Christopher Paige is portrayed by Daniel Sharman
On a Saturday morning, the Teens gathered at Headquarters at the request of Jared. At that point, Noah, Sonia and Liam stood in the middle of the main room each standing in front of a metal vat on a table surrounded by a myriad of magical ingredients.
"Make a demon vanquishing potion." Alicia instructed.
"Why?" Liam asked. "Isn't demon-vanquishing your job?"
Jared said, "Well, there's gonna be a day where the three of us will be separated from you guys. You need to know how to make basic potions in case something happens."
Noah nodded and rubbed his hands together. "Then let's get started."
Alicia smiled and turned back to Chris who was sitting cross-legged on the floor. In his left hand was a chain that held a crystal at the end. At that moment, the crystal was dangling over a map of the city.
"What's this for?" Chris asked.
"This is a form of magical tracking called, 'Scrying.' We use it whenever we want to locate a person or a magical entity," Jared explained.
"Handy," Chris nodded, "I like it. So what am I looking for? And what comes after this?"
"Eager, aren't we?" Asher asked from the side.
"Well... it's just Tobias showed me the archive footage of Jules. And, she was this super badass fighter and I have to live up to that as the warrior of darkness."
Jared let out a light laugh and patted him on the shoulder. "It's great that you're into this, Chris. But it'll come with time. But for now, I'll put you through your paces. You'll get it in no time."
As Chris thanked Jared, a small explosion erupted from behind them.
"I did it!" Noah cheered as his vat of ingredients mixed together to complete the vanquishing potion.
Alicia collected a small amount in a vial and studied it. "Noah, you used too much mandrake root. It'd explode as soon as you threw this."
Noah sighed in dejection. "Crap..."
"You'll get it. Naelc ym top!" Alicia chanted as a swirl of pink lights cleaned Noah's vat. "Try it again," she encouraged with a wink.
(Cue Theme)
~ Dark Void ~
Cepheus sat in his usual throne with an irritated look. Slade had brought in some unexpected guests.
"What're low level demons doing here?" Cepheus asked.
Slade bowed and explained, "I went around the Underworld looking for some potential agents to fight the Slayer and his team."
Medusa stepped forward. "And what's wrong with Phantoms?"
"Nothing." Slade answered cooly. "I'm just opening up different methods in taking down the Rangers."
The seven Demons were human in appearance. They wore mostly dark clothes with a bounty hunter like style. Their heads were shaved but lined with tattoos.
"We can separate them." Said the leader, by the name of Vex. "Then kill them."
"Do it." Cepheus said.
Medusa shook her head and furiously left the throne room. As she passed by Phoenix's room, she heard a conversation from within.
"You'll be ok..." Phoenix whispered to Dove.
Medusa grinned. "So he does have a soft spot."
"Eavesdropping?" Came a voice. Medusa turned to meet the eyes of Roxas, in his human form as always.
"You shouldn't sneak up on others."
"Hmm you seem nervous."
"Nervous?" Medusa laughed. "Please, I can smell your fear. I can tell you're hiding something. And when I find out, I know you'll go down."
"Really?" Roxas asked with skepticism.
"Yes. You are a useless piece on this chessboard. And when I tell the King what you're hiding, you'll surely be sacrificed." Without another word, Medusa made her way down the hall, leaving Roxas standing there with a confident smile.
"Father?" Alviss asked as he appeared in a swirl of dark orbs.
"Yes, Alviss?"
"I'd like to talk to you... For real."
As this happened, Cepheus closed his eyes and reflected. "Great ancestor, King Cyan... Please guide me through this."
~ Headquarters ~
Chris stood in front of a plexiglass room. In the center of the all white space was the light blue orb of Seraphi.
"So, he'll come back?" Chris asked.
"Eventually. We just don't know when." Jared answered. "So, you ready for more training?"
Chris looked at Jared and nodded. Making his arm a metallic looking black, Chris raised himself into a fighting stance.
Before they could resume, the alarm went off.
~ Bayview Park ~
Shadowlites were terrorizing the park in drones.
The Teens morphed up and quickly dealt with them. However, the true fight was about to begin. The seven Demons appeared carrying daggers and axes.
"Attack!" Vex commanded.
"Let's take them down!" Jared shouted.
Each Ranger clashed with a Demon in a ferocious confrontation.
