I don't own Power Rangers or Cross Ange; those belong to their creators. This is for fun, not profit.
Chapter 5: The Children of Aura
In the Misurugi Empire, it was now the day of Angelise's baptism ritual on her sixteenth birthday. The baptism is a sacred ritual when a member of the royal family comes of age they will officially be accepted as a political and policy marker.
The citizens had gathered and celebrated this joyous day as the Misurugi family were traveling by car to the Column of Dawn.
When they arrived and after the emperor gave his speech to the citizens of his empire, the princess soon entered a capsule and soon the Column lit up with the Light of Mana, everything was going well until suddenly the light died down and an alarm was heard from the column soon after.
Everyone recognizes it as the Norma detection alarm. While everyone was wondering what was happening both Angelise's parents were horrified as they wondered what went wrong as they made sure that this wouldn't happen.
That is when Angelise's elder brother, Julio had told his father that this was his doing and also revealed that he knew about both of his parents' deception.
Julio soon stood in front of the citizens of the Misurugi Empire and told them the hidden secret kept only to the Emperor and Empress, that the first imperial princess Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi…was a Norma.
Everyone, including Angelise's younger sister Sylvia was shocked to hear that. As Julio gave a hateful speech about his parents' deception, Empress Sophia quickly opens the capsule Angelise was trapped in and they soon make a run for it.
After having some close encounters with some guards, both Sohpia and her daughter made it outside but only to be ambushed by guards waiting for them outside along with officers from the Norma Management Board.
The officers wanted to confirm that Angelise was indeed a Norma like her brother had told them.
After setting up a barrier around the princess, it shattered with a single touch from Angelise's finger which showed that she was in fact a Norma.
When Angelise tries to defend herself by drawing her sword, a frightened officer fires his gun at her, and Sophia jumps in front of it to block it with her barrier, but it was too late as the bullet shot in her chest.
Seeing that horrified Angelise as her mother falls to the ground and she drops her sword and falls to her knees.
"Mother!" Angelise shouted as she picked up her mother by the neck and back.
As she was dying from her wound and losing blood, Sophia weakly opened her eyes and stared at her daughter's face.
"I wanted to protect you…From the truth…" Sophia mutters as she reaches out and caresses her daughter's cheek and tears appear from Angelise's eyes. "Live on…Angelise…No matter what…"
Sophia then succumbs to her wounds and dies in her daughter's arms.
"Mother!" Angelise cries out in sadness.
But before she could mourn for her mother's death, two guards grabbed Angelise's arms and made her stand up as the officer from the Norma Management Board stood in front of her.
"Under the Norma Control Act, article one, section three. I designate this Norma, Number 1203-77. Take her away." The officer told them.
"Yes, sir." The guards said as they were ready to take it away.
"You tricked us!" One of the citizens around calls out as they angrily glare at the princess that they once loved and admired.
Angelise then notices the members and friends of her school's Iaria club were also glaring at her in contempt thinking that she had deceived them all this time.
"So much for our bond…You liar!"
Angelise's eyes widened before the guards began to take her away as she looked at her mother's body.
"Mother…No, please let me go…Mother!" Angelise pleaded.
On the Column's platform, Julio along with his father Jurai and his personal bodyguard Riza, had watched Sophia's death with a Mana screen along with Angelise being taken away.
Jurai had fallen on his hand and knees with his other hand on his face as he was despairing by the death of his beloved wife and his daughter being taken away.
"Oh, Mother…" Julio said with a mask of sadness and behind it, he was actually overjoyed that his mother had died. He soon dismissed his screen and placed a hand on his eyes. "Riza, please prepare a state funeral for the Empress. And have the Emperor restrained."
"Yes, sir." Riza said before she and a guard knelt down to make Jurai stand up and take him away.
Julio then walks to her sister, Sylvia, the Second Princess of the Misurugi Empire who had just fainted after hearing the truth about her sister being a Norma.
She was resting on her hoverchair with a blanket and a pillow along with a tear on her eye.
Julio then uses his finger to wipe away the tear on her face.
"We're about to be busy, Sylvia." Julio said as he began to rub his thumb under her sister's lip. "Our royal bloodline has been tainted. And it's up to us to purify it."
Riza soon hands Jurai to another guard as they begin to take the disgraced Emperor away and Julio soon calls out to her.
"Riza." Riza turns to him as Julio walks to her. "I'll be assuming control of the Misurugi Empire. Under the name, Holy Emperor Julio the First."
Julio soon leaves to make the preparations for his ascension to the throne.
"Understood." Riza said before she made a smile on her face.
Unknown to everyone is that small and flying robotic spy cams were watching as they were giving off live footage to another location, or rather they were sending the footage to another Earth.
In the base, Dean, Pixel, and Salamandinay were watching Julio's coup d'etat using the spy cams. They watch from the start of Angelise's false baptism, then to Julio exposing her, and right to the end where Sophia died protecting her daughter.
As he was watching though, Dean was left disgusted on how Julio had betrayed his own family and was saddened by Sophia's death. Dean sighed before he rubbed his fingers on his eyes.
"I hate to be a broken record, but you were right, I didn't like this." Dean said.
Salamandinay placed a hand on his shoulder to at least give him some comfort.
"I know this is hard for you. But please at least try to understand, this might be our best chance to have actual eyes and ears on Embryo." She told him.
Dean rubs his hand down to his mouth.
"I know…You don't have to tell me." He mutters.
From what he learned from both Salamandinay and Salya, Embryo's world consists of six countries each being led by a different world leader.
In the Misurugi Empire, it was led by an emperor known as Jurai Asuka Misurugi before he was dethroned by his son Julio.
The Kingdom of Rosenblum is led by a king.
The Galia Empire is led by an emperor.
The Velda Dynasty is led by a queen.
The Marmeria Republic has a general secretary.
The Enderant Union is led by a president.
Despite the great authority and political power that each world leader has over their own nation, they were merely acting as the figure heads for their master and the true ruler of the world, Embryo.
Like the rest of Embryo's false humans, their view against the Norma was just like the rest of them with the exception of Angelise's parents who choose to love and protect their daughter at any cost.
Knowing the kind of person Julio was, it didn't surprise Dean that he would use this chance to dethrone his father to make himself the emperor of the Misurugi Empire but that gave Salamandinay's group a golden opportunity.
From what he learned from Salamandinay, the Children of Aura had managed to send one of their own as a spy. The spy they had sent is known as Lizardia who assumed the identity of Riza Randog on the other Earth.
Lizardia had managed to join the ranks of the Misurugi Empire's royal guard; she quickly climbed through the ranks eventually becoming its captain.
During her time as a member of the royal guard, Lizardia had caught the eye of Julio and she became his personal bodyguard and mistress, and that gave Lizardia a perfect opportunity.
Lizardia has been secretly feeding Julio a specialized concoction that puts Julio in a hypnotic state which puts him under Lizardia's control making him highly subjective by her voice and beauty.
But Julio's lust for power and his actions against his parents and sister were still his own choices, but it also gave them the best chance to have an unwilling spy against Embryo.
