Chapter 170 The Burden Hardest to Bear Part 4
An hour passes and Zelda starts to get a little tired.. The Old Wizard however is still walking with strength.. She asks him.
Zelda-If you're a wizard why don't you just zap us to where the Dark lord is?
The Old Wizard responds to that.
Old Wizard-We first must go to a place which will shed some light on your situation. It will help you.
Zelda-What do you mean by that?
Old Wizard-You shall see.
Zelda-You know something? You're really confusing me. First you act all evil and say you serve the dark lord, and then okay granted I used my powers which kind of scared you into leading me to him, now you want to help me, why?
Old Wizard-You shall see the real burden.. Angel..
Zelda-What?
Old Wizard-In a moment's time, you shall see what you so desperately seek.
Zelda-What I seek is the dark lord so I can at least fight him so my friend can feel better.
Old Wizard-In all due time. Be patient.
Zelda-That's all I have been doing.. Is being patient.
Old Wizard-Continue to be patient for another moment's time.
Zelda-Fine. But no tricks.
Old Wizard-No tricks. I will lead you to what will be a surprise for you.. A most pleasant surprise.
Zelda-Like I said.. No tricks.
They continue their walk.. She looks over to the left side of the dirt road and sees a soldier dressed in black of course, beating up on a local merchant.. She exclaims.
Zelda-I've got to help that poor soul!
The Old Wizard stops her.
Old Wizard-No! Do not help him.
Zelda-What? But I have too.
Old Wizard-We must hurry quickly before you are taken away from this world.
Zelda-What? I'm not going to be taken away, not till I defeat your dark lord. And anyway I have to help that man.
Old Wizard-Do not stray.. Your path has brought you this far.. You cannot leave it now.
Zelda-But.
Old Wizard-The many souls that are trapped here will be freed if you continue on your way.. Just ignore the soldier beating the merchant.
Zelda-I can't ignore it. I can't!
Old Wizard-Do as I say or you will never find what you want.
Finding it very hard to do, Zelda listens to the old wizard and walks past the soldier who has just knocked down the merchant. She clinches her teeth and says to the old wizard.
Zelda-I hate this!
Old Wizard-We must hurry.
Zelda-I told you. I'm not leaving until I confront your dark lord.
They continue on their way.
Old Wizard-The burden of the souls trapped here, is beyond war. It is power that is entrapped within a single source.
Zelda-Now you're confusing me again.
Old Wizard-The source has been hidden from the dark lord's eyes. He cannot sense it's presence..
Zelda-What source?
Old Wizard-The source I shall reveal to you before you leave this world.
Zelda-I wish you'd stop talking like that because I really need to just do what was originally planned.
Old Wizard-Do not worry.. Angel.. It will all become clear to your eyes in a moment's time.
Zelda-Please stop saying that.. It's getting annoying.
Old Wizard-Let me tell you a story.
Zelda-Ok I'm all ears.
Old Wizard-Long ago when this ghostly world was upon the physical world.. The King was given a source of power which was said it would be able to protect his land. The people always thought of the source as being a burden.. A burden that worried them for many years. Because they knew one day the source would bring them war..
Zelda-How did it bring them war?
Old Wizard-The dark lord of the doom shadows apparently lost the source upon the earth's surface. But this was not learned for a long time. And with him not being in contact with it for so many years, he lost the link. So the source was found and given as a gift to the King.
Zelda-Hmmm. So you're basically saying.. The source is really the burden hardest to bear?
Old Wizard-Exactly! Because everyone knew what it would bring in the future times of their world.. And they were right because the dark lord found out about it.. And attacked till everyone was dead.. But I.. Lived because I pledged to his throne, even though it disgusted me. So now I live in this world with him as his servant for all eternity.
Zelda-But how did my friend touch that burden?
Old Wizard-The spirit of the king was looking for a way out of this world because he wanted more soldier spirits.. Or spirits with a strong aura. And so he found the burden.. And so you know the rest.
Zelda nods and says.
Zelda-Yes. Hmm.. So he found it and took it..
Old Wizard-Yes, but when you fell in this world his spirit was captured again. The burden was taken back.. By me! And I have hidden it again.
Zelda-And with this what will I be able to do?
Old Wizard-You shall see.
Zelda-If it belonged to the dark lord first, what good would it do against him?
Old Wizard-You shall see. Quickly! We must get to the source.. Before its too late.
Zelda-Just keep leading the way. I'm right behind you.
Old Wizard-And oh before I forget.. There is something you must know about.
Zelda-What now?
Old Wizard-There's a huge monster of a beast guarding a bridge we must cross to get to the burden source.
Zelda exclaims.
Zelda-What?! How big?
Old Wizard-Um, he's quite large.
Zelda-Well how did you pass the monster?
Old Wizard-Invisibility power.
Zelda-I see.
