Episode 30: Part 2
Claire Li groaned and cracked her eyes open, finding herself lying in the snow on a flat mountain plateau overlooking Hyperion Falls. To her dismay, she had lost her glasses in the battle and her long distance vision was slightly blurred. It was times like this she wished she wore her contact lenses more often. Looming over her was the sinister form of the Pale Horseman who stood patiently waiting.
"You're awake," he said in an almost bored tone.
"Where am I? What have you done?" Claire gasped trying to scramble to her feet and get away.
She was halted as Death swiftly leveled his scythe on her, "Where you are is of no consequence White Ranger. The only thing that matters is your helping me in conquering the city."
"What makes you think I'm going to help you?" Claire shot back defiantly.
Death gave a sidelong glance to her, looking unperturbed, "Because if you don't, all the people I have cursed will die this very instant."
Claire frowned in confusion as the Horseman continued, "The people I have cursed now lie in a deathlike slumber. It takes a great deal of energy but if I will it, they can slip away into oblivion. Do you want the deaths of a hundred innocent lives on your hands alone?"
The White Ranger paused and clenched her fists in frustration. He was right. It would be too costly to call his bluff. "All right… but what about my friends? What about the other Rangers?"
Death shrugged, "They are alive for now. They seem to be under the misguided notion that they can rescue you."
"Why me?" Claire asked feeling a wave of despair wash over her, "What do you want?"
The Horseman reached into his robes and pulled out a large glowing globe of energy. Inside the globe looked to be a swirling mass of icy magic. "In this globe are winter snows that have been infused with my death curse. I need you to energize this globe with enough of your power so that a great cloud of cursed snowfall descends on the city below. Only you can give me the means to spread my curse quicker and more efficiently than any Horseman before."
"And what then?" Claire asked, "What good is an empty city full of people locked in a perpetual coma?"
Death laughed, "You said it yourself girl, perpetual suffering. It's too easy and wasteful to simply snuff out a life. Like death, those people will be eternal, forever in a state of suffering and always fearful of oblivion."
"You're a sick bastard, you know that?" Claire spat.
Death turned to her with a laugh, "And you have no other options but to shut your mouth and begin charging my orb… or else."
The White Ranger scowled and grudgingly drew her Keyrune, calling on her wintery magic to slowly increase the yield of the Death blizzard.
Back in Hyperion Falls, the Vanguard Rangers regrouped inside the restaurant as a team of paramedics wheeled out several of Death's victims on stretchers. Nearby, Mr. and Mrs. Feldman were visibly shaken and traumatized by the event. As the crowd began to clear and the Feldmans left to oversee Maggie at the hospital, the Rangers sat with their mentor in the empty dining area.
After sharing their stories, Professor Bishop looked over his students and gave a worried look. Nick was the first to speak, "I know you're worried about Dr. Feldman. I am too..."
"She'll be fine," Bishop said firmly trying to calm himself and stay focused, "As long as Death is active, the people he cursed will be in their comas. The important thing is that we get Claire back. What do you think he wanted with her?"
"Who cares? We're wasting time and it's getting late," Joe said impatiently looking out the window to the dark skies as evening had already fallen. "We know which mountaintop he's on, so that makes things easier."
"You do know we're probably walking into a trap," Danny pointed out.
Kara crossed her arms, "I'm afraid we don't have any other choice. I agree that we should hurry though. We don't know how much longer Death intends to keep her hostage."
The Red Ranger nodded, "Right. It's going to be a precision strike then. We go in, get Claire, and get out. Likely that would foil Death's plan so we can always regroup later and take him on another day."
The other Rangers wore serious expressions and nodded in agreement before leaving the restaurant, all silently determined to retrieve their captive friend and comrade.
Some time later, the five remaining Vanguard Rangers morphed and took off toward the mountains as fast as their wings would carry them. As they soared up the mountain, they couldn't help but notice how cold and dark the night had gotten and they hoped they would be able to spot their missing Ranger.
Heading up the main trails of the snow covered mountain, they spotted a glowing light near the top of the mountain before a few volleys of icy crossbow bolts rang out causing the Rangers to scatter. As they regrouped in their midair formation, they spotted a group of wraiths no doubt summoned by the Horseman to block the Rangers' way. The minions looked to be made of composite ice, rocks, and dark magic.
Danny turned to Joe and gestured to the top of the mountain, "Go on ahead. We'll take care of these guys and clear our path of escape!"
The Red Ranger nodded before giving a wave, "Izzy, you're with me. The rest of you, take out those foot soldiers!"
