Chapter 13: Knight After Knights

Leaning back in her seat, Ari resisted a heavy sigh. It was one thing to be related to the famous Knight of Zandar, who had vanished 800 years ago when defending the Prince from an attack. But for him to suddenly resurface, after being a captive of Fury for that entire time, and for him to be bonded to the Gold Energem, was something else entirely.

"At least it really does seem like Gold runs in the family," she murmured to herself, glancing over as Riley and Kendall showed Ivan how the Dino Chargers would work with his Sabre.

"Really?" Olivia muttered as her phone started to buzz in her pocket. "Go away," she muttered, and Nerida whined, edging closer to her. The blonde smiled at her and patted the dog on the head.

"My lady," Ari looked up as Ivan approached her curiously, and she smiled.

"Ari is fine," she told him, sitting up properly.

"Ari..." Ivan nodded slowly, as baffled by her name as Teddie's. "Teddie is your kin, yes?" he asked.

"Yeah, Teddie and Chase are my kids," Ari confirmed.

"Then you are..."

"My dad told me that we're descended from you, so you're my many great-grandfather," Ari laughed, still unused to it.

"And you hail from the Orava Kingdom?" he asked her in a quieter voice. Ari paused, glancing around to where the others were all talking amongst themselves. She shook her head.

"No, my dad moved to train as a knight when he was young. Inspired by you," she told him, and Ivan brightened at the thought. "I grew up in this world, however," Ari explained.

"You did? Fascinating. I only moved once I was old enough, and became a Knight of Zandar. Why did you?" he asked curiously. Ari didn't quite meet his gaze.

"A long story. I-"

"Ivan, Riley and Chase will show you another feature of your Energem," Kendall called over as Riley and Chase approached.

"Yes, of course," Ivan nodded. As they walked off, Ari sighed, shaking her head.

"Teddie, please, stop!" Arianna pleaded as she tried to run away from the girl. Nerida barked, running over as she thought they were playing. Teddie laughed, letting the dog jump up at her.

"Oh come on 'Anna, I'm just asking you if you think the Prince is cute," she looked up at the Mercurian girl, who was going red again.

"Teddie, leave her alone," Ari called over. Arianna rushed over, ducking behind her as Teddie sighed.

"Boring," she hummed, petting Nerida.

"Well, t'was a thoroughly entertaining afternoon, perhaps we shall see each other again soon," he bowed, and turned to leave.

"Wait, whoa, where are you going?" Riley called. "You're part of our team now," he frowned as they all stood together.

"I have not joined your team..." Ivan frowned. "I'm a Knight of Zandar. When I pledge my loyalty, it is for life. I'm sorry, I cannot make a decision so hastily," he told them, and with a nod, he walked off.

"Wait, decision? He doesn't have a choice! He's the Gold Ranger!" Shelby turned to her team, annoyed.

"Why does that mean he's not allowed a choice?" they glanced to Ari, who was playing with Nerida now. "After all, you were given a choice when you first became a Ranger. All of you were," she glanced up at them with an innocent look, and Shelby paused.

"Evil hands? You mean like that thing we fought in the woods?" Shelby stared at her. "You expect me to fight monsters?" she demanded. "Really? I just want to dig for dinosaur bones, not bond to one," she complained. When an alarm suddenly blared, the group looked around quickly.

"What's going on?" Tyler asked as a computer system in the centre of the room brought up an image.

"I'm seeing more seismic activity," Kendall frowned as she stood in front of it. "Same place as earlier," she told them.

"We better take a look then," Chase told them.

"I'm Tyler, and I'm all in," the new Red Ranger grinned.

"Good," Kendall smiled at him.

"This all seems crazy but..." Riley looked down at the Energem in his hand. "I'm in too," he decided, and they all smiled.

"Great," Chase nodded.

"We go now," Koda told them. They all went to leave, before realising Shelby hadn't moved.

"Shelby?" Tyler watched her.

"Hey," Ari put a hand on her shoulder, seeing her fear. "I told you. You fought bravely to save the Pink Energem before, that's why it bonded to you. Now the world needs you, but you're not alone. There are five others here who will be fighting by your side. And when we find the other 6, you'll be unstoppable," she smiled confidently.

