Captain Blues: A massive chapter concluding the Zack and Trini arc
[Location: Angel Grove National Park (Flashback - Two Years Ago)
POV: Zack Taylor]
"About time you made it here, Trini," Zack said with a playful grin as he stood up from beneath the Sakura tree with his hands behind his back.
Trini snorted and replied, "Sorry. Had to spar with Dad before I got here, as you can tell," Trini then motioned down to the yellow tank top and black yoga pants she wore before looking back to him.
"That I can..." Zack said with a smile.
"I'm surprised you remembered my number, considering you had to cancel our daily Juice Bar hang-out with Jason and the others," Trini teased, which made Zack laugh.
"Well, I missed you guys too but there is a good reason I had to disappear so often," Zack said before he held out a medium-sized black box to her. "And here is that reason."
"Zack!" Trini gasped. "You know I hate random gifts like this..." Trini reached out and plucked the box from his hand. Zack watched as she opened it and smiled when her eyes lit up. In her hands was a beautiful wooden music box with her name etched on the lid of the box.
"My uncle and I have been working on it," Zack sheepishly explained. "It's why I've been a no-show for the past few days. I know you hate random gifts out of nowhere but I couldn't resist."
"I-It's beautiful..." Trini stammered. "Does it play?"
Zack grinned and said "Yeah! Try it out." Zack watched as Trini turned the small silver handle on the side of the box and out came a gentle, beautiful tune that made her eyes water and when it was done, she gave Zack a large smile.
"My uncle said the song is called "Usubeni" it is Japanese for "Light Pink" He heard it during his business trip there and bought a tape of it back for me to listen to. It's really beautiful," Zack then pulled out a small cassette tape and held it out to her. "Give it a listen. I'm sure you—" Zack was interrupted when Trini suddenly embraced him. Zack was caught off guard for a moment but then he smiled and returned her embrace.
[End Flashback]
[Location: Unknown (Present)
POV: Mighty Morphin Black Ranger]
"My aching everything," Black muttered as he rose from the ground beneath him, his head pounding due to the severe headache. The last thing he recalled was being in an energy tube by those weird Rose foot soldiers and then darkness, up until this point.
Black rose to his feet with a small stagger backward and looked at his surroundings. "Where am I?" Black asked himself.
He was standing in the middle of a very lush forest. He didn't know if he was in Angel Grove still or if he was somewhere else in California but this was not where he was before those stupid creatures appeared.
But then he realized something...He had come with Yellow and as he looked around, Yellow was nowhere to be seen.
Why was he all alone?
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Final Mix
Episode Twelve: Blossoming Memories! Aura Vs Knight
[Location: Unknown
POV: Violent Knight]
"This is just far too perfect..." Violent Knight said to himself as he looked through a small portal.
He had just received word from his foot soldiers that two of the rangers, the Yellow Ranger and his mortal enemy, the Black Ranger had been captured and sent to a forest nearby his location.
Where he stood was an old shrine that had been made during the battle between Rita and Zordon's forces ten thousand years ago, with this particular shrine being made out to Zordon himself.
But there was also another reason he chose this location as his hideout.
It was here that he killed the Black Aura Ranger.
And it would be this location where he would kill the Black Mastodon Ranger.
He looked at the unconscious Carlos and frowned. He was using a lot of power trying to complete his plan but now that the ranger he desired to kill was in his grasp, he needed that power to give him the edge. He walked to Carlos and held out his hand and crimson energy flowed like mist from the teen's body and into the palm of the knight. "It seems you have been spared from my original plan, human...But let's see if I can use you for something else..."
[Location: Unknown
POV: Mighty Morphin Black Ranger]
"Yellow! Where are you!" Black shouted as he walked down a steep hill, his head looking left and right to spot his missing friend. He didn't know how long he was searching for but he was growing increasingly concerned that he may not find her at all.
'No, I shouldn't think like that,' Black chastised. 'I will find her. Remember what Mom used to say: Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement." As long as I remember that, I can achieve anything!'
With renewed vigor, Black continued his trek through the forest but it was then his head began to hurt. So much so that it caused him to lean against the tree with one hand while the other rested against the left side of his head.
[Location: Kwan Residence (Flashback - Two Years Ago)
POV: Zack Taylor]
"Ouch! That really hurts," Zack whined as Trini rubbed a cotton ball wet with rubbing alcohol on his right cheek with a frown on her face.
"If you weren't trying to be Mr. Hero, you wouldn't have to have me clean your wounds," Trini sourly responded.
Zack frowned.
He wasn't trying to be a hero.
All he was trying to do was help a boy from being bullied by his peers. How was he supposed to know they were going to fight him?
"What was I supposed to do?" Zack questioned. "I didn't learn martial arts just to defend myself, you know?"
"I know," Trini replied. "And I didn't learn nursing skills from Mẹ just to keep bandaging you up."
"Xin lổi," Zack guiltily responded. The cotton ball hovered over the scratch on his cheek as Trini looked at him in surprise.
"You just...You've been learning Vietnamese..." Trini stated with surprise.
Zack sheepishly laughed and replied, "It wasn't easy. Your Dad speaks very quickly when teaching."
Trini shook her head with a small chuckle and said, "The pronunciation is slightly off but nothing a few classes can't help," Trini continued to clean his wounds for a moment and then added, "Apology accepted. Just try not to get yourself hurt. I don't like having to bandage you up..." Trini took the bandage and placed it on his wound slowly, her eyes locked onto his and despite the bandage on his cheek, her hand stayed on his face.
"I'll try not to make it a habit..." Zack breathed out, his heart quickening as she began to lean closer, prompting him to do the same.
Suddenly, the door swung open with Kimberly yelling "We got the snackage!" which caused the two to snap out of the small trance they had entered.
Zack looked up at the ceiling while Trini looked down at her lap, both of their faces sporting blushes while Kimberly and Billy gave the two a small grin.
[End Flashback]
[Location: Unknown (Present)
POV: Mighty Morphin Black Ranger]
'What was that?' Black thought to himself as he pushed himself away from the tree. He...never had that memory before. Where in the world did it come from?
He shook his head.
'Head in the game Zack...You have a friend to find,' Black told himself as he continued his trek. But as he walked, the world around him began to darken while a glowing silhouette appeared in the distance. Black immediately realized that the person he was staring at was another ranger.
The figure wore a black spandex suit with white sleeves and a black wristband that connected with the black gauntlets which had white gloves beneath them. The figure also wore black boots with a thick white lining on the edge of the top of the boots and a thick white line going down the front of the boots, a white belt that arched down to a "V" shape when it hit the front of their waist.
The figure also had a white "V" shape going down the top of their chest and back with a black crest that held a silver "5" inside of it. And finally, the figure had a black helmet with a white outline around a T-shaped visor.
"A Ranger?" Black asked himself. "What is going on? Why would you be here?"
"Head in the game, Mastadon Ranger," An unfamiliar male's voice echoed in his head. "You don't have time to focus on me." The ranger sounded amused as he pointed to the air. "Heads up."
The world snapped back to normal as Black looked up to see three Battle Roses falling towards him.
Black rolled forward to avoid them and when he rose to his feet, he quickly summoned his Power Ax to block the sword of the first Rose. He pushed the blade away from him and delivered an upward slash to its chest before he blocked another strike with his left forearm from the second Battle Rose's sword.
He whipped his arm upward to remove the blade before punching the foot soldier in the middle of the head before pulling out his blade blaster and shooting the third Battle Rose repeatedly in the chest when it came charging towards him.
Once the third Battle Rose fell to the ground, Black heard a blaster being fired and from the corner of his eye, he saw a Battle Rose falling to the ground behind him, revealing a crouching Yellow, wisps of smoke leaving the barrel of the Blade Blaster.
"That was a close one," Black said as he holstered his Blade Blaster and dismissed his ax, walking towards her with a relaxed body.
Yellow stood up and holstered her blaster as well and replied, "You owe me one."
"And you got it," Black cheerfully promised as he stood in front of her. "I was looking everywhere for you, girl."
"Same here, boy," Yellow responded with relief. "This place is very strange..."
"You're telling me," Black responded. "I'm remembering things that I never did before..."
He could see Yellow tilt her head in confusion but Black didn't let on. He didn't know if he should tell her that the things he was remembering were about the two of them. Hell, he wasn't sure how she would take it.
They were now just getting their friendship on track after the Swan Song debacle. He didn't want to ruin that because of his feelings.
He had to let it go.
"So...you have any idea where we are?" Black asked.
"No idea," Yellow replied. "But we need to find a way out. This placing is giving me the creeps."
"That isn't the only thing that will be given to you, Saber-tooth Ranger," A familiar voice rang out in the area. With a burst of crimson energy, Violent Knight appeared in the tree above them, black and red lightning crackling against his form sporadically.
"Hello, Mastadon Ranger... Would you like to play a game?" Violent Knight asked with an ominous smirk.
[Location: The Command Center
POV: Jason Lee Scott]
"So you are telling us that they are located in the Forest of Memories?" Jason repeated with a tilt of his head.
After meeting up with Billy, Katherine, and Kimberly, Jason told them what had occurred before the four of them transported themselves to the command center to Zordon to explain the situation.
Once explained, Zordon and Alpha searched out their ranger energy and were able to find them successfully but from the name of where they were, Zordon was very displeased by this reveal. "Yes. The Forest of Memories was the proving ground for my original rangers...It was also located near my shrine where I often meditated and trained them," Zordon revealed.
"Why did you never send us there?" Billy inquired.
Zordon was silent for a moment, his face reflecting deep thought before he answered, "You all must understand. During the war between Rita and I ten thousand years ago, it was a very different time and my powers were not at the level they are now. That area is very dangerous. Not only due to the rough terrain...But due to the psychological nature of it as well." Zordon paused for a moment. "Back then...Before I had chosen my Aura Rangers, many chosen ones would have to pass their final test there. All of them, except for my final chosen ones failed."
Jason noticed that there was something ominous in Zordon's voice and it made him ask, "What happened when they failed?"
Zordon peered down at Jason and replied, "They died."
"Whoa," Katherine breathed out. "So they can die in there? How can that be? It's only memories, right? Memories can't kill you."
"You would be correct. Memories can not kill you but not only reveal the memories inside of you, this forest holds the memories and energy of every soul that has died in that place. Both good and evil," Zordon grimly replied. "They are very sentient and very dangerous."
"Well, what are we waiting for Zordon?" Kimberly asked with worry in her voice. "Zack and Trini are trapped in there. We have to get them."
But Zordon shook his head. "Part of the reason it was a final obstacle was once they enter, only they have the power to leave," Zordon told her.
"Ouchies," Kimberly grumbled.
"Then send us in there," Jason offered. "We can't leave them to die and become energy for that damned place."
"It is not that simple Jason," Alpha rebuffed. "It can take some time and a lot of energy to get you all in there."
"Then get us in there as fast as possible," Katherine responded. "Who knows what is waiting for them in there."
"And who knows what they will go through as well with each other," Kimberly added with a worried look to Jason, who remained silent but all of them could see the concerned expression on his face.
"We will save them," Jason said after a few seconds had passed. "But until then, they have to rely on each other. Let's just pray they don't kill each other in there..."
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Mighty Morphin Black Ranger]
"Violet Knight…" Black hissed out angrily as he turned to face the knight, who leaned his shoulder against the tree.
Yellow stepped by Black's side and yelled, "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"I am here to settle things with the Mastodon Ranger, Saber-Tooth Ranger. We have a duel to finish after all," Violent Knight answered with a small laugh.
"What is your beef with me?!" Black shouted.
