IX. Power Rangers In Retrograde - Mystic Force – Stranger Within Pt 1
(Based from summaries from .com)
Chip is at the door of the Rock Porium, it is late so he is flipping the signed to closed as he locks up, just as a dark haired woman knocks on the door, "Hey!"
"Sorry Miss we're closing."
"Perfect!" she coos, "That means you have no excuses for not coming to see our new DJ tonight." She purrs holding up a flier for DJ Fly.
"No can do," Chip brushes her off, "Already have plans." he says heading into Toby's office just as Xander emerges from the back.
"Don't waste your time throwing yourself at him," Xander smiles, "throw yourself at me."
The woman rolls her eyes, not really into it as she capitulates, "OK you can come with me."
"OK cool," Xander say turning away to pump his fist in excitement before Chip pokes his head out of the office, "He can't go either, he's the one I have plans with."
Coming around from the counter Vida grabs the flier, "DJ Fly? Never heard of him, any good?"
The woman scoffs, "He's the hottest new DJ around. Surprised you haven't heard of him."
"I think I better check this guy out."
The woman bubbles, "Great! You can go with me!"
"V has plans too," Chip says guiding the woman toward the door as he gives her a disapproving look.
Vida is shocked, "But there's new talent in town, our plans can wait until tomorrow."
"No they can't, you gave your word you would help V." Chip says ushering the woman out the door, looking to her as he open the door for her, "Thanks for the invite miss...some other time."
With the door closed and locked and the woman waking off Madison paces about a bit as she explains, "We have the Fire Heart map, and Koragg and his cronies have no clue where to start, we need to get it now before something happens to distract us."
"The three of you can recover a treasure on your own, besides you have Udonna as backup and Phinieas. And I'm just a call away, it's not that urgent, Koragg doesn't even know where to start looking."
Chip pauses, looking thoughtful a moment then sighs, "I...I guess your right. Maybe I am a bit wound up about this. It just feels like we're due for a big fight. All we have had is quick battles and our enemy fleeing, it's starting to feel a little too easy. Especially now that we're down 2 Rangers. I keep expecting the other shoe to drop."
"Thanks Chip," Vida nods, turning for the door, and rushing off to catch up to the woman.
-
At the club there is quite the crowd dancing, the woman and Vida included, "You like?"
"I like," Vida grooves, "It's so hypnotic."
"I know what you mean, I could listen to it for all eternity." As Vida grooves the woman grins wildy, small fags showing as she inches closer to Vida's neck.
Vida smiles, "I should really get going, I'll just stay for one more song." grooving to the DJ practically entranced, "I love this DJ...the music..." not noticing as the woman sinks her fangs into Vida's neck and DJ Fly transforms into a monster.
-
Blecker, in her Zyuuman form pauses and looks around the landscape, and all its very cube shaped structures, "I can't believe mom came from here it's so..."
"Alien?" LeeLee in her vampire form says.
"Peaceful?" Alexis adds, herself in the form of a human dragon.
"A little of both," Blecker purrs, then flusters catching herself.
LeeLee smiles and pats her head causing Blecker to purr in earnest, "It's alright I think it's cute when you purr."
Her reverie is broken as an elephant man, riding an elephant, strides up, pointing a spear at the trio, "You three, have you see and humans. We have a report of a Trio of Human Mages have breached the barrier and invaded Zyuuland."
Before Blecker can answer Alexis steps forward, "Oh thank goodness, those horrible humans had our friend captive, we freed her from the barbarians and they ran off to the south, please can you help up find her tribe?"
The guard leaps down from his elephant and circles Blecker critically sniffing at her with his snout, "Scent is mixed, tainted with human as well, but I can make out...yes...the Cougar tribe...and the Bovine tribe."
"I'm half cow, just great," Blecker whispers.
The elephant man moves to Alexis as he begins to give directions.
"They really don't like humans here do they?" LeeLee says nervously.
"You," The guard turns to LeeLee, "I don't recognize you, what tribe are you!"
LeeLee scoffs, puffing out her chest, "Pimvare clan. Princess of the Pimvare clan if you don't mind."
The Guard takes a moment then bows, "My apologies your highness, I just didn't recognize your species."
LeeLee spreads her ass wings and hovers over the guard, "I'm a bat you idiot, can't you tell. A Royal Bat at that, now begone with yourself don't you have these 'humans' to hunt?"
"R-Right," the guard stammers as he gets back on his Elephant and rides off quickly.
