Silver Ranger Rising
Part 2: Enter Castle Terminal
It was late at night and the zoo was closed for the night but from a corridor of Darkness Prince Talon, Jack Spicer and Clara Emerged with tons of Shadow Khan ready.
"This is it." Jack began.
Talon spoke, "Time to go to the elephant exhibit and let Clara take back her elephant. Fortunately I casted a mute spell over the zoo."
Clara ordered, "Go get 'em, boys!"
So Talon had the Shadowkhan steal all the animals that Clara picked out and they saved the elephant for last.
"Don't worry, you'll all be back with me safe and sound." Clara told them.
The Elephants did not like the sound of that and attempted to bolt for it. They were surrounded by the Shadowkhan that restrained them.
"See, Clara?" Talon asked, "We reclaimed your elephant. Now let's get back to the Castle Terminal."
"Perfect."
What the bad guys didn't know was that Kira and Tori had used powerful magic to shield the Security Cameras from Talon's spell allowing them to record everything that happened.
Early next morning, Astral, Aang, Russel, Red, Wheeler, Red's Nieces, Carol, Camille, the Cooper Gang and Dustin's friends were in Vicarstown meeting at Coi's Barbeque House discussing the next course of action while discussing all that happened. Ava was with them as well as they were bringing her up to speed on what Clara did to Astral and that Astral was Camille's partner Dragon.
"She literally did that?" Jethro asked in disbelief.
"Ok, that kid is seriously out of control." Jade said. Jade Chan who was hidden in the barbeque house was listening in on the conversation.
"If she's not dealt with no animal in the world is safe." Elroy noted.
Ava spoke, "I should've sent her to reform school the minute I heard about how she treated that dog she found."
"It's not your fault, Ava," Red comforted her, "From what I gather it's your sister Christina's fault."
Camille spoke, "Yes. And now we must do something about her."
Ava nodded, "You're right. I should never have let Clara spend as much time around Christina as I did."
Alice asked, "I have to ask. What is Christina like and how does she treat Clara?"
Ava explained, "Christina also had a fascination for animals, but not to keep like my daughter. She wanted their hides as pelts or trophy's. I guess that's how she ended up becoming a poacher."
"But that doesn't answer the question about how Christina treats Clara." Carol said.
"She encouraged her to pursue what animals she wants no matter what."
"Sounds like Christina spoils Clara rotten and gives her whatever she wants." Lavender deduced.
"And from what else Lavender, Saphira, and I can make out Christina never punishes Clara." Ruby noted.
"Exactly. And she's not even married." Ava said.
Saphira spoke, "Then we should bring Christina to justice too."
"Provided she hasn't aligned herself with Wheeler's enemies." Ruby said.
"I fear that she probably has." Alicia added.
The others were gonna comment but Kira and Tori got a phone call from the Zoo they were helping out at, "Guys, more bad news." Tori spoke up.
"By the ancestors what?" Red asked.
"Perhaps we had best show you." Kira answered.
So Kira and Tori brought up the footage from the security cameras and showed it to the group. They watched seeing the recorded footage of Shadowkhan hauling off many animals.
"This is much worse than we thought." Astral feared.
"Now we got animals to rescue." Jethro added.
"And we gotta throw her in Reform School and fast." Elroy stated.
"Except they're in some place called the Castle Terminal." Alice reminded him.
"So how can we get there?" Alicia inquired.
"You just have to enter the Shadow Line. I can get you there." Red offered.
Elroy smiled, "Then let's go."
Red interrupted him, "It's not that simple. First we need to find a connection. They're the rails that connect the rails of the Shadow Line to the Rails of the Surface world."
"And how do we do that?" Jade asked.
Red was about to answer but he sensed that the group had company, "Before I answer that would Jackie Chan's Niece please show herself."
Right on cue Jade Chan emerged from her hiding place, "Hi, guys."
"Jade, what are you doing here?" Carol asked.
"Heard there was a party and decided to join ya."
Jade Wallace replied, "This isn't a party. We're trying to break into the Shadow Line and Red was about to tell us how to get there."
Jade Chan spoke, "That's easy. Just use the Junction points. The Shadow Line uses them to connect to the rails of our world so why don't we use them to get to the Shadow Line."
Elroy looked impressed, "Girl knows her stuff."
Lavender nodded, "She's really spot on. Where did you learn to figure things out that quickly?"
"Hanging around my uncle and everyone else you pick up these sort of things. Duh."
Red spoke, "Well, there's bad news to that plan, Jade. There's no logic to where the Shadow Points appear and only shadow line locomotives can locate those points."
"No problem. We could ask Belle."
