(AN) Hello and welcome to the first full chapter of Scorpion Rain.
In this chapter, the rangers get split up when Rita and Zedd send down a standard monster of the week as well as sending Rito and Goldar to collect the Marauldia; so I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers; all characters and locations are owned by Hasbro and Netflix.
Chapter One
For what would become one of the most dangerous and chaotic battles in the history of the Zeo Rangers, it all started very quietly. Tommy and the others were heading towards Ernie's juice bar for some nice, relaxation time, which they had certainly earned after the defeat of the Machine Empire.
"So, have you heard from Jason, Tommy?" asked Rocky.
"Yeah," replied Tommy with a hint of sadness, "He says he's going to miss being a power ranger, but that he'll never forget it. He's going to visit Kimberly."
"How does he feel about the way you two ended things?" asked Kat awkwardly.
"Oh, he's cool about it," replied Tommy, "Besides, me and Kimberly are still on speaking terms. What we had was good, but we've accepted that it's over and that we can just be friends."
"That's nice to hear." replied Kat before giving Tommy a small smile.
The group entered the juice bar and were surprised to find Jerome Stone behind the bar with Ernie; wearing an apron.
"Mr Stone?" chuckled a surprised Tanya, "What are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you too," retorted Stone, smiling, "The private detective thing wasn't working out, so I've gotten a job as a security guard, but Ernie's also been giving me work experience here. Turns out that I'm really good at running a juice bar."
"Hey, Jerome, order at table 12." said Ernie politely as he came to stand next to the young man.
"You got it." replied Jerome cheerfully.
After Ernie took their orders, the teens went to sit down.
"Hey, Tanya, can I talk to you about something?" asked Kat curiously.
"Sure." replied Tanya.
The two girls entered the girl's toilet, so that they could have some privacy.
"So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" asked the black haired girl curiously.
"It's about Tommy," informed Kat nervously, "Well, more about me and Tommy … I have f-feelings for him."
"What!" cried a shocked Tanya before being shushed by her friend, who was looking around nervously, "Does Tommy know how you feel?"
"Nope. I've been meaning to try and talk to him about it, but I just want to wait for the right time." explained the blonde before giving a little sigh.
"I assume this is to do with that Kimberly girl?" said her friend curiously, "Did you ever meet her?"
"Yeah," replied Kat, "It actually wasn't that long before I became a power ranger; long story. Anyway, I know Tommy said that he and Kimberly are happy just being friends, but I'm not sure if he's over it yet, so I don't think I should be asking."
"Well, I think it's good that you're thinking about when you should ask him," replied Tanya, "But I'd suggest not waiting too long, or you might miss your chance completely. There's plenty of stuff I wish I could've asked my parents about before coming to Angel Grove. You won't know unless you try."
"Thanks, Tanya." thanked Kat.
The two teens then hugged while laughing.
Over at Lord Zedd's palace, Rita and Lord Zedd were standing in front of Rito, Goldar, Finster, Squatt and Baboo. They were currently in the throne room.
"Listen to us very carefully my minions," began Rita, "If this mission succeeds, then we'll finally be able to conquer Earth and destroy those wretched power rangers once and for all."
"Goldar: you and Rito will go to the planet Marauldo to collect the Marauldia," informed Zedd, "That old fool Zordon will likely send the Rangers after you, but thankfully, me and Rita have a plan that will divide their forces."
"Finster has created a monster that will be sent down to Earth to cause some chaos; just like the good old days," cackled Rita before glowering at Finster, "Is it ready yet?"
"Yes your excellency," replied Finster gleefully, "I call him Lavorsta: he's a dragon-like creature who breath fire and shoot lava from his hands."
"Excellent!" cheered the witch before cackling evilly.
"But that's not all," announced Zedd ominously before turning to Rito and Goldar, "You two will be aided on Marauldo by an old friend of ours."
The others turned as they heard approaching footfalls. Stepping forth from the shadows was Scorpina. "Surprised to see me?" she said coldly.
"This is brilliant," remarked Goldar happily as he went over and shook Scorpina's hand, "Those power rangers won't know what's hit them."
"Now that we're all clear on phase one of the plan, let's get to work!" ordered Lord Zedd before laughing wickedly along with the others.
Over at the youth centre, Tommy, Adam and Rocky were doing some karate training when Kat and Tanya entered.