Old Wizard-I don't have enough of that spell to work for both of us.
Zelda-Are you sure you're not leading me into a trap?
Old Wizard-I'm not leading you into a trap. I want you to have the source. And I want to quit being a servant to the dark lord.
Zelda-Hmm. How do I know you're telling me the truth?
Old Wizard-You'll just have to trust me.
Zelda-I trust my friends.. And you are not a friend of mine.
Old Wizard-Those words hurt.
Zelda-Just keep walking..
The Old Wizard sighs.
Zelda is about to say something when the dirt road ends finally and the two end up standing before a huge and hideous looking beast. His body is rocky brown, his face is extremely mean and ugly looking.. And he's holding a dangerous looking club that could knock anyone's head off. The Old Wizard says.
Old Wizard-We must get pass the Grand Grim Waar.
Zelda-That's him?
Old Wizard-Yes!
The Grand Grim Waar starts to growl and soon after growling, he opens his mouth and lets out a huge roar that sends Zelda and the Old Wizard a few feet back.. They both end up on the ground scraping up a bit of dirt and rocks. Zelda starts coughing because some of the dirt pushed up some dust in her face.
Zelda-Uhhh!
The Old Wizard gets up and he helps Zelda back on her feet. He says.
Old Wizard-I'm sorry I don't have enough of my invisibility spell for the both of us.
Zelda responds.
Zelda-That's okay. I don't need it.
Old Wizard-What are you going to do?
Zelda-You'll see.
Zelda stands in front of the Old Wizard now.
Zelda brings up her right wrist and twists it once. When she did that, it caused a pink glow that transformed her wrist communicator into her morpher. She steps back a few feet and swings her arm around once, she then brings it together as she shouts out.
Zelda-IT'S MORPHIN TIME!
Now she touches the pink star on her morpher and continues to say.
Zelda-PINK STAR, WINDSTORM POWER, NOW!
A blinding flash of pink light takes us now to an essence of the Universe..
A large pink star appears twirling within the essence, when it stops, a breeze of powerful winds rip the star to pieces of pink energy that comes together and forms into the Pink Star Storm Power Ranger. She stands bravely as her suit glows and flashes with the color of pink. Now, leaping up and twisting her body around, when she lands she continues on by doing a couple of back flips. And when the final power phase is complete, she lands on her feet which sounds a screeching power wind and causes an image of the powerful elemental wind force to appear.
The Old Wizard says in astonishment.
Old Wizard-Oh my dear.. A new kind of armor?
The Pink Ranger says in response.
Pink Ranger-You could say that.
Old Wizard-I had no idea women could be warriors.
Pink Ranger-Women can be anything they want to be.. And be just as good as men.
Old Wizard-I see.
The Grand Grim Waar roars again and this time he looks like he's about to leave his station guarding the bridge behind him to attack the Pink Ranger and the Old Wizard.
The Pink Ranger realizes there's no way she could beat the Grand Grim Waar all by herself. She thinks about maybe she can summon her Zord or her friends.. Then she says it might be too late.. So she looks for help deep within her soul.
The Old Wizard exclaims because the beast is charging.
Old Wizard-WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR PINK WARRIOR!? DO SOMETHING BEFORE BOTH OUR SPIRITS ARE CRUSHED!
The Pink Ranger feels a new sensation upon her body.. She looks upward into the sky and says.
Pink Ranger-Yes. I feel it. The sensation of the Pink Panther! I am ready to accept the new power!
With those words said, a dark pink essence appears and surrounds the Pink Ranger.. Quickly. Her body is lifted up in the center of the essence as pink swirling winds from all directions let themselves be known.. When the winds collide with each other in the center of the essence where the Pink Ranger is floating, they form into a powerful image of the Pink Panther with a glowing pinkish outline. The image however has overshadowed the Pink Ranger.. She's inside and waits till the panther image opens its mouth. And when it does, she yells out.
Pink Ranger-PINK POWER! VORTEX TORPEDO, HYAH!
Suddenly, the Pink Ranger is shot out from the mouth of the Panther.. Her body twists around nicely and I must say she resembles a champion swimmer swimming in a large pool. When her body increases the twisting speed, she glows brightly pink and instantly with the sound of the pink panther's growl she rips through the Grand Grim Waar' entire body at an accelerating rate. The monster starts choking and gasping for air, but its too late.. It begins to surge with massive amounts of pink energy and very suddenly the intensity of the attack takes its toll and so when the monster falls to its fiery death that ends its course as a vortex explosion, Pink Lightning reveals itself and hits the ground where it forms into the Pink Ranger on bended knee. She cheers when she gets up and looks at the dusty remains of her enemy.
Pink Ranger-Alright! Yes! I did it!
She looks up in the sky and says.
Pink Ranger-Thank you, Pink Panther!
