Dreams... Why do we have them? Are they really just mental images projected by the brain? Or... are they messages from something greater?
Jared found himself standing in the midst of chaos. He and his friends had stumbled out of a black dome double the size of an SUV. The figure who survived their combined onslaught of attacks was no where to be found. Weakened, the seven Rangers fell to their hands and knees. All around them, screams of pain and anguish filled the air. Was this really the end?
Jared Gordon once again woke up in cold sweat. He sat up and wiped his forehead. But, once he lowered his left hand, he noticed the golden Triquetra again.
"What does it mean?" He whispered. He threw his blanket off and started for the shower. He spent the remainder of his Summer break trying to research the symbol on his hand, but to no success. Claire and Xander put him at ease, stating that answers would reveal themselves with time.
Noah Ryder and Liam Gregory waited impatiently outside Jared's house. The two had been waiting inside Noah's car for about ten minutes.
Noah was wearing a blue flannel over black jeans and converse. Liam had a green t-shirt with black stripes over brown cargo shorts and black vans shoes.
Annoyed, Liam asked, "Can't you just Super Speed yourself in there?"
"No." Noah answered simply. "Besides, here he comes now."
Jared and Asher hurriedly came down the front porch. Both were wearing t-shirts colored their respective ranger colors, blue jeans and sneakers.
"Sorry." Jared said lightly. "I had another weird dream. And besides, Asher took the hot water."
"Don't put this on me." Asher defended.
"No big deal." Noah answered ignoring Liam's look. "Is Cody coming?"
"No, he already left for school."
Liam piped up, "That's where we should be!"
Alicia Morgan, Sonia Ford, and Julianna Sanchez sat under a large Willow tree on the High School courtyard waiting for the boys.
Alicia wore a pink unbuttoned shirt over a black undershirt, blue jeans and brown boots that went up over her shins.
Sonia wore a yellow shirt under a jean jacket, black pants, and converse boots.
Jules was wearing a black and violet shirt. Bored by waiting, she absentmindedly wiped her blue jeans with her hands. She then moved on to sweeping grass off her black boots.
Sonia said, "Leave it to the boys to be totally late."
Jules answered, "They still have a few minutes."
Alicia chanted, "Wohs-syob-won." Through Alicia's eyes, a small cloud appeared in front of her. Swirling around, it manifested a picture of the four boys exiting Noah's car.
"They're in the front." Alicia informed her friends with a confident grin.
Jules nodded and Sonia looked at her best friend with concern. Lately, Alicia had been using her magic for practically everything...
(Season 3 Theme, Link on Profile)
Sitting in homeroom, Jared etched the symbol he saw that morning into a piece of paper. He paid no mind to his homeroom teacher, Madame Rockbell, drone on and on about Junior Year activities like planning the Senior-Junior Prom through fundraisers.
Focusing, Jared whispered, "Nos coniungere." Feeling the magical energy wash over him like a light wave, Jared connected his mind to his six team mates.
"Guys, it's Jared. There's something I need to tell you."
Noah's voice answered, "You won the lottery?"
"Wait, what? No! It's important."
Sonia answered, "Please tell us. Anything else is better than listening to my guidance counselor talk about this year. Why did I have to be separated from you guys this year?"
Asher said, "You're not the only one. Now let Jared explain?"
In the classroom, Noah and Alicia looked over at Jared, who sighed.
"For a few weeks, I've been researching a symbol that's been appearing on my hand for the past few months."
Noah asked, "Different from your regular one?"
"Yeah."
"Well what does it look like?"
Jared projected the Triquetra into his mind so his friends could see.
"Doesn't look familiar." Jules pointed out.
Liam said, "Wait... wait..."
"What is it?" Jules asked.
"That symbol does look familiar somehow. It has a mythological base, that's for sure. Maybe we should go see Dr. Bly?"
"Agreed." Asher said.
"Dr. Bly and Claire have been helping me. We haven't found anything. I wanted to come clean if we learned something new, but we haven't… so I figured I'd tell you anyway."
FLASH
Opening their eyes, the Seven found themselves surrounded by a deep and thick forest.
"Where are we?" Liam asked.
"Too freaky." Sonia commented.
Alicia pointed, "Look up there!" A gleaming crystal castle was floating in the sky. The only way for one to get up to it was to use a floating staircase.
"Well, that's our best option. We should go." Jules proposed.
Surprisingly, as the seven made their way to the castle, there was no resistance or attack of any kind... or so they thought.
~ Dark Void ~
"Finally, we're back up to strength!" Phoenix howled with passion.
"I could use some fresh air." Medusa added. "And the Rangers... they've been dragged into the Sanctuary."
King Cepheus's monstrous expression did not change. "Seraphi's Sanctuary?"
Alviss kneeled before his Grandfather. "Who is Seraphi, Grandfather?"
