Power Rangers Zeo
Return of Power Part 4
Billy and Trey were climbing up the rocky terrain of Mt. Estonus. on Eltar. The two were both struggling, as the area was light in oxygen. They had been running and hiding for hours from Quadrafighters that were attacking Eltar. As they climbed a Quadrafighter blasted at the mountain. Billy slipped, and Trey grabbed him.
"Billy, hold on!" Trey said.
Trey climbed up and used the Golden Power Staff as a climbing axe.
"You can let go!" Billy yelled as he grabbed on.
They continued to climb as more Quadrafighters fired down on them. Once they got close to the top they hurried over.
"Okay, it's pretty dangerous from here Billy." Trey said.
"My suit can withstand the atmosphere. It was able to help me travel through space, it should be able to help me here." Billy replied
"Okay"
Billy reached for the climbing rope he had brought. He fastened the hook into the ground and tied a large loop.
"Going in." He said as he began to climb inside.
Trey jumped in behind him and landed on a stone on the side of the Volcano.
"The Volcano doesn't seem to be active, and the magma seems to be miles deep..." Trey said "There has to be some sort of tunnel leading to the Crystal."
Billy jumped down from the rope and landed next to Trey.
"Hold on, let me scan the area." Billy said as he reached into his front pocket.
"Okay, scanners say there's a tunnel located…right behind us." Billy said.
Billy and Trey turned around, and saw nothing but the Volcano interior.
"That makes no sense, there's nothing here." Billy continued
"Unless." Trey said
Trey punched the rock of the Volcano. His hand went straight through.
"This wall, it's a fake. It's some sort of…plastered surface." Trey said.
Trey punched his way through the rest of the wall and uncovered the tunnel entrance.
"Okay, this is the way." He continued
Billy and Trey stepped into the cave. As they walked inside, the entrance behind them closed up.
"No turning back now." Billy said.
Billy and Trey walked slowly through the cave. They were tense as they were anticipating an attack.
"Now, Zordon said the crystal is guarded by ancient warriors, who cannot be defeated through physical means." Billy said.
"So how do we defeat warriors without fighting?" Trey asked.
"Not sure." Billy replied
"I've been a Ranger on two worlds and I've never had to defeat an enemy without fighting. I won't be much help." Trey said.
"Can I ask you something?" Billy said.
"Sure." Trey replied
"How does it feel, to have all that power?" He asked
"I think you already know." Trey answered
"Trust me, as the Blue Ranger I couldn't do half of what the Gold Ranger could." Billy replied
"Billy, your participation in the team is what has kept it alive for so long. The only reason you did not acquire the Golden Powers was because of the.." Trey answered
"Negative Ions, I know." Billy interrupted
"Negative Ions you absorbed while protecting Alpha and the others from the blast." Trey continued
"Well between you and me, I'd do anything to be a ranger again." Billy said.
Trey stopped and looked at Billy as he walked ahead.
"Now, the scanner said this tunnel was about two miles long, we've been here for quite a while, so it shouldn't be too much further." He continued.
Billy and Trey took another step and fell through the floor. They landed on a dirt floor in a foggy cavern, with a sole stone idol in the center.
"Are we here?" Trey asked
"No, I don't think so. The warriors, we should have encountered them by now." Billy replied
The stone idol began to glow and then a blinding flash of light came from it. Billy and Trey covered their eyes, waiting for the blinding glow to end. As the idol glowed it let out a whining noise that hurt their ears. The light disappeared and the sound muted as the idol began to move. It held its arms forward and weapon appeared in its hands, two large twin gauntlets.
"Incredible." Billy said.
The warrior somersaulted and landed in front of them. He introduced himself.
"I am Leonous, guardian of the Mighty Crystal."
"Leonous, we wish to grant access to your crystal." Trey said.
"No one passes me. If you want the crystal, then you must defeat me in Combat." Leonous replied.
"I'll take this one Billy." Trey said as he stepped forward, his Power Staff ready.
Leonous held his gauntlets over his head.
His gauntlets glowed white and the light traveled down to his body. He let out a battle cry as he brought the gauntlets to his sides.
"This should end quickly." Leonous said.
The two readied their weapons and ran toward each other. Long blades came from the ends of Leonous's gauntlets. They both swung with their weapons and blocked the hit. Trey performed a jumping kick and Leonous ducked a dodged the attack. He kicked twice more and hit Leonous.
