See chapter 1 for Story notes. Thanks for the reviews! Please consider leaving feedback. It really helps and is much appreciated. Here is individual responses to reviews:

Fallingstar22: Yep, it's a hell of a fight already and only half over! Glad you're enjoying it!

MMPRFansince93: Yep, one dead bounty hunter and Lothor is next hopefully. Glad you're enjoying it!

Ghostwriter: Glad you're enjoying it. Yeah, Cassidy really grew on me in Dino Thunder.

Thunderstruck

Chapter 24: The Gates of Gehenna

Explosions rocked the Blue Bay countryside, as Lothor's forces battled the rangers with dark ninja magic. Lothor himself wielded the dark prism, making it near impossible to get near him.

"Battle Blast!" Conner shouted, as he fired the blast from his battlizer canons. But Lothor cackled with evil glee, as a dark beam of energy from the prism erupted and met Conner's blast head on. The red Tyranno ranger was blasted out of the air and landed painfully on the ground.

"I get to win this time, fools," he hissed.

"We'll see about that creep!" Jason yelled, as the original six descended upon him. Lothor flipped to evade Zack's high kick and blocked Billy and Kim, blasting them away. He batted Trini away next and took on double team from Tommy and Jason. But not even the seasoned martial artists could combat his dark magic.

"How does it feel to lose, rangers?" he taunted.

"You would know, freak," Rocky said, as he was blasted with red energy. Rocky, Adam, Tanya, and Kat blasted him with zeo energy, while Justin used his Turbo hand blasters.

Lothor angrily batted Kat and Tanya away, as Rocky and Justin charged next, double teaming him with their best kicks and punches. Dark energy hit Justin first, sending him rolling away, while Rocky fired lasers at him. But Lothor deflected them harmlessly with the palm of his hand and blasted him back. Adam and Tanya charged again.

"Veteran rangers or not, you young fools will not defeat me this time!" Lothor hissed, as he swiped them both across their chests with the dark sword provided to him by his powers. Sparks ensued, as they were thrown back hard. The Space rangers arrived and the six Space rangers, along with the Galaxy rangers charged next, having just arrived on Earth to help with the crisis. But even Andros' spiral saber couldn't negate the prism's evil energy. The inky blackness had created an aura of dark power around Lothor and they observed that it was slowly changing him, as Mars inched closer in line with the moon.

The prism burned itself into Lothor's chest, causing him momentary agony, which was quickly replaced with an evil cackle. His voice now was deeper, gravely now, and as sinister as anything they had ever heard.

"The prism is forever a part of me and it will mean your destruction!" Lothor shouted, as an inhuman scream erupted from his throat. Black flames seemed to consume him, sharp spikes protruding from his back and hands now. Gone was any trace of human skin and was now replaced by leathery, charred skin, splotched with angry red patches and he laughed maniacally once again.

"What...the hell is he?" Zhane wondered in disbelief.

"I don't know, but it gets worse if he opens that abyss," Mike said, as he and the Galaxy rangers charged. They all brought their sabers down on him, but we're easily countered and thrown back.

"The time has finally come! My time to reign is here!" Lothor screamed, as a column of dark energy erupted from the prism and combined with the Gamma rays that now bathed the planet in a bloody glow. The beam shot into the ground and it quaked violently.

"He's doing it! He's opening the abyss!" Dustin cried.

"Only it's a thousand times worse this time!" Cam shouted.

"That's right nephew...and no one can stop me this time!" Lothor cackled.

"Doesn't mean we won't try!" Shane shouted, as red wind energy gathered around him. Dustin joined him and summoned an earth beam, as he glowed with yellow energy. Cam and Blake called on the powers of the green and navy prisms, the four attacks slamming into Lothor's dark energy beam. His energy was intensified by the dark beings seeping from the opening and he blasted them back. They could only watch as adversaries and monsters from the past emerged from the abyss.

"Revenge shall be mine, rangers," the Master growled, as he set his sights on Mystic Force.

"Mine as well," Mesagog, in his final form, hissed at the four Dino Thunder rangers.

