Dino Thunder: Return of the Eclipse: Chapter 18: It's a Mad, Mad Mackerel
Disclaimer: Saban owns all Power Ranger lines.
Copyright: All unrecognizable parts and characters are under December's Phoenix's copyright.
Summary: Kira gets a new gig, and a fish gets loose.
The only thought Crystal had at the current moment regarded the idiocy of her little sister. She messaged the blonde about forgetting a textbook at the Academy and asking if she could bring it to Hayley's. So, like a good older sister, Crystal did just that, shoving open the door to the inner sanctum of the cafe. She found her little sister sitting at a table, a notebook in her lap. "You're lucky I love you." She stated, dropping the textbook on the ground.
Lucy looked up in surprise, then in relief. "I really appreciate it. It slipped my mind that I had textbook homework for history." She returned to the science textbook on the table.
Crystal glanced around, spotting Conner's familiar floppy hair, looking over Ethan's shoulder at a computer. She moved to them, stopping before them with her arms over her chest. "The two of you are getting along? It's a miracle."
Conner shot her a flat look; then his eyes found Lucy sitting at a table. He motioned to her with his chin. "She okay?"
Crystal glanced back, then nodded "Homework. Back to my original question."
Ethan didn't look away from the screen. "Don't you know the answer to that one?" He shot back.
"I might be a year older, but I'm about as smart as a rock sometimes, Ethan." Crystal returned, shooting him a crooked smile. She moved to stand behind him, leaning down close to Conner. "What, exactly, is he doing?"
Ethan turned around for a second, chuckling. "Just a second, Crystal. One last link." He announced, making both Rangers turn to him. When he was done, he turned around, seeing the two staring at the screen. He smiled. "There it is, bro."
Conner chuckled. "Manchester United on the webcast. I take back anything bad I ever said about the Internet."
"Lucy!" Kira called from where she walked by, waving the ninja over. The Ranger climbed to her feet, walked over to the group, and stationed herself against the table next to Ethan. "I got it!" Kira squealed, holding up a piece of paper with large red letters spelling 'accepted.'
"It's not contagious, is it?" Conner asked, smiling. He caught Lucy's hand in the middle of flying to flick his cheek. "Sorry, what is it?"
"I applied for an internship with Channel Three, and I'm in!" Kira smiled.
"That's awesome!" Lucy grinned. "I heard a lot of kids at school applied for that."
"They only accepted two this semester, and guess what show I'll be working on?" Kira asked but didn't give any of the Rangers time to answer. "The Funky Fisherman's Cartoon Cavalcade."
Ethan perked up. "No way, that's my favorite show." His smile dropped a little when Lucy and Conner gave him quirked eyebrows. "I mean, it was when I was a kid. I can still hear the theme song now." He stared off into space. "It's the funky fisherman cartoon show, so grab your gear, and we'll all go. Look! It's Marty the Mackerel. He'll hook us a cartoon spectacle."
Ethan started to get up and dance. Conner quickly grabbed his shoulders, shoving him back into the chair. "Whoa, whoa, stop, dude. Songs like that made me want to go outside and play soccer."
"Yeah, I gotta get down to the station. See you!" Kira waved to the three, taking off.
Lucy checked her watch. "All right, I have to head to the library to get some homework done," She announced, hopping off the table.
Conner caught her wrist, making her turn to him. "What time are we meeting tonight?"
Lucy squished her face in fake thought. "Five? I can let you know when I finish the paper and my assignments." She leaned down, pressing a kiss to his head. "I seriously have to go."
"I know." Conner laughed at her, releasing her wrist and watching her walk away. He turned to see Ethan fakely gagging and Crystal laughing. "Dude."
"I know, but sometimes, you two are gross."
"I think you two are cute." Crystal smiled, walking out of the cafe.
Kira was starting to like her job. So far, she was working the snack table, ensuring that all the actors, even those in animal costumes, were fed. She was in the middle of pulling out another container of peanuts when a shadow fell over her. Glancing up, Kira smiled, finding the Funky Fisherman standing there. "Well, so you must be the new girl." He grounded out.
Kira stuck her hand out, smiling brightly. "I'm Kira, and you're the Funky Fisherman. It's so great to be here. I've watched your show-"
The Funky Fisherman stuck his hand out. "You see this hand? It should have coffee in it. You have 5 seconds."
"Sure, do you take-"
The Funky Fisherman cut off Kira. "5…4…3…2…1." He looked at the black coffee in the cup. "The cream. 5…4…3…2…1." He accepted the cup, dumping it out into the trash. "Too much cream. What is it with you, interns?" He stomped off.