"Seriously! Ever since you came in, you've been gunning for him every time! I get that we're rangers but you're obsessed with him!" Yellow shouted.
"I was created to destroy any Black Ranger that Zordon spits out. I've done it before with your predecessor and I will do it with you," Violent Knight replied before he looked at Yellow. "And since Swan Song is now gone, I will complete his mission and kill you once I am finished with my prey."
Black could feel the fury flowing from Yellow at the mention of Swan Song.
"Fuck you and that piece of shit Swan Song!" Yellow shouted. "I'll kill you for even mentioning him!"
Violent Knight smirked down at Yellow and taunted, "Why is that? Is that because he unearthed your desire to murder your ally, the Mastodon Ranger?"
Yellow roared in fury before she leaped up to Violent Knight with her Power Daggers appearing in her hand with a flash of light.
"Damn it!" Black shouted but as he leaped into the air, he was tackled to the ground by a Draugr ranger, sending him to the ground.
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Mighty Morphin Yellow Ranger]
Yellow slashed her daggers toward the knight, who blocked both strikes with his left forearm before pushing her away and jumping to a tree branch behind him with a laugh. Yellow bounced off the tree behind her and vaulted off of it, soaring to a lower tree branch where she then jumped off of it back to the knight and tossed her daggers at him.
Violent Knight summoned his sword and swiped downwards, knocking the daggers away from him before he dashed off the tree branch and towards Yellow, who instantly re-summoned her daggers and blocked the swing of his sword with them.
"Come on Saber-Tooth Ranger, you wish to kill him. I know of this desire," Violent Knight told her with a grim smirk.
"Shut up! I do not want him killed!" Yellow shouted as she pushed away from the knight and fell to the ground in a crouch. Across from her, Violent Knight landed and dismissed his blade.
"Your actions that night showed different," Violent Knight told her.
Yellow balled up her fists and shouted, "Even though we have our history, I never wanted to kill him!"
"You can lie to me but can you lie to yourself?" Violent Knight asked her.
It was then a memory appeared in her head.
[Location: Kwan Residence (Flashback - One Year Ago)
POV: Trini Kwan]
Trini stood in front of a punch back, her fist pounding against it in a quick rhythm, sweat pouring down her face.
For the last hour, Trini had been trying to get her body back in fighting shape after several weeks of her left leg being broken as well as her own sadness over the death of her father.
Trini stepped to the side and kicked the side of the bag with her bandaged left leg, ignoring the pain in it before she twisted her body and kicked the bag with her right leg with all of her might, causing it to swing backward but her left leg buckled and she fell to the ground.
Seconds later, her mother came rushing down the stairs in a panic. "Are you okay?!" her mother exclaimed as Trini sat there on the ground.
"I'm ok Mẹ (mom)," Trini panted. "I'm just training."
"Honey, you're not supposed to be training yet," her mother said with a scolding tone.
Trini scowled, shook her head, and replied, "I know, I know but I have to back to form. Bố (dad) would kill me if I let my skills dull."
"I think he would allow it if you were injured sweetie," her mother replied but Trini shook her head and used a chair to push herself up into the chair and panted.
"Bố would be hurt if I left my skills rust. I have to keep going," Trini firmly repeated out as she leaned her head back and shut her eyes.
"Honey…" Trini's eyes opened up to see her mother in front of the punching bag, a picture in her hands. "Honey…Why do you have Zack's picture on this punching bag?" Her mother asked while she looked at her.
Trini stayed silent as she looked away from her mom and muttered, "Motivation."
"Motivation for what?" Her mother asked.
"For getting stronger…" Trini replied.
Her mother stayed silent for a moment, gazing down at the picture in her hands. "Honey…You can't blame Zack for what happened," her mother told her but Trini instantly sneered and looked away, anger building in her heart.
"He was supposed to get help. He was supposed to come back…He promised me he would and then he…he…" Trini felt hot tears pour down her face. "He lied to me…And then disappeared…"
"Disappeared?" her mother asked.
"He's been gone ever since that day of the car accident…No one has seen him and for all I care, it can stay that way," Trini darkly replied.
"Honey…" her mother said softly.
With her head still bowed, Trini whispered, "Just leave it be Mẹ…I do not wish to talk about that lying, betraying, idiot ever again and the next time I see him, I'll…" Trini's jaw clenched as her nails broke through her palms, causing blood to flow from between her fingers. I'll give him what he always wanted..."
[End Flashback]
[Location: Forest of Memories (Present)
POV: Mighty Morphin Yellow Ranger]
Yellow's fists relaxed as she lowered her head.
"I see from your body language that you realized the truth. You want him dead as much as I do," Violent Knight said as he took a step towards her. "I saw the rage that night. It is similar to the rage that has been building in me since he escaped my grasp in our first duel."
Yellow remained standing in her spot, her head still bowed.
"You hold as much rage as I do towards him and we both want him dead so why fight me? Why fight when we want the same thing?" Violent Knight asked her softly, now standing in front of her. "On my honor, allow me to kill him and I will let you and that boy I kidnapped go. "
Yellow stayed silent for a moment as another memory played inside of her head.
[Location: Angel Grove Cemetery (Flashback – Two Years Ago)
POV: Trini Kwan]
As if the Earth knew of the somberness of the Angel Grove cemetery, the sun had disappeared behind thick dark grey clouds and a light sprinkling of rain was falling on the city
Trini stared down at the figure of Zack kneeling in front of a large marble tombstone which read "Shepard Taylor" and "Tali Taylor" etched on them.
"You remember a few months ago when I received the call from your dad?" Zack asked her without turning to face her.
"Yeah…" Trini replied.
Her dad and both of Zack's parents were police officers at the Angel Grove Police Department. The three of them had been great friends and it was how Zack and Trini met a long time ago.
During a standard day, the three had responded to a bank robbery in progress against a large group of armed men. From what her father told her, these men had military training, which made trying to stop them harder.
The police force was able to stop them…but it came at a price. Her father had to step down due to the injuries he sustained during the shootout with them but Zack's parents…They were killed in the line of duty.
Trini remembered Zack's face when her father told him of his parents' deaths. Zack had been unable to function. It was as if the life left his eyes. He didn't cry, he didn't so much make a sound.
All he did was stare.
For that next month, even throughout the funeral, he hadn't said a single word.
Not to Jason and the others.
Not to his family.
Not to her…
All he did was stare.
When that month ended, however, he seemed normal. He was laughing and joking with them again and spending time with her…But…Something had changed in him. He started to become dangerously reckless.
At first, it was small things.
Getting a cat out of a tree at midnight…looking for a lost dog until the early morning, helping old ladies cross the street, really good things that caused him to be seen in a really good light but then things began to ramp up.
From constantly getting into fights with the various bullies of their school to now fighting actual gang members to stop them from committing crimes and every time it ended, he was racking up various injuries but he refused to stop.
It made her fear for his life.
"When I received the news, my heart broke. It broke and shattered into a million pieces…So much so that I couldn't eat…I couldn't sleep…All I could do was nothing…They were my heroes. I wanted to be like them when I grew up." Zack stood up and placed a hand on the tombstone. "When they died…I wanted to die as well."
Trini gasped.
"Y-You…" She began. "Is that w-why you…."
Zack looked at her and for the first time, she saw that his eyes were watery but there was a smile on his face. "I miss them so much…I'd do anything to see them again…" Zack tearfully revealed.
Trini took a step forward, her eyes showing anger and misery within them as she read between the lines. "You…You've been doing this…You've been putting your life at risk…To see them again?" She asked him.
Zack didn't reply but instead, he looked down at the ground.
"Do you think your parents would want you to do this to yourself?! To starve yourself?! To get into these fights with these gang members that could kill you?!" Trini shouted.
"It doesn't matter," Zack gently replied, his face looking pained. "You don't understand. You have your mom and dad. People that love you and care for you unconditionally…They pick you up when you fall, console you when you cry, and give you the type of love that many people dream of. I had all of that and took it for granted and now it's gone."
Trini watched as Zack turned back to the tombstone and said, "But I can change that. I can have that again. If I do enough good deeds, I can see them again. I have t-to…"
Zack fell to his knees as tears began to fall from his eyes as he sobbed, "I-I can't do this without them…I c-can't stomach doing this life alone…I-I need…I-I…"
Trini could hear the desperation in his voice and it only further broke her heart. Zack was always the lighthearted one. The funny one in the group and to see him like this, so desperate to die to be with his family…It pained her.
"Zack…" Trini said softly as she knelt in front of him, her hands touching his face to make him look at her, tears falling down her cheeks. "Y-You are such an idiot. Thinking that you are alone in this world. I loved your parents, as did my parents and it hurts us that they are gone but we couldn't survive if something happened to you too."
"My parents love you like the son they've never had. Sometimes, I think they favor you more than me," she gave a tearful chuckle. "Not to mention, you have our friends. Jason, Billy, and Kimberly. They are like our siblings. Our goofy, fighting, dorky siblings."
More tears fell down Trini's eyes as she sobbed out "God Zack, if you had died…I-I don't know how any of us could function without you…"
"You would be ok without me," Zack whispered, a broken look on his face. "All of you would. It would hurt then but I would be happy and I'm sure that would be enough to keep you all happy…"
"No, it wouldn't and that's what you don't get…" Trini whispered. "My folks would fall apart if they lost you. You helped Jason get over his homesickness when he moved from Silver Hills and was his first-ever friend…You stuck up for Kimberly when she was getting bullied."
"We both did," Zack murmured. "And don't give me all the credit…You helped Billy break out of his shell."
"As did you," Trini retorted. "We wouldn't be friends with Jason or Kimberly without you Zack and Billy would still be further in his shell. They would be crushed without you. As for me…Do you think I would truly be ok without you? Do you think I could live without you?"
Trini then took a deep breath and revealed, "You have touched my life in a way that I never knew someone could. You can annoy the hell out of me one moment but then take me off my feet the next. You have made me laugh, cry, groan, and be a general dork. You make me unafraid to be myself…With you; I feel that I don't have to hide anything…" Anger appeared in Trini's eyes. "So for you to tell me that I would be ok with you dying pisses me off! Can't you see that I am hopelessly in love with you?! Can't you see that I can't live without you!"
The two suddenly grew silent, both of their eyes wide. Trini hadn't meant for her admission to come out like this but she couldn't stop herself at this point.
"Trini…" Zack whispered, clarity appearing in his eyes. "Y-You love me?"
"From the moment you gave me the music box," Trini admitted. "You had my heart right then and there…I haven't thought of anyone else since then. I want to be with you and I want to stay by your side."
Trini took a shuddered breath as she shut her eyes and said, "I-If I lost you…If you died, I would surely follow you into that abyss so don't tell me that no one cares about you when I care about you more than I do myself!"
The rain began to pour down against the two as they stayed silent. Zack looked up at the sky while Trini looked down but then she felt Zack's hand tilt her head up before his lips pressed against hers in a gentle kiss.
When the two finally broke away, Zack wiped the tears from her eyes and murmured, "I'm sorry…I hate making you cry…"
"Well you sure know how to make it happen," Trini sniffed out. "Just…Please don't hurt yourself anymore. I-I can't do this without you…"
"I promise to stay safe Trinity. No more risks…" Zack replied as she hugged him tighter, a tearful smile on his face.
"And hey…I love you too..."
[End Flashback]
[Location: Forest of Memories (Present)
POV: Mighty Morphin Yellow Ranger]
'That memory…The one that even after everything still makes my heart ache…The memory I tried to bury for the past two years...' Yellow thought to herself.
She forgot how far gone Zack had been when his parents had died. She forgot that tearful confession.
And despite all that had happened…All of the pain that came after that bittersweet moment of bliss, it was then she realized that not much had changed between then and now.
