AN: now it's time for Yang's portion of the story: the Golden Dragon!
Golden Dragon part 1
Yang's heart raced as she plummeted through the air, her blond hair whipping wildly behind her. there was a weird golden energy surrounding her as she fell towards a city below. This wasn't Remnant, the unfamiliar city rushing up to meet her made that clear. She braced for impact, instinctively attempting to activate her Aura for protection but nothing happened.
With a bone jarring thud, she crashed into what seemed to be a park, forming a crater where she landed. Pain lanced through her body, a sensation she wasn't used to feeling so intensely. Groaning, Yang staggered to her feet, testing her limbs. Everything seemed to be working, albeit slightly painfully.
alright, I'm going to assume that weird energy kept me from going 'splat' but it wasn't my Aura...
She tried to activate her Aura again, still nothing happened.
She raised her fists, checking her weapons, but the faithful gauntlets she called 'Ember Celica' didn't seem to work.
A scream pierced the air. Yang's head snapped toward the sound, her lilac eyes widening as she saw a young boy fleeing from a pursuing dark creature made of darkness and bone armor: a Beowolf.
How did a Grimm get here?
Yang didn't have time to ponder her own question. she was getting ready to charge forward but for a brief moment she felt a shiver down her spine. In that moment, time seemed to compress and she felt frozen in fear, she then heard a dark whisper in her mind, "no weapons, no real way to protect yourself, why do you even continue to fight?"
Yang shook her head, managing to dispel the whisper and felt a wave of resolve coursing through her. "Because that's who I am," she growled under her breath. Weaponless or not, she wasn't about to let some kid get mauled by a Grimm. her body seemed to move on its own toward the boy, ignoring the protests of her battered body.
"Hey, ugly!" she shouted, drawing the Beowolf's attention. "Pick on someone your own size!"
The creature snarled, red eyes gleaming as it changed course to charge at Yang. She settled into a fighting stance, still keenly aware of her non functioning weapons and dissipated Aura, I did NOT think this one through!
As the Beowolf lunged, Yang felt a surge of power deep within herself, different from her Semblance, but it still felt familiar somehow. Acting on instinct, she thrust her hands forward. A golden, spectral dragon erupted from not just her fists, but feeling like it was coming from her very soul, engulfing the Grimm in energy. she heard a loud roar coming from the spectral dragon as The Beowolf disintegrated with a final, agonized howl.
Yang stood there, panting heavily, her fists still clenched as the Grimm dissolved into wisps of dark smoke. The young boy was looking at her, eyes wide with fear and awe. she stared at her own hands, wisps of the golden energy were dissipating from her fingertips. The spectral dragon had vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind only the lingering scent of ozone and ash.
well, that's great...how the heck did I do that?!
"That was awesome!" The boy's excited voice snapped Yang out of her daze. He ran up to her, eyes shining with admiration. "How did you do that? Are you a Power Ranger?"
Yang chuckled, flexing her fingers experimentally. "I'm not sure, kid. Where I come from, I'm called a Huntress. But this... this is new."
A man with brown hair, a black jacket with red outlines, and wearing what looked like red sunglasses came running up. "are you both alright?" he asked, his eyes darting between Yang and the student.
"We're fine, thanks to her," the student said, pointing at Yang.
The man turned to Yang, a look of curiosity on his face. "I'm Casey Rhodes. I saw what you did, that was a spirit attack, wasn't it?"
Yang shook her head, still trying to catch her breath. "I... I'm Yang and I don't know what happened. I just felt this surge of power, this energy inside me. It was...like nothing I've experienced before"
Casey's eyes widened with recognition. "did you hear something like dragon's roar also?"
Yang looked at him, surprised. "Yeah, actually. How did you know?"
Casey smiled knowingly. "Because I have something similar too. What you just tapped into was the spirit of the dragon. It's a rare and powerful animal spirit."
Yang furrowed her brow, confusion evident on her face. "Animal spirit?"