"Finally, a worthy challenge" Leonous said.
"You want a battle, I'll give you a good one!" Trey said.
Trey somersaulted over Leonous and kicked him in the back. Leonous moved forward and turned. He lifted up his sword and placed his finger on the back and closed his eyes. He took several deep breaths and the blade began to glow. He opened his eyes, and let out a yell. He swung the blade of his gauntlet, which released a beam of energy at Trey. Trey held up the Golden Power Staff in front of the blast, and the Staff absorbed the energy. Trey turned and fired the beam back at Leonous. Leonous got hit in the chest with the beam and fell to his knees.
"Time for a gold rush!" Trey said as the Golden Power Staff went into attack mode.
He held the staff up and ran forward at an incredible speed. Lightning from the Staff hit Leonous who fell to his knees.
"You, are a fine warrior." He said in a weak voice as he turned to dust.
"Was that it?" Trey asked "A lot easier than Zordon led me to believe."
"It couldn't have been, Zordon said himself we could not defeat them through physical means." Billy said. "I doubt that's the last we'll see of him."
The stone wall behind them began to crumble, and collapsed. A hole appeared, leading to another tunnel.
"Looks like we have more ground to cover." Billy said as he and Trey stepped inside.
Billy and Trey stepped through the dark tunnel, and were growing tired. The air in the tunnel was beginning to become thinner, and they had been traveling for a while now.
"These tunnels were brilliantly created." He said. "Had it not been for my years as a Ranger, I wouldn't have made it this far."
"You should rest." Trey said. "I can use the Staff to increase my speed like I did back on Earth, I can get to the crystal and back in minutes."
"No!" Billy said. "I can manage."
"Okay, but, we should make this quick. Remember, both Aquitar and Earth are at stake." Trey said.
"Yeah, you're right." Billy said.
Trey walked ahead as Billy leaned on the wall.
"Billy, another room!" Trey called.
Billy jogged over and stepped out of the tunnel and into the room on the other side. The room was dark and fog covered the floor.
"So far it's nothing like the last room" Trey said
"Remember what happened in the last room." Billy said.
They walked forward until they reached the center of the room. The tunnel heading back sealed up. They were trapped.
"Okay…so far something is different." Billy said.
"I wonder what the challenge is." Trey said
A stone idol rose from the floor of the room and stood upright against the walls, all facing Billy and Trey.
"Just like last time." Trey said.
The stone idol began to glow and then a blinding flash of light came from it. Billy and Trey covered their eyes, waiting for the blinding glow to end.
"It's the same as before!" Trey yelled.
It held its arms forward and weapon appeared in its hands, a war mallet.
"Let me handle this." Trey said.
Trey ran forward with his Power Staff ready. The warrior with the mallet stepped forward. He placed it in front of him and held it with two hands.
"So the little warrior thinks he can gain the crystal." The warrior taunted. "For over 40,000 years I have guarded the crystal. Millions have tried, and all have fallen. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Therax, The Hammerer. No warrior has ever defeated me." Therax said.
"I'm a different breed of warrior." Trey said as he ran forward, and shouted his usual battle cry.
He lifted up his Power Staff as Therax swung his mallet, and the two weapons collided.
"That's a strong staff!" He said. "Allow me to smash it."
The warrior swung his mallet again and hit Trey, who flew back and hit the wall.
"Trey!" Billy yelled as he ran over to him and helped him up. "You sure you can pull this."
"Yeah, just not use to that much pain." Trey replied.
"That was only the beginning!" Therax shouted.
Therax swung his mallet and it landed in front of Trey's feet, and crumbled the ground underneath him. Trey lost balance and fell to his side and Therax hit him in the rib cage. He fell over again and Therax lifted his Mallet high above his head.
"Any last words?" He asked.
"Can't let it end like this." Billy said.
Trey held his side and looked toward Billy, and then back toward his executor. Billy sprinted forward and jumped into the air. He spun and extended his leg. He hit Therax's face with his foot and made him fall back. Therax touched his stone face as a small fragment fell off.
"So now you join the fight." Therax asked.
"I'll do what I can." Billy replied
Billy leaped up and did another jumping kick at Therax's stone head. His foot was beginning to hurt from kicking it. Therax simply leaned his head to the side and then back up.
