Episode 31: Part 2
Later that day, the boys convened in the Mugshot café for an emergency meeting. Once there, Danny told them about his run in with the incubus and how another girl had been drained of her strength.
"This is bad news," Joe said with a pensive frown, "But it does connect those other female victims who were in the newspaper."
Danny nodded and reached into his pocket, pulling out the strange pink charm bracelet he found on the girl he saved, "You guys don't suppose this thing has anything to do with the demon attacks... do you? I found it on one of the victims."
The Green Ranger's eyes went wide and his stomach dropped, "Dan? Are you certain you found that at the scene of the attack?"
Danny frowned in confusion, "Yeah. What's the big deal?"
"That bracelet charm looked exactly like the one Izzy showed us this morning at breakfast."
Danny's heart stopped, "What? How? Where did she get one?"
The Green Ranger cleared his throat uncomfortably, "She said some new guy named Lucas gave it to her and it sounded like she had the hots for him too."
The Blue Ranger's mind raced, "Then that could mean... damn it! I knew there was a reason I didn't like that guy!"
Rising abruptly from the table, he moved for the door, "We have to find Izzy! She may be in danger. If Lucas really is that demon, then he's going to be out for revenge on her. Izzy was the one who killed his mate Lilith after all!"
Joe moved and caught his friend's arm, "Slow down Danny. You and Nick can start searching now. I'll get Claire and Kara and we'll join you as soon as we can. Just try not to jump the gun and do anything stupid, ok?"
Danny huffed and pushed on for the door, "I read you loud and clear boss, now let's go already!"
As he headed out the door and back into the winter air, Danny almost felt glad that they were up against a normal demon again. After being plagued for months by those terrifying Horsemen, this would be a welcome change of pace.
Later that day, Izzy walked home with Lucas from their most recent dance practice. As they chatted and shared a few laughs, they took a shortcut, passing though a small secluded park.
"You know Isabel, I just wanted to thank you again for all the help this week. You've been so nice to me."
"Oh... well, don't mention it," she replied sheepishly, "If anything, I should be the one thanking you for this nice charm I can put on my bracelet."
Lucas smirked slowly, "You like it? I'm glad... because I just wanted to see you smile again. You have a very pretty one, you know."
"Really?" the Pink Ranger swooned as they stopped a moment in the snowy park.
Lucas reached up and touched her cheek, "Yes... and if it's ok, I was hoping I could give you an even bigger reason to smile."
Izzy trembled and felt her mind cloud up as Lucas leaned forward to kiss her, but she pulled away at the last moment.
"I... I'm sorry. I can't do this," she said shaking her head slightly.
Lucas frowned, "What's wrong? Is it something I said... or did?"
The Pink Ranger put a hand to her head as if trying to think clearly, "No... I don't know... maybe?"
Lucas crossed his arms with a sigh, "It's that Danny guy... isn't it? You have feelings for him after all?"
Izzy took a deep breath before nodding slightly, "It's... complicated. I'm sorry Lucas."
"You should be, he replied calmly raising a hand as it began to glow, "You should have let me kiss you. It would have made your death painless."
The Pink Ranger's eyes went wide in shock as she tried to assume a fighting stance, "What? What are you talking about?"
Just then, she began to feel very faint and weak as the pink charm on her bracelet began to glow with an unearthly light. As she fell to the ground, she struggled to stay conscious as Lucas stepped forward and loomed over her with a sneer.
"You stupid girl. You let your feelings rob you of your common sense and make you let your guard down. Is your heart really that weak and fickle-minded? Are you really supposed to be the one who killed my love?"
"What?" Izzy gasped on the ground as her strength continued to be sucked away from the magic charm, "Who are you?"
Lucas laughed, "I'm the one who is going to get revenge on you for destroying someone who was important to me. Does the name of the succubus Lilith ring a bell?"
The Pink Ranger's eye grew wide in shock but another voice rang out, halting the incubus attack.
"Get away from her!" the Blue Ranger roared as he rushed into the park and faced down the incubus alone.
Lucas glanced up in annoyance to see Danny before giving a sniff, "Really? You again? I'm getting tired of you interfering."
