XII. Power Rangers In Retrograde - Mystic Force – The Gatekeeper Part 1
(Based from summaries from .com)
"Alright, enough procrastinating," Chip smiles as he saunters into Rootcore joining Maddie by the chest, he pauses looking around only seeing Phineas, Manticore, Udonna, and Clare, "Where's Vida and Xander."
Maddie sighs, "Xander said she had important thing in the forest to tend to and not not wait for him...her...whatever."
"And V?"
"She said she was getting a bite to eat and would be here shortly."
"The team is fracturing," Manticore intones gravely.
"Nonsense," Maddie laughs nervously, "They'll be here, I'm sure."
"Well I can't wait any longer, the suspense is killing me," Phineas says throwing open the chest.
"Phineas! Wait!"
"No!"
as the lid flies open a wave of energy ripples through all rangers present, sending a chill down the backs of Phineas, Chip, and Maddie.
"Oooooh Lunch!" Phineas says excited spying the large egg inside.
"An egg?" Maddie says confused.
"Not just any egg," Udonna began, "It's a dragon's egg, the last one."
-
"I must escape this horrible pit," Morticon said slamming his sword down, as he advanced on the twins Necra and Liera, "You! You said you had a plan to destroy the Rangers, to turn the Pink One to the Dark Side. What is the hold up!?"
"I scoured the wood, and despite the Rangers interference I could find no sorcerers," Necra said as she started pacing, "Who else could help us," her sister asked nervously to the air before both turn back to Morticon and exclaim suddenly, "The Oracle, yes, he could answer all our questions."
"Bring him to me," Morticon chuckled darkly.
-
"Here you go Princess, a nice big yellow one," in the city an older man hands a balloon to a young girl walking with her mother, collecting his fare for his wares just as Necra swoops in and snatches the man up, flying right past Toby as he passes the man to load a box into his van.
Watching Necra fly off Toby forces a laugh, "OK I did NOT just see a giant bat."
-
Back in the Underworld Necra drops off the man and turns to Morticon, "I have brought him, as promised."
"Good," Morticon gloats, turning to the man.
"W-Whats going on," the man says timidly, looking around with terror, "W-what is this place."
"Do not test my patience," Morticon says storming over to the man, "I know who you are."
"I-I've never seen you before. Please let me out of here."
"I'll just pay a visit to the children with the balloons," Morticon threatens, "Would you like that?"
"Alright...Morticon." The man steps back, transforming into a younger version, with long blond locks and a beard.
"Talk about an extreme make over," Liera giggles, standing behind her other half.
"Now why have you taken me to this forsaken hole," The Oracle asks annoyed.
"You will use your special skills to help me find a way out of this pit." Morticon threatens, "You know what damage I can do."
"And you will help me find a way to bring out the darkness in my new daughter, the Pink Ranger, the one they call Vida," Necra grins madly.
"And you will help me find a pretty new dress to wear," Liera adds sternly.
Necra and Morticon glare at her as she shrinks away.
"Let us just see if there is a way," The Oracles says closing his eyes as he outstretches one hand, a third eye opening in the palm that he turns inward and gazes into a moment later.
"For the former the answer is simple: use the Gatekeeper to open the gate for you."
"If the gate was opened," Necra schemes, "your entire army could attack the surface world at once."
"Fool!" Morticon howls, "The Gatekeeper is no more, her life force was used sealing the gate."
"Ah but what you don't know is there is another."
Liera gasps, "Another Gatekeeper? Who is it?"
"That I can not see, only that it is someone close to the Power Rangers."
"The Troblin!" Necra announces!
"The Shop Keep!" Liera laughs!
The two glare at each other as they start to argue.
"Enough!" Morticon steams, "Take them both and be done with it!"
The girls shiver and nod as Necra turns to the Oracle, "And my request."
The Oracle peers into his 3rd eye again and simple whispers "It has already begun."
at a lonely bus stop a young man waits alone, as Vida appears as if out of the wind itself.
"Long wait," she smiles, flashing her fangs.
The man laughs nervously at the sight but tries to remain friendly, "A bit longer."
Vida leans in breathing in the mans aroma, "You have a nice cologne on."
"I'm not wearing cologne."
Vida hisses and bears her fangs as she strikes.
