Chapter 20: As The Clock Strikes
Eric and Jen dropped their weapons to their sides as ribbons of golden light shot out of the card Taylor had thrown on the ground and chased after the imps, wrapping around them and pulling them into the card.
"She did it," Jen whispered.
But before they could even draw breath, a shockwave of raw energy rippled outward from where the imps had been sealed. It blasted across the field like a hurricane. Eric and Jen staggered back, the force pushing them to their knees, though they managed to keep their footing.
The remnants of the towering construct began to crumble, its joints buckling as the hollow metallic shell collapsed in on itself. Dust billowed into the air, a thick, choking cloud that painted the battlefield in shades of gray. As the dust settled, silence fell over them — a silence so profound that the only sounds were the harsh, labored breaths of the rangers, each one echoing the pounding of their hearts. They dared not move or speak, as though even a whisper might shatter the fragile calm.
"Is it… over?" Jen's voice quivered with cautious hope, but her hand was still clenched around her weapon, poised for any last threat.
Eric's gaze flickered toward Taylor's motionless form sprawled on the ground. His eyes widened in alarm, and with a surge of fear that propelled him forward, his armor faded away in a flash of light as he sprinted toward her. "Taylor!" His voice broke as he dropped to his knees, hands shaking as he reached for her.
Jen took a shaky breath and turned toward Wes and Ashley, who lay still, their faces ashen and their power suits dissipated. She tried to step toward them but froze as a strange, flickering light caught her attention.
A swirl of pink energy was materialising just in front of the haunted house. It crackled and sparked, twisting larger and larger, like some arcane portal forcing its way into reality. Jen's eyes widened in shock as shadowy forms began pressing against it, struggling to break free. She held her breath, every muscle tensed.
A moment later, a handful of people stumbled through the portal, their faces pale and eyes wide with shock. Andros and Alyssa emerged first, looking battered but alive, their eyes sweeping across the battlefield as they took in the aftermath. As each dazed person passed through the portal, the air itself seemed to shimmer and distort, until finally, with a final, echoing pulse, the portal blinked out of existence, leaving only a soft hum in the air.
Jen's heart soared, relief flooding her body in a wave so overwhelming that she felt her knees give way. She dropped to the ground, clutching her chest, and closed her eyes, letting out a soft, tremulous, "Thank God..."
Taylor groaned as she came to, her body protesting any kind of movement. She could feel a gentle pressure around her shoulders and against her face and instantly knew she wasn't alone. Her eyes flickered open and she found herself looking up into familiar dark - and filled with worry - eyes.
"Hi," she whispered.
"Hey, welcome back"
In an instant the events of the evening flashed through her mind and she sat up, wincing as her body protested the sudden shift and looked around frantically for the card. Her eyes locked on it sitting by her feet and she grabbed it.
"Easy there," Eric's voice soothed as his arms tightened around her shoulders. "You did it. I don't know what you did or how you did it, but you did," he whispered as he pressed a kiss to her head.
She tightened her grip on the card and closed her eyes, allowing herself to lean into him.
"Taylor!"
She looked up as someone barreled into her, alost knocking all three of them down. "Lyssa," she breathed as she wrapped her arms around the petite woman.
"Are you okay?" Alyssa asked as she pulled back. "Did the thing grab you too? Are you hurt? What happened?"
"I'm okay. Are you?"
"Oh we're fine. We just got dragged into this empty space till the portal opened up. We weren't in any danger. I don't think. I'm still not sure what happened."
Taylor looked up at Eric and they shared a smile. They were pulled out of the moment by the sound of footsteps thundering toward them.
"Alyssa!"
"Commander!"
Alyssa gathered up her long black dress and pushed herself up running into the arms of Cole who had run up with a handful of Silver Guardians right behind him.
"Looks like the job's not over yet," Taylor grumbled as she stood with Eric's help. "You go deal with that. I'll check on the others."
Eric nodded and dropped another kiss to her head before striding off to meet the Guardians. Taylor looked around. Andros was sitting with Wes and Ashley while Jen was talking to the people who most likey came through with Alyssa and Andros. Around them, evidence of the night's battle lay strewn and amongst the debris, limp forms of civilians who had once been animals began to groan and shift. Taylor took a breath and tucked the card in her jacket before walking over to the other rangers.
She placed a hand on Wes' shoulder and he looked up with a weak smile, placing a hand over hers. "Are you okay?" Andros asked.
She nodded. "I could do with a nap but it's going to have to wait."
Wes looked over at Eric talking to the Guardians as his partner pointed to the different groups of people as he gave them instructions. "I should get over there. Make sure we get some paramedics in here." He stood up and looked around the remains of the carousel and the scorched ground. "Well that's one lesson learnt," he mumbled as he stood up and walked over to Eric.
Andros looked over at Jen. "I should go help. Having someone who was in that place with them should help them calm down until help arrives." He kissed Ashley and helped her stand before running off.