"It's her decision Ari," Kendall frowned. "She's right to be hesitant. Clearly this mission is just too dangerous for a waitress," she said, and Shelby scowled. "Go without her," she instructed. Ari smirked again. While Kendall clearly didn't believe in her, Shelby was stubborn, and wouldn't take such words lying down.

"Wait!" Shelby called as they went to leave. "Sure, I'm a little scared. Who wouldn't be? But I know more about dinosaurs than any of you. Fact is, you need me. And I want to help," she glared at Kendall.

"She's right," Kendall nodded. "We can't force him to join us," she said, before the alarm suddenly started to blare. "Alien bio-signs at the boat docks," Kendall warned.

"We'll have to worry about Ivan later. Let's go," he told the team.

Flipping onto the scene, the Rangers landed on the docks and blocked the path of Poisandra, Curio and their latest monster.

"Right on cue," Poisandra scoffed. "Time to take their bravery!" she declared.

"Don't get your heart set on it!" Tyler called over. Poisandra let out a low growl of irritation.

"Vivix, attack!" she ordered. The chittering monsters raced at the Rangers, and the Rangers split up to defeat him.

"I'm not a big water person, but you guys look like you're wanting to go for a swim!" Teddie grabbed one of the Vivix and tossed it into the water with a loud splash. "Next?" she grinned, dodging a punch and kicking her attacker to the ground. Leaping up onto the railings, Teddie balanced easily as she used her blaster to hit any that got close to her.

Once the Vivix were gone, they joined Tyler in fighting Bones, who easily threw the Red Ranger to the ground. One by one, each of the Rangers went down, overpowered by the skeletal alien.

"Skeletons are so in right now," Poisandra giggled as they helped Koda up.

"Time to remove some backbones!" he declared, only to be struck by the Ptera Sabre as it flew through the air.

"It's Ivan!" Tyler called as the Gold Ranger leapt onto the scene. He blasted Bones repeatedly, making him cry out in pain as Poisandra squealed.

"Hey, I'm the hotshot," Chase complained.

"Not anymore," Olivia laughed. "He's awesome," she said, and Chase's eyes narrowed. Ivan kicked Bones hard, and with several powerful slashes of his sabre, he sent the three running.

"You better watch your backs!" Poisandra warned.

"Good riddance," Ivan nodded, before leaping away.

"Ivan's got to join us," Shelby said stubbornly, getting to her feet. "I'm gonna go talk to him," she decided, running off.

"Sir Ivan is a little too big for his boots," Chase commented as the rest of the Rangers continued to look for Poisandra and Bones, knowing they wouldn't have gone far.

"Oh, then we just get him new boots!" Koda suggested. "Yes?" he smiled.

"What Chase is trying to say, is that he's jealous of the shiny new Ranger," Olivia smirked from beside Riley. Chase scowled at her.

"Am not! He's not even new. He's over 800 years old," he muttered. Olivia didn't reply, lifting her phone as it rang. She hit ignore, and shoved it back into her pocket.

"Koda's over 10,000 years old," Teddie supplied, earning a glare as Koda smiled brightly.

"Do you have to?" Chase asked irritably as they turned a corner, and Tyler's eyes widened.

"Watch out!" he shouted, and Chase pushed Teddie out of the way, knocking her to the ground as bones wrapped around each of the other Rangers.

"Guys!" Teddie jumped back up. She went to try and free Chase, only to let out a cry of pain as they shocked her. Hearing a laugh, they looked up to see Bones emerge from his hiding place.

"You think some bones can hold us?" Chase growled at him.

"You're pretty brave now," Bones taunted. Teddie ran at him, only for him to grab her leg as she kicked out, and he tossed her into a pillar.

"Teddie!" Chase shouted as Bones shoved Tyler aside.

"We'll see how tough you are after I take your courage!" Chase let out a choke as Bones slammed his hand into his spine. He then began to laugh, and Bones frowned. "Oh, wrong one! That's your funny bone," he realised. "I'm looking for your...backbone!" he pulled out what looked like a bone link.