"You dare strike me!" Therax yelled as he lifted up his mallet and swung it toward Billy.
He hit Billy in the abdomen and Billy fell back and rolled over as the Mallet came down next to him. Therax lifted the mallet and Billy could see how it broke the ground next to him. He cart wheeled as Therax tried to hit him a second time. He kicked Therax's shin and pushed himself up and onto his feet. Therax fell over and dropped his mallet. He landed on his back and looked at Billy as he leaped for the mallet.
"No!" Therax yelled.
Billy struggled as he tried to lift the large heavy mallet, his muscles began to tighten. He shouted as he lifted it up, and Therax sat back in amazement. Billy swung the mallet and it hit Therax, whose left arm fell off when it hit. He yelled out in pain.
"This has never happened to me! I am Therax!"
"But now, you're destroyed." Trey said as he leaped back into action.
Trey lifted up the golden power staff and shot a blast of energy at Therax, who fell back, the stone of his body burning and falling apart, reducing him to sediment.
"Nice work, Billy!" Trey said.
"No time to celebrate, we have another room to get to." Billy said.
The stone wall collapsed in front of them, and a golden light shone inside.
"This is it." Trey said.
"Let's hope it is." Billy replied
Trey and Billy walked into the entrance and entered a large dark room. In front of them, yards away, was a large floating crystal.
"The Crystal!" Trey said as he pointed.
"Let's run for it." Billy said.
The two jogged toward the crystal, and as they did the ground around them began to collapse.
"A cave in?" Trey asked
"No, much different." Billy replied
Trey backed up as the stone terrain in front of him collapsed from under his feet. From the collapsed stones, burning magma rose. Three stone idols rose from the ground in front of the crystal.
"Not this again." Billy said.
The stone idols didn't move, as they expected, they just faced them.
"The idols…do you think these are what they seem?" Trey asked.
"I don't know." Billy said.
As they stood in curiosity and bewilderment, two more stone idols rose behind them. Billy and Trey turned, shocked.
"Those are the same statues as before." Billy said.
"It…It's a trap." Trey said. "The final challenge."
"Remember, Zordon said we can't beat them with physical force." Billy said.
"It worked the last two times." Trey replied
Billy shot Trey a look of uncertainty. Trey stood silent as he noticed.
"Zordon has made mistakes before, he didn't even know the Gold Ranger powers existed." Trey continued "I guess we could try and destroy the idols before they can animate."
Trey walked over to the stone idol of Leonous. He touched it, and ran his hand across it. He could feel vibrations from it.
"Something's not right." Trey said.
"What do you mean?" Billy asked.
The room ignited in bright lights and Trey and Billy were blinded. Trey could feel his throat being tightened as his vision came back. Leonous had lifted him above his head by his neck.
"You two are quite impressive, making it this far." Leonous said.
"But this is where the trail ends." Therax said as he walked over to Billy, with his mallet on his shoulder. "You defeated us once, but now, you shall be defeated. You shall be crushed. We will end you."
The three stone idols in front of the Crystal began to shine and animated. They held out their hands and their weapons came to them. One carried a large sword, the other an axe, the other two twin flails. They introduced themselves
"I am Kelsor, Master of the Mace."
"Eteneh, the Axe-Wielder."
"And I am Jeriko, The Swordsman. We are the keepers of the Crystal, the undefeated few, and this is your last chance to turn back."
Billy was surrounded by the warriors, and Trey was being held by his neck above the magma.
"So what shall it be?" Jeriko asked.
Billy looked back at Trey, and he could see him nod. He then looked back toward the crystal and the three warriors guarding it.
"Billy! Don't give up. The Rangers need that crystal." Trey said.
"But if you're no longer apart of this world, it won't matter." Eteneh said.
"Listen to us! Eltar, Earth, and Aquitar are at stake, King Mondo of the Machine Empire is invading, please, let us go, we need to stop them, but to do it we need the Crystal." Billy pleaded.
"We are undeterred by your petty beg. None of your planets mean anything to us, we are immortal beings. For eons, armies have come looking to take our Crystal, and all have failed, due to the darkness in their own hearts. Man destroys man, it's been such way forever." Jeriko said.