"But I still wish it hadn't come to this. I mean, a woman just died." Dean said.
There was a bit of sadness in Salamandinay's eyes before she turned around.
"I know, and it is something I will live with. But I won't repent for it. For the sake of my people and to free Aura, I must harden my resolve and do whatever is necessary." Salamandinay slightly clenches her hand.
"Salamandinay." Dean said before she turned to him.
"But you should not worry. Just because I won't repent for this, it doesn't mean I'll forget about it." Salamandinay said before she walked to the transporter. "I'll take my leave now. You should get some rest for tomorrow."
Salamandinay soon uses the transporter to leave and head back to the town. Dean then looks down as he thought back to her words earlier.
"Harden your resolve huh?" Dean said before he recalls the times when he had to make hard decisions for the sake of his team and protecting their world.
Dean then looks back at the now deceased Sophia with sadness, while she may not hear his voice, Dean could only say this to her.
"I know you can't hear me. But, I want you to know that I'm sorry."
Dean then turns off the computer before he stands up and leaves the command room.
(Play: Believe in Nexus by Masaaki Endoh)
(Instrumental) (As the song starts, two Earths appear one at a time before they collide against each other creating a flash of light which blinded the screen.)
(Sono te nobashi te mabayui ashita o tsukamitore! Mugen no sora hamatake Believe in Nexus!) (Five of the Nexus Zords had appeared as the Racer, Wolf, and Dozer Zords were racing on a large road while the Chopper and Falcon Zords were flying above them before they turned into a flash of light and flew into the vast open sky before the story's title appeared on screen.)
(Araburu kono shoudo daremino tomiranai!) (The Nexus Rangers were standing on a hill as they looked at the town where the Children of Aura resides as some of them in DRAGON form flew above them as they watched them in awe.)
(Hiri asa mi kirikou o taka maru kono Heart Beat!) (Then it changes to a split screen with Salamandinay looking at her Enryugo as it was still incomplete, and Ange who was in her room in Arzenal as she was seated on her bed while looking at her ring, before it changes to Embryo and behind him was a man hidden in darkness holding a Morpher in his hand.)
(Bi chinai sou o natato sekawaerai!) (Then it changes showing an army of Xedroids and behind them were Prince Crimson, General Swartz, and Cyber.)
(Koko de oarasatakunai Go For It!) (Next the screen changes to the Rangers commencing their Morphin Sequence as they Morph into their suits before their helmets appeared.)
(Tachiagare kodoku ni obiekuru e naide!) (The screen changes showing a fleet of Xe-Fighters and an army of Xe-Bots charging forward to attack, then changes to the Nexus Rangers loading their Zord Cards into their Morphers as they soon appear, and the Rangers jump into them.)
(Nakama ma batte irukoto mou ichido omoidase!) (In his cockpit, the Nexus Red Ranger inserts his Battle Mode Card into his Morpher and his Racer Zord changes into the said mode.)
(Kowaku wa naisa akirame wa shinai donna tsugoi yatsu ni mo make wa shinai itsudatte o kino yuuki de Believe In Nexus!) (Then each of the Nexus Zord launch respective attacks on their enemies before the Kaiser Sphere in the sky. Then the Zords combine forming the Nexus Prime Megazord, and then energy appears around the Megazord before it flies at the Kaiser Sphere to attack and when it collides against the Sphere a large flash of light appears blinding the screen. Then it changes to both Earths before the Nexus Rangers along with the villain leaders appeared as they faced each other.)
Salamandinay along with Naga and Kaname were walking in the hallway as Pixel was giving them a small tour of their base.
"I swear, this base will never cease to amaze me." Salamandinay said as she looked at the hallway, and Pixel turned to her.
"I'm glad to hear, but what you've seen so far was only the surface. This base basically has everything you need. A fully stock kitchen, bedrooms, a medical bay, and even a laboratory. Heck, it's even big enough to hold several Zords." Pixel said.
"Like the one Dean uses?" Salamandinay asked, and Pixel nodded.
"That's right." She said.
"Amazing…" Kaname said.
"But how big is this place exactly?" Naga asked.
Pixel rubs the back of her head.
"Well…Let's not get into the details, let's just say it's big." Pixel said.
"I see." Salamandinay said. "As much as I would like to see more of this place, we must find Dean. We can't keep the High Priestess waiting."
Part of the reason they were here is to bring Dean to the High Priestess so she could meet and talk with him.
"Oh, right, of course. He's in the training room, just follow me." Pixel said before she flies to the said room with Salamandinay and her subordinates following her.
They soon arrived at the large door that leads to the said training room. Pixel then knocks on the door and calls out to Dean.
"Dean! Salamandinay and the others are here. It's time to go." But Dean wasn't able to respond, Pixel sighed and shook her head. "I swear, it's always like this with you."
A holographic button appeared in front of Pixel and pressed on it to open the large door.
Behind it, Salamandinay and her subordinates saw that the training room was based around a martial arts dojo with some training weapons on the walls along with practice dummies and a wall window.
That's when they saw Dean being thrown across the room before he fell on the padded floor.
"Dean!" Salamandinay said in worry as Dean stood up on his knee and foot before he punched on the floor as he looked up at his opponent.
Salamandinay and the others looked and saw Dean's opponent as well and saw it was a robot.
The robot had a black inner frame with silver armor pieces along with a black chest and shoulder guards. It also had black greaves on its shins. The robot's head was a bit large with blue lights on the side along with matching eyes and had black mouth shaped speaker on the face as well. On its waist was the Nexus Rangers' symbol that is colored red.
The robot then did a hand gesture for Dean to come at him.
Dean quickly stands up and charges at the robot, Dean punches and kicks at it but the robot easily blocks his attacks before it counters by throwing in his own punch, Dean blocks it with both of his arms but is forced to stumble back.
Dean shooks his arms before he jumps and throws a spin kick at the robot, but it blocks his kick and grabs onto his leg before the robot throws Dean across the room once again.
Dean sat up on his hands and knees, the robot walked to him to attack and Salamandinay couldn't stand by and do nothing.
"Come on!" Salamandinay said before she and her subordinates moved in to help Dean.
"Hey, wait!" Pixel calls out.
Dean soon looked up at the robot as it was moving closer to him, but then Salamandinay and her subordinates moved in and faced the robot as they were ready to fight it and defend Dean.
"Dean, are you alright?" Salamandinay asked.
"Salamandinay, what are you…?" Dean said.
Salamandinay then turns back to the robot.
"I don't know who you are or where you came from but stand down now." Salamandinay warned the robot.
The robot then scans Salamandinay and her subordinates and isn't able to recognize them.
"Intruders detected. Beginning annihilation." The robot said before its eyes turned red.
Salamandinay and her subordinates were on guard as the robot approached them, Dean quickly stood up and quickly moved in front of the robot to raise his hand in front of him.
"Whoa! Yamato, stand down! They're friends, remember?!" Dean shouted.
The robot soon stands down as his eyes turn back to blue.