"Leave him alone!" Tyler yelled as Bones put it into his pot.

"Won't need those anymore," the bones disappeared from around Chase, and he looked down. He looked back up, and screamed.

"Get back! Stay away from me!" he backed up into a wall.

"Come on Ranger, show a little backbone!" Bones followed him as Chase slid to the ground. "Oh wait, you can't! Cause I have it!" the monster laughed, patting the pot. Laughing, he turned and did the same to Koda, Olivia, Riley and Tyler. As Riley, Olivia and Koda clung to Chase, all of them against the wall as Bones grabbed Tyler's backbone, Shelby came into view with Ivan. "Your leader is fearless no more!" Bones taunted. Tyler let out a cry and ran to cling to the others.

"Get them Curio!" Poisandra laughed as she and Curio appeared, and the ragdoll like monster laughed as he taunted the screaming Rangers.

"They're a pack of lily-livered fools," Ivan stared at the Rangers.

"What have you done to them?" Shelby snarled, and Curio immediately backed away from the Rangers. "And Teddie!" she saw the fallen White Ranger, rushing to her side. "This isn't normal!" Shelby insisted to Ivan, who looked dubious.

"It's the Gold Ranger!" Poisandra gasped. "We can't risk losing again!"

"You're right!" Bones agreed. "I already have five Rangers' backbones! Let's go tell Sledge how well we did!" he declared, and the three ran off.

"Ow...my back," Teddie complained as she opened her eyes.

"Brave as the knights of Zandar? Uhuh..." Ivan scoffed, turning and walking off.

"Ivan!" Shelby called, but he was gone.

"No, I don't wanna!" Koda fought furiously with Shelby as she tried to push him down the secret entrance. He then burst into laughter when Teddie started tickling him, and Shelby opened the trapdoor, letting him fall.

"Koda!" Chase cried out, and Teddie grabbed his arm as he tried to run.

"Sorry bro, you're next," she smiled, and he cried out, fighting her every step of the way. He managed to break free of her grasp and hid behind Tyler.

"Shelby, please!" Tyler cried as Shelby grabbed him. "I'm afraid of dinosaurs!" Teddie pushed him off Riley as he tried to cling to him, and Chase hid behind him and Olivia.

"In you go!" Teddie grunted as the two managed to push Tyler down, and he screamed the entire way down. "Two down, three to go," she sighed as the others stared at them in terror.

"Well, there's definitely something wrong with them," Kendall surmised as she watched the five terrified Rangers huddled together in the corner.

"The monster said something about taking their backbones," Shelby told them.

"I imagine it's a metaphorical backbone since they can still walk," Ari walked over to them, and they began to wail in terror. "Courage...having a backbone is a metaphor for having courage," she realised, and had Chase by the arm before he could react.

"No, mum, please, let me go!" the Black Ranger cried in fear as he fought her grip. She closed her eyes, feeling for his magic, and hissed a curse.

"What's wrong?" Teddie asked as Ari let Chase go, and he scurried off to rejoin the others.

"Chase has lost his courage. And what have I always told you?" Ari looked at her. Teddie's eyes widened.

"Courage is our magic. You mean...?"

"Without courage, his ability to control magic is gone. You can see the lack of it already taking effect," Ari watched the young man, who was pale and looked a lot more tired than the others. "Chase was born with magic, I don't know what the loss will do to him. That skeletal monster needs destroyed, and now," she said the last part louder.

"But how? We're down five Rangers," Teddie pointed out.

"We need Ivan," Shelby shook her head.

"We don't know where he is," Kendall shook her head.

"I'll find him," Ari told them, and glanced around as the five terrified Rangers screamed again as Nerida walked into view. "Uh, and I'll do it as fast as I can," she raised an eyebrow as the dog tilted her head, confused.

Ivan walked through the city, aware he was getting odd stares from everyone who passed him, but he didn't pay them any heed. He wondered just what he was going to do now.

"Hey," he jumped, letting out a small squeak as Ari seemed to appear beside him. "Oh, sorry, bad habit," she chuckled.