"Belle?" The spirit warriors asked.
Carol smacked her head, "Of course why didn't we think of it before? We need to go to the Search and Rescue center."
"Then let's go." Camille ordered. So the group went to the Search and Rescue Center.
Meanwhile down in the Castle Terminal, Talon was already taking Clara to the throne room, "Now I know you have some tense moments with Mindy but please give her a chance."
Clara sighed, "Oh, all right."
When they entered the throne room Mindy was already there with her husband as were Chris and Veronica with their respective boyfriends.
Mindy began, "Welcome to the Castle Terminal, Clara. I took the liberty of locating your Aunt Christina. Talon, Jack and Zetto told me you wanted to see her."
"I do."
"Well, then, Christina, come on out."
Christina wore a typical jungle explorer outfit complete with boots and she had short brown hair cut similar to Alex and Dominique. She also had brown eyes and a slim yet well-toned figure and a good rack to boot.
"Aunt Christina!" Clara cheered.
"Clara. How are you? Come give your aunt a hug," The girl ran over and hugged the woman, "So how's my sis been treating you, Clara?"
"Horrible! She plans on sending me to some reform school."
Christina gasped, "She plans to do what?! Not on my watch!"
"Thank you, auntie. You're the only one I can truly trust."
Jack spoke, "So now that the family reunions are ready there's something else we have to tend to. We need to check on the shadow towns in Africa. While we're there we can poach some animals."
Christina smirked, "My kinda plan."
Zetto spoke, "I'll have a Shadow Liner ready to take you there."
"Then get to it." Jack ordered. Zetto went to do just that.
Meanwhile back on the surface world the gang was having a word with Belle at the Search and Rescue Center and they explained the situation to her.
"You want me to do what?" The BR Standard Class 4 Adriatic Tank Engine asked in disbelief.
Elroy repeated himself, "We need to find the Shadow Line."
"Well, it's been 20 years since I escaped the Shadow Line but I can still sense the location of the Junction points. But be warned if the Shadow Line has become linked to the Underworld ruled by Hades as Camille said then you're gonna need more help."
Carol spoke, "Got it covered. We have the Olympus Stone. That will shield us from the side effects of the Underworld and its curse."
"Now all we need is a plan to get there." Jade said.
"I know this is gonna sound odd but why don't we let Clara capture Ruby, Saphira, and Myself?" Lavender suggested.
"WHAT?!" Everyone shouted.
Saphira spoke, "Hear us out for a moment. We need to know where the animals are. If we can let Clara capture us we'll figure out where they are and we can let you know from there."
"Saphira, I know what that girl is capable of," Astral reminded her, "You're stepping into a den of lions! Granted a lion's den isn't so frightening to us, but you get my point!"
"True, but that was when Clara caught you by surprise," Ruby answered, "I have Saphira and Lavender with me so we can handle it."
"Well, if you say so." Astral sighed.
Camille spoke, "Red's nieces have a point Astral. How else are we gonna find the missing animals. Not to mention the rest of Wheeler's friends."
"But we have no idea where to start looking." Russel noted.
Ava answered, "My sister tends to do her poaching down in Africa. Perhaps you can start there."
"Excellent." Saphira said.
"Then let's get this plan into motion." Jade cheered.
"Except there's one thing I need to ask of you." Wheeler started.
"What is it?" Ruby asked.
"If you can figure out where my friends are see if you can free them or at least move them to a more secure location."
"We'll do that."
Camille opened a corridor of shadow to allow Ruby, Saphira, and Lavender to go to Africa but before she did she had one more thing to tell them, "Remember you three. Once you're in the Underworld you'll be weakened by the underworld curse so conserve your energy and stay together alright?"
"Right." They replied. So Red's nieces entered the corridor of shadow to head to Africa to go after Clara and save the animals.
"May the ancestors look after my nieces. May they look after us all." Red prayed. Everyone nodded praying the same for them.
On the other side of the corridor, Lavender, Saphira, and Ruby emerged and found themselves in Africa.
"Here we are." Lavender began.
"Africa." Ruby added.
"This is where we may find Kwame." Saphira finished.
"Then let's get to work," Lavender ordered. So the three went to work. While they were looking around they noticed that there were very few animals roaming the area and that Kwame was noticeably missing, "It's quiet. Too quiet. Something is definitely not right."
"Be on guard." Ruby warned them.
Saphira, Ruby, and Lavender continued to keep their eyes and ears open looking for Kwame and as they did they heard something.
"I think I found something." Saphira said. The two followed Saphira's lead.
They then saw a poaching operation run by a Crow resembling Dark Corvo only he was wearing a green suit with Tiger Skin print lapels. Christina and Clara were also there as well grouping the animals into groups.
