While the Ryumushingers were busy dealing with their own trials, the three arachnids were racing through the snow to find Kinro.

"So…fast…" Spydey said, panting.

"Well, he doesn't have a map or anything, so I doubt he'll get far." Scorpia commented.

"I…I don't know…I mean, yeah he might've worked for us, that makes sense, but…but Owlio wouldn't do this…"

Scorpia's silent, looking towards Weava, the two sharing a look before turning to Spydey.

"Hey how bout you do that trick?" Scorpia suggested, trying to change the subject.

"Which one?" Spydey asked.

"Where you spread your-"

Weava snorted.

Scorpia blushed. "If you weren't our best friend I would pummel you right now."

"Sorry, sorry, continue."

Scorpia rolled her eyes.

"As I was saying, perhaps you could try that trick where you spin webs all over the place and feel for vibrations?"

Spydey jumps. "Oh! That's a great idea!" She looked around before bringing all 6 hands together, jumping and spinning, shooting web lines all over the place, sitting in the center. Scorpia and Weava looked up at her as they waited.

And waited…

And waited…

And waited…

"GOT ONE!" Spydey called out, cutting all the webs before running in one direction, the others following her.

Later on, they saw some claw marks and faded footprints.

"Knew it." Spydey grinned. "He was definitely-" She shivered.

"Spydey?" Scorpia put her hand on her shoulder.

"Something…vile is coming…"

"What do you…." Spydey looked around and saw bones, piles and piles of bones.

Skeletons and torn and rusted armor, plus a variety of weapons lying around.

Scorpia narrowed her eyes, gripping her blade, ready to unsheathe it.

"Careful…I got a bad feeling…" Spydey told her.

Scorpia nods, examining the area before noticing a…bizarrely still in good shape mace.

No rust…dust…or anything.

"Umm…is this the bad feeling?" Scorpia asked.

"Yes, just don't touch it-"

Scorpia yelps as the mace begins to shift…growing a jaw…with serrated fangs…and the mace itself growing larger, and larger.

"Oh, hello there!" It spoke in a distorted sounding female voice, grinning and showing off its way too many teeth.

Scorpia gets into a stance.

"Oh come now, no need to be so feisty. I just..want a bite. It's been so long since anyone's visited me~" The creature laughs.

"Okayyy this is… Insanely creepy. And my best friends are spiders."

"Corruption…this isn't how she should be…" Weava commented, narrowing her eyes.

"Ooh, a witch!" The creature licked its lips. "I haven't had one of those in a while~"

"Can you purify her, Weava?" Spydey asked, prepping for battle.

"I can, but you're probably gonna need to hold her down, since I doubt she's just gonna let us."

"CORRECT! Question, Any of you played the Earth game Super Mario?"

All three blinked. "No…?"

"Then you won't get this reference, but Imma do it anyway!" The mace-monster lets out a large canine-Bark before launching at the group.

The three yelped, jumping out of the way.

Weava got onto a higher platform, bringing her six hands together, spell circles forming as she spread her arms.

"It's a mimic, don't make contact or you'll be stuck to her!" Spydey called out.

"So," Scorpia and Spydey jump out of the way. "Stick to projectiles, basically?" The scorpion asked.

"I… We're trying to pin her so try something heavy instead." Spydey corrected.

"Right."

The mimic launched herself at Scorpia, the warrior jumping out of the way, Spydey launching web bullets at the monster.

The head of the creature swung around unnaturally to look at her, its long, gooey tongue swishing out at her.

"Hey, whipping is Scorpia's thing!" Spydey joked as she dodged.

Everyone paused.

Spydey realizes what she just said and blushes, coughing into her fist. "I ummm I mean… Sh-she uses whips a lot?"

Scorpia's face turned red.

Weava deadpanned. "If I wasn't preparing, I'd be facepalming right now."

"HAHAHAHAH! SO CUTE! I'll have to take my time eating you~"

She cackled, charging Scorpia while whipping at Spydey.

Scorpia grabs a nearby tree, using it to slam the mace into a wall while Spydey dodges the tongue again, using her webs to hold the tree and the mace against the wall.

"You ready, Weava?" Scorpia called out.

Weava simply grins, red circles of magic forming a line connecting her to the mimic. "MIMIC THIS!"

She shot energy through the line of discs, the being screaming in agony as the magic coursed through her, bits of metal shedding off of her.

"Did it work?" Scorpia asks. The previously large creature shrunk down to a similar size to the three ladies.

"Where…am I?" The creature asked.

"Mt. Buzzroar!" Spydey answered.

"...what?" Scorpia asked, confused.

"The place doesn't seem to have a name, the main attraction has to do with the Draginsects, so…Buzzroar." Spydey answered, shrugging.

"... You three are definitely not Rangers."

The mimic shifted and seemed to settle on a statue, humanoid appearance.

"Nope!" Spydey responded, smiling. "But we are here for the Champion's Heart. Passed the trials and everything! But our friend ran off with it. Did you happen to see a cyborg wolf run past?"

