Chapter 4: Livewire

I've always loved music, ever since I was a little girl I've always wanted to be a musician, to play songs for thousands of adoring fans, music was my escape from a world of worry, where my dad was a SWAT officer always in danger every time he went to work, where I was bullied for being a band geek, where I was so afraid to try to make friends due to my own social anxiety, and where I was now a Power Ranger expected to protect the whole world from an evil dragon.

To me, music was the only thing in the world that brought me balance and peace. I find myself contemplating this while I sat in the hall outside of the currently locked music room, watching everyone pass by, too afraid to even try to make a connection with anyone.

I just sat there, alone with my flute, silent and disconnected as always, my Dragon Spirit Volteer was a lot like Dean in that he tried to encourage me to come out of my shell and put myself out there, but a deep part of me refused to do it, preferring the safety of solitude, the outsider looking in, never daring to break free.

"Well well girls, look who it is,"

And here's one of the reasons why, Veronica Stone, the popular girl, she was attractive, athletic, captain of the cheerleader squad, and the one who loved tormenting me the most. Veronica ripped the flute right from my hands, "Hey! Give that back!" I protested.

Veronica and her friends just laughed, "Aw, did we take the ugly band girl's little flute? Honestly Fox why do you even come here? I think we'd all appreciate it if you took your ugly, ratty face, and left," Veronica spat, her words laced with venom as always, so full of inexplicable hatred despite me having done nothing to her.

Veronica handed the flute to her friend who tossed it into a trash can, all three girls cackling like hyenas the entire time, reveling in my torment, and me too afraid to stick up for myself. "Aw… is ugly bitch gonna cry? Huh? God Fox you are such a loser," Veronica spat once more, getting uncomfortably close to my face.

"Hey!"

Suddenly the three girls turned to see Dylan and Kevin arrive on the scene, "Okay ladies, that's enough, leave Jess alone," Kevin said. Oh god as if this couldn't get any worse! Knowing I had two more friends would only make Veronica even more intent on ruining my life.

Veronica put a hand on her hip and snorted a catty laugh, "Aw, how sweet, the loser has white knights! Come to save the weeping damsel?" She mocked them.

Dylan got right in her face, "Only loser I see here is you and your friends," He said flatly, I just sat there in the corner, afraid and useless as I always was, too scared to even stand up for myself, having to rely on friends to do it for me like a coward.

Veronica flicked her raven black hair, "Whatever, come on girls, the loser stink is becoming too much for me," She said, and with that Veronica and her cronies walked away, I instantly went to fish my flute out of the trash bin, I'd have to wash it again.

Dylan and Kevin approached me, "Jess you shouldn't let people push you around like that, especially not evil harpies like Veronica Stone," Kevin said, Dylan nodding in agreement, this was a conversation I've had many times with Dean over the years, but I just didn't have it in my to stand up for myself, I was too cowardly, too mousy, I wasn't like Dylan and Kevin, I couldn't make those snappy comebacks and witty insults, I wasn't strong enough, I probably never would be.

I simply brushed past them, "I'm just not like you," I said before leaving for the bathroom to clean my flute, leaving Dylan and Kevin behind me, confused.

I entered the ladies room, washing my flute under the waters of the sink, "Your friends are right Jessica, you shouldn't let anyone push you around like that," Volteer said from my morpher, I had no response, I just kept washing the flute, "You may feel as though you lack the fortitude to combat people like Veronica, but you and I both know you are far more courageous than you currently ascertain," He added.

Volteer had this little quirk of his where he'd use needlessly large words in common sentences, I was a pretty intelligent girl so I had no problems understanding him, but the point remained, I wasn't the kind of girl who could stand up for herself, of the four rangers I was the weakest link, the wimpy, timid girl who lucked into a Power Ranger morpher. "Come now, you know that isn't true, you were chosen for a reason Jessica, you need to have more confidence in yourself," Volteer said, I appreciated he was trying to cheer me up, but I've accepted my place long ago, pretty words weren't going to change that.

Meanwhile…

Malefor's Castle…

I've been growing more and more tiresome of my subordinates failure to eliminate the Power Rangers, it was becoming a personal insult that these worthless hatchlings were thwarting every attempt to eliminate them. I would have to come up with a new strategy, throwing monsters at them wasn't working. I debated going down there and eliminating them myself, but I didn't want to validate them with my presence, they were beneath me, and I wanted to prove it.

