Dino Thunder: Return of the Eclipse- Chapter 31: In Your Dreams
Disclaimer: Saban owns all Power Ranger lines.
Copyright: All unrecognizable parts and characters are under December's Phoenix's copyright.
Summary: Dreams can get weird; thankfully, the Guardian of the Moon is there to help.
It was a late night for the Rangers—one of the latest that they've had. The moon hung high in the sky, watching its Guardian and her friends. They were all catching up on homework at Hayley's, which was neglected because of training and battles. Laptops, reading, and textbooks sat scattered around the two tables they pulled together near the back of the cafe.
Lucy shared a table with Ethan and Conner. The Blue Ranger vigorously typed away on his computer while the Red Ranger worked on some history homework. The Lunar Guardian held a red pen in hand, reading over a paper she had written a day ago. She leaned back in her chair, her legs slung over Conner's lap. She hummed, crossing off something on her report.
The door to Hayley's opened and closed, but none of the Rangers moved to see who it was. "What were you guys doing here so late?" Dr. Oliver asked, walking over to the five.
"You know I love being a Ranger, but it can put you in a crunch regarding homework," Ethan stated, eyes never drifting from the laptop in front of him. "This primate paper took up all of my free time."
"I know what you mean. I've got a 10-page paper on reptiles due on Monday." Kira added her paper in front of her.
"I'm editing a 15-page paper on the French Revolution for my government class due Monday." Lucy joined in. "Not to mention all the paperwork I have for the Eclipse Academy sitting in my apartment."
Conner lifted his head, hand moving to squeeze his girlfriend's calf. "I have got you guys beat." The Rangers turned to him, waiting for his response. "I am caught up on my homework, but my mom wants me to take her Christmas shopping all weekend." All the Rangers groaned.
"Well, I suggest everybody goes home and gets a good night's sleep." Dr. Oliver stated.
"Yeah, you're right. I'm going to hit it." Conner agreed, gently lifting Lucy's legs off his own. He rose to collect his backpack and papers around his space.
Kira stacked her papers, shoving them into her backpack. "Good idea."
Three of the four Rangers gathered their things, leaving their table and heading to the door. Trent was the only one not to move. "I'm going to be here for a little while longer. I have a midterm coming up, and I'm way behind."
"Have a good night!" Lucy called, pushing through the door. She waved Ethan and Kira off, watching them climb into Dr. Oliver's jeep so he could take them home. She turned to see Conner standing by her. "You good?"
"Want me to take you home?" Conner asked, slinging an arm around Lucy's shoulders and pulling her close—a cool breeze zipped by them, causing the ninja to shiver.
"Yeah, if you wouldn't mind. I could ninja streak, but I'm afraid I'd run into something. And Crystal took the car." Lucy laughed, settling an arm around his waist. "I live at the apartments on the edge of town."
"Luce, that's out in the middle of nowhere."
"And?"
"Crystal there?"
The ninja sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "No, just me."
"Want some company?"
"Won't your parents get worried?"
Conner shook his head. "My parents are focused on my little sister at the moment. She's going through a teenager phase, and I need out of the house."
"I mean, if you wanna spend the night, but when I get into the apartment, I'm going to bed."
"Deal."
Lucy wasn't kidding.
When she arrived at the apartment with Conner, she handed him some clothes that he left at her apartment, kissed him, and immediately headed for bed. Conner changed and settled on the couch, pulling the blanket from the back of the sofa. He sat there for a minute, listening and waiting to see if Lucy was coming out at any point. When she didn't, Conner settled back on the couch after some long minutes. He was about to head to sleep when a door creaked open.
"Shh," Lucy whispered to it. "He's asleep."
Conner chuckled. "No, I'm not." He sat up, turning to find the ninja between her doorframe and the couch. "Everything okay?"
"Yes." Lucy smiled, but it fell quickly after. ".…no."
"Did you even get in bed?"
"No, I was brushing my teeth, and all I think about was the battle." Lucy rubbed at her face, sighing. She sat on the coffee table. "I think the close encounter with the abyss a week ago didn't help in trying to stop her." She rubbed at her face again, pausing when her hands were all over her face. She pulled away, scratching her scalp.