The Old Wizard says.
Old Wizard-Very impressive, Pink Warrior.
Pink Ranger-Thank you.
Old Wizard-Now let's get going.. And quickly because another Grand Grim Waar shadow will appear soon.
Pink Ranger-Jeez. It's always something else isn't it.
The two manage to cross the bridge.. And now the Wizard leads the Pink Ranger to a place of complete ruin. He walks up the stoned stairway till he reaches the temple at the top.. He looks down at the Pink Ranger and says.
Old Wizard-Hurry up, the burden is here!
The Pink Ranger rushes up the stoned stairway very quickly.. When she gets close to the Wizard she notices a sparkling fountain.. She asks.
Pink Ranger-What, a fountain?
Old Wizard-No, it is what's in the fountain.. I have hidden it well.
The Old Wizard places his hand inside of the fountain and magical sparks emerge.. He then pulls his hand out of the fountain and reveals a very bright and beautiful sword. The Pink Ranger says.
Pink Ranger-I think I understand now.
Old Wizard-Yes I knew you would.
The sword is as I said before, very beautiful. It has a very long tip and its sharp as well.. The base has a silver color to it with a trim of gold. The Old Wizard says.
Old Wizard-And to think.. This was buried. This is what will heal your friend in your world.
Pink Ranger-Really?
Old Wizard-Yes, this will make him whole again.
Pink Ranger-That's wonderful news!
Old Wizard-Yes you must get it back to the surface quickly.
Pink Ranger-Don't worry.
Old Wizard-Although it means a great deal to you this is nothing more than our burden and such a burden it is.
A unfamiliar voice makes itself known.
Dark Lord-How sad of you old man to call such a beautiful and powerful blade a burden however I kindly thank you so much for finding the soul blade for me!
The voice startling both the Pink Ranger and the Old Wizard they turn to see the evil entity in the form of a very muscular shadow man wearing pitch black dark armor from head to toe with a pitch black cape on his back staring back at them with his yellowish orange glowing eyes holding both of his arms out to his sides gathering all the energy around him in the air and absorbing it into both of his pitch black hands then quickly hurling the powerful massive amount of energy at both the Pink Ranger and the Old Wizard with unheard of great speed.
Dark Lord-Hahahaha!
Both the Pink Ranger and the Old Wizard finds themselves weak from the immense blast, they both lay on the ground unable to get up. The Dark Lord walks over to them both and basks in his glory.
Dark Lord-What's the matter? Did I break up your little celebratory party? Hahaha! Who cares!
Old Wizard-You…won't..get..away with this.
He turns directly to the Old Wizard and says.
Dark Lord-Hahaha ah such words I have heard many times and for so long yet I keep surpassing them!
He leans down closer to the Old Wizard's face and says with extreme evil..
Dark Lord-Face it old man you have lost! And your little partner in Pink! This world shall forever be under my control! I shall rule it with a superior iron fist the way it should have been conquered in life!
He moves up and away then looks around for the soul blade because it was pushed away when he attacked the Pink Ranger and the Old Wizard. However, meanwhile watching the events from their base, Nakia, Ryan, Kimberly and the others become more than concerned about Zelda.
Kimberly-We can't just stand here and do nothing.
Chet-She needs our help.
Joey-And right now!
Lightwing-I know how you feel Rangers but I am afraid my magic can't change the power of the portal to the ghost world.
Ryan-How do you know that Lightwing for sure?
Nakia-Yeah, you have to at least try for Zelda's sake!
Lightwing-Because the power allowing the portal is greater than mine. If I try to use my magic against it to get you all there it could be devastating.
Nakia-I still think you should try. Zelda would help you if you needed it and you know it.
Ryan-Yeah she would and she is in real trouble now, she can't handle that whatever he is alone.
Joey-Maybe if we use our Ranger powers along with Lightwing's magic we can get into the ghost world with no problems.
Kimberly-I say lets do it.
Chet-No Arguments here.
Lightwing-I am not sure about this at all. Trust me I know the magical rules that can harm those that try to go against them.
Joey-Then at least bring her out of there.
Lightwing-If I did that right now Zelda would never forgive me because she wants to save her friend Chris.
Nakia-But she is in real danger Lightwing!
Kimberly-I think Lightwing has a valid point.
Nakia-He does but still!
Ryan starts to think and says.
Ryan-Calm down, lets just see where this goes, lets give Zelda a chance, we know she is a great Power Ranger and she might just get herself out of this and she's not completely alone, that Wizard is with her too.
Nakia-But Ryan..
Ryan-Just listen, Lightwing is right, she would never forgive him if he brought her back here right now when Chris is worse off. So let's just give her a chance to do what she needs to do ok?
Nakia sighs but finally gives in after a few seconds of thinking.
Nakia-Fine, but if things get worse, we get her out of there!
