War of the Hidden
Disclaimer: Nothing that you can google belongs to me.
Ch. 15
The Rangers were just gathering back at Rootcore when Maxi entered the base, rubbing sleep out of her eyes and yawning. Jason smirked at her.
"Have a nice nap?" he asked smugly.
"I didn't really sleep," Maxi replied. "But thanks for drugging me anyways," she added sarcastically. Jason opened his mouth to object, but no sound came out.
"I told you she was going to figure it out," Adam sighed, shaking his head. "She's not an idiot, you know."
"Wait, she was drugged?" Conner asked. His teammates sighed and rolled their eyes in exasperation, not even bothering to reach over and hit him this time.
"Unlike some people," Ethan muttered to Adam.
"What do you mean you didn't really sleep?" Trini asked. Maxi smiled. Of course it would be Trini to ask that question, Trini to pick up on the more important part of what she said.
"I was sleeping…at least my physical body was, when Tom came to me…" Maxi started.
"Man, this is major déjà vu," TJ said after hearing what Maxi told them.
"Tell me about it," Ashley agreed.
"I hate it when history repeats itself," Wes said, shaking his head.
"So what do we do?" Kira asked.
"Well," Maxi replied. "If history really is repeating itself, then there's only one thing we can do." She turned to Andros. He didn't respond for a while, clearly thinking hard. Finally he nodded.
"No!" Jason said at once. He had figured out what they were thinking. "No! I will not allow it!"
"It has to be me," Maxi whispered.
"No! There are over 60 of us here; we can defeat Atirddez and his vampires if we all do this together!"
"That's just the point Uncle Jase, we don't want to defeat Atirddez and his vampires."
The Rangers and their allies all turned to stare at Maxi. "We don't?"
She shook her head. "We don't. 'If you can't beat them, join them', Zordon said. We're fighting against vampires. They outnumber us by too much. We can't beat them, not even if we match them in numbers."
"So you're saying we should join them?!" Chip asked incredulously.
"No. The vampires should know that we're the Power Rangers, even those without the Power are Rangers in spirit. The vampires aren't like monsters, they're intelligent beings. They know that we'll never back down, and although they have brute strength, they don't have what it takes to destroy the Power."
"So we're stuck," Ethan said.
Maxi nodded. "We're stuck in a stalemate. Both sides know it's true, Ragdlog's just in denial. People have already been killed because of the vampires' feeding habits. For now, the rest of the citizens of Briarwood are safe inside the Mystic Forest, protected by spells, but it's only a matter of time before Ragdlog gets smart enough to attack other cities, to attack the people we love that aren't here under our protection. Your parents, your children, your family, they're all in danger. The sooner we can end this, the better."
The others were quiet for a long time. Nick was the first to speak up.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to reason with him, call a truce."
"You're not going to be able to reason with Ragdlog," Shane said. Maxi turned to him.
"Who says I'm going to reason with Ragdlog?" They all stared at her. "I'm going to Atirddez."
"Are you sure about this, Li?"
Maxi was now kneeling by Tommy's bed. The others had said good luck and given their advice and were now preparing in case of a final battle. If anything goes wrong at the Moon Palace, Maxi had ordered Jason to lead the others into an all out combat. By word or by weapon, this war has to end.
With a last sigh, Maxi stood up. You know I have to do this, Tom.
Inside her mind, Tom nodded. "I won't say 'good luck', 'cause I'll be there with you, all the way."
I know. Maxi's fingers curled around her Turbo Key. She closed her eyes. Just a little bit longer Dad, she thought, and then raised her left arm.
"It's time to kick into action! Shift into Turbo!"
Maxi walked out into the middle of the city as tall as she could. She looked calm, but inside, her heart was pounding like Thumper's foot. If it weren't for the Power coursing through her, she would be physically shaking. At the very center of Briarwood, the same place she had been ambushed by Ragdlog not-too-long-ago. She pointed up to the sky.
"Lord Atirddez Asluper, I call upon you in the name of honor! Meet with me so we can devise a compromise to suit us both!"
For a while, nothing happened. And then the sky began to rumble. The clouds didn't go black like the first time, but Atirddez's booming voice was the same.
"I will meet with you, Platinum Sage. But you will come alone!"
"I will if you will," Maxi replied.
"You have my word of honor."
Then the thunder died down and Maxi found herself zapped up into a black vortex that was cackling with red lightning. The next thing she knew, she was standing in the throne room of the Moon Palace, Atirddez standing in front of her, a combination of Rita and Zedd's staffs in his hand.
"You called?" he asked.
"We need to talk," Maxi said.
"What would you and I have to talk about?"
"The Earth."
"I will rule the Earth."
"But why? Why do you want to rule the Earth?"
"The Earth is ruled by human now and look at what they have done to it! They've destroyed half its resources, polluted its waters…"
"So you're keen on protecting the Earth?" Maxi asked.
"Yes. I want to protect my home."
Yet you're attacking it from the moon, Maxi thought wryly. How ironic.
"The Earth is home to both of us. The Power Rangers have never had to defend the Earth from its own occupants. If you really care about the Earth, then you will put a stop to your conquest."
"My people have been living in hiding for long enough. We will reclaim what is rightfully ours!"
"The Earth belongs to no one. We all belong to the Earth. Why not we team up to protect it together? If you prove to be harmless, then the humans will embrace you as their kin, their brethren. We share a common goal, which makes us allies, not enemies."
"We are different, you and I."
