Before they could blink, Jarrod and Camile had disappeared from the Pai Zhua academy before landing with a hard thump on a solid stone surface.
Their arrival hadn't been the smoothest, their bodies were tangled together making it difficult to stand up. A few hundred metres away from a small property, sitting on a bed of clouds. The gothic pillars reminded Camile of a small temple or shrine, a fitting place for the mistress of light magic, "The fuck?", Camile began. Almost instantly Jarrod looked down and shrugged, "Huh, that was unexpected".
"So is the house on a bed of clouds", Jarrod shrugged, "one thing I've learned since encountering the Power Rangers, you just have to go with the flow".
The house began to glow softly, almost inviting the two to visit, "Maybe we should see if someone's home", Camile urged, "this place".
Agreeing with Camile's suggestion, Jarrod walked path towards the property. As they got a little closer, they noticed there was no door, "How are we going to get inside?" Jarrod asked.
"Shhh", Camile cut in front of Jarrod, "I think I hear voices".
Jarrod too could hear some noise coming from inside the property, only it wasn't what she expected to hear from the home of the Mystic Mother. There were two distinct voices, a raspy, deep male voice and a shrill, screechy female one. Evidently the woman wasn't overly impressed with the man, "What have I told you about leaving your stuff lying around the kitchen Zedd?"
"You're one to talk", the man identified as Zedd countered, "if I trip over your staff one more time-"
"You'll do what radiator face", the woman spat in response.
The man snorted in reply, "Honestly woman that wasn't a clever insult when it was factually accurate". The two looked at each other nervously, slightly uncomfortable by the ongoing argument between the couple, "Now, perhaps you should focus on something more important like greeting our guests waiting outside".
"What guests?" the woman shrieked. They was a pause and Lauren and Dayu couldn't make out the continued conversation inside. Suddenly there was a flash and the duo found they had moved from the exterior of the property to the interior. Standing in front of them was a middle ages Asian woman dressed in a flowing white robe and elaborate headdress. Next to her was a slightly older man with greying hair and a blood red robe, "Welcome", the woman greeted with a much softer tone then she used when the teens were eavesdropping, "I am the Mystic Mother and this is my trusted adviser-".
"And hen-pecked husband", the man snorted.
"Can it would you", the woman snapped before turning her attention back to the two women, "as I was trying to say, this is my trusted adviser and husband, Zedd".
Something twigged inside Camile's mind at hearing the man's name, "Zedd, as in Lord Zedd?" she asked, "one of the primary enemies of the original team of Power Rangers?"
A small grin appeared on Zedd's face, "Good to see my notoriety still lives on", he stated, "my days as the Monarch of Evil are long behind me", he added jovially, like he was talking about going to the shops, "nowadays I devote my time to research and aiding my darling wife with her duties as the Mystic Mother".
"Which basically means he spends all day sitting on his backside", the Mystic Mother snorted.
"Like you've got a busy schedule", Zedd snorted, "how many times does your crystal ball need monitoring anyway?"
The awkward feeling had returned for the duo, what had caused the Mystic Mother had smmoned them, now they were witness to a domestic argument, "Have we come at a bad time?" Jarrod asked,
"Of course not my dears", the Mystic Mothers replied warmly, "anything to assist the growth of good magic". She turned to her husband and switched to her nasally voice, "Zeddy, do something useful and fix our guests some drinks". She looked around the room, which was an extension of the misty atmosphere from the outside, "And make this place a little more homely would you".
Zedd sighed grumpily as a large silver staff with a stylised Z appeared in his hands, "It's days like this which make me miss Goldar". A crack of lightning temporarily blinded the nyloks as the room turned into a large, comfy looking sitting room. Two large chairs were at one end of the room with two sofas flanking the area, "Make yourselves at home", Zedd added before turning to his wife, "your usual bitter tea Rita my dear", he added in jest as he magicked up several pots of teas and coffee for the centre of the room.
"Rita?" once again Camile's mind was working, "Rita Repulsa?" the Mystic Mother sighed in annoyance, "how did you become the mistress of all good magic?"
"Aren't you a smart one", Rita grumbled, "it's an interesting story but that's not why you're here today is it?"
"No", Jarrod began, "why did you call us here?" Both Rita and Zedd looked at each other. Rita took a slow, deliberate drink from her china tea cup before answering, "Well" she began, "You see".
"We are waiting for two more guests", Zedd picked up the story, his earlier argument with Rita long forgotten. Just then one of those guest teleported in, he was a blue skinned man.
The man looked up to see Rita and Zedd
"You?" He asked sceptically, "I was enjoying my afterlife".
A sad smile passed over Zedd's face, "When we were evil were shared something in common with you, the Power Rangers, vengence against them can be intoxicating.
"The same can be said of light too", Rita added, "peace and tranquillity is a noble goal but they can be a path to dangerous inaction. Perhaps that's why magic chose me to be the Mystic Mother, only someone who's known true darkness can appreciate true light".
"Forgive me i appreciate the visit but send me back", the man replied dryly.
Zedd snorted, "Good old Zordon" the former Emperor of Evil said to his wife, "but I refer you to my earlier comment, Your still wondering why i summoned you".
The Trio thought for a moment until Princess Shayla suddenly teleported in "It would be nice to know" Jarrod
"Well ", Rita began, "Maybe we should let him explain". Rita and Zedd both gestured to a doorway, a young adult looking Kite walked in " I asked them to gather you here today cause i need rangers" Kite said, "The Power Rangers?" Jarrod stated in confusion.
"That's not possible", Camile added, "I can't be a Power Ranger."
"Someone hasn't read up on their Ranger history", Rita shook her head, "evil rangers is almost a tradition".
"One you unwittingly started", Zedd couldn't help but snip at his wife, "also remember what I said about balance, if one side becomes too powerful then it will automatic try to balance the odds".
"Power rangers?" Shayla asked, "Can we really do that?"
Zedd nodded, "It can, I will caution you though, this sense of balance will work for both sides".
"We've noticed", Camile sighed,
"Then there's no time to lose", Rita stood up and grabbed her staff,
Shayla though wasn't so sure, "Hang on a second, just how are we to become these rangers?".
"Simple", Rita answered, "as to why we're so sure there's a new power out there", she looked at the husband and smiled, In conjunction with Zedd, the pair cross their staffs, "and it will be nice to be on the right side of this for once".
Before the four could protest further, Zedd and Rita channeled their staff magic through the device on Kites's right hand, four identical devices suddenly appeared on the four's hands, " These are your Animus morphers " Kite explained.
" Theres no time to lose " Rita said, she crossed her staff with Zedd's once more " May the power protect you" She said. The group was suddenly teleported away.
The moment the group disappeared, Rita's knees gave out, "I thought they'd never leave", she commented weakly.
"Are you certain it's him", Zedd asked with concern, "he hasn't been seen in over twenty years. Maybe Zordon's energy wave cleansed his existence from the universe".
"No", Rita replied firmly, "I would recognise his evil energy anywhere". She struggled to her feet and dropped heavily into a chair, "Someone has called on the dark powers of Dark Spectre once again".