Lightwing-Of course!
Joey-Let's hope Zelda can get through this.
Chet-I think we should come up with a plan as this all escalates.
Kimberly-Good idea.
Feeling really worried about Zelda, Nakia makes a quick decision and so without telling the other Rangers or Lightwing she teleports out of the old weather station and to the pit area. She says to herself.
Nakia-I'm not going to leave my friend all by herself to battle that beast alone! I refuse! There must be a way to get into the pit!
She looks at the pit and holds out both of her hands, the sound of thunder is heard when she begins to say
Nakia-NATURE..
Her eyes start to glow brightly white with a hint of golden power.. She continues.
Nakia-I BEESECH YOU! FOR THE SAKE OF MY FRIEND BRING ON THE CLOUDS OF THUNDER AND SEND DOWN THE LIGHTNING!
Clouds begin to appear right above her and without delay the sound of thunder is heard again but this time it is thunderous fury. Then with great speed bolts of powerful yellow lightning bolts shoot down from the clouds and strike Nakia's body she then pulls back both of her hands and pushes them both out forward directing the powerful lightning bolts to strike the pit causing a enormous amount of a powerful chain reaction that causes the entire scene to brighten into a blind view of lightning power.
Suddenly she says.
Nakia-HANG ON ZELDA I'M ON MY WAY! YOU WON'T HAVE TO HANDLE THIS ALONE!
The power from Nakia's lightning energy attack begins to violently shake the entire ghostly world within the pit. The Dark Lord falls on his back wondering.
Dark Lord-What is going on here?! No one should have the power to rattle my realm!
He doesn't notice the sword just a few feet away from him but the Pink Ranger does, she quickly summons her wind power to create a breeze throughout the constant shaking and gently captures the sword herself.
Pink Ranger-I've got it!
The Old Wizard makes it over to her and says sharply.
Old Wizard-Come now, lets us get away from this!
Pink Ranger-To the surface?!
Old Wizard-Can't do anything about that right now, we must flee to my castle then once this all stops shaking we shall deal with the surface at hand.
Pink Ranger-Ok!
Despite all the rumbling and shaking The Dark Lord rises up again and says firmly.
Dark Lord-You two are going NO WHERE!
He swings his hands around once conjuring a small amount of dark energy to envelope them then he points them at both the Pink Ranger and the Old Wizard, then suddenly without much warning a massive barrage of dark power emerges from under the two and shockingly in a physical way strikes them both back onto the ground in a heaping amount of pain.
Pink Ranger-UUGHH!
Old Wizard-UGHH!
She manages to still have the soul blade in her possession.
Now as the shaking increases the Dark Lord becomes angry and says.
Dark Lord-Someone is trying to break through the sacred portal to my world! Well we will see about that!
He raises both of his hands towards his face now he makes fists then he pushes them both upward which causes a radiating dark power emerge from his body and push against the shaking and as it does this the power also strikes the pit which in turn causes the lightning power from Nakia to merge with the Dark Lord's attack and form into a dark power sphere or energy that bursts from the pit wipes out Nakia's attack completely and sends her flying away from the pit.
Nakia-AAAHHHH!
She crashes into the ground a few feet away bleeding from her mouth due to the force of the sphere's attack on her.
Nakia-UGH OHH NO!
The dark and extremely dangerous sphere makes its way towards Nakia obviously to deliver another devastating attack but she hears helping rushing towards her.
Red Ranger-BABE! BABE!
He quickly makes it to her, leans down on bended knee and holds her up noticing her bleeding from her mouth, he asks with great concern and a slight bite of anger.
Red Ranger-Why?! Huh?! Why did you do that?! You could have been killed!
Nakia-I..was..trying.. ..Zelda.
Red Ranger-Ugh damnit! I know I know but you shouldn't of tried alone!
Nakia-Sorry..
The other Rangers show up to help just as the Red Ranger looks up and notices the sphere moving towards them both fast. Quick the White Ranger steps up to say.
White Ranger-I've got this!
Black Ranger-I'm right behind ya!
Blue Ranger-So am I!
White Ranger-Then let's get rid of that thing!
The dark sphere starts to sizzle with hellish energy as the White, Black and Blue Rangers leap up into the sky cannonball flip mode, it sends out blasts of devastating power towards them but the three Rangers elude each attempt all while in the air cannonball flipping all around the sphere causing it confusion as it continues to try to strike them down.
After a bit more confusion and losing a lot of its power on targets that won't stay still the sphere stops attacking but it starts to try again only to find out it has exhausted all of its energy to do so, and now the three Power Rangers come out of cannonball flip mode, they still float in the sky as they power up their attacks to finish off the dark sphere. The Black Ranger is the first to say as he looks directly at the sphere which is still trying to attack.
Black Ranger-Time to put the freeze on you!
White Ranger-Agreed!