AN: I forgot to mention I also met Richard Horvitz, voice of Alpha 5 and a lot of other cartoons at AwesomeCon 2014. I met David Yost (Billy the blue ranger) and Walter Jones (Zack the black ranger) at AwesomeCon 2014. They were both really nice and got me thinking about how much MMPR influenced my childhood and who I grew up to be. And then this little story popped out.
And since they are supposed to be teens in high school I am keeping them that age. About 17 since they are juniors in high school.
Also please review, it means a lot to me
************************At the Youth Center******************************
"Great class everyone, really good job. I'm seeing a lot of improvement." Zack praised, as his Hip Hop Kido class was finishing up for the evening. "Roy, try to work more on the stance of that last combo. More like this." Zack said demonstrating again the sweeping leg pattern, before patting the shoulder of his student.
"Good class man." Jason said, sipping on a protein shake, as Zack came over to the juice bar. Jason had skipped dinner, focusing instead on doing a weight lifting routine at the youth center while Zack had his class.
Zack glanced at the clock. 6:44pm. "Yeah it ran a little late though. Sorry about that Ernie."
Ernie looked up from where he was drying glasses on the bar. "No problem Zack, you know I don't mind closing up a late for you guys."
Just then Bulk and Skull came stumbling comically into the youth center. Their shirts covered with a mix of ketchup, mustard and chill.
"What happened to you? Lose a fight with your food?" Zack asked with a laugh. Jason chuckled with him until Bulk looked up. His face was more serious that either of them had ever seen before.
"Can it dweebs, we need some real help here." Bulk spoke in a wavering voice.
"Y…yeah, we need some help." Skull said. Only now did Jason notice he was shaking like a dry leaf in the autumn breeze.
"Okay just calm down guys, what happened?" Ernie asked.
"Okay so we were in the park…" Bulk started.
"In the park…" Skull whimpered behind him. Bulk glared at him before continuing. "And these monsters just show up out of nowhere. Me and Skull fought them off best we could," Bulk punched at the air for emphasis, "but there were dozens of them and Sarah ran off. Some of the monsters ran after her but we couldn't stop them, we need help finding her."
"Come on you two, is this a prank?" Ernie asked. It wouldn't be the first time these two made something up for attention.
Bulk shook his head. His eyes were pleading with them but his voice was harsh. "So are you losers going to help find my cousin or not?"
"Ernie you still have those flashlights from the youth center lock in?" Jason asked quickly.
"Yeah, there in the back." Ernie said with a jerk of his thumb. It was all Ernie needed to say before Zack was off racing in the direction he pointed.
"Good, do me a favor and call the others, tell them to meet us at the park." Jason said as Zack returned, racing back into the room and shoving a flashlight into his hands.
"You guys be careful. I'll stay open in case she finds her way here." Ernie said, worry in his voice. He was already dialing the phone.
"Show us exactly where it happened." Zack said as he and Jason followed Bulk and Skull out of the youth center and down to the park. Skull mumbling fearful words the whole way, he did not want to go back into the park but Bulk dragged him by the collar of his leather jacket. Bulk's knees were shaking in fear by the group time they reached the now long deserted hot dog picnic area.
"We were right here when we were attacked." He said pointing at the table still covered in the remains of food.
"Only two place settings." Jason noted, "Where was Sarah?"
"Across the path there, by the street light." Skull gestured while cowering behind Bulk.
"And when the monsters came, which way did she run?" Zack asked, looking at the ground with his light.
"Towards the lake I think." Bulk said, "Maybe Skull and I should say here? You know, in case she finds her way back?"
Jason nodded. "Good idea. Come on Zack."
As the duo hurried in the direction Sarah had gone, horrible fears of the worst began to enter each of their minds. They arrived in no time at the lake, skidding to a halt near the waters edge.
"Sarah!" Jason called loudly, scanning the area as best he could with the flash light.
"Where are you?" Zack yelled.
"SARAH!" Jason cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting even louder this time.
There was no answer, only silence. Jason frowned as the chilly air of early fall blew again. The rustling of the leaves seemed louder in the darkness.
"Oh man, this is not good. Do you think Rita's goons already got her?" Zack shuffled on his feet, worry evident in his voice.