"The game is over Lucas! I know your secret," Danny called out as he calmly walked toward his enemy. You're the demon who's been victimizing those girls on campus and draining their life force with your little bracelets... aren't you?"
Lucas sneered and sarcastically began to clap his hands, "Congratulations Blue Ranger. So you figured it out."
Where she lay on the ground, Izzy gasped quietly and weakly removed her bracelet, suddenly realizing how foolish she had been.
"I'm not done yet," Danny interrupted, "You're the one who had been using your magic to play with Izzy's feelings… all in an attempt to get your final revenge for Lilith. You were going to lure her here and try to kill her… weren't you?"
Lucas laughed scornfully, "And the stupid girl walked right into it too. Frankly, I don't know how you even put up with her incessant chatter, her complete lack of common sense, and her fickle nature."
"It's because I love her," Danny said loudly while clenching his fists in resolve , "I love her in spite of those flaws! That's something a heartless monster like you could never understand!"
Izzy covered her mouth, both shocked and touched by Danny's passionate but sincere outburst.
"Oh my! Haven't we suddenly become bold?" Lucas exclaimed with a mocking smirk.
"Let me show you just how bold I'm feeling!" the Blue Ranger cried charging forward and throwing a punch at the incubus in human form.
Lucas froze in shock as Danny's fist smashed hard into his chin, sending him reeling. The incubus staggered sideways and tried to throw a counter punch, but the Blue Ranger easily dodged it and connected again with a left hook and fierce uppercut from the right.
Taken aback by the Blue Ranger's sudden ferocity, Lucas brought his other fist around in a haymaker. Using a move Kara had shown him earlier in the week, Danny stopped the blow and painfully twisted his enemy's arm, ultimately using that momentum to throw the incubus sideways to the ground.
Lucas panted as he slowly rose, feeling the pain of a dislocated shoulder as well as blood trickling from a split lip.
"I won't be embarrassed by a lowly human!" the demon shouted taking on his monstrous form and firing a barrage of energy bolts from his hand.
Danny pulled his Keyrune and instantly morphed, deflecting the bolts with his hastily summoned Whitesteel armor. As he reached to draw his gladius, Lucavis raised his other hand to fire off a second volley of energy bolts when a golden blaster shot rang out and struck him in the chest, staggering him.
Both Danny and the incubus whirled around to see Izzy sitting up nearby. She sat with her own Feather Stinger pistol leveled at the demon and gave a silent nod over toward Danny. Her eyes were already full of tears from a mix of anger and embarrassment at the demon, as well as gratitude for Danny's heroic actions.
That brief opening gave Danny his opportunity to rush forward and charge his gladius with blue energy, driving it straight into the chest of the murderous demon. As the Blue Ranger pulled his blade free, Lucavis clutched his gaping wound and collapsed backwards, exploding into a cloud of fiery brimstone.
The Blue Ranger lowered his weapon and turned around just in time to see the other Rangers arrive on the scene. As he looked up and glanced toward Izzy, he saw her lower her pistol and turn her head. Whether it was out of shame or to keep from crying, he couldn't be sure. Before he could move toward her, she rose to her feet and hurried away from the battlefield.
"Is everything ok here?" Joe asked in concern glancing over toward the smoking remains of the demon.
The Blue Ranger gave a half hearted nod before Claire put a comforting hand on his arm, "What about you? Are you ok?"
"I'll be fine. It's Izzy I'm more concerned about right now," he replied.
Nick glanced at the direction she had departed from and scratched his head, "Do you think one of us should maybe go talk to her?"
Danny shook his head, "No. This is between her and I, so I'll go... and I'm pretty sure I know where I'll be able to find her."
At the top of the Dark Spire, Lady Shemhazai made her way to Gideon's marble throne and gave a bow of humility toward the fallen Archangel. He sat regarding her coolly while her rival General Abaddon stood at attention near the foot of the throne like a personal guard dog.
"Shemhazai, I assume you know why you're here?" Gideon asked.
"Forgive me my Lord. I only just discovered the incubus Lucavis had gotten loose and was acting on his own. I take full responsibility for letting this happen."