Casey glanced around, noting the dissipating remains of the Grimm. "This isn't the best place to discuss it. first, let's get Peter back to the rest of the class, and get them all home" he said while indicating to the student she had saved. "after we're finished with that, Why don't you come with me? I can explain everything at my Pai Zhua dojo and maybe help you understand your new power."
Yang hesitated, but followed him as he lead the student towards a hilly area of the park. as they walked over the hills Yang saw a clearing near by where children of various ages were being lead in some basic martial art technics by two instructors. one was a male with longer curly hair, wearing a jacket with a lion symbol and the other was a female with short but sleek black hair wearing a jacket with a Chameleon symbol.
Yang watched as Casey approached the two instructors, speaking to them in hushed tones. She couldn't make out their words, but their expressions shifted from concern to curiosity as they glanced her way. The female instructor nodded, gathering the students while the strong looking male approached Yang with a friendly smile.
"Hey, I'm Jarrod," he said, extending his hand. "Casey told us what happened. Thanks for saving Peter."
Yang shook his hand, still feeling a bit overwhelmed. "No problem. I'm Yang. So, uh, are you guys all... what did Casey call it? Pai Zhua?"
Jarrod nodded. "That's right. We're masters of animal spirits. Casey says you might have the spirit of the dragon. That's pretty rare and powerful."
As the students were led away, Casey and the female instructor joined them. "This is Camille," Casey introduced. "We're going to head back to the dojo now. You ready, Yang?"
Yang glanced around, realizing she had no idea where she was or how she'd gotten here. With a shrug, she nodded. "Lead the way."
The group set off, leaving the park behind. as they were leaving, a bipedal serpent-like creature, a new kind of Grimm, shrouded in invisibility was observing the group. specifically focusing on Yang and thought to itself, "now isn't that interesting? it didn't work."
As they walked through the city, Yang couldn't help but ask, "So, about that monster back there..."
"The Beowolf?" Casey supplied.
Yang's eyes widened. "You already know what it's called?"
Camille nodded grimly. "They started appearing a few months ago, along with other similar dangerous creatures. We've been seeing more of them lately, although this is the first time they started appearing around here. we've been told they're called 'The Grimm'."
Yang frowned, her mind racing. " yes, they're creatures of destruction, soulless monsters attracted to negative emotions, but they shouldn't be here... wherever here is."
Casey exchanged a glance with Jarrod and Camille. "You're not from around here, are you, Yang?"
She shook her head. "I'm from a place called Remnant. One minute I was fighting to evacuate civilians from the Kingdom of Atlas then I got knock off the 'bridge' I was on and ended up falling through a void, the next thing i knew, I was falling through the sky here. I don't even know what this world is called."
"Earth," Jarrod supplied. "You're in the city of Ocean Bluff, to be specific."
Yang let out a low whistle. "oh maybe that's why my Aura and weapons aren't working. Different world, different rules, I guess."
"there have been other Power Rangers reporting that they've been fighting these Grimm off, but we don't know where they're coming from or why they're here." Casey continued. "but they usually show up in small packs and oddly it's never been the same place twice, at least not yet."
Yang absorbed this information, her brow furrowed in thought. "They're from my world but I couldn't begin to guess how they're here. As for their behavior, that's not how Grimm usually operate. They tend to gather in large numbers, attracted to negative emotions and often returning to the same areas. This behavior sounds almost... strategic."
Casey nodded grimly. "That's what worries us. It's like they're testing our defenses, probing for weaknesses."
As they walked, the group arrived at what looked like an ordinary pizza parlor. Yang raised an eyebrow, but before she could ask, Casey led them around back to a hidden entrance.
"Welcome to Jungle Karma Pizza," he said with a grin. "Our cover business, and the entrance to a new Pai Zhua dojo in this city."
They descended a staircase, emerging into a vast underground training area. Yang's eyes widened as she took in the sight of students practicing various martial arts forms, some seeming to channel energy not unlike what she had experienced earlier.
