Disclaimer: You know you can just read the first page.
Note: Sorry it took so long, but with school and all that things kind of get knocked out of whack. Anyway I know I said I'd address the whole Cole/Vampire situation, and that's where a large portion of the story focuses, so if you took any guesses now you'll know. Also in the first little bit we have a werewolf…time for a new guessing game, this one should be relatively easy though.
Into the Darkness
Necrolai stood over the body…the smell of blood was overpowering. Someone or something had ripped the throat from the young Foil…and weren't casual about doing it. It had been brutal, it had been violent, and it had been painful.
"Who did this to you?" Necrolai asked no one in particular.
She had seen violence like this before…a long time ago…and she shouldn't have been surprised to see it here. It was the handiwork of something very large, and very canine. It could've been one of this world's wild dogs…but she hadn't seen anything big enough in her time here, of course that didn't mean that it didn't exist.
The Foils in the village would probably blame the attack on her, but she knew that she couldn't just stand by and let something like this happen again. She had to warn the village.
She had to be cautious though, this death was fresh, the attacker was probably nearby, and personally she didn't have any excessive want to run into the creature, whatever it was.
Needless to say, Necrolai was not always the luckiest of creatures.
Behind her there was movement. It was quick, barely noticeable to the average ear, but her senses were far from average.
"Show yourself, I know you're there," she showed no fear in her voice.
The only response she got was a low growl.
"Wolf…knew it…" Necrolai responded.
She scanned her surroundings…seeing nothing at first…just hearing the rustling that surrounded her.
Then she saw it, barely visible in the surrounding foliage. It was a wolf…mostly…but at the same time it looked human. The upper torso coated in a think, coarse hair, and its head was that of a wolf. But it had a human shape to its body.
"Werewolf I see…well I wasn't that far from off," the vampire spoke.
The wolf looked towards the Vampire; it cocked its head as it studied the black and white female. The wolf decided that the Vampire wasn't worth its time, and continued into the thickness of the surrounding woods.
"This will probably end badly…" Necrolai surmised.
(Lair of the Dark One)
"It seems the Rangers have began to mass together," the Dark One watched images of Dustin and Trini, and images of Maya and T.J. He also watched images of Cole, the one Ranger that seemed to be apart from the others, something was different about him…something that the Dark One seemed to admire.
Other images flashed before the Dark One's eyes. Images of other strange events happening in the world, with the humans appearing in Daemon's World, the Dark One knew that he would have to pay close attention to anything that could prevent rising…or anything that would guarantee its success.
There were images of the Vampire and the Wolf. There were images of a different Vampire, one that faced the White Ranger. Finally there were images of another human…one that seemed different than the previous, and human with dark tan skins, who seemed to have to qualms with violence against anything, be they animal or Foil.
"These beings intrigue me," the Dark One thought out loud, "they may yet work in my favor. My generals argue too much amidst themselves to be trusted completely, some possibly plotting against me. I must look into this further."
The Dark One turned from the images in front of him, disappearing further into his chamber.
(Mist Island)
"What are you talking about?" Cole moved toward the female voice.
"The Sword of Darkness was once wielded by the Evil Green Ranger. It is a sword forged in darkness; it is a sword of evil's bane," the female voice replied, "that's enough of a history lesson. As far as knowing all the Ranger tricks, well…from one former Ranger to another…very little changes, apart from the costumes."
Cole's uncertainty was obvious, but he still stood strongly. He whispered to the girl he didn't know, told her to run towards the entrance as fast as she could…he would handle this woman.
"What? No, 'what do you mean one former Ranger to another,' well that just really lessens the affect of what I was about to reveal," she stepped forward, "well since you took away all the pizzazz of the big reveal, there's no need for a commercial break to add to the suspense." She stepped forward into the light. Her skin looked dark, even in the dim light; her hair was shoulder-length and black with bright red highlights.
"Am I supposed to know you?" Cole asked defiantly.
The woman didn't reply to his question immediately, but instead leapt towards the human girl, with inhuman speed and distance, "Where do you think you're going?"
The girl fell to her knees, she was terrified.
"I'm not a fan of fast food…"
"What's with the bad puns?" Cole tried bringing the focus back to him.
"Remnants of a past life," the un-named female kicked the young human girl aside, knocking her to the ground.
"That was uncalled for," Cole fired towards the strange black-haired woman, "so are you going to introduce yourself?"
