Chapter Twenty-Five: Earth and the Monkey
Magnus made his way to Toro. He shook his head. He couldn't believe that, all along, Ivicar had been the main mole within the ranks of the United Alliance. He looked back at his time as a Morphing Master, and he could not pinpoint any times that Ivicar had dealt treacherously. Whatever Ivicar had done, in Magnus' mind, he had done it expertly.
He thought about the wicked features Ivicar had gained as Ivan Ooze. He had also gained awesome power from his transformation, and Magnus was still feeling the pain from the battle they had just had. Magnus thought it had been odd how Lord Zedd had suddenly appeared as if he were a friend to help. It did not concern him, in his own mind, so he didn't bother questioning it. He had more pressing matters on his mind. He had to protect his people. Especially with a narcissist like Novact on the loose, with his new Demon persona as Darkonda.
Before he knew it, he had made his way to Toro. He placed his hand on the Animal and channeled as much Morphing Energy as he could muster to the big beast. It wasn't a full fix, but it seemed to help a bit. The Animal who had slowly become Magnus' friend lifted himself up.
"Toro... are you ready?" Magnus asked.
Toro nodded. "I am ready, Magnus."
Reaching into his heart and his connection to Toro, Magnus could understand what Toro had said. Placing the helmet back upon his head, Magnus began to focus. During the time between the Final Siege against the Morphing Masters and Zordon's resurgence, Magnus had been working on the Mega Defenderarmor, with the help of Orion and Burai. They had made some major modifications that allowed Magnus to do something as the Mega Defender which pushed the edge of what their science team believed they could accomplish.
"Toro, charge!" Mega Defender cried out. The voice activated system confirmed the command, and the Mega Defender grew to be as tall as his Animal friend. He gingerly sat upon Toro's back. He wished he didn't need to, but Toro was his only chance to get home quickly. Slowly, Toro leapt into the sky and began using his inner power to fly up into space.
"Okay, Toro. It seems as if people know about the Lights of Orion. We must go back home and ensure no one gets to it..." Magnus explained to his companion.
As the two heroes made their way to Magna, Mega Defender looked back. He could see the Ragnarok flying off in the opposite direction.
"Good luck. May the Power protect you." Mega Defender said, knowing they couldn't hear him, but hoping his glad tidings would help carry them on their journeys to protect the universe.
. . .
Marvelous looked around, confused. "Uh... what?"
Miha shrugged. "I think we're dead."
One of the Alliance soldiers walked through Joe right at that moment. "Yeah, I think that would be a safe bet."
"Fascinating!" Doc cried out, looking around from his own hands to his companions. "This is such a rare opportunity! No one has been able to ever separate Spirit matter before!"
"Except for whoever made the... it was called the Savage Sword, right?" Luka asked rhetorically, folding her arms. She was extremely frustrated at her current situation.
Doc furrowed his brow. "Right, I'd forgotten about that..."
"So, we're stuck on the War Star Armada ship?" Marvelous asked, looking around.
"I don't think we're stuck here. This is just where we happened to end up after we..." Doc replied.
"He is correct." Tessa said, appearing before the once pirate rangers. She tucked her wings into her back. They seemed to be made of energy rather than something physical.
The five friends got into their fighting stance. They stared at her, half out of Fear, half out of anticipation.
"Who are you!? What do you want!?" Marvelous demanded.
"My name is Tessa. I am a Reaper. I am here to ensure you end up going to the afterlife, and not staying here, clogging up energy channels. I also wish for you to not end up becoming a Demon."
"Wait... we can become Demons after we die?" Joe asked, lowering his guard. His years of fighting experience taught him how to read people, and he could tell Tessa had not come to fight.
"Years and years of sitting in a limbo state as a Spirit can distort the mind. A Spirit can wander into a sort of delirium, even forgetting they were once alive. They would slowly start to absorb the universe's excess energy. It would rot inside of them, and... then that Spirit's fate would be that of a Demon." Tessa replied, stating to the group the knowledge she had acquired from the academy she had recently graduated from. She decided to skip the heavy science her masters degree required her to know.
