Another night in Bayview, California... Another reminder that life goes on no matter what the costs.
A vampire was sent sailing into the air. Jared Gordon jumped off of a grave stone and jabbed its heart, turning it into dust. He landed gracefully and looked up at the sky. Sighing, he looked around. Asher had just dusted another vampire, not losing his stoic face. The two made eye contact and Asher raised his eyebrow.
"Did you know this would happen?" Jared asked.
Asher looked down at the ground and answered, "No."
Knowing the toll of secret keeping, Jared prodded, "Asher, if you have anything on your mind, you can just talk to me."
"I know."
~Flashback~
"Argh!" Jared groaned in pain. He had just been flipped onto his back by Jules who was laughing at his expense. She helped the Slayer up and confidently said, "Don't go easy on me next time. You may be the Slayer, but I have my own powers too."
"I'll remember that!" Jared laughed.
~Flashback~
"Asher, come on. It'll be fun," Jules pleaded with the boy from the future.
Asher shook his head. "I have to work."
"You've been cooped up in your room the entire weekend. Come join us."
"But I-"
"No ifs, ands, or buts!" Jules grabbed his wrist and pulled him downstairs toward the other Rangers. Little did she know, the boy smiled as he followed her.
~End Flashback~
Noah Ryder had finished all of his weekend homework and reclined his study chair. His room was a plain blue with a few posters of movies. He wearily looked over at his Blackbird Twin Lens Camera, which was up on his bookshelf. Still reeling, he went over to his window and opened it. He climbed onto the roof and stared at the stars.
Alicia Morgan sat on her bed with tears streaming down her face. She was looking through one of her more recent photo albums. She stopped at a picture of herself, Sonia and Jules posing for Noah as he took the picture. They were so happy... and Jules was... alive.
Liam sat on the darkened beach and cried his heart out.
"Rough night?" Came Sonia's voice. She sat down next to her friend and pulled him into her chest.
"This was her favorite spot."
"I know... I remember..."
~ Flashback ~
"Set!" Liam shouted. It was three on three volleyball on the beach. Liam, Sonia and Jules were taking on Noah, Jared and Alicia. Asher, of course, stood from the sidelines.
Sonia knocked the ball up and Liam gave it another boost. Jules sprinted forward, jumped up and spiked the ball across the net and to the other side, winning the game for her team.
Later that day, Jules looked out at the sunset.
"Beautiful, right?" Liam asked standing next to her.
"Everything in this world is beautiful... But I think... this has to be the most beautiful." She smiled at the emerald light being overtaken by the pink glow against the fading blue sky.
~ End Flashback ~
"I just don't want her to be gone." Liam sobbed.
"I know." Sonia answered. "I know."
~ Theme Song ~
~ Dark Void ~
King Cepheus looked over the battle between Jules and Slade over and over.
"Slade was a fool. Twilight Rangers, you work for me now."
"Yes sir." They reluctantly answered.
"Good. Now, we must strike while the iron is hot."
Red asked, "With all due respect, sir. Will you be sending us to the surface?"
"Not quite. Medusa! Phoenix! How's the Phantom coming along?"
Medusa kneeled before her king. "Wiseman is about to bring him in."
Phoenix leaned against a column in boredom. "I can't fight the Slayer when he's like this. His flames aren't as intense."
Wiseman and a new Phantom walked into the Throne Room. He looked like a thin, humanoid with blue beetle armor.
"Use these against the Rangers." Wiseman held up a bag of multi colored coins.
"Thank you, sir." The Phantom poured the coins into a pouch attached to his waist.
"All I have to do is use these to beat them right?"
Wiseman nodded. "This will make the process easy. I'm sure you are aware of their loss?"
"Yes, of course."
"Use that emotion against them."
"With pleasure."
As Medusa and Phoenix left, Medusa made a suction sound with her tongue and teeth. "And we're back to the old routine."
Phoenix gave a small laugh. "We still need power for the Void Key, remember? Well, I don't care. I only want two things in this gig, anyways."
Medusa stared at Phoenix with amusement. "Naturally."
Phoenix asked, "Why are you working for the Twilight?"