Conner sat up, taking her hands in his. "You know she's not gonna hurt you, right?" He told her. He watched her shoot him a look. "Not even a smile? Man, you need a hug." He gently tugged her to him. She sat next to him, letting him gather her in his arms.
Lucy vaguely felt him lay back, with her fully on top of him, then the thick blanket from the back of the couch wrapped around her. "Thank you."
"I told you months ago that I was here to help," Conner told her, tightening his grip on her. "We're teammates and dating. I told you I would protect you. So, stop overthinking like you normally do."
Lucy chuckled. "Don't hog the blanket." She murmured, her arms slipping between his in a hug, burying her face in his chest.
The Red Ranger rolled his eyes. "Don't kick me."
"I do not kick. I sleep like the dead."
"The bruise I had from you sleeping on the couch said different," Conner stated, getting comfier with Lucy in his arms. He rolled to the side, practically smushing Lucy against the couch and himself, her legs thrown over his legs.
The ninja rolled her eyes, shifting around for a second. "That wasn't me, and you know it, McKnight." She tucked her head under his. "Night, Con."
Conner listened to Lucy breathing even out. "Night, Luce."
Dr. Oliver flipped through the air, landing in front of a monster. It looked like a combination of a flower, a reptile, and all sorts of other things. "Who were you?" The monster growled.
"The guy who was going to stop you." The Black Ranger tapped his chest, throwing his arm out. "I am…the Black Ranger." He hollered, falling into his familiar stance.
"Big deal." The monster laughed, starting to circle Dr. Oliver. The Black Ranger followed his lead, stepping around in a circle. "Your poses don't intimidate me." He shoved a hand out. "Squid missiles."
Dr. Oliver rolled out of the way of the blast. He jumped up into the air. "Brachio staff!" He called, yanking his weapon from his belt. He struck the monster multiple times, pushing him back.
The monster, finally having enough, caught Dr. Oliver's staff. He swung once. He aimed his blaster and fired at the doctor, sending him back. "I get your staff."
Dr. Oliver stumbled to his feet, grunting. "No one takes my weapon and gets away with it." He clenches his fist. "Time to take it to the next level. Super Dino Mode!" He called. The monster backed away in fear. Dr. Oliver ran forward, pushing up and flipping through the air. He extended one foot, striking the beast with the spikes on his boot. He swung again, using the points on his forearms. He struck again. Again. Again.
The monster released his staff into the air, exploding in flames.
"Don't mess with the man in black." Dr. Oliver called, catching his flying staff.
The three Rangers and Crystal arrived at that moment. "Dr. Oliver, sorry we're late," Conner called.
The Black Ranger turned to them. "Hey, guys, it's all good." Then, a cloud of black smoke appeared, releasing the rain that energized the monsters. Dr. Oliver lifted his morpher. "Brachiozord." He smiled at the familiar rumble of his zord. It stopped in the middle of the city, releasing the Tyranno, Tricera, and Ptera zords from their holding bays to form their Megazord.
The monster shot out something. It wrapped around the Megazord. The monster laughed. "I have this all wrapped up. Now for the big squeeze." The paper tightens around the Megazord. The Rangers inside groaned when they were squished. "Got a headache?" The monster asked, pulling a disk with a skull on it out of his back. "I can fix that." He threw the disk and many more at the Rangers.
"Ankylozord." Dr. Oliver called from the ground. He and the Guardian watched the Brachiozord lower its head for the Ankylozord to trot down from where it stays. In seconds, the Ankylozord replaced the Tricerazord.
Conner nodded. "Sweet, just what we needed."
"Squid Missiles!" The monster fired the same projectiles at the Megazord.
"Ankylo-Shield," Conner called. The Megazord used the spinning top of the Ankylozord as a shield, knocking the missiles off course.
"You can't stop me." The monster charged.
"Thundersaurus Megazord. Double Drill Attack." The Megazord powered up its drills, slashing at the monster and destroying it.
"Yes, we did it." Dr. Oliver cheered.
"Dr. Oliver," A voice called. He turned to find Lucy standing next to him. She reached out, tapping a finger against his helmet. "Wake up."
Dr. Oliver bolted awake, breathing deeply. He squinted, thinking back to his dream. It was odd. The squid monster. The Guardian in his dream. "Man, I should not have had that calamari for dinner." He complained, looking around before flopping back onto his bed.