Ashley looked over at Taylor as she dusted down her clothes. "You still have your morpher?"
"Nope, it was gone when I came to."
"Guess it only lasted as long as we needed it."
"I'll take what we got. I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't pulled that rabbit out of the hat."
Ashley laughed and linked her arm through Taylor's as they watched the Guardians spring into action, running over to check on the people who were regaining consciousness. "Guess we're just lucky we let that woman convince us to take those cards. Speaking of, what did yours do?"
Taylor pulled out the card and showed it to her. The image revealed golden cords stretching over each other with seven tiny little faces plastered against the frame as if it were glass.
"Well done mortal."
The familiar voice of the crimson imp interrupted them as the imp floated up, perching himself on Taylor's shoulder.
"You couldn't get him too," Jen grumbled as she rejoined them along with Andros.
"I helped," he sneered before turning back to Taylor. "I thought you were going to seal them in the crystal."
"The card told me I didn't need to. And if wasn't a last resort I wasn't going to taint my eagle with those creeps."
Andros raised an eyebrow. "A card told you what to do? And does anyone else hear the flying rat talking?"
"I am an imp, not a rat."
"So he says," Wes' voice joins the mix as Eric and he join the rest of them with Alyssa and Cole in tow.
"Don't look at me," Eric interjected when Andros turned his questioning gaze to him. "I can't understand a word he says."
He wrapped his arm around Taylor's waist and glared at the imp on her shoulder. "What are we doing with him?"
The imp huffed and turned his head.
"He's going home anyway. And he did help. I'm more concerned about what happens to this lot at midnight," she said holding up the card.
"Perhaps I can help with that."
The rangers turned around to see a woman with green skin wearing a long black dress and a pointed hat walking toward them. Wes, Jen, Andros, Cole and Alyssa all took a step back while Taylor and Ashley folded their arms over their chests looking less than impressed.
"Officer G… uh Selestra," Eric acknowledged.
"Good evening rangers. It's nice to see you again," she said with a bright smile.
"Your timing is impeccable," Ashley interjected, sarcasm lacing her tone.
The witch turned to her and pressed her lips together in a tight smile. "It's been a busy night," she replied as she looked around. "But you seem to have things handled."
"Wh…Who are you?" asked Cole as Jen, Wes, Alyssa and Andros watched her quizzically.
"A friend," she said before holding her hand out to Taylor. "I'll take that."
Taylor raised her eyebrow and tightened her hold on the card. "I think I'll hang on to it."
"Tay…"
Selestra tilted her head slightly and offered Taylor a slight smile, the kind you offered stubborn children and kept her hand out. "The magic won't hold. You may have a Card of Destiny but passed midnight it will be nothing more than an ordinary card."
"It's a good thing that's it not the card's magic that's keeping them trapped then."
The witch's eyes widened, just a fraction as she pulled her hand back and stared at Taylor. "Clever, clever girl. But I must insist."
Taylor locked eyes with her, keeping the card firmly between her fingers. She could feel Ashley standing at her side and Eric pressed against her, offering silent support. She sensed the eyes of the others on them, probably wondering what the hell was going on since none of them had encountered the witch before. She was also faintly aware of the civilians and the wreckage around them.
Slowly, she relaxed her stance and pulled out the card, looking down at it. The title had vanished, leaving a blank space where the text previously was, an assurance that it could not be activated again. She took a deep breath and handed it over.
"I'm not sure I trust you with it, but I don't want to have to watch over it either. They've done enough. These guys can be the Court's problem."
Selestra excitedly pried the card from her fingers and stared at the image with a smirk before tucking it away in the pocket of her dress. "It will be taken care of. They are not the only ones who crossed the line this evening. I assure you they will be punished. Thank you."
"So we never have to deal with them again?" Jen asked.
"When the Court is through…. Let's just say they won't be causing any more trouble," she said as she looked to the imp of Taylor's shoulder. "A witness would certainly help my case against them."
"They tried to pin this on me, I'm in," he squeaked as he flew over and perched on her shoulder.
Taylor shook her head and pushed down the urge to warn him of what could happen to witnesses. It surprised her though by addressing them. "Thank you. I really didn't mean for all this to happen. I just wanted to have a little fun."
"Just pick somewhere else next time," said Jen.
The imp smiled. "Don't worry, no one will be bothering you next year." He turned to Taylor and grinned. "You didn't have to trust me but you did. So you have my thanks. My name is Silas, if you ever find yourself on the other side of the veil and need assistance call for me."
Taken aback she nodded and very aware of Wes, Alyssa and Andros trying to suppress their laughter behind her.
"We should go," said Selestra, adjusting the dark folds of her cloak. "I'd like to get these to court before the hour. But before that—I do have a gift. Good deeds, after all, must be rewarded."
Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she dug into her pocket, pulling out a small pumpkin dusted with glitter. Holding it up, she flashed a wink at the group and tossed it into the air. The pumpkin exploded in a shower of orange, purple, and red sparkles, and the particles drifted down in graceful, shimmering spirals over the carnival grounds.
A hush fell over the rangers as they looked up in awe. The iridescent particles floated like snowflakes in a storm, coalescing and stretching over the damaged carnival. The broken carousel groaned as splinters of wood lifted from the ground, rejoining and weaving back together, restoring the horses to their elegant forms. Shattered fragments from other attractions glowed, reversing their destruction to once again become lively displays. Even the blackened earth healed, regaining its natural color and texture as if the night's battle had been nothing more than a passing nightmare.
"What the...?" Alyssa whispered, eyes wide.
They watched in wonder as bone shards and ash drifted upward, reforming into bats and skeletons that flapped their wings, veering back toward their places, or perhaps toward their true resting spots. The once-ravaged carnival stood again, vibrant and whole, as if untouched by chaos. The silence that followed felt sacred, a fleeting moment of peace amidst the madness.
"Wow," Cole breathed, voicing what they all felt.
When they turned back, Selestra and Silas were gone, leaving only the fading scent of herbs and midnight.
The rangers looked at one another, and slowly, smiles spread across their faces, soft at first but quickly bubbling over into laughter. Wes wrapped an arm around Jen, pulling her close as her laughter rang out beside him. Ashley leaned against Andros, a warm grin stretching across her face as they shared a look of relief and triumph. Taylor felt the gentle weight of Eric's arm around her waist, and she relaxed against him, letting the laughter cleanse the last traces of tension from the night.
"Guess that's one way to end a night," Eric murmured, his voice warm with lingering amusement.
Much later, after all the civilians had been safely transported in ambulances and the Silver Guardians had swept the grounds for any last stragglers, the lights of the carnival finally blinked out — except for those around the food court. Eight weary rangers had gathered there, their armor shed and their guard down, sharing a meal from the remains of the food stalls, laughing and savoring the rare quiet moment.
As the clock ticked closer to midnight, Eric and Taylor sat alone at one of the picnic tables. Ashley, Andros, Cole, and Alyssa were tossing skulls in a makeshift game, their laughter filling the night air, echoing around the darkened fairgrounds. Wes and Jen had excused themselves for a walk, and in the distance, Eric and Taylor could just make out their silhouettes, heads close together, absorbed in what was hopefully a long-overdue conversation.
Taylor leaned into Eric, a soft smile on her face. "Looks like I might be putting in for leave for a Christmas wedding," she whispered, her gaze fixed on Wes and Jen.
Eric chuckled, his eyes crinkling as he looked down at her. "Maybe. They still have some things to work out, but yeah, I don't think they'll want to wait long." He paused, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Not that I'm complaining. Gives me an excuse to have you home."
She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, threading her fingers through his. "I know I'll have to leave soon," she said quietly. "But I'll be back when this assignment's over. I'm not going anywhere. Not unless... you want me to."
Eric's hand moved to her face, his thumb brushing her cheek as he held her gaze. "I know. And I don't doubt that." His voice softened. "This is your job. I know how much it means to you. And I want you to go do what you need to do. But I also want you here, with me. I know it's selfish, but—"
"It's not," she interrupted, her eyes shining as she cupped his hand. "Hearing that… it makes me happy. I can't promise I'll come back in one piece, but I'll fight like hell to get home. I kind of have a lot waiting for me."
Without a word, he leaned in, their lips meeting in a gentle kiss. When they finally pulled away, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he whispered against her ear, "Good. Because I'm going to need my date for that wedding—or I don't think I'll survive it."
As the lights of the carnival flickered out, a pair of violet eyes watched from the shadows, glinting with curiosity and a hint of amusement.
A second figure, cloaked in darkness, stepped out beside her. "What did I tell you?" they murmured, their voice low and smooth.
The figure with violet eyes tilted her head, the faintest smile playing at her lips. "True, they did have a bit of help," she conceded, fingering a strand of purple hair that slipped out from under her hood. In the dim light, an amethyst stone on her hand caught the glow, shimmering like a miniature galaxy. "But a little magical assistance doesn't mean much unless it's put to good use. And they certainly did that. I just wanted you to witness their potential for yourself. What you choose to do with it, well… that's up to you. It's only a shame you had to lose a few toys in the process."
The cloaked figure chuckled, their tone as cold as the night breeze. "There are always more contenders."
The hooded woman turned her gaze to the moon, feeling the pull of midnight as the wind stirred around them. She raised her hands, conjuring a swirl of deep purple smoke that danced like wraiths around her. "Then let the games continue," she whispered, casting one last glance toward the darkened carnival. "Until next time, Game Master. And as the humans say… Happy Halloween."
And that's a wrap. Thanks so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.