"So, we go to the afterlife how?" Luka asked, skeptical.
At that moment, a white light appeared. Tessa smiled. "I couldn't have planned that better myself."
"What's on the other side?" Marvelous asked.
"Some believe it is Heaven. Others believe it is the same process that lifestream goes through: your Spirit gets recycled into the universe to be reused for another life. My people have found no way to verify one way or the other. To go in would be like going into the theorectical black hole: there is no way to come back." Tessa replied.
"So, this is it?" Miha replied, looking at Marvelous.
Marvelous frowned. "What if we were able to get new bodies?"
It was Tessa's turn to frown at that comment. "Over time, the new body would reject the foreign Spirit... by deteriorating. Of course, Demons have so much putrid energy within them that at times they can suspend deterioration indefinitely."
"So, why don't you stay behind, learn to control that 'putrid' energy, and possess a new body?" Azazel asked, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. His slow, deep manner of speech from his base form caused all of his phrases to sound haunting.
Tessa got into a fighting stance. "Stand behind me, Gokaigers. Demon: Go to Hell where you belong!"
"Hell?" Doc asked.
Azazel nodded. "Let's just say this Reaper here is more of a religious girl than a scientific one. She believes in Heaven, and by extension: Hell. All I know is that I am here now, alive, and ready to wait for my Spirit matter to resolidify so I can begin my work for Beelzebub once again."
Tessa sneered. "Don't make me fight you, Demon."
"Whoever you are, you need to stand back." Commander 17 said, walking through a wall of the ship and standing between Tessa and Azazel.
Tessa looked at him and smiled. "I've been looking for you as well, Commander. It is time to go into the light."
Commander 17 shook his head. "I shared a mind with this beast for enough time to know his plans. I could not go to the White Light until I ensured his plan did not work."
"Quiet, Human. Don't mess with things you don't understand." Azazel warned.
"Azazel has been fine tuning his Magic, ever since he was released from Queen Bansheera's spell. He has learned how to possess bodies as a pure Spirit, bypassing the need to wait to become a true Demon again." Commander 17 stated, staring down the Monster that caused his death.
Tessa stopped, wide eyed. "But... that's impossible!"
Joe looked to his friends. "I think we're getting caught up in something above our heads."
"Yeah, let's get out of here." Luka said, pointing to the White Light.
Marvelous looked at Miha. "No, we stay."
"Huh!?" The five Gokaigers asked, shocked.
Marvelous smiled and nodded. "Before we lost our lives, Miha remembered how the people on Rashon had been trapped in the Savage Sword. She said that miracles could happen to anyone, and she believed that if we are fighting for what is right, there is always a way to win. I think fate has something more in store for us."
Miha smiled. "Let's try and save the world from this plane."
Tessa turned around. "No! If you stay, you will become Demons!"
"Isn't that our choice?" Joe asked.
"No one... no one is strong enough to resist this!" Tessa demanded.
"Just as you are not strong enough to resist this, Reaper." Azazel said. Loud, black crackling began around him. The lightning transcended the Spirit plane of existence and began shutting down systems on the War Star Aramada ship. The Spirits could hear Commander BJ Lovel over the intercoms demanding to know where the problem was originating.
Suddenly, Azazel transformed himself into a black, yellow, and red colored cloud. As Tessa turned to see what Azazel was saying, she had no time to react. The Demon cloud filled her. Azazel had possessed Tessa.
"No!" Commander 17 yelled. He ran forward and rolled to the side of "Tessa" and joined the five pirates.
Azazel/Tessa smiled. Using Tessa's voice he said, "Join me. I will create a new era of power in the universe!"
The six stood, staring on at the possessed Reaper before them. They couldn't move due to the uncertainty the situation provided.
Tessa shrugged. "Have it your way. I'll see you all again. I hope by then you've changed your mind. Now, I have an errand to do... I've always wanted to do this!" Outstretching her hands, Azazel caused her wings to sprout from her back. She winked to the six Spirits before her and flew through the walls of the ship, out into space. As she exited the ship, she focused on the power the Reaper had. She caused her body to go from a pure Spirit form to its physical form.