Clare hurries to the cauldron, throwing in odd ingredients here and there as Udonna enters from a side room, Chip is rummaging through several books, as Udonna get's closer to Clare she holds her nose a moment, "By the smell of it that potion is strong enough to ward off Morticon himself."
"This isn't a potion," Clare laughs, "This is our dinner."
Chip looks up, going a bit pale.
"I'll order take out," Vida quips as she makes her way in, Udonna wide eyed as she stares at the concoction.
"Didn't you says you were getting a bite to eat," Phineas muses.
"I was a joke, I can smell that stuff from the entrance!"
"Oh," suddenly Clare stops and turns toward Udonna looking to lighten the mood, "I've been practicing my invisibility spell...watch."
Waving her arms and magic cascades over her Chip suppresses a chuckle as only Clare's legs vanish. Udonna smiles friendly.
"Oh why do I even try," Clare admonishes herself, "At this rate I'll never become a sorceress."
Udonna is about to speak when Chip cuts in, "There is more to magic then potions and spells, you just gotta keep believing. I always believed I'd become a knight or wizard and now look at me I'm a Power Ranger."
Udonna nods.
"You really think I have potential," Clare muses.
"My dear apprentice," Udonna says motherly, "I am certain of it."
Clare smiles, "Then I'll keep working."
"Good."
Clare heading up a series of steps to another area of Rootcore, "With or without legs."
Turning her attention to Chip Udonna makes her way toward him, "And what are you so fervently researching Chip?"
Chip closes the book a moment, a serious look at his face as he measures his words, "I was thinking about Necrolai, I mean, she can't be all evil right? V was a vampire, she got better, there has to be a spell, something that can cure her, maybe without the influence of being a vampire she will become good." mentally adding, 'Besides if I can cut off Necrolai from being a vampire maybe it will also cure V.'
Udonna looks thoughtful, "A noble goal, but remember Necrolai has been a vampire a long time, there may be nothing left of the real her to save."
Chip sighs glancing sideling to Vida, "I know."
-
"A giant bat doesn't just swoop down out of the sky and carry people away," Toby says returning from his truck just as Liera swoops in and does just that.
She drops him off some distance away and advances toward him, "You will open the gates of the Underworld Gatekeeper."
"Gatekeeper? No, no you have got to have the wrong guy, I-I can't even find my car keys most of the time," Toby says timidly.
"Do not anger me," Liera says growling.
"Okay," Toby says as he run away Liera in hot pursuit.
Quickly catching up with him she grabs him, and spirits him away to the Underworld, "Maybe you'll be more cooperative with Morticon."
"W-Who?"
-
"You will raise the gates of the Underworld, Gatekeeper," Morticon says slamming his sword at Toby's feet, who scrambles to get away only to be blocked by Necra. Liera hiding in the shadows.
"That is not the Gatekeeper," The Oracle says flatly, moving over to Toby and grabbing his arm, "Now that is all the information I have so if you don't mind we will be on our way."
And in a ring of golden energy the two vanish, Morticon pointing his sword threateningly at Liera, "You said he was the Gatekeeper."
Liera huffs, "I said no such thing. All I said was Toby was the only non-ranger that was close to them." huffing again, "I can only get in so close with them. It's not like their going to tell all their secrets to a non-ranger."
Morticon slams his sword into ground, the dark energy knocking both women back, the twins quickly leap to their feet to appease Morticon.
"Morticon please," Liera pauses a moment before glancing at the pit of the Master, "I just had a great idea..."
Morticon huffs, "What is it!"
"We can't get the secrets of the Rangers without one on the inside," she moves to the Master and kneels, "Oh great Master if you could lend some of your power to my daughter, enough to push her over to the dark side we could have an agent on the inside."
The red light of the master answers them, tendrils of black energy lancing out to strike both girls.
Koragg watches from the shadows before turning to walk away, "To insure this mission's success I will attack from another front."
-
The Moon is high as Vida stalks the streets, looking for her next meal when Necra and Liera land behind her.
"What do you want," Vida hisses.
"Oh my child," Necra purrs, "We only come bearing a gift, deny it all you want but your one of us now and what kind of mother would I be if I didn't get my darling princess a gift now and again."
Liera rolls her eyes, "Laying it on a bit thick don't you think sis."
"Your not going to convince me to betray the Rangers you know."
"We know," they say together with a smile, but you are still family."
