Disclaimer; I do not own Power Rangers RPM and this is the final chapter of The Outsiders.
A/N: According to Google Maps, it takes sixty days to walk from the Redwood National Forest (which is near where I imagine Briarwood to be) to Boston via Colorado Springs, Kansas City, Missouri, and Philadelphia, PA. Boston being the purported site of Corinth. (I've placed it further south FYI) I imagine it took them ninety to a hundred twenty days to get there given detours and dodging Venjix. If you've missed it, I've confirmed that of the Mystics, Vida is the only one that died. Joel and Dana are the only known survivors of Lightspeed and Shane and Dustin are hiding out in the Rockies, specifically places like Hole in the Wall and Robber's Roost, fighting Venjix.
As for how Dillon and Ziggy ended up with the two flying Zords outside of Corinth...you will have to read Get in Gear to find out!
The four earth ninjas chose to stay with Dustin the next day, leaving with blessings and Lance's potion for the poison in the polluted earth. Another dozen from the camp also decided to stay, not willing to get any closer to the purported stronghold of Venjix. As they crossed the Great Plains, Lance couldn't help but feel that they'd gotten off easy. Corinth was located south of Boston on the coast, the oldest of a series of domed cities designed for surviving impossible conditions on other planets. Why such cities were needed, Lance didn't know, even Nicole didn't know, but they existed and they had saved humanity.
Very little lived on the Great Plains of the Midwest, most of the land was scorched and barren, poisoned by Venjix's armies in their terrible war. They barely managed to carry enough water to drink, and Xander and Lance were hard pressed to purify what water sources they did find. Their biggest adventure by far was crossing the Mississippi River. Although they were following what had been major highways, the bridges were often destroyed or damaged so badly they all held their breath as each vehicle made the journey.
They lost no one though, thanks to a quick thinking water ninja who dove in after one motorcyclist who fell off a low bridge after a blowout overbalanced her. Finally, they reached the Appalachian Mountains, the final barrier between them and Corinth. "All you have to do," Nicole said to Xander after supper their first day in the mountains, "is follow this road over to Omega City, then it's two days to Corinth. You'll pick up their radio broadcast in Omega; it'll get you the rest of the way."
"You?" Xander repeated.
"I'm not going to Corinth," Nicole replied, "there are too many people out west who need help for me to let myself be locked up." She smiled, "Venjix isn't going to kill me, Xander. I'm too tough for him."
Xander sighed, "What am I supposed to tell Chip then? Sorry love, but your sister didn't come with us?"
"Tell him that I'm being a Winter-Thorn," Nicole replied, "I'm helping people in need, because I can do it."
"It's not like she'll be alone," Eric spoke up. "I'm going back too." He slung his arm over Nicole's shoulders, "She needs someone to look after her."
Will looked at Joel for a long moment, "I'm sorry," he said.
Joel smiled, "I understand son," he replied. "I need to get to Corinth. Dana took Heather, Hannah, and Jack with her. I'll let them know you're alive."
"Thank you," Will replied gratefully. He turned to the other two, "If you think you're going to let some half-trained amateur mechanic work on my babies, you've got another think coming. We can trust Dad and Xander to get everyone to Corinth. They are Power Rangers after all."
"Right," Xander said. "You explain it though."
The transition of power went smoothly; everyone had come to respect Joel's instincts for the weather and Xander's obvious magic. Those who had been there from the beginning had embraced Xander enthusiastically, having seen Lance's minor magical abilities in action. Although Xander wasn't the healer Lance was, he could, and did, help his son balance magic and holistic methods to keep the mixed company alive, including Elizabeth.
By the time they cleared Omega and began the final stage of their journey, however, Elizabeth was clearly growing weaker. Lance poured power into her three times a day under his dad's watchful eye, keeping her out of pain and able to keep moving.
Then a Venjix patrol cornered them as they were looking for camp. Everyone jumped to defend themselves from the dozen Grinders, using techniques perfected by ninja raiders over the months on the road.
Just as they knocked down the last of the Grinders, a hail of lasers warned them that the patrol hadn't been alone. Macy organized people to pull the wounded back and Lance prepared himself for the difficult battle of saving as many as he could.
"Magical Source," Xander shouted suddenly, "Mystic Force."
"Lightspeed Rescue," Joel added.
Lance closed his eyes, because they wouldn't have morphed unless they were buying time.
Suddenly, overhead, a pair of winged vehicles appeared, firing lasers and missiles at the Grinders. Lance stared up as they swooped back around, the back end opening and releasing a Black and Green Ranger between Xander and Joel and the Grinders. "Get them out of here," The Black ordered before drawing his blaster and following the Green into battle.
Lance grabbed the ends of a stretcher along with Macy and heaved it onto an ATV, ducking as stray blaster bolts flew past. "Go," Macy ordered the driver once the straps were down.
A fortunate stop in Colorado Springs had landed the party with enough ATVs and such for the entire party, including two trucks that had proved invaluable for carrying water and now were packed with wounded. They fled for Corinth with four Rangers and two Zords covering their rear guard. When three more Rangers appeared as they crossed the remains of a battle field, this time in Red, Blue and Yellow, Lance felt a sliver of hope.
When the gate to Corinth was guarded by people Lance recognized from his parents' Ranger past, he knew they were safe.
The best part was when his dad appeared with the medical team. That made wherever they were home.