As the Rangers clashed, elemental attacks flew in all directions.
"Get down!" Sonia shouted as the Demons threw fireballs and energy balls.
The Rangers hit the deck and the attacks sailed over their heads. A loose energy ball whizzed by a group of people and hit a car, causing it to crash.
Sonia, seeing this, shouted, "Noah! The people in the car!"
"I'm on it!" Noah shouted back. "Chris, help me!"
However, Chris couldn't move. As he saw the fire spreading across the car, memories flashed through his head. His body was trembling with fear... he couldn't even comprehend it.
Noah super sped into the air and blasted a burst of cool water from his palms, putting the fire out. He then froze the molecules of the motor and destroyed the car doors with his sword.
"Legend Burst Cannon!" Jared and Asher shouted as they fired off numerous volleys against the Demons who shimmered away into thin air.
Demorphing, after making sure no one was around, Noah walked up to Chris.
"Dude, you froze up."
Chris's face was struck with fear, his eyes still on the burnt car.
"I... I'm sorry... My parents died in a car accident and I... was thrown out... of the vehicle... before it exploded..."
"Let's all take the rest of the day off." Sonia said.
"I'll take care of him." Asher said.
Jared gave Asher a look of skepticism. "You sure?"
"It's the least I can do."
~Headquarters~
Jared sifted through the Destiny Book trying to find the Demons they had just fought.
"Shadow Demon... Demon of Fear...Troxa Demon... Bosk, Belthazar... Furies... Found them. They're Hunter Demons. Driven by greed, these heartless low-level demons will stop at nothing to collect their bounty. They have the power to fire energy balls and/or lightning bolts and can materialize at will. Bounty hunters track down fugitive demons, but if the price is right they will go after anyone."
Alicia crossed her arms and asked, "So how do we get rid of them?"
"Classic potions or a good old fashion beat down." Jared answered with a grin.
Alicia smiled and shook her head. "I'll go scry for them then. I'll let you know if I find anything."
~ School ~
Noah was practicing shooting lacrosse balls on the field. He had a bit on his mind and he needed to blow off some steam.
After being informed of the Hunter Demons, he had to keep his eyes peeled once more. Adding to the irrational fear of Twilight Blue didn't help either.
Sonia sat in the bleachers watching her boyfriend with intent. She got up and walked down the stairs and into the field.
"Something wrong?" She asked.
"What makes you say that?" He asked back, not looking at her.
The girl in yellow crossed her arms and furrowed her eyebrows. "Come on, be honest."
Noah finally looked at his girlfriend and let his stick down to the side. "How about we talk it over a slice?" He offered.
"Smooth, Noah." Sonia laughed. "Yes, that'd be nice."
~ Later that Night, Headquarters ~
Alicia and Jared had long left, scrying proved to be fruitless. Claire was out on patrol, so the base was relatively empty. Two separate swirls of orbs illuminated the room. Asher and Chris materialized from them and made their way to the Destiny Book.
"Why are we here?" Chris asked, studying the gothic-modernistic interior of the base he began to know so well.
"I'm helping you." Asher answered, flipping through the pages.
Chris felt a pang in his stomach. He averted his eyes, not wanting to face Asher. "Why?" He half muttered. "I'm useless."
"No, you're not. And I'm gonna help you get your confidence back. You'll be needed in the future."
"How?" Chris looked over the shorter boy and studied him with an intent gaze.
"Can't say." Asher quickly answered as he went through different pages. "Here it is." He pointed out, tapping the page. The page, like all the other pages, was written in beautiful black calligraphy accompanied by a marvelously painted picture. The picture in question was that of an hour glass that filled up a good portion of the page.
"Ready for your first spell?" Asher asked, a smile etched onto his face.
Chris nodded and made his way over to Asher. Together, they chanted, "A time for everything and to everything its place. Bring us back through time and space."
A silver and purple stream of light wrapped around the two and made them disappear.
~ San Francisco, Years Ago ~
Chris woke up to see a ceiling he hadn't seen in a long time. Getting up quickly, he realized he was in his old room. The walls were dark purple and posters for bands lined them. His desk was a faded black and school books were scattered across them.
Looking in the mirror, he saw that he wasn't seventeen anymore; he was fourteen.
