Chapter 14
Maralynn sat in her room trying to do homework, but her mind wasn't into it. She kept thinking back to that text message her father had sent her early that morning. Her mother couldn't be dead. Her mother was the nicest woman, always trying to help others, which is what landed her in jail. A person in their neighborhood was on the brink of starvation, and stole some food from the grocery store. Maralynn's mother felt bad for the person, and took the blame, and went to jail for five years because of it.
She sighed, and threw down her pen. It was Saturday afternoon, and she should be out trying to enjoy herself, not sitting in her room trying to do her homework. She hadn't told the other Rangers about her mother's death, not even Josh, who would have done his best and more to be there for her.
Her father hadn't said anything about it. After the divorce, and once her mother had gone to jail, her had disowned her because the whole thing ruined his image. The only thing he did after they got divorced, and she went to jail was give her her mother's wedding band, and told her to keep it in remembrance of her mother while she served her jail sentence. He then also began giving her anything she wanted. Despite that, she had lost appreciation for everything; school, friends, and cheerleading. The only way she got her aggression out was by Tae Kwan Do, which she was a black belt in. No one thought about any of this from her, and expected her to be a girly girl.
Now to add on to all of this, she now had the responsibility of being the Pink Power Ranger, and protecting the world from Thrax. She knew her mom would be extremely proud of her, and only wished that she knew.
There was then a nock on her door. "Come in." Maralynn said softly. Papa Brooks then opened the door, dressed for work.
"You doing OK?" he asked kindly.
"Yeah, I guess. Are they doing a funeral?" she asked. Her mother's side of the family wanted to do a funeral.
Papa Brooks sighed. "I honestly don't know. That is up to her side of the family. If they do have one, and you want to go, I am fine with that. She was your mother. But I will not be attending." he said shortly.
"Alright. You going to work?" Maralynn asked.
"Yeah. We have had a week long project going on, and it didn't get done yesterday. So we are finishing it today." he said.
"Have fun." Maralynn told her father. He then gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Have a good day Maralynn." he replied, walking out of her door. Once he was gone, Maralynn wiped some tears off her face. It was going to be hard, but hopefully, she would eventually get through the funeral. She then dialed her aunt's phone number, hoping she could find out more details.
Thrax watched as Maralynn talked to her aunt, and laughed. "Poor Pink Ranger upset? I could use this to my advantage.." he said to himself. He then powered up his Z Staff, and summoned the Bloom of Doom. She kneeled before Thrax.
"How may I serve you?" she asked.
"I want you to use some of your pollen to make the Pink Ranger doubt her loyalties to her team. I then want you to take her to the same dimension you took the first Pink Ranger, and destroy her!" Thrax ordered.
"It will be done my Master." Bloom of Doom replied.
Josh, Vega, and Tess were all over at Vega's house playing Mario Kart for the Nintendo 64. Vega had invited them over for dinner, and they sat in Vega's living room discussing their Senior Year so far. Luckily, Vega's parents weren't home.
"You know, as awesome as this year has been so far, there has been on thing that made it the best." Vega began saying.
"What's that dude?" Josh asked.
"We became Power Rangers, and I became friends with you all, and met this beautiful woman right next to me." Vega said, giving Tess a quick kiss. Tess smiled.
You are such a ham." she told him.
"And a big suck up." Josh threw in. The three laughed.
Vega then spoke up. "So Josh, when are you going to ask Maralynn out? We all know you want to." he asked.
"Eh, I don't know. Soon I guess." Josh replied. He had wanted to ask her to be his girlfriend badly, but just never got courage to ask her. "I'm brave enough to fight off Thrax, and his morons, but I can't ask her out. Wow, even I think that's pathetic."
"Just ask her Josh. It's a lot easier then you think." Tess told him. Vega looked at her an odd look.
"You're serious right? It was hell for me to ask you out." Vega said.
"Really?" Tess asked.
"Yeah, it's hard for a guy to ask out a girl sometimes." he replied.
Josh thought about this. Yeah, Vega had a point, it was hard for some guys to ask out a girl, especially if the girl was wealthy, and beautiful like Maralynn. He then decided that he would try later that day. It couldn't hurt to try.
Maralynn was out at the park trying to clear her head. The day was feeling so unreal. It was like a bad dream, and she just needed to wake up. She couldn't understand how this could have happened. Her mother was in full health last time Maralynn had visited her in the previous week, yet she had died in her sleep?