"Hahaha. Relax, Dean, you know me. I was only messing around." Yamaoto said, and Salamandinay's group blinked in confusion.
Dean sighed as he lowered his hand.
"You know that's not funny." Dean said.
"Ummm…Dean, what is happening here?" Salamandinay asked, and Dean turned to them.
"Oh, right. I guess some introductions are in order." Dean said before he moved to the robot's side and placed a hand on its shoulder. "Everyone, this is Yamato. The Nexus Rangers' security and training bot."
"Security?" Naga said.
"Training?" Kaname said.
"I see…" Salamandinay said as she looked at Yamato in fascination. "Is this Yamato similar to Pixel?"
"No." Yamato shook his head. "I'm a one of a kind washing machine."
Salamandinay blinked in confusion and Dean sighed.
"Come on, Yama. Don't confuse them like that." Dean said before he turned to Salamandinay. "To answer your question, yes, Yamato has artificial intelligence just like Pixel. He's been programmed with every form of martial arts, so my friends and I would often train with him to keep our skills sharp."
"That's right. But between me and you guys, I enjoy kicking his butt sometimes." Yamato told their new allies, and Salamandinay's group sweat drops to hear that while Dean chuckles.
"Yeah…As you can see, he also has a bit of a sense of humor. But besides that, we also trust Yamato to keep the base safe along with Pixel." Dean said.
"I see…" Salamandinay said before she reached out her hand to Yamato. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Yamato."
Yamato then took her hand and shook it.
"The pleasure is all mine, Your Highness." Yamato said.
"Anyway, why are you three here?" Dean asked before Salamandinay stopped shaking Yamato's hand.
"Did you forget? You were supposed to meet the High Priestess." Salamandinay reminded him.
"Oh, right. That was today." Dean said before he turned to Yamato. "Looks like that's it for training for today, Yama."
"Seems like it. Well, what can you do?" Yamato said.
"Yeah." Dean said.
Then a holographic screen appeared beside Dean, and with a press of a button the martial arts dojo they were in soon changed into a dome shaped room with hexagon shaped platforms on the walls and floor along with a glass dome on the ceiling.
Seeing that amazed Salamandinay and her subordinates as they looked at the recently changed room.
"What the…?" Naga said.
"What happened?" Kaname asked.
Dean turns to them.
"Oh, right. This is your first time seeing the training room. This room is designed to be a virtual simulation facility using the latest tech of hard light and holographic technology." Dean explained before he pressed a button on the screen.
The dome on the ceiling lits up and the entire room changes to a modern-day city with cars driving on the street, and Salamandinay's group were left amazed once again.
"My friends and I used this room to train for any situation and in any environment. In here, anything is possible." Dean said before he pressed another button and the training room changed to a baseball stadium and they were all standing on the field. "And I do mean anything."
With a press of another button, a baseball appeared above Dean's hand as he caught it.
"Here." Dean tosses the ball to Salamandinay as she catches.
Salamandinay looked at the baseball in her hand and she could actually feel the leather cover around it.
"Amazing…It actually feels real." Salamandinay said before the baseball disappeared.
"Yeah, this room really is amazing." Dean said before he looks at the training room with a hint of sadness as he remembers a certain memory.
(Flashback)
Dean, in his Ranger form, was in the room as he engages in a battle in a ruined city landscape. Dean jumps above some ruined debris and rolls on the ground.
He uses his Nexus Blaster to destroy some of the simulation monsters, and then he brings out his Racer Saber to destroy the rest of them.
Dean exhales before he takes off his helmet, before he hears clapping as a friend of his walks to him.
"That was an impressive show, Dean." He told him.
"Well, you know me, I live to impress." Dean said before the training changes to its base form. "I have to say Shin, this training room is pretty amazing."
"Well, I live to impress too. With this we can train for any situation and in any environment. I really can't wait to show this to the others." Shin said.
"Yeah, I'm sure they'll love this." Dean said before he heard someone calling to him.
"Dean…Dean?"
(End flashback)
"Huh?" Dean blinks as he snaps out of his train of thought as Salamandinay was calling out to him.
"Is something wrong?" Salamandinay asked.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just spaced out for a moment." Dean said before the room changes to its base room.
Pixel then gets their attention by coughing in her hand.
"I know you want to learn more about the training room, but now's not the time." Pixel told them.
"Oh, right. Pardon me." Salamandinay said.
"Right, of course." Dean said before he headed to the door. "Just let me take a shower and change. I'll meet you in the command room."
"Don't take too long though." Salamandinay said.
"I know." Dean said as he left the room.
Pixel couldn't help but chuckle seeing those two interacting with each other.
'I swear…They're almost like an actual couple.' Pixel thought to herself.
Dean was walking in the hallway but then his eyes began to feel heavy as he took a moment to stop and rubbed his thumb and finger on his eyes.
"Guess Yama must have thrown me a bit too hard…" Dean mutters before he slaps on his cheeks a few times. "Just shake it off, Dean, all you need is a good shower and you'll be as good as new."
Dean then goes to the shower room to wash off the sweat on his body and to prepare himself for his meeting later.
Teleporting in front of the temple were Salamandinay, Naga, Kaname, and Dean in his Ranger form.
Kaname took a moment to collect herself as she felt a little dizzy from using the transporter.
"I swear…No matter how many times I use this, I'm not sure if I'll get over the dizziness." Kaname said as she looked at the device on her wrist.
"Agreed. And it still feels quite strange for me too." Naga said as she checked to see if her body parts are still intact.
"Yeah, that's understandable. I was like that too when I first used the transporter. Don't worry, you just need to get used to it." Dean said.
"Alright. If you're sure." Kaname said.
Dean then looks at the temple to study its appearance.
"Man…Seeing this place on the computer is one thing, but seeing it in person, I can't help but admire the design of it." Dean said, and Salamandinay smiled to hear that.
"I'm glad to hear it's up to your standards. But, before you meet with the High Priestess, you may need to do something about that." Salamandinay told him.
Dean then looks at his Ranger form.
"Oh, right. You have a good point there, but…" He said before he uses his Morpher to contact Pixel. "Pixel, are you really sure that your scans are accurate?"
Pixel sighed to hear that.
"For the hundred and sixty-seventh time, yes, I am. I scanned the atmosphere over thousands of times while you were asleep. Most of the Dracunium radiation that contaminated the Earth's ecosystem is mostly gone now. So the air is breathable now." Pixel told him.
Despite her words, Dean was still unsure if he should remove his helmet or not, and then Salamandinay grabbed onto his hand and Dean turned to her as she had an encouraging smile on her face.
"It's alright. Like Pixel said, you have nothing to fear anymore. And don't forget, I'm here for you, we all are." Salamandinay said as Kaname nodded in encouragement while Naga had a jealous look on her face.
As Dean looks at Salamandinay's smiling face, he couldn't but blush underneath his helmet before he pulls his hand back as he coughs and steps away from the DRAGON Princess.
"Right, right. Of course, you're right. I should really have more trust in Pixel, she is the world's greatest AI afterall." Dean stated before Pixel chuckles with her hands on her mouth.
