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:
Harry2: Yep, definitely battles ahead. Glad you're enjoying it.
Ghostwriter: Glad you're enjoying it!
MMPRFansince93: Yep, it's go time!
fallingstar22: Yeah, I'm glad Tori saved Hunter. I feel bad for Leann too. It's time for the battle and hopefully good will win!
Thunderstruck
Chapter 23: Face Off
After they awoke that morning, they found the nearest stream to wash up, where Tori insisted on cleaning the gash on his head again. While he found some fruit, she used her water powers to catch some fish. After returning to the cave and eating, they began the task of laying out a strategy to deal with the woman hunting them.
"Well, we know that she is able to take on highly trained ninjas, so I think distracting her with our elements might throw her off her game," Tori suggested.
"I agree, but you have to admit she got the drop on us last time. We'll be ready for her this time and I doubt she can take us on," he replied. She gave him a look.
"Maybe, but we can't get cocky," she warned. He smirked.
"I'm not being cocky. We're just bad asses, plain and simple," he replied. She shook her head in amusement.
"You have such an ego," she teased.
"I prefer the term bad-assery," he retorted.
"Bad-assery is not a word," she countered playfully.
"It should be," he re-countered, before popping another berry into his mouth. She shook her head again.
"Fine, but we need to make quick work of her. We only have a few hours till dusk and we need to conserve as much energy as possible," she stated.
"Once we get out of this canyon, we can take the glider cycle back to Blue Bay. It's fast and won't drain us like a ninja streak. But first, I think we need to make sure she can't use her freaky tentacles. From what I experienced, they might as well be like mechanical extensions in terms of strength. I think that's part of why she's notorious. She can snap body parts like nothing with them," he said. She nodded, eying the bruising that was still present around his neck from those very tentacles," he suggested. They heard a rustling outside the cave and quickly quieted, before peering out. They saw her in the near distance and knew the time had come for a rematch...
Zack sighed, as he looked at his old morpher.
"Man, I never thought I'd be suiting up again," he mentioned. Adam chuckled.
"I wish I could say the same, but I always had trouble walking away from it. I don't know if I'm addicted to the adrenaline or maybe I just like spandex," Adam joked. Zack laughed.
"Maybe, but not as much as Tommy. No one loves the spandex like Tommy," Zack joked.
"I heard that," Tommy chimed in.
"And it's not really spandex. Our suits are made of synthetic material that the morphing grid molds around our bodies like armor," Billy added.
"Still looks like spandex and no one has an addiction to it like Rainbow ranger here," Jason teased. Tommy sighed. The alert alarm interrupted any further banter.
"Looks like you'll all be suiting back up sooner than we thought," Andrew informed.
"That's Blue Bay Harbor, near the Abyss' opening," Shane confirmed.
"Already three teams on site and they're overwhelmed. Lothor's not playing around," Tanya said.
"Guess going after that scumbag Zale will have to wait. I just know he has a connection to Goldar," Jason lamented. Tommy patted him on the shoulder.
"He'll have to wait, but we'll get him too," Tommy said.
"Not to mention, we still have to break it to Hunter that said scum is his bio-daddy," Rocky reminded.
"Pft...Hunter is no more related to Zale than I am to Lothor. Blood isn't everything," Cam chimed in.
"Well said, Cameron," Kanoi echoed.
"Excuse me, I believe we have another one to add to the mix," Spencer announced, as he led Blake in.
"Dude!" Dustin called, as they shook hands.
"Any word yet from my bro and Tori?" he asked. Shane shook his head.
"Let's just hope Hunter and Tori show up at the Abyss to close the gates if he opens them, cause if they don't, we're all screwed," Dustin said.
"They'll show. You know nothing can keep those two down," Blake replied. With that, all the teams teleported out.
Heliya's tentacles twitched, as she felt a strong breeze gush by her. And she knew it wasn't a natural wind. She saw a glimpse of aqua and crimson, as they used their ninja powers to dash around her, faster than the naked eye could see.