Billy looked away and back toward Trey, who was no longer in the Gold Ranger suit. His frustration and fear began to turn to pure anger. Billy leaped over the edge of the burning stone floor under him and landed in front of the three warriors. Kelsor swung his flail at Billy, and Billy ducked and rolled over to Enteneh who swung the axe at him and missed. He backed up into the wall, as the three warriors walked toward him.
"Foolish attempt." Jeriko said. "An unarmed man, believing he could stop us, the keepers of the Crystal."
"Obviously, this one is different. He has something the others lacked…common sense!" Therax yelled across.
Jeriko lifted Billy by the neck and pushed him against the wall. He punched him in the abdomen, his stone hand smashing into Billy's flesh and Billy coughed.
"Weak, pathetic. You should have listened to your conscious. We cannot be defeated physical force." Kelsor said.
Jeriko tossed Billy back toward Therax and Leonous, and Leonous dropped Trey next to him.
"We can't stop them." Trey said. "The Gold Ranger Powers weren't enough."
"That's the problem, we've been fighting them physically." Billy said. "They have never been defeated, and the one thing no one has ever done is get the Crystal."
"So maybe, the Crystal can destroy them." Trey said.
"It's worth a shot, we have no other options." Billy said.
"How do we get to it?" Trey said.
"Do you think you can distract them?" Billy asked.
"Certainly." Trey answered.
Trey lifted up the Golden Power Staff and hit Therax, who fell forward. Billy looked back and kicked Leonous, who also fell back.
"They still have some fight in them." Jeriko said. "If we are to keep the Crystal safe, we must stop them."
Enteh and Kelsor nodded toward each other and went running for Trey and Billy. Billy ducked and kicked Kelsor and headed for the Crystal. Jeriko ran at him, with his sword ready and swung at Billy. Billy ducked and rolled over, as the blade dug its way into the ground above his head. Billy rose to his feet and leaped over the magma pit, landing feet away from the crystal, but on his knee. He felt the pain as if it stabbed through him. Jeriko turned around after hearing the impact and walked toward him. Billy got to his feet, and slowly limped toward the Crystal.
"You come here, into our caves. You fight us, you challenge us, and expect to take what is ours. What makes you any better than any other grave digger?" He asked.
"I'm doing this for the good of the universe." Billy replied.
Jeriko lifted up his sword and leaped into the air, as Billy grabbed the Crystal from its altar. Billy dethroned the Crystal, and a wave of energy filled the room. As it hit the 5 warriors, they all yelled out in pain and fell. They began to glow as before, and slowly, turned back into their Idol forms, as the cave began to collapse around them, and the magma began to sink. Jeriko fell next to the edge above the magma and his sword fell next to Billy.
"Finish me!" He pleaded. "It is what's right."
Billy lifted up his sword and held it next to his head.
"Do it!" Jeriko yelled.
Billy tightened his grip on the sword and he began to sweat. He placed the crystal down next to him and dropped Jeriko's sword.
"No" Billy said.
Jeriko fixed his balance and stood back up.
"And so the Crystal is yours. A true warrior knows strength and skill, but also humility and mercy. You are the one that shall keep the Crystal." Jeriko said. "Farewell."
Jeriko and the other warriors bowed toward Billy and turned to bright colored dust and flew away in the wind
"We need to get out of here, it's a cave in!" Billy yelled.
"Not sure how." Trey said.
"Look out!" Billy yelled.
He pushed Trey out of the way as the stone above them began to collapse on top of them, Trey activated the Golden Power Staff.
The stone tunnel system was completely destroyed. A large trench was in the ground leading to the Volcano. As they struggled to move, Billy and Trey climbed out of the ruins.
"Billy! You survived!"
"Yeah, thanks to my flight suit, it shielded me from most of the rubble."
"Pyramidus isn't too far from here."
"Okay" Billy said. "Time to return."
"Not so fast." A robotic voice said over them.
Billy and Trey looked up to find Prince Gasket and Archerina standing over them.
"Prince Gasket!" Billy shouted "How did you find us?"
"We were leading the attack on Eltar, Pyramidus landing just made us certain the Rangers were coming." Archerina said.
"Cogs, take them prisoner!" Gasket yelled.
Cogs came and dragged them to the surface, and held them. One snatched the Crystal from Billy's hands.
"Now that we have the power of the Crystal, the Machine Empire will rule the Universe!" Gasket said. "And it's all thanks to the Rangers!"