"Orgs shall walk the Earth again once I succeed in your elimination," Master Org said. Lightspeed was instantly targeted by the emerging demons and Trakeena charged the Galaxy rangers. Darkonda and Ecliptor made a direct line for Andros and Zhane, while Goldar and Scorpina, in their original forms, along with Rito, charged at the Zeos and the Mighty Morphin teams. They were instantly all struck by a paralyzing power.

"Remember me, Power Rangers?" Lokar hissed, as he charged with Goldar and Scorpina.

Many other monsters, Generals, and foot soldiers joined the charge, as rangers and alien monsters converged in a fierce battle. But Jason knew their situation was grave, as he saw minions continue to pour out from the abyss opening and he saw that Shane knew it too.

"Come on guys...we need you..." Shane said gravely.

Tori gazed up at the red sky, as she held on tightly to Hunter, who broke speed records to get them back to Blue Bay Harbor. People were awed and startled in their cars, as the crimson blur blew past them. Even a few cops started to give chase, but simply couldn't keep up. They knew it had already happened. Lothor had opened the abyss again, this time on a scale at least ten times worse than the first time, and they were the only ones that could seal a virtual gateway to hell that was pouring evil upon the Earth right now.

"Hang on Tor…we're going airborne," he said, as he engaged the thrusters.

"Crimson Glider bike…flight mode!" he called, as spectators on the highway could only watch them in awe, as they soured into the sky. There was no time to lose.

As they soared through the sky at what she was certain was deadly speed, she noticed the sky turn red and start to churn with angry, dark clouds.

"The sky looks like blood..." she said to him through their helmet microphones.

"He's opened the gates already...but we're almost there. They just have to hold on a little longer," Hunter replied. She tightened her hold around his waist, as he fired the thrusters to push them to even higher speeds.

Zack landed painfully on his back and Billy helped him up.

"I'll have my revenge this time, rangers," Goldar growled, as he stalked toward the original team, which included the Zeos as well, with Baboo, Squat, and Rito in tow.

"Oh look, it's Goldilocks and the three dumbasses," Rocky quipped.

"Good one, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss your witty retorts, rangers," Goldar hissed.

"Shove it Goldar and save yourself the embarrassment of getting your ass handed to you. Just crawl back into the hole you came out of," Tommy snapped. Rito chuckled.

"Talk about embarrassment. The fierce Tommy Oliver is now teaching stupid teenage brats like he once was. Just can't let go of the glory days can you, Dr. O?" Scorpina hissed, as she appeared next to Rito, who laughed.

"Can't make up your mind what color you want to be either," Rito joked.

"Are we gonna talk or fight?" Adam snapped.

"Oh we're gonna fight," Rito growled and Zack charged first, attempting to bring his power axe down on Goldar. But the demonized being simply stopped his weapon and sparks spewed from Zack's chest, as he went falling hard to the ground. Tommy and Jason, followed by Rocky, Billy, and Adam charged next, only to be blasted away by the three now powerhouses, while Squatt and Baboo still cowered.

"Man...I don't remember them being this strong," Rocky groaned, as he picked himself up off the ground. Kim, Trini, Kat, and Tanya attacked next and fared no better, as the villains from their past relished their revenge.

"They probably weren't, but with the abyss open, it allows them to draw from an unending well of dark energy," Cam explained.

"Hunter and Tori really need to get here to close it up then," Kim commented.

"I'd rather most of these assholes be in there when they do though," Jason said.

"Agreed," Shane said.

"Any ideas, big red?" Shane asked the original leader. Jason sighed, as all attention was on him.

"I wish I knew, other than we just have to keep fighting until they get here," Jason said, as he looked around, seeing that no team was fairing well.

"You got anything Billy?" he asked. Billy rolled his eyes beneath his helmet.

"This isn't something I can fix with a device or gizmo. But I would say those who have battlizers should use them," Billy said, as they ducked more laser fire. Dustin collapsed next to Shane, holding his shoulder.

"Dude...what happened?" Shane asked.