"Enough of your ninja tricks!" she hissed. Tori stopped and water swirled around her hands, as she sent a torrent at the bounty hunter. Heliya growled angrily, as she became drenched. Hunter stopped and crimson thunder sizzled in his hand, before shooting out at her. She cried out in pain and then growled, as she picked herself up off the ground.
"You two aren't the only ones with powers," she growled, as her curved blade glowed with orange energy. She released it and the ground erupted violently beneath them, tossing them back in a painful heap.
"I think we should ranger up," Tori suggested.
"Definitely," he agreed, as they took their signature stances.
"Ninja Storm!"
"Thunder Storm!"
"Ranger Form, Ha!"
Hunter and Tori drew their new weapons and charged her.
"This is Valerie Nelson for Channel Six news. I'm on the scene here in Blue Bay Harbor where for the first time in four years, our city is under attack. Several teams of power rangers have appeared to combat this threat. But once again, we are faced with a dilemma about our heroes. Do they do more harm than good? Some have long suggested that the reason Earth is always under attack is because of the Power Rangers," Valerie reported.
"Only an idiot would believe that...or a desperate reporter trying to make a name for herself," a voice said. Valerie glared at the intruder.
"Cut!" she called to her cameraman.
"Well, well, if it isn't Cassidy Cornell and her boy toy here to lick up my leftovers. I've already got this covered, but I think there's a community bake sale going on down the road. That's probably more your speed. Leave the hard hitting reporting to someone who knows what they're doing," Valerie hissed.
"The bake sale is probably more your speed, Nelson, considering you don't know half as much ranger history as we do," Devin shot back, as he got the camera ready.
"Step aside and I'll show you how to report the real truth," Cassidy jeered, as she got ready for her report, which would paint the rangers as the heroes they were.
People scampered away from the monster that was currently terrorizing downtown Blue Bay Harbor. Some stood frozen, literally victims of this monster's power over ice. Overdrive fought their current adversaries, foot soldiers, and were slowly being overwhelmed by the number of Chillers.
"That's right, puny humans...run..." Flurious hissed. Mack charged him and the icy foe blocked him with his staff.
"There will be no victory for you today, red ranger," Flurious sneered, as he smacked him away and fired icy lasers at all of them, blowing them back with violent force.
"I've waited months to do this," Flurious growled, as he held his sharp blade to Mack, preparing to strike a lethal blow. But he was suddenly pelted with lasers and blown back. From the smoke, their saviors emerged in a confident stride holstering their blade blasters.
"More rangers won't make a difference," Flurious hissed.
"You wish, ice breath. We've kicked evil asses way badder than yours," Mastodon ranger spat.
"They're definitely getting uglier, I think," Saber-toothed Tiger ranger added.
"I know...look at that hair. You should fire your stylist," Pterodactyl ranger quipped.
"Fools...if these rangers can't stop me, then what makes you think you'll do any better?" Flurious taunted.
"They're obviously not getting any smarter either," Triceratops ranger added.
"So you say, but correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the team that couldn't even destroy Lord Zedd," Flurious goaded.
"You're in for one hell of a fall if you think you're in the same league as Zedd was," Dragon ranger retorted.
"We handed Zedd's ass to him plenty of times, so you'll be no different," Tyrannosaurus ranger shouted.
"If he was anything like his idiot son, then I assure you that I'll have no trouble taking on some over the hill rangers," Flurious goaded.
"Oh he did not just call us old," Kim hissed.
"That's it, let's go all 1993 on his ass and show him how to get his ass handed to him, old school style," Zack seethed, as he cracked his knuckles. Flurious rolled his eyes.
"I'm so scared," Flurious stated.
"You should be, freak. You're about to find out why we were Earth's first rangers!" Jason shouted, as he drew his power sword.
"Then by all means, educate me," Flurious taunted.
"Step back rookies and we'll show you how it's done," Jason said, as he charged the monster.
"Seriously, does he have to call us rookies?" Will asked, annoyed.
"Probably not, but you're about to see why he can get away with it," Zack chimed in. Jason parried each strike Flurious attempted and finally disarmed him, tossing his weapon away, leaving Flurious shadowboxing against the red ranger's kicks and punches.
"Such a show off," Tommy teased, as Jason stepped back letting the weary and beaten villain attempt to recover for a moment.
