Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers. I think Saban owns them again. It was Disney for a while, but whoever owns them, it's definitely not me. . I also don't own any song lyrics used.
AN: Here's chapter 16! Enjoy and let me know what you think! Thanks to all the great reviews too from my loyal reviewers! The battle rages on!
Crimson Rising
Chapter 16: Through the Fire and the Flames, Pt. 2
And on the wings of a dream, so far beyond reality
All alone in desperation, now the time has gone
Lost inside you'll never find, lost within my own mind
Day after day this misery must go on
So far away we wait for the day
For the lives all so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on
Now here we stand with their blood on our hands
We fought so hard now can we understand
I'll break the seal of this curse if I possibly can
For freedom of every man
Song: Through the Fire and the Flames
Artist: Dragonforce
Reefside
Tanya phased back to the fight and joined Kat in her battle against the Tengu birds. Kat drew her stego sabers, twin curved blades and Tanya summoned her Para bow. Kat began slicing through the birds, feeling more alive than she had in a very long time. Fighting again as a ranger alongside her friends, old and new, almost made her forget all that she had been through, for the moment anyway. Focusing on the battle, she whipped around and caught a Burmite's sharp tail that it had tried to impale her with between her blades. She batted it away and sliced it off, causing the creature to shriek in pain. Howling in agony, even as it dripped a yellow goo from its wound, it charged at her with its claws. But Kat's Stego shield caused him frustration, as the violet ranger remained beyond his reach. Kat found it ironic how her power was shielding when she had wished so many times to have a power like this when she had been married to Malcolm. The mindless creatures kept trying to penetrate her shield, but a green colored arrow struck him in the head and it fell dead to the ground.
"Thanks T," Kat called, as her shield dissipated.
"That's what ranger sisters are for," Tanya chimed back, as she phased behind another bug and shoved him away, before firing another arrow with the precision of a seasoned ranger. Kat joined her, slicing her way through more of the bird and bug creatures, sparing none.
Trini returned from seeing the people safely out of downtown and found several disgusting bug creatures in her way, along with a Burlot soldier, who leapt to attack her with his pincer ended tail. Trini back flipped to evade it and summoned her Ankylo glaive, a long staff as tall as her with a blade on the end.
"Your energy will make a fine addition my reserve, silver ranger," the grasshopper looking creature hissed. He was obviously more intelligent and Trini had already deduced that the Burmites were his creation.
"I don't know what has deluded you into thinking that you're getting any of my energy, but you're sadly mistaken," Trini retorted, as she smacked his tail away with her glaive. Raising her free hand, she lifted the small pieces of debris around her and hurled them at him with her telekinesis. The creature dodged them all and then smirked at her.
"Interesting technique, I'm actually impressed. Now let me demonstrate another specialty of mine," he hissed, as he lifted his tail.
"Our tails do much more than create the Burmites. It's how we feed on our favorite food source…living energy," he said smugly. Trini watched the appendage, ready to evade or parry it, but she did not expect the tail to shoot out toward the lead Silver Guardian that was still trying to interfere.
"Look out!" she cried. He didn't head her warning and Trini gasped in horror, as he was pierced in the chest. Nothing in any of their days as rangers could prepare them for what happened next. Screams of disbelief sounded, as the man began to shrivel. He screamed in agony, as every bit of him was slowly sucked up like liquid. The officer's clothes and red beret fell aimlessly to the ground. Kira fell to her knees, the brutal death being too much for her and Conner held her, trying to help her up.
"Come on Rock star, don't check out on me," he consoled her. The creature chuckled evilly.
"You're next, silver ranger…" he taunted, as his tailed shot toward her.
"TRINI!" Jason cried, allowing the Durionian an opening to land a blow to his chest with his sword. Sparks spewed from Jason's armor, as he landed painfully on his back.
"It's Triassic time. You go after Trini," Conner said, as he stepped in and helped the gold ranger up.
"Thanks rookie, I owe you," Jason said, as he headed off to help his wife, who was dodging the creature that was determined to literally eat her.
