Episode 15: Part 2
The air rippled and a narrow glowing curtain of magic energy parted ways allowing for safe passage. That afternoon, the knights and their Vanguard Ranger allies gathered near the outskirts of the town preparing to cross over into the Hinterlands, the void between dimensions. As they waited in the remote forest preserve grove near the rocky edge of the valley, Mr. O'Doyle tapped his Druid staff on the ground and chanted a few more ancient Gaelic words before giving a nod in front of the stabilized portal. "All right, it's safe to cross over now. I'm not powerful enough to hold the gate open the whole time so we'll have to leave a pixie beacon for you to signal me on the other side. That will act as your lifeline for me to tug you back."
"Thank you for doing this," Kristen said putting an appreciative hand on the elder's shoulder. She gripped her own staff and summoned a small green pixie which crossed over safely into the other side of the portal.
"Are you sure this beacon is going to work?" Stephen asked with apprehension in his voice. To everyone's surprise, Quinton was the first to step forward and cross over bravely.
"Come on everyone. People are in trouble. We don't have time."
Joe and Kara exchanged an amused look while Bishop shrugged, "Well... this is far from the craziest thing we've ever done. Let's go."
Not to be outdone or left behind, Laura immediately followed next and led the other knights through the portal. When they emerged, the rescue party found itself in what looked to be a dark colorless gray woodland with hazy fog and barren leafless trees. A slight wind rustled the branches and helped give off a greater feeling of desolation and emptiness.
"Welcome to the Hinterlands," Kristen said grimly as she checked the stationary green pixie beacon and began leading the way forward with her glowing staff. Joe ignited his Keyrune artifact like a torch to add more light while Kara bent down to examine the ground. She had been trained in many aspects of being a warrior and tracking was one such useful skill she was proficient in.
"Do you see anything?" Noelle asked hopefully while the others fanned out in a defensive formation.
Kara looked up and gestured forward in one direction, "It looks like a large group of something passed this way not long ago. If we hurry, we may be able to catch up."
Everyone fell in line and began a quick march following Kara as she guided them and followed the tracks though the dark desolate woods.
"Geez. This place gives me the creeps," Connor remarked quietly as they walked, "It's got a very Blair Witch Project vibe going on."
"Lucky for us, we're a lot better prepared to handle monsters," Laura muttered in reply as she warily kept her eyes open for trouble.
The party advanced onward until Kara halted abruptly and looked around slowly, "Something isn't right here. We're not alone."
Everyone tensed up in quiet dread before Quinton spotted something out the corner of his eye and pointed it out, "Over there, by those trees!"
Noelle quickly pulled her own curved blade and hurled the projectile weapon with a gust of Autumn Wind. The spinning blade chased after a dark moving figure rustling in the brush, forcing it to jump out of cover. He was immediately surrounded by the rescue party with their weapons drawn threateningly. He was a demon warrior with a slim but lean build. Unlike the warriors of the demon house Phoenix, he wore different armor and colors hinting at shades of blue.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Connor growled as he put the tip of his sword threateningly to the neck of the scout.
The demon eyed his captors for a long moment before raising his hands slowly in surrender, "I am Nerath, a scout of House Leviathan. I am here to spy on the soldiers of House Phoenix while they wait here to return to the Underworld."
From where he stood, Professor Bishop frowned thoughtfully, "House Leviathan... I remember reading bits and pieces about your demon houses in various texts. You are enemies of House Phoenix."
"They are enemies of everyone," Nerath snorted, "They are ambitious, power hungry, and cannot be trusted... even among our own kind."
Everyone looked to Bishop while he kept a level eye on the demon, "The faerie tithe... you're suspecting foul play? That they may be cheating somehow?"
Nerath smiled slyly, "I know they're cheating. They're in charge of collecting the tithe this time, but they're taking more prisoners than necessary... most likely to skim a few souls off the top before the other houses get a cut."
Joe's expression grew firmer before he waved the others on, "Connor, let him go. The hostages are still in danger and we have what we need."