I wasn't about to be bested by them either though, I would die before I admitted defeat at the hands of yet more children! "Scorn! Rikor!" I called, summoning my two head subordinates, like the obedient pets they were, they came, bowing on one knee in sworn alliance with me. "We must come up with a new strategy for dealing with these… Power Rangers, their constant interference is becoming insulting, I want them dead and I want them dead now," I explained.

The two quivered in fear, as they should, I was a hair's length away from killing them, the only reason they still lived at all was because I needed their services, "Sir..." stammered Scorn, "Perhaps a full on assault on their town would work? Send me with an army of Grublins and I'll reduce their city to rubble," He suggested.

I growled, "Last time I sent you to the Human Realms you were bested by a bunch of children in a giant robot!" I roared, Scorn had failed me already, I wasn't about to make the same mistake twice.

Rikor then piped in, "Wh… what if we sent an elemental golem with him? There are plenty still in the Dragon Realms my lord, setting it loose in the city would cause the group to fracture, making them easier to destroy," He suggested.

Rikor usually wasn't one to think of clever schemes, he was slow witted at the best of times, but this plan had merit, two battalions sent to the Human Realms, forcing the Power Rangers to split up, it was a classic divide and conquer strategy, but one that could work. "Very well, Rikor you shall go to the Dragon Realms and capture a golem, Scorn, I want you to make preparations, but you are not to attack until we return," I ordered him before taking my leave, I knew Scorn would disobey me. As fearful as he was of my wrath, he was also quite prideful, I knew how much his defeat at the hands of the Power Rangers burned him, and he would make a grand distraction while Rikor and I hunted for our golem.

Malefor left shortly afterward, as I watched him leave, I began to think, I needed no golem to defeat the Power Rangers! I was the strongest warrior of my pack, in the Dragon Realms! I could easily destroy them all by myself! I made the mistake of underestimating them last time… I will not make the same error twice.

I created a portal to the Human Realms, I would play this smart this time, pick them off one by one like my wolf brethren normally would, and I knew exactly which one I'd pick off first, the Yellow Ranger, she was by far the weakest link, and killing her would panic the other rangers, and like dominoes, they would fall one by one.

I would kill the Power Rangers before Malefor even returned, he would praise me for my strength and ambition! Then no one would ever question my skills as a warrior again!

Meanwhile…

New Harmony High Library...

Study hall, I usually tried to use it for it's namesake, studying, but there weren't any major tests coming up and my only homework assignment only managed to eat up a few minutes of it. So I found myself just doodling on my notebook, trying to just keep my mind occupied and off what happened earlier today.

Was Volteer right? Should I make more of an effort to stand up for myself? I never enjoyed conflict, I always tried to take the diplomatic route whenever possible, kind of ironic for a Power Ranger I admit, but it was just my nature. But yet, Veronica continued to make my life a living hell regardless. I wondered if maybe I should just-

"AGH!"

A scream rang out through the otherwise quiet library, I turned to find out why, I almost didn't believe my eyes at first, but soon enough it was clear, for whatever reason, Scorn was here! His sword shimmering in the sunlight seeping through the windows of the library. "Yellow Ranger! I know you are here! I can sense your spirit gem! I come to challenge you to a battle!" He called, he didn't seem to know the Yellow Ranger was me as he just aimlessly wandered the library, he even locked eyes with me for a moment before continuing his stroll. "You will accept my challenge Yellow Ranger! Or else, suffer the deaths of the people in this library," He said.

He then suddenly pointed his sword at the librarian, "Shall you be the first to die human?" He whispered to her, a sickening smirk across his face, I sat frozen, unsure what to do, "For every minute you make me wait Yellow Ranger, I kill a human in this library! I wouldn't make me wait too long if I were you," He called out.

I began to panic, Spyro reciting the rule I wasn't to reveal my identity kept repeating in my head, if I revealed myself now I'd lose my powers and I'd be no help to anyone, but I can't sneak off to morph because he was right there. He'd see me and try to stop me. But I had to chance it, I couldn't let him kill these people. I slowly got up from my chair, however…

"HALT!"