"Right, now's your chance," muttered Tanya to Kat, "Just ask Tommy for a private conversation and then take it from there."
"Okay, I'll try." replied Kat nervously.
"What were you two talking about?" asked Adam curiously.
"Oh nothing," replied Kat before turning to Tommy, "Hey, Tommy, can I have a word with you in private?"
"Ohh, looks like we're all getting turns for a private conversation," joked Tommy as he approached Kat, "Is it serious?"
Kat was about to open her mouth to answer when suddenly, Tommy's communicator did its beeping. The teens rushed over to a quiet corner of the youth centre, and after making sure that nobody was listening in, Tommy answered. "Yeah, Alpha." he answered.
"Rangers," came Alpha 5's voice over the communicator, "Zordon wants you at the power chamber urgently."
"We're on our way." replied the teen before ending the communication. The brunet then turned to face Kat. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Oh, it can wait." answered Kat.
The group exited the youth centre and went round to the back, they then pressed a button on their wrist communicators and teleported away in beams of multicoloured light.
The teens teleported into the power chamber.
"What's going on, Zordon?" asked Rocky.
"Rangers; it appears that Rita and Zedd are back as the main threat towards Earth," informed Zordon in a serious manner, "They have sent down a monster that is attacking Angel Grove. Observe the viewing globe."
The teens turned their attention to the viewing globe. Within the globe, they could see a dragon-like creature with green, scaly skin shooting both fire and lava at fleeing residents.
"Aww, man; that's one nasty dragon." remarked Tommy as he and the others turned back to Zordon.
"I'm afraid that that is not the only problem," began the wizard, "It seems that Rito and Goldar have been sent to the planet Marauldo, but for what reason, I cannot tell. However, I believe it has something to do with the planet's main energy source: Marauldia."
"Marauldia is a glowing, green crystal that can be used to power something indefinitely," explained Alpha nervously, "Lord Zedd must need it to power some sort of weapon."
"You don't think it could be Serpantera, do you?" suggested Adam.
"Serpantera?" asked a confused Kat and Tanya in unison.
"Serpantera was this flying, robot serpant Lord Zedd owns," informed Rocky, "Apparently, it didn't have that much power. But if Lord Zedd gets his hands on this Marauldia stuff, then Serpantera could become an even bigger threat."
"That's correct, Rocky," added Zordon, "As there are currently two threats: I'm splitting you up into two teams in order to deal with them: Tommy and Kat; you will go to Marauldo and attempt to prevent Goldar and Rito from obtaining the Marauldia; Adam, Rocky and Tanya; you will go and deal with Rita and Zedd's new monster."
"You've got it, Zordon." said Tommy.
"Good luck, Rangers, and may the power protect you; always." said the wizard.
"It's Morphin' Time!" yelled Tommy as he and the others pulled out their morphers and activated them.
"Zeo Ranger One: Pink!"
"Zeo Ranger Two: Yellow!"
"Zeo Ranger Three: Blue!"
"Zeo Ranger Four: Green!"
"Zeo Ranger Five: Red!"
And with that, the teens had now morphed into the Zeo Rangers before teleporting away.
Tommy and Kat teleported on to Marauldo. The planet had a rocky landscape and a magenta coloured sky. Standing before the two rangers was a large valley with glowing, green crystals dotted about.
"No sign of Goldar and Rito yet?" remarked Kat.
"Looking for us, Rangers?" came a familiar voice.
The two rangers whirled round and found themselves face to face with Goldar, Rito and much to Tommy's surprise, Scorpina.
"Scorpina!" exclaimed Tommy in surprise, "So Zedd managed to find more creepy crawlies to help him out!"
"Save the wisecracks for somebody that can tolerate them!" retorted Scorpina, "If you're here to prevent us getting some Marauldia, then I'm afraid you're too late."
Goldar chuckled as he pulled one of the green crystals out from behind his back.
"We're not gonna let you leave with that crystal!" stated Kat firmly as she and Tommy took up fighting stances.
"Ohhhh, we're so scared!" cackled Rito mockingly.
"Thankfully, we brought some other old friends along to help." stated Scorpina.
Goldar snapped his finger and suddenly, a large army of Z Putties and Tenga Warriors appeared and took up their own fighting stances along with the other minions.
"This is not good." commented the Red Zeo Ranger.
"No, but we need to stop them getting away with that crystal." said Kat.