"Still shy around pretty girls I see." Pixel said with a teasing tone.
"Will you shut up!" Dean shouted at her and Pixel chuckled before she ended the transmission. Dean sighed as he waved his hands to prepare himself. "Okay, okay…Here goes."
Dean soon grabbed onto his helmet and took it off, he then held the helmet under his arm and placed a hand on his chest. Dean took a moment to study his surroundings and looked at the bright blue sky, he then took a deep breath and exhaled and repeated that pattern once more, showing that the air is breathable to him.
Dean smiles before he begins to chuckle and then tears start to fall from his eyes as he continues to laugh. Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname were concerned about why he was crying.
"Are you alright? Did something happen?" Salamandinay asked.
Dean chuckles once again as he wipes away his tears.
"Oh, don't worry, I'm fine." Dean said before he smiled at them. "It's just…after being cooped up in the base and wearing this stuffy helmet for weeks…I forgot what my own world's air tastes like."
Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname then smile in understanding before the DRAGON Princess places a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm glad to hear that. If you need a moment, I won't mind if you stay here for a few more minutes." Salamandinay said, and Dean smiles at her.
"No, it's alright." Dean said before he took a deep breath once again. "Just having this moment is enough. Besides, I don't want to keep your leader waiting."
"Then let us proceed." Salamandinay said before they head into the temple with Dean following behind them.
As they head to the temple, a few teenage girls are staring at Dean in hiding.
"Is that him? The man Lady Salamandinay had found?" One of them asked before her friend nodded.
"It must be. He doesn't even have wings or a tail."
"Wow…I never thought I'd see an actual male human."
"You and me both."
"Not only that…" Another said before they all said this together.
"He's so handsome!"
Dean felt a chill down his spine.
'Why did I just feel a chill?' Dean thought to himself.
Dean was out of his Ranger form as he was now following Salamandinay and her subordinates in the hallways in the temple while passing by some of the other occupants in the building.
As he was walking past them, Dean could've sworn that they were all giving him some second glances.
They soon arrived at the door that leads to the personal chambers belonging to the High Priestess with two guards waiting for them.
The guards greeted Salamandinay as they bowed their heads.
"We've been waiting for you, Lady Salamandinay."
"Thank you. I'm glad we arrived on time." Salamandinay said.
The guards then turn their attention to Dean with a look of suspicion in their eyes.
"So, this is him?"
"The red warrior?"
"It's actually, Red Ranger. But yes, that's me." Dean told them.
They still had their look of suspicion on their faces, which Dean would understand given the current circumstances when the Kaiser Empire first attacked.
Salamandinay noticed this as well and spoke to the guards to ease their suspicion of Dean.
"There is no need for suspicion. As I already told you, Sir Dean means no harm towards us and he has my full support here."
The guards turned at each other before they bowed their heads to Salamandinay.
"Very well, My Lady." One of them said before they lifted their heads and then the other guard turned to Dean.
"But before you meet with the High Priestess, I strongly request you hand over your weapon."
Dean blinks in confusion.
"But I don't have any weapons on me." Dean told the guards.
"Actually…" Salamandinay said before she and the others looked at his wrist.
Dean also looks at his wrist along with his Nexus Morpher.
"Oh, right. I suppose that this does count." Dean said before he removed his Morpher to give it to the guard. "Just so we're clear, I expect to have this back soon."
"Don't worry. I'll make sure you'll get it back after the meeting. Besides, what's the worst that could happen?" Salamandinay said as the guard took the Morpher.
"Now, with that out of the way…" The guard before they both move to the side.
"The High Priestess will see you now." They both said and the door soon opened.
Salamandinay and her subordinates walk into the room first and Dean follows behind them.
Salamandinay's group stops for a moment to take off their footwear, and Dean looks down as he notices that there was a tatami mat on the floor.
'Oh, a tatami.' Dean thought before he took off his sneakers and walked on the tatami along with Salamandinay's group.
They soon knelt down to the floor with Naga and Kaname seated behind Dean and Salamandinay. Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname bowed to the High Priestess as she was seated in front of them, and Dean soon did the same.
"High Priestess, we have brought the Red Ranger, as you requested." Salamandinay said before they raised their heads.
Dean took a moment to study her appearance.
The High Priestess was a girl who appeared to be around five or maybe six years old. She had light purple that was tied in the shape of a bow with a golden chain crest on her forehead, she also had pink eyes. She was wearing clothes that were similar to Salamandinay with a white long sleeve robe.
'So this is the High Priestess, Aura Midgardia. Pixel told me about it, but I still find it hard to believe she's seventeen like me.' Dean thought.
"Very good, Salamandinay." The High Priestess told her before they raised their heads, she then turned her attention to the Red Ranger. "So, you are the one known as Dean Reilly, correct?"
"Yes, that's me. It's a pleasure to meet you." Dean said before he bowed his head.
"The pleasure is all mine." The High Priestess told him before Dean raised his head.
"So, is there a reason why you wanted me here?" Dean asked.
"Yes." The High Priestess nodded. "First, I wanted to thank you for defending our town when this Kaiser Empire had attacked us. On behalf of my people, you have our gratitude."
"I appreciate the thought, but you don't have to thank me for that. I was just glad that I was able to help." Dean said.
"I see you are just as humble as Salamandinay had told me. But, I need to tell you about the second reason why I wanted to see you here." The High Priestess said. "I know Salamandinay had told you, but while most of the townspeople still feel gratitude towards you, there are still some that still doubt that you're an ally."
Dean then remembers how those guards looked at him in suspicion.
"Yeah, I sort of noticed."
"I see. But, Salamandinay had told me that you have no interest in involving yourself in our fight against Embryo, despite seeing the cruelty and injustice in the False Earth. And I understand the need to maintain your own duty and belief, but when the time calls for it, will you help us or will you be against us?" The High Priestess asked.
Dean thought about it before he answered her question.
"I…I know this isn't much of an answer, but just because I won't help you doesn't mean I won't fight against Embryo. I still see him as a threat, and he needs to be stopped. But I'm going to do it my way, a way that won't put innocents in danger. And I can at least promise you this, I won't stand in your way but I can least help in any way I can, just as long as it's something I find agreeable with. If I find it questionable and if it's something I disagree with, I won't stop you but I won't assist you with it."
Salamandinay smiles to hear that before she turns to the High Priestess.
"You heard what he had to say, High Priestess. What is your judgment?" She asked.
The High Priestess thought about it before she lowered her head and said.
"Very well then. If that is your answer, then I won't object to it. So long as you keep your word and won't stop us in freeing Aura, then I see no reason to harbor any hostilities towards you. But I'll still have Salamandinay keep a close eye on you at all times, is that understood?"
Dean nodded before he bowed his head.
"Yes, of course. Thank you for understanding." Dean said.
"You are welcome. Now with that done, you may go now." The High Priestess told them.
They soon stood up and left the room. Now that they are gone, the High Priestess chuckles in amusement.
"Honestly…He truly is an amusing person, just like she said."