Scorn noticed me in an instant, "What have we here? A sniveling coward trying to escape before her life is claimed?" He said, any doubts over him not knowing I was the yellow ranger were eliminated, he thought I was trying to run, not that the thought hadn't crossed my mind but like I said before, I couldn't let him hurt these people, not in good conscience.

Scorn brought his sword right up to my throat, "You'd have to wake up very early to sneak past my keen hearing child…" He snarled, backing me up against a bookshelf, "Maybe you should be my first victim?" He said before he suddenly began to sniff the air.

He kept sniffing at me, slowly bringing his face down to my wrist, "Unless..." He said before he gained a toothy, wicked smirk, "What have we here?" He said, before suddenly grabbing my arm, pinning it to the bookshelf, it was of course the arm I had my morpher on, he even pulled my sleeve down to reveal it. "My my, the plot thickens… yellow ranger," He said.

I just stood there, frozen, terrified, I didn't even know if this would count as me breaking the rules of never revealing my identity or not. "Where you trying to sneak away to morph little ranger? Or where you trying to run like the coward you are… because you know you can't beat me in a straight fight… yes that must be it… I frighten you… don't I Power Ranger?" He snarled.

Everyone else in the Library ran out the door so fast I doubt any of them heard Scorn (thank god!) But this helped me little, he had me snared like a mouse in the paw of a cat, helpless and waiting for the predator to just end it already. I couldn't morph with my arm pinned like this, "You have nothing to day in your defense Yellow Ranger? Or are you simply too frightened to even speak? I honestly wouldn't blame you child, I am among the most feared warriors in the Dragon Realms," Said Scorn before he suddenly punched me right in the gut, the force of the blow sending me to my knees, ironically finally being freed from his grip, but yet too rocked by the punch to do little else then huddle over in pain, "I always knew you were the weakest of the Power Rangers Yellow Ranger, the way you carried yourself during our first encounter, unsure and hesitant, all that power wasted on a coward! I would have figured the Purple Dragon of Legend would pick better champions, but then again, he is a naive old fool," Scorn mocked.

He then put his foot on my back, "Normally I would let you morph so we can have a proper battle, but you four humiliated me during our first encounter! Made me look like a fool! Scorn! Proud wolf warrior and head of the Order of Malefor! Bested by mere CHILDREN!" He yelled, applying pressure to my back. "But that ends today, starting with the weakest link, the sniveling coward who lucked into a spirit gem! The crying pup who had no right to even challenge me!" He growled.

I needed to fight back, but I couldn't, he was right, I was a coward! I didn't deserve to be a Power Ranger! I never did! I wasn't a hero, just a wimpy girl who just happened to be in the spot where the other rangers were chosen. I doubt Spyro even really chose me, I just happened to be with Dean, Kevin, and Dylan when he summoned them, an unwanted fourth ranger. Maybe this was my ultimate destiny? To die right here and now, as worthless as I had always been…

"Jessica that isn't true!" Volteer objected, "Every Ranger was chosen carefully, you are strong! You just need to learn to fight back, stand up for yourself Jessica, your world needs you!" He pleaded with me. I could sense desperation in his voice, "Don't give in to despair! I believe in you, you just need to believe in yourself!" He said with the same amount of desperation.

As much as I wanted to just give up and accept my fate, Volteer was right in that I needed to at least try, Scorn was going to hurt so many people if I just gave up now! People were counting on me, I lifted my self up, causing Scorn to stumble back, "So… you've decided to fight back after all? Good, I was hoping this would be more interesting," He said.

He didn't wait for me to morph, going right for me, he wasn't using his sword though, instead using surprisingly good martial arts, I couldn't really fight unmorphed, so it wasn't a fair bout to put it nicely, he threw a spinning side kick to my stomach, knocking me over. He wasn't going for the kill though, he just stood there, grinning, waiting for me to get up.

I then realized what was happening, he wanted to savor it, drag it out so he could get some kind of sick thrill from it. I couldn't give him the satisfaction, I tried fighting back, but my lack of martial arts training proved to be a hindrance, as the punch I threw was easily deflected by Scorn, before he grabbed me by the arm and flipped me over his shoulder, causing me to hit the hardwood floor with a thud.

He began to cackle, not unlike a hyena, he was loving this, "How pathetic you are, you can't even fight without morphing, can you child? Me? I have no need for such things, I was bred from birth to be the strongest warrior in the realms! You? You're just a pathetic little girl in way over her head!" Said Scorn.

