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Thunderstruck
Chapter 7: Rangers Together, Legacy Forever
Rita opened her front door and was not surprised to see Wesley Collins and Eric Meyers on her doorstep.
"I had a feeling you two might show up," she said.
"Then you know us?" Wes asked. She nodded.
"Wes Collins and Eric Meyers from Time Force, if I'm not mistaken," she replied. Eric nodded.
"That's us…and we brought some friends with us," Eric said. Rita noticed the ranger teams on her front lawn. The Space rangers, Galaxy rangers, the Wild Force team, Lightspeed Rescue, and a lone young man dressed in navy that Rita knew to be Blake Bradley from her knowledge of ranger history. Behind him was a man that could only be Sensei Watanabe and his two nieces. And in the back, she instantly recognized Zack Taylor and a grown up Justin Stewart.
"I see that…they're not back yet," Rita said.
"We know and that's why we're here. We want you to open the portal for us," Wes stated. Rita sighed.
"Come in please," she said, as the dozens of young people poured into her house. Once the door was closed, she faced them with a weary expression.
"They've been gone a long time and I don't want to think of what that might mean. Goldar planned and prepared for this moment for years and there is a very good chance that they didn't make it," Rita said.
"I don't think it's too late, but it might be if you don't let us go in there," Eric stated.
"Mr. Meyers is correct. I implore you to let us pass into that dimension. My son is in there and four other young people that I see as my children as well," Kanoi pleaded.
"Goldar wants to kill all living rangers, but he chose to start with the group that's in there now. We were thinking that if we go in for a surprise attack that he might not be able to handle us all at once," Carter explained.
"Carter's right. If Goldar planned to kill all living rangers, then we're next if he succeeds with the first wave," Andros added.
"That's my brother in there too…you have to let me through that portal," Blake urged. Rita sighed.
"You'll need my magic to find them quickly, so I'm coming with you. I'd like to give monkey breath a piece of my mind anyhow," she said, as she led them down to the basement. Once there, she opened the portal and stepped through. Two at a time, starting with Wes and Eric, the former rangers filed through.
As the last group was teleported in, they had to shield their eyes from the blaring sun.
They were in some type of outdoor arena, with massive stone pillars and what looked like crests adorning the pillars, though the language was nothing they could read or had ever seen.
"Welcome to the Colosseum of Warriors. This is just how it looks on my native planet of Titan," a male voice boomed. They looked up, seeing Goldar above them on a balcony with Sabrina beside him.
"The large gold and black crest on the center pillar is mine and one exactly like it used to reside in the grand arena back home. The center spot is reserved for only the most powerful warrior. That's why Zedd originally selected me to lead his army," the voice said. Jason snorted.
"I should have known this was about your ego, Goldar. You've fallen so far and now you're throwing a hissy fit," Jason goaded.
"Oh no, this isn't about my ego. It's about my revenge!" Goldar roared, as he appeared before them now.
"Why don't you just use Zedd's magic to turn yourself back into your original form if that's what you want so badly?" Billy asked. Goldar's eyes darted to the genius and he smirked.
"You can't, can you? Zordon's magic can't be reversed by Zedd's. All that power and you still can't get what you want," Billy goaded. Goldar growled and white lightning from the Z staff struck the former blue ranger, throwing him back several feet.
"BILLY!" Kat screamed, as she and the others ran to him. He held his chest in pain, as Jason helped him sit up.
"I'm fine," Billy insisted.
"That's a hell of a burn on your chest. Just take it easy," Jason warned, as tears fell down Kat's cheeks.
"Damn it…what do you want!" Shane screamed.
"You got us here and you tried to throw your worst at us, but we survived so now what?" the red wind ranger demanded.
"Oh I'm so glad you asked that, Mr. Clarke, because you're right, it's time for the end game," Goldman stated, as he raised Zedd's staff to the sky. It instantly went black and the wind picked up. Crackling white energy built in the Z and then struck the ground. There was a violent rumbling and cracking, as the ground beneath them began to break apart.