It was different feelings she had for him but Zack was still the center of her universe.
"It is true…We had a turbulent past together that has made me hate him…And at times, I truly wanted to hurt him…" Yellow admitted, much to Violent Knight's glee.
"But…" Yellow suddenly whipped her head up and punched the monster in the jaw, sending him soaring in the air and landing on the ground with a crash.
"There is no way in hell I would even consider it!" Yellow shouted. "He is my teammate and despite our past together, I regret what I did that night! I let my anger and Swan Song's games get to me. I will never allow my anger to cloud my mind ever again and I will make you pay for trying to sway me into betraying him!"
Violent Knight stood up and rubbed his face before he hissed, "Then you will die with them both."
"Sorry, but I'm not letting that happen!" Black's voice rang out.
Without warning, a large orb of energy slammed into Violent Knight's side, sending the monster flying to the left but he then vanished in a swirl of crimson energy.
Yellow turned her head to see Black coming into view, the barrel of his Power Cannon smoking from the release of energy.
"You're ok," Yellow said in relief as Black turned to her and gave her a nod.
"I'm sorry it took so long. Those Draugrs are fierce enemies," Black replied as he dismissed his weapon. "I heard what you said to him…Thanks. I don't think I could handle fighting both of you now."
"I made that mistake once…I couldn't do it again." Yellow responded as she looked away from him. "Come on, we need to find an exit. As well as find Carlos. From what Violent Knight told me, he doesn't have much time left."
Black nodded and began to walk but this time, Yellow fell in step beside him, her mind turning from the impending threat of Violent Knight to Black.
At first, when he told her he didn't remember anything from the past two years, she didn't believe him. She had called him a liar, smacked him in front of everyone, and cursed his name and how much she hated him but now she truly doubted herself.
Since coming into this forest, she had memories that she forcefully buried by returning to the forefront of her mind, and from what Black had told her, he was going through the same thing.
But if that is true, that he truly didn't remember anything, then guilt began to fill her heart.
'All those things I said and done…I've essentially been hurting someone innocent. He may be the same person but…they aren't at the same time. This Zack doesn't remember the build-up to our union. He doesn't remember my confession of love that day at his parent's grave, nor does he remember the incident that tore us asunder…None of it…' Yellow thought. But then that brought up a new question. What caused him to lose his memories in the first place? What caused him to forget what they had shared? 'Ever since we came here though, he's been able to remember. Does that mean this place can bring back lost memories?'
"Hey…Have you…Had any more memories pop into your mind by chance?" Yellow asked.
Black turned back to her and replied, "Why?"
"It's just…I finally believe that you don't remember anything about the past two years. Genuinely," Yellow replied.
Black stopped mid-step before he looked at her and asked, "What made you finally see the truth?"
"This place is forcing memories that I had buried a long time ago back into my head. You mentioned that you were remembering things that had never happened. That's what made me realize it. You truly don't remember," Yellow explained.
"Trinity," Black said as he fully turned to her. "I've been telling you this for the past two years. Why couldn't you just believe me?"
"You need to understand, Zack. Two years can't just be erased. Especially with how our friendship was shattered, I couldn't trust you again after that," Yellow replied.
"But you never told me what happened," Black said, a hint of anger in his voice. "The only thing that I fully remember was waking up in the hospital. That's it.."
"Y-You woke up in the hospital?" Yellow stammered out.
Black nodded and answered, "Yeah. I was in a coma for a month from what the doctors told me. I was only out of the hospital for three days before we saw each other again. I didn't even get a word out to you before you flew off the handle and attacked me. Called me almost every name in the book, and tried to kick my ass from post to post…but the one thing I just realized is that you never told me what I did to deserve that."
"I never told you?" Yellow whispered with a confused tone.
"Not at all," Black replied. "Anytime I asked what I did, you would get pissed off and storm off. Just like you did after our first zord battle. You never told me anything…"
"I'm sorry," Yellow sincerely apologized. "I really am…It's just...what happened really damaged me and I hate talking about it."
"And yet you don't talk about it with the one person you keep blaming things on?" Black rhetorically asked.
"I know…It was stupid to not talk to you about it. Now that I know you genuinely don't remember, it would have made sense to tell y-" Yellow began.
"Damn right, it would have!" Black exclaimed. "I don't remember a fucking thing about why you, the girl I loved suddenly grew to hate me seemingly overnight. I don't know whether I hit you or cheated on you, assuming we were together, or something because you never said a word to me except to kick my ass the minute I saw you!" Black let out a deep sigh before he sat down on the ground. "Look, before we continue, we need to talk about this now because with the way things are going, I'm probably going to get the memory back in this place and I would hate to get it during a fight."
"You're right," Yellow meekly agreed. "This place is the perfect backdrop for us to go over what happened," Yellow then sat in front of him. "I…Admittedly don't want to talk about this. So much has happened and I…"
Black reached over and took her hand in his, which made Yellow look up at him and while he was unaware of it, she had tears in her eyes. She squeezed his hand and took a deep breath. "So to clarify some things…We were in a relationship. We had been together for a month after I confessed my feelings to you that day in front of your parents' grave. You never cheated on me and you never hit me or anything like that. If anything, you were a great boyfriend," Yellow began.
"Well, good to know," Black replied with an amused tone.
"We had just finished our date when my father came to pick us up. We were driving down the beltline when some kid decided to drop a water balloon off the bridge above…I don't remember the exact crash but when we both came to, we were upside down in a ditch…I remember my right leg was broken and my dad was unconscious. You thankfully weren't injured…" Yellow took a shuddered breath. "You managed to pull me out of the car but dad…he was still in there, I remember there was so much blood coming from his head…Dad wasn't looking good at all. His breath was shallow and he was very pale and his entire face was covered. You tried to pull him out but there was so much blood that you couldn't. In the end, you kissed me and told me that you would get help and be back…I waited for an hour, trying to keep calm while my father bled. By the time help arrived…He was DOA and you…You never came back…"
Black stayed silent for a moment, his head moving from side to side in denial. "T-That can't be…" Black stammered. "You know me, Trinity. I never break a promise. Not for something like that…I couldn't have done that…"
"But you did…You left me with a broken leg and my father bleeding out…" Yellow solemnly confirmed.
"That can't be right…Something must have-" Black was interrupted when the entire area went pitch black. "This is happening again…"
"Again?" Yellow questioned.
"Yeah, I come and go as I please my fellow rangers," a new voice added. Both rangers turned around to see the unknown ranger sitting between them, startling Yellow to her feet. "It's nice to see you two talking things out and I hate to interrupt but the human that knight has is losing his life force as we speak so you guys may want to get a move on?"
"Carlos…I totally forgot about him in all of this," Yellow replied as she held a hand out to Black. "We will talk about this later. We have a guy to save."
"Yeah…" Black replied before he was hoisted to his feet. He turned to the unknown ranger. "Who are you?"
"Just a friendly soul helping out his successors. As I told Zacky boy here," The ranger responded with a clap on both of their shoulders. "Our former training ground is nearby and the Knight awaits. With his power, the Draugrs won't dear come near. Hurry before it's too late."
With his words, the area was no longer dark, revealing the lush green forest around the two once more. With a nod to Black, Yellow ran off with her teammate running behind her.
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Mighty Morphin Black Ranger]
Black was in turmoil.
After two years of his former…girlfriend…Hating him, he was finally told of the reason why. He had disappeared after promising them that he would return for them but that couldn't be possible. Zack may not remember it but something was wrong with that story.
He believed her but he knew himself well enough to know he would never leave her or her father behind.
There was more to this story than what was being told and he had a feeling that the truth was in his memories.
But…To know he had been with Yellow as her boyfriend for that short month had him feeling upset but happy. He had confessed his feelings to her and they did date. At least he got that before things went to hell.
The pair soon found themselves at the ruins of a building, to Black, it looked similar to the command center except the stone was yellow in color instead of gray but what he noticed was a veil of crimson and black energy flowing off of each stone.
"This must be the place," Black said as he summoned his ax.
"Carlos must be here," Yellow stated as she looked around carefully.
"But where I wonder? And is he even alive now?" Black asked.
"He will be as dead as you will be shortly!" Violent Knight's voice exclaimed before he appeared standing on top of the ruins with his arms crossed, wisps of energy glowing from his body.
"Not on your life you creep!" Black yelled as he pointed to the knight. "Now where is Carlos?!" Black shouted to the monster.
"Ah, the boy I kidnapped…" Violent Knight chuckled. "Your friend had an opportunity to save him but she turned it down. For you, however, beat me and I will tell you."
"With pleasure!" Black growled out and leaped into the air above the ruins.
"Damn it, Black!" Yellow yelled below as Black swung his ax down towards Violent Knight, who summoned his blade and blocked the strike with it, causing a shower of sparks to fly from the weapons.
"Such ferocity in you Mastodon Ranger…You didn't show this much when we fought," Violent Knight commented before he pushed Black away, which caused the ranger to fly back into a tree but he managed to recover in mid-air, placed his feet against the opposite tree, and pushed himself off swiftly, allowing him to soar towards the knight.
Violent Knight chuckled and jumped off the tree to avoid the second strike from the Ax. Black landed on the tree branch and demanded, "He's not a part of any of this. Release him at once!"
Violent Knight landed on the ground in a crouch before he stood upright and looked at Black and replied, "You have to defeat me to save him. And trust me; there is not a lot of time left to save him."
Black hissed and launched himself out of the tree and in front of Violent Knight and swung his Ax upwards but the knight blocked it with his blade before throwing a left hook. Black ducked the hook, grabbed the monster's wrist, and tossed him off of his feet and through a tree.
Violent Knight recovered however and dusted himself off before jumping to the side to avoid a dashing swipe from Black's Ax and then responded by slashing Black's back, causing sparks to fly from the ranger's back.
Black rolled on the ground into a kneeling position and blocked a downward strike from Violent Knight's blade before pushing the blade away and standing up swiftly to slice his ax against Violent Knight's chest, which made the monster stumble backward.
"Very good. You are very serious about saving this human. Keep it up and you might save him," Violent Knight taunted with a smirk as his blade began to glow an ominous red.
"Now come at me with the intent to kill!" the monster screamed as he swung his blade downward, causing a huge wave of crimson energy to explode from the ground towards Black.
Black switched his Power Ax to the Power Cannon and rolled to the left to avoid the energy wave and shot a ball of energy towards the knight, who swung his sword and sliced the orb, causing its halves to explode upon impact before he held out his un-armed hand and shot a crimson orb towards Black.
Black leaped into the air while returning his cannon to its ax form, landed on the ground, and struck Violent Knight in the chest twice before he twisted his body and slashed at the head of the knight. Violent Knight instantly blocked with his blade and kicked Black in the chest, sending the ranger skidding backward but still on his feet.
Violent Knight flickered into existence in front of Black and swung his blade twice but Black managed to block to two strikes before Black felt a powerful blow slam into his stomach, knocking the air out of him. Black responded with gritted teeth and a sharp headbutt, making the knight stumble back and then fall onto one knee.
Black then ran forward and aimed a knee to the knight's face but his opponent grabbed the knee and pushed it back, which made Black land on the ground with a backward stumble before Violent Knight rose and kicked the ranger in the chest, sending him flying backward with sparks flying from his chest.
Black landed on his back and looked to Violent Knight, who gave a cruel smirk as he said, "Make yourself comfortable with the ground for you will soon have an intimate marriage to it."
It was then a memory formed in his head.
[Location: Juice Bar (Flashback – One Year Ago)
POV: Zack Taylor]
Stumbling through the juice bar doors, Zack ran to Ernie and asked in a frantic tone, "Is anyone using a phone?!"
