Episode 29: Part 1
A gentle snowfall sprinkled down over the streets of Hyperion Falls as citizens walked about doing their holiday shopping. Along the parks and walkways, colorful Christmas lights were strewn about while festive decorations hung from the windows of the stores along Main Street. Amid the throng of people, a hooded figure in a ragged blood red cape stood, observing the sight of the happy hopeful citizens. It was disgusting... but that would soon change.
The Horseman named War turned his attention as a shopper wearing an orange winter hat approached him and offered a few dollar bills. With a kind smile, the man said, "Here sir. You look like you could use this. Get yourself something warm to eat."
War smiled and handed the man his money back, shaking his hand as he did, "Oh no sir. You misunderstand. I'm not homeless… but thank you anyway."
"Oh…" the charitable man replied in slight embarrassment unaware of the curse being placed upon him, "I'm so sorry about that. I still hope you have a Merry Christmas."
As the generous man in the orange hat began to walk away, War smiled and followed him into a dense crowd of shoppers. Brushing up against several other people, War gave the orange-hatted man a subtle shove from behind, pushing him into another shopper.
"Hey buddy, watch where you're going!" another man who got bumped exclaimed. At that moment, War began to radiate his cursed aura around the people he touched, watching as the chaos unfolded.
"Who do you think you are? You can't talk to me like that!" the shopper in the orange hat retorted. The Horseman smiled and watched as this little incident rapidly began to escalate into a chain reaction among the crowd until loud angry shouts began to erupt on the city streets.
Soon enough, tempers spilled over as fists began to fly and public property was vandalized. Amid the violent melee, the giddy Horseman casually strolled through the growing riot. To think, humans were so prone to rage and violence that all they needed was a little push. With people's emotions heightened during these Christmas holidays, War could only begin to wonder what other destructive conflicts he could stir up.
Back in the university dormitory, Danny paced restlessly around the common lounge room while Joe and Nick sat on the couch relaxing.
"I don't know guys," the Blue Ranger muttered, "I want to get Izzy something nice for Christmas this year… but what?"
Joe thought for a moment and shrugged, "Why not keep it simple? A bouquet of nice flowers?"
"Nah, I can't do that," Danny replied shaking his head. "That's way too obvious."
The Red Ranger rolled his eyes, "Right, because you've been so subtle about your crush on her for over a year now. Better to keep her guessing, right?"
Nick began to laugh as Danny crossed his arms with a frown. "Hey! I'm serious. You guys just don't know her like I do. She's playing hard to get so I've got find just the right way to really sweep her off her feet with my thoughtfulness, charm, and devastating good looks ."
The Blue Ranger watched in dismay as his two friends exchanged a look and erupted into another loud fit of laughter.
While they did, the common room door opened and the 3 girls walked in led by Izzy. "Hey guys, what's so funny?" the Pink Ranger asked.
Nick wiped his eye and cleared his throat between giggles, "Err, nothing... what's up Iz?"
Izzy smiled brightly and held up three envelopes, "I'm spreading a little holiday cheer. My sorority's got a Christmas house party coming up this weekend and all of you are invited."
The Green Ranger's face lit up, "Really? Sounds great! Count us in!"
Izzy smiled, "Awesome! Claire, Kara, and I were headed into the city to look for something to wear to the party. You boys don't want to come along too, do you?"
Joe smirked and gave Danny a light elbow in the side, "Sure. Danny, didn't you say you still had some Christmas shopping to do?"
"Uh… right," the Blue Ranger answered quickly.
The other three girls gave him a funny look before turning to walk out of the room. "Ok then," Izzy called, "We're meeting down in the lobby in fifteen minutes to catch the bus."
After the girls left, Nick furrowed his brow, "Are you guys really sure about this? You did hear about that little shopping riot downtown yesterday, right? It was all over the local news."
"Pffft, I've faced more dangerous situations as a Ranger," Danny answered with bravado as he pulled his friends along, "After all, this is for a good cause. We're risking life and limb for the sake of fair Isabel. Let's go!"
Later that afternoon, the six Vanguard Rangers made their way into downtown Hyperion Falls and entered the large 3 floor central shopping mall. It was an upscale indoor mall which spared the Rangers from the cold and snow outside. Like the shops on Main Street, the mall was festively decorated with Christmas trees, colorful lights, and ornaments. Once inside, the girls split off toward the women's stores leaving the male Rangers standing in the middle of the mall near some fountains and the food court.
"Ok," Danny said looking around, "I gave it some thought on the ride here and I think I know what I'm going to get. Follow me."
While Christmas music played from the mall's speakers, Nick and Joe wove through Christmas shoppers while the Blue Ranger led them along, "Last winter when we were on that mountain looking for the Blind Seer, I remember how cold Izzy had been so I loaned her my scarf. That's why I figured I'd get her a nice pink one to keep her warm this year."