Dean and Salamandinay along with her subordinates were walking in the hallway together after their meeting the High Priestess.
As they were walking, Dean sighed in relief as he placed a hand on his chest.
"Man…That was a little nerve racking." Dean mutters to himself before Salamandinay turns to him.
"Were you that on edge with the High Priestess?" Salamandinay asked.
"Well…I never exactly spoke with a world leader before. Back in the old world, my friends and I never usually involved ourselves with politics." Dean said, and Salamandinay chuckles to hear that.
"I see. But you shouldn't feel that way towards her, she may not act like it, but the High Priestess is a truly understanding and compassionate leader." Salamandinay said.
"Yeah, I noticed it when I was talking with her." Dean said. "But still, I'm surprised. She's the same age as me, but I can tell she carries a lot of weight on her shoulders. Probably more than my own."
"That is true." Salamandinay nodded. "She was forced into this position after the last High Priestess passed away, and she was still young back then. Even though both the Shrine Maidens and I try our best to carry that weight as well, she still remains strong for both our people and to free Aura."
"I see." Dean said before he notices some stares behind him as he stops walking.
Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname stop and turn to him.
"Is something wrong?" Salamandinay asked.
"Well…" Dean said before he turned around and saw a group of girls staring at him. "I can't help but notice that the locals here are staring at me."
Salamandinay saw them as well before she chuckled.
"Well, what did you expect? You're quite literally the only human here with a mature male body. So most of the ladies here will be interested in those kinds of things." Salamandinay told him, and Dean nervously chuckled to hear that as his eyebrow twitched.
"Yeah…lucky me." Dean said.
'Man…I just know Claire would find this amusing somehow. She'll probably be like…' Dean thought as he could hear the said girl's voice in his head.
"Well, look at you, mister popular? Getting that much attention even though you're shy around beautiful girls. Aren't you lucky?" She said with a teasing tone before she chuckled.
'Yeah…You don't have to tell me.' Dean thought.
Salamandinay soon coughs in her hand and gives the ladies who were staring at Dean a warning stare, which causes them to flinch as they quickly leave.
Salamandinay then kindly smiles at Dean.
"Anyway, how about I give you a tour of the temple? I promise you that there are many things to see here." Salamandinay told him.
"Yeah." Dean nodded. "That sounds good. Plus, it would be helpful to familiarize myself with this place, since we'll be working together."
"Glad to hear that. This way, please." Salamandinay said before she and her subordinates began to give Dean a quick tour of their temple.
But as he was walking though, Dean felt his eyes being heavy for a moment before he shook it off and rubbed his fingers on his eyes.
'Come on, Dean…Just focus. There's no time to rest.'
In the Kaiser Sphere, one its commander walks into the command room after being called upon by Prince Crimson.
The commander had a black body with white ice-like armor on his torso, shoulders, and waist. He had long black-like hair on the back of his head and on his back. He had four tube fingers. Finally, he wears a white ice-mask with black eyes.
This is Commander Frost.
Commander Frost yawns with his hand as he stands in front of the leaders of the Kaiser Sphere.
"Man…do you really need to call me here? I was really enjoying my nap." Frost said before he yawns once again.
"Frost, I know you've always been a slacker, but at least to show some proper respect in front of His Highness." Swartz told the commander.
"It's fine, Swartz. That's enough." Prince Crimson told him, and Swartz obeyed as he bowed his head.
"Yes, sir."
Prince Crimson then turns to Frost.
"Commander Frost, I'm sure you've read the reports about the Red Ranger and how he's being a nuisance to us. I'm sending you down there to deal with them. Is that understood?" He asked the commander.
Frost sighed in annoyance.
"Honestly…Hard work is such a pain. But fine, I'll do it." Frost said before he left the room to deal with the Red Ranger.
General Swartz shook his head before he turned to Prince Crimson.
"Your Highness, are you absolutely sure about this? I doubt Commander Frost's personality will get the job done." Swartz told him.
"It's fine, Swartz. His personality hardly matters to me. Just as long as he gives me results, am I clear on that?" Prince Crimson said.
General Swartz bowed his head to the prince.
"Of course. If that is your will, then I will obey." He said.
"Good." Prince Crimson said before he leans on his hand.
He then notices that Cyber was paying much attention as he was focused on his computers.
"Is something wrong, Cyber? You hadn't said much today?" Prince Crimson asked, and Cyber turned to him.
"Oh, it's nothing, Your Highness. Just a little side project that I'm working on." Cyber said before he turned back to his computers as he was still trying to locate the source of energy, he found the other day. "Just where are you hiding?"
In the temple, Dean had visited some of the rooms, there was a dining room, a kitchen along with a tea ceremony room. They soon arrived in another room as they were standing in front of the door.
"And here is the medical room. There's another person I would like to introduce to you." Salamandinay said before she knocked on the door. "Dr. Gecko, it's me. May we come in?"
"Why, of course, princess." She told them from inside the room.
Salamandinay then opens the door, and they soon enter the room to meet with the said doctor.
The doctor appeared to be a young woman in her 20s with chin length orange hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a different style of clothing compared to Salamandinay and the others. She was wearing goggles on top of her head with a black shirt and a matching skirt with a white vest and a piece of cloth tied around her waist. She was also wearing black and green stockings.
"It's good to see you, Lady Salamandinay. I'm glad to see that you are well." Dr. Gecko said before she spotted Dean standing close to her. "Oh my…This is the man you found."
Dr. Gecko then stood up and walked up to Dean, and Dean was a little uncomfortable that she was standing so close to him.
"Yes, this is him. Dean, this is Dr. Gecko. She's our top doctor and the chief scientist of genetic engineering." Salamandinay introduced the doctor Dean.
"It's…a pleasure to meet you, doctor." Dean said.
"Oh, please, the pleasure is all mine." She told him.
Dr. Gecko then cupped his chin to closely examine his face side to side, her eyes sparkled in enthusiasm.
"I must say…You're even better than I imagined!" Dr. Gecko said.
"Huh?" Dean said before she grabbed onto his shoulders.
"Mister Dean! In the name of science, you please let me examine your body! Our culture had never seen a mature male body before, and I always wonder how different it is compared to a woman's body. So will you please help me, of course I'll make sure you're well compensated, and if you want…" Dr. Gecko said before she slightly pulled down her shirt to show off her well-developed chest. "I'll let you have your way with me as well. It will help in my study."
Dean's eyebrow twitched before he removed her hands and moved away from the doctor.
"Yeah…There's no way that's happening." Dean told her.
Dr. Gecko pouted in disappointment and Salamandinay placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Now, now, doctor, there's no need for that. Dean is our guest here, you shouldn't provoke him like that." Salamandinay told her.
"Very well, Your Highness." Dr. Gecko mutters.
"Now then, Dean, is there any place you would like to see next?" Salamandinay asked.
Dean thought about it.
"Hmmm…Let's see…" Dean said.
But then suddenly, they heard an explosion outside which surprised them.
"What the…?" Dean said.