"Let's keep looking." Was all Jason could think to say. He didn't want to imagine what might have happened to her. Not without proof. They continued along the shore line till they reached the rose garden at the edge of the lake. In the summer the garden would be full of blooms and couples being romantic but now the flowers were gone and the dried dark brambles made frightening shapes in the dark.
"Sarah!" Zack screamed again. "Maybe we should…" Jason suddenly hushed him, holding up his hand. "I thought I heard something." Jason and Zack went as still as stone, doing everything they could to minimize the noise they were making.
Zack listened intently into the dark, the faintest of whimpers coming to his ears. "Over there." He said shining his flashlight into some thorn bushes. His light landed on the abused form Sarah. Her arms were cut from the thorns, her clothes dusty with dirt and her eyes wide and so very doll like, unseeing. She whimpered again, sparing the rangers to move to her.
"Hey Sarah," Zack said quietly as not to scare her. Bending down he gently pulled her out of the rose bushes, mindful to avoid the cuts he could see. Last thing he wanted was to hurt her more. "She's so cold, like ice!" He yelped when he touched her arms.
"She's in shock." Jason said removing his red wind breaker and placing it around her. "Sarah can you hear me? Come on Sarah, come back to us." When she didn't respond he scooped her into his arms, holding her carefully to his chest. "We need to get her warmed up."
Zack nodded as the two took off as fast as they could back towards the youth center, when they reached a fork in the path Zack diverted off to inform Bulk and Skull they had found her.
Jason readjusted Sarah in his arms as he ran. "Just hold on a little longer." He whispered into the top her head.
"Leaving so soon red ranger?" A voice laughed coldly and in a moment Jason found himself surrounded by half a dozen putties and Goldar.
"Goldar." He growled, tightening his hold on Sarah.
"I see you found my missing play thing. Do yourself a favor and just give her to me." Goldar swung his sword in the air. "You are hopelessly outnumbered."
Jason considered his options quickly before laying Sarah on the grass in front of him.
Goldar laughed again "A wise move ranger, saving yourself." But Goldar misinterpreted the action and could never have predicted the strength of Jason's resolve.
There seemed only one thing he could do. "You're not taking her anywhere. It's Morphing Time! Tyrannosaurus!" Jason shouted becoming the Red Power Ranger.
"What no! Putties attack!" Goldar ordered.
"Hi-Ya! E-Ya!" Jason was taking the putties down with incredible ease.
"No! What magic is this?" Goldar asked when the last putty fell apart. "You've never been this strong alone before red ranger."
Jason held his sword tightly. "I'm through playing. It's your turn now, Goldar." He threatened, charging at the amour covered monster. Jason swung his sword right as Goldar disappeared.
Taking one last look that all was safe, he unmorphed and gathered Sarah once more in his arms. Her eyes were closed. He hoped she was too far in shock to remember anything she had just seen.
As he started back to the youth center he couldn't help but wonder. Goldar had been right. He had felt almost super charged during the fight. Jason shook his head picking up the pace. He could think about it later, right now he needed to get Sarah someplace warm and safe.
****************************At the youth center***************************
"You said you found her." Bulk frowned, poking Zack roughly in the chest.
"We did." Zack stated.
"Then where are they? Why aren't they here yet?" Bulk countered, hitting the juice bar with a fist.
"I don't know, maybe Jason got lost in the dark or something." Zack frowned coming over to one of the tables he sat down next to his friends. Ernie had been successful in called everyone, except Trini who was out with her folks. They had just about to head out to the park when Zack, Bulk and Skull had arrived and said Sarah was safe but now. It shouldn't be taking Jason this long to get back.
"I should never have left them." Zack whispered to the table putting his head in his hands.
"It's not your fault." Kimberly said wrapping her arm around his shoulder.
"We never could have predicted another attempt so fast." Billy said rubbing at his eyes. He had initially thought Rita's putties had just been there to rough him up, since he was alone but now he wasn't too sure. The rangers exchanged glances. Whatever Rita had been after when she attacked Billy and Sarah she must not have found. That meant it must be something Sarah had with her constantly. Kimberly had notice that Sarah had not worn any jewelry that could be the piece of power prism they were seeking. Without coming right out and asking her, better yet explaining how they knew, all the rangers could do was wait.
"If Jason's not back soon we'll go and look for him." Tommy said. When Jason wasn't around Tommy has no trouble taking up the mantle of leadership.
"Hey can I get a hand?" Jason called coming into the Youth center. Sarah still cradled carefully to his chest.