On the ship, Joe shrugged. "Stinks to be her."
Commander 17 sighed in defeat. "I have been following Azazel's Spirit since we separated at our death. I've been hoping to stop his plan from happening, even if it meant he would re-possess me. I was learning how to fight back, and I think I could have beaten him. Tessa is a Reaper. Reapers have never needed to know how to defeat a possession, according to Azazel's thoughts and plans. She is defenseless against him."
"We have to help her..." Luka said, turning to Marvelous.
"We have to try and get the Savage Sword to release its prisoners. Then we can worry about Tessa." Marvelous replied. His crew turned and nodded to him in agreement.
"I've seen flashes of the Holy War." Commander 17 said. "It was horrible. With Azazel's new ability, though, Demons are now nearly immortal and undefeatable. If someone strikes them down, they will only lose a host body and immediately possess a new one. I... I can't let myself be apart of this." He looked over to the White Light as it was fading away. "This will not be pleasant for you five if you stay here. I don't know what would happen if you were destroyed as a Spirit, and if I were you I wouldn't want to find out. Come with me, please, and save yourselves."
Joe smiled. "We've been there and we've tried that. It's not... satisfying."
"That's right. There are new bullies in the universe and we need to nip them in the bud." Marvelous said.
Luka turned her head to Marvelous. "Nip them in the bud? Okay, grandpa Marvelous. We're right behind you!"
Commander 17 stared at them. He could feel their comradery. He smiled. "Good luck then. May the Power protect you." He then turned around and walked into the White Light. It vanished as he was enveloped by it.
"Now what?" Doc asked.
"Now... we try to figure out how to navigate space as Spirits. Then... we go to Rashon." Marvelous said, stepping through a wall to begin his journey with his friends in space. The other four nodded and followed suit. Their new journey had just begun.
. . .
Burai looked down. He was amazed to see himself as a Power Ranger. Ever since he had been overlooked as a Morphing Master, followed by seeing more and more Power Rangers appearing in the universe, he had been feeling as if he was being completely left behind. At that moment, however, he could feel the power his Dragon Coin was feeding to him. He got into a fighting stance, ready to take on his opponent, Goldar. He could feel his Dragon Shield on his shoulder, coursing with power. He reached down and pulled out his Dragon Dagger. He was ready.
"And who do you think you are!?" Goldar asked defiantly.
"I'm the Green Ranger. Prepare to meet your demise." Green Ranger said, rushing forward to fight Goldar.
"Give it your best shot!" Goldar cried out. As Green Ranger approached Goldar, the gold clad Monster swung at him. Sensing the attack, Green Ranger seemingly stopped on a dime, placed his dagger to his lips, and activated his shield's defenses. Goldar was hit with a shockwave as his blade bounced off the Green Ranger's Morphing Energy infused force field. He flew backward a few feet, landing on his back.
Scorpina and Camille looked on from a mountain ledge. Scorpina smiled at the chameleon warrior. "It looks as if I don't have to sabotage Goldar for Dai Shiafter all. This new Power Ranger seems to be able to defeat the dumb monkey on his own!"
Camille nodded. "Great. Now we don't have to risk your identity with Rita Repulsa."
Green Ranger could feel the Dragon Coin give him instructions on what powers he had at his disposal. Focusing, he began to charge his Green Morphing Energy with the Green Energy he already had coursing through his body. Channeling it, he focused the energy into an orb and tossed it at Goldar. The blast hit Goldar so hard it lifted him up from his feet and sent him flying through the air.
Goldar slowly stood, looking at the Green Ranger incredulously. He then laughed. "You're just lucky I am already tired from destroying all of these so called fighters from the Magic Realm. Mark my words, Green Ranger: the time will come when it will be you versus me, and I will have you bow down before me! The time will come that I will extinguish your powers! Remember, Green Ranger... this is your destiny: to fall to me and my power! Ah-hahaha!" And with that, Goldar vanished in a flame of power.
