MMPR Revisited
Teamwork Part 2
The moon, a celestial body so bright and mysterious, cast its radiant glow over the Earth. To the casual observer, it held no hints of the malevolent plot that unfolded beneath its surface in the submerged castle of Rita Repulsa. With a wicked gleam in her eyes, Rita watched the Earth from her vantage point, the planet slowly spinning in its cosmic dance. She approached a massive telescope, a tool that allowed her to scrutinize the destruction unfolding millions of miles below her. A sinister smile curled upon her lips as she observed King Sphinx and her Putties relentlessly battling the Red Ranger.
"Yes! Get him! Kill him!" she beckoned with a malevolent glee, followed by a chilling laugh. "Zordon was foolish to think he could stop us once more. Unlike him, I've learned from my mistakes. These warriors don't seem nearly as formidable as his last group of fools," she mused, stepping back from the telescope. She turned to Goldar, who had arrived only moments earlier. "Is the Red Ranger completely isolated?"
"Yes, my Queen," Goldar replied. "The magical force field you've created prevents Zordon from teleporting the Red Ranger to safety."
"Excellent. Let's hope King Sphinx disposes of him swiftly," Rita said, her delight evident.
"But what about the other Rangers, my Queen? Surely they will attempt to intervene," Goldar inquired, causing Rita's smile to fade.
"You're right. We can't allow that. Finster!" Rita called out, exiting her throne room and venturing into her wizard's monster workshop. As she entered, she was greeted by the small Putty forms of some of her most formidable monsters, which she casually petted as she passed by. "Finster!" she called once more, and finally, a diminutive, impish creature with thick glasses and a blue apron appeared.
"Yes, my queen?" Finster inquired.
"Ah, Finster. I require another monster, one that will bring total devastation to the other Power Rangers. And make it quick!" she demanded.
"Another monster so soon?" Finster questioned, glancing at Goldar for confirmation.
"Yes, King Sphinx is solely focused on the Red Ranger. Our Queen needs something to distract the other Rangers and expedite the Red Ranger's demise," Goldar clarified.
"Very well, in that case, a monster of brute strength capable of taking on more than one Ranger at a time. Ah, I've got it!" Finster exclaimed, reaching down and retrieving a small Putty monster with notably large horns. "The Minotaur, do you remember him?"
"Oh, yes!" Rita responded with a wicked laugh. "He's perfect!"
"Indeed, now he just needs an extra touch. Our dark magic infused with some...toxic chemicals. While studying the area humans call Angel Grove, I discovered a substantial source of toxic energy. If I inject the Minotaur with a growth serum and immerse him in the toxic waste, he will become an even more formidable force," Finster explained, eliciting another delighted laugh from Rita.
"I will personally deposit the monster in the toxic chemicals. You can count on me, my Queen!" Goldar pledged.
"Perfect! This is a glorious day. We shall crush the Power Rangers, Zordon, and then the world!" Rita continued her malevolent laughter, drawing her loyal followers into her twisted mirth. Finster took a syringe and injected the small Putty form of the Minotaur before handing it to Goldar, who vanished in a radiant golden light. Rita returned to her throne room and resumed her surveillance, zooming in on both the Toxic Waste dump and the fierce battle between King Sphinx and the Red Ranger.
Meanwhile, in Angel Grove, Trini and Billy found themselves embroiled in complications during their attempt to do a good deed. "What do you mean we can't protest here?" Trini's voice carried a simmering anger. Billy stood beside her, the general office just a few feet away, separated only by Chet, a formidable worker at the Angel Grove Industrial Waste Dump.
"There's no law against it!" Billy asserted. Chet narrowed his eyes, causing Billy to break eye contact and hide behind Trini.
"Because I said so. Now get lost before you two get hurt," Chet retorted, spitting disdainfully on the ground. Disgusted, both Trini and Billy stepped back.
"Charming," Billy muttered.
"Is that a threat?" Trini confronted.