Blecker laughs as LeeLee lands, "Laid it on a bit thick don't you think, just saying bat would have sufficed."
LeeLee, chest still puffed out in self pride huffs, "I am a princess, and I'm not going to let some low talent beast boss me around."
"Yeah well just remember those low talent beasts are the dominant species in this land."
LeeLee sighs, chest deflating, as she cling onto Blecker's arm, "Just like back home, I can't show my real face there without being hunted and my name carries no weight here. I just can't win."
Blecker purrs, calming LeeLee as she proceeds to pet her head, "Not like I can walk around back home like this either. Let's just count what little blessings we have."
"Okay," LeeLee smiles as Alexis takes the lead.
"You doing okay there," Udonna says offering a hand to Chip as he stumbles, the group making their way through the forest toward a hillside.
"I'm fine, I'm more concerned about what happens when Koragg or Necrolai show up."
Maddie drops back to join the conversation, "Why's that got you worried?"
"Well we're still short our full team, especially now Vida is still gone."
Madison nods as Xander calls out, "Hey guys, look what I found."
Reaching the crest of the hill they stop by a cave with a marking, a shield engraved in stone, very similar to the one on the map, "Looks like a jackpot to me!" Chip says picking up the pace, leading the group into a room with two doors, "Come on guys!" his foot falls triggering a trap.
"Look out," Xander shouts and the group scatter, Xander too slow as a green goo drops from the ceiling and covers him, he rolls his eyes incredulously, "Cave slime. How wonderful."
"Look," Chip points to the doors, the group moving toward them with little pause.
"The Fire Heart is close at hand," Udonna reads the inscription on the wall between the two doors, "Those who find it shall rule the land. But take care for there is no clue. Is it door number one or door number two?"
"Thoughts?" Xander says looking to the group.
"I say we open both," Chip offers.
"The other is probably trapped," Udonna cautions.
"Yeah but the five of us can handle a trap," Chip offers, "I think so at least."
"Anyone oppose Chip's idea?" Udonna looks to the group.
There's a short pause as the Rangers consider, then they all shake their heads. Xander reaches for door two while Madison goes for door one, opening them together they see a chest sitting on an alcove in door one, and some horned and furry demon waiting behind door two who lunges at them.
"Ranger up?" Xander offers meekly.
"Ready?" the other say stepping back to avoid the monster as they transform.
After knocking the Rangers outside they regroup, blasting the monster with their combined powers, quickly destroying it.
"That was...anti-climatic," Madison says uneasily.
Xander reaches for the scroll tied to the outside of the chest before Chip slaps his hand away, "That was way too easy, and that cave was way to out in the open, I'll bet you twenty bucks theirs a bobby-trap on the chest."
Xander rolls his eyes, "Life is not a D&D game."
Madison just glares at him as she waves her Mystic Morpher."
"L-Let's get it back to Rootcore and worry about opening it in the morning, when we're ready for more surprises, instead of in the dead of night." Xander quickly interjects.
The others all nod in agreement after a moment, only to turn around and see a group of Hidiacs and Styxoids has flanked them, Udonna the only one in a good position since she has retreated to the cave for a moment while the Rangers talked.
"How did you guys find us?" Chip demands.
"I have had my Styxoids combing the forest, searching for you Rangers," Koragg says emerging into view, "It was only a matter of time before you brought the Fire Heart right to us."
"Fat chance!" Xander exclaims, "Ready?"
"Ready!"
Everyone morphs, The White Ranger's snow powers surprising the foot soldiers as the other pound them hard with their own elements. Koragg however is not nearly as easy as he blocks the water blast of the Blue Ranger with his shield, countering with a Wolf Attack as he parries the Green Ranger's Axe. Surrounding the Rangers Koragg continues to play the defensive as he parries and counters kicks, punches and magical blasts.
Another Wolf Attack scatters the Rangers as Koragg turns with a growl, "You grow stronger Rangers, show me your mettle." charging forward he knocks the Rangers back with his Wolf Attack one more time.
"Come on Rangers, let's do this together," The Green Ranger rally's the troops.
The Blue Ranger summons a tidal wave, knocking Koragg off his feet, before sending him flying. As he gets to his feet he is hit by fire, ice, and lightning, just as vines erupt from the ground and hold him still.
"Stand down wolf warrior," The White Ranger pleads, "Choose the right side, the Master will not respect your honor, you know Necrolai does not."
