Chapter 15: Dressed For The Occasion

The runes carved into the imp's chest flared a deep, angry red as he paced along the rim of the carousel. His gaze followed the direction the mortals had fled, the skeletal horses he had brought to life galloping after them like wraiths in the dark. "Foolish creatures," he muttered, his voice laced with contempt as his jagged teeth caught the faint light. Angry, guttural whispers swirled in his mind, insistent and ceaseless, but he pushed them aside with a flicker of irritation. His lips curled into a frown when the horses didn't return momentarily.

With a low growl, frustration bubbling in his chest, the imp turned back toward the haunted house looming in the distance. His hand stretched outward, pink energy crackling and sparking from his fingertips, his eyes lit up with an eerie glow. The bats circling the house froze mid-flight, hanging suspended like marionettes. They hovered there for a moment before breaking into smaller, more chaotic swarms, their wings cutting through the air in sharp, frantic beats.

"Find them!" the imp snarled, his voice booming through the night. The swarms scattered, disappearing into the mist, black silhouettes against the pallid moonlight.

Satisfied, he turned his attention back to the haunted house. The front of the building began to glow and warp under his control, the wood bending and shimmering as two headless horsemen emerged from its twisted facade.

The imp lowered his hand, and a spectral image of the crimson imp appeared before them. "Find him," the imp ordered, his voice a low growl. "The success of all we have done tonight depends on it. Bring him to me before the night is through."

The yellow flames flickered brighter within the hollowed eyes of the Jack-O'-Lantern heads. Without hesitation, the horsemen turned their mounts and galloped into the night, the sound of their departure swallowed by the deepening shadows.

The voices in the imp's head grew louder now, their whispers like sharp claws scraping against his mind. He hissed, clutching his temples, nails digging into his scalp. "I know, I know," he muttered through gritted teeth. "I won't let that little runt ruin everything." His tone was desperate, edged with the fear of failure.

Pain exploded behind his eyes, and he was sent careening backward over the carousel, limbs flailing uselessly as his magic fizzled and sparked at his fingertips. His back hit the ground with a bone-rattling crash, and the impact knocked the breath from his lungs. He groaned, blinking up at the swirling night sky, the colours bleeding into one another in a dizzying haze

Shapes slowly sharpened, and just as the world came back into focus, he heard the soft, deliberate thump of something — or someone — landing nearby. His heart pounded in his chest as he groaned again, pushing himself to sit upright, clutching his head as he squinted.

Two figures stood before him, their silhouettes glowing in the dim light. Clad in sleek, gleaming yellow suits. The imp's stomach twisted with unease. He could feel the power radiating off them. His lips curled back into a sneer as he struggled to his feet, eyes narrowing.

"Who are you?" he hissed, his voice unsteady, laced with confusion and growing dread. "What magic is this?"

One of the figures tilted their head slightly, a hand moving to the weapon holstered at their belt. The visor on their helmet glinted as they turned to the other figure. "How rude," they remarked, their tone almost playful. "It seems he's forgotten all about us."

"We must be losing our touch," the second figure responded, voice cool and collected.

Taylor's fists clenched tightly, her knuckles turning white beneath her gloves as they stared down the imp. His beady eyes gleamed, flickering with an unsettling light as a wide, toothy grin stretched across his face. "Ah... I see," he drawled, his voice dripping with false courtesy. "Didn't recognize the new look. But how…?"

Taylor didn't flinch. She exchanged a glance with Ashley, her partner already shifting into a ready stance, shoulders squared. "You'd think they'd learn by now," she muttered.

The imp's gaze darted around them, searching, probing the shadows for an unseen threat. But his grin faltered when he found nothing. His eyes narrowed, voice taking on a sharp edge. "I see you've come alone. Is your little friend too much of a coward to face me?"

"Not our friend," Ashley stated.