"You guys up for this?" he asked. Kira and Ethan nodded, lending their powers to the Triassic shield. Conner transformed into the Triassic ranger and wielded the shield in sword mode.
"You don't really think you can take me on, do you boy?" Kalmec challenged.
"I think you'll be surprised," Conner replied simply, as he charged him.
Angel Grove
Billy fought with a ferocity he'd never known. If one didn't know that he was underneath the blue armor, then no one would have ever guessed it could be him. But he was looking for payback and when he spotted a Duronian henchman, he immediately dispatched the shark creatures around him, setting his sights on the monster that belonged to the race responsible for Cestria's murder. Calling his power lance, he disappeared into a blue streak, using his new super speed to land blow after blow on the unsuspecting Duronian. Jin'kar, a lieutenant under Xerxes, younger brother to Xinshing, growled murderously, as the blue ranger stopped before him, staring him down through his visor.
"You'll pay for that ranger," he hissed. Billy smirked beneath his helmet.
"Make me," Billy spat, as he busted his lance in half and hurled one of his forked weapons at the alien. Jin'kar batted it away with his sword and advanced on the ranger. Billy used his speed as an advantage in the spar, but the skilled warrior he faced soon found an opening and grabbed him around the neck, lifting him off his feet. Billy felt the air forced painfully out of his lungs, as his opponent's knee was in his abdomen. He tossed the breathless blue ranger to the ground and hovered above him. Raising his sword, he prepared to gut the ranger, but Billy raised the other half of his lance and stopped the blade. But he felt himself straining against Jin'kar's oppressive strength. He chuckled.
"Goodbye blue ranger," he sneered.
"Hey ugly!" Aisha called, catching the creature's attention. Jin'kar looked up, only in time to see a loose metal sign coming at him. Ironically enough it happened to be a stop sign that Aisha used her telekinesis to lift and hurl at the alien.
"Telekinesis…I like it," Kim mentioned, as she saw the Duronian start to get up. A deafening scream thrust him on his back again, as he held his ears in pain.
"A louder scream…cause that's what you need," Billy groaned sarcastically, as his ears rang incessantly.
"You're welcome," she shot back sarcastically.
"Damn Kim, I think I'm deaf," Rocky joked, as he and Adam arrived.
"You will be if you keep it up," she threatened in good humor.
"So this is one of those green creeps?" Adam asked.
"Yes…his kind killed the Aquitians," Billy growled.
"And Trey and Chad," Aisha added.
"I say we go a little old school again and blast him, if you get my meaning," Adam suggested, as he cocked his power axe. Kimberly slammed her power bow across the barrel of his axe. Aisha connected her power daggers and Billy followed with his power lance. Rocky completed the weapon by attaching his power sword, but handed the weapon to Billy.
"This one is all yours wolf man," Rocky said. Billy gladly took the weapon and aimed.
"Stupid rangers…your childish toy won't be enough to kill me," Jin'kar growled.
"This ain't the old power blaster, ugly. It's the new and improved version," Aisha retorted, as Billy fired.
"And more than enough to kill your sorry ass," Billy growled, as he put a hole in the alien, who was now gaping in horror at what they had done to him.
"Nice…" Tommy said, as he arrived and decided to add his own touch to finish the job. A white orb of energy appeared in his palm and grew in size until it was the size of a basketball. The Falcon ranger hurled it at the Duronian, who screamed in horror. The energy engulfed him and he exploded, leaving nothing but ashes behind. The six of them turned, surveying their work, as dead minions and henchmen littered the ground, just as the Silver Guardians arrived.
"Tell that dick face you're working for now that the power rangers are back," Tommy spat, as they disappeared in a flash of teleportation.
Reefside
Trini yelped in surprise, as the Burlot's tail coiled around her waist.
"Gotcha," he sneered. A fierce battle cry was heard, as Jason sailed through the air, bringing the Brachio staff down on the creature's tail, slicing through the appendage and freeing his wife. The Burlot held his severed appendage, howling in pain.