"Wow," she breathed. "This is incredible."
Casey nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. "This is where we train the next generation of Pai Zhua masters. And hopefully, where we can help you understand your newfound power. but first" Casey continued "I've got to update the others on what's been going on, excuse me a moment" Casey walked over to a door on their left simply marked 'office' as he pulled out his red sunglasses.
Yang's curiosity was piqued by his mysterious sunglasses. She turned back to Jarrod and Camille, who were observing her with interest.
"So," Jarrod began, breaking the silence, "you mentioned you're from a place called Remnant. What's it like there?"
Yang hesitated, unsure where to begin. "Well, it's...a bit complicated." she proceeded to tell them about the kingdoms, advanced technology, and the Huntsmen and Huntresses who protect humanity from the Grimm. Yang ran her left hand through her blond hair, trying to find the right words to describe 'Aura'. "It's... well, it's like a force field generated by our souls. Where I come from, Huntsmen and Huntresses use it for protection and to fuel our Semblances, our unique abilities tied to our personalities."
Jarrod's eyes lit up with interest. "That sounds similar to our animal spirits in some ways. Though you've said your Aura doesn't work here."
Yang nodded, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Yeah, and neither do my weapons. I feel vulnerable without them."
"Don't worry. If you truly have the spirit of the dragon within you, you have access to a power just as formidable as your Semblance. We'll help you learn to harness it." Camille reassured her.
Yang smiled gratefully, but her expression quickly turned serious. "I appreciate that, but I can't help wondering... how did I get here? And more importantly, how do I get back? My friends, my sister... they might be in danger."
Jarrod and Camille exchanged concerned glances. Before they could respond, Casey emerged from the office, his expression grave.
"I've updated the rest of our team and our allies," Casey said, "They're looking into any unusual energy signatures or dimensional anomalies that might explain your arrival, Yang. They're concerned about the increasing Grimm activity, especially with your arrival, they're thinking that it can't be a coincidence."
Yang nodded, her lilac eyes narrowing. "I had the same thought. Back home, large Grimm migrations usually mean something big is coming. If they're showing up here..."
"Then we need to be prepared," Jarrod finished grimly.
Yang then inquired. "you mentioned other, Allies?"
Casey exchanged a glance with Jarrod and Camille before answering. "Other groups like us. Power Rangers, as you heard earlier. They protect different parts of the world."
"Right," Yang nodded, remembering the boy's earlier question. "The kid asked if I was a Power Ranger. What exactly are they?"
"They're warriors chosen to defend Earth from various threats," Jarrod explained. "Each team has different powers and abilities, often tied to specific themes or elements."
Yang's mind was reeling from all the new information. "And you guys are also Power Rangers?"
Casey said with a small smile. "I am, but they" indicating towards Jarrod and Camille "are not, but they've proven themselves to be invaluable friends. We're all Pai Zhua masters, but only some of us were chosen to be Rangers."
Casey clapped his hands together, drawing their attention. "Alright, first things first. Yang, we need to help you tap into your animal spirit consistently. Without your usual weapons and Aura, it might be your best defense against these Grimm."
Yang nodded, determination setting in. "Alright, where do we start?"
Casey led her to an open area of the training floor. "Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Try to feel the energy within you, the same power you felt when you faced the Beowolf."
Yang closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She searched for that familiar warmth, the surge of power she'd experienced earlier. there was nothing, not even the weird cold sensation she felt before, just the quiet of her own mind. feeling a bit discouraged she opened her eyes said "just so you know I'm not usually the meditation type"
Casey smiled reassuringly. "that's ok, we always try it this way first. Everyone starts somewhere. Let's try a different approach." He stepped back, taking a fighting stance. "Sometimes, the spirit emerges more easily in the heat of battle. Ready yourself."
Yang grinned, falling into her own stance. "Now you're speaking my language."
Casey lunged forward with a swift kick. Yang dodged, her body moving on instinct. As they sparred, she felt a familiar rush of adrenaline, the thrill of combat coursing through her veins.