Koragg pauses as Udonna powers down, "You may have a point White Witch." he muses as she reaches out a hand for him.
The vines recede as the other Rangers power down gather around Koragg, holding their breath. "Join us Koragg."
With a sudden slap he knocks Udonna hand away and kicks out sending her sprawling into the arms of the other Rangers, "Until such time as your believes come true I will not willingly dishonor myself by turning against the Master."
Turning away from the Rangers Koragg vanishes into a spell seal, "Another time Rangers."
-
Madison and Chip drop the chest on the main table as Clare enters the main room, "Clare keep an eye on this and don't touch anything, it could be booby trapped."
"Xander are you feeling alright?" Chip says as he hovers around him, "You're sweating."
The other Rangers gather around Xander, who is indeed glistening with sweat, Maddie summoning a handkerchief to dry his forehead, turning his face up as he pulls the handkerchief away a slimy substance clinging to the material, "Gross."
Xander lurches forward a little, clutching his stomach as he holding back bile, the slime becoming more pronounced as he moves sticking to his clothes and coating the table. "W-What's is happening to me."
"Clare quickly, I need a hand."
"Right Udonna."
Clare and Udonna hurry to a cauldron, where she draws out a small container, filled with a familiar green slime, "It is as I feared." she muses aloud, "This was no ordinary slime. Do not worry Xander, Clare and I will find a solution. Don't you worry."
"What should I do now?" Xander pleads as he gets to his feet, his skin getting a bit greenish.
"Let's find a place for you to lay down," Madison says, offering her hand.
Xander takes it, the slime spreading over his hand with a look of disgust on Madison's face, "T-thanks."
-
"Yo group, sorry I'm late." Vida says lazily entering Rootcore.
"Late? W-We haven't see you since yesterday, that's beyond late." Chip argues as he comes over to the main table from the Xenotome.
Maddie rushes over to her sister throwing her arms around, "Oh V, I'm so sorry I totally lost track of time!"
"Relax," Vida says pushing her sister away, "So I missed a night of saving the world. Good news, world's still here."
"Uh V," Xander injects, laying on a makeshift cot and dripping with slime, "It's not that you missed last night, you missed all day too. It's night time again."
"Look," Vida says solemnly, "I should have checked in, I just lost track of time." then she looks around Rootcore, noticing the slime on the floor around a makeshift bed, "Are you alright Xander?"
"Been better," Xander's voice cracks as Vida stares at him, skin brown-green with molted spots, hair falling out, covered in slime and clothes barly clinging to his body.
"Xander!" Maddie says rushing over, "You should rest."
Looking over to Clare and Udonna at the cauldron he looks pleading, "What's happening to-" he is cut short and he hops off, dashing for a side exit, the other Rangers, including Vida and Udonna rushing after.
They find Blecker vomit all over the forest floor, Udonna looking concerned, "It's getting worse. We need to get him to a lake quickly."
"What," Xander's voice cracks a moment, "is happening to me."
"It's a morphological slime, you are turning into a Amphigu, a frog person."
Xander groans as Udonna leads them back to the entrance of Rootcore, Xander hopping along on all fours, "Am I going to be stuck like this?"
"I don't know the answer to that, but I am working on a cure, but I don't know if we can finish it in time."
Xander croaks in fear, "You mean I could be stuck like this forever?"
Udonna nods grimly.
Vida stops cold, "T-This is all my fault."
"V?" Maddie says concerned.
"If I hadn't stayed at the rave, if I had never asked Blecker to assist us..."
"This was not your fault," Xander croaks, vomiting again, "You needn't feel guilty for anything."
"We must hurry," Udonna urges, only to be interrupted as a group of Styxoids surround them.
"This is the last thing we need," Chip groans, "Let's Ranger up."
"Why bother," Vida says with a smile, charging into the group, "You guys get moving, I'll catch up!"
"R-right!" Nick says, a little stunned as he watches Vida flip and kick though the Styxoids without even breaking a sweat.
"Apparently the entire 'getting caught up on your sleep' thing is working for you V." Xander quips as the group hurry off, Vida holding off the Styxoids solo.
Soon they come to a small lake and without provocation Blecker quickly discards the rest of his clothes and dives into the water, the rest of his hair washing away as he swims around a bit taking on a more frog-like appearance before coming up onto the edge of the lake and looking up at the others.
"How are you feeling now?" Maddie says kneeling by the side of the lake.