"Wow, a real-life Power Ranger." The monster in front of Kira clasped his hands together. He was a giant alligator-type monster. Similar to the one that Kira wrote about in her stupid paper. "What's your name, cutie?"
"Ptera power. Yellow Ranger." Kira announced, sticking her pose.
"Oh, hold the phone. I think I'm in love." He turned around. "I know that I am supposed to destroy her. But I'd rather marry her." He turned back to Kira. "How about it, sweetie?" He pushed his jaw closed a few times.
"You're disgusting!" Kira pointed at him. "Someone tell me this was a dream."
"Kira!" Crystal called, running over to the Yellow Ranger with the Red and Blue Rangers behind her. The Golden Guardian stopped in front of the Rangers, a rapier in hand, which seemed odd to Kira, considering she had a different kind of sword, not the one she carried as a Ninja Ranger. And her sister wasn't with them. "What's happening?" Crystal asked, drawing her attention.
Kira pushed the Gold Guardian forward, watching her stumble for a second. "Keep that freak away from me."
"Time for a distraction." The monster announced. "Triptoids!"
"Huh?" Conner asked, calling on his staff. He jumped into battle, taking the time to start taking down henchmen.
"Tricera-shield," Ethan called, knocking out a few triptoids.
"Laser blaster." Kira pulled her blaster from her belt, firing a ring around. She then fired a few shots at the alligator monster.
"Yellow Ranger. I've been struck but the laser of your love." He got giddy. "I hope your feel the same way. We come from two different worlds. Oh, come here and kiss me." He charged her.
"Oh, get me out of here." Kira took off.
"Hey, back off." Crystal gripped the hilt of her rapier when she landed in front of the monster. Conner and Ethan were behind her. Conner struck the beast back with his staff.
The monster landed. "Nice try. But you can't stand in the way of true love."
The three Rangers tilted their helmeted head. Kira jumped back in. "You need to crawl back into the swamp."
The monster's knees wiggled. "Yellow Ranger, say you'll be mine. You're my ultimate dream girl." He got down on one knee.
Kira backed up. "You're a nightmare."
"Took my heart. It's all yours." He sent a comic pink heart at the Rangers. Conner and Ethan sent it right back at him. It exploded and sparked.
Kira stood from her crouch. "Yeah, that did it." She cheered. "Man, I'm glad that's over."
"What's going on here?" Conner asked, touching the side of his helmet.
"Some kind of dream curse?" Ethan questioned.
"Kira." Lucy reached out her index finger, tapping against the middle of Kira's forehead. "Kira. Wake up."
Kira sat up in bed. She glanced around, eyes wild. She thought of her dream. She had to be dreaming if it contained a love-sick monster who intended to date her and the Lunar Guardian waking her up. "What was that about?"
"Hello, Rangers. Welcome to Ethan's Nightmare. I hope you brought your dancing boots." The monster, a mix of palm trees and monkeys, sang to Conner, Kira, Dr. Oliver, and Crystal. The four Rangers stood in their suits, facing the monster.
"All right, what do you want with it?" Dr. Oliver asked, hands on his hips.
"And what were you?" Kira added.
"I'm afraid to ask," Conner interjected, his arms across his chest. He stared at the monster.
"I think everyone should be." Crystal retorted, hands on her hips.
"I'm Rumba Monkey." He danced, firing green lasers at the four. It sent them back. "Well done!" He turned around, finding Ethan leaning up against a tree and clapping.
Ethan folded his arms over his chest. "Creative. I'll give you that."
"You're next, Blue Ranger." Rumba Monkey moved to fire.
Ethan drew his blaster, dropped to the ground, and blasted the monkey before he could get the Ranger. Rumba Monkey rolled to his feet. "I'm out of here." He took off.
Ethan followed. "Hold on!" He called.
The fight moved to an open field. Rumba Monkey danced around, eyes darting everywhere. "Now, where did my little Rangers go?" He climbed a hill. "Come on, where were you?" He sang. He cheered when he spotted the Rangers at the top of the mountain.
"Oh, goodie, you found us," Crystal spoke with a deadpan tone, her rapier resting against her shoulder. Her helmet gleamed in the sun. She stood between the Rangers. "What a joy that the game's ended."
"Okay, now I know this was a dream. Because nothing, in reality, was that ugly." Ethan insulted.