"So, Clara, I know that you said that my sister's been treating you horribly as of late but what exactly did she do to you? I need to know if I'm going to pay her out."
"She had all the pets I've been collecting taken away from me and placed me under house arrest."
"She won't be standing in your way ever again once you're placed under my custody. And I don't know if you know this already but I'm Ava's older sister and when our parents were gone she had to listen to me."
"Really?"
"Yes and do you remember when you were gone and she came back with sore bottoms the day after each of your previous birthdays?"
"That was you?" Clara asked in amaze.
"Yep. Every time I found out she ever mistreated you. Which explains why she didn't mistreat you until now."
"Auntie, I love you."
Christina smiled as she picked up the little girl and hugged her gently, "By the way I bet you're wondering who the Crow in the green suit is right?"
"Yes, I do."
"This is Looten Plunder, an enemy of that Red Dragon who ratted you out."
"Really?"
"I'm serious. He is and he and the other Crows that terrorize the environment teamed up with the Shadow Line in an attempt to stop those irritating dragons once and for all."
Looten Plunder spoke up, "And we managed to imprison those dragons in their own temples and trap them in crystal. Compliments of a spell that Prince Talon himself casted."
Clara smiled, "Cool."
Christina spoke, "Aside from the one that ratted you out. The Dragon of the Fire Element but no matter he has no idea that this poaching operation is taking place right in front of the Earth Dragon's temple. We're fifty Miles north of the temple to be precise."
"So tell me this. Are there any animals that we should hand your niece, Christina?"
"I'd say she deserves some more endangered ones."
"Like some Leopards and Cheetahs. I can round up a few for her."
As the three were talking Lavender, Saphira, and Ruby were watching from a distance and they were shocked upon what they heard so far.
"This is madness." Ruby asked.
"This is insane." Saphira put in.
Lavender finished, "At least we know where Kwame the Earth Dragon is and where the other Dragons are imprisoned. Let's send this information back to the group then we go and show ourselves to those three."
"Right." Ruby agreed.
So the three sent the information back to their uncle via a spell. Once they were sure the spell made it to Red the three then decided to show themselves.
"Surprise." Saphira declared.
Looten Plunder spoke to the aunt and niece, "Who are these three hatchlings?"
"They're more of those dragons with my enemies." Clara answered.
Lavender replied, "That's right. Oh by the way we forgot to ask Wheeler the Fire Dragon to tell us what your mom did to you when she found you escaped your house arrest."
"I'm not talking."
Ruby spoke, "That's because you're just a spoiled rotten bratty coward who whines and hides behind her disgrace of an aunt."
"Hey!"
"The truth hurts doesn't it?" Saphira asked.
"What do you expect from a girl who acts like all animals belong to her?" Lavender put in.
"Got that right." Ruby agreed.
The sisters then began laughing loudly as they made more rude comments about Clara and her aunt, "I've had it with you!" Clara screamed.
"And we've had it with you." Lavender replied. Lavender Saphira and Ruby then blasted Clara with Lightning, Water, and Ice breath respectively knocking her on her butt.
"Ow! They hurt me!"
"Serves your right, brat!" Saphira replied.
Christina called, "Combat Kuros. Get them!"
The Kuros went on the attack. Ruby, Saphira, and Lavender fought them back using their abilities and the training they got from the Dragon Elders.
Looten Plunder spoke, "Those three are almost as strong as that Fire Dragon they mentioned."
"But I want them to pay for hurting my niece!"
"And they shall."
The Kuros were numerous but Ruby, Saphira and Lavender held their own and beat them down.
"Well, that was stupid." Lavender groaned.
Saphira replied, "What did you expect from a stupid brat and her aunt?"
"Good one." Ruby admitted.
The three laughed again and as they did Clara finally reached her breaking point and snapped, "I'm gonna get you!" She ran at the three blinded by anger.
The three dragons side stepped as Clara tripped giving Ruby the opening she needed to give Clara a spanking, "You have been a very bad girl!"
As Ruby spanked Clara she cried like the coward she was before Saphira got her chance to give Clara a spanking, "My turn!" Saphira then took over for Ruby as she gave Clara even harder spankings. Clara just cried in pain, as she was restrained, "Bet you wish you didn't steal Astral now did you brat!" Saphira finished up as Lavender had her turn giving Clara a spanking.
"Now the final touch!" Lavender then spanked Clara so hard she cried till her throat was raw, "I haven't had this much fun in a long time."