"Let's end this bug," Jason said. Trini nodded and readied her Ankylo glaive.
"Brachio staff…Energy Orb!" Jason called.
"Ankylo glaive…Thunder Strike!" Trini called, as her glaive sparked and launched silver lightning, which combined with her husband's golden orb of energy. The Burlot barely had time to scream, before the energy engulfed him and left nothing but ashes behind.
Trent found himself facing a peculiar shark looking creature, which was stronger than he anticipated. After his drago arrows failed, he found himself shadowboxing the fish creature. Suddenly, the shark disappeared.
"All right, where did you go? You left your smell behind!" Trent called, keeping his awareness open.
"Land shark!" Trent heard it call. He turned, but could not evade the giant fin coming at him. He was hit and it threw him several feet back. He landed hard and rolled away, as the creature appeared from the ground, chuckling in amusement.
"I've had enough of this," Trent growled.
"Super Dino mode!" Trent called, as he disappeared into a white streak, landing several devastating blows to the creature. It struggled to stand and clenched its fist.
"We'll call this one a draw, white ranger," it growled, before disappearing.
"Yeah…run away coward," Trent hissed.
The Triassic ranger dueled the Duronian general, but soon learned that the green skinned alien was in a different league. His power and strength exceeded that of a morphed ranger by far, even in Conner's second most powerful form.
"You're slowing, red ranger, but I'll give you props for putting up a decent fight. I wasn't expecting you to still be breathing at this point," Kalmec goaded.
"Rangers don't give up, especially not to space trash like you," Conner hissed. Kalmec laughed and batted the red ranger away. He hovered over the young red Dino ranger, who was struggling to climb back to his feet.
"Is that why I have ranger helmets on my mantel for display?" Kalmec sneered.
"Yours is an interesting looking one. I think it will make a fine addition," the alien hissed, as he raised his blade for the killing strike.
"Not today ugly," Jason cried, as he kicked the general back.
"Fry this creep," Kira told him. Conner nodded and called the battlizer. The armor molded around him and he launched into aerial mode.
"Battle Blast!" Conner called, firing the super weapon. The blast engulfed the alien foe and there was an explosion.
"Yeah, he's history now," Ethan cheered, as Conner landed. But as the smoke cleared, they were horrified to find the Durionian general down on one knee, looking scathed, but with only minor injuries.
"We'll call this one a draw, ranger. I'm impressed, red ranger. You and I will meet again," he promised, before disappearing. Conner collapsed in near exhaustion, a few of the others joining him.
"That sucked," Kira grumbled.
"I don't think I've ever been this tired after a battle…not even after the final with Mesagog," Ethan confessed.
"We barely won," Trent mentioned.
"It can only be called a win if you mean that we all made it out alive, cause that was not a victory," Jason said gravely. Trini touched his arm.
"But we did make it out. It just means that training will be essential," she reasoned.
"Let's get back. I'm worried about Aiden," Kat said. Jason nodded, as they cancelled their morphing sequence.
"Hayley…do you read me?" Tanya called into her communicator.
"I've got a lock on you guys when you're ready," Hayley answered.
"Hayley, I told Cassidy and Devin to hide at Cyberspace. Can you get a lock on them too?" Trent asked. Hayley was silent for a moment, before responding.
"I've got a lock on them too," Hayley responded.
"We're ready," Jason confirmed. The eight rangers disappeared in color coded streaks of light, while across the city; two civilians also disappeared in streaks of white light.
Silver Hills
Hunter stared at the four green skinned creatures. Three of them clustered around the one that seemed like their leader. He was a little disappointed that the one that had killed Chad wasn't present, because he wanted to personally make him pay for the blue Lightspeed ranger's death. But for now, he would settle with these four. He watched the ooze henchmen, Burmites, and Tengu birds swarm around him.