The two groups charged towards each other. Tommy and Kat exchanged punches and kicks with the Z Putties, Tenga Warriors and other villains, but they were soon swarmed by the large number of opponents. The two rangers were quickly grabbed from behind by some Tenga Warriors.
In downtown Angel Grove, Lavorsta was laughing wickedly as he continued to shoot fire and lava all around: cars and buildings had been reduced to smouldering rubble. The dragon-like creature turned his attention towards a warehouse and was about to open fire when suddenly-
"Hold it right there, lizard lips!" cried the Blue Zeo Ranger as he and the others teleported in.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Power Rangers!" sneered Lavorsta as he turned round to face them, "Time to turn up the heat on you brats!"
The rangers leaped out of the way as the monster breathed fire at them, the rangers pulled out their Zeo Power Pod swords and started swinging them at Larvosta, who dodged and kicked out at the teen heroes, the dragon monster then leapt on to a nearby building.
"Time to turn up the heat." chuckled Lavorsta.
Before the teens could even react, Lavorsta shot streams of lava at the heroes, who attempted to roll out of the way, but it was no use. Rocky, Adam and Tanya yelled out in pain as some of the lava struck their hands, throwing their swords out of their hands and sending them flying backwards. The rangers groaned as they slowly sat up and looked at their smoking gloves.
"Everyone all right?" asked a concerned Rocky.
"Yeah." groaned Tanya, while Adam nodded.
Lavorsta leapt back on to the ground.
Up at Zedd's palace, Zedd and Rita stood at the balcony.
"Time to make the monster grow!" cheered Rita in a sing-song voice, while Zedd laughed.
"Those rangers won't know what's hit them!" sneered Zedd.
Lord Zedd pulled out one of his potion bottles and tossed it over the balcony.
Back in downtown Angel Grove, Lavorsta snickered as he caught the potion bottle, he then slammed it on to the ground, causing a small explosion. When the smoke cleared, Lavorsta was now giant sized. "Now I'm really gonna turn up the heat on you!" he snarked before shooting a jet of lava towards the rangers, who quickly rolled out of the way.
"Alright, let's call the zords!" ordered the Green Zeo Ranger.
"We need Zeo Zord power; now!" cried the rangers in unison.
The Zeo Zords quickly arrived, allowing the rangers to teleport into their cockpits. However, as Tommy and Kat were absent, they couldn't form the Megazord, so they'd just have to do their best individually.
The Zords began firing their weapons on Lavorsta, but they pinged harmlessly off of his scaly hide and struck the zords, forcing them back slightly.
"Oh man!" exclaimed Rocky in shock, "He's almost unbeatable."
"Not completely," said Tanya, who suddenly had an idea, "If we try and fire on his mouth, it might destroy him."
"Good thinking, Tanya." replied Adam, "Right, let's finish this."
The rangers reversed their zords, causing Lavorsta to chuckle darkly. The rangers fired on the dragon-like creature's mouth, taking it by surprise. Sparks flew from Lavorsta as he stumbled before falling to the ground and exploding. Unfortunately, this created a massive fireball that ripped through downtown Angel Grove and struck the zords.
Back in the power chamber, Alpha was franticly running around the chamber, pressing buttons. "Aye, aye, aye, aye, aye: Lavorsta's destruction has created a fireball that's torn through downtown Angel Grove!" he cried in horror.
"What of the rangers?" asked a concerned Zordon.
"I can't get in touch with them," answered Alpha gravely, "I can't get in touch with Tommy or Kat either. Oh dear, I hope they're all okay."
"I hope so too, Alpha." agreed Zordon.
Back on Marauldo, the Red and Pink Zeo Rangers were thrown to the ground, forcing them to demorph. The Z Putties and Tenga Warriors teleported away, leaving the remaining villains.
"Sorry, Rangers, but this is where you begin to loose." remarked Goldar as he held up the Marauldia.
The group then teleported away in a black light.
Tommy and Kat lay on the ground; groaning in pain as they struggled to get to their feet before slumping to the ground, unconscious.
(AN) And we end this first full chapter on that cliffhanger; hope you all enjoyed.
So yeah, I'm doing a Tommy and Kat subplot: sorry to any Tommy/Kimberly fans out there, but in my opinion, they had their time, but some relationships just aren't meant to be.
In the next chapter, we'll resolve the cliffhanger and see the next phase of Zedd and Rita's plans.
Until then, this is TimeLordMaster108 signing out.