"Just a word of caution. This place isn't going anywhere. Now, beat it!" Chet yelled. Trini raised her index and middle fingers, pointing at her eyes and then at Chet, before she turned on her heel and stormed off, with Billy closely trailing behind.
"Well, that could have gone better," Billy observed.
"We're not finished yet, Billy," Trini replied, her words leaving Billy in contemplative silence. She turned her head to elaborate, "There's more than one way to skin a cat."
"Why? Why do you always have to be so literal?" Billy retorted. Trini waved her hand dismissively.
"I just mean there's more than one way inside, and I will make sure our message is heard. This place is vile; it needs to be shut down," she declared. Billy shook his head and followed Trini, who was now hunched over to remain inconspicuous as they made their way around the dump site to the back entrance. An inviting yet rusty gate nearly toppled over when Trini lightly tapped it with her foot.
Staying low, they slipped inside and hid behind a stack of barrels. Trini's head slowly rose to peer out, revealing Chet and another greasy, surly worker. Chet unwrapped a piece of gum and casually tossed the aluminum wrapper into what appeared to be a vat of toxic waste. Her gaze shifted from them to the front office, where she assumed their manager was.
"This will do!" shouted Goldar as he suddenly materialized behind the unsuspecting workers. Just as they attempted to flee, Putties materialized, blocking their escape.
"Billy!" Trini exclaimed. As she prepared to rise, Billy restrained her. "What? We have to save them!"
"Not like this, Trini. We need to morph; they can't see us," Billy advised. Trini nodded, and together they pulled out their morphers, raising them to the sky.
"Triceratops!" Billy called out, surrounded by a blue light.
"Saber-Toothed Tiger!" Trini yelled, enveloped in a yellow light. They leaped out from behind the barrels, revealing their presence.
"Goldar, stop!" Trini commanded.
"Get them before they interfere!" Goldar ordered. The Putties began to spread out across the dump site. Utilizing their surroundings to their advantage, Trini and Billy knocked over towering stacks of barrels, tires, and hazardous debris to immobilize the creatures.
"No! No! Please don't!" Chet screamed as a Putty began lifting him over the toxic waste vat. Trini pulled out her blaster and fired at the creatures, reducing them to dust. Chet tumbled backward. Trini clambered onto a barrel and began ascending toward the platform where Goldar stood.
"I don't have time for this," Goldar muttered. He grabbed the small animated Putty figurine and headed toward the vat of toxic waste. "Mighty Minotaur! Rita summons you!" With a toss, the creature plunged into the vat, causing it to bubble violently. Trini, unnoticed, reached the platform and moved to assist Chet and his coworker.
"Okay, you two, you need to get out of here," Trini whispered urgently. They stared at her in disbelief. "Now!" she urged. They scrambled to their feet and began to flee, but their noise attracted Goldar and some Putties. Trini crouched, assuming a defensive posture. She swept a Putty to the ground with a swift leg movement and then spun her body, kicking another Putty into the toxic vat, intensifying the bubbling.
"No! You're going to ruin everything!" Goldar shouted as he charged toward Trini with his sword. He swung down, but she deftly dodged his attack. She kicked his sword-hand aside and delivered a series of rapid jabs to his abdomen. Her guard dropped when he drove his knee into her stomach and then managed to slash her with his sword.
"Trini!" Billy yelled from below the platform, knocking two Putties aside. He pulled out his blaster, raced up the staircase, and fired at any Putties in his path. Finally reaching the top, he shot another blast at Goldar, sending him staggering back.
"Thanks, Billy!" Trini exclaimed as she rose from the ground.
"Pests. Nothing but filthy pests. I look forward to eradicating you one by one, starting with your esteemed leader, the Red Ranger," Goldar jeered. This statement left Billy and Trini bewildered.
"What have you done to him?" Trini demanded, but Goldar merely laughed. "You won't get away with this!" she declared.
"Precisely what I was hoping to hear," Goldar replied, his attention shifting to the now-silent toxic waste vat. A figure began to emerge, a creature with imposing horns, piercing green eyes, enormous limbs clutching a spiked mace and a shield. The Minotaur stepped out of the vat, dripping with toxic sludge.
