Chapter 21: Silver and Gold

7830 BC - M51 Galaxy - Land Without Magic

Two brothers, named Silverback and Goldar, are celebrating after another victory in the name of their master, Lord Zedd

"Tonight we celebrate victory!" Goldar said "Let this world be an example to all who side with Planet Eltar against the might of Lord Zedd, the Emperor of Evil"

"The universe is built for the strong" Silverback said "we take power through battle and war! Eltar preaches peace and diplomacy; these are the tools of the weak to drag the strong down. We will never allow this!"

"Well said, brave warriors" a voice from the crowd said "Lord Zedd is pleased with today's progress"

"Such an honor to be addressed by Lord Zedd's emissary" Silverback said, recognizing the being who was addressing him

"The honor is greater than you think" the emissary said "our lord summons you both. Immediately."

"Finally" Silverback said

"Don't make assumptions" Goldar said "we must be cautious"

"You worry too much, little brother" Silverback said "the strong have nothing to fear"

"Except for those who are stronger" Goldar said

"There are none stronger than us" Silverback said "Not anymore. Despite his legend, I found out he's a weakling, put in power by Master Vile. That's why he never appears in public. He's nothing more than a scary name. But he's nothing more than a coward. Do you disagree?"

"If our master has become weak" Goldar said "then it is our duty to put him down and find a more worthy leader"

"Exactly" Silverback said "the strong should never take orders from the weak. Eltar is ours for the taking, yet we waste time on planets like this. Time and again, we have delayed our attack"

"Maybe now is the time" Goldar said "perhaps Lord Zedd is summoning us to begin the invasion"

"It better be" Silverback said "this is his last chance to do the right thing. Then, I'm taking matters into my own hands"

"You are very foolish" the emissary said

"Stay out of this emissary" Silverback said "this is a conversation for warriors, not messengers." The emissary, Goldar, and Silverback enter Lord Zedd's throne room. Zedd was covered in bandages

"Pardon our intrusion, milord" the emissary said "I have brought the leaders of the pack, as you instructed"

"Leave us" Zedd said "I wish to speak to these two alone"

"We have arrived as you commanded, my…" Goldar began

"I commend you, Zedd" Silverback said, cutting Goldar off "no doubt you are finally ready to launch an attack on Eltar. I can have our forces ready within an hour"

"You presume too much" Zedd said "Eltar is not your concern. There are far more pressing matters to contend with"

"What?!" Silverback roared

"I don't understand" Goldar said "why else have we been summoned?"

"I have located the Space Dumpster that contains Rita Repulsa" Zedd said "you two are to go there, free her. She will then go to the Moon Palace and guard the Zeo Crystal. You two are to go with her and be her generals"

"That's it?" Goldar asked

"You would send your greatest warriors to free a witch that got herself captured while an entire planet lays helpless before us?" Silverback asked

"Hold your tongue dog" Zedd warned

"That's all I've done for years" Silverback said "we used to work for Master Vile and he reassigned us to you five years ago. We assumed anyone Master Vile assigned us to would be a fearsome warlord worthy of us serving him. But we've managed to beat back Eltar's forces, they're down to one Guardian, Zordon is who knows where, we have a chance to destroy Eltar once and for all, and you refuse to take action. You are too weak and afraid to do what needs to be done. It is time we offer our swords to someone who can get the job done… you can't get it done, and if Master Vile thinks you can then he clearly isn't someone worthy to serve either… we're going to work for Dark Specter directly"

"How dare you?!" Zedd roared, grabbing his staff, his bandages falling off in the process

"His skin… what happened to him?" Goldar asked

"You have tested my patience once too often, Silverback" Zedd said as he blasted him "you think me weak?! How weak am I now? You wish to serve the Monarch of Evil? Rejoice, you served Lord Zedd"

"Goldar… brother… help" Silverback said

"Yes, Golar, help us" Zedd said "your brother speaks against my leadership. That makes him a traitor. What do we do with traitors?"

"We…" Goldar began "we destroy them master"

"As you say" Zedd said and he kicks Silverback's fallen sword to Goldar, who picks it up

"Milord" Goldar said "I will go to the coordinates and free Rita Repulsa and serve her for as long as you desire" and he beheads Silverback.

"Good" Zedd said "his sword is yours now. Let it serve as a reminder to everyone of Silverback the stupid. Silverback the weak"

"Yes milord" Goldar said

"You will leave immediately" Zedd said "and keep an eye on the witch. Her father tells me she was rather ambitious"

"Of course" Goldar said "my loyalty will always be to you"

Later, as Goldar approaches the floating Space Dumpster, he hears a voice

"Sorry, I'm afraid I can't let you do that" the voice said and he turns to see the Red Legend Ranger

"I take it you are Zordon of Eltar?" Goldar asked

"Indeed" the Red Legend Ranger said "I heard Lord Zedd had discovered the location of the Space Dumpster so I had to move it. Unfortunately for you, you got here at the same time as me. If you had been a few minutes later, I would've spared you"

"Unfortunately for me?" Goldar asked "I think you mean unfortunately for you as I won't spare you"

"Don't do this" the Red Legend Ranger warned "Rita could not beat me, what makes you think you can"

"You had magic back then" Goldar said "you don't now, they don't call this the Land Without Magic for no reason. All you have is a shiny red suit. I will run my sword through you and present your corpse to Lord Zedd"

"If you insist" the Red Legend Ranger said "Power Sword!" and the Power Sword appears in his hands. Goldar roars and charges at him, but quickly finds out Zordon is much better with the sword then he is

"You see I'm not just a wizard" the Red Legend Ranger said "I was a warrior long before I had magic, I'm actually more comfortable with the sword than I am with a wand. And just so you know…" and with a wave of his hand, he froze Goldar in place "my magic is perfectly in tact. I don't like to kill people when they're defenseless so…" and with a wave of his hand Goldar was teleported inside the Space Dumpster. The Red Legend Ranger then teleports the Space Dumpster away

Inside the Space Dumpster, Goldar awakens

"Hello Goldar" a voice said "I am pleased to see your cognitive functions have reinitiated"

"Who are you?" Goldar asked "what is this?"

"I am Moment" the voice said "this is the interior of what is often called the Space Dumpster. You will go through the designated recalibration scenarios and I will determine if you have been appropriately rehabilitated. Do you give your consent to begin?"

"As there seems to be nothing else to do, I give my consent" Goldar said and the room changed around him. Goldar finds himself in the middle of a battlefield

"I am the warrior Goldar!" Goldar said, drawing his sword "my weapons were forged in the volcanic magma of Rhea! They will never shatter, never dull and they will outlive you all! This is not a battlefield it is your grave…" and he cut off when a monster attacks him from behind

"Then your weapons will be your headstone, fabled Goldar the…" the monster began, but he was cut in two

"You could do with a little less bravado and a lot more bloodshed, little brother" Silverback said

"Silverback!" Goldar said "but you're… you're gone. How is this…"

"How won't keep us both alive" Silverback said "Get up! Our enemies are vast and our allies few. Now, will you fight with me, day and night, no matter the foe, no matter the reason, until we are both victorious… or fall together?"

"It would be… my greatest honor, brother" Goldar said

"Good" Silverback said "Then let our war begin… and glory and eternity waits"