"On the contrary," Gideon replied calmly, "The heartache he inflicted on the humans has worn away the last significant barrier of the Great Seal. Our armies will be free to attack at will now."
The Counselor looked up in surprise, "I… that's wonderful news my lord. Do we attack immediately?"
Gideon leaned back in his seat and smiled to himself, "No. Before I have General Abaddon lead the invasion's first wave, we will let the humans enjoy the last of their peace."
Giving a glance out the windows toward the churning storms of the Abyss, he said, "We've waited this long already. If it can ensure our victory, then we can wait just a little bit longer."
That Saturday night at the Union ballroom, Izzy left her post at the event stand to take a break. While the top group of dance pairs finished a spirited samba dance, the Pink Ranger found an empty seat off in the far corner of the room away from everyone else. At the moment, she didn't want to be around anyone else and she slumped in the seat with a dejected sigh.
Up to now, Izzy had been putting on a good face all night. She was wearing her best pink evening dress, had her hair done up, and wore a gracious smile throughout the evening. It didn't change the fact that she had made a complete fool of herself earlier in the week and hurt one of her friends too. Now she was all alone tonight and unable to even participate in the dance competition she had been looking forward to. For a day that was supposed to be about happiness and love, she was feeling miserable instead.
As the lights went low for an intermission, the music slowed down allowing for any and all attendees to step out for open slow dancing. As an older Meredith Edward's song "Ready to Fall" began to play, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up in surprise to see Danny standing at her side with a concerned expression. He was all cleaned up and dressed in a crisp navy blue suit. Around his collar, he wore a pink necktie.
"Danny? I... what are you doing here?" she asked in genuine surprise.
The Blue Ranger sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, "I... just thought I'd come to make sure you were ok. When you ran off earlier, you were really upset and I... well, seeing you that way made me really upset too."
Izzy's expression softened as Danny tried to put on a reassuring smile and offered his hand, "Besides, even if you aren't able to be in the contest now doesn't mean you should miss out on dancing completely, right?"
The Pink Ranger smiled and took his hand, letting him lead her out on the dance floor amid some blue and pink lights. Once there, Izzy pulled Danny close and rested her cheek against his shoulder while they danced. "Thank you for coming Danny... and I'm sorry... about everything."
"Forget it. You were under a charm spell, but it's not important now," he answered calmly as he kept his head level, "What matters is that you're ok. I care about you Iz... a lot, and I think it's time we both just stopped acting stupid, don't you think?"
Izzy smiled gently and shifted in Danny's arms while they danced, "So... no I-told-you-so's or rubbing my nose in all this?"
He shook his head softly, "I may be a smart-ass Iz, but I'm not the kind of guy who would ever hurt you on purpose like that."
At that, the Pink Ranger raised her head and graced him with a gentle smile, "I know that... and I love you for it too."
Danny returned the smile and leaned in slowly, pressing his lips to hers in a long tender kiss, which she eagerly returned. As they parted and took a breath, Izzy wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer while they continued dancing.
"Did you really mean what you said earlier today... about loving me... even in spite of my faults?"
"Every word," he grinned giving her forehead a soft kiss. As he felt her hug him again, he gave a small laugh, "You know Iz, if you keep holding on to me like this, I might start getting the wrong idea here."
"Just shut up and dance with me you idiot," the Pink Ranger smiled nestling her head into his chest.
For once, Danny Winthrope didn't argue or try to make a smart retort. All things considered, the idea of keeping his mouth shut and spending the night dancing with his new girlfriend suited him just fine.
A/N:
You know... I think those two crazy kids will be ok after all. Now that I got all that mushy lovey stuff out of my system, the final Invasion arc kicks off next so get ready. Also a quick shout out also goes to Ranger Red 2.0 for all the nice words and encouragement recently. I appreciate the support man, so thank you!
I also wish you luck with that girl you mentioned because believe me, I've been there too brother. I know the feeling. Whether you're in a romantic relationship or not, I hope everyone remembers the true meaning of the holiday and takes a minute to tell a friend or family member that you love them today. Happy Valentine's Day everyone.