While Joe and Izzy continued to soar higher, the Blue, Green, and Gold Rangers peeled off in midair and drew their weapons, diving down like avenging angels themselves. They only hoped they would be able to buy enough time for a successful rescue.
Finally, the Red and Pink Rangers made it to the top and swooped in, landing at the mountain plateau. Nearby, the Horseman of Death stood gripping Claire while watching his great glowing orb of death-bringing snowfall begin to coalesce in its final form. In Claire's hand, the glow of her Keyrune began to flicker as she was already drained and over-exerted against her will.
In an instant, a golden blaster bolt rang out and struck Death's arm causing him to abruptly release Claire from his grasp. The Horseman turned and glared as the Red Ranger holstered his pistol and Izzy rushed over to grab the exhausted looking White Ranger.
"You're too late Rangers," Death sneered, "My orb of death-bringing snow is nearly complete. Do you really think you can stop me now?"
"If we destroy you, your little snowglobe goes too," Izzy said securing her weakened friend under her arm.
"Izzy, get Claire out of here," Joe instructed as he called his saber sword, "I'll cover your retreat."
"What about you?" Claire protested weakly, "Now is not the time for your stupid heroics."
Joe leveled his sword at Death and ignited it, "Don't argue with me you two. Someone's still got to stop that Cursed Snow from falling."
The Pink Ranger nodded grimly as she gripped Claire and called her wings, taking flight back down the snowy slope.
Death watched with indifference as the girls flew away before turning to the Red Ranger and summoning his scythe. "You really are a fool, boy. You must have a death wish."
"Coming from you, the irony is not lost on me," Joe growled charging forward and trying to strike at the orb of cursed snow with his blade.
Before the Ranger could reach the orb, his slash was blocked by the Horseman and turned aside, forcing him into a recovery roll to regain his balance. As he did, Joe slashed the air again, throwing a cloud of searing fire at the Horseman, but Death simply walked right through it and brushed it off his cloak before clashing weapons again.
"I tire of your arrogance mortal!" the Pale Rider growled turning on his aura and weakening the stubborn Ranger.
Joe gasped as the intense aura drained his strength and the flame of his saber abruptly sputtered out. Giving one derisive snort, Death brought his scythe around in a great strike, slashing the Red Ranger and shattering the visor of his helmet in the same blow.
The pulsing light of the cursed orb kept glowing as Joe gasped and struggled to rise from the crippling blow. His head was ringing and he could feel a faint trickle of blood run down his brow where he was struck. The Horseman watched the wounded Ranger attempt to stand again before collapsing back into the snow with a groan.
"It's over Ranger," Death said as he menacingly loomed overhead, "You waste your energy struggling. Soon, all the people of the city below us will be in my grasp. Imagine what that demon lord Gideon would offer in exchange for such a prize."
"I'm going to stop you…" Joe panted, struggling in vain to rise again.
The Pale Rider rolled him over with his scythe and put the tip of the blade to his throat, "I think not Red Ranger. I'm going to take your life… then the lives of your Ranger friends one by one. Perhaps I'll save the White Ranger for last. After all she did help make this possible."
"No…" Joe gasped in horror at the thought as he reached for his Keyrune in one final desperate attack. Death laughed and stamped his foot down on the Ranger's arm, painfully pinning it to the ground, even as the artifact began to flare.
"Yes!" the Horseman corrected him, "There is no power on earth more powerful than death."
Death was right. This situation was completely hopeless, but he still had to do something… for the people of Hyperion Falls, for his fellow Rangers… for Claire. He would not let them die. Joe gripped his Keyrune tightly and felt it began to buzz with power.
Death stopped and watched in awe as the Keyrune's glow intensified and a swirling nimbus of fire and light erupted. To the Red Ranger's amazement, the effects of Death's aura faded and he suddenly felt his strength returning and his injuries fading. As he slowly rose to his feet, he looked to his Keyrune and watched as it transfigured into a brilliant clarion trumpet made of ornate gold. This was it! Auriel's Trumpet!
"What… is this?" the Horseman gasped stepping back in genuine surprise.
Joe gripped the trumpet and raised it with a defiant smile, "You're wrong Horseman. You forgot the one thing stronger than death. Omnia Vincit Amor... Love Conquers All!"
As he put the trumpet to his lips and blew, a loud crisp note sounded over the mountains and the trumpet detonated into a brilliant light.