Rumba Monkey shivered. "Oh, that was just cold." He fired blasts at the Rangers.
They all dodged it. "That's twice you've missed us," Conner told him.
"Think again, Dino Dorks." Steam left the second nose under the first. "Now I'm steamed." He jumped up. He tried to attack Dr. Oliver. The Black Ranger blocked his grab, shoving him back.
"Put 'em together," Ethan announced.
"Z-rex Blaster." The four call. Dr. Oliver held the blaster steady.
"Whoa." Rumba Monkey covered his eyes.
"Ready!" Ethan called.
"Fire!" Conner ordered.
Rumba Monkey was gone in seconds. Then, a cloud of black smoke appeared, releasing the rain that energized the monsters. He rose to his full height. "For my next number." He pulled two pink maracas out. "And a one. Two. And a cha-cha-cha this town to the ground." He danced around, vibrating the Earth under the Rangers. The Rangers stumbled and fell to the ground. "Shake it, then break it."
"That music…we have to… stop it," Conner called, struggling to rise.
"Please do," Ethan complained. "Zord time."
The Brachiozord came stomping in, making the monster turn to him. The three primary zords combined into the Megazord, standing against them. Rumba Monkey charged them. "It took two to tango." He kicked. The Megazord blocked, using the Tricerazord hand once. Twice. Three times before stabbing him, shoving him back.
"You Rangers will pay for ruining my dance party. Hold on to your helmets!" He sang. The music slows and then speeds up. "Kiss your Megazord goodbye." He blasted the Rangers. They were knocked back.
"Okay, I'm ready to wake up!" Ethan gripped his sphere. Another blast rattled them. A third came from his back. The Megazord broke apart. The Rangers were spat out of their zords.
"Rumba Monkey rules the dance floor." He celebrated.
Dr. Oliver and Crystal ran over to them. "You guys okay?" The Solar Guardian asked.
"Yeah," Conner answered.
All the Rangers turned to see Rumba Monkey swaying and moving to sit down. "Looked like he's out of steam," Crystal muttered.
"I need to take a load off." Rumba Monkey sat back on a building.
The music got faster. "Let's go!" Conner called. The Megazord formed in seconds.
Rumba Monkey turned to the sounds. "Huh?"
"Take two." The Rangers announced. "Dino Drill." The rapidly spinning Tyrannozord tail sliced through Rumba Monkey in seconds.
He grunted, electricity crackling through him. "You may have survived. But I doubt your friends will. Rumba Monkey has left the building." He fell to the ground, exploding on impact.
"Ethan." Ethan turned to find the cockpit of the Megazord empty, except for the Lunar Guardian. She smiled at him, reaching out and tapping her index finger against the middle of Ethan's forehead. "Wake up."
The Blue Ranger frantically opened his eyes, looking around. He rolled over, seeing the monkey he had pulled up on his laptop. "No more monkeys." He slammed the laptop closed. He laid back down, breathing. "That was a little too real."
"What are we chasing?" Ethan asked from the back of his raptor.
Conner didn't look back at his teammates; he only focused on the monster before them. "I have no idea."
It was a monster that vaguely looked like a gnome, hit by a multiple of Santa's reindeer mixed with the Christmas section at the mall. "I'm Rude Elf." He laughed.
"Go for it, Ethan!" Conner called.
Ethan fired lasers from the back of his raptor. They hit Rude Elf in the butt. He dances around. "Ah, that tickles." He laughed. Kira swiped with her sword. Once. Twice. That sent Rude Elf packing, flying back.
"Hop on, guys!" Conner called. He felt Ethan and Kira hop on. Their captors took off. The three formed their Z-rex Blaster.
"I brought my little helpers." Rude Elf banged the bells on his cuffs together. "Triptoids!" The pods of henchmen fell in between the blaster and Rude Elf. "You can't hit us all." He sang.
"He's right." Conner reluctantly agreed.
"We'd waste all of our power," Kira added.
"Any suggestions?" Conner tried.
The Rangers fell back, turning to face Rude Elf. "My jingle bells will jangle you." He violently shook his wrists, sending loud bell sounds at the Rangers. All three clutch their ears, suits sparking.
Kira could barely think. She stared at her paper, but her mind was wrapped up in her weirdo dream and, more importantly, the idea that Lucy appeared in it. She barely registered the beeping of her morpher but snapped out of her thoughts when Ethan's voice crackled over it. "Kira, you there?"