Stopping in her tracks, Medusa thought deeply. "That's none of your concern."
"Really?"
"Just drop it."
"Alright, then."
The two continued to walk in silence.
Alviss was listening behind a corner. "None of this feels right..."
"Alviss!" Came Cepheus's voice.
"What does he want from me now?" Walking into the thrown room, Alviss kneeled.
"Yes, Grandfather?"
"Accompany our new Phantom to the top side. Engage when necessary. I understand you have new powers?"
"Yes, sir. I will do as you order."
~HQ~
Claire and Xander watched the many monitors of the mainframe computer. They could see the Rangers still mourning over Jules.
"Their spirits are broken." Claire said.
"The problem is, how will they mend them?"
"Time will tell. What are you planning on doing, great mentor?" Claire asked half sarcastically.
"Let time heal."
Suddenly, the computer received an alert signal.
~Bayview~
Lydia sat down on a swing set at the park. She rocked back and forth. All day she tried to talk to the Rangers, but they weren't up for it.
"No luck talking to the others either?" Tobias asked as he approached.
"No..."
"Well let's keep trying."
Lydia shook her head and let out small laugh. "Are you always like this?"
"Well, not on Mondays. I hate Mondays. So, come on, Brainiac. Let's get going."
Tobias grabbed Lydia's hand and the two ran off.
As they went, Lydia didn't mind the contact. If she were one year younger, she'd immediately pull away. But she felt as if she's changed since then... Tobias wasn't such an annoying geek everyone in her clique made him out to be...
The new Phantom terrorized the people of Bayview with his beetle claws.
A burst of fire sent him flying into a car.
"Cheap shot!" He shouted.
"Phantom... this ends here." Jared threatened. The six Rangers were really tense. They all just wanted the Phantom, and all of the Twilight, to be destroyed.
"Well, let's see what you can do!" The Phantom teased.
"That's it!" Noah snapped. He super sped into the air and fired icicles from his palms.
"Ah, Power of Water. Now, watch as Beelzeborg reaches into his bag..." The Phantom quickly pulled a blue coin out and slotted it into a scanner in his arm. "... and defeat you all!"
Bigger icicles fired out of Beelzeborg's arm and knocked Noah down.
"Then how about this?!" Sonia asked. She fired tons and tons of lightning at Beelzeborg, but he slotted in a yellow coin and matched the attack. His lightning struck Sonia and knocked her away.
"You're no challenge! No wonder one of you went down so easily."
At that moment, something snapped in Noah, Liam, Sonia, Alicia and Asher.
"How dare you..." Alicia gritted her teeth.
Liam clenched his fist. "Don't you ever..."
Noah summoned his Kwan Dao. "... ever talk about Jules like that!"
The five rushed forward with their personal weapons drawn. Jared raised his right arm to stop them, but failed.
"Guys, wait!"
Beelzeborg slotted in a silver coin and blinded them all with light. He then slotted in a blue coin and froze the ground under them, tripping them up.
Finally, he slotted in a red coin and sent a huge stream of flames their way.
Jared dashed in front of the attack and blocked the flames with his own wall of fire.
"We'll destroy you!" Noah said getting up. He jumped over Jared.
"Noah, wait!" Jared yelled.
Black and dark blue fire rained from above and smacked Noah to the ground. He looked around in confusion, but didn't see Alviss on the rooftop.
The strain on Jared was immense. He demorphed as he kept his shield of fire up.
His friends got up and charged their own elements.
"We're gonna take him down..." Sonia said.
"He'll pay." Liam added.
"Just try it! You'll join your precious little Jules soon!" With that Beelzeborg turned up his power and sent Jared flying.
His friends, paying no mind and not working together, ran forward.
However, a swirl of their Ranger colors teleported them away.
~HQ~
The six landed unmorphed and swiftly got up, save for Jared.
"Why'd you pull us back?!" Noah demanded.
"We were just getting serious!" Sonia yelled.
"Enough!" Claire shouted. "You're all failing out there! Your teamwork's a mess and your fighting is sloppy!"
Xander quelled down his friend and calmly stated, "You all need to cool off and reevaluate what you need to do."
With that, the six teleported off.