"I don't understand." Chris stated. Asher appeared from nowhere and explained, "We've been brought back to your past. Read today's date."
"November 13th, 2010. That's the day my parents died! Why are we here?"
"You'll see soon. Now let's go over your story. After your mom left your abusive step-dad, she remarried your biological dad. The rest? That's about to go down now."
The door opened and Chris's real dad walked into the room.
"You up, son?" He asked. Chris and his father shared quite a few characteristics. Both had a soft jawline with a mature face. Both had green eyes and chestnut brown hair. The only difference was that Mr. Paige's hair was neatly cut while Chris's was curly.
"Dad!" Chris shouted in joy. He ran over to his father and gave him a huge hug.
"Oh, well that's different. What happened to me not being your Dad?"
"What?" Chris asked.
"I left you, so I'm not your real Dad?" Mr. Paige dejectedly echoed his own son's previous words.
"I... I didn't mean it..." Chris answered as he continued to hug his father. His father gave a genuine smile when his face scrunched up.
"Is that smoke?" He asked making his way to the window. He opened the curtains and found an ashtray with a single cigarette in it.
Seeing it, Mr. Paige looked at his son with disappointment; without a word, he left the room.
Asher appeared once more and asked, "You smoked?"
"This was the only one I've ever lit." Chris answered as Asher disappeared again.
Getting dressed, the boy made his way downstairs, his sense of direction around the house still intact.
Before he entered the kitchen, he heard his parents talking at the table.
"...a cigarette on his windowsill! What is his problem, Lena?"
His mother, Lena Paige, answered, "He's in a dark place right now."
"He's away from his step-father. The next thing he should do is heal."
"I don't think it's that easy, Wyatt."
"I know. I just hope things will get better. I'm trying to steer him away from my path."
Lena placed her hand on Wyatt's. "That's not your path anymore. You're good."
Chris walked in at that moment with guilty eyes. "Mom... Dad..."
"Ready for school?" His mom asked.
Chris could only give a silent nod as he studied his parents's faces. What were they talking about?
"Good. Have a wonderful day, honey." Lena said as she pecked Chris's head.
"Come on, son." Wyatt said.
~ Present Time, Bayview Forest ~
Liam was jogging through the forest, trying to occupy his mind when he felt a bloodthirsty chill. He stopped running and pulled his green ear buds out and listened. Placing his hand to the dirt, Liam could tell he was being watched and followed.
Slowly, the boy reached into his back pocket and gripped a small item.
In a flash, a Hunter Demon from earlier jumped at him. With quick reflexes, Liam threw the item: A vial of Vanquishing Potion. The glass broke against the Demon's chest and he went up in flames and burst into nothing.
He knew there would be more. Sure enough, bright energy balls sailed over his head. This caused him to take off in the other direction.
"Guys! We have a problem!" He yelled into his communicator.
"We'll be there!" Came Sonia's voice.
~ Chris's Past ~
Chris opened his old locker and was appalled at what he saw. It was completely black with books about darkness and miserable poetry.
"What was I into?" Chris asked in disbelief.
"Hey." Came a voice. Chris recognized the person as Darla Jenkins, an old classmate of his. Darla was a heavier set girl with pale skin. She had deep green eyes and her hair was dyed a bleach blonde with blue highlights. She wore all black that accompanied black polished fingernails.
"So, my parents took my phone away. Sorry I couldn't text you." Darla's voice was a strong one, and it had a harsh tone and energy to it that would easily intimidate a stranger.
"No, um... it's okay." Chris answered trying to recall this particular conversation.
"No, it's not. They have to stay out of my life. They're always over my shoulder watching my every move, you know? It's like, they're on something." Darla smirked, expecting a reaction out of Chris.
Chris felt his blood boil a little. "No, Darla. They're not on something. They're only doing that because they love you."
As the bell rang, Darla was taken aback. "When did you get so high and noble?" Darla laughed it off and said, "I'll talk to you later."
~Later On~
"Cancel 5 on both sides to isolate the X." Droned on Chris's Math teacher, Mr. Hadley. Chris himself was impatient. He knew his parents would die very very soon, and he had to get out of there.
"This is a waste of time." He muttered a little too loudly.
His teacher turned around and said, "Oh I'm sorry, Mr. Paige. But you're stuck here for another half hour."