"Of course," Ivan cleared his throat. "If this is about joining your team, I'm-"

"I'm not going to force you into any kind of decision, Ivan," he frowned at her, and Ari guided him to sit on a bench. "That monster you fought earlier is responsible for the Rangers seeming so terrified of everything," she explained, leaning back. "He stole their courage, and with it, Chase's magic," Ivan's eyes widened.

"My goodness, that is truly a terrible thing to do," he murmured. "And I will defeat this monster, and all the others. I need to amass a group strong enough and brave enough to take these villains on," Ivan stood, but Ari caught his arm and pulled him back down.

"Ivan, the only ones strong enough right now are the Rangers," he frowned at her. "This world has changed a lot since you fought for the King of Zandar. Most people go their lives without having to fight for their lives. In this world, knights no longer fight for kings," Ari told him gently.

"But your father is a Knight," Ivan commented.

"My father is a Knight in the magical realm, Ivan. And his battles are long since fought, I wouldn't ask him to defend this world any more than he already has. He almost died for it once before," Ari glanced to the ground and gave a wry smile. "Well, he died and then came back to life," she murmured.

"My lady..." Ivan was unsure of what to say in response to this.

"It's Ari," she corrected him, and sighed. "What I'm trying to say is, the Dino Charge Rangers are the defenders of Earth now. There may be other Rangers out there, but they have their own problems at hand," Ari explained to him, making him frown.

"Things truly have changed since my time," he admitted, leaning forwards. "What about you? You have magic, I can sense great power with you," Ivan glanced to Ari, who shrugged.

"I'm trying not to interfere," she told him.

"But why?" he pressed.

"Because it's not my fight any more. I hung up my Morpher before I got married," Ari shook her head. "And how do you think it would look, if your mum stepped into every fight you had? It would seem like she didn't believe in you," she pointed out, and Ivan nodded, agreeing with her.

"Any sign of Ivan yet?" Shelby asked as she walked over to Kendall.

"No," the scientist was frustrated. "If Sledge's monsters attack now, you're going to have to fight with the boys and Olivia, whether their ready or not," she told the Pink Ranger. A loud squeal echoed through the base, and they groaned.

"And I'm guessing they're not," Teddie commented as she looked up from her notebook.

"Mouse!" Koda ran from his cave, immediately setting off the others.

"There it is!" Tyler spotted a little white mouse emerge from the cave, and the five screamed in terror. Racing over to the table. Teddie let out a cry as she was knocked over by the Rangers clambering up onto it.

"Teddie!" Arianna ran over to help her up. Kendall and Shelby sighed.

"You do not need to fight with me, Ari," Ivan told her as they walked towards where Bones, Poisandra, Curio and their Vivix were waiting.

"You're not fighting them alone, Ivan," Ari replied with a roll of her eyes. "I'm just going to have your back until the others get here," she told him confidently.

"Of course," Ivan still sounded dubious of the other Rangers.

"Come on. Let's see how they like two Golds," Ari grinned, walking on before Ivan could ask what she meant.

The alarm blared, and Shelby groaned.

"This isn't good," she muttered as Kendall brought up the map. Shelby, Teddie and Arianna ran over to join her, as Kendall narrowed in on the problem.

"Bones is back, and he's got company," Kendall warned. Shelby zoomed in closer, bringing up another light, golden in colour.

"There's Ivan," she realised.

"He's heading straight towards Bones!" Kendall realised.

"I have to help him," Shelby ran off, and Teddie followed her out before Kendall could stop them. Arianna looked to Kendall with a worried gaze.

"Oh no, you're not going out there after the last time," Kendall warned her, and the Mercurian girl sighed. Kendall then looked back to the map, and frowned. She zoomed in even closer on the golden light, and found another light right beside him, also golden in colour. "What is that?" she wondered.

Looking up, Poisandra gave a small smirk.

"Well, what do we have here?" she laughed as Ivan and Ari approached. "You've got to be joking. Only two of you?" Poisandra mocked.

"Oh, how often have I heard the tone of underestimation," Ari sighed, shaking her head. She fell into a fighting stance as Ivan drew his sword.

"Vivix, rise!" Bones snapped his fingers, and the Vivix raced towards the two. Ari ducked under their punches, rolling along and striking up with her open palm, before deflecting a punch with the back of her hand.