"What's happening?" Tori cried, over the sound and the now high winds that whipped around them. The pillars cracked and collapsed in chunks around them. She screamed and held onto Hunter, as they tried to keep their footing and evade the falling debris. The others struggled too and to their horror, shadowy figures began to emerge from the fiery pit that had now been unearthed below.
"What the fuck…" Jason swore, as the shadowy figures could be seen as enemies long since defeated by various teams of rangers and he recognized most from Billy's database of ranger history. But they weren't the same as they had been in the days they had terrorized the rangers. It was worse than that. They were evil spirits now, demons, with no actual substance, but he had a gut feeling that it didn't make them any less dangerous.
"Dude…it's just like the abyss of evil all over again!" Dustin cried.
"It's worse than that!" Cam called.
"What do you mean?" Tommy asked.
"He's talking about the ancient Ninja scrolls!" Hunter explained.
"Our Sensei's always called it the abyss of evil to keep the stories G rated, but the scroll's direct translation was really called gates of Gehenna!" Hunter called.
"Hunter's right…Gehenna is the worst part of hell where only the worst and most evil go! But it's worse than it was two years ago!" Cam agreed.
"What do you mean?" Shane called.
"He means when Lothor did it…he only had the power to open for the recently deceased! Only monsters killed by your team!" Billy deduced. Cam nodded.
"He's right…like a small pocket of hell," Cam explained.
"And let me guess…he's opening the full gate," Jason said gravely.
"It would appear so," Billy replied.
"Yes…only the darkest magic can open the gateway to Gehenna!" a female voice called. They looked and found Rita standing there, followed by all former rangers that weren't already present, with the exception of four from Time Force. Sensei Watanabe, Marah, and Kapri were also there and quickly hurried toward the Ninja Storm team.
"Dad…what are you doing here? It's too dangerous!" Cam cried.
"It will not matter where I am if he is not defeated, son. The entire planet is in danger unless we rid ourselves of this evil," Kanoi stated gravely.
"We thought you could use a little help!" Wes called. Tommy nodded.
"Can't hurt…but you realize we're probably all screwed, right?" Tommy asked. Wes nodded like he understood.
"It doesn't matter…once a ranger, always a ranger, even if that means we go down. We just have to try and take Goldilocks with us!" Zack cried over the wind, as he joined his friends.
"You foolish children…you've walked right into your own execution! I may not be able to regain my true form, but that doesn't mean I can't create a new one!" Goldar cried maniacally, as he raised the Z staff to the sky.
"What is he doing?" Billy asked.
"He's using dark magic to absorb all the demon spirits and evil essence he can!" Rita called, as she prepared to use her own magic to counter Goldar's.
An inhuman scream of pain and rage erupted from Goldar, as he began absorbing the dark spirits into his being. His body began to convulse and morph into the most hideous creature any of them had ever seen. Signs of Mesagog and Maligore could be seen in his head and body, as the body looked like hardened magma and the head clearly had a dinosaur visage. Wings adorned his back now, similar to ones that once adorned Vypra and a long powerful tail, likely also from Mesagog in his ultimate form.
Green slime dripped from his limbs now, reminiscent of Trakeena's mutated form, a single horn also now extended from his head, indicating that Orgs also had influence here. A large shark fin, likely from Vexacus himself protruded now from Goldar's back and dangerous spikes covered his chest, reminding the space rangers of the treacherous Darkonda. Bluish lightning crackled from him as well, indicating that he had likely absorbed Lokar as well. Goldar's eyes snapped open, revealing that he had retained his naturally red eyes that now bled from his face with more evil than any of them had ever seen. Goldar let loose with a gravely, deep cackle that chilled them to the bone.
Rocky, Billy, and Jason drew their guns and began pumping bullets into the creature before them. But they weren't surprised to see that it had no effect. Goldar laughed evilly and whipped his new tail at the three former rangers, sending them flying back.
"This is it…we're cooked," Ethan realized.
"No…we're not giving up…not yet!" Andros called, as he and his team initiated their morphing sequence and charged at the monster. With one single blow to each of them, their ranger suits disappeared and the five of them painfully hit the ground. The Galaxy rangers and Lightspeed rangers soon found themselves in the same predicament, as their ranger powers seemed useless against him and were easily canceled.