Crimson thunder sizzled from his left hand and shot out, violently striking the bird creatures and obliterating them all in one single blast. Crimson flames swirled from his right hand and shot out, expanding into a huge wall of fire, incinerating the Burmites instantly. The ooze men registered a bit of nervousness, but slowly descended on him. He felt the power speaking to him and willed one of his new weapons into his hand. The blade of the saber glimmered in the moonlight and he examined the crimson and golden hilt, emblazoned with the Phoenix.
"Your father's weapon…the Phoenix Saber is no ordinary sword. It is one of the most powerful weapons in the galaxy and can be wielded without being morphed as well. It is your turn to pick up where your father left off. Don't doubt your abilities, sweetheart. You are more than worthy of this power…it is your birthright," Dulcea's voice spoke to him.
"I won't let you down…mom…" Hunter told her silently, as his disappeared into his Ninja streak. All that could be seen was a crimson blur and all that could be heard was the slashing noise of the saber, slicing through the ooze henchmen. Crimson heat emanated from the crimson ranger's armor, incinerating the ooze remnants to nothing before the substance could even hit the ground. The four Duronian men looked on, surprise on three of their faces, while their leader made no attempt to show any emotion. The surprise on the three seasoned warrior's faces quickly disappeared and was replaced by smug smirks.
"Impressive, crimson ranger. We have yet to find a worthy opponent on this dreadful mud ball. Perhaps you won't disappoint," the leader spoke.
"If you're looking for a fight, then you came to the right place. After I grind you to ashes, I'm going after the one that led the attack on Mariner Bay…and then your Master and his daughter are next," Hunter spat. The four Duronians laughed, before the leader spoke again.
"I doubt you can get past me, ranger and I certainly know that you are no match for my older brother," the leader refuted.
"Yeah, General Xinshing eats punks like you for breakfast," the one called Falker sneered.
"Falker is right, except I doubt you can get past us, much less General Xerxes," another spat, indicating their leader. The other two laughed.
"Yeah and while General Xerxes is crushing your bones to dust, Golchek and I were talking about going and entertaining ourselves with the little blue one over there," the final one known as Datuun sneered.
"Yes…human females are fun to break and I've been told this one is…especially delicious," Golchek hissed, licking his lips. Rage burned inside Hunter, as they talked about going after Tori.
"You touch her…it'll be the last thing you ever do," Hunter growled. Laughter bubbled from the three green skinned monsters.
"Then by all means, crimson ranger. Let's see if you can stop me," Datuun said, as he drew his blade. Hunter raised the Phoenix blade, as Datuun charged him. Sparks of crimson fire were expelled from the blade each time Datuun's sword made contact. He felt his muscles burn, as the Duronian soldier's blade slammed against his and they struggled for control in a deadlock.
"So…you're the son of Zander. Can't say that I'm impressed. I've killed rangers far more skilled than you," Datuun hissed.
"Yet I'm still standing," Hunter hissed back. Angered by this, Datuun embedded his knee in the young crimson ranger's abdomen. Hunter groaned in pain and felt the alien wrap his hand around his neck, before lifting him up and hurling him through the windshield of a nearby abandoned, damaged car.
"Stupid, arrogant child…you really think you have even a ghost of chance?!" Datuun roared. Hunter groaned, as he pulled himself out of the wrecked car. He feigned injury for the alien, but felt any wounds his armor had not stopped already miraculously healing. He didn't even understand all his powers yet or how they even worked, but he remembered his mother's words. He had all the power he needed. It was the Duronian before him that didn't realize how outmatched he truly was…but he was about to find out.
"Poor deluded Phoenix ranger…all that power and no clue how to use it," Datuun chuckled.