Connor blinked in surprise before lowering his weapon, "We do? What?"
"Leverage," the Red Ranger replied as he and Kara led the way forward. Stephen watched as the Leviathan scout retreated back into the fog of the woods but kept his bow at the ready to fire at the first sign of deception.
"We're just going to let that demon walk away? He might give away our position," the Silver Knight noted.
Bishop shook his head, "No. The information about the Phoenix troops is too valuable to his house. We are not a threat to Leviathan right now."
"Enemy of my enemy is my friend, eh?" Laura concluded with a grim smile.
Up ahead, Kara stopped the rescue party and had them take cover behind a small forest ridge. Everyone looked down the hill to where the joint demon-Elven encampment was set up. The glows of a few campfires lit up the lip of the hill while a few sentries lazily milled about.
"All right, what's the plan?" Noelle asked as she peeked again over the lip of the ridge.
Kara grimaced as she turned to the others, "A direct attack would be unwise. The encampment is heavily guarded and the prisoners are out in the open. They'll be exposed to greater risk."
"What if we hit them from different sides and split their forces apart?" Connor suggested. We can use the darkness and terrain to our advantage."
Joe gave a grim smile, "I like it. Okay… Kara and I will start by drawing off the demon troops. Connor, Noelle, and Laura, you three keep the fey forces busy. Kristen, Bishop, Stephen and Quinton will be in charge of getting in and rescuing the hostages."
"It's about time," Stephen grinned as he readied his bow, "Let's get them!"
The knights and Rangers all morphed or summoned their armor and weapons, even Professor Bishop who donned a suit of angelic half plate armor with a red surcoat over it, marking him as the Herald of the Vanguard Rangers. Kristen couldn't help but smile and playfully nudge her old teacher, "It's been a while Professor. It still looks good on you."
Bishop gave an amused snort while Laura began to lead their section of the rescuers around the hills, "Good luck everyone. Let's hope this works."
Down in the demon camp, the warriors of House Phoenix milled about enjoying the gloomy darkness and chill of the Hinterland woods. The commander Malcaris sat near his tent poking at the hot coals of the fire before looking up in surprise. No sooner had he glanced over was when he heard the panicked cries of his troops while two winged Power Rangers swooped from above and began strafing the camp. Amid the confusion and chaos, the majority of demons scrambled to give chase to the Rangers as they darted off into the fog of the woods.
Meanwhile, at the other side of camp, the Summer, Winter, and Autumn Knights all charged in with weapons and armor at the ready and began to wreak havoc among the startled Elven camp of Spring and Autumn soldiers. Amid the disorder and calamity, the hostage college students all watched in shock from their little pen where they had been corralled. Kayla was the first to look around the campsite in shock, "What… what is going on here?"
Leanansidhe suppressed a smirk as she saw the knights battling their way past the sentries, "I think help just arrived… from the most unusual people."
At the corner of the pen, a demon guard cried out as a silver arrow whistled through the air and struck him in the head. As he crumpled to the dirt, the other demon guard was battered aside by a shield bash from Bishop and felled by a crushing mace blow. While the demons and their fey allies were distracted by the diversion attacks, Kristen raised a protective ward from her staff to shield everyone around her in the area. Quinton rushed in and destroyed the hostage fences with his weapons before starting to cut their bonds. He quickly freed each prisoner until he stopped and stared at the captive Leanansidhe. She raised her hands in a neutral gesture and grimaced, "These are unusual circumstances Spring Knight. You have my solemn word as a fey that I will not harm you or use treachery today."
Quinton glared at her for a moment before giving a nod and cutting her cold iron shackles with his sickle, "I guess the Summer Knight will be glad to hear it."
As Leanansidhe stepped aside, Quinton came to Kayla last and cut her bonds. He took her hands in his and gave a gentle squeeze, "Thank God you're okay. Kayla… I'm here now."
The girl blinked and gave a puzzled look to the knight, "Sorry… have we met?"