Salamandinay then heard her communicator ringing and she soon answered it, and Pixel appeared on the screen.
"Princess Salamandinay! Where's Dean?! I've been trying to contact him." Pixel said before Dean moved to Salamandinay's side so the AI could see him.
"I'm here, Pixel, what's wrong?" Dean asked.
"It's the Kaiser Empire! They're attacking again!" Pixel told them and they were surprised to hear that.
In the town, the people were running away as Frost along with a squad of Xedroids were attacking.
As his troops were attacking, Frost yawned on his mouth.
"Man…This is a pain. Shouldn't that Red Ranger be here by now?" Frost said as he looked around him and so far he didn't see the Red Ranger appearing to fight him and the Xedroids. "Maybe this isn't drawing enough of his attention. Maybe I should attack somewhere bigger…"
Frost looks around for any places to attack to gain the Red Ranger's attention before he looks at the temple.
"I guess that would do. But still, what a hustle." Frost said before he and his troops moved to the temple.
Dean along with Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname were running in the hallway.
"I need my Morpher!" Dean said.
"It should be in the storage room where we keep our weapons! Just follow me!" Salamandinay said.
As they were running an energy shot blast through the wall in front of them which forced them to stop as a smoke cloud blinded them.
When the smoke died down, Dean and the others saw that Frost and the Xedroids had arrived as they attacked the temple.
"Come on…Where are you already?!" Frost said.
"Damn it…Guess they're after me again. Go figure." Dean said.
"Come on, we need to keep going." Salamandinay told him, and Dean nodded.
"Right."
They were about to move out to get his Morpher. But they soon stopped as they heard screaming outside.
They looked and saw it was the two guards they met in front of the High Priestess, as they were attacked by the Xedroids.
"It's those two again!" Kaname said.
The Xedroids then held the two guards by arms as they brought them to Commander Frost.
"Alright, you two, I really want this done, so I'm going to make this short and simple. Where's the Power Ranger?" Frost asked.
"W-We don't know where he is…" One of them told him.
Frost sighed in annoyance as he shook his head before he slapped her on the cheek.
"Don't give me that garbage! Either you tell me where he is, or I'll have to force it out of you, which is a pain for me." Frost told him.
"We're telling you the truth." She told him.
Frost sighed once again.
"Fine…You ask for it. But man, what a pain." Frost said before he placed a finger on her shoulder and Frost then begins to use his powers to slowly freeze her shoulder, and the guard begins to feel the pains as she grits her teeth. "Unless you want to keep that arm, I strongly suggest you tell me where he is."
Naga grits her teeth to see that.
"That coward!" Naga said before she turned to Salamandinay. "Princess, what should we do?"
Salamandinay tries to think of something but then Dean suddenly jumps and saves them which surprised Salamandinay and the others.
"Dean?!"
The guard groaned as her shoulder was on the verge of frostbite.
"Come on…Just tell me where he is, so I can get this over with already." Frost said.
"Hey!"
"Hmmm?" Frost said as he turned to the side.
That's when he saw Dean jumping at him and landed a kick on him, sending him rolling on the ground and away from the guards.
Dean then attacks the Xedroids that were holding the two guards hostage, freeing them. Dean then looks at them and they look at him in turn.
"You're…" One of them said.
"Are you alright?" Dean asked and they nodded. "Then go, I'll handle this."
The guards complied as they quickly stood up and ran to cover.
Dean then faces Frost as the commander stands up and looks at the Red Ranger.
"So…I'm guessing you're the Red Ranger?" Frost asked, and Dean nodded.
"That's right. I'm the one you want, so just everyone else out of this." Dean told him.
"Alright, that's fine. Now I can get this job over with." Frost said before he lied down on his side and waved his hand. "Xedroids, deal with him."
The Xedroids then charge at Dean to attack him.
Dean dodges one Xedroid's blade attack before he punches it in the face forcing the droid to stumble back. He then spin-kicks one Xedroid charging at him sending it to the ground.
Dean then stops one Xedroid's attack by grabbing its arms and throws it to the ground. He then sweep-kicks on one Xedroid sending it to the ground.
As Dean stood up, he soon brought out his red aura around his fist and used it to punch one Xedroid sending it flying before it smashed into a group of other Xedroids as they fell to the ground together.
The two guards who he just saved were watching Dean's battle and were left amazed.
"Amazing, he can't transform without this, but he's still able to fight so well." One of them said as she looked at Dean's Morpher that was on her hand.
"Yes. He's truly incredible."
Dean lands an uppercut on one Xedroid using his enhanced strength to send it flying.
Dean then notices the remaining Xedroids have surrounded him, and Dean carefully watches them to see which one will attack first.
But then Dean notices an ice spear heading towards him, before he dodges by flipping backwards. Dean saw it was from Commander Frost as he was now standing on his feet while yawning.
"Man…What a pain. Here I thought that the Xedroids will be enough to handle you, but I guess I was wrong. Seems like I need to put up the effort." Frost said in annoyance before he looked at Dean. "Especially since you can't transform right now."
'Crap…He found me out.' Dean thought.
"Meaning…It's an easy game for me!" Frost said before he sends several ice needles at Dean, and he dodges them by rolling on the ground.
As Dean stood up, one Xedroids grabs him from behind and Dean quickly elbows it on the stomach freeing himself as the Xedroid lets go before he kicks it on the head sending it to the ground.
Dean was about to move, but then suddenly he felt that his feet were stuck on the ground, he quickly looked down and saw that his feet were frozen on the ground.
"Oh, no." Dean said before he saw Frost moving up in front of him.
"Oh, yes!" Frost said before he back-handed smacked Dean to the ground.
Then the Xedroids grab onto Dean's arms, forcing to stand on his knees as they hold him in place. Dean struggles to break free before he sees Frost moving towards him as the commander creates an ice sword in his hand to finish Dean with it.
The guards had worried looks on their faces before they looked at Dean's Morpher, they then turned to each other and nodded.
"This is the end for you, Red. Time to say goodbye!" Frost said as he raised his sword and swung it at Dean to finish him.
Dean closes for his impending demise, but then…
"Sir Dean!"
Dean opened his eyes before he saw the two guards had returned as one of them showed his Morpher in her hand.
"My Morpher?!" Dean said.
"Here!" The guard shouted as she threw it to him.
Dean smiles in gratitude before he channels his red aura around his body and uses his enhanced strength to force the Xedroids who were holding him off of him as they were sent flying.
Dean then catches Frost's ice sword and breaks it in half, which surprised the commander before Dean kicks him on the chest forcing Frost to stumble back.
Dean then catches his Morpher before he turns to the guards.
"Thanks. I really appreciate it." Dean told them.
"You're very welcome."
"But you better come out victorious."
"Don't worry, I will. Now that I have this back." Dean said as he put his Morpher on.
Frost then glares at the Red Ranger as the remaining Xedroids move to his side.
"Damn you…!"
Dean soon turns to Frost and his squad of Xedroids.
"Bad news for you. I have my Morpher back, meaning…It's Morphin' Time!" Dean said before he pressed the middle button on his watch, and it changed into its Morpher Mode.