The Yellow Ranger stopped writing. She moved away from her lit desk, lifting her wrist to talk. "Yeah, I'm up. I just had the strangest dream."
"Me too." Ethan agreed. "And I don't think it was a recurring dream. Lucy was in it."
Kira nodded, then stopped. Ethan couldn't see her nod. "She made me wake up."
"Yeah, me too. Maybe the dreams were one of Mesogog's warped ideas."
"We better contact the others," Kira stated, the switched channels on the morpher. "Kira to Trent, hello?"
Trent grunted. "What's up?"
"Was everything okay over there?"
"Yeah, still studying," Trent reported, exhaustion dripping into his voice.
"Okay, whatever you do, don't fall asleep."
Trent grunted again, sounding like he was smiling. "Easy for you to say."
While Kira had luck, Ethan didn't feel any of it. He had tried contacting Lucy, only to get nothing but static. The Red Ranger wasn't answering either. "Conner!" He called into his gem for what felt like the ninth time. "Conner! Conner, wake up!"
The Red Ranger was stuck in his nightmare. He thrashed around on the couch, causing Lucy to get kicked off the couch. She collided with the legs of the coffee table, grunting at the connection, but the little sphere of silver light in her hand stopped her from waking up.
Conner groaned from the ground. "We're getting thrashed." He climbed to his feet. "This was like some bad dream."
Dr. Oliver and Crystal appeared beside him. "You guys okay?" Crystal asked, helping Kira up to her feet.
"Yeah." Conner nodded.
They turned to Rude Elf, who stood above them. "Merry Christmas!" He screamed out, firing yellow electricity at the Rangers. All five hit the ground. "Love my holiday cheer?"
"What the hell is that thing?" Crystal asked, climbing to her feet. "Who's crack idea was this?"
Conner got back to his feet. "I'd rather be shopping." Conner charged but was stopped by Rude Elf's electricity once again. It shocked him violently.
Kira sighed, thinking about the one Ranger left to check up on before she called Ethan back. She switched channels, praying to whatever deities the sisters prayed to, and Crystal answered groggily. "Brewer." She groaned, shuffling across the connection. Crystal grunted seconds later. "Bite me, Bradley."
Kira chuckled. "Geez, Crystal."
"Sorry, my boyfriend's being an ass. Hunter, we have answered our morphers in the dark before; shut up." Crystal insulted. Another grunt resounded. "Hunter! Gods, let go of me. Ugh, make it quick, Kira."
Kira shook his head. "Did you have a weird and very odd nightmare?"
Crystal didn't answer at first; some wrestling was happening on her side of the connection. Then, finally, she replied. "No?" Her answer was more of a question. "Our Academy has ancient runes that protect everyone within from outside interference. Why? Did you?"
"Yeah, and Lucy told me to wake up."
The Golden Guardian seemed to be mulling over the information Kira told her. A smack resounded. "Makes sense. Look, she's the Lunar Guardian. Part of that is protecting the Dream Realm and the inhabitant." Crystal answered, shuffling happening in the background.
Kira suddenly remembered the Latin phrase Lucy once spoke. "Oh, the cust-custos?"
"Custos Somni Regni," Crystal spoke. "Guardian of the Dream Realm. She probably sensed something was wrong in the realm and is actively trying to get you awake before anything happened."
"Can she do that?"
"We don't know much about our powers, so yeah, it's possible." Crystal sighed. "Look, Kira, this conversation is riveting, to say the least, but can I go back to bed? My boyfriend threatened to smother me in my sleep."
"I am not!" Was yelled in the distance of Crystal's morpher.
"Sorry to bother you."
Crystal laughed. "Kira, don't worry about that. I'm just messing around. I hope I helped in some way."
"You did. Night, Crystal."
"Night, Kira. Hunter. Get off. I wanna cuddle."
Kira shook her head, switching channels and returning to Ethan. He spoke first. "Conner's not answering. Neither is Lucy."
"Just got off with Crystal, and she had no dreams. But said that what we saw was Lucy's powers. Crystal reminded me that she was the Guardian of the Dream Realm so she might be helping Conner out of his dream. But let's check with Dr. O."