"You don't understand... can I use the restroom?"
"So you can paint the walls again? I don't think so."
Asher appeared next to Chris and asked, "You were a delinquent at fourteen?"
"Buzz off." Chris chided Asher.
"Excuse me?" His teacher asked.
"No, not you, Mr. Hadley." Chris answered, flatly. His irritation was beginning to build alongside his impatience.
Mr. Hadley put his hands on his hips. "You will not disrespect me in my classroom."
"Fine, I'll just leave." Chris stated getting to the door.
"Chris, don't you leave!"
Chris stopped at the door and looked around the room. Some students were taken aback while others were grinning, as if hoping he would leave. Lastly, Mr. Hadley stared at Chris with a strange stare. The boy knew he didn't recognize this expression. It was one of pity and sadness, as if Mr. Hadley truly cared about Chris. The teenager shook himself from his thoughts and rebuffed, "Try and stop me."
As he opened a door, a hall monitor stood there with crossed arms; strong crossed arms...
Chris's parents were called and had to speak to the principal. The boy wasn't allowed to defend himself from the barrage of misdeeds his principal exposed to Mr. and Mrs. Paige. As the three made their way down the front stairs of the school, Chris tried everything he could to sway them to his side.
"I get to High School and maintain a solid GPA, I work at the local Animal Hospital, and I'll be applying to so many colleges... please just listen!"
Asher appeared next to Chris and said, "You can't tell them about the future. You can't save them."
"Yes, I can." Chris shot back. "Mom! Dad! Can you just listen to me?!"
His parents turned around, clearly hurt.
Lena asked, "Why should we?"
"I'm your son! Please just listen!" Chris took a breath after seeing both his parents tense up, finally listening to him. Chris took the chance to calm down and, with a shaky but strong voice he explained, "I'm not a screw up! I know you can't see it now, I know I'm not the perfect son you've always wanted. But please just believe me. I can change! I will change!"
A few moments passed, and Chris felt like it was an eternity. He studied his parents' faces, not knowing what to think. A small change appeared, which made Chris' heart skip a beat. Wyatt and Lena's expressions softened into pride and ease.
"We know." Wyatt answered softly, a small smile making its way on his face. "We know."
Mr. and Mrs. Paige took their son into a hug. Chris, for the first time in so long, felt completely safe. He wanted to relish in it forever.
"You are our perfect son." Lena whispered, before kissing Chris on the forehead.
The three were driving home when Wyatt said, "You know, Chris. When you were young, we had this tradition that we'd go out to eat once a week. You wanna bring that tradition back?"
Smiling, Chris answered, "Sure. I'd love that."
Asher appeared once more and said, "What're you doing?" His hazel eyes locked onto Chris' with warning.
"What do you mean?" Chris whispered back.
"Your Dad wasn't supposed to ask that. You're changing things!"
"Well that's a good thing."
"I'm not so sure about that." Asher answered, his gaze transforming into one of pity and knowing. A few moments later, Asher disappeared into thin air. As he did, Chris saw a speeding truck heading for them; this truck ran a stop sign.
"Look out!" Chris shouted at the top of his lungs. As a mental reflex, a swirl of purple orbs wrapped around him and removed him from the car and onto the pavement.
Chris stared in horror as his parents were crushed by the truck only to explode seconds later.
"No!" Chris yelled in anguish, horror and fear. He wanted to leave. He thought he could change the past as soon as he woke up that morning in time. His stomach was heaving, his lungs working overtime. He had relived the death of his parents.
Asher reappeared and held Chris from running forward.
"And from here on you moved to Bayview to live with your Aunt and Uncle. Home schooled for a few years before finally heading into public school."
"That doesn't matter! I still survived while they died!"
"But Chris... how did you survive?"
Then, it dawned on him. "I orbed... I orbed out of the car."
"Your magic saved you so you could use it in the future. So you could become the Black Ranger."
"I... understand now..."
"Now that you do, it's time to go back."
~ Present ~
Jared threw a Hunter Demon into a tree and impaled him with his sword.
Noah was in a fire fight with two Demons. He darted from tree to tree avoiding fireballs and energy balls alike. He flicked his wrists and blasted them back. He then destroyed them with high bursts of water.
Sonia and Alicia stood back to back firing off their elements at the advancing demons.
"When did they get help?" Sonia asked.