An hour later, Kira took out the trash, stepping out from the stage into the back area with a large trash can. She was about to head to the dumpster when she collided with someone. They spilled everything onto the ground. "I'm sorry." Kira bent down and started to help Devin pick up the tapes he was carrying. "you were here too?"
Devin smiled. "Don't tell Cassidy, but I got the other internship."
"Some internship." Kira rolled her eyes. "So far, all I've done is empty trash and get yelled at by the Funky Fisherman."
"Tell me about it. All I've been doing is monitoring the closed-circuit security cameras. Not great." Devin informed her.
"I'm seriously thinking of quitting."
"Yeah."
At that moment, Marty the Mackerel came dancing through, bumping into Devin and making him spill the contents in his arms. "Oh, I'm sorry. I was practicing the happy fish dance."
"It's okay," Kira told him, picking up a few tapes.
"You must be the new interns," Marty smiled.
"Yeah," Devin answered this time.
"Welcome. How's your first day going?"
"Oh, it's probably going to be my last," Kira muttered.
"Oh, you should never give up. it'll get better, I promise." Marty told them.
"Where's that fish?" The Funky Fisherman's booming voice carried through the stage. "I'm not missing my herbal full body wrap because he's late. 5…4…"
Kira scrambled to help Devin pick up his tapes, carefully shoving them into his arms. They turned to Marty, who sadly chuckled. "I have it when he counts. I have to get going. I hope you stick around; you might get hooked!" He took off running.
Kira sighed. She picked up her trash can again, chuckling. Devin nodded. "Well, I guess I'll see you around."
"See ya," Kira took off.
Twenty minutes later, Kira returned to the set, watching the Funky Fisherman show to record. "Hey, fish and friends, I'm the Funky Fisherman. Are you ready for a cavalcade of cartoons, kids? It's the funky fisherman cartoon show, so grab your gear, and we'll all go. Look! It's Marty the Mackerel. He'll hook us a cartoon spectacle."
Kira watched the Funky Fisherman get smacked around by Marty's fins, chuckling the entire time.
Following the taping, Kira picked through the candy for the green ones, throwing them into a cup for the Funky Fisherman. He started to demand one of the many things once filming wrapped up. She glanced at Devin, who was working on setting up the camera near the set. "This job couldn't get any worse." She muttered. Suddenly, Elsa and her pods of Tyrannodrones appeared. "Now, why did I have to say that?"
"Hate to interrupt you at work." Elsa snarled, laughing evilly at the Yellow Ranger in front of her.
Kira lifted her wrist to morph, then realized that Devin was there. If he found out, Cassidy would no doubt find out later. Sighing to herself, Kira turned back to Elsa.
"Get her," Elsa ordered.
Kira blocked a punch, then a kick, before sending another one away with another bang. She threw one across the stage, then kicked the chair near her to send one to the round. Next, she grabbed one of the rubber bushes, throwing it at a Tyrannodrone before she caught Elsa's incoming sword. The two struggled for a second. "Sorry, all guests have to check in with security." Kira snarled.
Devin, who was hiding behind a small TV, hummed. "Um, I'll go sign them in." He took off running.
That gave Kira the clear. Shoving Elsa back, Kira morphed in seconds. She took off, completely missing the camera. After a brief battle, mainly her dealing with tyrannodrones, sending them into the pond, and using the stage props to defeat them, she threw Elsa against the Funky Fisherman's door.
"Who is interrupting my therapeutic cleansing nap?" The Funky Fisherman raged, stomping out of his dressing room.
"Oh, man." Kira groaned, catching sight of Marty dancing his way onto the stage. She watched him see Elsa and her monsters and cower behind a TV monitor.
"The frightening fish," Elsa smirked. "You're all mine." She pressed a button on a remote, firing off a pink laser. Marty ducked before the TV, making the laser bounce off the screen and suck the Funky Fisherman into the small TV.
Kira panicked. "Oh no!"
Elsa charged, striking the Yellow Ranger to the ground. "Get the fish!" She ordered, watching the Tyrannodrones grab Marty. "Good work." They disappeared in seconds.
"Oh no," Kira sighed, rounding the TV so the Funky Fisherman didn't see her relinquishing her morph.
"Where am I?" The Funky Fisherman demanded. "What's going on? You have five seconds to get me out of here!" He started to count.
Kira lifted her morpher. "Guys, we have a problem."
Lucy followed Kira from the hiding spot, glancing around. "All clear." The Yellow Ranger announced, motioning to the Rangers. While Lucy and Conner walked before him, Ethan somehow got stuck carrying the TV. "We have to take to Dr. O's lab and get him back to normal."