Tommy pulled out a chair and with great ease Jason placed Sarah down. Billy was there in an instant checking her over for damage.
"Is she okay nerd?" Bulk asked. His mom was going to kill him if Sarah was hurt badly.
"She's in shock. Ernie can we get a hot chocolate please? We've got to get her warmed up." Billy stated as he began to rub her arm between his hands.
"There's some hot towels in the dryer," Ernie offered heating up the milk.
"I've got it." Kimberly said, as she dashed off down the hall.
Jason motioned for Zack and Tommy to follow him to the corner of the room.
"What took you so long man?" Zack asked, glancing over towards the others making sure they could not be overheard.
"We were attack by Goldar and some putties, I had to morph, I didn't have a choice." Jason whispered.
"She saw you morph?" Tommy asked. Jason sighed shaking his head. "Maybe, I'm not sure, she was in shock. I'm not sure she saw anything."
Soon Kimberly returned, her arms full of warm towels from the dryer. The covered Sarah's lap, shoulders and head with the towels. Billy continued to rub at her arms. "Sarah? Wake up. Sarah." He kept calling softly.
"B…Billy?" Sarah blinked, her dilated eyes finally starting to focus. Billy let out the breath he didn't know he was holding in. "What's…what's going on?" She asked pulling the warm towel from her head.
"Welcome back to the land of the living." Zack said coming over with Jason and Tommy.
"Good to see you awake." Jason smiled ruffling Sarah hair.
"We were really worried." Kimberly added, handing a mug of hot chocolate to Sarah.
"Your internal nervous system has had quite a shock. You need to consume that." Billy said, inclining his head towards her drink.
Sarah took a few sips of hot chocolate. "Why were you worried?" She asked.
"Like duh, because of the horrible monsters that attacked." Bulk retorted coming over.
"You forget about the monsters or something?" Skull said with a frown.
Sarah's eyes went wide again, her breathing started to become loud and shallow. "Come on, Sarah, stay with us!" Kimberly shouted.
"She's going into shock again." Zack worried. Sarah seemed to be having trouble breathing now.
Suddenly there was that ringing again, like tiny crystal bells. It was beautiful, it was powerful, it was dangerous. Jason and Tommy both unconsciously reached for their morphers. Only when catching a glimpse of the other reaching did they realized what they were doing and stopped. Thinking quickly Jason put a hand on Zack's shoulder and Tommy held Kimberly's hand. They had to not morph, no matter what they felt.
"To reverse the affect of the nervous system shock, might I suggest a slight compression to the sensitive tissues of the facial structure?" Billy suggested.
"What?" Jason asked but it was too late as Billy slapped Sarah on the cheek. Not enough to bruise but enough to sting. The pain helped her eyes and mind to focus back on Billy.
"You four eyed freak! How dare you hit my cousin!" Bulk yelled.
"It was imperative to stop her from going back into shock. I am exceedingly apologetic for the pain I caused." Billy whimpered slightly. At least the urge to morph had stopped.
"That's enough Bulk." Sarah suddenly snapped before downing the now luke warm hot chocolate. "Ernie I could use another one of these." She said holding the now empty mug.
"Sure thing kid." He said making another cup. Sarah sat quietly, trying to focus her mind, until her drink was ready.
"Bulk was right," she said after a sip. "There were monsters."
"Oh Bulkie, we should maybe head home, like right now." Skull whined pulling at the much larger boy.
Sarah continued, "I saw the same ones as before, the grey ones and there was another one. Like an ape combined with a lion in gold armor." As she took another sip the rangers exchanged glances.
"Did he say anything?" Jason ventured.
"Not that I remember. I remember running but then it gets kind of fuzzy. I remember dirt and feeling pain," She said looking now at the dozen of shallow cuts on her arms. " I know I was hiding and they were close by but I don't really recall anything after that."
"Nothing at all?" Tommy asked.
Sarah sat her mug down and looked towards the ceiling. "Red. I remember seeing the color red."
"When Jason and I found you, you were in shock. Jason put his red wind breaker jacket on you. That must be the red you remember." Zack offered. Sarah nodded, it made sense but then she yawned. Her eyes were starting to feel heavy.
"It's been a long evening," Tommy said, looking at the clock. It was past 9:00pm. "Billy is Sarah okay to walk?"
"Yes there are no signs of a concussion." Billy assured.