"Feel the energy building," Casey instructed between strikes. "Let it flow through you, guide your movements."
As Yang blocked a punch, she felt a spark of that golden energy again. She focused on it, trying to draw it out. Suddenly, her fist glowed with a faint golden light as she threw a counter-punch.
Casey's eyes widened as he barely managed to dodge. "That's it! You're tapping into it!"
Encouraged, Yang pressed her advantage. With each strike, the golden energy grew stronger, more vibrant. She felt the power surging through her, different from her Semblance but equally exhilarating.
Then, she felt spark of something warm and fierce deep within her core. She focused on it, willing it to grow. The spark flickered, then burst into a roaring flame that seemed to engulf her entire being. The spectral form of a dragon materialized around her, its roar echoing through the chamber. Students stopped their training to stare in awe.
"Incredible," Camille breathed. "She's a natural."
Yang stood there, panting heavily, the golden aura of the dragon spirit shimmering around her. She stared at her hands in wonder, feeling the raw power coursing through her veins.
"That was... intense," she breathed, looking up at Casey with wide eyes.
Casey nodded, a proud smile on his face. "You did it, Yang. You've awakened your animal spirit. The dragon is a powerful ally, but it will take time and practice to fully master it."
As the spectral dragon faded, Yang felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She stumbled slightly, and Jarrod quickly moved to steady her.
"Easy there," he said, concern evident in his voice. "Channeling your animal spirit for the first time can be draining."
Yang nodded gratefully, leaning on Jarrod for support. "Thanks. I feel like I just went ten rounds with an Ursa Major."
Camille approached, offering Yang a bottle of water. "Here, drink this. It'll help."
As Yang sipped the water, a tone sounded from Casey's pocket. he pulled out his red glasses and as he put them on a small headset microphone appeared and responded with "hey, that was fast…" his expression started turning serious.
'oh, it's his phone' Yang thought.
"alright I'm on my way," Casey said, as he stowed his 'sunglasses' back into his pocket "There's been another Grimm sighting, but this one's different. It's not a Beowolf or any other type we've encountered before."
Yang straightened up, her fatigue momentarily forgotten. "What kind of Grimm?"
Casey shook his head. "The description is odd. Some kind of serpent-like creature, but it walks on two legs. And it seems to have some ability to camouflage itself."
Yang's eyes widened in recognition. "A King Taijitu? No, wait... that doesn't sound quite right. I've never heard of a Grimm that can camouflage itself."
Jarrod and Camille exchanged worried glances. "This could be trouble," Jarrod said. "If it can hide itself, it might be able to infiltrate populated areas undetected."
Casey nodded grimly. "Exactly. We need to move fast." He turned to Yang. "I know you're still recovering, but we could use your expertise. Are you up for this?"
Yang straightened up, a determined glint in her lilac eyes. "Always. Where's the Grimm been spotted?"
"Downtown, near the financial district," Casey replied. "Jarrod, Camille, you two stay here and keep the dojo secure. Yang, you're with me."
As they hurried out of the academy and back onto the streets, Casey pulled out his sunglasses again.
"RJ, we're en-route," Casey spoke into the device. "Any updates?"
A voice crackled through the earpiece. "The creature's on the move. It's heading towards the central plaza. Be careful, it seems to be actively avoiding detection."
Yang frowned as they ran. "That's definitely not normal Grimm behavior. They're usually all about causing panic and destruction."
Casey nodded. "Which makes this one all the more dangerous. We need to stop it before it can carry out whatever it's planning."
As they raced through the streets, Yang felt a mix of anticipation and unease. This new Grimm sounded unlike anything she'd encountered before, and without her usual weapons and Aura, she felt exposed. But the warmth of her newly awakened animal spirit hummed within her, ready to be called upon.
They arrived at the central plaza, a bustling area filled with office workers on their lunch breaks and tourists snapping photos. under the 'sunglasses' Casey's eyes scanned the crowd, his posture tense.