"Oh my god," Trini murmured in dismay.
"That's impossible. That toxic waste should have dissolved whatever Goldar threw in there. It's basic chemistry," Billy remarked, raising his blaster defensively. "Any ideas?" he asked Trini.
"Billy, Trini, stand by for teleportation," Alpha's voice came through loud and clear in their helmets, bringing a sense of relief. Blue and yellow lights enveloped them, and they vanished.
Moments later, in the command center, they were greeted by Alpha, Zack, Kimberly, and Zordon. Trini and Billy removed their helmets and were immediately embraced by Kimberly.
"I'm so glad you guys are okay!" Kim said. "That thing is disgusting. You were right, Trini, about wanting to shut this place down."
"Yes, but I could never have predicted this. Rita used our own pollution against us," Trini replied solemnly.
"Rita has proven herself to be very resourceful today. However, she is still very narrow-minded. All she seeks is revenge. We have the advantage in her blind spots," Zordon stated.
"What about Jason? Where is he?" Trini asked, her concern etched on her face. Kim and Zack exchanged glances, their expressions filled with worry.
"He's trapped," Zack said bluntly, pointing to the viewing globe. It displayed Jason locked in a fierce battle against a swarm of Putties while also fending off attacks from King Sphinx. "We're working on a solution to get him out."
"Rita has some sort of force field around him, preventing him or anything else from escaping," Kim explained. "So, teleportation is useless."
"So, we can't get him out. But what about getting things in?" Billy pondered aloud.
"Excellent observation, Billy," Zordon acknowledged.
"I'm a bit lost," Kim admitted with a shrug.
"I understand," Trini chimed in. "Maybe we can send ourselves in?"
"I doubt it, but perhaps we can send something in to assist him," Billy suggested, scratching his head.
"Rangers, there is a way. The time has come for you to learn about the Power Crystals and the Power Weapons," Zordon began. The Rangers stepped away from the viewing globe and turned their attention to their mentor. "The Power Crystals, forged from your very own power, link each of you to one another and the morphing grid. With the Power Crystals, you'll never be truly apart. Behold!" Four white lights flashed before the Rangers, prompting each of them to hold out their hands. Four long, spherical crystals, each in their respective colors, materialized.
"So, if I understand correctly, Zordon, if Jason were to use these, it would teleport us to him?" Billy inquired.
"Correct," Zordon confirmed.
"So, all we have to do is teleport these to Jason. They're small enough in mass, so it should work," Billy reasoned.
"Should we test it first? If it doesn't work, something could happen to these crystals, right?" Trini asked, concerned.
"It is a possibility," Alpha responded.
"Which is why we'll send something else first. Now, about the Power Weapons. Each of you possesses a unique weapon infused with great power. With the constant threat of Putties and Rita's monsters, it's time to arm yourselves more effectively." Alpha retrieved the crystals from the Rangers' hands, allowing Zordon to bestow their weapons upon them.
"Billy," Zordon began, and a long, blue and white lance appeared in Billy's hands. "This is your Power Lance, a weapon of great power and range." A bow materialized in Kimberly's hand. "Kimberly, behold your Power Bow, accurate and powerful." An axe manifested in Zack's hands. "Zackary, behold the Power Axe, lightning-quick and as strong as diamond." Finally, two daggers appeared in Trini's hands. "Trini, your Power Daggers are nimble and as precise as arrows." The Rangers marveled at their new weapons.
"What about Jason?" Zack inquired.
"Behold, Jason's Power Sword." A light emerged and formed the silhouette of a magnificent silver sword with a red handle and the Tyrannosaurus insignia. "It is the key to unlocking the full potential of your weapons, and we must send it to him immediately if he hopes to continue defending himself against King Sphinx," Zordon explained.
"So, the sword first. Then the crystals?" Kim clarified.
"Correct," Zordon affirmed.
"We can place the crystals in this small chest. It should be compact enough to penetrate Rita's force field," Alpha suggested as he prepared the chest.