Ernie shook his head and said, "It's all free Za-good lord! Is that blood?!"
Zack quickly ran to the phone and dialed "9-1-1" and as soon as an operator answered, he said "Hello, this is Zack Taylor and there is an emergency. Police officer Bao Kwan was just in a car accident with his daughter. His daughter and I managed to get him out of the ditch but you guys have to hurry. Officer Bao is very injured."
"Can you recall the street location?" the operator asked sternly.
"Yeah, it was on the cross-section of Garrus Street and Thane Road. They are in a ditch," Zack replied urgently.
"Alright. We're sending cars over there now," The operator replied.
Zack sighed in relief and replied, "Good. I'll flag you guys down the moment I see you. Just please hurry. He wasn't looking so good when I left."
With confirmation from the operator, Zack quickly ran out of the Juice Bar and began to run back to where Trini and her father's car was but as he ran past an alleyway, a steel baseball bat suddenly came into his view.
Unable to dodge it, Zack's face slammed into it, sending him into the air before slamming down onto the ground.
"Well, well, well…" A familiar voice said from the alleyway."If it isn't the hero..."
From the shadows of the alleyway, a figure walked from within it. Zack's eyes widened in horror at the realization.
It was the teen that he had stolen that woman's purse a few weeks ago and behind him was the familiar goons, all of which were wearing grins on their faces. The lead teenager however had a cruel smirk as he smacked the bat against his open palm and said, "I remember telling you that we'll get you back. Looks like today is that day, you little fucker."
[End Flashback]
[Location: Forest of Memories (Present)
POV: Mighty Morphin Black Ranger]
Black shook his head to clear it from the memory and found Yellow in front of him, holding the knight's blade with her daggers.
"Are you with me?" Yellow asked him with a strained voice.
"These memories are going to be the death of me," Black said as he rose and kicked the knight in the stomach making the knight skid backward before both Yellow and Black leaped and kicked the knight in the face, which sent him flying through the stone columns of the ruins.
"Memories…You remembered something?" Yellow asked him.
"We'll talk about it later," Black replied. With a nod from Yellow, both rangers dashed forward and leaped into the air to deliver a knee to Violent Knight's face but the knight grabbed both of their knees and pushed them both backward, which made them both stagger backward.
But Black quickly ran forward and swung his ax from right to left to strike his chest but the knight blocked the ax with the sword before pushing Black away and then blocked a stab to the side by Yellow's dagger before he kicked her in the chest, sending her sprawling backward against a tree.
Violent Knight then twisted his body and clashed his sword with Black's ax, causing sparks to splash against the two. "That's it…Don't stop now ranger. Keep fighting. You'll slip up sooner or later."
Black turned around and blocked the stab of the knight's blade with his ax before pushing it aside and slicing the chest of the knight, causing him to stumble backward.
Yellow then hopped from behind Black and kicked Violent Knight in the face, sending him staggering backward again before he dashed forward and slammed his shoulder against her chest, causing sparks to fly from her chest as she flew backward.
Black saw this and quickly jumped up and caught her in his arms, which sent him backward in the air before he landed on the ground, his feet skidding against it. He sat her down on her own two feet as he asked "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," Yellow winced out as she rubbed her chest.
"Not for long!" Violent Knight yelled as he held out his right hand, a crimson orb with streaks of black lightning circling it. Black could see his glowing eyes flash to Yellow for a split second before a grin appeared on his face.
"Shit!" Black yelled as realization set in. Black barely managed to push Yellow out of the way before he held out his hands to grab the orb to hold it back.
Suddenly, agony filled Black's being as black and red lightning ran up his arms and on his body, causing him to shout in agony as a memory filled his mind.
[Location: Alleyway (Flashback – One Year Ago)
POV: Zack Taylor]
Zack was in a bad spot.
The moment he saw those teenagers, he tried to run away but he found himself in a dead end in an alleyway.
He then tried to fight and he fought as hard as he could to try to get even the slimmest of chances to escape and get back to Trini and her father...But the numbers and weapons game had caught up to him.
And now there he was, on the ground with blood pouring from his body as the predators circled him with baseball bats dripping with blood.
His blood.
"I-I h-have to…" Zack began as he began to push himself off the ground, only for a baseball bat to slam into his back, sending him back to the ground.
"I'll give you this hero boy. You sure don't know how to stay down," The teenager shouted before another baseball bat slammed into the back of his head.
Zack's vision blurred but again, he tried to crawl away but the lead teenager stepped on his left hand hard with his spiked boot, causing Zack to groan in pain, unable to fully scream due to how weak he was.
'T-Tri…' Zack thought weakly and before he passed out, he heard the teens run off as muffled sounds of sirens were heard in the distance.
It was ironic…He would have welcomed this willingly two months ago before Trini admitted her love for him…But now that it was happening, he only hoped that she would forgive him for dying now…
[End Flashback]
[Location: Forest of Memories (Present)
POV: Mighty Morphin Yellow Ranger]
Yellow stared up at Black in shock as he held the orb in his hands.
After all that she had done to him…From being rude and making scathing remarks to him to nearly killing him, he had taken the shot for her...
"You slipped up, Mastodon ranger," Violent Knight said before Black let out a yell as the orb slipped past his hands and slammed into his stomach, sending him into the air.
"Zack no!" Yellow wailed as she watched Black soar high above the forest with a trail of black and red lightning streaking behind him.
Yellow turned to Violent Knight, who walked into view and shouted, "What did you do to him?!"
Violent smirked and held out his right hand and said, "You still act as if you didn't want him dead yourself. We'll be prepared for our wish is about to be granted now!"
And with those words, he closed his fist.
[Location: Above the Forest of Memories
POV: Mighty Morphin Black Ranger]
Black could feel the air whipping around and against him as soared high up into the air. He could feel the ball of energy pulsing violently against his stomach as streaks of red and black lightning coursed up his body.
Just then, an unknown voice yelled in his head, "Get off this thing or you're going to die!"
'I'm trying but this thing is sapping my energy!' Black replied to the voice as he felt the pulsing increase against him.
Black gritted his teeth and saw that the orb was now huge and his body was now wrapped around it. "Damn it! We're outta time. Brace yourself, I got this!" The unknown voice shouted.
Just then, the crimson orb flashed black and white before it exploded against Black, which sent the ranger soaring down towards the forest, his form flickering from ranger form to his human form repeatedly.
His body managed to stay in its ranger form as he re-entered the forest, slamming into several tree branches, which slowed his fall enough before he slammed against the ground, hard enough to leave an indent around him.
His form flickered again before fully demorphing, leaving the unconscious Zack in his place.
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Mighty Morphin Yellow Ranger]
Shock.
That was the one emotion that Yellow felt she heard the large explosion come from behind her, she quickly turned around to see a large plum of black smoke with white and black bolts of lightning streaking within the cloud.
"N-No…Zack…" She stammered out, her eyes widened in horror.
"Attack the heart…Many have fallen to battle that way. His predecessor did and now, so has the successor," Violent Knight said from behind her.
Yellow turned around to hear him laughing into the air and felt her anger climb to new heights. "You…" She hissed out. "I'll kill you!"
Violent Knight merely held out his hand and motioned for her to come to him. Suddenly, black and red lightning streaked up his body and he leaned forward in pain. Seeing this weakness, Yellow screamed as she ran towards her opponent, ducking a swing of his blade and slamming her right fist against his chest as hard as possible, causing the knight to lean forward, cracks appearing in his chest from the strike.
She then smacked his blade-wielding hand away from her with her left hand when he tried to swing and responded with a hard left hook, which caused his head to whip up into the air.
She quickly pulled his head back and rammed her knee into his chest three times, each strike causing more cracks to appear in his chest before she twisted her body and slammed both fists into his chest, causing him to fly backward against a stone pillar, which then exploded upon impact around him.
Yellow panted, her mind still addled with rage as she watched Violent Knight rise from the rubble and it was then she noticed something.
In his armor, she saw the unconscious face of Carlos, many small red, pulsating veins sticking to his very pale face.
Yellow's rage made way to shock as Violent Knight stood upright and panted, "Is that all you've got? If so, you will have a very bad time before I take your life."
"What have you done to him?" Yellow questioned, unable to take her eyes off of the human in his chest.
"His very life force is tied to my being. It is feeding me life and the more you hurt me…the damage hurts him tenfold," Violent Knight explained as wisps of red and black energy began to flow from the knight's form.
"Prepare yourself. I'm coming," Violent Knight said before he dashed to her, his blade appearing in his hands while Yellow summoned her Power Daggers.
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Zack Taylor]
"Wake up Zack…"
Zack's eyes remained shut as his breath was slow and deep, still seemingly unconscious from the explosion.
"You have to wake up. You are in danger," the voice said again but Zack was still unconscious. Around him, Draugrs were starting to appear around his unconscious body, inching closer and closer to him.
"Zack, get up!" The voice demanded.
Zack's eyes fluttered open before they closed shut as pain immediately set in. His body was so sore and battered from that explosion, that he was surprised he could even move. He grabbed a vine that was hanging from the tree beside him and pulled himself to his feet.
He was so exhausted from that little bit of movement and as his eyes swept through the large amount of Draugrs near him, sweat began to drip from his face. "H-Holy shit…" Zack stuttered out as he leaned against the tree.
"Yeah…This is bad. It's even worse because of your power coin," The voice said. Zack glanced down at his power coin and noticed that there was a long crack in the middle of it and there was black and white energy leaking from the crack.
"W-What the hell? Is this thing broken?!" Zack exclaimed.
"That explosion would have killed you, Zack. We're lucky that this was the result instead of your death," The voice replied as Zack looked around. He was surrounded and they were closing in by the second.
"Can I even morph with it being cracked like this?" Zack questioned.
"You can try but I doubt it to be honest," The voice replied.
Zack nodded and shouted, "It's morphin time!" but as he lunged his arms forward with his Morpher, it began to shine before black lightning bolts streaked against the Morpher and around Zack's body but nothing happened.
He was still Zack.
"Well…That is bad," The voice said.
"Gee, you think?" Zack asked with an irritable tone in his voice. "I'm currently surrounded by these undead rangers and I can't even morph. Not to mention, Trini and Carlos are in danger and I'm too far and hurt to help. What the hell do I do now?"
"Well…There is only one thing that can be done right now, Zack…But it may have some unwanted side effects," The voice told him.
"Well…I'm out of options now, whatever you plan to do, do it!" Zack exclaimed.
"Alright…Just be prepared for the possible effect after this goes down," The voice said before a bolt of black and white light appeared on Zack's left wrist before fading away, revealing a silver and black colored morpher that held a large red "V" on top of it and in the middle of the "V", there was a single black crystal within it.
"I never introduced myself. My name is Espérer and I am the Aura Black Ranger. The fastest in my group and that is my Aura Changer. It only has three morphs left. I leave it in your hands," The voice, now known as Espérer told Zack.
"You're Zordon's Black Ranger…My Predecessor," Zack said in surprise. "But why help me?"
"I told you earlier. I want to see my successor grow and be powerful but I can't say I'm doing this for just that…" The former Aura ranger said, bitterness in his voice. "Knasty Knight…He is the one that slayed me…He is too powerful now for you to deal with alone…I guess I realized that if neither of us can beat him separately, together, we can conquer him and I can finally pass on…"
"Seems we're one of the same then so count me in on the revenge," Zack said as he glanced down at the morpher and said, "So let's get this done."
"Wait! Before we start, I need to warn…There are some hefty prices in using my Morpher," The ghostly ranger said, stopping Zack from continuing on.
"Which is?" Zack asked.