Green Ranger turned back toward his shuttle. As he did, he heard something behind him. He turned to find the last remnant of Tenga Warriors from Goldar's invasion of Earth, standing before him, ready to battle. Green Ranger could not count them all, but he knew it was easily over two hundred warriors staring him down.
He smiled behind his mask. "Okay... who's first?"
. . .
Count Dregon smiled as he spoke with his father over the communication network. He knew he had the man under his thumb.
"How could you stoop so low, my son?" Lexian asked. He looked across from where he was sitting to see a mirror. He hadn't seen his own reflection in months. He looked exhausted. He could see grey hairs beginning to come in from his roots. He sighed as he heard his oldest son laugh.
"What has happened to my brother had nothing to do with me. It was Lord Zedd. He came in like a maniac and crippled him, not me. I was only going to put him out of his misery. What Zedd did was far worse."
"It was your fault. All of this has been your fault. Your Greed has destroyed this planet."
Dregon chuckled. "I can only take so much of the credit, father. Now, about my proposition...?"
A tear rolled down Lexian's face. For the first time, he allowed himself to think the unthinkable thought: his oldest son was gone. With his loyal son in critical condition the next room over, the thought was near devastating.
"Okay, Dregon. If this is how you want it, then this is how it will be. We will dig up the pockets of gas under the ground in return for your mercy."
Dregon smiled. He had procured for himself a missile. The missile was powerful enough to decimate his former planet in one hit. He stated simply that theEdenites would either perish under the bomb, or dig up the pockets of gas on the planet. He knew they would pick the latter. He knew they would wish to use the time they were digging to plan a way to overthrow Dregon. He wanted this, so he could use the time to try and get the powers of the Masked Rider Warriors for himself.
"Wise choice, Father. I expect to see you digging with everyone else bright and early in the morning."
Lexian buried his head in his hands, depressed. How do I tell everyone what Dregon has done to us? What are we to do...?
As he ended these thoughts, he looked down upon his belt. The Royal Morpher sat there, brimming with energy. Lexian knew the time would eventually come when he would be forced to use it.
"Your Highness... Kamen is stable. He won't be able to walk, but otherwise he will recover." One of the base's generals reported.
Lexian nodded. "How is the automaton project coming along?"
"Alpha 1 is online and functioning. I'm sure it will be able to aid Prince Kamen just fine with his day to day needs."
"Perfect. Now, I must be going. I have a speech to write..." Lexian said, dreading that speech's eventual consequence.
. . .
"Why keys?" Guy asked as Gerlit showed him the schematics for the system he and his fellow teammates had made to protect the Greatest Treasure in the Universe.
"Everyone on Liaria is trained from birth to wield the powers the Ancient Keys wield. Our civilization has studied the keys for years and have mass produced them. Only our biological make up can fully activate the powers of the keys. I figure if we use the Greater Power every ranger team creates from the bond they share, store them in keys, they can be a great defense for the Greatest Treasure. Each Ranger attached to the Greater Power will have a key. To be able to get to the Greatest Treasure, one needs to have all of the keys to each Greater Power protecting the Greatest Treasure. Here's the catch, though: having the keys themselves isn't enough. One would also need access to each Greater Power."
"Wouldn't having each key automatically cause the wielder of the keys to have those Greater Powers? What's your point?" Guy asked.
"No, it doesn't. To be able to access the Greater Powers, one needs to have the keys to that power, and then permission from at least one person who once wielded that power. That permission will unlock the Greater Power."
"So... The keys unlock the Greater Powers... And the Greater Powers unlocks the Greatest Treasure?"
"Precisely."
Guy then jumped up heroically. "I will do all I can to help you program these keys then!"
Gerlit smiled. "Your enthusiasm is perfect! We'll start immediately!"
"Wait... Which powers will we start with?"
"We'll use yours as a template. I'll try and reverse engineer the other pirates' powers from your power. I don't know if it will work, but I'll try!"
"And we'll make copies of each ranger power with these keys?"
"Yep. The more the merrier!"
"Great! Uh... When do we get to Earth to put Maligore away again?"
"Almost there! Let's hurry and get started before the ceremony."
. . .