"Sort of," Quinton said behind his visor, "There's someone waiting for you back home. I'm here to bring you back to him."
Their tender moment was interrupted as a fresh band of demon troops entered the battle, having returned from a patrol. Stephen fired off several quick shots with his bow and called out, "Heads up everyone! We've got company!"
Kristen hurried to regroup the hostages while Bishop and Stephen moved to block the foot soldiers. At the head of the enemy party, the hulking warrior Gorgoroth had returned and pushed through to met Quinton in battle. "There you are Spring Knight! This time, I'm not going to show you any mercy!"
Quinton growled and locked weapons with the enemy, "Funny, I don't remember asking you for any."
The battle continued to rage as Quinton deflected the demon's great sweeping club blows while using his relative speed and agility to his advantage. As he slipped under the guard of Gorgoroth, Quinton drove his sword into the flank of his foe while hamstringing the demon's thigh with his scythe. Gorgoroth roared in pain and desperately lashed out with a backhand to swat his enemy away. Quinton braced himself and took the blow, rolling to the ground in a stunned heap.
As Quinton shook off the blow and struggled to rise, he realized his helmet had been knocked off, now exposing his face to Kayla who stood staring in shock from the sidelines of the fight. The wounded demon trudged forward and raised his club to land a crushing blow, "This is it Spring Knight… the end."
Before Gorgoroth could wind up completely, a female figure leapt up upon his back and drove a long dagger into the side of his neck. Quinton gaped in shock as Leanansidhe protected him and fixed him with a serious glare, "Hurry Spring Knight. End it now!"
Quinton gave a dumb nod as he swept up his sword and rose to his feet. He surged forward and charged as much Spring Thunder into his weapon as he could before driving it into the chest of his monstrous enemy. Leanansidhe leapt away just in time for the lightning to detonate and incinerate Gorogorth from the inside out. A bright flash of light lit up the woods amid a thundering boom while the demon's club exploded into shrapnel.
Quinton reeled sideways before Kayla rushed to his side and propped him up. "Quinton! Oh my gosh! Are you okay?"
The Spring Knight gave a tired smile and squeezed her hand, "I'm okay… everything is fine now."
Kayla gave a relieved nod and tenderly touched his cheek, gently wiping away some of the dirt, "I had no idea… you… a knight, who came to save me."
"Let's save the reunion for later, huh? We've got to get out of here," Stephen interrupted as he bashed aside the last demon soldier and signaled the others to fall back along with Kristen. As Quinton and Kayla joined them, the other knights disengaged from their own battle with the fey contingent of the camp. While they regrouped, Joe and Kara emerged from the woods and hurried to rejoin their party.
Both Vanguard Rangers had powered down to conserve energy and stopped at the edge of the camp as the other demon commander Malcaris stood in their way. The demon produced his rapier and sneered, "You're not going anywhere Rangers."
"Stand aside demon," Joe said sternly while gripping his own saber, "Your scheme is over."
Malcaris shook his head, "We can always return for more souls, but I won't lose my chance to kill two Rangers. You have no idea how feared and hated you Rangers are among my kind."
"We don't have time for your nonsense," Kara growled as she surged forward and locked blades with the monster. As she skillfully engaged Malcaris in combat, she opened a lane of attack for Joe to make a decisive sword thrust. Instead, the demon shoved her aside and blew a powerful jet of fire from his mouth to ward off his other attacker.
Joe raised his guard to protect himself, but Kara was too fast and interposed herself with her twin scimitars. Her crossed blades absorbed the impact of the fireblast, digging her heels into the ground, until the sheer force twisted her ankle and threw her aside. Despite his surprise at Kara's sudden action to protect him, Joe charged his own saber with fire and brought it around with a powerful slash to the face of the demon. Malcaris howled as the tip of the searing blade raked his face and the force of the blow sent him hurtling backwards into the dark treeline.
As Joe hurried over to help, some of the other knights backtracked to help fend off the joint demon-Elven pursuers. The Red Ranger helped Kara sit up and shook his head, "Kara, what were you thinking just now? You didn't have to do that."