"How rude of me," the black-haired woman turned towards the White Ranger, "in a previous life I was called Vida Rocca…you can call me Vi. I used to be a Ranger, and then thanks to a neat little thing called a Vampiric Possession, I was born. They tried to purge my host and destroy…their plan…mostly worked…"
Cole had no immediate response, he readied the sword…
"Well…I guess we're going to have a Ranger fight…" The woman, apparently named Vi, leapt towards the Ranger, long talon like extensions came from her fingers.
Cole met her attack mid air, but somehow she was able to block his attack. She moved with ridiculous speed, probably a side-effect of the vampirism, the White Ranger could barely dodge her blows. For every two or three he was able to block, she seemed to land at least one, and each one was quite painful…if it wasn't for the added Ranger powers he would've been doubled over…and probably Vampire food.
"This is fun," Vi laughed before blocking a counter-attack from the Ranger.
Cole's attacks weren't quite as effective as the Vampires, but they did find their target every now and again. They fought fiercely, the ex-Ranger and current Ranger, neither seemed to give way to the other. Cole was getting angrier though, the thought that he was being bested never came into his mind, and he would not lose. The sword he carried seemed to feed off the anger, and as it fed it sent its powers back into Cole. In essence the sword and wielder were feeding off one another.
"Someone's getting mad," Vi smiled, "excellent."
Cole didn't disagree…we was getting angry…in fact he was enjoying it…as the anger built he felt himself getting stronger, faster, he began to feel he could match the Vampire.
Vi could feel the strength building…he would be able to best her…she knew it…
Cole sensed her fear, he smiled beneath his helmet. He struck one blow, then another and then another. Vi collapsed to the ground under the constant blows of the Sword of Darkness.
"So Ranger, are you ready to kill?" Vi asked as she looked into the faceless mask.
Cole retracted his helmet, raised the sword and smiled. He thrust the sword fiercely into the Vampire, burying it in her stomach.
Vi's eyes opened wide with shock. Part of her, the tiniest part that still vaguely remembered being a human Ranger, was disappointed that he had succumbed to the powers of the Sword.
Cole withdrew the sword from the Vampire, her blood coated the blade. Against Baboo he felt no remorse, he had always been a monster, but this woman had once been a Ranger…he did not feel at ease…he tired to cast the Sword to the side, but its sheer power made him reconsider. The Sword of evil could grant him power…it could be used for good…at least that's what he told himself. Wiping the blade on the ground he felt his strength fading. The sword began to glow a dim, black light, then it vanished from his hands, but as it vanished he felt a charge run up his arm, then build in his chest. Something appeared on the crisp white Ranger uniform he wore, on the right side of his chest the image of a black sword appeared.
Cole had to focus elsewhere now. The human girl he had come to rescue was still on the ground, barely breathing. Reaching down he lifted the girl to her feet, and wrapped her arm around his neck, slowly they began to walk away.
Vida Rocca lay on the ground; she was not dead…not yet anyway. A figure appeared before her, vague at first then clearer. It was a large figure, dark and cloaked.
"My lord yet has use of you Vampire, he sends his bidding," the figure spoke in a raspy voice, "he also sends this." The figure placed a small bottle before the Vampire.
"What is this?" Vi questioned the figure.
"Something that will get you to your feet…but you will need to feed soon, and I believe there is a ripe piece of meat trying to escape…but not the Ranger, my lord still has plans for him," the figure faded back into nothingness.
"May as well, not like it'll make me any deader," Vi struggled to reach for the bottle. She popped the cap and drank in deep. She felt her powers returning, diminished, but returning, "well this doesn't suck." Vi stood up, cracked her neck and shoulders, and began to walk after the two escapees.
(Outside the cave)
"How are you holding in there?" Cole asked the human girl.
"I've been better…" the girl replied, "where are we going?"
"Out of here," Cole answered.
Not far away the blue hobgoblin, Squat, watched as the white Ranger continued to lead away the human girl. Figuring that he had best not one, but two Vampires Squat figured it was in his best interest to go in the opposite direction…sure he'd lost his best friend, Baboo, but he also realized that he preferred the living aspect of life than the death aspect. Besides he who fights and runs away, lives to run away another day.
"My name is Heather," she tried to introduce herself.
Cole didn't give his name; in fact he didn't even respond in any form, he just continued moving forward.