"We made sure he's not a problem anymore. Now it's your turn. So, last chance — give us our friends back, put an end to this circus, and get out of here. It's been a long night. No need to make it any longer." Her tone was casual but the promise of action simmered just beneath the surface.

The imp chuckled darkly, his arms spreading wide. "That's an interesting offer, but we've worked hard for this, you see." His voice dipped into a low growl as pinkish-purple flames began to lick up his arms, casting eerie, flickering shadows across his twisted grin. "Here's my counteroffer — hand him over, and you live. If not…"

The ground began to shake with the familiar sound of thundering hooves. The rangers gritted her teeth and looked up to see the skeletal horses barreling toward them, their painted eyes glowing. They emerged from both sides of the carousel, their bodies sleek and black, with bone-white skulls for faces.

"These guys again?" Taylor muttered under her breath.

"At least we're better armed this time," Ashley shot back as she unsheathed her Astro Blaster. Without wasting a moment, she sprinted toward the horde that galloped in from the left, her movements swift and calculated.

She leapt into the air, twisting mid-flight she fired off several rapid shots from her blaster. The energy bolts slammed into their targets with precision. Six horses exploded into fragments of splintered wood, shards flying in every direction, leaving a gaping hole in their ranks.

As she landed in a crouch, dust swirling around her boots, the remaining horses circled her like their hooves stomping the ground in a deafening rhythm. One of them lunged forward, its form rising onto its hind legs, hooves flailing in the air. The force of the attack hit like a hammer. Ashley felt the wind rush past her face as one hoof barely grazed her shoulder, the blow sending a shockwave through her arm.

She didn't falter. Instead, she tucked into a tight roll, evading the next kick as another horse bucked violently. She sprang back onto her feet with cat-like agility, pivoting on her heel to face them. Without hesitating, she fired again, her shots searing through the air. Energy blasts ripped through another five horses, their skeletal forms shattering.

The remaining four charged toward her. With a burst of speed, Ashley sprinted toward them, at the last second, she pushed off the ground, flipping over the charging beasts. She landed on one knee, her blaster already raised. With precision, she braced her left arm against her right for stability and fired eight rapid shots in succession. Each one found its mark, exploding the remaining horses into clouds of ash and splinters.

Along the other side, Taylor charged forward, her arms crossed over her chest, eyes locked on the incoming wave of skeletal horses. Flickers of yellow energy sparked between the fingers of her closed fists, forming sharp, feather-like darts. In one fluid motion, she leapt into the air, her body twisting gracefully as she spread her arms wide. The darts shot from her fingertips, streaking through the air like lightning. They struck three of the horses dead on, exploding on impact and sending splintered limbs flying in all directions.

As she fell to the ground, she drew her sabre from her belt and brought it slashing down on the necks of one of the horses. The head slid right off and the body fell by her feet as the rest scattered. One horse lunged at her, its wooden body surging forward. She ducked just in time, narrowly dodging its deadly hooves, but before she could regain her footing, a second horse barreled into her from the side, knocking her off balance with a brutal shove.

Taylor hit the ground hard, her body skidding across the dirt. She grit her teeth, eyes flashing as she looked up to see a horse looming over her, its jagged teeth bared in a grotesque snarl. Without flinching, she thrust her sabre upward, driving the blade straight through the creature's open mouth and out the back of its skull. She pulled her hand back and rolled out of the way as the body crumpled to the ground.

Rolling onto one knee, Taylor surveyed the scene, her sharp gaze tracking the remaining horses as they closed in, circling like predators. She clenched her fist, summoning three more darts that crackled to life between her fingers. With honed precision, she hurled the darts at the lead horses, aiming for the curve of their front legs. The darts exploded on contact, the horses' legs shattering with a sickening crack. The two creatures buckled and fell forward, their bodies collapsing in a chaotic heap that sent the horses behind them stumbling over the wreckage.