"I made a promise to your wife Claire that I'd protect you, remember?" the Gold Ranger snorted as she took a moment to regain her senses. Kara gave a pained grunt and tried to rise but she fell back to one knee. Noelle immediately rushed forward to beat off the renewed attack of some advancing demons and cover her ally. "Kara, are you okay?"
"A minor sprain I think," she replied with another grunt knowing that it would have been much more severe had she been a normal human, "I'll recover shortly,"
"We don't have the time. We've got to get out of here," Joe said while hurrying over and scooping up his comrade in his arms, "Now it's my turn to look out for you."
Kara gave a mild grumble of protest before nodding her head and letting him carry her. As they fell back with the captured students led by Bishop and Kristen, Connor and Stephen moved to help Noelle cover the retreat against the enemy forces. The Autumn Knight charged up a powerful gust of wind and threw back a squad of Elven soldiers with a swing of her sword as Connor followed up and slashed the ground, erecting a temporary wall of tall flames to slow down their pursuers. From the flank, Stephen sniped a couple demon troops with his bow before charging a shot and firing into the dark skies.
The three knights immediately fell back and retreated with their allies as the arrow burst apart and rained down a deadly hail of silvery energy bolts, killing several more demon soldiers. Meanwhile, at the head of the party, Kristen pushed through the mists of the Hinterland woods to try and reach the portal space which Mr. O'Doyle was waiting to open the way back. She glanced back and saw Professor Bishop and Quinton helping several of the students over some fallen logs and debris while the other knights continued their running battle against their pursuers. As she looked back ahead toward the escape point, Kristen intensified the glowing tip of her staff to light the way and froze when she spotted a new small host of Elven troops from Summer and Winter headed toward them from the opposite direction. To her shock and dismay, she felt despair sinking in her stomach realizing they weren't going to make it to the portal. They had been effectively boxed in.
She halted the rescue party as the forces of Summer and Winter led by Lords Gwydion and Sigurd neared. As they caught up with the head of the party, Joe and Kara stopped and watched with dread as Gwydion drew his sword and slowly stepped forward toward Kristen, "Stand down Sister Bloom. I have no intention to harm a Druid but your allies must all surrender. They are interfering in an important matter to our people."
Kristen shook her head and stood her ground alongside Professor Bishop, "Lord Gwydion… you are someone I trust but you have to understand, I'm looking out for my fellow humans. They are innocent people who shouldn't get caught between the fey and the demons. Neither side has a true claim to these souls."
Sigurd scowled as the demon forces from the rear began to catch up, "That may be, but better them than the Courts sacrificing its own people. Your children there were weak and helpless. If they let themselves be captured so easily, I don't see why we can't do this."
"The Elf Lord is right," the disfigured Malcaris wheezed as he approached from the rear of the demons encircling the rescue party. "To us, they are nothing but property that was taken by force."
From within the ranks of the prisoners, Kayla gave a fearful whimper before Quinton put his arms over the girl to protect her. Connor, Laura, Noelle, and Bishop tensed and tightened the grips of their weapons while Stephen raised his bow and drew back a shot threateningly.
"This is not looking good at all," Laura muttered as she charged her rapier with wintery energy, "We could really use a lot more firepower now."
Kara cleared her throat and gave a nod to Joe as he set her down, then turned to Professor Bishop. In an instant, Bishop summoned a glowing ball of golden light and handed it off to the Ranger. Joe raised the ball of light and transfigured it into a magnificent golden trumpet. He sounded the horn and a clear loud clarion call rang out over the Hinterlands causing the trumpet to erupt into a brilliant burst of celestial fire and light. Where a Ranger once stood was now a magnificent six winged Seraphim angel, clad in runic armor and wreathed in a fiery aura.