"Watch…watch as we wipe out everything you love and then everyone you love…starting with the pretty blue one. Then…we'll put you out of your misery too and Lord Ooze will add this galaxy to his vast collection," Datuun threatened. Hunter was about to strike again when Tori's scream pierced the air. The other two, Falker and Golchek had been true to their word by going after her. His heart nearly stopped when he saw one of them shoot an energy blast at her from his hand. Being the skilled warrior she was, Tori raised her daggers, crossing them in front of her chest. She screamed, as the blast slammed against her weapon and while it protected her from harm, the force of the energy threw her back into the side of a ruined building. She hit the wall hard and slumped to the ground. Disoriented, her visor opened and she slowly attempted to get her bearings. The pain was nothing compared to what it could have been without her new, more resilient armor, but the wind had still been swiftly and painfully forced from her lungs. But she wouldn't get the chance to regain her footing, as a vice-like grip latched onto her arm. Her blue eyes widened in horror, as two of the green skinned warriors leered over her. She willed her visor to close, but one was too quick, as he stopped it by grabbed her chin and forcing her to look into his empty black eyes.
"Now…don't cover such a pretty face," Golchek goaded. She felt bile rise in the back of her throat, as his scaly fingers touched her cheek. Tori shrugged away in repulsion and tried to wrench her arm from the grasp of the other. But he was too strong.
"Now, now, you're not going anywhere. Haven't you figured out yet that little girls don't belong on the battlefield with the men?" he goaded. Tori glared at him and kneed him between his legs and slammed her foot down on his, before wrenching her arm away, as he growled in pain, while the other alien laughed at his friend.
"We do love feisty ones that put up a fight," he sneered, as he elbowed her between her shoulder blades and she went down.
"TORI!" Hunter cried, as he started toward her, but an energy blast from Datuun hit him square in the chest, throwing him onto his back.
"HUNTER!" she cried in horror. Hunter's visor opened and his helmet folded back, leaving his head exposed, as he stared up, dazed from the smoking wound in his armor. He yelped in pain, as the green skinned alien grabbed a fist full of his sandy blonde hair and forced him up to his knees.
"Watch…watch them destroy everything you love, starting with her. Lord Ooze can't make your father pay for his imprisonment for all those years, so he has ordered that the son be made to suffer for the father's crimes. If you think the wounds you have now are bad, they are nothing compared to the ones he will inflict…or the ones my associates are about to inflict on her," Datuun hissed. But Hunter was barely listening, as the spirit of the Phoenix roared in his ears, his minor wounds already healing, and his power swelling inside him. Stormy blue eyes locked on the beasts that were pulling her off the ground. Hunter thrust his head back into the alien's nose as hard as he could, wrenching his head out of his grip and got to his feet. His helmet closed around his head again and his saber appeared in his hand.
"Except I'm not wounded anymore…I'm the Phoenix or did you forget that my wounds heal?" Hunter asked. He didn't wait for an answer and strode toward the two that were terrorizing Tori.
Tori screamed and kicked her legs, as one held her arms and the other wound up his fist, ready to deliver a devastating blow to her stomach. She knew they were trying to force her to demorph and if she did, she knew what they would do to her in her civilian form. She braced herself for the blow and clenched her eyes shut.
"Thunder shield!" Hunter called, as the crimson energy shimmered to life before the blue wind ranger, cutting off her attackers.
"Get away from her," Hunter growled. The two chuckled.
"Make us…" Golchek hissed.
"You asked for it," the crimson ranger replied, as his saber was suddenly ablaze with crimson flames.
"Power of Fire!" Hunter roared, as a massive torrent of fire barreled toward the two aliens. Their smug arrogance disappeared and was replaced by shock and fear. Tori felt the heat from the flames, as the two aliens were engulfed, but her love's shield remained strong. She covered her eyes with her arms when the crimson flames became blinding, but she heard the pained screams from the two Duronians, as they were incinerated to nothing more than ashes. Datuun slowly backed away from the Phoenix ranger in horror and the other rangers slowly gathered around Tori, as the minions and alien soldiers gathered with their leaders. Even Xerxes could no longer hide his surprise at the display of power from the young ranger.
"Well played Phoenix ranger, we'll call this one a draw. Be prepared for next time, because you'll be facing me and I'm not as weak as my pitiful soldiers. Have fun explaining your extraordinary powers to the nosy humans," Xerxes said, noting the arrival or Gorbin and his silver guardians, with Wes and Eric on their heels, trying unsuccessfully to keep them out of it.