As the Ragnarok flew off, the Space Rangers sat in shock. Zordon had explained to them what had occurred on Mirinoi to Michael. Cory, Topanga, Shawn,Angela, and Eric gathered around the coffin the Astro Megaship had generated for its creator. DECA was uncharacteristically quiet while the Rangers spoke about their good friend.
"He was a brilliant guy..." Angela said. "Whatever I would ask him about my schoolwork, he knew the answer."
"I remember one time," Shawn began. "Feeney was going off about some astrology stuff and how no one knew the answer to this giant problem with something, I can't remember. But anyway, Mike just stands up in the middle of his lecture, walks to the white board, and writes down two or three small equations, solving this huge problem! Hehe... I actually think that's when the Alliance became interested in him."
Eric looked at them all, solemn. "I remember the time Michael went down to Mirinoi to help some innocent people, asked for my help, and I didn't go. I wanted to take a break. I remember what happened to him while he was on that planet... I know I will always wonder what would've happened had I not stayed behind..."
Tears ran down the faces of the Space Rangers. Tears of regret and shame. They knew they should have gone with their friend. They all felt as if his blood was on their hands.
Cory gripped Topanga's hand tight. He cleared his voice and began addressing the team by saying, "In honor of my friend, Master Michael, I vow to never allow my selfishness to ever stop me from helping those in need, especially my friends."
The other four rangers nodded, adding their similar vows in as well. Cory then took Michael's Morpher out of his pocket. "We need a new Black Ranger. The universe needs a new Black Ranger."
. . .
Goldar sneered in disgust. I will redeem myself! Rita will punish me if I go back to her with nothing but a defeat. I must prove I am useful!
He walked around on Earth's moon, wondering what he was to do. As he walked around a dune, what he found shocked him. It was Deviot doing battle against Sentinel Knight.
Sentinel fell to a knee, breathing hard. "You've grown quite strong, Deviot, since we last met. Where have you been hiding all of this time?"
Deviot laughed. "Closer than you think." He rushed forward for another attack, but was suddenly pushed away from behind. As he fell to the ground, he turned to see that his assailant was Goldar.
"What do you think you're doing!?" Deviot screamed.
"I'm taking advantage of an opportunity to impress my queen! The Corona Aurora will soon belong to Rita Repulsa!"
Sentinel Knight huffed as he stood up. "You're over your head, beast. Run now and you will still have your life." As he said this, he fell back onto a knee.
Deviot laughed. "Back away now and let me take my spoils! You can't destroy him, anyway. Without a strategy, battling Sentinel Knight is a waste of time. Now, stop wasting my time and leave!"
Goldar charged at Deviot. He swung his mighty sword and almost hit him. Deviot shot Orange Energy out from his hands, blasting Goldar in the chest. Goldar stood, angrier than ever.
"You sure are strong! I'd love to see what makes you tick!" Deviot said, laughing. He shot more blasts from his hand mounted double barreled cannon. Goldar dodged these and charged forward again.
"All brawn and no tactics, I see." Deviot observed, sidestepping Goldar easily. Before Goldar could stop himself as he ran past Deviot, he was shot in the back. His already injured back, due to the damage his wings had taken on Regda 2, ached.
Deviot then turned to Sentinel, who was still struggling to recover. "Time to come with me, old friend. You're going to show me where the real jewels of the Corona Aurora are."
Sentinel Knight was shocked. "I... how...?"
Deviot laughed. "I recorded what their energy signature looked like long ago. Trust me, I know the only thing you have is the crown itself. Now, don't make me get that sword and slay you."
"The only person being slain today is you." Zordon said, leaping in between Sentinel and Deviot.
"And possibly that gold monkey." Yoral added with a sneer.
Trinity walked up, getting into the fighting stance she had learned from the elemental martial artists. "Allow us to show you the light of justice."
"You're finished." A bitter Tria said, her Power Staff in hand.
"Well, well... Power Rangers have come to defeat me, huh? Well, I'm not going down so easily."
Goldar stood up and made his way to Deviot. "As much as I don't like you, I hate them more. Together, we'll rip them apart." Deviot nodded, turning back to the rangers. Just out of sight, Zedd struggled to get himself to the battle to help his friends, but the Dark Lord was giving him the fight of his life. The fight for his life.