"Okay, since I'm only a few blocks away. I'll walk Sarah home." Tommy offered.
"Hey, I'm perfectly capable of getting my cousin home safe." Bulk huffed.
"I'm sure you are, but after all the fighting you two did, you must be tired." Jason offered. Bulk grumbled but said no more on the subject as Tommy joined them.
The walk back was thankfully uneventful. Bulk and Skull had practically run ahead but Sarah didn't feel up to that level of exertion yet.
"Thanks for walking me back." Sarah said as they reached the front door. You could already hear Bulk inside explaining why they were so late.
"It's not a problem, are you sure you're alright?" He asked.
"Yeah its just, this is the second time in less than a week. I can't help but feel like the monsters are after me and I don't know why. Maybe it's just coincidence and bad luck."
Tommy shrugged, "No idea but don't worry, we won't let anything bad happen to you."
Sarah gave him a quick hug, "Thanks. I better go in now. Night."
"Night." Tommy answered before going to hide in some nearby trees. He waited until he saw a light turn on. It was on the second floor, the south east window. The silhouette against the curtains was defiantly of Sarah. Tommy leaned back into the tree. He would sit here on watch a few hours before one of the others came to relieve him.
You never knew when Rita was watching you.
*************************On the moon***********************************
"You moron! You idiot! You bumbling halfwit! She was alone, she was weak and yet you mess it up again!" The queen of mean screamed at Goldar hitting him with her staff.
"But my queen, the red ranger showed up. He fought with a power I have never seen before." Goldar reasoned with his queen.
"No excuses! You're giving me a head ache!" She screamed even louder than before. Pacing she put her hand on the rail of her balcony. "I'm not giving up yet rangers! I will have that crystal. Just wait till you see my next monster."
*************************Three earth weeks later****************************
"Hey Zack!" Sarah called coming out of her house. The day was bright and clear with a slight chill in the air. Autumn was officially here.
"Hey, ready to go?" He asked as she joined him at the end of the driveway. It was early morning and Zack had come to walk her to school. Ever since her attack in the park a few weeks ago her friends had been alternating days walking her to school.
"Yup, and I'm super excited! Today's the first day of beginner karate class after school. I'm going to be so awesome. Monsters better watch out." She said making a few punches and kicks in the air like she had seen the others do in practice at the youth center.
Zack chuckled, holding back the urge to correct her stance. He would leave that for Jason. "You sure you don't want to take Hip Hop Kido?" he asked doing a few slick dance moves and kicks.
Sarah laughed, "Pretty sure I need the basics before I can do the fancy stuff."
School was relatively uneventful and soon Sarah found herself in the park along with Jason, Zack, Billy and Kimberly.
Kimberly and Billy were just there to watch. Zack had his own advanced hip hop kido class a short distance away and Jason... Jason was having a bad day. Yes it was the first beginner class of the session, but the way Bulk and Skull kept tripping over themselves and doing dangerous moves it was getting to be a real headache. It was obvious Sarah and the other new students were trying their very best learn, so the antics of the comical duo were a sever distraction.
After just half an hour Jason call the class to an end. "Good job today guys." He said to his other students as they left. "Next class will be longer." He added after hearing a few of them mumble unhappy.
"Finally I thought that would never end." Bulk said, sitting on a bench sweating hard. He grabbed Skull's soda, drinking it down in one long gulp. His lackey frowned at him.
"You know if you guys are having trouble keeping up, we can do some private lessons if you want or maybe this just isn't quite the right class for you." Jason offered politely. This was just the first class and he wouldn't be a very good teacher if he just told them to quit.
"Yeah, well maybe this class isn't for us." Bulk grumbled. "Skull and I we're way too advance for this baby karate you were teaching. We quit."
"Yeah, quit!" Skull agreed as they began to leave.
"Hey wait, you're supposed to walk me home." Sarah shouted at her cousin but he ignored her.
"Don't worry, we'll walk you home." Jason promised. "Zack's class has another half hour, how about we go over those basic katas again?"
Sarah smiled, a private lesson sounded awesome. "Sure."
*****************************On the moon********************************
"Finster! Is it done yet!" Rita repulse screamed through her moon castle for the one thousandth time.
"Yes my queen just putting on the last details. It's a real work of evil, if I do say so myself." Finster said delicately working the clay.
"Oh he looks positively nasty." Rita gushed. "What do you call him?"
