Hayley, Calvin, Preston and Sarah followed Badpipes as he ran, clearing some space for Ripcon. As much as Ripcon, a strong contender for the championship, had come to help him, he knew that the swordsman didn't play well with others, and was much happiest working alone. Even taking care of the Red Ranger for him to cut the numbers from five on one to four on one was a helping hand he was happy to take.
"He's reached the beach!" Sarah called out, seeing him heading towards the water. "He's got nowhere else to run!"
"Who said anythin' about runnin' ya pink tumshie?" He asked as he turned around and a massive fan appeared in his hands. They all skidded, trying to stop, realising that he had led them into a surprise attack, a tactic commonly known as a 'chicken run'. Brody had explained to them once that a ninja who had been tasked with killing a particularly brutal Samurai had once done so by taunting him into a fight by openly carrying a sword, an act that was forbidden for commoners in that shogunate. When the Samurai challenged him to a duel, he had run away, angering him further and causing him to give chase. He then stopped suddenly, causing the Samurai to run into the back of him, unable to stop. What he hadn't noticed was that the ninja had drawn his sword and was holding the point out behind him. The Samurai had effectively impaled himself with his own momentum and rashness. "Meet my biggest fan!"
The Rangers all flew off their feet, hitting the ground as he whipped up a powerful wind with the fan. They could all only count their lucky stars that all he had done was generate a wind attack. With Brody's story fresh in her mind, Sarah knew it could have been much worse.
"My music career is really taking off!" Badpipes declared taking off and flying into the air.
"He flies too?" Calvin complained as he circled around, coming back towards them.
"Of COURSE he flies!" Hayley shot back. "Can't you see the wings?"
"Turkeys have wings and they can't fly!" Calvin answered.
"Have you heard my greatest hits?" Badpipes cackled as he came back, slamming into Calvin and Hayley. "One goes like THIS...and another goes like THIS!"
As he took down Sarah and Preston, they just groaned.
"Is anyone starting to miss the pipe music?" Preston asked them as he landed.
"I am Badpipes! The greatest performer in all of...!" He started to roar, striking a powerful pose, but his words tailed off as he noticed something. "Wait...what? Where...WHERE ARE ALL THE CAMERAS?"
He started running around, hunting for the Buzz-cams, trying to find where he would play to in order to whip up his audience, but looking around, he couldn't see any. Sarah did a quick scan herself and realised the same thing.
"Guys, there aren't any cameras." Sarah told them. "It looks like Cosmo's cut him loose!"
"He probably thinks Ripcon is a bigger draw." Preston suggested.
"Whatever, he's distracted!" Calvin said as he pulled out his morpher, turning it to Claw Mode. "While he's distracted, what do you say we clip his wings?"
"You read my mind!" Hayley said, showing him her own morpher. They both broke into a run, heading straight for Badpipes, who was still hunting for the cameras. He screamed aloud as they sliced into him and his wings fell from his back, flopping to the ground uselessly.
"My wings! First my pipes and now my beautiful wings!" He whined, spinning around and knocking both of them down with his fan. "You're going to pay for that!"
"Good news, he can't fly anymore!" Calvin grumbled as they rolled away, leaving the way clear for Preston and Sarah to take over to keep him occupied. "Bad news, he is SUPER pissed!"
Back in the woods, Brody and Ripcon were locked in a deadly battle, one that echoed through the still forest for miles around. Brody had always fantasised about having the opportunity to destroy Ripcon. It was Ripcon's distraction, grabbing Brody that had led to Dane losing sight of Galvanax, and allowing the champion to take the advantage, striking him down. Ripcon was as responsible for his father's destruction as Galvanax was, and was firmly on Brody's list, right up there with the champion himself.
His every waking moment had been filled with thoughts on seeing Ripcon fall before him. His dreams had been filled with fantasies of revenge for ten long years, being the whetting stone against which he trained, forging himself into the deadly weapon he was now. The only reason he'd not taken out Ripcon before now was he knew it was unwise to go after him. Slaves were never allowed access to weapons, and while he had been able to fashion a few crude tools and weapons, he knew that they were no match for Ripcon's expertly forged katana. The battle would have been short, and ultimately futile. Now though, with the power of the Ninja Power Star behind him, he had longed for his chance to take Ripcon down for good.
Unfortunately that was easier said than done. Ripcon had not gotten his position on the Warrior Dome through politics or subterfuge. He never held any regard for currying favour or talking up his position. He had gotten his position through the collective blood of thousands of victims the length and breadth of the universe. He always knew that taking on Ripcon would be a tall order, even with his Ranger powers.