"Lothor tweaked my shoulder when he yanked me from the dirt," Dustin cried. Trini knelt beside him and without warning, she popped his shoulder back into place.

"Holy shi...arrrggghhh..." Dustin screamed, muffling the rest of his swearing through clenched teeth.

"Sorry," she apologized.

"S'okay, it already feels better," he replied in relief.

"Just give it up, has been rangers," Rito sneered.

"I'll show you a has been, bone bag!" Conner snapped, as he activated his battlizer.

"Please...neat toy kid, but you can't go toe to toe with me," Rito sneered, as he activated his jet pack and readied his cannon. Conner powered up his cannon and his blast nullified Rito's, surprising the skeletal mutant. In true cowardice, he grabbed Squat and Baboo and threw them in the path of the blast. The misguided, cowardly henchmen were instantly incinerated.

"Cowardly as usual, Rito," Tommy growled. The skeleton shrugged nonchalantly.

"I like to call it self preservation at its finest," Rito sneered.

"Nice blast, kid. Those pathetic Overdrive rookies could learn from all of you," Rito jabbed.

"Yeah, at least you still fight us one on one, instead of hiding behind magic and dorky capes!" Scorpina hissed, as she tossed a defeated Nick and Madison away.

"That's it, we'll show you what rookies can do!" Will yelled angrily, as he and the other Overdrives charged.

"Guys...wait!" Adam pleaded, knowing Rito was baiting them. Rito cackled and fired his fire canon. His flamethrower overpowered their attacks and violent sparks ensued, as the whole team was blown back several feet, their suits singed with fire damage. Rito cackled evilly and positioned his sword to skewer Mack.

"Damn it..." Jason growled, as he drew his sword and started toward them. But Goldar parried his blade.

"You and I have unfinished business, red ranger," Goldar stated. Adam and Rocky charged Rito in Jason's place, as his duel with Goldar began.

Meanwhile, Scorpina blasted Conner out of the sky and took on Tommy, Zack, Kat, Billy, and Tanya with a hoard of demonized putties. Shane, Dustin, Blake, and Cam fought Lothor, his hoard of dark ninjas, and demonized Kelzacks, while the other teams continued to fight respective evils from their pasts. And things were slowly worsening for the rangers.

"We will win this time rangers!" Lothor declared, as Shane and Dustin were blasted point blank with the dark prism energy. Their own prisms protected them from serious injury, but they and everyone else were slowly tiring while the abyss fed their enemies endless evil energy. Overdrive's morphs were the first to fail and the Zeo team tried to block them from more attacks. But they were losing ground fast.

"Get out of here!" Adam screamed at them, as he tried to keep Rito at bay. But Rito's sword came down and slashed him violently across the chest. Adam fell to his knees and then face down. His morph failed.

"ADAM!" Tanya screamed. Rocky kicked Rito away and dragged his best friend out of the line of fire. Scorpina's golden energy blasted the rest of the Mighty Morphin and Zeo teams.

Darkonda was relentless against the Space team and their morph had already failed twice. Trakeena, in her final form, had the Galaxy rangers struggling to even get back up. Queen Bansheera and her demons were overwhelming Lightspeed.

The twisted, demonic Frax was causing more trouble for the three present members of Time Force than they ever thought possible. Master Org's cruel torture of Wild Force caused pause for even some of the other villains, though Mesagog was not one of them, as he equally enjoyed inflicting his wrath upon the Dino Thunder team.

And the Master was matching Mystic Force's magic and slowly turning the tides against them. Goldar was relentless in his pursuit to end his first true nemesis, the first red ranger of Earth. The hulking Titan warrior swept the red ranger's feet out from under him and pointed his sword at the prone ranger.

"My, my...this is like deja vu, red ranger. Except this time, you won't be teleported away," Goldar sneered. As his sword was poised to strike, Goldar was suddenly pelted with crimson laser fire, Rito and Scorpina were pelted next, as the crimson rider soared above them. Hunter landed them and dirt was unearthed, as he braked hard to stop them. Tori flipped off first and started fighting her way through the demonized Kelzacks. Hunter joined and they made quick work of them.