"Simple, functional, and sentimental… sounds like a winner Dan," the Red Ranger nodded in approval.
While they continued to walk, Danny gave a sly smile toward the Green Ranger before speaking, "Hey Joe. While we're doing this, have you considered maybe getting a gift too?"
"For who?"
"For Claire of course," Nick chuckled, "I know we were teasing Dan earlier, but I think it's pretty obvious she's got just as much of a crush on you."
"What? On me?" Joe sputtered defensively, "Come on! You guys are being nuts!"
"Are we?" Danny grinned, "You haven't noticed the little looks and hints? How she's always right behind you in any given situation?"
"Come to think of it, you two have been spending a lot of time together recently," Nick added, "And she's been taking every chance she can get to hang off your arm too."
Joe frowned, "I think you two are imagining things. She's my friend and we're just really comfortable around each other. Besides… even if she did like me, and even if I wanted to have a relationship with her, we'd still have that whole mission to defeat the Cambion demons hanging over our heads. That priority always comes first."
Danny raised an eyebrow, "Aha! So you're not denying you've never thought about it, huh?"
Joe glared at Danny as the Blue Ranger continued, "That's ok man. If you want to plead the Fifth Amendment, I don't blame you. After all, she's cute, brainy, and has a sweet personality."
"Don't forget a great figure," Nick helpfully added, referring to the time he was body swapped with her, "Um, she doesn't like showing it off, but trust me guys... I would know."
Joe growled and gave Nick a forceful punch in the shoulder. "Will you two clowns knock it off? Let's just go and get the damn scarf already!"
"Pretty quick coming to her defense too," Nick said rubbing his shoulder, "Yep. He definitely loves her back."
Joe gave an exasperated huff and walked past while Nick and Danny shared another laugh and continued on toward the clothing store.
On the other side of the mall, the girls made their way into a department store to look at winter dresses. While Kara patiently stood and let Izzy test the length of a skirt on her, Claire wandered off and passed a funny looking person in a long red winter coat that almost looked like a cape. Giving a shrug, she turned a corner and bumped right into her classmate Jen Kaufman. Not surprisingly, Jen was with her boyfriend Josh, hanging off the arm of the blonde muscular soccer player on the school team. Apparently, they had been too busy nuzzling noses while walking, they didn't even see Claire until it was too late.
"Oh, hi Claire!" Jen exclaimed in her usual bubbly voice, "Sorry about that. I didn't know you were here today too."
The White Ranger forced a polite smile, "Hey Jen. Yeah, Izzy and I went out shopping today for that Christmas party your House is hosting."
"I'm looking forward to it too," Jen grinned nuzzling close to Josh, "I was also here looking for something hot to wear that night too. See you then Claire!"
Claire watched them walk off and wrinkled her nose to herself. She still didn't exactly know how to feel about that flakey ditzy girl who had been a rival for the Red Ranger's affections last year. Even though Jen was technically out of the picture, the fact that being around her still made Joe feel a little uncomfortable, made her feel upset by association. Shaking it off, she decided it was best to just keep browsing and take her mind of it.
A little while later, the three male Rangers made their way back across the mall with Danny proudly carrying the box with Izzy's gift under his arm. As they headed toward the department store where the girls said they'd be, they heard a growing commotion nearby. Upon reaching the front doors of the store, they stopped as they saw handfuls of shoppers arguing loudly amongst each other or exchanging curses and furious insults. Some even walked out and let their fights spill out into the rest of the mall.
"What is going on here?" Nick asked in shock as he witnessed a young husband and wife pushing over some nearby clothing racks while yelling at each other.
"I thought this kind of thing only happens on Black Friday," Danny agreed ducking his head as a thrown cell phone flew past and shattered on the wall.
Turning his head, Joe stopped and froze as he saw Jen and her boyfriend Josh storm past him exchanging irate words and calling each other terrible names. He blinked in confusion as they both stormed past and debated whether or not to step in. Whether it was selfish or not, the thought of coming to Jen's rescue again was tempting, but his attention was drawn away as he saw Claire run up to the boys.
"Guys! Am I glad to see you! Something scary is going on here. Everyone's lost their damn minds!"
Danny stepped forward and put his hands on the White Ranger's shoulders to calm her down, "Ok Claire, just slow down. Where are Izzy and Kara? Are they ok?"
Claire shook her head and pointed across the room full of angry people. There they saw the Pink and Gold Rangers locked in a furious tug of war over a dress, hurling terrible insults at each other.
"Let go already you spoiled little brat! You already have enough nice clothes!" Kara growled.
"Dream on blondie!" Izzy retorted angrily as she pulled back, "This dress won't make your ugly face any prettier!"