Xander nods, not just transformed into a frog person but a female one at that, "Much better," turning her gaze to Udonna, "But I don't want to be stuck like this. How long will this cure take?"
"Several more days of work," Udonna explains, "But I don't think you have that long."
Xander swallows hard, "D-Days? And there isn't another way?"
Udonna pauses a moment, sighing, "The only other cure is the kiss of a princess."
Before anyone can continue the sun begins to rise just as Vida is running, the group caught off guard as she shouts out and then collapses to the ground.
"Vida!" Maddie says running over, "What's wrong Maddie."
"Just feeling kinda weak all of a sudden."
Chip looking at Vida curiously, Udonna as well, pulling him over, "Chip, I'm going to need you to collect some things I need."
-
Later in the day Vida enters Rootcore, her skin is pale, she is covered up head to toe, with thick black glasses, only Udonna, Chip, and Clare are there.
"Still working on the solution for Xander?"
Udonna nods, "And are you feeling alright Vida?"
Vida smiles, "I feel great, just a little sensitive to sunlight." She strikes a pose making a V with her index and middle finger, "Came up with this cool new pose in my sleep. V for victory!"
"Well after all that you must be thirsty," Chip says pulling a goblet from his bag with a red liquid inside, offering it to Vida.
Vida's eyes go wide as she reaches greedily for it, taking a big gulp before spitting it out on the floor, "Tomato Juice!"
"Were you expecting blood?" Chip taunts, drawing a garlic clove from his bag. "Your a vampire Vida. That just confirms it!"
"How did it happen?" Udonna says from her cauldron.
"You both knew?"
They nod.
Vida shakes her head, "I don't know, I was just listening to DJ Fly and everything just sort of goes fuzzy."
"This is not good, we've lost both our Pink Rangers," Clare comments.
"I can still morph, I'm not going to hurt you guys, your my friends." Vida protests before lunging at Chip, only to be repelled by his garlic. "Sorry Chip, I couldn't control myself."
"It's OK V, but there's a fine line between hurting us and turning us into your immortal undead thralls."
"If you destroy the vampire who turned her it should break the spell, curing Vida is easy. Though there is a time factor here as well. Make no mistake Chip the life of two Rangers hang in the balance."
"What can I do to help?" Vida offers, again lunging at Chip who holds her off with garlic.
"I think this is going to be a two clove night." Chip quips worriedly.
-
At the cub Vida is almost immediately entranced as Chip watches the DJ play with a smirk, "If you ask me V your much better then he is." Looking over at Vida to see her in a trans-like state, "V?" before looking quickly around the room and noticing the other clubbers in a similar state.
After a moment he falls into the same state, DJ Fly reverting to his true form after a bit, Necrolai popping up behind the Rangers, wrapping her fingers around Vida's head as she purrs. "Good girl you brought another Ranger for us to control." Looking to the monster she purrs again, "Do your thing Flytrap, but leave the Ranger to me, he's all mine!"
Tentacles shoot from the arms of the Flytrap monster hitting the many clubbers, their mouths opening as fangs form and they all hiss one by one for a few moments before he retracts his tendrils.
Necrolai strokes Chip's hair, "Welcome to the dark side Ranger."
Just then Chip bats her hand away with a cocky smile, "Nice try fang face. But you'll have to get up pretty early in the night to pull one over on me." as he removes green ear plugs out of his ears, "Ear plugs."
"Huh?" Necrolai scoffs, "No matter." And swings at Chip.
He dodges the swings and makes a break for it, hiding behind the entranced Vida, as Necrolai rushes over, swiping and swinging at him. "Hang on V." He says swinging her out of the way of Necrolai's unfocused attacks, until Necrolai tackles him.
Vida starting to emerge from the trance and Chip continues to try to avoid Necrolai, eventually shoving his garlic clove into her face. Necrolai howls and aborts her attack as Chip gets to his feet, then she starts laughing, knocking the clove away, "Just kidding, your little vampire tricks wont work on me Ranger."
Trying to run she grabs him by the collar and tosses him aside, "No you don't!"
"Alright," chip says getting back to his feet, "Let's try a big trick." drawing his Mystic Morpher and transforming, "Games over Necrolai!"
"Flytrap!" Forgetting the DJ The Yellow Ranger is tied up in the tentacles of the monster, as Necrolai gloats, "The game is just beginning...Flytrap destroy the boy."
Raising his free arm to blast Vida who is still partially entranced Chip shouts and he shatters the tentacles and dives to intercept the attack. The force enough to demorph him.