"There are two of them. The first one is more pressing and that is this. There are three chargers left before the Morpher dies completely and if you have to use my Morpher, there is a chance you may wind up in a different place in time each time," Espérer said.
"I'm sorry what?!" Zack yelled out as he kicked a Draugr in the chest, sending it bumbling into the group behind him. Zack quickly limped to another tree, elbowing a Draugr in the face as he did so.
"There is a 50/50 chance you may wind up in the future…" The former Aura Ranger said.
"How?!" Zack yelled in shock.
'Everyone on Eltar has a special gift. Mine was precognition. I could see the future. With the Aura Powers being pure, concentrated energy, it boosted my powers tenfold so that I could also go to the future but…I couldn't control it so anytime I morphed, there was that chance."
"Has it ever happened?" Zack questioned as he continued to limp to another tree, trying to keep away from the undead rangers.
"Yes. I once found myself meeting with SPD, Space Patrol Delta Power Rangers. Man, that Z was a cutie," Espérer said with a slight perverted giggle.
"Dude, head in the game," Zack said as he leaned against a tree, sweat, and blood pouring down his face.
"Sorry about that," Espérer said with a sheepish tone. "…With my soul bound to my morpher until I'm put to rest, it may happen again so I need you to be aware of that important bit of info."
"Ah well, it doesn't matter. I'll have to take that risk! Just tell me what to do," Zack said as he weakly swiped at the undead rangers to keep them away from him, kicking one in the chest when they got too close.
"Press the "V" and say "Aura Change: Awaken Black Ranger!" and then pray you stay in this time!" Espérer shouted.
Zack nodded and shouted, "Here it goes!" He quickly pressed the "V" on the Morpher. "Aura Change: Awaken Black Ranger!"
The "V" on the Morpher began to crackle with white and black lightning that began to streak across the Morpher just as the Draugrs leaped up to dogpile him.
[Morphing Grid
Zack Taylor]
(Theme of Morphing – Mass Destruction – Persona 3 Midsummer Knight's Dream Remix)
With a press of the "V", a large beam of light shot up from the ground as the color on Zack's clothes, hair and body began to fade away into bright white, with only glowing black eyes appearing.
Black energy shards appeared in the air hovering around him and began to quickly shoot towards his body.
The black energy collided with his torso and legs, forming the black spandex suit while the remaining shards flew to his wrists and feet, forming the black gauntlets and boots as another black shard slammed into his chest to form a black crest that held a silver "5" within it.
And last but not least, dozens of black shards slammed into Zack's head to form the black helmet and another shard slammed into the front of the forehead to make a black orb above the empty space where his visor would go.
Then one final black shard slammed into the helmet, creating the T-shaped visor that covered his eyes which began to shine as bright as the heavens themselves.
[Location: Downtown Angel Grove (Future)
POV: Zack Taylor]
But as the morphing was finished, the ranger suddenly himself standing in downtown Angel Grove…
But it was destroyed.
There was a crowd of civilians in the remains of downtown, all of them with soulless expressions on their faces. He heard a trumpet being played which prompted him to look up at the roof and then he gasped.
Aligned on the roof of five buildings were fifteen bodies attached to a cross but these bodies he was familiar with.
They were rangers…All fifteen of them.
Six of the rangers he couldn't recognize but they had a bird motif but the other four, he instantly saw Katherine, Billy, Kimberly and himself in their ranger suits.
But two were missing from the lineup.
It was then he noticed that there was a lone ranger standing in the middle building and the ranger had a green and white motif…his red visor staring forward at the carnage around him.
And standing behind the mysterious ranger was an army of Putty Patrollers…But they all held a "Z" on their chest.
"W-What happened here…" Zack asked himself in shock until he noticed that in the hand of the remaining ranger, there was two helmets in his hands.
And it was Jason's and Trini's helmets.
"No…" Zack whispered in horror.
"In Emperor Zedd's name…Earth has been conquered and the last vestiges of the Power Rangers have been found and executed!" The ranger yelled as he lifted up both helmets.
His voice…There was something familiar about his voice.
But before he could discover more, his body flashed back to the Forest of Memories, where he got the sight of the undead rangers being torn asunder by the large beam of light that was around him.
[Location: The Command Center (Present)
POV: Jason Lee Scott]
"No luck still?" Jason asked as he stood next to Alpha, who was rapidly pressing keys on the console.
"Nothing yet Jason. I shall inform you as soon as something appears," Alpha replied with a worried tone. "Aye-ai-ai…I hope Zack and Trini will stay alive long enough for us to help them."
"I'm sure they will," Jason said as he placed his hand on the robot's head. "Just relax and keep focus."
Jason then turned to Billy, Katherine, and Kimberly, who were all sleeping on the floor of the center, with Billy in the middle of the two females, their heads resting on his shoulders. Jason smiled at this and said, "Maybe I should take their cue and rest as well."
"That would be best, Jason," Alpha responded. "You have been pacing non-stop for several hours. You need your rest as well."
"I know, it's just…It's my fault they wound up there. If only I had been able to get Carlos," Jason frowned. "I can't believe he and Ashley know who we are and want to become rangers…"
"At the rate they are at right now, Carlos is not ready to become a Power Ranger just yet," Alpha said.
"You've been watching them?" Jason asked curiously.
"At Zordon's behest, he wanted me to watch for potential allies. He is sure something major is coming your way. We already have a potential candidate in mi-" Without warning, klaxons began to blare in the command center, causing the sleeping trio to wake up with a gasp.
"Alpha, what is going on?" Jason asked the small robot as the other three rangers were startled awake.
With a flash of ethereal blue lightning, Zordon appeared in the large tube and asked, "Alpha, do you sense that energy?"
"I do Zordon," Alpha said. "It belongs to The Aura Black Ranger but that cannot be Zordon. Knasty Knight killed him during battle."
"Look to the Viewing Globe," Zordon commanded.
The four rangers and Alpha quickly made their way to the globe to see Aura Black standing in a beam of white light, the undead rangers that had leaped at him disintegrating due to the fierce light that shielded him.
"I wonder who is behind the helmet this time," Billy said with narrowed eyes.
Katherine let a smile appear on her face as she said, "I think I have a good idea."
"Oh?" Kimberly asked.
"I don't know how but I know that it's Zack inside of the Aura Ranger suit," Katherine replied.
"But that doesn't make sense. Why would he be behind the suit when he could morph?" Jason asked her.
"I don't know either but I know it's him," Katherine replied. "Call it a gut feeling."
"Zordon, thanks to Aura Black, the barrier that was keeping us from transporting you has weakened," Alpha said in excitement to the wizard.
"How unusual but it is good. We must capitalize on this and get the rangers in there," Zordon said. Alpha immediately nodded and began to put in the coordinates to the Forest of Memories and once it was done, Alpha gave the group a thumbs up.
"Alright, guys. Whether that is Zack in the suit or not, this is a rescue mission," Jason said. "So let's get in there, fight, and get them all out!" Jason pulled out his morpher and shouted "Ready?!"
"Ready!" The three rangers replied.
"It's Morphin Time!" The Four shouted
[Morphing Grid
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]
(Theme of Morphing - Infinity Mijinion Stage from Megaman X6)
Kimberly, Billy, and Jason found themselves falling down the black void, their bodies glowing in their respective colors when each of them saw their power coins in the middle of a glowing orb, each one in their individual colors.
The three teens dove down and slammed into the orbs at top speed, causing four streaks of lightning to shoot down to the ground.
A pink streak of lightning then slammed against the ground and formed a female's body in a crouch. The body rose to its feet and forced the energy away to reveal Pink with her Power Bow in her hand. Pink fired three arrows in the air, where they then exploded, causing pink sparks to fly down on her as she shouted, "Pterodactyl!"
Moments later, a blue streak of lightning slammed a few feet away from Pink. It formed a male form before it rose and forced the energy away, revealing Blue with his Power Lanc. Blue twirled the lance in the air before slamming it on the ground as he shouted, "Triceratops!"
Finally, a minor streak of red lightning slammed in between Pink and Blue in the shape of a sword, and moments later, a large streak of red lightning slammed behind the blade.
A hand reached out of the lighting as it reached out and grabbed the hilt, and the moment it did, the lightning exploded, revealing Red, who was kneeling on one knee.
Red slowly stood up from the ground and pointed it into the air as he shouted, "Tyrannosaurus!" As he did, each of the Rangers' zords appeared behind them and roared in victory.
[Morphing Grid
Katherine Hillard]
(Theme of Morphing - Fairy from The King of Fighters '96)
Katherine found herself floating in a black void as a violet aura flowed around her body. The Aura began to swirl around her body slowly at first until it began to pick up speed until she was in a glowing orb.
Katherine curled herself into a ball, causing the orb to shrink slightly before she unfurled herself quickly, causing the orb to explode in brilliant light, revealing Katherine in her ranger suit, without her helmet and armor.
A silver orb with her power coin floated in front of her and without any hesitation, Katherine grabbed the orb and crushed it within her hand, causing silver and white streaks of lightning to slam against her body, forming the silver vest-like armor as well as the silver trim on her boots and gloves and finally, a violet and silver of lightning slammed into her head and once it faded, her helmet was on her head.
Violet landed on a pillar in the middle of the ocean, rose to her feet, and shouted "Rahonavis!" Violet swung her left arm into the air and snapped her fingers, causing an explosion of water behind her, revealing the Rahonavis zord to screech in victory.
[Location: The Command Center (Present)
POV: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]
With the four Power Rangers standing in the command center, Red looked to Alpha and asked, "Can you locate where Yellow is?"
Alpha pressed a few keys and after a few moments, the Viewing Globe showed Yellow, who was in an intense battle with Violent Knight. "We have her coordinates. I shall transport you now. Please do not get hurt or worse, killed."
With a nod, the four rangers placed their hands on their morphers and transported out of the command center in their respective colors.
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Aura Black Ranger]
"You did it and we got lucky. You didn't get transported to another time," Espérer said within Aura Black's head as the beam of light flickered away.
Aura Black looked over his suit and said, "Man…This feels weird. This is far more powerful than my ranger powers but I feel strange but I can't understand why."
"It's because of my race," Espérer told him.
"Your race?" the ranger asked.
"Yeah, this was the other thing I needed to mention. As a brief backstory, the other rangers and I come from Eltar, the same race our leader and mentor Zordon comes from."
Aura Black nodded, understanding so far.
"We hold a massive amount of energy within us known as "Aura." No human can withstand contact with this energy for longer than an hour before they begin to absorb our essence…Which is poison to your race and considering that our suits are made of pure, concentrated Aura…They never lasted more than an hour…" Espérer told him.
"I see…So you guys had humans in your suits before?" Aura Black asked.
Espérer was quiet for a moment before he said, "Who do you think those Draugrs are? They were humans chosen to be rangers before they absorbed too much of our essence…it poisoned them and in turn, killed them, and because of our Aura, their thoughts and memories were retained in their undead form which is one of the reasons Zordon called this place "The Forest of Memories" in the first place."
"So it's this forest that is making me and Trini remember things from long ago. Buried things…" Aura Black told the spirit.
"Yeah. That is the second reason this place is called that," Espérer said. "But enough about that for now because we have to move. I sense more Draugrs heading our way. Let's hurry up and kill that ranger-killing bastard!"
Aura Black nodded and tapped his right toe on the ground before he knelt forward and began to run as fast as he could until he became a blur of black and white.
'Hang on Trini, I'm coming…' Aura Black thought.