"Dr. O, something freaky was going on," Ethan told his mentor.
"Don't tell me bad dreams?" Dr. Oliver asked.
"Kira and I. Crystal's fine, and Lucy and Conner aren't responding."
"Maybe they need some help." Dr. Oliver suggested.
"Right, Kira?" Ethan asked.
"On it." The two pushed their powers through right to Conner to help him.
Conner rose to his feet, breathing heavily. He suddenly felt rippling magic surround him. "What's going on?"
"Conner."
The Red Ranger turned to find his girlfriend standing in front of him. To him, she was…ethereal. A silver crown with a moon at the center sat on her head, just behind her hairline. She wore a silver dress with gauzy sleeves. It was fitted through her torso and a flowing skirt around her. She stood across from him with a quiver of arrows, a bow, and her rapier on her back. "Conner, I need you to wake up." She spoke, her voice soft and melodic.
Conner shook his helmeted head. "I can't."
Her hand found his helmet, where his cheek was. "Yes, you can." Lucy told him. "But Kira and Ethan are sending some help, just in case." She winked.
"I feel it," Conner announced, feeling the powers of his primary colored partners flow through him. "Triassic Ranger, all power." In a flash, he was standing, Triassic mode on and at full power. "Shield of Triumph!" Conner lifted his shield. "Transport to Triassic Dimension now!"
The two were gone in seconds.
In Mesogog's lab, Elsa stood at the monitors, snarling. Her fists clenched on the table, her anger quickly rising. She thought it was going to work. It had to work. The mythology she read stated that people could be destroyed in their dreams, but the Rangers differed. Every attempt to destroy the Rangers leaned heavily on the Red Ranger's destruction in his nightmare.
But the Lunar Guardian was getting in the way of everything. She was waking them all up, startling them from the nightmare slumber she put them under. If the Red Ranger's dream fails…Elsa didn't even want to think about that.
The screen stopped at the Guardian, standing in the middle of the plaza. She breathed in, blinking slowly. "Nice try, Elsa." She spoke. "You had a good plan going. Destroy the Rangers in the dream realm. Smart. But… did it ever occur to you that this—this was my territory?" At that moment, Elsa could have sworn that Lucy looked right at her, a dark smirk on her lips. "The Guardian of the Night protects this realm. Find another cheap shot to take."
Rude Elf landed in the middle of the dimension, where it was snowing. "Oh, let it snow!"
Conner appeared. "Welcome to my winter wonderland."
"Whatever. Wherever you're through." Rude Elf took off, flying right at Conner. The Red Ranger blocked, sending him back. He struck once. Twice. He passed by him multiple times, sticking him. Conner landed, facing him. Rude Elf sent a blast. Conner blocked. He clicked his tongue.
The Red Ranger hit the blaster, firing shots at Rude Elf. "Triassic Sword, power up!" He ran a hand along the blade. "Ice Blast!" He caught Rude Elf, sending him up. Rude Elf couldn't take the power from Conner and ended up exploding. "Hm, extra chunky," Conner stated, landing back on solid ground.
Then, a cloud of black smoke appeared, releasing the rain that energized the monster. He rose to his full height. "Hello!"
"Mezodon Rover!" Conner called. He turned to find the Rover running towards them. Kira and Ethan stopped beside him. "Ready to rock?"
"Yeah." The three disappeared into the Mezodon Rover.
Conner laid his shield in front of him. "Activate Mezodon Megazord."
"Oh, I'm so scared." Rude Elf fakely quivered in fear.
"You should be," Conner announced.
The Megazord charged forward, dodging the electricity Rude Elf was firing at them. He was shocked when the Megazord swung at him, striking his chest. He backed up. "Oh, well, Rude Elf brought his bag of tricks." He turned around, flashing a new bag over his shoulder. "Now, what do we have for you today?" He asked, bringing the bag into his hands. He opens the back.
The Megazord was suddenly wrapped up in rope. "He's got us."
The bag sucked the Megazord into the bag. "I've always wanted my Power Rangers." He cheered, swinging the bag around. "Bye-bye, now off to deliver more destruction."
"Wait!" Dr. Oliver chased after him. "You're not going anywhere, Brachiozord." He landed on the crest of his beloved zord. "Give me the bag!" He challenged.
"You're not getting anything." Rude Elf snarked. "You're being too good."