Further down the mountains, Danny, Nick, and Kara regrouped with Izzy and Claire from their own battle as they heard the trumpet's blast. Izzy touched down gently and propped up an exhausted looking Claire in her arms.
"You made it!" Danny smiled in relief, "Are you ok? Where is Joe?"
"Being a hero and covering our escape," the Pink Ranger said tiredly but with concern.
"Whoah... what the hell was that?" Nick asked glancing upward while Danny pointed toward the mountaintop.
The five Rangers stopped and stared as a brilliant light lit up the plateau above and cast a powerful red glow. To their amazement, they saw six great plumes of fire flare outward and almost take the shape of wings.
"Is that what I think it is?" Nick asked in awe.
"He did it," Kara smiled gleefully, "He summoned Auriel's Trumpet! The Red Seraphim has returned!"
Back on the plateau, the Horseman of Death recoiled from the majestic light of the Seraphim angel before him. The Seraph was adorned in a full suit of immaculate polished plate armor giving off a reddish gold sheen. Inscribed on the ancient pauldrons and gauntlets were protective sigils and wards while light from the fires reflected off the sunburst motif embossed on the cuirass. In place of the old Ranger helmet was one of ancient Corinthian design while ringing the crown of the helmet was a pair of golden wings, resembling a halo.
Amid the firestorm that radiated from the angelic paladin's six great wings, Death watched as the Red Ranger's saber became a large bastard sword wreathed in swirling flames and was leveled toward him. "It's time to bring you to justice Horseman."
Death snarled in fury and raised his scythe as the Seraph overpowered his dark aura with his own nimbus of celestial energy. Giving a cry, the Horseman brought his weapon around in a great swing, but Joe easily shattered the blade of the scythe with one devastating counter-blow. In a heartbeat, he followed up with a backhanded sword strike that left a deep searing gash along the Horseman's chest and set his robes on fire.
Death staggered sideways before desperately trying to attack again with the stump of his weapon. Joe was too fast and grabbed the Horseman's forearm causing Death to screech in pain from the Ranger's blazing grip. In a flash, Joe gave a vengeful shout and brought his armored fist around, connecting with Death's skull and knocking the Horseman to the ground.
The battered Horseman desperately staggered back to his feet while the furious Seraphim approached calmly.
"All this time, you've been so obsessed with bringing about the End so now I'll grant you your wish," Joe called out charging his blade for one last attack.
As the wounded Horseman stood with his burning robes, he trembled in pure awe as the Seraph surged forward amid a cascading wave of elemental fire and sunlight spilling from his six wings. The moment the Seraphim's blade bisected him, Death gave a terrible shriek as his entire being was completely incinerated in the Red Ranger's overwhelming attack.
Riding the surging wave of the attack, Joe continued forward and brought the rest of the holy fire-blast to bear on Death's orb of cursed snow. As the good and evil energies reacted, the orb detonated and released a powerful explosion of wintry energy, which in turn triggered a massive avalanche from the snowy peak of the mountain. While unharmed from the blast, the Red Ranger looked up and curled his fiery wings together as the tidal wave of snow crashed upon him and continued to surge down the steep mountainside.
Meanwhile, the other Rangers watched in wonder as a great fireball erupted from the top of the mountain, followed by what looked to be a massive landslide of snow and ice.
"Holy crap," Nick gasped. "Joe must have just smoked Death."
Kara fixed her eyes on the distant avalanche headed their way, "Unless we all think of something quickly, we may suffer the same fate."
Izzy felt Claire shrug off her arm that supported her and the White Ranger staggered forward gripping her Keyrune. "This is my element. I'll do something to protect us."
Danny hurried over in concern and helped hold her up, "Don't be crazy Claire. You're not going to be strong enough to turn that aside."
The White Ranger shook her head and gave a determined expression, "I have to try. All of you risked yourselves to try and save me. Now it's my turn to protect all of you."
"Take the lead chica," Izzy said grimly while charging her own wind element, "Danny and I will be here to back you up."
The Blue Ranger nodded and readied his Keyrune as Claire stepped forward and morphed. Raising her own Keyrune against the oncoming wave of snow, tendrils of icy power began to radiate outward into the snow and ice around them. Following Claire's lead, Danny and Izzy focused the power of their elements through her artifact and helped her create a magnificent fortified turret of ice to protect them.
Kara and Nick watched in wonder as the thick barrier of enchanted ice formed around them and crystallized just as the tumult of snow crashed down upon them in a terrible roar. For a few terrifying minutes, the sheer force of the mountaintops swept over the five Rangers and they braced themselves for the worst… but it never came. Eventually the roar of snow let up and an unearthly silence fell over the land.