"Wait!" Kim exclaimed, rushing over to her bag and grabbing a pen and paper. "I'm writing some instructions for Jason. It's not like he'll know what to do with these when he sees them."
"Good point. If I found a bag of crystals, my first thought would be 'Pawn Shop!'" Zack quipped, eliciting chuckles from the others, though Alpha and Zordon remained unfazed. Kim folded the note and placed it inside the chest along with the crystals, closing it securely. With Billy's assistance, Alpha input the teleportation code for the sword and the chest. In a bright flash of light, the sword vanished, followed by the chest a moment later. All eyes were fixed on the viewing globe, hope and anticipation filling the room as they awaited the outcome of their plan.
In the quarry, Jason continued to struggle against the relentless assault of Putties and King Sphinx. He could feel his powers weakening with each passing moment, a growing sense of desperation gnawing at him.
As Jason continued to battle the relentless swarm of Putties and the formidable King Sphinx, he couldn't help but wish for the presence of his fellow Rangers. He fought fiercely, striking a Putty away with a powerful fist. Just as he was about to strike another, King Sphinx joined the fray, charging toward Jason with his Shepherds-Staff. Jason skillfully deflected a strike with his short-sword but was knocked back by the force of King Sphinx's mighty paw.
"You'll never win, human!" the Sphinx taunted. Jason, while still on the ground, pushed himself up to a standing position. A white light suddenly materialized before him, forming the Power Sword. Noticing the distinctive tyrannosaurus insignia, Jason immediately reached for it. "What is that? How did it appear?!" King Sphinx bellowed in confusion.
"Looks like my friends are just smarter than yours," Jason retorted. With the sword in his hands, his strength surged back, a rejuvenating energy enveloping him and rekindling his willpower to fight. As the Putties attempted to swarm him once more, Jason didn't feel the same helplessness as before. He charged forward and all but sliced the first Putty in half with his new blade. The others hesitated, reluctant to attack.
"Cowards, get in there!" King Sphinx commanded, but they disobeyed and eventually retreated altogether. "Fine, I'll handle this myself," he growled and charged. The two warriors clashed, matching each other move for move. When Jason struck downward with his sword, King Sphinx parried with his staff. When King Sphinx attempted a kick, Jason deftly blocked with his knee.
This exchange continued for several intense minutes until Jason's speed and determination prevailed, landing a fatal cut across King Sphinx's chest. King Sphinx growled in pain and staggered back a few paces.
"Seems like a good time to leave, huh?" Jason taunted, mimicking the same tone King Sphinx had used earlier.
"Shut up! I never retreat from a battle. I will have your head, Red Ranger!" King Sphinx snarled angrily. Jason charged again and managed to land a couple more clean cuts on the Sphinx, causing him to become increasingly clumsy and unfocused in battle.
"Enough!" Goldar's voice boomed from a distance. "I leave you in charge of one thing. I strictly said that I wanted his head before I returned, and it looks like you're the one about to be decapitated."
"Leave us!" King Sphinx yelled, but Goldar ignored him and approached the two warriors.
"I knew you didn't have what it takes. But fear not, the Red Ranger will still be destroyed today. Our Queen has other plans for us," Goldar's cryptic statement left Jason feeling uneasy. Goldar raised his hands to the sky. "My Queen, we are ready for your power!"
Dark clouds began to gather, and thunder rumbled ominously before Rita's unmistakable, maniacal laughter filled the sky.
"Magic wand, make my monsters grow!" She yelled, and her magical staff descended upon the earth, firmly embedding itself in the ground. Its ruby jewel released a cascade of crimson energy that enveloped both Goldar and King Sphinx, causing them to grow to enormous proportions, easily thirty times taller than before.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Jason muttered. Both Goldar and King Sphinx began to laugh menacingly as they looked down at Jason, who now appeared as small as an ant in comparison. King Sphinx took a step forward, attempting to crush him, but Jason narrowly evaded the attack. Goldar released fiery bolts from his eyes, striking the ground around Jason and forcing him to retreat. King Sphinx swung his staff in an attempt to strike Jason down but missed by a hair's breadth as Jason rolled out of harm's way.