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Mighty Morphin Yellow Ranger]
With a clash of steel, Yellow's Power Daggers blocked the swing of Violent Knight's blade, causing a myriad of sparks to fly onto her suit. "You should have taken me up on my offer when you had the chance. Now the Mastodon Ranger is dead, this human's life force is nearly depleted and you will die as well."
"I will kill you for what you've done," Yellow hissed out angrily as she pushed forward against the blade before she slipped one away from his sword and rammed it into his already wounded side, causing the monster to groan in agony as black and red bolts of lightning shot from the wound to across his body.
He broke away from the clash and kicked Yellow hard in the chest, which sent her to the ground. Yellow fell on her shoulders, flipped herself back to her feet, and punched the knight in the face, which made him stagger.
She then jogged forward and leaped into the air to do a roundhouse kick but the monster ducked it, grabbed her stretched-out leg, and swung her in a full three-sixty angle before launching her away.
Yellow managed to recover mid-air and landed on a tree before she pulled out her blade blaster and began to fire at her opponent.
Violent Knight summoned his blade and deflected the beams of lasers with his sword, causing small explosions to erupt around him as the lasers landed on the ground before he launched his sword towards Yellow.
Seeing this, Yellow ducked the flying blade but then Violent Knight vanished and materialized behind her in the air, holding his sword. He then turned around and slashed her down her back, causing sparks to fly as she flew off the tree and landed on the ground chest first.
Yellow quickly turned around so she was on her back and was barely able to stop his sword from impaling her head, the tip of the blade scratching at her visor.
"It is time to die," Violent Knight said as he forced the blade down, causing the tip to pierce through the right side of her visor but due to Yellow's hard grip, she was able to stop it from stabbing her in the right eye.
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]
Suddenly, the sounds of something hard colliding against the monster were heard and the blade was whipped out of her helmet. When she looked up, she let out a huge sigh of relief at the sight of her friends.
"Oh god Trini," Pink said as Yellow was lifted off of her feet by the ranger, who instantly embraced her. "We're sorry we were so late. This place had a strong barrier and it was causing us not to enter it until it weakened."
"You got here when it mattered," Yellow said as she embraced Blue and Violet before she turned to look at Red, who kept his focus solely on the monster that was now standing up.
He did however turn to glance briefly and nod before facing the knight again. A lot of people would think Red's reaction to her being safe was a little aloof but Yellow knew he was super focused on the enemy at the scene.
She knew once the danger had passed, she would be bear-hugged. "Red, Carlos' body is within Violent Knight," Yellow told him.
"What?" Violet gasped while Blue and Pink turned their attention to her.
"More Rangers to stand in my way. I can't say I am surprised," Violent Knight said once he was back on his feet, his armor cracked more to reveal the left side of Carlos' torso and arm.
"Release him or else!" Red ordered.
Violent Knight smirked as more black and red wisps flowed from his body. Suddenly, with a flash of red, Carlos' body fell before the rangers. "You can have him. I have what I need from him."
Seconds later, every wound that the knight had suffered completely healed, including the original wound Death Rose had given him.
Blue quickly rushed to the downed martial artist and placed his hand on his neck. He then shook his head. "I'm not getting a pulse…He's gone…" Blue softly revealed.
"You monster!" Red shouted.
Violent Knight laughed and said, "His life force now belongs to me and the only way to get it back is to kill me and I doubt that will be happening anytime soon!" To prove his point, he let out a shout and a large burst of black and red aura flew from Violent Knight's body.
"Dude, do you feel that?" Yellow asked.
"I can taste that," Pink replied.
"So much power…" Blue murmured.
"And I bet there is even more than that," Violet said.
Red narrowed his eyes and said, "We'll take him down regardless as long as we work together."
Violent Knight laughed and said "This is amazing. All of this power is just from a single human's life force. Imagine how much power I can gain by taking the life force of every single being. I could conquer Lord Zedd himself!"
"Zedd?" Red questioned. "Who is he?"
"Lord Zedd is one of the strongest beings in the entire universe. He has conquered many Rangers throughout. His magical power ranges in the billions! Even "Lady" Rita and her loyal dog Goldar serve under him. The last Ranger group that could even touch him was the Magirangers and they, and their gods were slaughtered by him."
The five rangers suddenly had a sense of dread hit their stomachs like sledgehammers. They were already having a tough time with Rita. If they ever had to conquer this Zedd…
'Zedd…The Magirangers...I must remember those names," Pink thought to herself.
"But with this…I can have the power to control this universe myself!" Violent Knight laughed victoriously.
"Don't count on that victory yet because we are here to stop you!" Red exclaimed.
The laughter died down as Violent Knight's eyes shined maliciously. "Oh, I know…And your life force will be a powerful addition to my might. Now prepare for your demise!"
With that shout, Violent Knight let loose a large powerful aura before he forced it all into his right hand, making a large, pulsating orb and releasing it towards the group of rangers. Before any of them could move, the orb collided with them, which caused the five to soar backward as sparks flew from their bodies.
The five landed on the ground with a groan of pain as Violent Knight held out his right hand again as an orb formed in his hand and said, "You see how powerful I have become? I could barely hold off Saber-Tooth Ranger and that foolish Mastodon Ranger but now? Now to get stronger."
Just then, a thick beam of black energy shot passed the rangers and slammed into Violent Knight's chest, which sent him staggering backward, smoke rising from his chest. "Sorry, you won't be getting anyone's life force!"
The five rangers turned around to see a ranger walking towards them, the sidearm of the Aura Rangers, the Aura Magnum in his hands, the barrel still smoking as he placed the Aura magnum on his shoulder. "It can't be…" Violent Knight whispered as he took a step backward.
"Zack!" The rangers yelled in surprise but Yellow remained silent.
She knew by the voice as well as the body language that the ranger was Zack. She was so sure that he had died when it exploded so seeing him walking towards them made tears fall from her eyes.
"Zack…" She whispered.
"Heh, I knew it was him," Violet said as she stood to her feet to face him. "How does it feel Zack?"
"I feel energized," Aura Black replied as the two fist-bumped. "How did you know it was me?"
"I just knew somehow," Violet replied with a hidden grin. Blue and Pink ran to him to embrace him while Red nodded towards him.
"We can celebrate later," Aura Black said after the embrace from his two friends, his eyes staring straight at Violent Knight. "We have a problem to face."
"I killed you," Violent Knight said with a harsh tone. "I killed you. You should not be alive!"
"Well I am," Aura Black replied. "And better than ever in fact."
Violent Knight held out several glowing seeds and seethed, "It doesn't matter. I have killed your predecessor and whether you wear your ranger suit or his, you will fall along with your foolish teammates!" He dropped the seeds on the ground with a burst of red and black energy, a large figure spurted out from the ground and when the energy faded, the rangers faced a familiar monster.
The monster's left leg that was made with thorns which was also the right side of her stomach while the right leg was a turquoise color with sparkles on it as well as the left side of her stomach.
And finally, a large blooming rose took up the top half of her body, leaving her head right in the middle of the blooming red rose body and the color of the body was black and red. "And while it will weaken me quite a bit, it is all worth it. Behold, my version of the very monster that took the Mastodon ranger under her control! Violent Rose, grow and destroy the Power Rangers!"
Death Rose let out a large screech as her body began to grow until appeared out of the forest.
"Of course," Red growled out.
Violent Rose let out an inhuman screech before she raised her foot and slammed it down.
While Red, Violet, and Blue rolled to the left to avoid the giant food, Aura Black, Yellow, and Pink rolled to the left and the moment Aura Black came into view, Violent Knight dashed forward and grabbed the ranger by the neck and said "It's time!" before the two disappeared in a flash.
"He kidnapped him again!" Pink exclaimed.
"He'll be ok but for now, we have a problem to deal with," Yellow replied before she thought, 'Be safe Zack…'
[Location: Void of the Violent Knight
POV: Aura Black Ranger Vs Violent Knight]
With a black and red explosion, Aura Black fell to the crimson ground beneath him. He quickly rolled to his feet and blocked a dropkick that Violent Knight had delivered, which caused him to skid backward.
He then avoided two quick jabs before he smacked the knight's hand away with the third jab and punched the knight in the face.
The knight stumbled backward and pulled out his sword while Aura Black pulled out his Aura Magnum and fired several shots, which Violent Knight deflected with his sword before slashing it downwards, causing a wave of red and black energy to shoot towards Aura Black.
Aura Black rolled to the side and fired the blaster again, nailing the knight in the chest twice, before he hopped into the air, turned the Magnum into its saber mode, and fell before the knight as he sliced his chest twice, causing red sparks to fly from his chest.
But Violent Knight grabbed the sword on the third strike and kicked Aura Black hard enough to cause the ranger to fall onto his back but he quickly recovered and rolled onto his feet only to twist his body and grab his Aura blade when it was thrown at him and then, the two stood at a standstill.
"When we first fought that long time ago, I told you that your skills as Black Ranger were weak," The Knight commented while watching Aura Black hold the Aura Saber before him. "But while I despise you, I see you have improved. But you are still no match for me for I am Violent Knight…" The aura around Violent Knight whipped up into a frenzy as he spread his arms out, a large, evil smirk on his face. "The killer of Zordon's Aura Black Ranger and your murderer as well!"
Aura Black frowned beneath his helmet and charged forward and slashed his blade towards the knight but said knight lifted his sword to block the blow then aimed a kick to Aura Black in his right knee. Aura Black lifted his right knee and kicked the knight in the face, which made him stumble to the side before he ducked down and ran his leg under the feet of the knight but Violent Knight leaped over the knee.
Aura Black rolled backward into a kneeling position and stared at the knight for a moment with a chuckle, He then stood up on his feet and said "And as I said before, you aren't killing any Black Rangers today…and if I am to die, I'll make sure that I take you with me."
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]
The Five of the Six rangers stared up at their enemy but it was Blue who said, "We need to summon our zords but…We don't have Black to form the Megazord."
With a flash, Yellow appeared beside Blue and said, "Carlos is at the command center so don't have to worry about his body... I heard what you were talking about and I'm curious as to how we are going to battle it without our zord."
"We'll have to try our best without forming the Megazord," Red said.
"You will not have to!" Alpha's voice said within their helmets. "We have just finished Katherine's Rahonavis Zord. Her zord can combine with the Megazord as well as replace either the Mastodon zord or the Pterodactyl zord."
"Crikey. I completely forgot that I have a zord now!" Violet replied.
"Then let's get them summoned!" Red shouted before he said, "We need Megazord power now!"
[Location: Volcano]
With an explosion of lava, a white and pink mechanical Pterodactyl flew out of the active volcano.
The Zord twirled in the air with two streams of smoke trailing behind it as it screeched, its body glowing a bright pink before it streaked through the sky and appeared in Angel Grove near the forest.
[Location: Jungle]
From the deepest pits of the jungle, a yellow and silver mechanical Saber-Tooth Tiger with black wheels on its legs rose from its resting spot, causing the trees around it to either snap or become unrooted.
The Tiger growled before running through the deep forest until its body flashed a bright yellow and appeared beneath the flying Pterodactyl.
[Location: Mountain]
From beneath the earth, a deep rumble shook the area as the ground began to split.
Accompanied by flames, a red and silver mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex rose from beneath the earth with a mighty roar.
Once it was on its feet, it began to dash forward, its body glowing a bright red until it appeared in the middle beside the running Saber-tooth Tiger.
[Location: The Sky]
With a screech, a huge ball of purple flames fell from the sky towards the Forest of Memories and when the fire faded away, a violet and silver mechanical Rahonavis appeared flying in the air before it landed with a skid and began to run alongside the other dinozords.
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]
"Alright! Let's go cut this rose!" Red shouted before the five rangers nodded and jumped into the air before changing into beams of light and going to their respective zords.
