Chapter 3: A Photomare in Angel Grove

(Moon Palace)

Very rarely was Lord Zedd happy. Usually he was in a foul mood and you were lucky if all he did was yell. But today was a day for celebration, and celebrate he did. And one thing was for certain: he's a lot scarier when he's happy.

Scorpina and Goldar just watched him dance around, waving his staff wildly.

"YES! YES, YES, YES! OH, THIS IS PERFECT! THOSE POWER RANGERS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN SNIVELING, SNOT NOSED BRATS! I'M SO HAPPY, I COULD SING!"

Goldar stepped forward, sword at the ready.

"My Lord now is the perfect time to strike! Now that the Power Rangers are powerless, Scorpina and I should take advantage of their weakness and attack Angel Grove!"

Lord Zedd laughed, bringing the both of them into a hug to their discomfort.

"Oh, lighten up, Goldar! You two have been working too hard. Take a load off, relax. Maybe now you two lovebirds can finally have some alone time."

At this, Scorpina and Goldar broke away in disgust.

"What? Me, date that oversized furball? As if."

"Oh, like you're any better looking."

Lord Zedd cackled at their quarrel.

"Ah, young love. But you do have a point Goldar, this is the perfect time to strike."

Lord Zedd strode triumphantly over to the balcony, staff poised at the ready.

"Time to say cheese, Angel Grove!"

Lightning crackled out, flying towards Angel Grove high.

"Alright, next please."

Picture day at Angel Grove was moving at a snail's pace. With only one photographer, it would all day.

"Man, this is boring. I wish something exciting would happen."

The photographer soon got his wish when lightning struck his equipment, missing him by mere inches.

"What the-"

"Oh, you must be new here. This quite actually a common occurrence."

When the lightning settled down, the camera equipment had formed into a humanoid monster, with a camera for a body.

"Say cheese!"

Everyone gathered in the gym screamed in terror as the camera monster laughed.

"Don't worry, Photomare won't hurt you. Now come on, give me a smile!"

With a flash of light, a group of five students disappeared, replaced with a picture showing them running in terror. Photomare picked it up in triumph.

"Now that's a picture that says a thousand words! Now to do Lord Zedd's bidding."

Zordon, Alpha, and the rangers watched in horror through the viewing globe.

"Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi! The Photomare monster can capture people in pictures!"

"We can't let this guy keep doing this? We need to do something."

"Aisha's right, guys. Come on!"

"No."

The six rangers looked up at Zordon in disbelief.

"I'm sorry, rangers, but in your current state you are in no position to fight. If anything were to happen to any of you, I could never forgive myself."

"But Zordon, we can't let this freak tear apart Angel Grove!"

"I'm sorry, rangers, but until we can find a way to restore you to your proper ages, we can't take the risk."

Billy thought for a minute.

"Perhaps if I took a sample of the Rock of Time to study, I can find a way to reverse the effects."

"Yes, but how will we retrieve it."

Alpha 5 stepped forward.

"I'll go. The Rock of Time has no effect on inorganic matter."

"Be careful, Alpha. Once Lord Zedd detects where you are, he will stop at nothing to destroy you."

"I will be Zordon."

"Wait, Alpha, before you go."

Alpha leaned down to face Kimberly.

"Yes, Kimberly?"

To his shock, Kimberly lunged at him, enveloping him in a big hug, followed by the rest. Alpha was shocked at first, but returned the hug happily.

"Be careful, Alpha. We don't want to loose you."

"Don't worry, Rangers. I promise I'll make it back safely."

Once the hug broke apart, Alpha disappeared in a flash of light.