"Hmmmm I can sense it down the other path. Approaching a group."

"Thanks!" Spydey grinned. "Uh, do you have a home on the mountain? We could take you there if you'd like."

"We are in my portion of the mountain. I am fine, thank you for your concern."

"Alright. What's your name, by the way?"

"I am called Cara."

Spydey hugged her. "Pleased to meet you! Hope we'll meet again!" She smiled widely and walked off.

"...she's a very affectionate person." Scorpia explained.

"Oh I don't mind, Most of my coworkers are like that."

"Oh?" Scorpia said in surprise. "Sounds like a friendly workplace."

"Very. Though we can't visit each other very often."

"Why not?"

"As long as the Heart is here we need to be ready."

"Well, if you want, if we can keep the portal open, we could come visit?" Weava suggested.

"That sounds lovely but do not worry, once the heart is gone we can leave our stations."

Weava smiled. "If that's the case, I'd still like to see you."

"I appreciate it! I still gotta thankyou."

Weava grinned, stepping forward. "How do you plan to-"

Scorpia blushed. "WEAVA!"

"Oh don't act like you weren't curious!"

"DO NOT CONFLATE YOUR…URGES WITH MINE!" Scorpia squeaked, turning a bright red.

"Alright, one last question Cara, do you remember who corrupted you?"

"An owl."

"An… Owl? Oh… Dear…"

"I take it there is something troubling about that?" Carra asked.

"Well we have an Owl… Associate, and someone on the island suggested he was here before us."

"Hmm…well, I'll talk to my friends. If we find anything, we'll let you know."

"Thank you. We should chase after Spydey."

"I hope you have a good journey, and to see you again soon." Carra smiled warmly at her.

"Let's go!"

The arachnids ran off, Carra waving to them.

The core five rangers continued walking, coming up on a path filled with Icicles.

"Ugh…" Azu groaned. "Still no response from the bros." She said, checking her communicator with her free hand, since her other was still occupied holding Slavi's hand, to the two's delight and everyone else's exasperated relief.

"Yeah I'm starting to worry about those two…" Nazu grunted.

Ziga looked around, noticing the pensive looks on Andah and Slavi's faces. "Ok, enough."

Everyone stopped.

"Huh?" Azu blinked.

"You two," Ziga pointed to the snake and green gynoid. "Have been acting shifty and uncertain all day. You're hiding something from us."

"I… Ziga-" Andah started, obviously trying to soften the blow of whatever she was going to say.

"Don't. Just say it."

Slavi looked to Azu before taking a deep breath. "Something's off. Have any of you noticed?"

"...What do you mean?" Nazu asked.

"Suddenly, out of nowhere, two old buddies of our boss and fellow agents of HENSHIN just happen to show up out of nowhere claiming they know where this big power up is, and they've been acting shifty and have not been contacting us for longer periods of time than is reasonable."

"...What're…what're you saying?" Azu asked.

"That usually…. There's a betrayal inbound when someone like that shows up." Andah answered.

"...of course." Ziga muttered.

"That…would explain the Trashu thing…" Azu thought.

Nazu facefaulted, sweat dropping. "That's what you're focused on…?"

"This is bad…" Ziga said. "We need to contact Amy right away."

"Can we? Isn't signal usually bad on mountains?"

"We've been able to contact the brothers a couple times." Ziga pointed out. "Granted, Amy did say the signals might have some interference due to the nature of this dimension…"

"Let's just try it."

Azu nodded. "Alright. Ziga, you get to contacting Amy. Right now, we need to focus. If Andah and Slavi are right, we're heading into a trap."

Slavi nodded. "We just need to figure out where and when it is."

"Calling Base. Hello?" Ziga brought up her communicator.

Static.

"..." Ziga tapped the device a few times. "Boss?"

"Sorry, gorgeous. I'm afraid the phone line's not that good here." A mysterious voice giggled. Everyone was on edge immediately.

"That doesn't sound like another spirit…" Andah noted.

"Oh so you know what spirits sound like now?" Azu quirked an eyebrow.

"They don't usually sound Dark and Ominous."

A figure flips over the team, landing several feet in front of them, doing an overdramatic bow. "Welcome to my parlor, said the toad to the…well, none of you are spiders, and not all of you have something that even rhymes with or/er, so the rhyme doesn't work. Drats." She giggles.

"Who're you supposed to be? Another monster?" Nazu asked.

"Ohhh Close, I am made by Weava~" The black and pink toad woman giggled. "Well, sort of, she is responsible for how I am now, but I did have an actual mother and all that. You know about forbidden magic? You know, the kind that's a tool to keep people in stories from just doing whatever the hell they want so there can be conflict?"

"Oooh! Ooh!" Slavi jumped up, waving her hand. "Like dark magic?"

"Bingo!" The toad woman waved her arm as if to indicate her whole body. "Dark Magic allll the way."

"Dark and sexy…" Slavi muttered, Andah's gaze indicating she was having similar thoughts.