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]
"Whoa…" Violet said as she touched the icon on her console. "This is amazing…"
"It's good to be back in here," Yellow said with a chuckle.
"I agree. It's been far too long. Now let's form the Megazord!" Red shouted.
"Wait!" Violet exclaimed. "How do I do that?!"
"Take out your power coin and run your hand against it and it should change into a long crystal," Pink said.
Violet nodded as she pulled out her power coin and followed Pink's instructions. Beneath her helmet, she blinked in surprise when her power coin shined a bright purple and became a crystal.
"Ready, set armed!" The remaining rangers shouted while they took out the crystals of their respective colors and placed the tips into their slots, making them all glow brightly.
Yellow's zord gave a brief growl as its legs sunk underneath its form, riding on the wheels that were on its legs and the tail of the zord turned until it was right against the tiger's back.
Blue's zord followed suit while the legs on Red's zord folded backward, leaving metal nubs that connected to the slots on Blue and Yellow's zords. The Rahonavis flapped its wings as it flew into the air, folded its legs into its chest, and connected to the back of Red's zord, where its wings slid and connected to the sides of the zord, revealing empty rocket holes on the edges of the wings.
A few seconds later, Pink's zord flew behind the head of Red's Zord and landed on its shoulders, its chest resting against the back of the Zord's head and with each successful connection of the zord, blue electricity flowed around the connected joints.
The five rangers found themselves in a much larger cockpit together with Red sitting in between Violet and Blue while Yellow and Pink sat behind Violet and Blue, facing the consoles on the separate walls.
"Dino Megazord: Tank mode activated," A male robotic voice exclaimed in the cockpit.
"Cool…This zord would be on TV all the time and now I'm in it…" Violet said. "I am so stoked!"
Blue looked at her and happily said, "Then prepare to be even more excited."
"Dino Megazord enter battle mode now!" The four rangers shouted.
"Megazord sequence has been initiated," The voice said.
Moments later, the wings of Violet's zords suddenly unfolded from the sides of the zords, revealing large silver and purple arms that remained attached to the sides of Red's zord as the body of Violet's zord broke off and flew into the air.
Pink's zord suddenly flew off of the shoulders of Red's zord while Blue and Yellow's Zords slowly began to lift off the ground until the entire Megazord was standing upright.
Pink's Zord flew around the zord for a moment before its head slid down into its chest while turning so the Zord's back was facing the monster while the chest of Red's zord lifted as the Tyrannosaurus head bent into its chest which then closed over the head, revealing a black and red robot head with a smooth grey steel plate where the mouth would be with a yellow spike on top of the head.
Once Pink's Zord connected to the chest of Red's zord, two red horns flipped onto the Robot's cheeks with a snap of blue electricity, causing its yellow eyes to glow red briefly before fading back to yellow.
"Bring out the Power Saber!" Red exclaimed.
A large blade descended blade first from the clouds of the sky and would have slammed into the street beneath them had the Megazord not caught the sword by its hilt with its right hand, the tip hovering over the pavement lightly.
The sword then twisted it upright and pointed towards the monster before it dashed forward. Violent Rose held her whip and whipped it towards the Megazord, who caught the whip, pulled the monster closer by the whip, and slashed her in the chest with the Power Saber, causing sparks to fly from the monster's body.
The monster staggered back while releasing the hold on the whip only to summon a thorn sword and whip at the chest of the zord, causing sparks to fly from it before she drew it back and snapped it forward, striking the zord in the head.
The Megazord stumbled backward and used the Power Saber to block an upper strike from the thorn sword before blocking a side shot from it but the zord was not quick enough to avoid a thorn sword forming from the chest of the monster and striking at the chest of the zord, causing more sparks to fly from it.
Violent Rose roared as she whipped her rose whip around the neck of the Megazord, causing it to coil around the zord's neck before she sent a current of red and black energy through the whip and toward the zord, which caused a large number of sparks to fly from the zord.
Within the zord, the rangers were being slung all over their cockpit, sparks flying from their bodies due to the dangerous energy Violent Rose had sent out.
"We need to cut the whip," Red said with a strained voice as he began to press the controls on the console. The Dino Megazord lifted the Power Saber into the air with some difficulty and sliced through the whip causing the current of energy to stop.
Violent Rose then yelled then jumped into the air towards the zord with its thorn sword in the air. The Megazord lifted its blade and blocked the strike from Violet Rose before pushing it backward into the air. The Megazord jumped into the air and swung its blade downward into the chest of the monster, causing it to slam to the ground with red sparks flying from its wound.
The Megazord landed on top of the monster and pointed its blade downward in an attempt to stab it in the head but Violent Rose stopped the blade from piercing her head with several vines springing up from the ground and trapping its arms in the air.
Violent Rose crawled from beneath the zord and began to repeatedly punch the zord's head at a frantic pace, causing the whipped-around rangers within the zord to panic, before it grabbed the head and began to squeeze it heavily while tugging it at the same time.
"She's going to rip the head off our zord!" Pink shouted.
"We need to do something," Yellow said as she turned to Red.
[Location: Void of the Violent Knight
POV: Aura Black Ranger Vs Violent Knight]
Blades clashed as Aura Black's Aura Saber collided against Violent Knight's sword, sparks repeatedly exploding off of them.
The two broke apart and Aura Black delivered a right hook, which caused the Knight's head to whip back but the monster swiftly responded with a head butt, which made Aura Black stumble back several steps, a spider web crack in his helmet before half of the visor fell apart, revealing Aura Black's glowing black left eye.
Aura Black snapped out of his stunned state to lift his sword to block the overhead swing of the monster's sword before he kicked Violent Knight in the chest to forcefully end the clash.
He quickly switched his weapon back to the Aura Magnum and began firing several times, each strike nailing the monster in the chest before he deflected the final shot, sending it into the air.
Violent Knight rotated three hundred and sixty degrees before he launched his sword towards Aura Black, who rolled under the thrown sword but as he had done with Yellow, Violent Black vanished and materialized behind Aura Black and swung his sword downward.
But Aura Black swiftly turned around and darted backward as he fired the magnum again, nailing the monster in the face with a beam of energy.
The monster fell to one knee and growled, pieces of his face falling off, revealing glowing red energy beneath the cracked shell. The two had been in this intense battle for what seemed like an eternity and neither had bested the other just yet.
The momentum would ebb and flow between the two but it always evened out in the end.
It was as if they were equally matched.
"This…This is the battle I've waited for…" Violent Knight said as he stood up on his feet. "You have truly become stronger." Violent Knight gave a wide smirk. "But I am truly the strongest there is!"
Red and black aura exploded around him while Aura Black stood across from him, his eyes narrowed in focus.
'We are evenly matched but I can feel something happening to my body the longer I am in this suit,' Aura Black thought as sweat poured down his face, his glowing black eyes flickering slightly before he charged forward and swung his saber down at the knight.
Violent Knight smacked the saber away with his blade before he jumped up and planted his left knee into Aura Black's head, which made the ranger stumble back. As Violent Knight's blade came swinging towards his head, Aura Black ducked it and swept his legs off the ground, sending Violent Knight to his side but the monster rolled to the side just as Aura Black went to slice through him.
"So close," Violent Knight taunted with a smirk on his face, eyeing Aura Black intensely as he said, "Don't stop now ranger, Come on."
Aura Black growled and swung his blade but Violent Knight's blade met his with a flash of sparks. After the brief clash, the two kneeling fighters began to trade blow for blow with their weapons but after their swords met again, Violent Knight ended the clash by taking a handful of crimson dirt and throwing it at Aura Black's exposed eye.
Aura Black rolled away from a large amount of dirt and flipped up to his feet only to block a strike from Violent Knight's blade
"Much quicker…Pretty damn good," he murmured with a wide grin on his face, his eyes swirling with amusement, bitterness, and insanity, something that made Aura Black scowl.
Aura Black pushed his blade away and aimed a kick at Violent Knight's stomach but Violent Knight blocked the kick with his knee before twisting his torso, aiming a fist at his face.
Aura Black used his elbow to push the fist away and slammed his forehead against Violent Knight's, making the monster stumble backward.
Aura Black took a step forward but then his vision began to blur. He shook his head to clear his thoughts just to block the knight's blade with his own before pushing it away. Before Violent Knight could counterattack, Aura Black hopped up and dropkicked Violent Knight in the face, making the knight fly backward to the ground.
Aura Black fell to the ground and flipped up to his feet but to his surprise, his legs suddenly felt weak and he found himself falling to one knee.
'What is happening to me…?' Aura Black questioned as he looked around while taking slow, shallow breathes, an agonizing burning beginning to fill his entire being. 'Damn it! He disappeared…I shouldn't have gone for that dropkick…I need to keep him in my sights…'
Without any warning, Aura Black felt a burning sensation in his shoulder and chest again, causing his vision to blur completely, nearly causing the ranger to black out from the intensity of the pain.
'It seems the Aura poisoning is starting…It shouldn't have started so soon," Aura Black's predecessor said while the ranger closed one eye to focus on getting his sight back to normal.
'P-Perhaps it's this realm that's causing it…' the ranger thought as he reopened his eye only for Violent Knight's figure shooting out from the ground from behind with his blade being swung upwards, slashing Aura Black from his hip to his left shoulder, causing sparks to fly from Aura Black's body.
Aura Black flew backward but placed his hand on the ground to twist himself in the air and landed on his feet but then, the intense burning sensation returned and became so unbearable that when he landed on the ground, his legs immediately gave way, sending him fall onto his knees while coughing furiously with a mix of a groan of agony.
"It seems this is it…." Violent Knight murmured victoriously as he walked towards the ranger.
Violent Knight stood above Aura Black's body and tried to kick Aura Black's saber away from him but without warning, Aura Black shot to his feet and sliced from the front of the knight's waist to beneath his chin, causing crimson sparks to fly from the monster's body as he stumbled back several feet.
"Violent Knight!" Aura Black shouted. "Enough of these games. We have been battling for some time so let's end this in one single blow! Nothing held back between us!"
Violent Knight sneered and replied "I was just thinking the same thing!" before his aura exploded around him. He placed his blade at his side as the metal began to glow a bright red. "It's time for us to see who wants it more!"
Aura Black smirked beneath his helmet and gripped the hilt of his Aura Saber. 'Is there any way I can pull all the power from the morpher into this next attack?' Aura Black asked his passenger.
"Yeah. I'll get that for you," the ghost of the ranger replied. "I'll put all of my energy into this attack to stop that dishonorable monster!"
Suddenly, Aura Black felt a mass influx of energy flow from his suit down into his saber, which glowed a bright white, streaks of black lightning shooting around it periodically.
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Dino Megazord Vs Violent Rose]
Without warning, several missiles slammed into the side of the monster, causing her to wail as she flew into the air and landed on the ground.
Violet's personal zord, the Rahonavis flew forward and skidded in front of the zord.
"That's something!" Violet exclaimed happily.
The zord swung its wings to cut the vines, where the Megazord lowered its arms and gave a pet to the machine's head before the eyes of the Rahonavis glowed a bright yellow.
"What the…" Red said, noticing the change in eye color of Violet's zord.
"Dino Megazord: Wing Mode Initiated!" The machine voice chimed, shocking all of the rangers on board.
"I'm sorry what?" Pink asked with confusion.
Suddenly, Violet's zord flew into the air as the Megazord stood up, and swung around in a circle before sliding up the back of the Dino Megazord before locking in place, giving the zord dark violet wings with green at the tips of the wings.
Seconds later the horn of the zord folded back as the head of the Rahonavis flew off into the air. The beak rose to reveal a dark violet face green eyes, smooth dark slate gray steel over where the "mouth" of the zord would be.