"Back down you all." Sentinel Knight struggled to say to those wishing to defend him. "You don't have the power to take him on."
Zordon looked down. He just realized Sentinel did not know that they had all tapped the Morphing Grid, against what he believed in. "You'd be surprised, Master. Stand back and let us protect you. And, I'm sorry if this will offend you."
Sentinel did not know what he meant by that. As Team Victory got ready to morph, they heard something from the side landing.
"Well, I came here looking for Goldar, but this is just brilliant!" Burai said, looking over the scene. He looked at Zordon and smiled. "Although I saw you momentarily on Liaria, it is good to really see you again, old friend. It's been too long."
Burai ran down and gave Zordon a large hug.
"Oh, stop. You're going to make me cry! Haha! I don't care how many of you there are, because I'm going to destroy the lot of you!" Deviot cried out.
"Oh, and I'm glad I brought a friend..." Burai said, turning back to his shuttle. From within, Saba leapt out, landing in front of Zordon.
"Saba!" Zordon said, hugging his friend. It had been too long since they had seen each other.
"Are you ready, partner?" Saba asked, excited.
"Guy love." Yoral said, laughing. She knew not why, but just hearing his voice began grating Trinity's nerves. She gave him an annoyed look and turned back to Deviot and Goldar.
"Let's destroy them!" Goldar yelled. At that, the two fighters rushed forward to attack. As they ran, they shot blasts at those ready to fight them.
"Ready?" Burai asked, smiling.
"Really? You, too?" Zordon asked, smiling.
Burai smirked. "I asked if you were ready." Blasts erupted around them as Deviot and Goldar's running made them lose their aim.
"Ready!" The other four rangers yelled.
"It's morphin' time!" Burai yelled.
"Dragon!"
"Gold Ranger power!"
"Ninja Storm! Ranger form! Ha!"
"Zocato power! Ancient source: Amaradon force!"
"Ancient source: Meledon force!"
"Green Dragon Ranger!"
"Gold Zeo Ranger!"
"Power of Light! Ninja Storm Pink Ranger!"
"Amaradon Ranger!"
"Meledon Ranger!"
As they finished, Deviot and Goldar fell upon them. The excess Morphing Energy, instead of erupting behind them, was absorbed by Sentinel Knight. He stood up, fully restored. He looked at the rangers in shock.
But... I can feel their power. They've been tapping the Morphing Energy for a while... How is it that they haven't begun to decay!? Sentinel thought, confused.
Ninja Storm Pink attacked Goldar. She hit him hard with her blade, dodging an attack from him herself. As she did, sparks flew from both her and Goldar. They fell back.
"Argh!" She screamed, clutching her left arm.
Amaradon and Meledon Rangers jumped into the air. As Nathadian Magic, White Energy, and Tiger Power began to surge around Meledon Ranger, Zocato power was coursing through Amaradon Ranger. They both slammed into Deviot, sending him flying.
Once again mixing Green Energy with with Green Morphing Energy, Green Ranger began charging a blast at Deviot. At that moment, he suddenly felt something else. A power he had never noticed before. He channeled it and added it to his orb. It went blasting down toward Deviot. Under it, a trail was blazed into the ground, sending rocks and chunks of dirt flying into the air. The blast hit Deviot square in the face. As this happened, Amaradon Ranger fell to the ground, gasping for breath. He demorphed almost immediately afterward.
"The Universal Dino Energy? I haven't felt that in quite some time... Well, it looks like... ugh... uh... You all got me good... And now the knight is back up and running... I'll take my leave for now..." And with that, Deviot pushed a button on a remote and vanished onto his ship hidden near them.
Sentinel shook his head as he hit Goldar in the chest with his fist. Goldar was thrown hard into a dune. Standing, he grunted. Saba then landed on him, slashing at his armor. He then kicked Goldar away.
Composing himself, Goldar said, "Until next time, Rangers!" He then disappeared in a blast of flames.
