrier and stared at her. However, it wasn't a glare and she somehow knew this.
Howling one last time, it jumped onto a rooftop and ran away.
"What was that?" Jules asked. "It only attacked you, Jared."
"I know... Something's off about it. Somehow, it seems familiar."
Alicia walked over to them. "We should get back..." The look the wolf gave her freaked her out...