Everyone stepped back and shied away in momentary fear at the sight of the brilliant fiery Seraphim angel before them. Only Bishop, Kara, and Kristen remained where they stood, watching calmly while the demons, the faerie warriors, and even the knights backed down in awe. Leanansidhe trembled slightly while Quinton put his arms over a frightened Kayla to reassure her that everything was going to be okay. As the Red Seraphim lit up the Hinterlands with brilliant vibrant light, Joe spoke in a loud thundering voice, channeling the ancient spirit of Archangel Auriel. "Enough! This conflict ends here and now!"
Like a radiant judge, he extended his hand toward the cowering demons and fixed a stern gaze on the severely injured Malcaris, "You demons will relinquish your claim to these mortal souls and end your tithe for this season. I order you to leave this place and return to your realm!"
Malcaris sat up weakly and gave a venomous look while he wheezed, "You arrogant Ranger! You intend to intimidate us and rebuke us into doing your will? House Phoenix will not stand for this treatment."
"We have it on good authority that your house uses its position as tithe collectors to your advantage," Bishop called out loudly, "What if the other demon houses were to learn that your house skims some payment off the top and keeps it for itself? Would you risk even more internal war between your kind?"
Malcaris growled and knew that he had no leverage to fight back against that, "Very well. What am I supposed to tell my superiors for coming back empty handed then?"
"That is not my problem," Joe answered before turning to the faerie soldiers led by Lords Gwydion and Sigurd, "As for you… the fey are to return to your realm and give up your claim to these mortals as well. You will not take innocent humans from Somerset Valley to pay your tithe."
Sigurd clenched his fists and scowled, "You have great power mortal, but you dare speak to us Sidhe lords like that? As if you can tell us what to do?"
The Seraphim spread his six wings and gave off a warning flare from his fiery aura, "I don't answer to you. You're in no position to threaten me."
Gwydion kept a stony expression and stepped forward to ease his Winter counterpart's outrage, "You understand what you're doing? The demons have not been paid. They may attack the Faerie Realm."
Like an angelic arbiter, Joe shook his head and glanced at the demons once more, "Tell your superiors that this tithe has been cancelled. If they attempt to attack the Faerie Realm, I will stand in their way and guarantee the Elves' protection."
Gwydion grimaced before nodding, "That will be satisfactory Ranger. We will withdraw."
Everyone watched in shock as the demons and the fey both retreated back and opened portals, leaving the Hinterlands to the hostages, the knights and their allies. Once both supernatural factions had left, the angel's fiery aura dissipated and the Red Vanguard Ranger floated down, returned to his original human form. Kristen hurried over and helped support the exhausted Ranger. To hold that super-powered form for that long had been physically taxing and expended a great amount of power.
"Now that was badass," Connor said with an impressed smile.
With the forests empty and clear, Laura took one more look around before heading for the pixie beacon. "Come on everyone... Mr. O'Doyle is waiting. I think it's time to go home."
After having safely crossed back over, the knights, Rangers, and hostages took a moment to breathe after their harrowing ordeal of almost getting sacrificed to the dark powers. As they milled about the glade and chatted, O'Doyle looked to Kristen, "I'll take the students back to my tavern. I can mix a draught for them to drink and fog their memories of the whole event."
Kristen nodded but pointed over toward where Quinton and Kayla stood off to the side, talking quietly and holding hands. She smiled kindly, "If it's okay Sean... maybe make an exception for that one."
Quinton sheepishly smiled again as he continued addressing Kayla after the battle, "Listen Kay... about what I was trying to say the other day, before all this craziness..."
Kayla smiled and put a finger to his lips to silence him, "It's okay Quinton. I had time to think about all that while I was captured... time to think about how good a friend you are to me, about how kindhearted and brave you were... and now this. The answer is yes."
"Yes? To what?" Quinton stammered.
Kayla gave her answer by putting her arms around him and kissing him. As the Spring Knight stood in delirious bliss holding her, he glanced over to see his fellow knights all watching in amusement. Noelle gushed while Laura gave an approving nod and Connor winked, adding a thumbs up.