"I call him the Tricky Trickster. With all his pouches and hidden surprises, he'll be a real troublesome problem for the rangers. And I've added a special addition. Look my queen." Finster pointed to the monsters chest, a diamond shaped red gem there.
"Ooh, what's that do?" She asked.
"That my queen is the tracking ability you wanted. When Tricky Trickster gets close to the prism crystal, his own crystal will start to glow red. Once he had the target insight, he can release a beam of red light incapacitating anyone or anything in physical contact with the crystal."
"Ooh that's so evil. I love it! What are you waiting for? Make my monster!"
"Right away my queen," Finster said placing the clay figure in the machine.
"Heeheeheehee!" The Trickster laughed as he burst to life in a cliud of smoke.
"How evil!" Rita exclaimed. "Do you know what to do?" She asked the Trickster.
"Yes my queen, I won't fail you heeheehee!" he promised.
"Then go!"
************************Back in the park**********************************
The sun was just starting to set as Zack's class finished up. Only once his students had left and the rangers had cleaned up did they start to make their way through the park.
"That was a good first lesson Sarah." Jason praised. "You were doing much better by the end of it."
"Indeed, Kimberly and I could see a marked improvement." Billy added.
Sarah blushed a little. "Well I have a really good instructor."
"How about we celebrate with some smoothies?" Zack suggested.
"Can't, I've got a serious history test to study for." Kimberly said.
"I should be getting back as well. I need to check the statistics on my molecular spectrum project in my garage." Billy said.
"HeeHeeHee!" A voice floated on the air around them.
"What the heck?" Sarah asked, an instant later her eyes went wide as some kind of painful red flash hit her body. She clutched at her chest, crying out as she slipped to the ground.
"Hee hee hee hee hee."
Billy slid to her side, aware his friends were tightening up there circle formation around him. "Sarah, what happened?"
"Hurts, it hurts." Was all she managed to say. Billy pulled at her karate top. "Decency be damned." He thought. What he saw shocked him. He could see under Sarah's skin, the outline of her heart. It was almost glowing. Billy squinted, no it wasn't her heart, the strange white light was coming from a small jelly bean sized pebble inside in her heart.
"Guys!" Billy yelled. As the rangers looked it became very clear why they had been unable to find the crystal until now.
"Oh my gosh." Kimberly squeaked out.
"Hee hee hee hee! So that's where you've been hiding it. Hee hee hee!"
"Somebody's still laughing at us." Zack said taking another step towards Sarah's pain filled and prone form on the ground.
"I don't see anything." Kimberly said.
"Whose there!" Jason demanded.
The disembodied voice continued. "I'm the Tricky Trickster and I want to play."
Suddenly a tall and brightly painted monster appeared right behind Zack. Zack spun around ready to fight.
"Pollen problems." The Trickster said blowing a blue dust into Zack's face before disappearing. Zack began to sneeze uncontrollably, the force of each sneeze making him dizzy and bringing him to his knees.
"I'm…Ahchoo…okay...ahchoo!" Zack managed to get out. He wiped at his face hopelessly trying to get the blue dust off.
Seconds later the monster appeared again, this time next to Jason in his blind spot.
"Jason watch out!" Kimberly screamed but to was too late.
"Dust of darkness." The Trickster said blowing a dark charcoal dust into Jason's face before disappearing again. Jason coughed and sputtered rubbing at his eyes.
"Guys, I'm blind!" Jason put his hands in front of himself as if feeling the air around him. He knew his eyes were open but his whole world had just gone dark.
Billy and Kimberly reached for their morphers. "It's Morph…" but the words didn't finish as a gold colored powder fell over both of them. Billy and Kimberly looked at each other for a moment before bursting out into uncontrollable laughter that brought them both to the ground.
"Heeheehee, laughter powder!" Trickster giggled.
"Guys! What's happening?" Jason called, he could hear Kimberly and Billy laughing on the verge of hysterics. Zack's sneezing had grown louder. Jason wasn't even sure if anyone could answer him.
"And now, heeheeheehee, for the best trick of all." He said approaching Sarah, who was still curled up on the ground in pain. "I'm going to cut out your heart and present it to Queen Rita." Trickster laughed again now wearing a surgical mask and brandishing a sword from seemingly nowhere. "I always wanted to be a surgeon. Heeheehee."
Please review.