She was so lost in thought, that she didn't notice that Putties, and a large flower monster had appeared to her right.
"Hello little Pink Ranger. Feeling sad? Let me help ruin your day!" the monster yelled.
Maralynn automatically jumped up and looked. "Oh no. Not today! Can't you assholes just leave us be for a day?" Maralynn called to the group.
"Nope. I have official orders to destroy you, and I plan on doing it." Bloom of Doom called.
"It's Morphin Time." Maralynn called out. "Pink Ranger Power!" She then morphed, and began taking on the Putties. They were easy to take out for Maralynn, due to her Tae Kwan Do training, and some of her cheerleading moves.
The easy part was over, Maralynn soon found out once she began taking on Bloom Of Doom. The monster was hard to fight, especially with her long tentacles for arms.
The Bloom of Doom then spit a pollen into Maralynn, she could get to her through her helmet. Maralynn then fell to the ground shaking her head, trying to get the pollen out. She didn't notice the Bloom of Doom's tentacle arm reach out, and wrapped her up.
"Let me go you freak!" Maralynn called out.
"Never! You're coming with me." The Bloom of Doom responded. She spun Maralynn around a few times, and instantly, they were in a weird looking dimension, filled with fog, and plant life.
Maralynn struggled to get herself free from the Bloom of Doom's grip, but to no use. When the Bloom of Doom wrapped her up, she made sure Maralynn's hands were wrapped up. "What do you want with me?" Maralynn cried.
"That pollen I sprayed you with will make you begin to doubt your loyalties to your teammates. I also want to destroy you, per Thrax." the Bloom of Doom laughed evilly.
"My friends will save me! They would never let me down, and I'll never lose faith in them!" Maralynn replied.
"We will see about that." Bloom of Doom retorted.
The Rangers got a call from Ninjor from their Power Watches, and teleported to the Temple immediately. Once assembled, Ninjor looked at the Rangers. "I'm glad you are all here. I have terrible news. Thrax has sent the Bloom of Doom monster after Maralynn, and used a pollen to turn her loyalties away from you Rangers." he told them.
"But Maralynn won't turn on us, will she?" Karina asked.
"That I am not sure of. She has a strong will, but it may not be strong enough." Ninjor replied sadly.
"That's horrible!" Bryn cried. They all turned and looked at Josh, who was seething with rage. They knew how much he cared for her, and how much this must have been bothering him.
Suddenly, another screen like thing opened up, and revealed a Putty attack. "Putties down in the park!" Tess said.
"You four go after the Putties. I'm going to rescue Maralynn." Josh said.
"Are you sure dude? One of us should go with you." Vega suggested.
"No, I'm going alone. The four of you can take out the Putties easily, then join me." Josh stated flatly. The four Rangers looked at him concerned, but understood why he wanted to go alone.
"It's Morphin Time!" they called out.
"White Ranger Power!"
"Black Ranger Power!"
"Blue Ranger Power!"
"Yellow Ranger Power!"
"Red Ranger Power!"
The Rangers then teleported off to their designated areas in Angel Grove, unaware that Thrax had been planning this from the beginning.
The pollen had still not had any affect on Maralynn. All she did was struggle against her bindings. The Bloom of Doom then got tired of waiting.
"That's it! It's time to destroy you!" the Bloom of Doom yelled. She then began sending electricity through her tentacle, shocking Maralynn. Maralynn dropped to the ground, writhing in pain.
She was sure this was the end, and began reflecting on her life. She had not done much at all, and had wanted to do a lot more. She then also finally realized one thing: she was in way over her head. "I'm in way over my head." she thought. "But if it was mom, she would've done it in a heartbeat." Maralynn winced. Her mom. So quick to help people. That was good but it caused her downfall. "But that's a noble way to go." thought Maralynn. She sighed. She had to honor her mom someway. It had been seven years.
Another shock got her, and Maralynn then decided something. "I'm doing this for mom. Everybody else, I don't care about. Just because Josh and Vega and Bryn and Karina are all buddy buddy doesn't mean I have to be. but I won't be a witch like Tess. I'll stay my distance." she thought.