"Whether they're Kelzacks, Hidiacs or Vivix, footsoldiers are all the same," she commented lightly, raising a shield to block more. "Weak," she grinned, kicking out at another.

The elevator doors slid open, and the five still terrified Rangers screamed as Kendall and Arianna pushed them towards it.

"You've got to go!" Kendall shouted at them.

"I can't fight that meanie!" Chase cried as they turned, pushing past the two. "I don't wanna go!" he wailed as they hid behind the crates.

"Seriously? Come on, please!" Kendall pleaded with them.

"There are monsters out there!" Riley told her, as if she was crazy for thinking they should go out there.

"No way, it's way too scary. I don't wanna see that pink freak," Olivia wailed.

"Guys, Shelby, Teddie and Ivan need your help," Arianna told them gently, and they quietened down. "Chase, that's your sister up there. Ivan's family. And if I'm right, your mum is probably with him too," Kendall frowned as Arianna spoke.

"But 'Anna..." Chase whimpered.

"We're too scared," Riley murmured.

"Bones only took the metaphorical representation of your bravery," Arianna told them gently. "But courage, it comes from facing your fears and fighting. Would you really leave them to fight alone? Would you really leave each other to fight scared and helpless?" she challenged them.

"But..." Olivia shook at the idea.

"If the others fall, we're all that's left. Do you want to risk losing each other too?" Arianna asked them. They looked to each other, and Chase glanced to Olivia, who was huddled next to him. He blinked rapidly, looking away.

"Shelby, Teddie...and Ivan..."

"Against that monster..."

"They counting on us," Koda murmured as they all thought it through.

"We can't, we won't let them down," Tyler spoke firmly as he stood up. He still looked and sounded terrified, but he didn't back down. Arianna and Kendall smiled.

"Let's go," Olivia decided as Chase smiled at her, and she smiled back. Before they could move lights flew down to them, hitting them in the back. They stumbled, before looking up, their fears gone. Chase cleared his throat, moving away from Olivia as she did the same.

"Come on guys!" Tyler called to his friends, and they hurried out.

Ivan let out a cry as he was tossed to the ground, and Ari breathed heavily, not sure how much longer she could keep it up. If the others didn't get there soon, she'd have to use her powers.

"Unhand me you beasts!" Ivan yelled as the Vivix hauled him up.

"Even the bravest of Rangers can't beat me alone! Time for you to lose your backbone!" Bones laughed. Ari threw another of the monsters aside, but couldn't get close enough to help.

"Think again!" they looked around as Shelby and Teddie raced into view on their bikes.

"They're next! Get them!" Bones ordered.

"Energise! Dino Morpher Blast!" the two blasted the Vivix out of the way. Teddie pulled up beside Ari, blasting another coming at them. "I thought you were gonna bring Ivan to us, not the other way around," she frowned under her helmet, and Ari laughed.

"Sorry Ted, but it looks like my reckless days aren't quite over yet," she told her daughter, who groaned. She then ran to help Shelby take on Bones and the last of the Vivix, while Ari threw two energy balls at the Vivix who held Ivan.

"They fight with only two, yet..." Ivan stood, rubbing his wrists.

"Because they're Rangers," Ari told him. "That's what they do," she smiled.

"Such courage..." Ivan murmured.

"Get rid of those Pink and White nuisances!" Poisandra ordered.

"Shelby! Teddie!" Ivan called as the two were thrown to the ground, demorphing.

"I'll deal with them later! Now, your spine is mine!" Bones turned to Ivan and Ari, who fell into fighting stances again.

"Not so fast!" Bones yelped, falling forwards as Tyler landed a kick to his back. "You forgot about us, you bag of bones," the Red Ranger growled.

"Ted!" Chase ran to his sister.

"Took you long enough, dork," Teddie groaned as he helped her up, and Chase laughed.

"Yeah well, it took a little courage," she groaned again, hitting him.

"That's impossible!" Bones roared as he got back up. Riley helped Shelby up, and they regrouped as Ari backed off. "I took your backbones! Huh? They're gone!" the monster realised as he patted the empty pot. "You've regained your bravery!" he tossed the pot aside as Poisandra and Curio cried out in horror.