"You guys made it!" Dustin cheered, as they helped Jason up.

"Adam...how badly are you hurt?" Tori asked in concern.

"I'll be fine," he assured, as Tanya and Rocky helped him up.

"And the bounty hunter?" Shane asked, as Lothor, his family, and the army of dark ninjas gathered.

"Dead. Nice try Lothor," Hunter stated.

"Yeah, she was good, but no match for our Hurricane power," Tori revealed.

"Hurricane power?" Blake asked, as all their prisms were suddenly glowing in reaction to Hunter and Tori's.

"Hurricane mode," Tori clarified.

"A power up," Cam understood.

"And it's bad ass," Hunter added.

"You may have gotten past the bounty hunter, but you will not get past me this time, now that the dark prism is a part of me!" Lothor growled.

"We need you to seal that opening," Trini said gravely.

"But we need to put as many of these losers back in that hole as we can," Kim added.

"The gamma rays are fading. Once they're gone, nothing can close it until Mars is aligned again. That's years from now," Billy informed.

"Then we defeat those we can. Then the rest we'll have to defeat after the gates are closed," Jason said.

"Then let's get as many as we can," Tommy reasoned.

"Let's get busy," Shane said, as the six of them took the lead position. Their prisms glowed brightly.

"Ninja Storm!"

"Thunder Storm!"

"Samurai Storm!"

"Hurricane Form!"

Like Hunter and Tori's suits, the other rangers' suits did not change much, just a more metallic, armored appearance. New weapons were granted as well.

To Shane, his hawk blaster transformed into the hawk sword, armed with powerful laser fire and the ability to channel his wind into fierce attacks.

Dustin was now armed with twin seismic axes to create seismic devastation when they made contact with the ground.

Tori once again called her trident that could summon the power of the seas with a simple tap of the hilt, while the forked end would rip through anything in her path.

Blake was granted a deadly two ended Thunder blade. Both ends crackled dangerously with Navy lightning and called to the sky to summon lightning at Blake's command.

Hunter summoned the Thunder hammer again, ready to channel crimson thunder at his call and his powered up thunder staff in his other hand.

And finally, Cam had received a transformation for his Samurai saber. The saber was converted into a laser rifle. The Samurai star shooter, which fired star shaped laser blasts.

"Some fancy new weapons and shiny costumes won't be enough this time, rangers," Master Vile stated. Cam aimed and fired three blasts. They hit Master Vile and he flew back into the abyss.

"Well, that proved him wrong," Rocky quipped, as the battle began anew.

"Weaklings..." Flurious growled, as he devastated the Overdrive rangers.

"Give me the jewels!" he roared, as he swiped at all six of them violently with his sword. Sparks ensued and they lay defeated at his feet. But a blast threw him back.

"Man..still whining about your tiara, Popsicle face?" Zack quipped, as he held the smoking barrel of his axe

"The crown will be mine!" he ranted. It was clear that in his demonic form that he had been driven insane. Xander used his magic to bind him with vines, but Flurious froze them and violently shattered them. Taylor soared toward him, latching onto him and dragging him toward the abyss. He grabbed her legs and she cried out in pain, as he threw her off. Jen pelted him with lasers from her chrono blaster, while Carter powered up his battlizer. Flurious was struck, devastating him. The Overdrives and the rest of the Mystics finished off the rest of the Chillers and Lava Lizards.

"You're up Shane!" Carter called. Shane called on his powers by raising his saber to the sky. It glowed with red energy and he swiped it in the air several times, sending flails of energy at his opponent. The energy formed into several twisters. They sucked up the defeated minions and Flurious, delivering them back to the abyss.

"Time to finish what I started, red ranger," Darkonda hissed, as he had Andros on his back, trying to drive his blade through him. Rocky flew through the air with a spiral kick, knocking him away.

"Not today ugly," the blue Zeo ranger spat.

"You'll pay for that, ranger," Darkonda threatened, as he blasted them with energy which they tried to evade. Kim responded by pelting him with arrows, while Tommy went one on one, sword to dagger. He kicked the monster on his back and queued Dustin.