Vida crosses her arms in disgust as Liera holds out a jet black cupcake with a bring red cherry on top, one of several.
"Yeah I read this story when it was called Cinderella."
Liera takes a seat patting the curb next to her for Vida to join her, with hesitation she does, as Liera takes a bite of one of the cupcakes, a red liquid dribbling down her chin and out of the core of the pastry. "Their called Blood Cakes. I made then just for us to share. A peace offering among family, we may be on different sides during this war but we can still be cordial with each other...can't we?"
Vida licks her lips as she looks at the dripping crimson fluid and takes one of the cakes from the box, "Just one."
The Twins watch wide eyed as Vida takes a large bite, eyes closed in ecstasy.
"Sinfully good."
"Aren't they?"
"While I can't thank you enough for using your powers to give us less conspicuous forms," Alexis, now in the form of a wolf girl begins as the three sits naked around a campfire as they clothes dry a shot distance off on a line, "This is counter productive to our reason for being here."
LeeLee sighs as she gently scratches the ears of the unrecognizable breed of feline splayed across her lap that makes up Blecker, who is purring and licking LeeLee's free hand quite contentedly. LeeLee herself now in a far more conventional batlike appearance.
"Would you prefer we keep being hunted cause the people are afraid of a giant dragon, and a hybrid catgirl with horns and talons?"
Blecker sighs, rolling onto her back so LeeLee can rub her belly, "But how are we going to find my lineage like this without wearing my real face."
"We just have to ask around for the cow tribe, hope their more cordial and willing to talk, we can just pretend your a friend of the family, Nicole."
Blecker hisses, "I hate that name, it's not me….this body isn't me. Everything is wrong!" she starts to rant before sighing, "But fine...Nicole it is."
LeeLee smiles as she rubs Nicole's belly getting a purr from her before she starts to pet Alexi's head as she pulls them all in close, "Give mamma a big kiss now girls, we have a big day ahead of us."
Alexis and Nicole laugh and lean in as LeeLee bears her fangs in a large smile.
"Everyone come quick!" A woman says running into the Rock Porium, "There's a new Power Ranger fighting Necrolai!"
Maddie, Xander, Chip, Toby, and the costumers all flood out of the store, where Necra, sporting some wicked new bone weapons trades blows with a girl in black ranger gear. A blast of Necrolai's upgraded energy attacks sends the new Ranger rolling, "I wont let you get the Gatekeeper! S-Stay back," a mix of confidence and fear in the new Ranger's voice, she holds her right arm protectively.
"Let's give her a hand," Xander whispers, leading the other Rangers out of sight.
"Back off," The Green Ranger shouts as she lands in front of the new Ranger, the other 3 Rangers joining her shortly. The girls helping up the Black Ranger as the Chip charges Necra.
"Are you alright?" Blue asks cautiously.
"M-My arm," Black says before dropping to one leg.
"Looks like your leg's in bad shape too, come on." Green adds, helping Black to limp off, the Boys continue to hold off Necrolai.
"You will not keep me from finding the Gatekeeper any more then that girl did!" Necra gloats and she blasts the Rangers with an energy wave.
Once out of sight of the general populace in an ally the Black Ranger's power crashes revealing...
"Vida?" Green says surprised, "Why are you black?"
Blue waves her MagiStaff over Vida's wounds but can't heal them, "I think we need to take her to Udonna. These wounds are to hard to heal."
Vida nods but quickly the world goes black, the last thing she hears in Blue panicking, "No, don't go to sleep!"
-
Vida wakes up in Rootcore, and the first thing she notices is Udonna looming over her her wrist to her mouth, her fangs, her body feeling much better, "You should be fine now child."
Vida smiles sheepishly, "So cats out of the bag."
"You're still a vampire, why didn't you tell me!" Madison admonishes.
"I didn't want to worry you, besides I have it under control, I'm not going to the dark side any time soon!"
"Your Ranger Form says otherwise," Udonna explains as she wraps her wrist, "And with Nick gone we are down a Pink Ranger."
"I'll do it!" Manticore leaps up suddenly.
"Do….what?" Xander looks confused.
"You need a new Pink Ranger I'll do it! Please I want to make amends! I want to dace with people, to have fun! Make me a Ranger!"
"He has my vote."
"Mine too."
"Mine 3, if it counts for anything," Vida says sheepishly.