"I don't see anything out of the ordinary," Yang muttered, her eyes darting from person to person.
"That's what worries me," Casey replied. "RJ, any visual on the target?"
"no," the voice crackled through Casey's earpiece. "But our new sensors indicate it's definitely in your vicinity."
Suddenly, Yang felt a chill run down her spine, similar to the one she'd experienced earlier. Time seemed to slow as her eyes locked onto a shimmer in the air near a group of businessmen.
Her instincts screamed danger.
The air rippled, and suddenly the Grimm materialized, it was unlike anything Yang had ever seen, a bipedal serpent with bone-white armor plates and glowing red eyes. Its mouth was lined with razor-sharp teeth, and a forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air. It towered over the businessmen, who screamed and scattered as they finally noticed the monster in their midst.
Yang felt the familiar surge of her dragon spirit rising within her. Without hesitation, she charged forward, golden energy crackling around her fists. "Hey, scaly! Over here!"
The Grimm's head snapped towards her, its red eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence. It let out a hiss that sounded almost like laughter.
"Careful, Yang!" Casey called out, his own body beginning to glow with a red aura.
Yang launched a powerful punch, her fist wreathed in spectral flames. To her shock, the Grimm dodged with unnatural speed, its body bending in ways that shouldn't have been possible.
"What the-" Yang barely had time to react as the Grimm's tail whipped around, striking Yang in the side and sending her flying. She crashed into a nearby fountain, the impact knocking the wind out of her.
"Yang!" Casey shouted, his body now fully engulfed in a red aura shaped like a tiger. He leapt at the Grimm, his strikes leaving trails of energy in the air.
The serpentine creature hissed, its body twisting to avoid Casey's attacks. It lashed out with its claws, forcing Casey to backflip away.
Yang pulled herself out of the fountain, water streaming from her golden hair. She felt a surge of frustration and anger, but instead of her Semblance activating, she felt the dragon spirit within her respond. Golden energy crackled around her body as she charged back into the fray.
"We need to pin it down!" she called to Casey. "It's too agile!"
Casey nodded, understanding her plan. Together, they began to coordinate their attacks, forcing the Grimm to constantly shift its attention between them.
As Yang threw a punch enhanced by her dragon spirit, the Grimm ducked under it, only to be met by Casey's spinning kick
The Grimm hissed in pain as Casey's kick connected, sending it staggering back. Yang seized the opportunity, channeling her dragon spirit into a powerful uppercut that caught the creature under its jaw. The serpentine Grimm was lifted off its feet, crashing into a nearby statue.
"Nice teamwork!" Casey called out, his tiger aura still blazing around him.
But the Grimm wasn't done yet. It rose, its red eyes now glowing with an intense, malevolent light. It opened its mouth, and to Yang's shock, it spoke.
"Interesting," it hissed, its voice a chilling rasp. "You're the one not from this world, aren't you, little dragon?"
Yang froze, her eyes widening. "You can talk?"
Casey looked equally stunned. "That's... new."
The Grimm's mouth curved into what could only be described as a cruel smile. "Oh, I can do much more than that." It raised its clawed hand, and suddenly, the air around them shimmered.
Yang felt a wave of disorientation wash over her. The plaza seemed to warp and twist, buildings stretching and contorting in impossible ways. She staggered, struggling to maintain her balance as the world around her shifted.
"Casey!" she called out, but her voice sounded distorted, as if coming from underwater. She could barely make out his form through the shimmering air.
The Grimm's laughter echoed all around them, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Welcome to my world, little one. Let's see how you fare when you're own fear is your enemy."
Yang felt a chill run down her spine as the world continued to warp around her. The Grimm's words echoed in her mind, and she could feel tendrils of fear trying to take hold.
Yang gritted her teeth, trying to focus through the disorienting illusion. She could feel panic rising in her chest, memories of past traumas threatening to surface. But she pushed them down, concentrating on the warmth of her dragon spirit.