Maralynn then managed to stand up, and faced the Bloom of Doom. "You want to destroy me you pathetic piece of crap flower? Then bring it on!" Maralynn called. "Pterodactyl!" She then transformed into her armored suit, and broke the Bloom of Doom's grip on her. Maralynn ran up to he Bloom of Doom, and kicked her. The Bloom of Doom went flying, and they both left the dimension, appearing in Angel Grove.
"It's now time to wilt." Maralynn told the Bloom of Doom.
Meanwhile in the Park, Vega, Tess, Bryn, and Karina were taking on the Putties, which was harder than usual. The Putties seemed stronger than normal, which seemed weird, but never the less, the Rangers fought them off.
"This is too weird. The Putties are stronger than usual!" Karina cried.
"We got this! Don't worry!" Vega called back to Karina. The four then powered up to their armored suits, and destroyed the Putties easily. They then powered down to their normal suits.
"That was weird." Bryn said.
"Yeah, let's get to Josh and Maralynn." Tess said.
There was then a cracking sound, and a bolt of lightning, and there stood Thrax. "You aren't going anywhere Yellow Ranger!" Thrax cackled.
Vega instinctively stood in front of her. "Back off Thrax." he warned. Thrax shot lightning bolts at the four, and hit them all, sending them flying. He then went over to Tess, and grabbed her, and teleported off.
"NO!" Vega yelled. He ran to where Thrax had teleported around, and began looking around. "Thrax! I'll kill you myself next time I see you! You won't get away with this!"
Bryn and Karina ran up to him, and shook him. "Vega, we've got to help Maralynn and Josh!" Bryn told him. Reluctantly, Vega stopped, and they teleported off.
Once upon arriving at the location Maralynn was at, Josh saw that she was doing a good job in fighting the Bloom of Doom. In fact, she was beating the hell out of the Bloom of Doom. Josh wanted to intervene and help out, but just couldn't stop himself from watching.
Maralynn powered up and arrow and used her Power Bow to fire it at the Bloom of Doom. With a direct hit, and Bloom of Doom went down in an explosion. Maralynn then powered down to her normal suit, and then powered down completely and began walking away.
"Maralynn!" Josh called, running after her. Maralyn stopped and turned around.
"What?" she asked.
Her response took Josh by surprise. "Um, we were informed about what happened. Are you OK? You haven't been acting like yourself since this morning." Josh asked.
"My mother passed away in jail. I don't want to talk about it, and I'm really sorry Josh, but I don't think we should be in a relationship right now. Also I don't think I want any close friendships. My mother and I were close, and now she's gone. I'm sorry Josh, I really am." Maralynn told him.
Josh was so taken aback by this, he was speechless. All he did was watch Maralynn walk away.
The other Rangers showed up, and powered down when they saw Josh. They then walked over to him.
"Josh, you OK?" Karina asked him.
"Yeah, I guess." Josh replied sadly.
"Thrax took Tess. We've got to find her!" Vega told Josh urgently.
"Let's do it." Josh said. The four Rangers then ran off to look for Tess.
Later that night, Maralynn attended her mother's veiwing, and began to tear up when she saw her mother's body. Her Aunt Kelly put her arm around Maralynn as they walked over and got a closer look. Maralynn then took a deep breath, and calmed herself.
Once her aunt had left the room, Maralynn turned back to her mother. "Mom, I know this is going to be hard for all of us. I'm glad you are my mother, and I hope that you are watching me, especially when I kick bad guy ass." Maralynn said to her mother quietly, hoping her aunt didn't hear her. Being a Power Ranger, Maralynn was sure she would honor her mother.
Tess sat in the Moon Palace, strapped to a chair, and her Power Morpher, and Power Watch hung up on the wall next to her. She was scared, and wanted Vega to save her, but knew it would probably be impossible.
A door opened, and in walked Thrax, looking delighted. Tess glared up at him. "What do you want with me?" she demanded.
"All the time I watch you Power Rangers, I feel a great pain when you come into view. You are here for one reason, so I can destroy you and be done with it!" Thrax said.
Tess began to tear up. "Oh no, this is the end." she thought.
So Maralynn decided to become a bit of a loner, and Thrax wants Tess dead. Sounds like there will be trouble. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Next Time on MMPR: While up in the Moon Palace, Tess makes a startling discovery about Thrax, and a new evil arrives. What does she discover? What is this new evil?
Find out Next time on MMPR:NG