~School, Monday Morning~
Tobias and Lydia talked in the hallways as they walked to class.
Tobias told Lydia, "They just aren't the same. I mean, seriously, it's like someone hit the bug out button on them."
Lydia answered, "Well, we should just give them space. Anyways, this is my stop. See you later, Tobias."
"Alright... Later, Lid."
As Lydia entered her class, her friend Melanie asked, "Lydia, why are you talking to Tobias Bergenson? You know he's the trashiest of the school's garbage."
Lydia kept her composure, shrugged and walked to her seat. She absentmindedly said, "I sometimes wonder if he's really the manliest of men."
On the other side of school, Liam scribbled in his notebook once more. He couldn't stop drawing Beelzeborg who hadn't attacked since Saturday. Then, his mind wandered to Jules.
~ Flashback ~
During Sophomore Year, during the decline of Twilight attacks, the Rangers came face to face with a malevolent spirit called the Wendigo. It was a thin humanoid figure with pale green skin and a grotesque face.
In a forest, it was the final battle with it...
The Wendigo disappeared with the wind and struck Alicia and Noah, sending them flying backwards.
"We need some cover!" Liam shouted.
"I'll take care of that." Jules informed. She focused and raised her arms. A dome of darkness appeared around them. Confused, the Wendigo howled.
"Now, Liam!" Jules shouted.
Liam nodded and sliced the creature in half with his axe, making it disappear.
"We did it!" Liam said running up to Jules.
~ End Flashback ~
Jared and Noah sat in French class and for once, didn't exchange any words. They were the two in the class who were so proficient in French, that they could talk during class as long as it was a French conversation.
Jared was mourning for Jules. But he had seen so much death in his life as Slayer that it didn't have as big of an impact as it did with the others. He feared that if Beelzeborg were to attack again, he'd have to do it on his own.
Of course, at that moment, he felt a bloodthirsty chill in the atmosphere. Noah sensed it too and nodded to him.
~ Dark Void ~
The Twilights stood in a dark chamber that was lit by balls of light floating around.
"I'm tired of taking orders!" Twilight Black stated to his team.
"We must stay calm. Our mission is to keep the future from changing." Red informed.
Blue nodded. "As much as I hate to say it, we can't let our obsessions with the Rangers interfere."
Yellow added, "We do what we are ordered to do no matter what. End of story."
Black hit the wall in frustration and left.
He could see Beelzeborg down the hall and got an idea. He glowed a bright purple and charged at him.
~ Bayview ~
"This is the reaction point." Jared told Noah.
"Well where the hell is he?!" Noah asked.
"Noah, are you sure you're up to this?"
"Of course I am!"
"Way to wait!" Alicia sarcastically said as she and the others arrived.
"Well you were being too slow." Noah countered.
The two were about to engage in an argument when Jared yelled, "Get down!" The six hit the ground and a black blast of energy sailed overhead.
"Beelzeborg!" Liam shouted. However, he looked different. Instead of his beetle look, he was more of a rock golem.
"Green Ranger..."
Liam knew the voice all too well. "Twilight Black!"
Alviss had tagged along with Black and stared from a rooftop. "How will this develop?"
"I will destroy you!" Instead of using coins, a circle on Black's chest would glow a certain color. In this case, it glowed green and he sent boulders sailing at the Rangers. They scattered and fired off with their X-Defenders.
The circle was still Green and Twilight Black raised a barrier.
"Has anyone wondered how he's using our powers?" Sonia asked in irritation.
"Don't know, don't care!" Noah said.
"Well get a load of this!" Black shouted. The circle glowed purple and the Rangers were surrounded by a dome of darkness.
"This is Jules's attack..." Liam whispered.
"You can't see me, can you?" Black asked. A wave of wind hit Sonia in the back.
"Sonia! You ok?" Alicia asked.
"Fine!" Sonia answered rather coldly.
A burst of lightning nailed Noah in the chest while a boulder sent Alicia flying.
"The darkness swallows everything." Black's voice echoed. "Release your fears..."
In the silent dark, the Rangers couldn't help but let their fears surface.