"You're up, dirt boy," Tommy called. Dustin swung his axes and hit the ground. The ground trembled beneath Darkonda and swallowed him up, returning him to the abyss.

Adam chopped at Bansheera with his zeo hatchets, but the Queen of the demons batted them away like nothing and wrapped her hand around the green zeo ranger's throat. The terrifying woman cackled and her hair, now alive with tentacles, slowly wrapped around Adam's limbs.

"Let's see how hard I have to squeeze to break all your bones," she hissed. But suddenly she cried out in pain, as Tanya used her weapons to bat her away. Jason chopped through her tentacles and she screeched in pain, as they helped him up.

"Thanks," Adam rasped.

"You'll pay for that, rangers..." she hissed, as her newly grown tentacles shot out toward them. However, Udonna and Vida stepped in, showering her with an icy wind magical combination attack. She screeched angrily and her tentacles multiplied. Ethan stepped in, blocking the ones he could with the Tricera shield.

"Go Blake!" he called. The Navy ranger's Thunder blade gleamed in the moonlight and he disappeared into a navy ninja streak, severing her tentacles with his blade. She cried out in agony, as she was electrocuted and this time, her tentacles didn't grow back.

"Back to hell for you, psycho bitch," he stated, as he raised the Thunder blade, horizontally over his head, charging it with Navy lightning summoned by his prism's mastery of the lighting. Both ends crackled with explosive power and he spun the blade rapidly, as he charged her. He slashed her with both ends and she cried out in agonized disbelief, as she was thrust back into the abyss.

Master Org batted the other Wild Force rangers away and focused his wrath on Cole, trying to choke the life out of him.

"I wish I would have made sure you were dead too when I killed your parents,!" he hissed, as he threw him down and raised his spear, preparing to gut the red Lion ranger.

"Time to rectify that mistake!" he growled, but was suddenly pelted by solar energy.

"Not today monster," Daggeron said, as he helped Cole up.

"I will kill you all!" Org growled, only to be pelted with more blasts.

"Tell it to someone who cares," Eric spat, as he continued to fire the Quantum defender.

"With my Org seeds, I will once again rule this world," he hissed, as seeds began to fall from his hands.

"Super Silverizer!" Zhane called, as he blasted the seeds to ash before they could hit the ground. White arrows pelted him next, as Trent attacked and Ryan followed up, landing several kicks and punches.

"It's like a sixth ranger party all up in here," Zhane joked.

"That's probably my cue," Cam drawled, as he positioned his weapon.

"Samurai star scatter!" he called, as he shot multiple blasts in rapid succession, purposely missing the Org Master. The psychopath laughed.

"You're the worst shot I've ever seen," he goaded. But Cam ignored him.

"Samurai...falling star attack!" Cam called. His prism glowed and the blasts in the sky descended on the Org Master, sending the exploding and devastated monster plummeting back into the abyss.

Leo and the other Galaxy rangers fiercely fought Trakeena, but she was relentless and twice as strong. Sparks ensued, as she violently slashed at them with her pincers and their suits became caked in her sickly green ooze.

"Paybacks are a bitch, rangers," she growled. Wes stepped in, blocking her pincers with his chrono saber.

"Guess you're about to find out, slime ball," he retorted. She growled and shoved him away. Alyssa charged and clawed at her, but she was batted away. Chad used his Mega battle armor to fire a concentrated blast of ice at her. It only slowed her down slightly though and she quickly broke free in fury. Bridge fired his blaster and Kira soared through the air, but Trakeena blocked her Ptera grips, sending her head over heels to the ground. Merrick fired his Lunar cue and the animal crystals attacked, as Tori clutched her trident.

"No stupid little girl is going to defeat me!" she raged. Tori tapped the hilt of her trident on the ground and water torrents spiraled up around her.

"No...NO!" Trakeena screamed, as she was drowned out and the water carried her back to the depths of the abyss.