Kara reached out an arm and began pushing the Pink Ranger away by the chin as they struggled, "Take that back princess or I'll snap you in half."
"Ohh... catfight. This could be hot," Danny snickered before Claire gave him a sharp warning punch in the side.
"Really Danny? What's the matter with you?" she scowled.
Ignoring the Blue and White Rangers, Joe and Nick rushed over and pulled the two squabbling girls apart, trying to restrain them.
"Hey! Break it up! What's gotten into you two?" the Green Ranger asked as Kara struggled to break free of his gentle headlock.
"She started it!" Izzy shot back angrily while Joe kept his arms around her waist to hold her back. "I saw that dress first!"
"Izzy! Kara! You're both friends! Why are you fighting like this?" Claire pleaded.
The White Ranger was cut off as the others heard a loud maniacal laugh ring out. Amid the little riot that had broken out in the department store, a figure in a long blood red cape stood atop a cashier table enjoying the sight of the enraged humans.
"Too easy! All too easy!" War cackled in glee, kicking a cash register over.
"Hey! This is your doing?" Nick cried stepping forward to address the enemy, "Who are you?"
The Horseman turned to the Green Ranger and began to laugh while drawing a fearsome looking sword, "Don't you recognize me boy? Look around you! So much seething hatred, so much petty anger within your pathetic kind. I am the Horseman named War."
Joe pulled his Keyrune and noted that the other rioting people in the mall were too busy fighting amongst each other to pay attention. "War huh? Do you know what you're good for? Absolutely nothing! Rangers?"
Danny, Nick, and Claire joined in the morphing call, transforming into the celestial guardians of Hyperion Falls, "Vanguard Ascend!"
"Please. You children think you're any different?" War laughed as the four Rangers sprung forward and bull-rushed him out the door into the central atrium of the mall. Despite many terrified and confused shoppers fleeing the scene, there were large swaths of other civilians who were already busy tearing the mall apart and fighting amongst each other, having been cursed with the Horseman's touch.
"There are too many people packed together!" Nick called, "This isn't going to be easy!"
"Watch your attacks!" Joe shouted taking a careful thrust at the Horseman with his gladius. "No blaster weapons either!"
War laughed as he parried aside the sword blow and grabbed the Red Ranger's arm. Placing his curse on the Ranger, War hurled Joe aside into a group of small Christmas trees decorating the central mall.
Giving a derisive sniff, the Red Horseman turned his head to see the White Ranger take a flying leap, preparing to land a two legged drop kick. In a flash, War easily caught hold of her boot and cursed her before spinning her back into the air. While Claire spun about the air in a disoriented tumble, War sent her flying away with a slash of his own sword.
"Come on, we gotta help them!" Nick called as he and Danny rushed forward with their own weapons to try and double team the Horseman. With a warrior's instinct and expert precision, War sidestepped the attacks and easily blocked them with his sword, shoulder checking Nick aside and disarming Danny's spear with a counter move.
As the Blue Ranger rolled to the ground trying to recover from the counter, he saw War reach out, trying to grab his arm and curse him too. In a desperate move, Danny raised his guard, "Whitesteel! Armor on!"
In a flash, the Blue Ranger's arm was endowed with the silver steel armor and buckler granted by the Blind Seer a year ago. As War clamped down on his arm, the Horseman stopped in surprise as his touch curse was blocked by the properties of the enchanted armor.
That moment of hesitation bought Nick just enough time to recover and flip over War's head from behind. War roared as the Green Ranger used the momentum of his flip to strike the Horseman's head with his warhammer. As Nick landed facing Danny, he spun around and sent War reeling backwards with another backhanded hammer strike that normally would have crushed the ribs of a lesser opponent.
"You ok preppy?" Nick asked as he quickly helped his friend up.
Danny glanced over as War slowly rose to his feet again, seemingly unharmed by Nick's blows, "We need to get out of here and regroup. Ready?"
Nick nodded and hurried over toward Joe and Claire, grabbing them from where they lay stunned on the ground.
"That was a cheap shot Rangers," War sneered raising his sword again, "I'll be ready this time."
Danny raised his Keyrune and called on a swirling stream of water from one of the nearby fountains of the mall. "Sorry Red, you're gonna have to take a number."
With a force of his will, the Blue Ranger caused the swirling spiral of water to spray over the battlefield and momentarily blind the Horseman. When War looked up, he saw that the Vanguard Rangers were gone, having used the distraction to retreat.
No matter, the Horseman thought to himself. He was in no rush and things were already a mess in this place. Turning back to the chaos and rioting in the mall, the Horseman calmly shrugged and began to walk outside into the cold snowy air where his mount waited patiently. As he got on his sinister demonic horse, he began to slowly trot out into the streets, eager to spread more discord and hatred across of the city.