Another white light suddenly appeared in front of Jason and landed on a hill before him. Jason sprinted toward it, dodging blasts from Goldar and narrowly escaping being crushed by the giants' footsteps. He struggled against the sandy uphill terrain but eventually reached the chest and opened it. Inside, he found five crystals, each representing the colors of his fellow Rangers. He unfolded a note that Kim had written: "Jason, throw our crystals in the air. It will lead us to you."
"Jason, you're not alone!" Kim's voice echoed in his mind as he took the blue, black, pink, and yellow crystals in his hand and looked up at the colossal figures of Goldar and King Sphinx.
"Alright, you guys, game over. Give a warm welcome to my friends!" Jason exclaimed, tossing the crystals into the air. They began to glow and rapidly struck the ground like bolts of lightning, revealing the four silhouettes of his fellow Rangers as they sprinted toward him.
"Jason!" Kim yelled. Jason leaped down from the hill, reuniting with his friends.
"Fools, you will all die together!" King Sphinx growled, slamming his staff on the ground. However, the Rangers managed to evade his attack.
"Damn, how are we supposed to take down both of them?" Zack wondered aloud.
"Rangers, power blasters!" Jason commanded. They all pulled out their blasters and fired shots at King Sphinx, but their attacks seemed ineffective. "Damn!" Jason cursed.
"Rangers!" Zordon's voice came through their helmets, surprising Jason. "Alright, the effects of Rita's force field must have been lifted," Jason said with excitement. "We read you, Zordon," he acknowledged.
"The time has come for you to use the power of your Dino-Zords. They will aid you in battling King Sphinx and Goldar. But please, hurry. The evil Minotaur is attacking Angel Grove Central Park as well."
"Evil Minotaur?" Jason questioned.
"Long story," Trini chimed in, and Jason accepted the answer.
The ground trembled beneath the Rangers' feet as Jason's commanding voice resonated through the quarry. The very earth seemed to shake in response, causing even the towering Goldar and King Sphinx to lose their balance for a moment. A storm of dust and debris filled the air as a deep growl echoed from the depths of the earth.
"Tyrannosaurus Dino-Zord Power!" Jason roared, his voice echoing in the chaos. The ground before him cracked open, flames and smoke billowing forth. From the fiery chasm, the colossal form of the Tyrannosaurus zord emerged, its mechanical majesty taking shape before them.
"Mastodon Dino-Zord Power!" Zack's voice joined the chorus.
"Triceratops Dino-Zord Power!" Billy's call resonated through the quarry.
"Saber-Toothed Tiger Dino-Zord Power!" Trini's yell added to the cacophony.
The Mastodon and Triceratops zords charged into view, their powerful footfalls shaking the ground as they joined the fray. Meanwhile, the Saber-Toothed Tiger descended gracefully from a cliff's edge, leaping down to take its place beside its mechanical comrades. Together, they formed an imposing line next to the mighty Tyrannosaurus.
"Pterodactyl Dino-Zord Power!" Kim's voice pierced the air, and the sky above erupted with a piercing screech. The Pterodactyl zord soared in graceful circles overhead, its presence a breathtaking sight that left the Rangers in awe.
"Oh, no! It's the zords!" Goldar's panicked voice rang out. "How did they get the power to summon them?"
"No matter. I'll deal with them myself if you're afraid," King Sphinx retorted defiantly, charging directly at the formidable Tyrannosaurus zord.
With their powerful machines at their side, the Rangers knew it was time to act. Zordon's voice cut through the chaos in their helmets, reminding them of their mission.
"No time to waste, Rangers. You are their pilots. Go to your Zords and defeat Goldar and King Sphinx once and for all!" Zordon's directive was clear, and the Rangers were ready to heed the call.
"You got it, Zordon!" Jason responded with unwavering determination. "Rangers, let's do this!"