As Chip lie in pain on the ground Necrolai turns to her turned pawns, "Go my minions, go into the night and destroy the city," adding with a gloat, "And in a few hours when the sun rises you will all turn to ash." She and Flytrap vanishing into the Underworld via a Dark Seal as she laughs darkly.
Flytrap gone Vida finally breaks her trance and see Chip hurt, kneeling by him as she calls his name, "Oh no...Chip," Her voice cracking, "N-next time, d-don't save me. Sometimes you have to sacrifice the one to save everyone else. You could have stopped her...Chip...always the hero."
"No...not a hero," Chips comments as he regain his second wind, "just a friend. Remember when we were 7 and the kids picked on me for bringing that superhero costume to school on Halloween?"
"You wore that costume everyday," Vida smiles, "You ever wore it to prom."
"I looked good too," Chip smiles, "Anyway, you stuck up for me. You told them I was your friend. They would have to go through you to get to me."
Vida laughs.
"Like it or not I'm your friend for life." Chip begins, "So, even if you're a vampire, I wont ever give up on you. And I'll fight anyone who tries to hurt you to my final breath. You have my word." then getting serious he looks into Vida's eyes, "Will you fight with me?"
"Do we even have a chance?"
"Technically no," Chip muses, "But...we're fighting with our hearts...and...they don't really have hearts do they." laughing a little at the end. "And V...It's be a shame not to use your new pose."
Both make a V for Victory pose before they hurry off.
-
In the city the Pink and Yellow Ranger run onto the scene, Red, Blue, and Green arriving a moment later.
"Udonna explained everything," The Red Ranger says as he stands next to Pink, "Vida why didn't you tell us."
"I couldn't..."
"Look!" Rose says pointing to several civilians crowding around the monster, "We need to work fast, sunrise isn't long off and if it rises Vida isn't the only one in trouble."
The Rangers draw their weapons and hammer Flytrap with their signature weapons before getting tied up in Flytrap's tentacles.
"Let me try some magic," The Pink Ranger says shrinking down to a small faerie or bug to escape the tendrils, flying away and then returning to normal size, slashing tentacles to free the others.
The Green Ranger is up next, paying tentacle for tentacle as she binds Flytrap in vines as the Yellow Ranger fires a crossbow blast just as the Red Ranger charges forward slashing with his sword.
Flytrap rolls away, before countering by growing to giant size.
"Let's make this quick!" Blue comments as they form the Titan Megazord.
"Look out!" Red exclaims, as Flytrap slashes at them making the Titan Megazord stumble back.
Red counters by powering up the spell seal, the others following suit destroying Flytrap just as the sun rises. The Civilians starting to hiss until the monster explodes and they look around confused. The Rangers returning to the ground, and powering down.
Xander stumbles, still a frog-girl, and holds her chest, "Feel so weak."
"I'll get her back to the lake," Vida explains, "You guys double check the others are back to normal."
"Right," Chip says.
-
"Here, home sweet home," Vida says helping Xander into the water. Who leans on the edge, Vida kneeling by her, "You feeling better now."
"A little, still weak, but better."
"Xander," Vida sits down trailing her feet in the water, "Could there be another vampire out there?"
Xander's eyes go wide, "You mean..." looking over at the rising sun, "But the sun."
Vida's eyes glow red as she locks her gaze on Xander's own eyes, "You will forget this conversation after, understood."
Blecker nods hypnotized, "Yes mistress."
She smiles, showing her fangs, "What other vampire could have turned me do you think?"
"Mistress I only know of one other vampire, Necrolai."
Vida's eyes go wide, "The one who calls herself Queen of the Vampires?"
"Yes mistress."
"So that means," Vida muses the gears turning in her head, "I'm a princess."
"Yes mistress."
Before Vida can react Xander swims out to the middle of the lake before diving under the surface. Vida quickly throws off her shoes, shocks, and cloak and dives after. Xander is making amazing speed swimming to a lake side cave, Vida following with supernatural speed and catching up as Blecker reaches a small nest of grass. Squatting over it Vida watches in surprise as Blecker starts leaking out small pink orbs into the grass nest.
"B-Blecker are those eggs?"
She is still entranced and nods, "I think so mistress."
Vida bites her bottom lip, "This must be the final stage of the change, making a nest and..." she swallows hard, "Finding a mate?"
Xander nods.
Rushing over to Blecker Vida quickly presses her lips to Xander's, finger crossed, "Please work."