"Brachiostaff." Dr. Oliver called, swinging his arm out wide to create a bubble. "Energy Orb." He sent it flying at Rude Elf. It hit the bag, releasing the Rangers. The Megazord turned once it landed.
Kira nodded. "Thanks, Dr. O."
"You guys got it from here?" Dr. Oliver asked.
"Yeah. Were you guys ready?" Conner glanced at the two.
"Auxiliary Zord," Ethan called.
"Online," Kira reported.
The three watched all their auxiliary zords, including Crystal and Lucy's zords, running to them. "Triceramax Megazord." The Rangers announced. In seconds, their zord stood tall.
Rude Elf cowered. "Oh, dear."
The Megazord charged to full power, sending everything they had at Rude Elf. He cries, falling back and crashing to the ground in a fit of sparks.
"Conner." The Red Ranger turned to see Lucy standing next to him. She placed her hands on his helmet. "Wake up."
Conner sat up, breathing heavily. He felt the couch material below him and the blanket pooling around his waist fall off the side of the sofa. He didn't move at first. The dream felt too real. He breathed deeply. "Okay, no way am I going Christmas shopping." He muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"I'm glad you came to that realization."
The soccer star whipped around, finding Lucy on the ground between the couch and the coffee table. One arm rested on her stomach; the other was over her eyes. Her legs were tangled in the blanket, suspended between the floor and the couch. He reached down, grabbing Lucy around her back and pulling her to him. They collided, smacking foreheads in the process.
"Ow!" Lucy cried, pulling away slightly to rub her forehead. She shifted her legs around, sitting with them around Conner's lap. His legs kept her sitting there. "Gods, Conner. A little warning would be nice every once in a while."
"Sorry," Conner chuckled, one hand resting on her thigh while the other brushed hair from her face. "I kick you to the ground?"
"I don't know." Lucy dropped her hand, letting her fingers tangle with his that had come to rest in his lap. "Maybe I rolled off. My back hurts so it could have been both of us. You okay?" Her free hand moved up to move some of the hair falling on his face.
Conner sighed, taking her hand in his. "Yeah, just a weird dream." He told her, nodding. "You were very persistent in waking me up."
"Yeah, Mesogog was trying to destroy you in your dreams," Lucy answered, scrunching her nose. She laughed when Conner pressed his lips against her cheekbone. "I get it. You love me." She laughed, pushing him away.
Conner locked his arms around Lucy's back. "I do." He pressed another one to her temple.
Lucy's morpher beeped seconds later, making both Rangers turn to her wrist. "It's the middle of the night, you know."
"Lucy!" Kira cried out, sounding like she was releasing a sigh of relief. "Thank god. Have you heard from Conner?"
"Yeah, sitting right in front of me."
"What?" Ethan asked.
Lucy rolled her eyes. "I wasn't having a very good day. Conner spent the night and ended up shoving me off the couch." She explained, laughing at her boyfriend, who glared at her. "After I helped you out and freed our team."
"Thank you for that, by the way," Kira mentioned. "Crystal mentioned you might be helping."
"Part of the job of being a Guardian. I'm only going to say this once. All of you had weird dreams, so stop." Lucy chuckled. "Now, I don't know about all of you, but I need some sleep. I am exhausted from saving your sorry asses." She glanced at her ringing phone, answering it. "Hello?"
"So, I'm guessing that everything's okay?" Crystal asked, sleep-edging her voice.
"Yeah, I threatened to skin Elsa alive if she tried again, so we shouldn't have any other worries." Lucy laughed.
"Right on." Crystal cheered. "Well, I forgot to call you earlier since I knew you were at Hayley's with the team, but I'll see you in a few hours for training."
"I love early morning training."
"No you don't. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
"Right there with you, Luce." Ethan sighed, opening the channel again.
"Night, guys."
"Night." The Yellow and Blue Rangers spoke simultaneously.
Lucy dropped her wrist to look at Conner. "Can we move to my bed? I don't want to get shoved off again and keep bruising my back." She climbed off the sofa, watching Conner move to follow her. "Shove me off, and I'm breaking up with you."
Conner snorted and wrapped his arms around her. "I would like to see you try…Louisa."
"…I'm gonna shove you off the bed, Conner."
Next Episode: Drawn Into Danger