Udonna nods, "We need to act quickly before the power is lost for good, Vida, Manticore, come with me."
"Remember Clare," she says confidently her legs still invisible, "You have potential." Focusing her magic the rest of her vanishes, excited she hurries back into Rootcore, "I did it! I did it! I have to show Udonna."
As she enters she sees the Rangers gathered around Vida and a new girl offering both tea, before Chip comments, "This Gatekeeper, do you have any clue who Necrolai was talking about?"
Udonna pauses looking haunted a moment as she turns back to face the Rangers, "The Gatekeeper was a powerful Sorceress named Niella, she was my sister." Udonna gathers herself before continuing, "Niella cast a spell that sealed the gate and banished Morticon and his armies to the Underworld. The spell was so strong that it depleted all of her life force. When the gate was lowered to the depths Niella was gone," pausing again Udonna regained her composure, smiling sadly, "but her spirit lives on in my heart and through the legacy of her heir."
"She had a child," Maddie inquires, Vida smiling.
"Yes, and I fear that is who Necrolai is seeking."
"So we have to find the child first, and protect them," Vida adds.
"You wont have to look far," Udonna answers, "Niella's daughter and the heir to the Gatekeeper's power is Clare!"
Just then Clare's invisibility spell wears off, she stands shocked as everyone looks to her, and runs off.
-
Now walking through the woods a despondent Clare stops to sit on a log, Udonna magically appearing beside her, "Thank goodness I found you."
Clare sighs
"What are you doing out here alone?"
"Nothing."
"I don't blame you for being upset at m-"
"It's just not fair Udonna," Clare interrupts, "Being the Gatekeeper is my legacy, you can't keep that power from me forever."
"Clare," Udonna starts softly, "there are things you just don't understand."
"I understand," Clare says about to cry, "You don't think I can handle it because...I'm incompetent, and bumbling, and clumsy an-"
"Exactly like your mother was," Udonna say smiling.
Clare looks over confused
"You are so much like her."
"But I though she was such a great Sorceress," Clare chokes on her words.
"Oh she was," Udonna say reassuringly, "but not at first," holding back a laugh as she continues, "In fact she blew up our cottage quite a few times getting her spells right."
Clare smiles, "Then w-wh-"
"I promised her I would always keep you from harm. I've tried my best to keep that promise."
"And you have," Clare starts to smile, "I couldn't have asked for a better protector, or a better Aunt."
"Someday you'll be ready to take on your mother's legacy," Udonna encourages, "but not today."
Suddenly a Spell seal appears, Koragg and Necra appearing.
"Hand over the Gatekeeper," Necra demands.
"Clare get out of her," Udonna says as she quickly morphs.
"Right," Clare says running.
Necrolai gives chase, easily catching up to Clare, she tries to blast Necra back with a magic spell but only manages to push her back a few feet, Necra grabs Clare as Koragg and the White Ranger battle. Pinning Clare Necra takes a firm grip of Clare's head, "By the power of the Gatekeeper, let the Gate rise up." she demands pumping dark magic into Clare who screams in pain and collapses at Necra's feet.
"Bah, she is not strong enough." Necra hisses charging the White Ranger and knocking her to the ground from behind before grabbing and pinning her arms, "Koragg now!"
Slowly the three of them begin to sink into a spell seal, "You will find a way to get strong enough to raise the gate or you will never see your precious White Ranger again."
-
"Rangers help, Udonna's been captured," Clare shouts urgently as she runs back into Rootcore, only to find it empty, Checking the orb she sees they have headed back to the Rock Porium, except Xander who is flitting about the forest and quickly contacts them. The Rangers arriving shortly. Clare relating her story.
"And Koragg said he wouldn't release her unless I find a way to raise the gate."
"What's the plan?" Chip wonders.
"We challenge Koragg to a fight, winner gets Udonna," Manticore chimes in. "I know a place where the seal is weakest and Koragg should be able to hear us."
The Ranger hurrying off as Clare looks to a crown floating in the air, "G-Good luck Rangers."
-
At the beach-side the Ranger gather ready Koragg appearing through a dark seal.
"For the White Witch and the Gatekeeper, prepare yourselves."
The Ranger take a ready stance, Red leading the charge, clashing blades with Koragg, "You will return Udonna to us."