Trini fired her blaster at Mesagog only to be knocked away violently. Joel charged, armed with his V lancer, but Mesagog stopped his weapon, yanking it from his hands and batting him away with his tail. He was then suddenly hit with a pink cloud of power, as Kat landed a direct hit with her Zeo power shield. Mesagog growled angrily, as Billy leapt at him with his power lance. It glowed with blue energy and he slashed the monster violently. But the demon dinosaur unleashed his mind meld and the four rangers held their heads in agony. Conner stepped in, firing a tri-beam from the Triassic shield, getting a direct hit. But despite his injury, he employed his mind meld and Conner fell victim to it as well.

"I...can't take much more of this..." Kat cried.

"Hang on Kat..." Billy called through his own agony. Behind the monster, Hunter spun his hammer rapidly building energy. It crackled with crimson thunder, as Hunter tossed it end over end. It hit its target, sending Mesagog barreling into a tree, which was unfortunately completely destroyed in the process. Mesagog dug himself out of the splintered mess and roared in rage. Hunter extended his arm and recalled the thunder hammer. He employed his mind meld beam again, but was blocked by Hunter's thunder shield, which only made him charge in anger. Hunter formed the shield into the tornado star and charged it with crimson thunder, before throwing it. It met its intended mark, slicing Mesagog's tail off, causing him to screech in agony.

"You'll pay for that!" Mesagog roared, as the others held their heads in agony. Hunter wasted no more time. He raised the hammer to the sky, calling his thunder powers forth. His prism glowed and crimson thunder charged the hammer. He hit the ground with it. The electric current traveled toward the monster and struck its target. And the pieces of Mesagog's remains tumbled back into the abyss. The army of rangers stood strong again, as Lothor, his family, most of the dark ninjas, the few foot soldiers, Rito, Goldar, and Scorpina were all that remained.

"The gamma rays are fading fast. You two have maybe minutes to close that hole!" Cam warned.

"But Lothor and these posers are still loose," Dustin protested.

"They're too powerful for us to take down in just a few minutes," Adam reasoned.

"If we don't put Lothor back in the abyss, then this doesn't end today," Blake reminded.

"Then it doesn't end today. We'll have to deal with it later. But we'll be screwed if that hole stays open," Shane said.

"Close it!" Jason called. Hunter and Tori stepped toward the swirling gates in the ground that was the abyss.

"Stop them!" Lothor roared. But the others rushed them to give Hunter and Tori the time they needed. They clasped hands and purple energy exploded around them. Their visors opened, silvery blue eyes locking with sapphire blue eyes.

"Guess it's time to see if we can do this," Tori said with a smile. He smiled back.

"We can. Love can overcome anything. You've taught me that," he replied, with love for her shining in his eyes. An amethyst sphere of power formed between them and they guided it to the opening.

"Dammit...stop them!" Lothor growled. But the others didn't allow them to pass. The amethyst fire descended into the ground, closing the gateway and sealing the crevice in the ground up again.

"NOOOOO!" Lothor growled.

"That's the breaks, dude," Dustin goaded.

"Wrong fool! You may have won again today, but trust me, this time you will all suffer for this...starting with you two!" Lothor ranted, pointing at Hunter and Tori, before he and all his minions disappeared.

"You haven't seen the last of us either, rangers," Goldar promised, as he, Rito, and Scorpina disappeared as well. The moment the monsters were gone, media choppers were over them.

"Alpha, can you get us all out of here?" Billy asked into his communicator.

"Sure thing Billy, stand by," the little robot said. In seconds, they were all on the massive Hartford mansion lawn. They all sighed in relief and canceled their morphs. But there was no celebration from their team or Jason and Tommy's teams. And Hunter and Tori noticed instantly.

"What's going on?" Tori asked.

"Some pretty heavy stuff went down while you two were fighting that bounty hunter," Jason stated.

"Leann?" Tori asked, as she saw her friend's tear stained face.

"I'll let you guys take them down to Ops and explain," Andrew offered, giving them privacy for what he knew would be an emotional time for what they were about to learn.

"Thanks," Cam said, as they went inside. With that, Andrew and Spencer ordered food to feed the hungry and tired group of rangers.