"I demand to know where you are taking me." Funky Fisherman spoke. "Someone will pay if I miss my ginseng facial scrub."
"We might wanna cover him," Lucy suggested.
Conner glanced around, finding a blue towel hanging near them. "Okay." He threw it over the TV, covering the screen from anyone.
At the lab, Hayley stood behind the TV, scanning the box to understand what had happened. The Rangers stood in front of the TV. "This could end one of the most popular shows ever made," Ethan commented, arms folded over one another. "We gotta do something."
"We'll figure it out, Ethan. Don't worry," Hayley told him.
"Are you all right in there?" Dr. Oliver asked, tilting down to make sure he heard him better.
"Am I all right? Do I look all right? I'm 6 inches tall." The Funky Fisherman barked.
"People are so different on TV than in person," Kira commented.
The Funky Fisherman spoke again. "Who are you? Where am I? I can't see a thing!"
Lucy tilted her head. "What do you think they wanted with Marty the Mackerel?"
"Sushi?" Ethan tried.
"Ew, I hope not," Crystal answered, scrunching her nose in disgust. "That fish is too terrifying to eat."
The computer beeped, earning everyone's attention. Sitting on the railing of a building was a large fish created. "I'm going to take the Reef out of Reefside!"
"Well, there's your answer." Lucy pointed out.
"I smell something fishy, all right. Hayley, see if you can figure out how to get our friend back to normal." Dr. Oliver told the woman. He glanced at the team. "We'll see if we can net the big fish."
"Reefside's deadliest catch?" Lucy tried, sheepishly grinning at her sister.
Crystal snorted, rolling her eyes. "He wishes."
The team stopped around the corner of the Channel 3 news building, seeing Cassidy and Devin fly through the air, only to get caught by the Mad Mackerel, as Lucy coined him. "Check that out." Crystal pointed at the two flying through the air and into the jar the Mad Mackerel held in his hands.
Dr. Oliver backed up to let the five morph. "All right, you ready?"
"Ready?"
"Ready."
Dino Thunder, Power Up!
Eclipse Ranger, Dino Power!
Dino Power!
Guardian of the Sun!
Guardian of the Moon!
The Rangers stopped across from the Mad Mackerel on the top of the building. The Guardians stood behind the four, their broadswords drawn and resting on their shoulders. "Something fishy's going on!" Conner pointed out.
"You won't get a line on me." The Mad Mackerel stated.
Ethan pointed to him. "We're going to scale back your operation."
The Mad Mackerel patted his stomach. "Not till I've had my limit!"
"We'll delay you!" Kira added.
"You and your fishy jokes." Conner curled his hand into a fist.
Lucy glanced around. "Can we stop with the fishing jokes?" She asked. "I'm getting real sick of them."
"Not before you catch my tuna surprise!" The monster slammed his foot to the ground, sending various fish from his stomach. He hit Kira, Ethan, and Dr. Oliver but missed Conner, Lucy, and Crystal.
Conner rolled from the smoke, pulling out his blaster. "Here's the catch of the day!" He fired off some blasts, hitting the monster a few times. He replaced his blaster in the holster. "Never did like fish."
Instead of saying anything else, the monster threw his line, hooking Kira from the back. He pulled her in, making Ethan scramble to hit her. "Kira!" He called, grabbing her legs. Conner managed to get Ethan's ankles.
Dr. Oliver caught Conner before the three were taken. "Hold it together, guys," His boots got caught on the lip of an air vent, making it a tug of war between the Rangers and the monster.
"This is the big one." Mad Mackerel chortled. "I'll ease off my line." He released the Rangers, sending them crashing to the ground. "Now I reel you back in." He pulled on his reel again, causing Kira to fly through the air again.
"Ethan!" The Yellow Ranger cried out.
"I've got you," Ethan stated, wrapping his arms around Kira's torso. He felt Conner grip his ankle while the Red Ranger snagged Dr. Oliver's ankle to keep their ground.
A golden streak sliced the line before the tension could take the Rangers out. Crystal stood from her spot, rolling her wrist around. "Line's been cut." She charged the monster, slicing upwards and hitting the monster to send him back.
"Hey, fish breath!" Lucy ran past her sister, slamming her shoulder into him. That shoved him back. "Ocean's the other way." She took off, slicing down with her blade as she ran past him. She whipped around and sliced him again, pushing him further from the Rangers.
"My graphite-backed water pole is busted, but I'll return for another attack!" The Mackerel snarled, turning around and disappearing from the Rangers.