Before he could go over to speak to Quinton, Leanansidhe walked over slowly toward him and regarded the knight with a curious expression. "Connor... you came for me. You came to help rescue me too?"
"Well... sure," Connor answered, "I mean... if we were friends... if we are friends, then of course I'd come. It's the right thing to do."
"Yes... I suppose you're right," Leanansidhe said still wearing a neutral expression.
Everyone was suddenly cut off as a pack of spriggan soldiers entered the glade along with some lesser Fomorian lieutenants. The one at the lead called out, "Lady Leanansidhe... Lord Balor has sent us to fetch you. He feared something might have happened."
Leanansidhe nodded and gestured for the Fomorian troops to stand down and not attack everyone else. She turned to look at the knights and then to the Summer Knight, "Thank you Connor. It's possible we may be friends... but it doesn't change the fact that we are still enemies. We'll leave in peace today... but we will meet again on the battlefield."
"Next time," Connor agreed solemnly while watching Leanansidhe depart with her armed escorts.
After the Fomorians retreated, O'Doyle clapped his hands, "Well everyone, it's been a long day and I'm sure all of us here can use a drink to settle their nerves. Come with me. I've got just the thing."
The next day, the knights gathered with the Vanguard Rangers in the pub along with Bishop, Kristen, and Mr. O'Doyle for a debriefing of the rescue mission. Kara had her ankle taped up and was nursing a glass of wine while Joe and Kristen each took a small tumbler of whiskey. Stephen cleared his throat and turned to their older allies, "You know, we really couldn't have pulled all that off without your help over the last couple days. Thank you guys."
"It was our pleasure," Bishop nodded kindly, "I think we got to make a few new friends here and we got to get a chance at kicking demon butts out of college campuses again."
"I don't know about you, but it was a real honor being able to work along side you guys, especially you Professor Bishop," Laura added enthusiastically while holding out one of her books, "Uh... would it be too much to ask for an autograph and pictures?"
Everyone laughed again as Bishop signed the book and let the Winter Knight take some selfies with him, Joe, and Kara.
Noelle was next to pipe up and ask, "So... now that our town is safe again, what are you three going to do?"
"It's best we return home soon, "Kara said after a sip of wine, "We've been away for too long."
"Are you sure it isn't because you might miss the Big Green Ox who's keeping an eye on things back home?" Joe smiled playfully.
Kara gave a mild scowl and gently pushed his shoulder, "For your baby son's sake, I'll spare your life this time."
After another round of laughter died down, Bishop scratched his chin, "I took a little extra time off. I think I may stop in to Boston to visit another colleague of mine. He said he had an extra ticket to a baseball game. The professor reached into his briefcase before putting a White Sox cap on his head.
Kristen cleared her throat and looked to their guests, "Well... I don't know about you, but I was thinking we could all just take one more day to hang out and catch up. It's not like we had a whole lot of time for fun between all the battles."
Joe Hale looked to the smiling faces of the five knights and the hopeful look of his old friend and classmate. He sat back down at the bar with a smile and gestured to Mr. O'Doyle for a refill in his glass, "Well Miss Bloom, even the best lawyer knows when he's got a losing case. Might as well settle and make the best of it, right? Another round for everyone on me Mr. O."
A/N:
Sorry for the minor delay everyone. I've been really tied up with work, plus this week has been a bit crazy to say the least... especially for those of us here in the US. I really don't like making soapbox speeches here, but I think this is important and has to be said. In the spirit of Neutrality, Forgiveness, and Peace, let's all keep in mind the significance of today's date November 11: Armistice Day.
Today marked the day when the bitter fighting and horrors of World War I stopped, so let's all try to do the same and peacefully reconcile any hard feelings or hostility, no matter which side of the political aisle you might identify with. A team of Power Rangers is made up of many different people with different ways of doing things or seeing the world. That team is only great and successful when each member works together for the good of the whole. That's why I sincerely implore all of us to try and be the same way and work toward the mutual good of our own great country... to Make America Even Better. Thanks for reading and listening everyone. Hope you enjoyed this little crossover.