Noah closed his eyes and let his fear take over. "I'm... scared..." As childish as it seemed, Noah found himself surrounded by five clowns... Their faces were twisted and they had razor sharp teeth. They all carried knives.
Alicia saw five zombies lurching their way toward her. "No!" She screamed.
Sonia looked up and saw five giant snakes slithering around her.
"It can't be... I... no... no, no, no, no, no!"
Liam felt himself drowning in water and five ghouls were laughing at him.
Asher saw five figures covered in blood. At their feet were his parents and his two younger siblings. "How dare you!" Asher shouted.
Jared's friends lost it. They started to let their attacks loose, attacking each other.
"Guys! Calm down!"
"Stay away!" Noah shouted.
"NO!" Alicia screamed as she fired off lots of wind.
"Let your fear go, Slayer!" Black shouted.
"ENOUGH!" Jared shouted letting fire erupt from his body.
The others snapped back, but they were still hysterical. For once, they didn't feel invincible.
"Why should we listen to you?!" Noah demanded.
"Noah..."
"Yeah! Just because you have the most power..."
"Stop it!" Sonia shouted.
"Make me!"
"Back away, guys!" Alicia shouted as well.
"Because yelling will definitely stop the yelling." Asher replied.
Afraid, broken, and vulnerable, the five Rangers let their attacks loose once more into the darkness, hitting each other as well.
"Stop right now!" Jared shouted, shooting more fire around him.
"Listen to me! Close your eyes... do it."
Everyone closed their eyes and backed up into a circle.
"What do you hear?"
"Breathing..." Alicia said.
"Not just yours." Jared answered.
"I hear yours... and Asher's... everyone's." Sonia said.
"Exactly. We're not alone, guys. These fears? They mean nothing as long as we're together."
"We're humans, yeah..." Jared whispered.
"But we're also Power Rangers." Noah added.
"Friends." Asher said.
"Family." Alicia whispered.
"How, Slayer?" Black asked. "How could you face your fears?!"
"Because I live with it everyday. I dragged my friends into this fight and they're risking their lives." Jared informed as the six joined hands in the circle.
"Now, you're going down, Twilight Black."
A burst of lightning roared from above them. Liam quickly raised a barrier and blocked it.
Noah and Alicia fired off a swirl of water and wind and hit Twilight Black who screamed in pain.
They saw a blue circle appear above them, but Sonia and Jared blasted it with a mix of fire and lightning. Twilight Black's dark dome fell and he struggled to his feet.
Liam and Asher launched a boulder surrounded by glowing light at the Twilight and nailed him.
"How?!"
"You may have our individual powers..." Jared trailed off.
"But you know nothing about our unity!" Liam said.
The six charged up their elements and fired them together, creating a swirling vortex blast, destroying Twilight Black, who grew to giant size in his monster form.
"Legend King Megazord, Rising up!"
"Lunar Knight Megazord, Descend!"
The two zords pulled out their swords and clashed with the monster.
"I won't be defeated again!"
The zords weaved their way around the monster and kept slashing at him.
"You know what they say." Noah said. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall!"
"Legend Finish!"
"Lunar Finish!"
The two attacks struck Twilight Black and destroyed him for good.
Alviss watched from the ground and shook his head. "Grandfather will not be happy."
~Jules's Favorite Spot~
The Rangers and Mrs. Sanchez stood on a small cliff overlooking the strip of sand they always used to hang out on.
Tobias and Lydia stood behind them with Claire and Xander, both were smiling.
"This is it." Liam whispered stepping forward with a square object.
He and Mrs. Sanchez placed the object against a smooth boulder.
"Thank you for this." Mrs. Sanchez said as the two gathered with the others.
"What will you do now?" Noah asked.
"I'm headed back home to Spain. I'll tell my family about Jules's bravery, as well as yours. Thank you, Legend Rangers." With that, she walked off.
The Rangers took one final look at the memorial and mentally said their last goodbye.
Sonia said, "Jules told me a while ago... That if anything happened to her, we'd keep moving forward."
"We are," Jared nodded, "Together."
They walked away from a silver and purple plaque that read,
"Juliana Sanchez
A True Warrior, A True Friend."
Look forward to the start of Sonia's Arc!
Later Days!