"The energy that Marty the Mackerel is using to capture people in his bait jar is the same as the energy used to put the funny fisherman here in the TV," Hayley reported, walking back to the Rangers near the TV. She patted the TV, frowning when he spoke again.
"That's Funky Fisherman."
"Whatever." Hayley rolled her eyes. "All you have to do is get into fires capture at the monitor, then deflect it with this reversal shield." She pulled a bulky-looking black device from under the TV, setting it on the monitor.
Dr. Oliver took the device. "Thanks, Hayley."
The Yellow Ranger glanced at the team. "What about Marty?"
"He's still in the Mad Mackerel somewhere," Hayley answered. "The only way to free him is to destroy the Ginorandomizer's configuration."
"So, we destroy the Mackerel to get Marty back safe?" Crystal asked. She leaned over to Lucy. "I thought Choobo and that post-monster were bad."
Lucy grinned. "We weren't even there for that one."
"Where's that fish?" The Funky Fisherman demanded from the TV. "I heard that. That two-faced hanger-on fish-faced freak deserves to suffer for every bit of misery he's caused me."
Before anyone could do anything, Crystal hit the side of the TV, startling everyone, including the Funky Fisherman. "That freak is your friend, Fisherman, or do you not remember that word? Maybe understand that the Funky Fisherman wouldn't be real without him."
The Silver Guardian lifted her sister's fist from the TV, sighing deeply before leaning down to look at the covered screen. "You do not deserve this, but you will get a second chance. I advise you to do better with this one."
"Let's go, guys." Dr. Oliver stated.
Conner turned to the sisters, but Lucy beat him to the punch before he could say anything. "Did we say something wrong?" She asked. When Conner shook his head, she nodded. "Then, I don't see what the problem is." She chuckled when Conner shoved her head away.
"Ready, guys?" The Red Ranger asked.
"Ready."
Dino Thunder, Power Up!
Eclipse Ranger, Dino Power!
"There he is!" Conner pointed out.
The Rangers slowed to a stop. The primary Rangers and the sisters ran from the lab while Dr. Oliver had his ATV and the TV on the back. Dr. Oliver stopped his ride, climbing off while being careful of the TV on the back. "Come on guys, let's let into position."
"Okay, let's get him!" Conner nodded. "Time to get this fish." He pulled his saber out, jumping forward to meet the Mackerel. Instead, they collided mid-air, sending Conner flipping back while the Mackerel landed on his feet.
The rest of the Rangers joined him in slicing the fish, but Mad Mackerel spun around, knocking the four to the ground. He tried to hit Conner, but the Red Ranger was faster, blocking the swing and slicing him back. "Fire!" The Rangers called, firing off shots at the fish.
"And again," Conner told them, firing off another round.
Mad Mackerel went skidding back. "Stop!" He yelled, throwing his arms up. "Or the bait's fish paste."
"We've gotta get that bait jar." Dr. Oliver announced.
"You're all fish food." The Mackerel fired more fish, sending the four Rangers to the ground. He marched to them. "You don't stand a chance."
"Hey, freak show!" A silver streak collided with the Mackerel, sending him scrambling back. Lucy stopped before the Rangers, her blade drawn and held out at her side.
Crystal flipped over her, running and slicing the stomach of the Mackerel. She skidded to a stop behind him, her blade in her hand. "Why don't you try a bigger catch?" She taunted, shouldering her sword.
Both Guardians took off, Crystal aiming high with a strike to the shoulder while Lucy went for the legs. The Silver Ranger twisted around, rising to her feet and slicing down his back. Crystal swiped at his stomach again. The two skidded past him, hitting his arms before the two stood before the Rangers. "Give us your best shot," Crystal called, quietly reaching for the black shield device on the back of her belt.
"Gladly." The Mad Mackerel fired a blast.
The Golden Guardian lifted the device, activating it and sending the beam straight to the TV, releasing the Funky Fisherman from his TV prison. The Ranger laughed. Her sister clapped her on the shoulder. "Hook, line, and sinker," Crystal called, relinquishing the shield and placing it back on her belt. "That's how you catch the big fish of the day."
Lucy turned to her sister, helmet sparkling. "Crystal, you know I love you, but for the love of everything wholly, please never say that again."
Crystal turned to her, one hand on her hip, the other holding her sword on her shoulder. "That one was good." She protested.
"It was just awful. That one and your stupid barf joke a couple of weeks ago."
"I thought that one was clever."
"Gods, that one was lame," Lucy announced.
Crystal shoved her away, turning to the Rangers. "We did our part. Is someone going to get the bait jar?"
Kira nodded. "Yep, that's mine!" She called, running over and kicking the jar from the Mad Mackerel's hands. It smashed onto the ground, releasing all the humans that were caught.