"Ninja beams guys…" Shane said, as he stood with his team.
"What's the point dude? It's over," Dustin said bitterly, as he held Marah close.
"We have to try," Hunter added.
"Hunter's right…we'll at least know we gave it everything we had then," Blake agreed, as they stood together.
"Power of Air!" Shane screamed.
"Power of Earth!" Dustin called.
"Power of Water!" Tori cried, as red, yellow, and blue beams slammed into Goldar's new demonic form.
"Power of Thunder!" Hunter and Blake joined in, as crimson and navy beams of crackling energy barreled toward their enemy, hitting him head on.
"Power of the Samurai!" Cam called, as his green energy was added to the attack. But Goldar stood strong and only laughed at them. With a powerful shove, he forced their attacks back and a huge explosion tossed the six ninjas to the ground, each landing painfully and hope dwindling in each of them.
Cole charged next, morphed as the red Wild Force ranger, and attempted to land a punch, but Goldar swatted him away like he was a mere fly. His team joined him, but it didn't make a difference. Their morphing sequence was canceled by a single blast of Goldar's energy that threw them back.
Eric and Wes launched themselves at Goldar next, firing their weapons, while Conner, Kira, Ethan, and Trent charged behind them. Goldar absorbed the blasts from the Quantum defender and canceled Wes' time strike attack with ease, batting the two rangers away like nothing.
Using his super speed, Conner darted around, attempting to land what kicks and punches he could. But his gift left over from his Dino gem wasn't enough and the demon possessed warrior matched the former red Dino ranger's speed. He caught him and wrapped his large, clawed hand around Conner's neck, lifted him off the ground and tossed him away like a rag doll. Ethan blocked a blow aimed for him next with his Dino skin, but Goldar broke right through like it was nothing and kicked the former blue away. Kira tried to knock him back with a Ptera scream, while Trent attempted his own attack, but both were knocked away like minor annoyances.
"Don't you get it yet?" Goldar roared.
"You can't defeat me now…I am all powerful!" he screamed, as Rocky and Adam were knocked away and Kat and Tanya were blown back.
"No one's all powerful, least of all you!" Tommy called, as he and Jason keyed off, before charging. As they ran at the enemy, they morphed into the red Morphin ranger and red Zeo ranger, despite the risks. Bringing their swords down on the monster, they attempted to fight him, but were severely outmatched. Tommy hit the ground on his back, his morph exploding into nothing. Jason was thrown hard to the ground, landing on his side and rolled several times, his morph disappearing as well. Tommy spit blood from his mouth and knew he was probably bleeding internally now. Jason struggled to his feet, hissing in pain from his broken ribs.
"Tommy…no!" Kim pleaded, trying to hold him back.
"I'm sorry beautiful…I'm so sorry," Tommy cried, as he put his hand on her stomach. Tears spilled down her cheeks.
"We almost had it all, but if this is how it ends, then I can be okay dying in the arms of the only man I've ever loved…even if that means our baby dies with us," she said, sobbing for their unborn child that would never get the chance to live. Goldar would have made some snide remark to the couple, if he had not been momentarily distracted by Sabrina, who was attempting to sneak away. He smirked devilishly and strode toward her retreating form, while his sniveling enemies said their pitiful goodbyes.
"Stop…your ribs are broken," Trini pleaded with her husband.
"It doesn't matter Tri…it's over…" Jason said. Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"I never thought it would end like this," she said miserably.
"At least we're together…at least we go with love in our hearts. No regrets," he whispered, as he cupped her face and kissed her tenderly.
Shane struggled to get up, but his body wasn't obeying and he fell on his back again. He suddenly felt a glow on him, as the angelic form of Skyla was above him.
"Skyla…" he croaked in amazement.
"Hello my love…" she whispered.
"How?" he asked.
"I told you that I would always be with you, especially when you needed me most," she whispered, as she brushed her ghostly lips against his.
"I'll be with you soon," Shane whispered. Skyla only smiled, like she knew something he didn't.