Cepheus explained, "Seraphi was one of the three angels guardians of the Mystic Realm. In the war, he was encased in crystal to save himself from a nearly fatal wound. If he were to awaken, our conquest would be made difficult."
Phoenix jumped at this opportunity. "Then let me destroy him!"
Medusa inquired. "If this Seraphi is such a problem, why mention him now?"
Cepheus answered, "He isn't a threat in his catatonic state. If the Rangers are about to find him, he is ready to be awakened. Slade, I summon you."
The masked warrior entered the room. "Yes, my lord?"
"It's time for you and your Twilight Rangers to attack."
"Of course."
The five Twilight Rangers stood in a straight line.
"Finally some action!" Twilight Blue grunted.
Wiseman said, "The portal to the Sanctuary should still be open. You do not have much time left."
~ The Sanctuary ~
"This must be it." Jared said as he and his friends stood at the base of the staircase. The only problem was, their path was obscured by trees. That was when Liam's morpher started to glow. His two spirits made the branches clear out.
With the way clear, a weak voice whispered, "Come closer..."
Clearly startled, the Rangers looked at each other, each knowing they had all heard it.
The voice sounded like it needed their help so they advanced.
"I hate stairs..." Liam commented as they journeyed on. As they reached the top of the staircase, they were met by huge shining doors. Before they could approach, a giant crystal wall rose up in front of them.
However, this wall crumbled into bits of light when Sonia's morpher, Jules's ring and Noah's morpher glowed.
Not questioning why this was happening, the Seven pressed on and opened the doors. Inside was just as colorful as the outside. Technicolor lined the crystal carved hallways.
"Halt!" Came a voice. A blast of light soared from above and was quickly met by Liam's forcefield.
A blue cloaked teenager the same age as the seven appeared out of nowhere. He had blue eyes, pale skin and white hair. He carried a three foot staff that had a snowflake shaped crystal on the top.
His eyes widened in awe as he sensed the powerful presence of the Rangers.
"I'm so sorry." He bowed. "I am Wallace. I'm the wizard guardian of this castle. You must be the Legendary Warriors."
Each of the rangers introduced themselves and Wallace explained where they were.
"So why are we here?" Asher asked.
Wallace answered, "If you are here, then Seraphi is ready to be released. All he needs is you." The eight stopped in front of a pair of doors that outsized the main entrance. Waving his staff, the doors opened to reveal an even bigger crystal room. At the top, a humanoid sized crystal coffin hung from the ceiling. Inside was a young man clad in blue steel armor with many different symbols all over him.
"That is my master, one of the three angel guardians, Seraphi."
"So, how do we free him?" Noah asked. As if they were answering his question, the twelve spirits flew out of their respective morphers and circled around the angel. Glowing, they shot beams of light at the coffin and destroyed it. Seraphi floated down and landed gracefully.
"Legendary Warriors, thank you for freeing me. I am Seraphi, one of the three guardians."
"An honor to meet you." Jared replied.
"I've seen how bravely you've all fought. But it's with a heavy heart that I ask you all to leave the fight."
"What? Leave the fight?" Noah asked in shock.
"Your part is now over. I have awakened. I shall finish this war."
"But, why?" Jules asked.
"Maybe it's best that I shall explain." Seraphi waved his arms and the room fell away. The group was now on a lush, green planet. The sky was sapphire blue and the sun was a fine shade of yellow. Forests and shining cities were off in the distance.
"In the Mystic Realm, we prospered. However, the malevolent Twilight rose and attacked. The Twilight King's motives were and are still unclear. We defended ourselves and the war raged on for years. The Twelve Spirits along with their three immediate successors, myself and my two comrades, fought tirelessly. However, I was fatally wounded in a scuffle."
The world around them started to burn with black fire. Shadowlites and Phantoms attacked everything in sight. The fifteen defenders fought back, sending elemental blasts in all directions.
"Mortally wounded, Ophani and Wallace used their magic to seal me in this castle for me to heal."
Wallace explained, "Ophani was another one of the three guardians. Working with her to save Seraphi was the last I saw of her." The image of Ophani running back to battle appeared. She wore teal armor and carried a staff with a sword blade on the end of it. Then, perfect Earth was shown to split into endless worlds across the universe, leaving the core to be present day Earth itself.
"The Twilight were sealed away and started to rise a year ago. I thank you all for what you've done. But this war was never meant to be yours. I am giving you a golden opportunity. No more pain, no more fighting."
The Rangers all stared at the ground. The offer was tempting, but after everything they had gone through...
Before anyone could answer, the room started to shake. After moments of shaking, the far end wall burst open. Slade, Alviss and the Twilight Rangers stood ready to battle.
Twilight Red said, "Pardon the interruption. We have some Rangers to slay."
To be continued...