"No. We are forever intertwined. We depend on each other; balance each other out like yin and yang." Atirddez frowned. Maxi could tell he was thinking about it. One more would push him over the edge. And that was when she remembered more of Zordon's words. They reminded her of a song Trini had sung to her when she had first learned about the Power Rangers and asked the originals questions by the truckloads. All of a sudden, before she could even think about it, Maxi opened her mouth…and sang:
As you go through life you'll see
There is so much that we
Don't understand
And the only thing we know
Is things don't always go
The way we planned
But you'll see every day
That we'll never turn away
When it seems all your dreams come undone
We will stand by your side
Filled with hope and filled with pride
We are more than we are
We are one
If there's so much I must be
Can I still just be me
The way I am?
Can I trust in my own heart
Or am I just one part
Of some big plan?
Even those who are gone
Are with us as we go on
Your journey has only begun
Tears of pain, tears of joy
One thing nothing can destroy
Is our pride, deep inside
We are one
We are one, you and I
We are like the earth and sky
One family under the sun
All the wisdom to lead
All the courage that you need
You will find when you see
We are one
Maxi finished the song and reached out her hand, just as Jason had done so with Tommy all those years ago. "We are one and the same," she told her brother. "Together, we can make sure no one can harm the Earth. Will you join us…Macbeth?" Maxi demorphed as she said her twin's true name. And that name seemed to have been the key to awaken him from the hypnotic spell Ragdlog put him under. He aroused with a sharp inhale. Then he turned to look at Maxi, blinking. Maxi could tell the strange glaze in his eyes from the other day was gone. She smiled. She had done it.
"Where am I?" he asked. "And who are you?"
"You're in the throne room of the Moon Palace, former base of operations of the ex-villians, Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, current base of Ragdlog and his vampires. My name is Maximilian; I am your twin sister."
"Twin sister?" he asked his eyes wide with surprise. Maxi nodded. She opened her mouth to explain, but someone interrupted her.
"Li!" came Tom's voice, filled with dread and urgency. "Li!"
What? What is it? Maxi asked, sacred by his tone.
"It's your father; he's…he's…"
"No!" Maxi cried out loud.
"What is it?"
Maxi turned to look at her brother. By his eyes, though ruby because he had recently drunk human blood, he seemed to be himself. Desperate to go to her father, Maxi decided to trust him.
"You're no longer under Ragdlog's spell; can you break the spell for the others?"
"I'll try," he nodded.
"Thanks, Macbeth."
He laughed. "Just call me Mac."
"Can you tell me where to find Ragdlog, Mac?"
"No need. I'm right here, Ranger!"
The twins whipped around in shock. There, in the entranceway stood Ragdlog, sword in hand. Maxi growled in distaste. He pointed his sword at her.
"You cost me my servant!" he accused.
"My brother is not your servant," Maxi retorted. Ragdlog smirked.
"Not anymore, but your father will soon be mine."
"Not if I have anything to do with it!" Maxi replied. "Shift into Turbo!"
"Ranger or not, I will destroy you!" Ragdlog roared charging.
"Turbo Sword!" Maxi pulled out her weapon just in time to block the attack. "Mac, go now! You have to convince the others!"
"But what about you?"
"I'll be fine. Go, the Earth needs you!"
"Right! Good luck, Sage."
"May the Power protect you," Maxi replied and slashed out at Ragdlog. The vampire snarled in frustration and charged again. Maxi pulled the handle at the end of the sword. "Turbo Sword, power up mode!"
Bang! Clang!
Loud, shrill sounds rang out each time their swords clashed. Neither Ragdlog nor Maxi was giving in. Both fought with everything they had. But neither side was winning as well.
"Hurry Li, hurry!" Tom urged inside her head.
I'm trying, Maxi replied. With a grunt of effort she pushed the vampire off and he staggered back against the wall.
"I've had enough of this. It's time to end it! Turbo Blaster, power up mode! Turbo Navigator, blaster mode! Turbine Laser!"
Maxi held a blaster on each hand while the Turbine Laser floated in front of her. Ragdlog realized the danger he was in. His ruby-colored eyes grew wide and fright was written across his face. Maxi's face was set behind her helmet.
"Fire!"
Three beams of laser shot forward and merged together as they hit they target. Ragdlog screamed in pain before he exploded. The pieces rained back onto the marble ground, crackling in the small fire. Satisfied, Maxi demorphed.
"Li, it's over," came Tom's quiet voice. "It's over. Your father, he's…"
"No, it can't be!" Maxi cried out. "He's not dead! A Ranger never dies! No!" The little girl had her eyes squeezed shut, her small hands balled up in quaking fists, her whole body was shaking. No, no, no, this can't be happening, she kept repeating in her head. He's not gone! He can't be.
Then the strangest feeling came to her. She felt energy being gathered inside her. She felt so full she thought she was going to burst. All her thoughts were focused and concentrated on her father: Tommy Oliver. And then she threw her head back and let out a roar. Light, pure white light, tinged with gold, gushed out of her open mouth and disappeared into the sky. Maxi paid no attention to it. All she could think about was her dad. Finally, that extra energy was gone. Actually, more than the extra energy was gone. Maxi felt drained. She was soaked from sweat, yet her throat and lips were parch dry. She was panting heavily, gasping for air as her legs threatened to give out. Between her struggles for breath, she uttered one word:
"Dad."
The song (as you probably already know) is 'We Are One' from the Lion King II. My brother thought it was corny, but I think it fits. What do you think? Review!