"And we've lost ours! Run Curio!" the two screamed and fled.

"Thank you Rangers, perhaps I shouldn't have doubted your courage," Ivan nodded to them.

"No worries mate," Chase grinned back.

"And now, tis Morphing time! Dino Charger!"

"Ready!"

"ENERGISE, HA! UNLEASH THE POWER!" the Rangers Morphed into their respective suits. "Dinosaur might, ready to fight!" they chanted as the Vivix ran at them.

"I'm so glad you guys are back," Teddie laughed as she dodged the Vivix that attacked her, and grabbed two, slamming them together.

"You and me both," Olivia grinned, kicking one to the ground. Nearby, Ivan blasted Bones with a powerful move.

"Alright!" Shelby cheered. "Looks like you've found your knights," she grinned.

"Indeed Lady Shelby, try this," he handed her his Charger.

"Sweet," the Pink Ranger grinned.

"Energise! Dino Morpher Blast!"

"Lightning Final Strike!" the combined attacks destroyed Bones.

"Awesome!" Teddie cheered as they ran over, before Bones reappeared, growing to a much larger height.

"Dino Charger ready! Summon Ptera Zord!" Ivan summoned his Zord, changing it to its Megazord form. "Activate Dino Drive," he activated his Megazord for battle. The other Rangers followed suit, and called on their own Megazord.

"Power Rangers!"

"Together!"

"I'll break you!" Bones roared, but the combined attacks of the two Megazords easily forced him back.

"Follow my lead Rangers," Ivan called as his Zord flew through the air. "Ptera Lightning Slash!" he cut through Bones easily, and changed forms to blast the monster with lightning. "Combine!"

"Forces!"

"Double Bladed Slash!" using both the Stego and Compo sabres, the Rangers used their powerful finisher.

"Ptera Lightning Blitz!" Ivan followed up with one final blow.

"I'm being fossilised!" Bones wailed as he was destroyed.

The Rangers, plus Ari, Arianna and Kendall, sat at a table in the cafe, listening to Ivan's tale of how he bonded to the Gold Energem.

"I was riding with the young Prince," he started. "It was a day like so many before, and a day like none that would follow. When the Prince became thirsty, we stopped beside a creek. And there it was, glistening in the water, the Gold Energem. We were attacked by the monster, who wanted the Energem. I was able to keep the monster from harming the young Prince, but when he blasted us, the Energem was knocked free, and the powerful beast revealed himself to be Fury," Ivan told them as the group listened, fascinated by his story. "I was certain he would destroy me, but instead, the Energem sent a bolt of power through Fury's sword and across mine, bonding me with the spirit of the Pterodactyl. Fury was enraged that I had, and began to pull me in. I struggled, I struggled mightily, but Fury was too strong, and he dragged me into his dark and evil body. The Energem fell into the creek, where I thought it was lost forever, but luckily it was found by-oh, what is that?!" he gasped when a burger was set down in front of him.

"Bronto Burger," Koda explained with a smile.

"Man, and that was really getting to be the scariest story I'd ever heard," Olivia complained. Her phone buzzed, and she looked down at it, frowning, before slipping it back into her pocket without opening the message.

"I'll tell you about Catastros sometime," Ari grinned. Olivia glanced at her, confused. Ivan bit into the burger, and groaned. Koda and he got up to get fries, and the others called back.

"Wait!"

"How does it end?" Tyler asked desperately.

"Oh, you know, 800 years of darkness, then you saved me, and here I am," Ivan smiled, and rushed off with Koda. The Rangers sighed heavily as Ari couldn't help but grin in amusement. "Oh, and as I've said," Ivan returned and spoke quietly. "A Knight's loyalty is forever. I'm honoured to be part of your team," he smiled at them. They grinned back, and laughed as he and Koda rushed off to get more food.

And now Ivan has joined the team! This chapter took a little while to write cause I was too busy laughing at the Rangers screaming. The scene where Shelby is trying to get them down into the base made me laugh so hard.

Hope you liked it!

Please review!