"That remains to be seen," Koragg muses before launching a wolf attack, sending Red flying back, "The Master has given me more power since our last battle!"
"Vine power!" The Green Ranger announces as several vines spring up and wrap around Koragg. After a moments struggle he breaks free, Hammering the Green Ranger with another wolf attack.
The Pink Ranger tornados in, Koragg raising his sword to block as he is pushed back several feet before kicking the tornado and sending Pink flying.
Yellow, Black, and Blue blast Koragg with their elemental attacks, forcing him back further, "Impressive Rangers, but still not good enough."
Koragg charges forward cutting through the ranks of the Rangers before turning around and hammering them with several Wolf Attacks in succession.
-
Liera looks on from a corner as Udonna, now reduced to a small size and imprisoned inside a magical barrier, her snow staff mounted in an alcove on the wall, Udonna noticing despite Liera's best efforts, "You are not like your twin, are you child, I sense a light in side you."
Liera inches out of the darkness, "Yeah, I'm all the good elements of Necrolai, my sister is all her darker impulses."
Udonna smiles, "Take my snow staff, child."
Liera hesitates but slowly approaching the mounted staff and takes it down from the alcove, it glows gently and giggles, "It's warm."
"It's reacting to the good magic inside of you."
"Good...magic...in me?"
Udonna smiles.
"I have won, bring the Gatekeeper forth or I will destroy the White Witch." Koragg gloats, the Rangers prone on the ground.
"I'm right here!" Clare says running in, the crown in one hand as she blasts Koragg with a mystical burst.
Koragg gloats, "Show me your power Gatekeeper."
Clare slips the crown on her head, flowing robes appearing on her, "Power of the Shining Moon, behold the Gatekeeper." stretching out her hand she summons an ornate silver staff.
Koragg scoffs, "Is that all the Gatekeeper can do, change clothes? You waste my time."
Clare thrusts the staff upward, silver-blue bolts of energy rain down around Koragg.
He laughs, "Impressive Gatekeeper, now turn yourself over."
"Not without a fight!"
"So be it!" Koragg goats, Clare charging as he counters with a Wolf Attack.
Clare attacks fiercely, forcing Koragg on the defensive parrying her staff with his shield as they fly back toward the cliff face, scaling it with Care pressing her advantage. A backhand slap from Koragg sends Clare down, and he pursues keeping his sword sheathed in his shield as he parries Clare's attack with his free arm.
Koragg leaps back as Clare leaps into the air, striking him with her staff by extending it before hammering him with an energy field that hold him in it's vice grip a few moments, unable to attack. The attack sends Koragg sliding back several feet.
"She is strong."
Before Koragg can recover Clare launches a crescent wave of energy at him, tearing up the ground in it's path, but he absorbs the attack with the Eye of the Master in his shield and laughs.
"Quite impressive I must admit," Koragg complements before counter attacking with his Wolf Attack.
Clare raises a barrier to block the attack, Koragg pouring more power into his attack until Clare is blasted back.
"That's true power."
Growing frustrated Clare gets back to her feet, "I'm done playing." as she invokes another transformation, into her giant form, the Shining Moon Warrior. Koragg counters with the Centaurus Wolf Megazord.
The Shining Moon Warrior opens with an energy blast before tying up Koragg with a laser rope, going for the finisher by creating an energy disc and launching it at Koragg. Necra watches from below wondering if The Gatekeeper could actually defeat Koragg.
"It won't be that easy," Koragg growls, the eye of the Master breaking the energy rope as he raises his spear to stop the disc attack, "No more holding back, witness the strength of the Master himself." Koragg warns as he prepares his own finishing attack, hammering Clare with his dark magic strike.
Clare collapses back to the ground, back to normal size, and out of the Shining Moon Warrior form but still in her Gatekeeper garb. Necrolai is quick to grab Clare as the Rangers recover their energies and move to attack.
"By the power of the Gatekeeper, let the gate rise up," Necra says once more forcing dark power into Clare, this time as she screams in pain a bolt of energy shoots for the crown and the Gates of the Underworld rise. Before the Rangers can react Necra and Koragg vanish into the underworld.
Koragg gloats as they vanish, "The Gargoyle of the Gate will take care of you Rangers."
As if on cue one of the stone gargoyles on the gate, the one above the actual doors themselves comes to life, in full giant form and nearly crushes the Rangers underfoot.