"Your turn," Jason said. Tommy stepped up and Flurious charged at him.
"They never learn," Tommy mumbled, as he charged, blitzing the icy villain with a series of kicks. Flurious fired an ice beam, but the Dragon shield protected him and sent the attack right back in his face.
"You'll pay...you'll all pay!" Flurious growled, as he showered them with icy spikes. Sparks ensued and both teams took damage.
"I will not be a laughing stock any longer! I will defeat you and then that clown Lothor will pay for stealing the jewels of the Corona Aurora! I will wear the crown!" he ranted.
"Well, he snapped," Billy joked.
"Yeah, throwing a hissy fit cause someone stole his tiara," Zack joked.
"Let's bring him down," Jason said.
"He's nearly beaten. Shouldn't we let Overdrive take him down. He is their villain," Trini reminded.
"I just got my powers back and you're telling me I can't blow up the monsters?" Jason asked.
"There will be plenty of monsters to blow up," Trini replied.
"Fine...he's all yours, rookies," Jason said, as Overdrive attacked. But Flurious wasn't going down easily and matched them blow for blow.
"Don't these rookies train?" Jason complained.
"Be nice," Trini chided.
"Yeah, they're not martial artists, like you and Tommy," Kim reminded.
"Neither was I," Billy countered.
"Okay fine, but not everyone is a super cop and Dr. of everything," Kim retorted playfully.
"Let's help 'em out," Zack said.
"Okay, let's bring 'em together and trash him, old school style," Jason said. Zack cocked his power axe.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss this," Zack said.
"You'll need this," Kim said, as she joined her bow.
"And these," Trini added, as she attached her daggers.
"Ah...memories," Billy mused, as he connected his lance.
"Time to make popsicles out of this dude," Jason shouted.
"The younger rangers cleared the way, as Tommy charged, slashing him violently with the dragon dagger. This tossed him into their line of fire.
"FIRE!" they shouted, as their weapon's combined power shot out and Flurious exploded in a brilliant display of fire. But Lothor's cackle interrupted their victory.
"Thank you rangers...for giving the abyss the evil energy I need," Lothor said, as he used the dark prism to absorb Flurious' evil essence, before promptly disappearing.
"Damn him!" Zack cursed.
"Relax...Lothor would have destroyed Flurious for his energy anyway," Jason reasoned.
"What now?" Dax asked.
"We get to the abyss and try to stop him," Jason said.
"And if we can't?" Ronny asked.
"Then we hold off whatever comes out of that hole until Hunter and Tori can get here to close it up," Billy replied.
Ninja sword and thunder staff slammed against the cruel bow curved blade of the bounty huntress hired to kill them. She was formidable, but they were fluid and deadly as a team, moving in sync, as they dueled her. A challenge, something she rarely found, thrilled Heliya. This pair was unique..but dangerous. And she had been paid to eliminate them. Her race found sport in fighting and hunting challenging beings like this. If she had not been paid to kill them immediately, she would have sought to capture them and take them back to her home world where competitors of her race would have taken great pleasure in hunting them for sport.
The sport was a favorite pastime for her people. It seemed barbaric of course to other worlds and completely illegal on most planets. But it wasn't meant to be. She had been paid to kill them. She thought it was a terrible waste, but money talked and dictated that they had to die today.
"It's a pity we can't prolong this little battle. I love a good hunt, especially against prey as skilled as you and your mermaid," she hissed, as she parried Hunter's slash, which crackled with crimson thunder.
"A little overconfident, don't you think?" Tori spat, as she struck with her sword. Heliya smirked.
"I said you were a challenge, but nothing I can't handle," she hissed.
"Handle this!" Hunter spat, as he tossed several thunder clouds of crackling energy at her. She cried out in pain, as he electrocuted her.
"Go back to wherever you came from. We're done playing with you," he spat.
"That's what you think, thunder brat," she growled, as she pressed a button on her utility belt. A long, canon-like weapon appeared in her hands and it was attached to an energy pack that appeared on her back. She fired a ball of gold energy from it and Hunter's thunder shield crackled to life in front of him. But to his and Tori's horror, the energy slammed through his shield like it was nothing and hit him, blowing him back hard into a tree.