One of which happened to be Cassidy. "Ew, gross. I smell like fish!"
"That's it!" The Mad Mackerel tried.
"Hey, Rangers!" Lucy sang, turning around. "You know what to do!"
"Let's put them together." The four called, forming the Z-Rex Blaster. Crystal and Lucy stood out of the way, watching the four load and fire the blaster at the retreating fish. It collided with the fish, ending him in flames and sparks.
Seconds later, he towered over the Rangers. "There is always a bigger fish!"
"Brachio!" Dr. Oliver called into his morpher.
Thundering footsteps shook the ground. The large dinozord came into view, releasing the three smaller zords. In a flash, the Thundersaurus Megazord stood against the fish. They went for a punch, only for it to get caught. They went for another swing. Mackerel dodged, dancing around. "I'll get my hooks into you!" The Mackerel snarled, throwing his hook-covered hand at the Megazord, sending him back.
"Parasariozord!" The Rangers called, calling forth the green dinozord from the top of the Brachiozord. It attached to the Megazord, replacing the T-rex drill. "Ankylozord." The shield Dinozord marched his way out, replacing the Tricerazord. "Casting out." The Rangers fired a hook at the Mackerel, hitting him in the chest and bringing him closer for a final attack. He exploded in an instant.
"All right!" The sisters tapped their forearms, cheering with Dr. Oliver.
Suddenly, a flash of green appeared, and the Mad Mackerel landed in the gravel. When he tried to stand up, he shifted from the Mad Mackerel to Marty. The fish glanced around, clearly confused about everything that had happened. He turned when he heard someone. "Marty?" The Funky Fisherman asked, walking closer to him.
"Funky?" Marty asked quietly.
The Funky Fisherman ran to him, breathing deeply. "Marty, I have the strangest feeling I owe you an apology."
"I don't know, but I feel like a tuna sandwich." Marty chuckled.
"Sure, pal." The Funky Fisherman smiled, nodding. The two took off. "Come on, my treat."
"It sure feels good to be back to normal."
Lucy rounded her sister, relinquishing her morph. "Seems like a pep talk was all he needed."
"Maybe more words of encouragement?" Crystal followed her suit, her morph disappearing in seconds.
"Semantics, my dear sister. Whatever we did worked, didn't it?" Lucy smiled. The primary Rangers returned, demorphed. "All's well that ends well."
Later that day, the Rangers stood on set with Kira behind the snack table. They watched the Funky Fisherman form another fish shape out of a balloon. "This is for you, Marty." He placed it with all the other balloon fishes in Marty's arms.
"A grouper?" Marty asked, looking down at all the colorful fishes in his arms.
"A group of groupers." The Funky Fisherman smiled.
"Oh, this calls for the happy fish dance." Marty gently tossed the balloons, laughing. The balloons rained down on the two. They began to dance through the set, earning laughs from the Rangers.
Ethan turned to the team. "That stuff is classic."
"The Funky Fisherman even complimented my last coffee run," Kira noted.
Conner glanced down at her. "So you glad you didn't quit?"
"Yeah, you know some things get better if you just stick with them," Kira told the team.
Crystal patted her on the shoulder. "See, not all opportunities are bad ones. You have to stick it out, and maybe things will improve."
"Atta girl." Lucy smiled, high-fiving her best friend. "Is that…Devin?" She asked, seeing Devin dance around the fish and Fisherman.
"Excuse me, please." Devin tried, finally finding his way over to the Rangers. He had his arms full of tapes and wires. "Hey, guys!"
"Hey, you sticking with the job too?" Kira asked.
"Yeah, it's not so bad after all, plus Cassidy promised to forgive me if these tapes of the Yellow Ranger were any good," Devin answered, laughing. He motioned to the tapes he had in his hands. But, unfortunately, he completely missed the looks the Rangers were giving each other. "Can't wait to see them. It's going to be great." At that moment, Marty backed into Devin, knocking him over and sending the tapes into the bowl of fruit punch in front of him.
"Well, I think the only thing on those tapes is fruit punch." Lucy winced. She and the other Rangers watched Devin complain before moving away with the punch-drenched tapes.
"That was close," Kira commented.
The Silver Guardian slung an arm over Kira's shoulder. "Be glad we got lucky. But next time, check for cameras before you morph." She turned to see her sister bopping along with the dance.
Crystal grinned at her. "Happy fish. Happy fish. Happy fish. Happy fish." She sang quietly to her sister.
"Shut up."
"It's catchy."
"It's annoying."
Next Episode: Copy That