Sentinel Knight helped Pink Ranger up. "You need to demorph. I've seen this before." He then took her to her friends as they demorphed.
"I see that you are unaffected by your tap to the Grid, Zordon and Burai." Sentinel began. "This is because of your fluency with the Morphing Grid itself. Trinity, on the other hand, isn't that talented with the Morphing Grid. She cannot regulate the power from her little orb. It will destroy her."
"What about me, Master Sentinel?" Yoral asked.
"You are playing with fire, young man. Zocato power is dangerous. It is fueled by Rage. Where did you learn such Magic!?"
"Why did it blink out?" Yoral asked, ignoring the question.
"Zocato and Nathadian powers conflict. If one is at full strength, it will overpower the other."
"What if we are both at full strength?" Zordon asked.
"I don't know, and it is not important. This young man needs to stop using it immediately. And until you can get a power regulator for Trinity, she shouldn't morph anymore, either."
"Yes, Sentinel Knight. And I'm sorry." Tria said.
"No need to apologize. I'm glad you did what you did. I saw the force you all can be against the forces of evil in the universe. I have confidence you will save many, many people. Now, I must go before someone else tries to get the Corona Aurora. Goodbye, my friends. Until next time." As he began to turn, he stopped and looked again to Tria. "Once again, thank you... Master Tria."
And with that, he flew up into space. As he did, Tria looked on, a single tear of joy rolling down her cheek.
As Yoral began arguing with Zordon about how he should continue to be the Amaradon Ranger, about a half mile away, Lord Zedd was fallen on his stomach, in an intense battle within his own shared mind. The Dark Lord had not been able to break into Commander Zedd's mind fortress, but had been able to rip him out of it. They stared at each other. They each stood on what appeared to be a war scarred battlefield. A ring of fire surrounded them. The blaze could be seen reflected off of Lord Zedd's chrome exoskeleton and off of Commander Zedd's eyes. They both got into fighting stances.
"This is my mind, Dark Lord. Get out of it!"
"Finders keepers, pathetic Human!"
"Then we fight..." Commander Zedd replied. He was ready to win back his freedom.
. . .
Master Vile screamed in anger. The news infuriated him. He looked at his head scientist, Kegler, as if the bad news had been caused by him.
"You're telling me Novact destroyed Orion without my permission!? He helped destroy my son! I was supposed to destroy him! It was my revenge!"
"I know, Master. I told you as soon as I fou-" Kegler started.
"Out! Out! I want you out!"
"Yes, Master. I will head back to my-"
"No, I want you off my ship immediately!" Vile screamed. He picked Kegler up and carried him to a window. He opened it and threw Kegler out. In anger, Vile stormed back into his private chambers to lament the loss of one of his opportunities for revenge.
As Kegler floated through space, trying to calculate how long it would be before he perished of thirst and/or hunger, he saw something moving toward him. It was too small to be a ship and too fast to be a normal celestial body. He could make out the form of a Humanoid as it got closer. The person stretched out their hand.
"Hello, my name is Villamax. How may I be of service to you?"
. . .
Bansheera walked out of her private chambers. Her complexion was paler than usual. She had just received the report of Maligore's apparent destruction. He was the only being she truly cared for, because he was completely loyal to her, no matter what had occurred. She looked up, surprised to find Darkonda waiting for her.
"You said you were waiting for me, my Queen?" Darkonda said.
"Yes... I have something for you..." Her mind still focusing mainly on the loss of her top general, she summoned a sword into her hand. She handed it to Darkonda.
"What is this?" Darkonda asked, feeling great power course through him as he took it from Bansheera.
"It... it's a sword Lothor had... He was a powerful sorcerer... Anyway, because of your connection to the powers of evil, I believe you would be able to wield it quite nicely. It is called the Sword of Darkness. I wish for you to use it to destroy the Power Rangers."
"Which on-"
"NOW!" Bansheera yelled. Without further remarks, Darkonda left. Turning to her podium, where Novact had absorbed all of the evil Demonic energy, she began channeling her power. She was making a new general. He was going to be patterned after her most loyal and faithful servant. She would name him Neo Maligore.