He was proven right VERY quickly! Ripcon moved with a speed that was beyond lightning fast. Brody was quick himself, but he had trouble even seeing his attacks coming. Blocking one of Brody's swipes, Ripcon scored yet another couple of strikes. Brody's suit was already struggling, and he was smoking from all the areas his suit's energy had stopped him being sliced apart. Ripcon levelled one of his swords at Brody as the Red Ranger got some distance.
"Not going how you expected?" Ripcon asked him. "I've always hated you Rat Bait! If it was up to me, we'd have fed you to the Skullgators the day we took you!"
"It'd be preferable to having to look at you!" Brody snapped back, readjusting his grip on his Ninja Sword. "You and Galvanax took everything from me! You took my life! I'm going to take yours!"
"It's right here if you want it!" Ripcon taunted him, gesturing him forward. "Let's see if you really are a Master Ninja like your dad!"
Up on the Warrior Dome, Cosmo was beside himself with glee. He had seen the turn in the audience from the switch of focus, and now there wasn't a single butt in a seat! Every single fan in the arena was on their feet screaming themselves hoarse! Ripcon had rarely been involved in a match that generated buzz from more than the small section of fans that considered themselves "Smart fans" or "purists", who preferred straight combat and skill to the flash and spectacle of the show, but here...he had found a winning formula!
The Rangers were already a top draw. It didn't matter which one of them was on a screen, there would quickly be a crowd around it. It didn't matter if it was a blurry picture on a t-shirt; he wouldn't be able to keep it on the merchandise stands if he nailed it down! The Rangers were a massive draw that he could put up against a mop and be guaranteed a huge ratings bump. Putting one of them against a powerful foe like Ripcon, a monster who many had supported for a title push was a step he could have seen would generate a buzz, but as the battle went on, he could see it had so much more.
He loved how vocal they both were, it spun a tale, a tale it seemed that the audience had picked up on, and it had everything! It was personal, it was raw, it was gritty...it was shaping up to be a grudge match that piqued the imagination of everyone in the studio audience, and he was certain once he consulted with Odious...wherever she was...and Wrench, he would find the home numbers were just as impressive!
"Did you hear that folks! This battle is as personal as it gets!" Cosmo screamed, whipping up interest in it. "Ripcon has the Red Ranger on the ropes, will he finish him off? Will he add a second member of the Romero family to his casualty list?"
"Uh...sir...Galvanax was the one that finished his father." He heard a production worker say in his earpiece.
"I know that and you know that, but they don't!" Cosmo whispered as he saw Brody taking more punishment. "You...you almost missed that! Get the cameras, every available Buzz-cam!"
"But sir..."
"Facts are whatever I say they are! The audience won't know any better!" Cosmo told him. "Just concentrate on the cameras! If you miss a second of this, I'm having you muck out the Skullgators' pen...with them still in it!"
"Y...y...yes sir!" He stammered, calling up more Buzz-cams. Cosmo just flinched as he watched Brody try and fail to take the upper hand, taking a blow that he was almost sure was going to take his head off his shoulders...only to be a little relieved when he saw he was still alive! The audience was far too into this match for it to end now! He was already planning on the follow-up.
"Ooh, that HAS to hurt!" Cosmo declared. "Unless the Red Ranger has a trick up his sleeve, this could be the last time we see him with any arms for those sleeves!"
Back on the beach, the rest of the team was still struggling with Badpipes. The monster no longer had his pipes, so his powerful spell was no longer a problem, but it was clear he was strong beyond that anyway. The fact that he now knew his battle wasn't even being broadcast had enraged him, and he was now taking all that out on the Rangers.
"I'm going to stick my nose where it doesn't belong!" He called out as his nose extended, striking Preston square in the chest. He continued to launch his attack, taking down Sarah and Calvin in short order. Hayley though saw it coming, and had a surprise prepared for him.
"You know if you stick your nose where it doesn't belong..." She began, slipping just to the side so it went past and hooking it under her arm. She brought up her Power Claw. "...don't be surprised when it gets BROKEN!"
She brought the weapon down, snapping the pipe clean off his face. Badpipes started staggering around.
"By Dose! You hab by dose!" He whined as he clutched his face. Calvin stood next to her, smiling.
"If we ever have kids, remind me not to let you play 'got your nose'." He teased her.
"Hey, it's not like it'll make him any uglier." She replied, tossing the pipe aside. Preston and Sarah both pulled out their morphers, converting them to bow mode.
"This is yours Hayley." Sarah told her. "You lead us off!"
Hayley and Calvin also converted their morphers to bow mode, taking careful aim at Badpipes.
"FINAL STRIKE!" They called out, opening fire. In a hail of energy arrows, Badpipes started to spark and slumped to his knees.
"This really blows!" He called out as he fell forward and exploded on the ground. Hayley just smiled.
"Show's over, Ninjas Win!" She declared. Sarah tapped her on the shoulder.
"Um...Hayley? There are no cameras." She reminded her. "Who are you talking to?"