As Lavender, Saphira and Ruby were having so much fun they didn't realize that Christina had called up Mindy who in turn had the Dragon League of nine send in some Shadow Khan to surround Lavender, Saphira, and Ruby.
"Uh-oh." Ruby gasped.
"We can handle it." Saphira said.
Lavender finished, "We're not going down without a fight!"
The Shadowkhan attacked, as the three fought back. As the Shadowkhan attacked Christina tended to her niece, "It's okay. Those Dragons are gonna pay for your pain on the surface world with their pain in the Castle Terminal."
"Oh, my butt is sore."
"I'll get some ice for that and some cream. How does that sound?"
"Thank you."
Looten Plunder spoke, "You're really gonna love this, Clara. The Shadow Khan are almost done beating up those three dragons."
"Yes!"
"And they're already dragging them and the rest of the other animals we picked out for you into the Shadow Liner ready for transport to the Castle Terminal." Christina added.
"Then let's go!"
"First you need to see this." Looten Plunder had Clara look as the Shadowkhan were dragging Lavender, Saphira, and Ruby into the Shadow Liner along with all the other endangered animals.
"Wonderful." Clara cheered.
"Now let's get out of here." Christina said.
Christina, Clara, and Looten Plunder entered the Shadow liner but what they didn't know was that Lavender, Saphira, and Ruby had smirks on their faces.
Once inside the liner the three dragons spoke, "Part one of the mission is accomplished." Saphira began.
"They're taking us right to the source." Ruby added.
Lavender spoke, "And we should have enough power to avoid and evade Clara long enough for us to find out where the rest of animals are being kept."
"Which means that Camille can free them and send them back to their homes." Saphira said.
"Then let's keep a low profile." Ruby noted. Saphira, and Lavender nodded as they kept their mouths silent as the Shadow Liner made its way to the Castle Terminal.
Meanwhile back on Sodor, the gang was waiting to move out when they got the information from Saphira Ruby and Lavender via a scroll.
"Wheeler, I got good news," Camille began, "Saphira, Ruby, and Lavender know where your friends are being kept."
"That is good news." Wheeler confirmed.
Astral spoke, "But we can't free your friends just yet. First we need to get ready to free the animals and to do that we need to let Red's Nieces tell us where the Castle Terminal is or at least raise it to the surface."
"I understand."
Back with Christina and Clara they were heading to Clara's new room in the Castle Terminal, "This is it, Clara. You're gonna love the new room."
"I can't wait."
Christina then led Clara down the hall to a door on the right with an animal theme on it, "Are you ready?"
"Ready."
"Then open the door and see what's inside."
Clara opened the door and looked inside. She saw that the room was more like a Zoo and there was a door that lead to where she kept the larger animals. There were plenty of cages that held all the animals that Ava and ASPCA took from her. Even her old elephant was there.
"What do you think?"
"It's beautiful." Clara said in nostalgia.
"I thought you'd like it. So how about I let you have some alone time with your animals?" Christina then left leaving Clara to enjoy her room.
"Welcome back my friends," The animals all roared at Clara remembering how horribly she treated them, "Don't you raise those tones to me."
Ruby, Saphira, and Lavender who had also been brought up there were talking amongst themselves.
"Looks like the words we gave the animals are starting to work." Ruby started.
"Which means that we can use the chaos to escape and hopefully raise the Castle Terminal to the surface." Saphira said.
"Or even better. Lead a stampede." Lavender smirked.
"Perfect." Ruby nodded.
As the three dragons waited for the right moment the animals continued roaring at Clara till she decided to make an example out of the elephant.
Clara walked up to it and grabbed it by the trunk, "You need your trunk washed out." She grabbed some soap and lathered a toothbrush on it and started brushing inside the elephant's trunk.
The elephant cried out in pain but the other animals roared even louder which provided a distraction for Ruby, Saphira, and Lavender to slip out of the room unnoticed.
"We'll make sure he gets rewarded for his sacrifice." Saphira said.
"And it was a necessary sacrifice but first we need to find the controls to raise the Castle Terminal to the surface or at least a phone." Ruby noted.
"So let's start looking." Lavender the trio was looking, they were worried about the elephant.
The Elephant was writhing in pain from the brush in his trunk that was lathered in soap. The other animals were roaring in defiance but knew that Clara would get hers once again.
"There, all cleaned out," The Elephant glared before the big cats began roaring loudly, "Bad kitties. You don't roar at your owner," The big cats roared before swiping at Clara with their claws, "You need your nails done!" The big cats then roared loudly and showed their fangs and teeth hoping to scare Clara as Ruby, Saphira, and Lavender encouraged them to do, "And your teeth need brushing," The animals all screeched, roared, and made their animal calls clearly showing that while Clara put the elephant in pain they would not be intimidated by her, "You're all going to need disciplining." The animals still didn't give in to Clara's threats.