Billy and Kat lay next to each other, battered and beaten, but held each other close.
"I love you Kat…" he whispered.
"I love you too Billy…every day since you came back into my life has been like a dream. I guess I just wish it wasn't ending this way," she said, as tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Me either," he admitted, as he kissed her for what he was sure would be the final time.
"Tori…" Hunter called, as he dragged himself along the ground, broken leg and all, and collapsed beside her. She looked at him with watery eyes and reached up to caress his face. He gazed down at her, marveling at how even with tear tracks staining her cheeks, blood caked in her hair, and dirt smudges on her face, she was still breathtaking.
"I'm sorry we didn't have more time…" he whispered. She nodded and sniffed, as tears poured from her blue eyes.
"Me too," she sobbed. He curled up next to her, pulling her into his arms, as she sobbed against his chest.
"I love you…" he whispered.
"I love you too…just hold me until the end…" she requested. He leaned down and captured her lips with his and held her tightly.
"Forever…even if forever ends now," he promised.
Rocky and Aisha held each other nearby, as did Adam and Tanya, each saying their goodbyes, holding each other tight, and sharing what they thought would be final kisses.
"Conner…" Kira cried, as they huddled together.
"I'm sorry…" he said, almost at a loss for words, as they held each other.
"At least we're all together," Kira said.
"See you on the other side," he replied, as he kissed her passionately. More instances between other couples and friends were taking place, as Goldar's attention was momentarily directed elsewhere.
"Going somewhere?" Goldar asked, as his new, frightening form appeared in front of the fleeing Sabrina. She gasped and started backing away, arming herself with her glaive.
"I didn't help you just so you could take me down with you," she hissed. He chuckled evilly.
"Then by all means, try to take me down," Goldar taunted. She fired an energy blast at her glaive, but he batted the attack away like nothing.
"You think you can kill me with the puny powers I gave you?!" he roared, as he stalked toward her. She backed away, her eyes wide with fear.
"Don't be afraid, my dear. You're about to become a part of true greatness…" he hissed, as he wrapped his hand around her neck. She let out a blood curdling scream and everyone around couldn't help but watch in horror, as she shriveled to nothing and became absorbed into Goldar's dark form. The evil being cackled, as he turned his attention back to his enemies.
"You have seen your fate now, rangers! You will become a part of that which you have fought so tirelessly against and you will help destroy all that is good in the universe! Zordon's legacy will be forever stained in the blood of innocents!" Goldar raged psychotically.
"You are sadly mistaken, dark one, if you think it is going to end like this," Skyla's spirit told him.
"Oh really…and I suppose you and this group of broken children are going to stop me?" Goldar taunted.
"They are actually…with a little help, perhaps…" a male voice boomed. Recognition could be seen on the faces of the original twelve, as a bright light flashed and the ghostly form of Zordon, free of his time warp, appeared before them.
"Zordon!" Kimberly cried in hopeful amazement. He chuckled.
"It's good to see you too, my little crane," he replied.
"But…you're…" Adam stuttered, trying to find words.
"Dead? Yes, I'm indeed dead so to speak, but my essence is still contained within the morphing grid. Usually I am limited to any interference, but these are the most dire of circumstances and I must intervene," Zordon explained.
"Nothing you can do can stop me, old man," Goldar hissed.
"You're right, nothing I can do will stop you and I should have turned you to dust. That is a mistake that my rangers will unfortunately have to fix for me," Zordon replied. Goldar snorted.
"Look around, you old windbag! Your rangers are all half dead!" Goldar pointed out.
"Not for long…" Zordon taunted, as magical tendrils erupted from Rita's wand and using most of her energy, their wounds were amazingly and miraculously healed. Tommy felt the searing pain inside him fade, as did Jason, his ribs now mended. Billy's third degree burn on his chest was gone and Kat's dislocated shoulder was set right as if nothing had happened. Hunter's leg mended and Shane's head wound healed also. All wounds inflicted by Goldar were gone and now the rangers stood strong before him again.