"Hunter!" she cried. Thankfully his armor held and only his visor opened, as he attempted to recover from the blast.
"Your turn to fry, mermaid," Heliya goaded. Tori fired a water beam to counter, but the bounty huntress' attack burrowed right through hers. She was hit and cried out, as she tumbled to the ground, rolling right next to Hunter.
"Say goodbye lovers," she hissed, before firing a very large blast at the pair.
"Hunter..." she uttered in despair. He realized, as hard as they tried, that they couldn't move in time, not even with ninja streak.
"I love you Tori," he choked out, as he reached for her. A tear slipped down her cheek, as their eyes met through their open visors. Her hand grasped his and that's when they realized they wouldn't be the ones to die today. The moment their hands touched, an amethyst barrier exploded around them, alive with crackling energy. They looked at each other in amazement and Heliya cursed them in disbelief. Their prisms glowed brightly with almost blinding crimson and aqua blue light. Their morphers glowed in response and their respective symbols changed to one that was an amethyst colored symbol combination of their respective ones.
"A power up?" he asked in awe.
"Hurricane Form," she uttered.
"And Amethyst storm," he added. They saw their enemy charging her weapon for another blast and nodded to each other, as their visors closed.
"Ninja Storm!" she called.
"Thunder Storm!" he called.
"Hurricane Form!" they called together, as they activated their new power up. Their suits didn't change much, except they now had a hardened, more armored appearance. Blue ribbons of power pulsated from her armor, while crackling crimson lightning around him gave his armor an electric purpose. Their respective symbols on their chests glowed metallic gold now and the new form came with powered up versions of their new weapons too. In Tori's hand, a golden trident as tall as her appeared in her hand. In Hunter's hand, a golden hammer appeared, also crackling with crimson lightning.
"Shiny new costumes won't save you...take this!" Heliya screamed, as she launched her large sphere of energy. Tori tapped the hilt of her trident on the ground and a wave of water crashed down on the energy sphere, consuming it fully.
"What..." Heliya uttered in disbelief. Hunter wasted no time and raised his hammer to the sky, charging the weapon with lightning he seemingly called out of nowhere. He threw the crackling weapon and it slammed into the bounty huntress, sending her barreling into a tree. Once the smoke cleared, Hunter called the hammer back to his hand and Heliya's injuries were apparent.
"Go back to wherever it is you came from," Tori commanded.
"If you think I'm defeated, little girl..." she hissed, but Hunter cut her off in mid sentence.
"You are defeated. We're giving you the chance to leave peacefully with your life. If you force us to...we'll finish you," he threatened.
"Oh that's it. I'm going to make a terrible mess of your boy toy, blue ranger, but don't worry, because you'll be next," she hissed.
"Well...we tried," Tori said.
"It's her or us," he added.
"I choose us," she said, as she jammed the forked end of her trident into the ground, causing it to quake violently under Heliya. Water torrents sprayed up around her.
"A little water won't stop my attack!" she screamed as her energy sphere continued to grow. Hunter began spinning his hammer rapidly, as crimson thunder energy gathered in it. When he was sure it was ready, he hit the ground with it, sending all the built up energy at her. Heliya's eyes widened in horror, as she realized her fate and let out a terrible scream, as their combined amethyst energy and her own consumed her.
"Your treachery will not go unpunished, ranger scum!" she screamed in agony for a moment, before a brilliant explosion silenced her and amethyst fire consumed her completely. Hunter and Tori let out a sigh of relief and canceled their morph. He scooped her up excitedly and she hugged him tightly in return, as he spun her around.
"That was close, thunder boy," she whispered. He pulled back and kissed her passionately.
"The power is definitely on our side. She probably killed hundreds of beings that didn't deserve to die...so she got what she deserved," he said. She nodded.
"Lothor's next. If he's opened the gates..." she started to say.
"We'll stop him," he assured her. She nodded.
"We better hurry then," she replied, as they activated their morphers again and the crimson rider appeared at Hunter's call. Tori held onto him, as he punched the throttle and they sped off in a crimson streak…