Seizing the moment, Taylor sprang forward, slipping through the gap created by the fallen creatures. Her sabre gleamed in the light as she swung it in a wide arc, the blade cutting through the air with lethal grace. It found its mark, slicing cleanly through the necks of two more horses. Their heads fell with a dull thud, and their bodies crumbled into a cloud of dust and broken wood.

The remaining five neighed loudly and charged at her. She tensed, her muscles coiling like a spring. She pushed off the ground, launching herself high into the air with a powerful leap. As she flipped in midair, she pointed her sabre downward, the crystal in the hilt glowed yellow. Energy surged through the blade. With a fierce cry, she unleashed the energy in a series of rapid bursts. The blasts shot from the tip of her sabre, striking three horses as they ran under her. They exploded in a cloud of dust and wooden shards. Taylor flipped once more, landing gracefully in the centre of the chaos, her boots crunching against the shattered wood.

The last two horses circled her warily, their breaths hissing as steam spewed from their nostrils. They paused momentarily, then charged at her in unison, their hooves pounding against the ground. Taylor stood her ground, her eyes narrowed in focus. She waited, watching them close the distance. At the last possible second, she lunged forward, rolling across the ground in a fluid motion. As she came up on one knee, she spun around, dropping the sabre. The two horses collided, their limbs tangling in a violent crash. The sound of splintering wood and clashing bones reverberated through the night air. Taylor seized the opportunity, summoning four more darts with a flick of her wrist. She hurled them with deadly accuracy, each dart hitting its target in the torso, shattering their wooden forms as they exploded.

The imp roared the runes on its chest flaring as it looked around at the crumpled forms of his pets. Ashely and Taylor got to their feet, resheathing their weapons as they regrouped and faced the imp once again.

"Had enough?" Taylor asked.

"This is not over," he snarled. He disappeared in a puff of smoke and reappeared on top of the carousel, right in front of the twisted grin on the pumpkin. He spread his arms wide and let out a loud screech as his entire body sparked with energy.

The rangers stood back to back as they felt a shift in the air. For a moment nothing happened and all they could hear was the haunting tune of the carousel. But it wasn't loud enough to mask the sound of hundreds of wings flapping in unison, which grew louder and louder. Bats flew in from different directions forming a large cloud and casting a shadow over where they stood.

"I think we made him mad," Ashley whispered.

Burning yellow eyes peeked out from behind the carousel as the headless horsemen made their return. They steered their steeds forward, coming to a halt in the place the imp last stood and drew long, thin blades with their free hands. The sound of clicking and grinding bones followed as skeletal creatures, much like the ones that attacked them before and scarecrows loomed closer.

"He's summoning all the things he brought to life."

"We might have bitten off more than we can chew."

Taylor stood taller and held out her hand. In a flash of yellow light, a sword appeared in her hand, with a yellow and white hilt shaped like an eagle in flight and a long blade. "Don't we always?"

The crimson imp slunk through the shadows, his small, wiry frame clinging to the darkness as he crept back toward the haunted house, the doll clutched in his clawed hands. The imp's red skin glistened under the pale moonlight as he darted beneath a nearby stall when the screech of bats pierced the air. He held his breath, his sharp eyes glinting, waiting for the leathery wings to pass overhead. When they finally did, he exhaled softly, his pointed ears twitching at the fading sound before slinking onward.

There was an urgency in his movements as he stayed low, still keeping his feet off the grass as he moved closer to where the two humans stood trapped in the cubes. The sounds from across the way filtered down to him and he quickened his pace. Dropping the doll gently beside one of the cubes, he floated between the two prisoners, crossing his legs as he hovered. His long, spindly fingers came together, and almost immediately, a vibrant green energy ignited around his hands, crackling like fire and slowly snaking down his arms, illuminating the shadows around him.