Dean brings out his Ranger Card which has a picture of his helmet and the name 'Nexus Red' on the bottom of it.
He then swung his arm downward, and the card slot opened up for him.
"Load Card!" Dean said as he loads the Card into his Morpher and the card slot closes, Dean then swings his Morpher upward. "Access the Morphin Grid!"
Dean pressed the middle button on his Morpher.
(Morphing sequence)
Dean was now in a gray bodysuit and inside a mechanical room standing on a metal platform as machine parts and gears were moving all around them with red energy beneath the said parts.
The screen on his Morpher turned on showing his Ranger form along with his weapons and name.
Dean then thrust his left arms forward which fired a colored beam and formed into a holographic screen showing the said Ranger form and weapons with the words 'Commencing Morphing Sequence' on the bottom.
The platform he was standing on opened as the Red Ranger jumped down in a tunnel of pure Morphin Grid red energy.
As he fell in the tunnel, red digital lines appeared as they moved around Dean's body forming his Ranger suit before he landed on a gray floor which made a large crack filled with red energy and the same energy was around him forming a large space.
Finally, as Dean stood up, digital lines appeared around his head forming his helmet.
(End of sequence)
Now wearing his Ranger suit, Dean soon arms himself with his Nexus Dagger as he is ready to fight.
"Grr…What a pain…Attack!" Frost commands and the Xedroids charge at the Red Ranger.
Dean soon charges at the Xedroids as well.
Dean then slashes on two Xedroids in front of him with his Dagger, he then kicks two other Xedroids next. Dean soon dodges two Xedroids blade attacks by jumping over their weapons before he rolls on the ground.
As Dean stood up, he slashed on one Xedroid which was in front of him. The remaining Xedroids soon surround Dean, then the Red Ranger flips his Nexus Dagger and holds it by the blade and throws it at the Xedroids, slashing through them as they fall to the ground and explode before Dean catches his Dagger and swipes his thumb on his nose.
"That never gets old." Dean said.
Dean then notices Frost attacking him by unleashing an icy blizzard from his fingers, Dean dodges by rolling on the ground, as he stops on his knee and foot he quickly changes to his Dagger's Blaster Mode.
"Nexus Dagger, Blaster Mode!" Dean said before he fires his blaster at Frost forcing the commander to stumble back.
"Why you…!" Frost glares at the Red Ranger.
Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname soon arrive as they watch Dean's battle against Frost.
Dean was about to charge at Frost to attack him, but then, he suddenly stopped and placed a hand in front of his helmet as his eyes began to feel heavy once again.
"No…Not now…" Dean mutters as he falls on his knee.
When they saw that, everyone wondered what was wrong.
"Sir Dean?" Kaname said.
"What's wrong with him?" Naga said.
Frost on the other hand, wasn't going to let this chance get away as he soon fired ice needles at Dean which landed in front of his body and sent him rolling on the ground.
As Dean slowly stood up on his knee and foot.
"Don't know what's wrong with you, but I can hardly care! Thank you for making this easy!" Frost said before he unleashed an icy blizzard at Dean which began to freeze his body as ice and frost started to appear around it.
"Dean!" Salamandinay said in worry as she was about to rush in and help but Naga and Kaname stopped her by grabbing onto her.
"Lady Salamandinay, no!" Kaname said.
"You'll only be frozen along with him!" Naga said.
"But he'll die at this rate!" Salamandinay said.
Even with his Ranger suit, Dean could still feel the cold around his body and Frost moved towards him.
"I hope that you'll enjoy your icy prison. Because you spend the rest of eternity as a statue while we conquer this pitiful little planet!" Frost said before he laughed at Dean.
As Dean begins to shiver from the cold, the memories of how his friend perished and how Kurt betrayed him begin to flash in his mind, and that only hardens his resolve once again.
"No way…am I going to let that happen!" Dean said before he began to stand up once again which surprised Frost.
"What?! Impossible!"
"If you think this little blizzard is enough to beat me…Think again!" Dean shouted as he pulled out the Mystic Force Card.
"Load Legendary Ranger Card! Mystic Force!" Dean shouted as he loaded the Card into his Morpher and transformed into the Red Mystic Ranger. "Magical Source, Mystic Force!"
Dean soon spread his arms which created flames around his body which melted the ice and pushed back Frost's blizzard.
"That's better! Now to finish you!" Dean said as he flew at Frost flying like a phoenix.
"No! Stay back! I'm warning you!" Frost said as he sent several ice rocks at Dean, but they melted against his flames.
Then Dean smashed in front of Frost, destroying him as he exploded, and Dean jumped out of the flames as he landed on his feet and changed into his base form.
"And that's that." Dean said.
"Dean!"
Dean looks and sees Salamandinay running to him and hugs the Red Ranger which surprised him.
"Hey, what are you…?" Dean said.
"Are you alright?! Did you get frostbite?! You're not injured, are you?!" Salamandinay asked before she looked at his helmet. "I was so worried for a moment."
"Oh, I see." Dean said before she let go. "Don't worry, I'm alright. My suit protected me from the worst of it."
"Thank goodness." Salamandinay said in relief. "But what happened? It wasn't like you to lose focus like that."
"Well, I…" Dean said as he wasn't sure how to answer.
News of Frost's defeat soon reached the Kaiser Sphere and Prince Crimson was once again displeased about this.
"Damn it…Not again! Cyber, activate the Kaiser Reanimator!" He ordered the scientist.
"Yes, Your Highness." Cyber said as he acted the Reanimator, and it soon fired a beam to Frost's remains.
Dean and the others saw the same beam landing on top of Frost's remains, and it revived the commander as he grew into the size of a giant.
"Ah man…And I was really enjoying my nap!" Frost said as he looked down at the Red Ranger.
"Sorry, looks like I have to answer your question later!" Dean said before he moved to the giant Frost.
"But Dean…!" Salamandinay said.
Dean stops as he pulls out his Zord Card.
"Load Card! Deploy, Nexus Racer Zord!" Dean said as he loaded the Card into his Morpher and pressed the Zord button.
The Nexus Racer Zord soon appeared, Dean soon entered it and the Zord changed into its battle mode.
"Nexus Racer Zord, Battle Mode!" Dean shouted.
Now the Zord and the giant Frost faced each other as they were ready for battle.
"Man, what a pain. You couldn't just let me squash you like a bug." Frost said before he fired ice needles at the Racer Zord.
With a turn from his steering wheel, the Zord dodges the needles by rolling on the ground before it stands up.
Dean soon pressed on the gas pedal and pushed down the lever, and the Racer Zord charged at Frost.
Frost soon creates spears of ice and sends them at the Zord to attack, but the Racer Zord punches the spears, shattering them as it continues to charge at Frost.
Then the Zord lands two punches on Frost's chest dealing some damage to him.
"Ow! Ow!" Frost said before he stumbled back.
"Deploy, Nexus Saber!" Dean said before he pressed the button on his steering wheel.