This was hopeless! I couldn't fight him like this, "Can't we talk about this? Do we really have to kill each other?" I asked, it was insane to try the diplomatic route now, but there was a chance, however slim, that I may be able to talk him out of this.

Scorn's wicked smirk turned into a vicious glare, "No… we cannot, you will die here Yellow Ranger, and nothing can change that," He said, well so much for that.

I slowly got to my feet, I needed to stall him so I could morph. I saw a computer chair not too far from me, I quickly grabbed it and rolled it at Scorn, he was caught off guard and stumbled over it. Not for long, but long enough for me to morph.

"Legendary Dragon! Power of Yellow Electricity!"

Scorn grew angrier as he saw my morphed form, "A deceitful trick indicative of a coward! Very well, if you wish to die in that form, I will gladly oblige!" He snarled before launching another assault, he first threw a series of hard punches, in my Ranger form, I was able to deflect his punches easier, but he still managed to get me with a swift knee to the gut. "Even morphed you are still the weakest Ranger, your strongest fighter couldn't outdo me on his own, what makes you think you have a chance?" He snarled.

He was right, Dylan got completely flattened by Scorn when they went one on one, what hope did I have? But I couldn't contact them right now, not with Scorn hounding me like he was. He was very mindful not to go too long without throwing more attacks, never allowing me time to contact the other rangers for backup. He may be an evil dog man, but he was also quite intelligent, he was doing everything he could to keep the advantage in his favor.

I threw a high kick, aimed right at his temple, but he blocked it with his forearm. He then answered back with a palm strike to the abdomen, causing me to stumble back. I went back on the offensive, throwing more punches, I managed to score a hook to the jaw, but I got greedy and tried to catch him with another hook but he caught my fist in my palm, he then pulled me arm towards him, before elbowing me in the head, the helmet caught most of the force, but I was still knocked off my feet and onto the floor.

He quickly placed his foot on my throat, "Face it child! You're outmatched and outclassed!" He said before drawing his sword, "As much fun as it is to knock you around, I tire of your pathetic attempts at resistance, it's time you die..." He said before raising his sword high, intent on stabbing me right through the chest.

I was in full blown panic mode right now, I wasn't strong enough to fight Scorn! And now he was going to kill me! I can't believe this is how it ends, what could I do? I was powerless against him! Unless…

Thinking quickly, I grabbed him by the leg, "What are you doing you-" He began before I send a thousand volts right through his body, he yelped in both surprise and agony as he tried to wrench his leg free, eventually I let go, causing him to stumble backwards. "You little rat!" He barked, "That actually hurt! You will pay dearly for that little stunt yellow ranger!" He growled.

I then realized something about Scorn, the way he carried himself, the language he used when describing himself or me, his anger towards me electrocuting him. He was prideful, egotistical, he thought of himself as this great warrior unmatched by anyone. I could use that against him! "You call yourself a great warrior Scorn, but yet you allowed a "sniveling coward" like me to get the best of you?" I taunted him.

It worked like a charm, "You DARE question my strength?! My HONOR?!" He howled in anger, he then began to take wild swings with his sword, I summoned my Daggers of Lightening, deflecting the blade before taking two swipes at his abdomen with the daggers, both landing.

It was working! He was slipping, too blinded by his own anger and pride to fight effectively, his sword swings were getting sloppier with every enraged swing, and I made him pay for missing each time with either a kick to the head, or a slice with my daggers. I finally managed to get him with a hard roundhouse kick, sending him twirling through the air like a drunken gymnast before hitting the floor with a thud. He was too injured to even stand, "How? How is this possible? You're WEAK!" He said in disbelief.

I couldn't help but smirk from under my helmet, after all the times I had found myself the victim of someone else, it was nice to be the one standing for once, "You may be stronger than me, but I'm smarter, the second I questioned your strength and you lost your temper, you lost the fight, not bad for a "coward" huh?" I said, mockingly twirling my daggers in my hands.

Suddenly three figures entered the library, it was the other rangers, already morpherd, I guess Spyro somehow found out I was being attacked and sent the others to help, they all stopped dead though when they saw me standing over an injured Scorn, "Holy crap Jess, you beat Scorn? By yourself?!" Kevin said in shock.

Dean put a hand on my shoulder, "Way to go girl!" He said.