"You think that will matter? I beat them once and the second time won't be any different!" Goldar roared.
"That's where you're wrong," Tommy stated, as he stood strong, the other six Ninjetti gathering with him.
"Yeah, we learned a long time ago that with the power, anything is possible," Adam stated.
"That includes kicking your ass and all the other asses you just absorbed," Rocky added.
"Some of us don't have our powers anymore, but it's still inside us," Aisha stated.
"It will be more than enough to end you," Billy chimed in.
"Time to go to hell where you belong, bastard," Kimberly spat, as the six of them glowed with their ranger colors, their animal spirits springing forth and slamming into their nemesis. Katherine, Tanya and Justin joined Jason, Zack, and Trini, as their colors burst forth, striking Goldar's demonic form. The youngest teams joined their predecessors and mentors, their residual Dino energy and Ninja powers slamming into him too. The circle around Goldar was completed by the Space rangers, the Galaxy team, Lightspeed Rescue, the two present members of Time Force, and finally Wild Force, as ten generations of power rangers assaulted him with their power.
"No…NO THIS ISN'T POSSIBLE!" Goldar roared, as he felt the spirits he had absorbed leaving him and being plunged back into the hellish depths below. As he weakened, Jason and Tommy signaled their fellow red rangers, as all thirteen reds stepped forward, glowing with their red power.
"NO…NO!" Goldar kept screaming. Tommy chuckled.
"What's the matter Goldar? Seeing red?" Tommy joked.
"You always did hate red, though shouldn't you be glowing like rainbow or something, bro?" Jason joked. Tommy shook his head.
"Funny," he replied sarcastically.
"Time to finish this," Andros called, as red energy slammed into Goldar, as Conner, Hunter, Shane, Cole, Wes, Eric, Carter, Leo, Andros, T.J., Tommy, and Jason's energy engulfed the evil being and thrust him into the churning lava depths below. They watched the gruesome scene, as the body lit on fire half way down, before the ashes were consumed into the hot flowing magma. The light faded and all the rangers fell to their knees in exhaustion.
"We did it…" Dustin said, as a huge grin lit up his face.
"I can't believe that just happened," Ethan said in disbelief.
"We won…" Conner grinned, as he ran and scooped Kira into his arms, spinning her around. Similar scenes occurred between other ranger couples, while Zordon looked on, elated to see those he considered his children, safe and happy once again.
However, Shane didn't look as happy as he should, as Skyla prepared to leave him once again.
"I can't lose you again…my heart can't take that a second time," Shane cried.
"I know it's hard, but I'll always be with you…" she promised. Tears slipped down Shane's cheeks.
"It's not enough…it's not fair! I love you and I've thought about you every minute of every day since we met," Shane cried. Skyla's ghostly hand caressed his cheek.
"I know…I wish things were different," Skyla said sadly.
"Maybe they can be," Rita said, as she came beside them. They were both astonished, as she glowed with a bright light. Her magic struck Skyla and gave her solid form, while Rita took on her ghostly one. Shane and the others could only look on in amazement.
"What…I don't understand?" Skyla stuttered, as she looked at her human hands in awe.
"For years, I used my magic for evil and destruction. When Zordon gave me a second chance, I vowed to use it for good and now it is time to make good on that vow. In this form, my magic will be far more powerful and of great use to future ranger teams. In turn, you can now have your greatest desire and be with the one you love," Rita said, as she smiled at the young couple.
"Is…is this real?" Shane asked, as he delicately cupped Skyla's face in his hands. She smiled and could only nod, as tears welled in her eyes. Shane smiled and did what he had done so many times in his dreams. He kissed her passionately and held her tightly in his arms, unaware of the applause from his fellow rangers around him.
"Don't delay and return to Earth through the portal, rangers. It won't remain open very long," Zordon instructed.
"Zordon…" Kimberly cried tearfully.
"I'll always be watching over you…all of you, my charges. May the power protect you…always," Zordon said simply, as he and Rita disappeared.
"Come on guys…let's go home," Tommy called, as the dozens of former rangers hurried through the portal, before it finally closed behind the final person to step through.