The muffled sounds of crashes and cries reached his ears but he pushed them away, focusing on his task. His focus narrowed to the magic pulsing through him. His glowing green eyes snapped open, casting an eerie light across his sharp features as the energy engulfed his small body. He floated to one of the cubes, extending a hand, and a crackling bolt of green lightning shot from his fingertips, wrapping around the cube, like roots spreading through the earth, the energy rippling along its surface. A smirk twisted his lips as he repeated the same motion with the second cube, his eyes glimmering with wicked satisfaction.

But a low, rumbling growl shattered his moment of triumph. His ears twitched, and he spun around, his gaze locking onto a pair of glowing eyes framed by a thick, wild mane. His smirk faltered as a massive lion stepped out from the shadows, its fur rippling in the dim light, its fangs bared in a deadly snarl. The imp's eyes widened, and he floated backward, retreating from the ominous figure.

The lion's deep growl vibrated through the air as it advanced, its hulking form tense, muscles rippling beneath its tawny fur. In one powerful leap, the beast lunged, jaws snapping. The imp shot upward, just barely evading its teeth, his wings flapping frantically. Hovering out of reach, he stared down at the lion, a smug, taunting grin spreading across his face. But then, the light in his eyes flickered and his brow furrowed.

"You're not… Oh. What has he done?"

His gaze darted toward the carousel where, high above, a purple imp stood, glowing with a malevolent light. From every corner of the carnival, the creations of his rival's twisted magic flocked to him. "This is f..."

In his distraction, the lion seized its chance and sprung forward, swatting him from the air. He crashed to the ground beside one of the cubes, dazed but still conscious. The lion pounced, pinning him down with a heavy paw, its claws digging into the dirt inches from his face. He struggled, magic flaring at his fingertips, but he hesitated.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he rasped, his voice calm despite the beast's snarling muzzle inches from his throat.

The lion's golden eyes gleamed with fury, and it raised its massive paw to strike again. But before it could, the imp's eyes flared with green energy, and he snapped his fingers. In a puff of green smoke, the doll beside the cube expanded, shifting back into the man it once was, while the jelly-like substance encasing the other two prisoners sloughed away, leaving them gasping on the ground.

Startled by the sudden commotion, the lion paused, its eyes flicking between the imp and the freed captives, confusion overriding its rage. Seizing the moment, the imp shot back into the air, directing the remnants of the jelly-like substance toward the lion. The goo slid beneath the creature and solidified once more, reforming into a cube around it.

"I'm sorry," the imp muttered, hovering over the trembling beast, "but for now, this is the safest place for you."

"What is going on?" Eric asked, his voice gruff as he pushed himself off the ground, wincing slightly.

Jen groaned as she picked herself up. Her eyes immediately darted to Wes, who lay sprawled out on the ground. "Wes!" she called out, panic threading through her voice as she scrambled to his side. Her hands gripped his shoulders and pulled him into her lap

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice shaky, her eyes frantically scanning him from head to toe, desperate for any sign of injury.

Wes blinked groggily, his head swaying slightly as he tried to shake off the disorientation. "Wha... what happened?"

Before anyone could respond, the crimson imp darted through the air, its tail flicking with agitation. "That's a long story," it said, its sharp voice cutting through the moment. "But there are more pressing matters that need your attention right now."

Wes sat up straighter, trying to regain his focus, while Jen narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the imp. Eric instinctively stepped between them, his body partially shielding Jen and Wes. His hand hovered near his Quantum Defender.

The imp held up his hands and spoke to Eric but only received a cold stare in return. It stopped mid-sentence and pressed its lips together. "Right. You can't understand me."

He tilted to his side so that he could look around Eric at Jen who was helping Wes get to his feet. "As I was trying to tell your angry friend here, I'm not your enemy. I'm the one that set you free. Your friends however could use your help."

"Jen what is he saying?" Eric asked his grip on his Quantum Defender tightening.

"Wha… you can't hear him?" Wes asked but Jen shushed him saying "We'll explain later."

Now that her fiance was upright she stepped up beside Eric. "He says he's the one that set us free… what do you mean our friends need our help? Where are they? And where is that other guy?" she demanded halfway through translating, finally processing his words and their missing friends.