The other Rangers soon began to congratulate me, however, "Don't start celebrating yet Power Rangers!" growled Scorn, before producing a vial of some kind, I recognized it as the growth potion he had used in our first fight with him.

Inevitable happened, as he smashed it on his feet, causing him to grow, completely obliterating the library's roof in the process. The other rangers and I all ran outside to see the titanic Scorn, before having to dodge an attempt by him to squish us like bugs, "We need Dragon Zord power NOW!" Dylan said.

The Dragon Zords soon came flying in, instantly forming the Mega Zord upon landing, the four of us leaped into the giant robot, taking our seats inside to begin the fight again. "Alright Power Rangers! Lets send this mutt back to the pound!" Dylan said.

Scorn sized up the Mega Zord, "You caught me off guard with this thing last time Power Rangers, but this time will end far differently!" He snarled, before slashing the Mega Zord with his sword, causing the whole thing to shake violently, I almost fell right out of my chair! But we recovered soon enough.

The Mega Zord went for a huge right hook, but Scorn deflected it, answering with an elbow to the mid section, causing the giant robot to stumble back, but thankfully we managed to catch ourselves before the Mega Zord accidentally squished what remained of our school.

Kevin slammed his fist against the control panel, "Crap! How do we beat this guy?" He said in frustration.

I remembered what I learned during my fight with Scorn earlier, "Scorn lost his edge when I insulted his strength, we pick at his pride, and he'll get sloppy!" I suggested. Scorn was tough to beat normally, but rattled, he fell over like a house of cards.

Dylan agreed, "Right! Hey Scorn!" He said over the Mega Zord's comms, "I expected a "great warrior" to hit a lot harder than that!" He said.

It instantly worked again, as I saw Scorn's face contort into pure rage, "I have had enough of you Power Rangers humiliating me! I am the Dragon Realm's greatest warrior! I will not be mocked by mere pups in tights!" He growled before taking wild swings at the Mega Zord, the first one connected, but the second was deflected by the Mega Zord's arm, and answered with a punch to Scorn's nose, causing him to stagger backwards.

Dylan clenched his fist, "Face it Scorn, you're just a second rate lapdog! That's all you'll ever be!" He said before moving a lever, "It's time for you to have a little taste of the Legendary Dragon Mega Sword!" He said, summoning the giant sword from the sky, the Zord taking it from it's place.

Before Scorn even knew what was happening, the giant blade came down, catching him right across the torso. He rolled backwards, before taking out another vial, "You'll pay for this Power Rangers! You have no clue the storm your little town will soon face!" He said before smashing it to the ground, vanishing into the fog just like last time.

Dylan clenched his fist, "And we'll be waiting," He said, to say I felt proud of myself would be an understatement, Volteer was right after all, I wasn't worthless, I didn't need to be the strongest, my intelligence won this fight. I just needed to have a bit of faith in myself.

Later that Day…

No surprise that the rest of the school day was canceled after the giant robot fight, and huge hole in the library ceiling. I was getting my stuff out of my locker as everyone got ready to head home, however…

"Well well if it isn't the band geek,"

I turned to see Veronica and her friends standing behind me, she had some kind of latte in her hand, "I heard a giant monster attacked your study hall today, I guess even the evil monsters can't stand your ratty hair!" She said before sounding with her signature cackle.

I said nothing, instead snatching her latte right out of her hands and pouring it right on her head, "Still better than yours though, it's a bit wet I hear," I said, Veronica looked mortified, waving her hands around like her hair was on fire.

She violently turned to her friends, "OMG! That bitch dumped my latte all over my hair and new top! You stooges get me a towel NOW!" She whined. With that, the wicked witch and her flying monkeys walked off to clean the mess I had made all over her.

I heard laughing, I turned to see my friends approach, "Dude, that was amazing! The look on her face was priceless!" Laughed Kevin.

I laughed, "I guess I learned to finally stand up for myself," I said proudly, my fight with Scorn had taught me just how much I needed to learn to stick up for myself, and not listen to the cruel words of others so much.

We all had a good laugh before leaving the school, another day won, and two enemies humbled…

A/N: Well I think Veronica's going to think twice about messing with Jess again, but Malefor's next attack still looms over the city of New Harmony, will our heroes be ready to meet the call to arms? Because I doubt spilling a latte on Malefor's head will be nearly as effective…