"Oh...force of habit I guess." She answered. "Come on guys, we need to help Brody!"
With that, they ran, pulling up Brody's location on their Ninja Comms, hoping that they weren't already too late.
Back at their battle, Ripcon and Brody were certainly giving the audience a show for the ages! The only thing that was unfortunate was that it wasn't on pay-per-view, but as they struggled for position, each of them aiming to get that one decisive blow, they were lighting up the screen for everyone watching.
Brody had managed to rally, getting some telling blows in on Ripcon, who was starting to see that he had been more than a little dismissive of the young Ninja. He had known that Brody was practicing and like most slaves had harboured dreams of freedom, but he had treated it as a joke. Humans were physically among the most fragile intelligent species in the universe, and it never occurred to him that the scrawny little brat he had dragged away from his home could grow to be a credible threat to him. Brody had done a masterful job of concealing just how strong he had actually become, and right now it was serving him well.
Ripcon though managed to get through his guard and kicked him in the chest, knocking Brody down. Brody went to retrieve his sword, but Ripcon put his foot on his chest, stopping him moving.
"Is this really the best you can do?" Ripcon asked him. "Are you really a Master Ninja? This is embarrassing! Without any of your fancy little tricks and dirty tactics, in a fair fight, you can't beat me Rat Bait!"
"That's not much incentive for me to fight fair then is it?" Brody responded, at which an explosion went off, sending smoke billowing out. Ripcon coughed and flailed around, trying to clear his vision, before driving his swords down, into his chest. It was only as the smoke finally cleared though; he saw that he was standing on a straw dummy! He was baffled; he hadn't even felt Brody moving!
"What the...?"
Brody came rushing out of cover, and Ripcon only barely noticed him before it was too late. He kicked the dummy up between them, which Brody sliced through but he ran face-first into Ripcon's next attack.
"Double Blade Doom Slash!" He called out, throwing his power waves at Brody. The Red Ranger hit the ground and de-morphed, leaving him vulnerable. Ripcon tried to show strength, to make it look like the fight had been effortless, but he was well aware that Brody had taken a fair bit out of him. He gripped his swords tightly, seeking to finish him before giving him an opportunity to recover. While he was sure that Cosmo would be all for a second round, Ripcon didn't see the need in risking another battle if he didn't need to.
"Say hi to your dad for me!" Ripcon told him, but as he raised his sword, he was struck in the chest by a few blasts, winding him and driving him to his knees. The rest of the team all arrived, levelling their blasters at him. Ripcon could see that his advantage was lost, there was nothing to be gained taking on the whole team now when he was already worn down.
"You hide behind your friends Rat Bait!" Ripcon snarled as he got up. "We'll do this again another time!"
With that, he disappeared. Sarah stared at the blaster.
"Damn it, we almost had him." She grumbled. "If only these things had a little more kick! Maybe if I could channel a Ninja Star through them..."
"Sarah, a wise ninja knows never to 'what if' a battle that they walk away from." Brody said as Preston helped him up, starting to catch his breath. "If you walk away, it's a good fight."
"Show's over, Ninjas WIN!" Hayley called out as she saw a Buzz-cam. The others all stared at her. "What? There was no cameras the last time!"
"I...guess that's fair." Brody answered.
Meanwhile, up on the Warrior Dome, as Ripcon teleported back, landing in a crumpled heap on the floor, Cosmo was quickly by his side.
"You saw him folks, the man who took the Red Ranger to the limit, RIPCON!" Cosmo called out. "And I'm sure you all are waiting with baited breath, just as I am, for the re-match of the grudge match of the AGES!"
They all cheered as Ripcon was helped to his feet, and taken from the stage. Cosmo looked out to the audience.
"Now, as for Badpipes, what say you?" He asked. The crowd let their feelings be known. Most of them had forgotten he was even IN the fight, much less knew of his demise. Others were angered and disappointed in his performance and loathed him with a vengeance. Others still were so enthralled by the Ripcon/Brody match that they saw Badpipes purely as a distraction that they didn't want or need. All taken together, the boos were deafening. Cosmo smiled, knowing that he had saved a potential disaster and set up another masterful draw. The fact it meant he had all the excuse he needed to leave Badpipes, the monster that humiliated him in front of his own audience on the scrap heap of history was just an added bonus! "Aw...too bad, Badpipes seems to have blown his last note. Still, the show must go on, and you know what that means?"
"SKULLGATOR!" The Audience called out. Cosmo twirled his cane, before smashing it down on the button on his console.
"Whatever my audience wants, my audience gets!" Cosmo answered. "There's no rest for the wicked Rangers, make no BONES about that!"
A/N: Yes, I've changed it, Badpipes doesn't get a second go. This is purely story-related. There's no bias there at all...honest! *whistles innocently*.