The imp hooked a thumb over its shoulder, pointing toward the chaos unfolding by the carousel. Together, the group turned to look. The sound of the battle, once distant and muffled, now roared into focus. The air was filled with the clang of swords and the eerie rattling of skeletons creeping around the corners. Taylor and Ashley backed up, barely holding their own against two horsemen. Shadows of animals stalked closer, and looming above it all was the purple imp, its eyes and hands radiating an ominous glow as it orchestrated the havoc.

Jen's breath caught in her throat. "How long were we trapped?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Not really relevant right now," the crimson imp retorted, rolling its eyes. "Your friend said you have the same kind of magic. So go on — help them!"

Wes, still dazed, pointed at the imp in front of them and then at the one controlling the chaos. "Wait, there's another one?"

"How did they get their morphers?" Eric asked, his confusion deepening.

Jen snapped her head toward them, her expression stern. "Not the time, guys," she said firmly, stepping forward and drawing their attention back to the imminent threat.

As they spoke, the purple imp's head snapped in their direction, its sinister grin widening. It flicked its wrist, and a spectral version of its hand shot forward, growing monstrously in size as it neared them. Two darts flew overhead, while a third hit the imp in the arm, forcing it to recoil slightly. The spectral hand veered off course, slamming into the side of the haunted house and dissipating.

The crimson imp, now floating casually behind Jen, chuckled. "I'm starting to like that one."

"Looks like you might have some competition there pal," Wes joked as he stepped up beside Eric.

"What..?"

Guys, focus!" Jen's voice cut through the banter. "It's time to morph."

Her voice left no room for argument. She stepped to the front, her morpher gleaming in her hand, ready for action. Wes and Eric exchanged a quick nod and took their places beside her, their own morphers at the ready. In unison, they dropped into stance.

"Time for Time Force!"

"Quantum Power!"

The imp watched intently as the three humans were engulfed by shimmering orbs of light, much like the other two before them. But this time, the orbs blazed in vibrant red and pink.

As the light dimmed, the one they called Wes stepped forward, his form now encased in a gleaming red suit that clung to his body like a second skin. Bold white panels slashed across his chest in a sharp, angular pattern, forming the shape of an arrow pointing downward, commanding attention. His helmet, polished to a near-mirror finish, completely concealed his face, its sleek black visor reflecting the chaos around them. A thin white stripe ran down the center of the helmet, perfectly dividing the glossy red exterior. Silver gauntlets glinted at his wrists, while a sturdy black belt, cinched around his waist, featured a sleek triangular buckle. His red boots, tipped with silver accents, rose just below his knees, completing the formidable look.

The woman stood tall beside him, radiating confidence in her vivid pink suit. The vibrant color popped against the silver accents. Her helmet, matching the suit's bright hue, sported a slim, black visor that obscured her features. A heart-shaped white design stretched across her chest. Silver gauntlets adorned her forearms, catching the light with every movement, and a black belt cinched her waist, the buckle glimmering with a triangular insignia. A skirt-like extension flowed just below her waist while pink boots, capped with silver, echoed the rest of the suit's striking design.

Finally, the angry one stepped forward, his form radiating power in his deep red suit, a shade even more intense than Wes's. His helmet, smooth and polished, blended seamlessly with the sharp black visor that obscured his gaze. Across his chest, a bold, jagged black stripe zigzagged in a lightning-like pattern, cutting through the crimson fabric with aggression. His shoulders were encased in a dark, metallic black panel that gave him a more armored appearance, as though he was built for heavier combat. A black belt, fastened at the waist with a golden buckle, mirrored the others' design, but his black gauntlets and cuffs set him apart. A holster attached to his belt carried the same weapon he had been wielding previously.

"Ready?" Jen called out, her voice commanding but steady.

"Ready," came the unified response, and without hesitation, they ran into the fray.

Thanks for reading.

Till next time...