"Holy shit…I'm worked," Shane mumbled, as his, Dustin, and Blake's visors opened. Tori's remained open, as Hunter and Cam's helmets folded back.
"Yeah, if all the future battles are like that one, then we're in trouble," Cam whispered to Hunter. The elder Bradley brother nodded, knowing how grave the situation was and how lucky they were.
"I was under the impression that this team no longer had powers. Care to enlighten us as to where these powers came from, Mr. Bradley?" Gorbin questioned, as he surveyed the battlefield. Hunter glared at him darkly, but ignored his question, as he turned his attention to Tori.
"Are you okay?" he asked. She nodded, as Cam's communicator beeped.
"What is it Hayley?" Cam asked.
"The others have driven back Ivan's forces in Angel Grove and Reefside. The damage is done, but it's over for now," Hayley informed. Cam sighed a little in relief.
"We'll be back soon," he replied, as they cancelled their morphing sequence and their armor disappeared. Hunter wasted no time and pulled her into a tight hug, one which she welcomed fully and returned, by wrapping her arms around him.
"Are you sure you're okay? You got hit pretty hard," Hunter mentioned. She nodded.
"I'm fine…really," she promised.
"Not that I don't just love tender moments, but someone better start answering my questions," Gorbin demanded. Hunter scoffed.
"That's funny…I missed the part where we are supposed to answer to you," Hunter snapped. Gorbin smirked.
"All rangers and co-conspirators have been declared vigilantes. You can no longer legally operate without our involvement and you will be arrested if your refuse to cooperate," Gorbin threatened. Shane smirked.
"Guess you'll have to find us first," Shane responded.
"And we'll work for you when hell freezes over," Hunter added, as the six of them, plus Wes and Eric turned to leave.
"You'll regret this, Mr. Bradley, I assure you. We have ways of imprisoning even rangers now. Refuse us and you'll regret it. I'm not someone you want to cross," Gorbin threatened. Hunter ignored him and took Tori's hand, as the eight of them disappeared in streaks of teleportation. Gorbin glared at the spot where they had been.
"I want that Ninja school found. Get everyone we can spare scouring the woods around Blue Bay Harbor as soon as possible," Gorbin ordered. His newly appointed Silver Guardian's commander saluted.
"Yes sir!" he called, as another officer approached.
"Here's the video of the battle you wanted," the officer said, handing the disk to the General.
"I'll watch it on the way back to the base," Gorbin said simply, as they retreated to his Hummer.
Malcolm Renaldi sipped at his brandy, as he watched the news coverage from the safety of his New York City penthouse apartment. He wasn't surprised often, but finding out that his ex-wife was a former power ranger and now active ranger again threw him for a loop. It actually boosted his ego a bit to know that he had so thoroughly controlled the little bitch, so much so, that it baffled him that she even knew martial arts since she had never even hinted at that during their marriage.
He had been livid when his sniveling employees had come back, spouting off about two kids that had tossed water and of all things lightning at them when they tried to kill Katherine. He hadn't believed them of course and rewarded all five by ordering his other men to put bullets in them all for failing and then telling such a ludicrous story. But now everything was making sense. The blonde slut had run to her ranger friends and was now expecting them to protect her.
"Pathetic as usual, Katherine," he muttered, as he finished his drink and picked up his phone.
"Fuel the jet," he spoke into it, pausing, as he clearly listened to the person on the other end.
"Tell the pilot I'm going to Blue Bay Harbor, California," Malcolm ordered, as he left with two of his bodyguards carrying his bags. A man that didn't think himself all powerful might have been intimidated by going up against power rangers, but Malcolm was seemingly unworried about that obstacle. He was determined to make Katherine pay and then raise his brat in his image. He was Malcolm Renaldi and was considered one of the most powerful men in the world. Power Rangers were not going to stop him…or so he told himself…