Meanwhile Ruby, Saphira, and Lavender were searching for the controls to raise the Castle Terminal.
"I think I found it." Ruby began.
"You did?" Saphira asked.
"Over here." Ruby said. Lavender and Saphira followed their younger sister to where the controls were.
"Good job, Ruby." Lavender said.
"Thanks, sis."
"We better consider carefully," Saphira warned them, "Because the minute we raise the Castle Terminal the forces of Darkness will know we're here."
"True but according to the instructions the process of raising or lowering the Castle Terminal can't be stopped." Ruby noted.
"True but once we raise the Castle Terminal we won't have to deal with the underworld curse." Lavender said.
"Then let's do this." Saphira ordered. So the trio activated the controls to raise the Castle Terminal.
"Now it's done. All we need to do now is go find the animals. I do hope they're okay." Ruby said.
"I wonder how they're doing." Lavender wondered.
The animals meanwhile had been abused by Clara multiple times from being dressed up like infants, and recoiling from having their mouths cleaned out with soap.
As Clara was counting up the animals she noticed that three were missing, "Wait a minute... Where are my dragons?!" The animals roared as if to tell Clara to fuck off. Clara frowned, "You all need to be taught manners." she scolded them.
"You're the one who needs to be taught manners, bitch!"
Clara heard that and looked around. Lavender, Saphira, and Ruby were standing at the entrance to Clara's room with smirks on their faces.
"Where were you?" the girl demanded.
"Far away from you." Saphira answered.
"And if you didn't figure this out the Castle Terminal's rising to the Surface." Lavender noted.
"It's what?" Clara gasped.
"Let me put it in English," Ruby began, "It means you're going to reform school!"
"Never!" Clara declared.
"Never say never." Saphira replied.
"And we're freeing all the animals you captured." Ruby added.
"I won't let you near them!"
Ruby, Saphira, and Lavender combined their powers and attacked Clara much to the joy of the animals. The three dragons then began to free them from their cages as well as remove the clothes that Clara forced the animals to wear.
"How do you lot feel now?" Saphira asked. The animals expressed grunts of gratitude.
"Our friends will be waiting but we better get out of here." Ruby suggested.
Clara looked red with rage, "You're not going anywhere!"
Ruby blasted Clara with her ice breath before she and her sisters escorted all the animals out of the room and through the Castle Terminal. Fortunately by sheer luck they were able to get to the platform area of the Castle just as Belle showed up with Dustin's friends, Carol, Aang, Russell, Red, Wheeler, Astral and the Cooper Gang.
"You guys made it." Wheeler said.
"And without a moment to spare." Lavender added.
"Now let's get out of here before we get followed." Belle said.
"Then let's go!" Elroy called.
The gang then boarded Belle's train as Camille used her magic to hide the animals in the trucks that Belle was hauling. Belle began to leave the area but as they did Clara who somehow had been unthawed by Jack Spicer's robots was running to the platform.
"You're not getting away from me!"
Lavender answered smugly, "Actually, we are."
"So long brat." Ruby mocked.
Saphira finished, "You can't catch us now!"
Lavender, Saphira, and Ruby continued taunting Clara even as the train made it out of the Castle Terminal and returned to the surface. Clara missed her chance and screamed in frustration. Her scream brought her aunt Christina and Mindy to her.
"Clara, what happened?" Christina inquired.
"The dragons escaped! And they took my animals again!" she whined.
"They won't get away with this. As soon as we catch them I'm turning them into Lao Mang Lone Soup." Mindy declared.
"Sounds delicious." Clara smiled
"I wouldn't recommend it for you." Mindy replied.
Clara looked disappointed, "Why not? I enjoyed that Alligator chili you made from the gators that Christina poached in America."
"Lao Mang Lon Soup isn't your average dish."
"I see your point and so does my niece but can you at least make Gator Chili for her again?" Christina said asking about Mindy's Chili.
"Of course."
"Where did you learn how to cook?" Clara asked.
"From the numerous chefs that my mom and dad hired when they were the bosses of Crime Inc." Mindy answered.
"Cool."
"And here's the best part," Christina began, "Since doesn't have a chef's license she has nothing to lose from cooking the animals that I poach."
"Whoa." Clara gasped.
"Yep so you can now threaten to send the animals that refuse to do what you tell them to me." Mindy said.
"Only if I can get them back."
"Then let's get going," Mindy ordered, "We can prepare to attack and go poach some animals in Europe while we're at it." The three headed off.