"Nice trick," she growled, her eyes flickering between lilac and red. "But I've faced my fears before, and I'll do it again!"
Casey, who had been struggling with his own visions, seemed to draw strength from Yang's defiance. His tiger aura flared brighter, adding to the push against the Grimm's power.
"Whatever you're doing, keep it up!" he shouted.
The Grimm hissed in frustration as its illusion began to crack. "Impossible! Your fears should be overwhelming you!"
Yang smirked, her confidence growing. "Maybe in my world. But here? I've got a new power, and it's telling me not to be afraid of you."
With a final push of willpower, the illusory world shattered like glass. The plaza snapped back into focus, revealing the serpentine Grimm looking decidedly less confident.
Yang and Casey stood side by side, their auras blazing. The Grimm took a step back, its red eyes darting between them.
"Impressive," it said. "But let's see how you handle this!"
Suddenly, the air around them filled with shadowy forms. Yang's heart skipped a beat as she recognized distorted versions of Beowolves, Ursai, and other Grimm she knew from Remnant. But these weren't just illusions - they felt solid, real.
"More tricks?" Yang snarled, her fists clenching.
"Not tricks," the serpentine Grimm hissed. "Echoes of your world, given form by my power."
Casey's eyes widened as he took in the horde of shadowy creatures. "Yang, what are we dealing with here?"
"Trouble," Yang replied grimly. "they're not illusions."
The shadow Grimm surged forward, their red eyes gleaming with malice. Yang and Casey stood back to back, their spirits flaring in preparation for the onslaught.
"Any ideas?" Casey asked as he deflected a swipe from a shadow Beowolf.
Yang ducked under an Ursa's paw, she focused on her dragon spirit, willing it to grow stronger. As a shadow Boarbatusk charged her, Yang met it head-on, her fist connecting with its bone mask. To her amazement, the creature dissipated into wisps of darkness.
"they're real enough to be a distraction though."
The serpentine Grimm laughed, its form starting to shimmer and fade. "Catch me if you can, little dragon. Or stay and play with my friends. Either way, I win."
Yang growled in frustration. They couldn't let this Grimm escape, but they also couldn't ignore the threat to civilians, illusory or not.
Casey's eyes darted between the fading serpentine Grimm and the horde of shadow creatures. "Yang, go after the leader! I'll handle these ones and protect the civilians!"
Yang hesitated for a split second, torn between pursuing the strange new Grimm and helping Casey. But she knew he was right - they couldn't let that creature escape.
"Be careful!" she shouted, then took off running after the shimmer in the air that marked the serpentine Grimm's camouflaged form.
The chase led her away from the plaza, down winding streets and narrow alleys. Yang's enhanced senses, boosted by her dragon spirit, allowed her to keep track of the barely visible distortions in the air that betrayed the Grimm's presence.
"Stop running and fight me!" Yang yelled, her fists glowing with golden energy.
The Grimm's chilling laugh echoed around her. "Oh, but the chase is so much fun, little dragon. And every step takes you further from your new friend."
Yang's eyes widened as she realized the Grimm's strategy. It was leading her away from Casey, isolating her. She skidded to a halt, her mind racing.
The air shimmered, and the serpentine Grimm materialized before her, its red eyes gleaming with malicious amusement. "Having second thoughts?"
Yang narrowed her eyes, her fists clenching as golden energy crackled around them. "Not a chance. I'm ending this here and now."
The Grimm's mouth curved into a cruel smile. "Bold words. But can you back them up?"
Without warning, it lunged forward, its body moving with unnatural speed and flexibility. Yang barely had time to dodge, feeling the rush of air as razor-sharp claws sliced past her.
She countered with a flurry of punches, each one trailing spectral flames. The Grimm weaved and dodged, its body twisting in impossible ways to avoid her strikes.
"You're out of your depth, little dragon," it hissed. "This isn't your world. You don't belong here."
Yang gritted her teeth, pushing down the doubts that threatened to surface. "Maybe not. But I'm here now, and I'm not going down without a fight!"