The Saber soon appeared in the Racer Zord's hand, and was ready to charge at Frost to attack, but then he stopped as his eyes became heavy once again.
"No…Not again…" Dean mutters as he struggles to keep his eyes open.
Frost soon notices that the Nexus Racer Zord wasn't moving, and he soon cheered for that.
"Yes! Lucky me!" Frost said before he pointed his fingers at the Zord.
Frost then unleashed an icy blizzard with his fingers which was strong enough to push back the Nexus Racer Zord.
Inside the cockpit, Dean could feel his Zord shaking all around him before the screen on his Morpher brought out an alert signal and the status on his Zord's joints.
"What the…!" Dean said before he tried to move the Zord's joints, but he was barely able to move them as they were being frozen by Frost's blizzard as ice started to appear around them. "This isn't good. The Racer Zord will be frozen solid at this rate."
"Hahaha! Now I'm going to win this time!" Frost proclaimed.
As Dean wonders what to do, his eyes felt heavy once again as he placed a hand on his helmet.
"Dammit…What should I do?" Dean mutters, and then in that moment he hears a voice.
"Don't give up!"
Dean then looks at the town as the people were cheering for him.
"Please, don't give up!"
"We need you!"
"You must stay strong please!"
Salamandinay also cheers for him.
"Dean, you can do this! We believe in you!" She shouted.
The guards Dean just saved also cheered for him.
"You're a defender for this world, right?! So prove it!"
"You can't give up! Not now, not ever!"
Dean was left speechless that so many people were cheering for him and that they believed in him.
"They're cheering for me…They need my help." Dean said, and hearing their cheers reminded him what his duty is. "That's right…They need my help. I won't let them down…I won't fail this world…Never again!"
With his spirit renewed, Dean grabs onto his steering wheel with both of his hands.
"I won't let you…Beat me!" Dean said before he pushed down the car lever. "If you're going to bring the cold, then I'll just have to bring the heat!"
Dean soon pushed on the gas pedal several times, and the engine on the Nexus Racer Zord began to rev up. With that, the Zord begins to heat up as the ice around its joints begin to melt and soon unleashed a heatwave that pushes back Frost's blizzard until it hits the commander, sending him rolling on the ground.
"Ouch! That's way too hot!" Frost complained before he stopped rolling.
"Super Nexus Blaster!" Dean calls out.
The Blaster soon appears and Dean grabs onto it, the Red Ranger prepared and aimed it at Frost.
"Nexus Racer Zord, Final Saber Slash!" Dean shouted as he fired at Frost.
The Nexus Racer Zord soon charges at the commander and slashes through his body.
"Dang it! Fighting was such a pain but being beaten is even worse!" Frost shouted as he fell to the ground and exploded.
"Never…underestimate…h-hum…" Dean mutters before his vision begins to blur up and all he could see next is darkness.
In the town, most of the people cheered for the Red Ranger's victory against Commander Frost.
Salamandinay, Kaname, and even Naga smiles that he won before Naga frowns and folds her arms.
"He won! Thank goodness." Kaname said.
"I suppose he did well." Naga said.
Salamandinay then blinks as she notices that the Nexus Racer Zord was just standing there and wasn't moving.
"Wait…something's wrong." Salamandinay said, getting her subordinates' attention.
"What do you mean?" Kaname asked.
"It's just standing there. Shouldn't he return to the base?" Salamandinay said, and they soon realized that she was right.
Salamandinay then heard ringing from her wrist com before she answered the call and Pixel appeared on the screen.
"Princess Salamandinay!" Pixel shouted, and Salamandinay blinked to hear that.
"Pixel? What's wrong?" Salamandinay asked.
"It's Dean! He's not responding to my calls. Something must have happened to him." Pixel told her.
Salamandinay's eyes widened to hear that before she turns to the Nexus Racer Zord in concern for Dean.
(Later, at night)
Dean, now out of his Ranger form was sleeping on a bed before he began to wake up and saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
"What the…Where am I?" Dean mutters.
"I see you're awake now." A familiar voice said.
Dean looked to his side and saw that Salamandinay was seated beside the bed as she was looking at him.
"Oh…Salamandinay…Why are you…?" Dean said before he looked at the room around him and it was a different design from the bedrooms in the base. "Wait…am I back in the temple?"
"Yes, you are." Salamandinay nodded. "What's the last thing you remember?"
Dean placed a hand on his head as he tried to remember his most recent memories.
"Hang on…I remember fighting that monster in my Zord. Then I defeated him…But then, nothing…" Dean mutters, and Salamandinay sighs to hear that.
"So, it was true." Salamandinay said and Dean blinks to hear that. "Pixel had told me about your lack of sleep lately. On how you mostly spend your weeks training without rest."
Dean sighed as he placed a hand on his head to hear that.
"Did she now…" He mutters.
"Honestly, I thought I told you to rest yesterday but to learn about this." Salamandinay said.
"Okay…I'm sorry. I guess this is on me. I'll rest up once I return to the base." Dean said as he was about to sit up and get off the bed, but Salamandinay stopped him as she grabbed onto his shoulders.
"No. You are going to rest right here." Salamandinay said before she gently pushed him back down.
"Oh, really? You expect me to sleep in a building filled with hungry predators?" Dean asked, and Salamandinay figured that he was talking about the other women in the temple.
"Which is why I'll be right here to make sure nothing happens. But for now, you need to rest. You've earned it after everything you did for us." Salamandinay told him.
Dean thought about it before he nodded.
"Alright…some rest…does sound…good…" Dean mutters as his eyes start to heavy until he eventually closes them and instantly falls asleep.
As she was watching him sleep, Salamandinay thought back to her conversation with Pixel.
(Flashback)
"He's been having nightmares?" Salamandinay said as she was standing outside of Dean's room while speaking with Pixel with her wrist com.
"Yeah." Pixel nodded. "Sometimes it's how his friends had died fighting against Embryo, and other times is where he sent the Ragna-mail across the world to destroy the planet."
"But I told him that he shouldn't blame himself for it." Salamandinay said.
"And I'm sure it help in some way, but I don't think that's the only reason. I think it's mostly because he's afraid." Pixel said.
"Afraid? Of what?" Salamandinay asked.
"Of failing. The entire world had depended on him to stop Embryo, but despite everything, he still managed to defeat Dean. And now, he woke up and met you and the Children of Aura. He tries to hide it but I know deep down, he's afraid of letting people down again, of failing the world again. And as a Power Ranger, that's something he has to carry. Which is why he keeps pushing himself so hard." Pixel explained.
(End of flashback)
Salamandinay then placed a finger on Dean's cheek and moved to his head to gently stroke his hair.
"Honestly. If the burden you are carrying is that great, then you should at least try to share it with me." Salamandinay told him before she kissed him on the cheek to give him some comfort, which seems to have worked as Dean unconsciously smiled.
To be continued...We Are United
There you have it, hope you like it. Review to tell me what you think of the story.
The new character
Yamato
Design: Yamato from the Supah Ninjas show
Today's Villain
Frost
Design: Iceage Dopant