Everyone stared at them.

"Oh like you weren't thinking it too!" Slavi said defensively.

Azu rolled her eyes, albeit a little bit more fondly than usual. "Ignore this one." She said, stepping in front of her. "She's…she's a person."

"Aren't we all? Well, not me obviously, but y'all."

"Sooo, what's your deal?" Azu asked. "You seem like a poison dart frog, but you don't seem to have any weapons."

"Don't need them~ I am the weapon."

"..." Azu narrowed her eyes. "...in what way?" Her answer was a vague smirk. "Like, literal or...?"

"Hehehehe, ready for the fun part?"

"..." Azu blinked. "You mean like, fun as in fighting, or fun as in…"

"...it has really been a day for you, hasn't it?" The toad woman said in amusement.

Azu sweat dropped. "You have no idea…"

"I KNEW IT!" Andah exclaimed.

"THAT DOESN'T CONFIRM ANYTHING!" Azu squealed, turning pink.

"Welp, funny as this is to watch. I need y'all to DIE NOW!" The toad yelled dramatically, everyone getting into stances. "Is what I would say. But I'm not the dance partner of two of you." She pointed to Azu and Nazu.

"...what the hell are you on about?" Azu asked.

"You haven't figured it out? Strange, given what your beau told you."

"SHE'S NOT MY-" Azu began yelling on instinct before pausing, looking to Slavi. "Wait…what…what are we?"

"We can talk about it when we get back." Slavi told her with a warm, loving smile.

Azu looked away, using her scarf to hide her smitten smile, which elicited d'awws from everyone, even their current foe.

"But seriously, the gentlemen are further ahead."

"And what's to stop us from ganging up on you?" Andah asked.

"Cause the longer it takes, the more likely it is you'll end up stuck on this mountain for a long, LONG time. That portal doesn't last forever, y'know. While I'm fighting your friends," The toad looked to Azu and Nazu. "you two can go up and try to make it through the trials to find the Champion's Heart."

"Why're you doing this?" Azu asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I don't like to steal people's dance partners." The toad shrugged. "Well, unless they ask for it."

"Ok…?" Azu tilted her head.

"You and big blue go on ahead. I won't damage your friends too much." The toad winked.

Azu looked to Ziga, Andah, and Slavi. "...you gonna be ok taking her on without us?"

"Yeah we can handle this." Ziga responded, nodding.

Andah gave a thumbs up.

Slavi looked to her, taking her hand in hers. "Go."

Azu blushed at the contact, thinking for a second before nodding at Nazu. The two ran ahead afterwards.

"Well, with those two gone, Let's DANCE!"

"RYUMU CHANGE!" The pink, yellow, and green rangers, in a flash of light, transformed, their weapons summoned, getting into stances.

"May we get the name of our…lovely foe before we start?" Slavi grinned, eyeing the toad woman up.

Her foe giggled flirtatiously. "Niknight."

"...wait, so you a knight or…?" Ziga tilted her head.

Niknight shrugged. "Ask my parents, I dunno. Let's dance, already."

"Good luck, Azu…Nazu…" Slavi muttered.

A bit later, Azu and Nazu arrived at the entrance…to an icicle pathway.

"..." Azu was silent for a moment.

Nazu put a hand on her shoulder, recognizing her worry. "They'll be ok."

"...how do you know?" Azu asked.

"Back in my…less prouder years, I was in a gang. A team. One thing a leader needs is trust in their team. Not to say you can't ever worry, but…it helps to trust and know your teammates capabilities, and trust they'll be able to handle things."

Azu was silent before nodding. "So, ready to run into an ambush by some potentially brainwashed or evil all along associates of our mentor?"

"Ready as I can be." Nazu shrugged. "About as ready as I was to dress up in not-spandex and fight monsters in giant mechanical gods."

The two laughed before heading inside.

As they did, they looked around cautiously.

They reached for their sidearms, paying attention for anything. Sound, sight…anything suspicious…

They heard something shift above them and soon, icicles started falling around them.

Both leapt out of the way, morphing, larging ones falling toward them, using their sidearms to blast away the icicles.

"...did you hear a switch too, or was that just me?" Azu asked Nazu.

"I heard it too, means someone sent those at us on purpose."

Suddenly, they heard the press of a switch, and-

BOOM!

As more icicles fell, Azu in a panic expanded her wings to cover Nazu, shielding him from the debris.

After a moment, everything stopped.

Azu shrunk her wings down, helping Nazu up. "Ok…we're definitely trapped now. Alright, at least this means we'll finally meet our-"

In blurs of crimson and navy, the two were launched to the caved in entrance and exit respectively, huge bursts of smoke coming from the impacts.

Azu and Nazu rubbed their heads, looking up at their attackers.

In front of Azu, was RyuKabuto. And Nazu, RyuKuuga.

"Well…" Azu noted in a daze, rubbing her head. "Right on the money…"

"Right," RyuKabuto agreed, punching his palm. "On the money."

END