The helmet fell around the head of the Megazord before locking in place, causing the green eyes on the new helmet to glow brightly as the wings flapped once, causing a huge gust of winds to sweep the forest beneath them.
"Dino Megazord: Wing Mode activated!" The machine's voice chimed again.
The cockpit that the rangers sat in darkened slightly before the five were bathed in purple light as a new console appeared in front of Violet. "Hella cool!" Pink exclaimed. "Our zord can now fly!"
"And I have the flying controls apparently," Violet said. "So leave it to me!"
"This is pretty cool," Blue said before he turned back to Violet. "I love your zord."
"I love it too! She's such a good zord," Violet cooed happily as she petted her console.
"Alright, let's see what this new zord mode can do!" Red shouted.
Violent Rose hissed and ran towards the zord and cracked her whip towards it but the Megazord used its wings to fly backward to avoid it then it flew forward and gave the monster an overhead punch with its right fist, causing Violent Rose to fall on one knee.
The Zord then flew around in a wide circle to gain some momentum before it grabbed the head of the monster and began to skid the monster against the ground before taking flight into the air.
The monster squirmed in the grasp of the Dino Megazord, punching and scraping against the arm before The Megazord twisted its body rapidly before launching the monster back to the ground.
The monster stood up and yelled as the rose on its body began to glow ominously before firing dozens of glowing rose petals towards the flying zord. "What the hell is this thing doing?" Pink questioned.
She quickly got her answer when one of the rose petals touched a flying seagull, causing a large explosion. "Holy hell!" Pink yelled out.
Red, Blue, and Yellow shuddered as the last time they encountered this attack had occurred. Yellow slowly turned to Violet and said "Keep us away from the petals!"
"Gotcha!" Violet said as she touched the two triggers.
The Zord quickly flew higher into the air but as it flapped its wings, some of the petals fell to the ground and exploded, causing flames to burn within the Forest of Memories.
Violent Rose roared and summoned her whip to her hand and whipped it forward and managed to catch the megazord's left arm and began to pull it down towards the floating roses.
"Oh no you don't, you tosser!" Violet yelled as she pulled the triggers back, making the zord shoot up into the air, taking the monster off her feet and pulling her through her own attack, causing every single rose petal to explode upon impact until the monster, smoking from the dozens of explosions, was up in front of them.
"Let's finish this!" Red shouted.
As the monster floated up in the air, The Power Saber began to glow a bright white as it held the blade at its side.
"Let's end this! Flying Thunder Power strike!" With a powerful side swing of the Megazord's bright glowing blade, the blade slammed into the mid-section of Violent Rose before both the monster and zord darted down to the ground, causing the blade to look like a streak of light through the black clouds.
The monster slammed down into the forest as the blade pierced its body, causing cracks of glowing rainbow light to appear on the monster's body as it wailed before exploding in a brilliant flash of light, the forest around the zord rising as light followed behind it.
When the light faded, The Dino Megazord slowly stood up and lowered its arms towards the ground, the tip of its blade gently scraping the ground, small orbs of embers floating around it.
"Dino Megazord…Victorious!" The Rangers cheered.
[Location: Void of the Violent Knight
POV: Aura Black Ranger Vs Violent Knight]
The two fights stood across from each other as their respective blades glowed with power. "This is the end for you ranger!" Violent Knight shouted with a crazed look in his glowing red eyes.
Aura Black's eyes narrowed as he gripped the hilt of his Aura Saber and slid his feet apart slightly.
"You're not really going to do it this way, are you?" The former ranger questioned.
Aura Black remained silent as the memory from the first battle they had played in his head.
'Trust me Espérer …It won't end the same way,' Aura Black thought back as he narrowed his eyes, a smirk playing on his face.
"I hope so. I would hate for both of our lives to end in the same damn way," Espérer replied before he said "I'm ready…With this strike, I'll either remain uneasy or I'll pass in peace…Time to find out!"
After three seconds, the two ran towards each other with a shout of rage but once the two came together, Violent Knight took the first swing as he yelled "It's time for history to repeat itself!"
But without warning, Aura Black ducked the swing, the edge of the blade scraping the top of the ranger's helmet as Aura Black slid beneath it. With a yell, Aura Black sliced through the mid-section of the knight before sliding to a stop.
Violent Knight gasped out in pain as he looked down and noticed a large bright wound on his stomach and took a step back in surprise.
It was then his mind went back.
That was the same move he pulled to defeat the original Aura Black Ranger.
He began to laugh, which sounded more like a gurgle due to black blood coming from his mouth. Bright white sparks began to fly from his body but he didn't scream or yell. Instead, he turned around and managed to gasp, "Heh…I guess you wanted it more."
He then fell back on the ground before he exploded in white energy while Aura Black stood up and returned the saber to its magnum form. He then holstered it and shut his eyes, panting heavily as he turned around to see Espérer, still in his Aura Ranger uniform with an aura of sparkling rainbows around him.
But on his shoulder was an unconscious teenage male's spirit, which Aura Black instantly knew as Carlos.
"Espérer…Consider yourself avenged my friend," Aura Black said with a smile on his face.
"Thank you…" Espérer said gratefully as he looked around and said "I can now rest with my friends…But after I return him to his body."
"Good…Happy travels my friend and thank you for helping me through this place," Aura Black said.
"Until we meet again Zack," Espérer said before he floated in the air and vanished just as the area was covered by pure light and when it faded, he was back in the Forest of Memories and when he looked up and saw the Dino Megazord but it looked different with the purple arms and wings and helmet on.
[Location: Forest of Memories
POV: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]
"If that is a zord battle, sign me up for more," Violet said excitedly as she stood up from her seat in the Dino Megazord.
"We're not out of the woods yet," Red said before all of the rangers turned to him. Red didn't get it at first until he realized they were standing in the Forest of Memories and then snorted in amusement. "Literally and figuratively."
"You're right. Violent Knight has Zack still. We need to pull him out of wherever he is," Yellow said.
"Let's get back to the command center. If it's the same dimension they were in last time, we can get him," Blue said but before the others could agree, they all noticed a bright light coming from beneath them.
Seconds later, the cockpit lights turned off, only to show a ranger, who looked similar to Aura Black standing within it.
"Zack?" Red asked.
"Wrong one. I am Espérer, the original Black Aura Ranger," The ranger said with a cheeky tone. "I came here to fix an issue that has been boiling over before I taek Carlos here back to his body." It was then he turned to Yellow. "It's time for you to see the truth."
Espérer leaned forward and placed a hand on Yellow's helmet before he a bright light came from his visor through hers, causing her to gasp out in shock.
The other rangers stood up to stop him but as quick as it started, it ended and Yellow merely stared at the figure, her exposed right eye showing shock within them.
"O-Oh my god…" Yellow stammered out. "He…He…"
"What did you do to her?" Pink asked as she summoned her Power Bow and pointed it at the ghostly ranger.
"Relax little Pink. All I did was show her the truth of events that occurred some time ago. Now, time to go deliver a soul! See you all again some time!" Espérer shouted before he disappeared through the roof, causing the lights in the cockpit to turn back on.
"…What the hell just happened?!" Violet asked in shock.
"No idea but there's Zack!" Blue shouted out.
Yellow's head snapped forward as she ran to the console in front of Blue and saw Aura Black standing in front of the zord. Yellow quickly said "I need to go," before she opened the door leading out to the front of the zord and leaped down as she screamed "Zack!"
Aura Black looked up just in time for Yellow to land on the ground and run towards him before hugging him tightly, tears streaming down her visible right eye. "I'm so sorry! I'm so, so, sorry!" she wailed.
Aura Black blinked in confusion before realization set in and he merely shut his eyes and held her tight. "It's in the past Trini...I forgive you." Aura Black whispered.
She pulled away and asked "I've done so much to hurt you Zack…For something that you had literally no control over. You tried to keep your promise. You tried and you were nearly killed for it! And I…I hurt you over and over again."
"And I forgive you for it," Aura Black said softly. "You're my best friend Trini…Even after all of this, I forgive you…You didn't know. Simple as that…"
Yellow looked up at him with a tearful look and despite her glowing yellow irises, he could see remorse in them but before he could comment on it, Yellow embraced him once again.
[Location: Rita's Palace
POV: Rita Repulsa]
"Goldar, you are not yet healed from your wounds! You must rest," Healtress said as she walked around the golden knight, who was currently adjusting his armor on his wounded body.
"I have rested in bed long enough. I must see Lady Rita," Goldar replied but as he took a step forward, he paused, allowing a brief burst of pain to wash over him before he took another step.
The pain would be worth it to see his Empress once again. With the annoyance of his doctor moving around him like a bumblebee, he continued to make his way to the main chamber of the Palace and paused at the sight of Rita.
She had her long silver hair undone, allowing it to fall to her back, and her normal brown dress was removed, showing a simple aqua-blue gown.
From the state of her undress, she either must be going to bed or had just woken up but whether she was in this attire or any other, she was beautiful to Goldar's eyes. "Goldar, you need to return to bed," Healtress said loudly, which caused Rita to turn and look at the pair.
"G-Goldar…You're awake…" Rita stammered out, happiness showing in her eyes.
"I am awake and ready to serve, Lady Rita," Goldar replied as he bowed as best as he could with his injuries. Rita immediately walked to him and said "I thought I told you to not bow down to me Goldar…Especially when you are like this."
Goldar rose to his full stature and said "You are the Empress, Lady Rita. It feels wrong to not bow in your presence."
Goldar then noticed that tears were falling down the young empress' face. "Lady Rita," Goldar murmured as he lifted his finger and wiped a tear away.
"I was worried that you would never wake up," Rita whispered. "I would have never forgiven myself if you died protecting me."
"I am your knight, Lady Rita. I am bound to fall to protect you one day," Goldar responded. "I have accepted this life and I would gladly sacrifice it to see you safe."
"Goldar, I'd rather have you by my side than lose you," Rita firmly said. "And Healtress is right, you should still be resting."
"I've rested enough for a lifetime," Goldar replied as he looked down at Rita's face, his heart conflicted. The line she had given him had made a blossom of hope in his chest that maybe they could be together one day.
But his heart also knew that falling in love with the Empress was inappropriate and it could damage her greatly when he passed on.
"Lady Rita…What is our plan to acquire Tommy Oliver?" Goldar asked, changing the subject.
Rita showed annoyance on her face but answered, "I'm having a hard time trying to think of a plan. That vicious knight destroyed our monster book so Finster is currently working to fix it. Other than you and Healtress, we have nothing to send out. We need to grab him before we lose our chance."
Goldar remained silent for a moment then asked, "When is the deadline to capture him?"
"A few days after that stupid tournament he is in," Rita replied.
"Then I have time to heal before I retrieve him," Goldar told her with a determined look on his face.
"Goldar!" Rita shouted. "You just woke up from a coma and now you want to retrieve him? Do you understand how dangerous that is? You aren't fully healed yet."
"We only have a slim chance to retrieve the future Green Dragon Ranger, Lady Rita," Goldar said. "I will meditate to heal as much as I can. I doubt a teen is going to give me that much trouble."
"It's not him I'm worried about," Rita replied. "I fear the rangers will capitalize on your weakness and…and…" Rita paused as she glanced down at the ground. "I don't want to lose you Goldar…"
Goldar placed a hand beneath her chin, lifted it softly, and said, "I will not fall to them. I will go in a few days, get him, and bring him here to you."
"Promise me that, Goldar…" Rita said, searching his eyes to see if there was any deception within them.
"On my honor, I will return here with him, Lady Rita," Goldar told her with conviction in his voice.
"No matter what the cost."