"My guess is that the reward on our heads went up." Alicia answered as she shot a Demon through the chest with her bow.
Liam flipped over a Demon's head and sliced him in half with his axe. Meeting up with Jared, he said, "We're being overrun."
"Hang tight." Jared answered. At that moment, purple and silver lights appeared away from everyone. The lights exploded, blinding the Demons. As it died down, the Black and Silver Legend Rangers stood ready.
"Spirit of Darkness: Black Legend Ranger."
"Spirit of Light: Silver Legend Ranger."
Chris focused his mind and materialized his weapon: A gleaming buster with a bronze hilt.
"Legend Zwei-Sword!"
"Legend Blade!"
The two flew forwards like blurs, slicing down Demon after Demon. They were unstoppable, weaving, dodging, smashing and vanquishing.
Chris charged up his massive blade with spirit energy and swiped forward, letting loose a huge slash wave of purple energy, destroying the entire group of Demons.
Slade watched from afar and whispered, "It's not over yet." He snapped his fingers and a rock that was next to him started to float.
"It's not over." Jared said pointing up.
A skyscraper sized boulder creature was stomping its way toward them, making the ground shake.
"Legend King Megazord, Rising up!"
"Lunar Knight Megazord, Descend!"
The two Megazords raised their swords and clashed with the beast. However, every strike failed to faze it.
"Jump in the air!" Jared instructed. LKM flew to the sky and extended its right arm.
"Wolf Cannons, fire!" Noah shouted. Blue energy volleys struck the monster repeatedly, but to no avail.
"Lunar Flash Cannon!" Asher shouted as his Zord fired a blast from its chest. His attack did nothing either.
"Combine!" The Six commanded.
"Lunar Legend Megazord!" Lunar Knight changed into its jet mode and extended into an outer armor. It fused with LKM's chest and back.
"Lunar Legend Blaster!" The Zord fired off two giant cannons, forcing the monster to the ground. However, it just got back up and wailed on the Rangers.
"We've lost our right arm!" Noah informed.
"The wings are shot too!" Liam said.
Chris looked up helplessly until a glowing purple orb appeared in front of him.
"Take these rings..." Came Jules's voice. Nodding, Chris extended his right hand. The orb let two rings fall into Chris's hands. Both rings were bright gold. One had a dragon design with a ruby in the center, another had a spiral of different colored gems.
Chris put the dragon ring on his right middle finger and scanned it.
"Shadow Dragon Mechazord!"
The Summoning Circle appeared above him. It glowed with a thunderous roar. From the circle came a flying black, purple and gold dragon.
Chris teleported to the cockpit and started to control it.
"Shadow Flames!" Chris called out. The Dragon opened its mouth and let out numerous amounts of black fire, swallowing up the monster. He then steered its tail, like a whip, into the enemy knocking it over.
"Legend Transformation!"
The long serpent-like dragon started to fold into a humanoid. Its tail detached and became daggers.
"Shadow Strike Megazord!"
SSM jumped into the air and kicked the rock monster in the chest.
"I'm ending this quickly!" Chris said as he weaved his zord away from oncoming energy blasts.
"Shadow Force Slash!" The daggers glowed a bright purple and sliced the monster in half, destroying it.
~ Headquarters ~
"You really were great out there." Sonia complimented as Chris sat on the couch in exhaustion.
"Thanks... but..."
"What's wrong?" Liam asked.
"I just wish my parents could see."
"Chris, the can and they did." Jared said walking in from the other room, the Destiny Book tucked beneath his arm.
"What do you mean?"
"See for yourself."
Behind him, walked in Wyatt and Lena Paige; the ghosts anyway...
"Chris." Lena smiled.
"Mom! Dad!" Chris called out as he ran to them. The moment he touched the two, they became solid like humans.
"We're so proud of you." Wyatt said to his son with tears in his eyes.
"Everyday I think about you. I've always wanted to show you how much I've changed."
"We know. Your kindness is from your mother... as well as your magic." Wyatt whispered.
"Really?" He asked.
Lena nodded. "And we knew you'd grow up to use it for good. We love you, sweetie."
"I love you." Chris answered with tears rushing down his face.
Chris's new teammates could only smile at the sight of such a heartwarming reunion.
A/N: As always, please review and Later Days!