As the clouds of snow from the devastating avalanche subsided, the five Rangers breathed a great sigh of relief, not only at still being alive, but also seeing the faint rays of the morning sun begin to peek out over the mountaintops.
After carefully digging out of their little ice fortress, the exhausted Rangers sat breathing in the cold fresh air while a gentle snow continued to fall. While they did, Claire removed her helmet and looked back up toward the mountain where they had seen the brilliant flames of the Seraphim's wings. Without her glasses, it was a little harder to see out in the distance as Nick placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. She took a deep breath, "Do you... think he survived?"
Several long moments passed before they heard Izzy give an excited cry while Danny laughed aloud and pointed in the distance, "Maybe you should ask him for yourself."
The other Rangers peered out in the distance as the sky began to light up and they saw the familiar suit of the Red Ranger. He trudged along slowly through the snow with a slight limp, looking exhausted. Having powered down to his basic Ranger suit, Joe pulled off his helmet with a still shattered visor and tossed it aside, giving a serene smile at the sight of his friends.
Before the others could run out to greet him, Claire rushed forward and threw herself into Joe's arms, knocking them both backwards into the snow.
"You came back," she cried burying her face into his chest with tears of relief, "You idiot! I was so scared for you."
"Thanks," he sighed, gingerly putting his arms around her as she lay on top of him in the snow, "I scared myself a little too."
After a few moments of sobbing, she raised her head, "The trumpet... you were able to summon Auriel's power?"
Joe nodded, "Because of you Claire. When Death took you away, I just had to get you back. You're too important to this team... and to me. Auriel said I would understand when I had to fight to protect the people and places I truly loved, and I realized I couldn't live with myself if I let anything happen to you."
A smile crossed Claire's face, "Do you know how long I've been waiting for you to say that?"
He smiled back and brushed aside a loose strand of her hair, cupping her cheek in his hand, "Then let me tell you again... but in a different way."
Reaching up, the Red Ranger gently pressed his lips to hers in a long soulful kiss.
As they broke the kiss, they heard the sound of Nick clapping his hands with a grin, "Well, it's about time!"
"Indeed," Kara added with a serene smile.
Beside her, Danny winked and gave an enthusiastic thumbs up, "Why don't you two get a room already."
He was cut off by a sharp elbow in the side from Izzy, "I swear to God Danny, if you ruin this moment, then so help me I'll..."
The Red and White Rangers ignored their friends and turned back to each other with a chuckle.
"I'm curious. What ever happened to that whole swearing off romance until Gideon was defeated thing?" Claire asked.
"This is a special exception," Joe grinned sheepishly, "You know… it's already New Years Day and I was kinda hoping I could have used it as an excuse to kiss you at midnight. I'm sorry I was a little bit late with all that."
Claire shook her head and gently touched the Red Ranger's cheek, "That's ok. We have plenty of time to catch up. Kiss me again Joseph Hale."
Joe glanced toward the others for a moment self-consciously, "Um… you do know the others are all watching, right?"
"Let them watch then," Claire laughed with a suggestive smile.
As the sunlight grew brighter in the sky, the other Rangers laughed and turned away while Joe and Claire continued to hold each other, sharing another passionate kiss in the snow. It had been a long a grueling fight, but the Four Horsemen were finally defeated. While Gideon and his Cambion army still remained, the Rangers turned to watch the bright horizon and reflect on the past year.
All year there had been countless struggles and tests of maturity, but also plenty of victories and things to be thankful for. They had grown stronger as friends and heroes, increased their powers, but most importantly, they had each other again. As the light of the morning sun washed over the serene mountain peaks, it gave the Vanguard Rangers renewed hope that they would ultimately prevail and bring about a lasting peace for their home.
A/N:
Seraphim:
Highest rank of Angels in the Christian angelic hierarchy. Caretakers of God's throne, they are traditionally depicted with having six wings and being associated with holy flames, light, and the sun.
With all Four Horsemen finally gone, I decided I'd end the arc on a high note: with a Battlizer in hand and a romance resolved. In the mean time, Gideon and his Cambion demons are marshaling their forces for one final push and the Endgame is fast approaching.
Before we get to the final Invasion super-arc, I think one last breather episode is in order. You can expect a Blue-Pink centric theme and a call-back to our heroes' prior run in with the succubus Lilith. As always, thanks for reading and hope to see you then everyone!