Squat continued to watch from a distance.
"So you're just going to let them run away?" A voice came from behind the hobgoblin.
"Vida? I thought you were dead…I…umm…I was just…" Squat tried to come up with a reason why he was just watching and not actively trying to stop the Ranger and human.
"You were just what? Watching a Ranger escape? Cowering behind a rock?" Vi the Vampire hissed.
"…I uh…" Squat had no way to respond.
"I always knew you were a waste of space, I only kept you around because Baboo insisted, and he's gone now, so I have no use for you. Besides I need to feed to regain my strength…even if it is on something as disgusting as you," Vi lunged towards the blue goblin.
He didn't have time to try and stop her, in moments the Vampire had sunk her teeth into the thick neck of Squat.
Vi gagged at the rancid taste of hobgoblin blood, but despite that she could feel some energy returning to her. She continued to feed until there was nothing but a lifeless blue body in her hands
"Well…that was vulgar," she cast the body to the ground fiercely, "so now for the good meal."
Vi leapt from the ledge Squat had been spying from and ran in the direction of the Ranger and human. She would catch up to the two quickly, and apparently…for some insane reason…she was supposed to leave the Ranger alone.
As she had figured, it only took moments to catch up to them, "So here we are again."
Cole stopped mid-step, "you again?"
"Aw, you don't look happy to see me, but I thought we went so well together," Vi teased the White Ranger.
Cole turned to the human girl, Heather, "stay straight, don't stop for anything, and keep going."
Heather nodded in agreement and started to run in the direction the Ranger had pointed her in.
"Come on now, I didn't survive being killed to let her escape again," Vi turned away from Cole.
"You want me, remember," Cole tried to bring the attention back to himself.
Vida didn't bite the bait this time; instead she bolted after the human.
"Leave her alone Vampire," Cole demanded.
She paid him no attention, and quickly tagged the human girl to the ground.
Heather knew what came next, "please…don't…" she cried.
"Your tears of begging reach my non-beating heart; I just can't take the torture. I want to be good, I want to change, I want to be a good girl again," Vi mocked the human girl.
"Please don't," Heather pleaded.
"Back off Vi," Cole sounded as he charged towards the former Mystic Ranger, "Sword of Darkness return," Cole shouted as the black sword emblem on his chest glowed then vanished as the sword appeared in his hands.
"Keepsake?" Vi faced the White Ranger.
"You're done for," Cole threatened as he swung down the sword.
Vida didn't reply this time, instead she caught the blade in her hand, dark black blood seeped from the fresh wound.
"We're done for now," Vi hissed at the Ranger as she kicked him firm in the stomach, knocking him back with a fierce force, "play with the Reapers for a little while."
The ground around Cole opened as the lifeless corpses he'd fought when he first approached Mist Island came back to un-life.
"Not again," Cole fought fiercely as the zombie-like creatures seemed to pour out from the ground around him.
Vi didn't watch the fighting, she merely smiled, "Dinner time."
The Vampire sunk her teeth into the sealing wound on the girl's neck and drank deep.
Cole continued to fend off the 'zombies' as he saw what was happening to the girl he was supposed to be saving. He fought fiercer, decimating the remaining corpses that assaulted him. Finally none were left and Cole took the opportunity to spring back towards the human and Vampire.
"That was yummy. Later Ranger," Vi stood up, dropping the body to the ground and vanishing into the mist.
Cole ran to the girl's side and lifted her body towards him. There was no life left.
The Sword of Darkness vanished back into nothingness as the black sword emblem re-appeared on the Ranger uniform. Cole shook his head, he had failed, but he knew what he was going to do. He would hunt down the Vampire, and make sure nothing like that would happen again.
(Near the Foil Village)
"You honestly think you can beat me?" The black-armored Goldar bellowed as several armed Foil Guards assaulted him.
Elsa stood by the winged ape's side as she fended off the attacks of the armed Foils.
The two servants of the Dark One barely put forth effort as they eliminated the small band of soldiers relatively quickly.
"This is a joke, I came here planning to have to put up a fight," Elsa shrugged as she looked towards the lifeless bodies that littered the ground.
"Come here you," Goldar reached down and lifted one of the few living soldiers to his feet, "I have a message for you to deliver, tell Trini that Goldar is looking for her," he dropped the guard back to the ground, "go now!"
TBC