She focused on the warmth of her dragon spirit, feeling it respond to her determination. The golden aura around her intensified, taking on the vague shape of a dragon.
The Grimm's eyes widened slightly. "Interesting. You're adapting faster than expected."
She pressed her advantage, unleashing a flurry of punches enhanced by her dragon spirit. The Grimm was fast, but Yang's fury was faster. Each hit connected with bone-jarring force, driving the creature back.
Behind them, Casey was holding his own against the shadow Grimm, his tiger spirit tearing through the illusory creatures with ease. But more kept coming, and Yang knew they needed to end this quickly. She launched herself at the creature, her movements fueled by a mix of rage and determination. Unfortunately she was so focused on the Grimm in front of her she didn't see the second humanoid Grimm until it knocked her away from serpentine Grimm.
Yang crashed into the side of the alley, the impact momentarily stunning her. As she shook off the daze, she saw the new threat - a massive, humanoid Bull Grimm standing protectively in front of the serpentine creature.
"You weren't suppose to attack yet, Serpentis!" the Bull Grimm growled, its voice deep and rumbling.
The serpentine Grimm, Serpentis, hissed in frustration. "I was gathering information, Taurus. The girl is more powerful than we anticipated. Her connection to this world's energy is growing stronger."
The bull Grimm, apparently named Taurus, snorted, steam rising from its nostrils. "Excuses. We'll discuss it later, retreat for now!"
Yang struggled to her feet, her mind was reeling. she felt rage, but it had a feel of being unnatural to her. She started feeling confusion too, these Grimm were working together, strategizing, It went against everything she knew about the creatures.
The serpentine Grimm mumbled "fine" then looked at Yang "we'll meet again, Huntress of Remnant" suddenly it reared back, Its mouth opened impossibly wide, and a beam of dark energy shot forth. Yang dodged but quickly realized there was no need he was aiming at the ground to cause a smokescreen.
Yang coughed as thick black smoke filled the alley. She waved her hand, trying to clear her vision, but both of the Grimm had vanished.
"No!" she shouted in frustration, her fist connecting with a nearby wall. The brick cracked under the force of her dragon-enhanced strength.
She stood there for a moment, catching her breath and trying to process what had just happened. These Grimm were unlike anything she'd encountered before, intelligent, capable of speech, and with powers she'd never seen.
The sound of running footsteps snapped her out of her thoughts. Casey appeared at the end of the alley, looking winded but unharmed.
"Yang! Are you okay?" he called out, jogging towards her.
She nodded, her golden aura fading. "I'm fine, but it got away. How about you? The shadow Grimm?"
Casey shook his head. "They vanished as soon as this one escaped. It's like they were tied to its presence somehow."
Yang's mind was racing. "This is bad, Casey. That Grimm, it knew things. About me, about where I'm from. And its powers... I've only felt something like it once before, and there was a second one, it looked like a humanoid bull!"
"We'll figure this out, Yang. But right now, we need to regroup and report what happened. The others are going to need to know about this new threat." Casey reassured her.
As they made their way back to Jungle Karma Pizza, Yang felt a weird frustration come over her as they walked,
I should have been faster and now they've escaped. she thought.
Meanwhile...
In a dark, cavernous chamber on the outskirts of Ocean Bluff, the Grimm known as Taurus and Serpentis knelt before a shadowy figure seated on an obsidian throne. The air crackled with malevolent energy, and wisps of darkness swirled around the room.
"Report," the figure commanded, its voice a chilling whisper that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
Serpentis raised its head, red eyes gleaming. "The girl is more powerful than we anticipated, my King. Her dragon spirit is strong, and she's learning to control it quickly."
Taurus snorted in frustration. "She resisted our powers. And that Ranger, the one with the tiger spirit, is a formidable ally."
The shadowy figure leaned forward, and for a moment, gleaming red eyes under what looked like a visor could be seen beneath the hood. "Interesting. Perhaps the Queen underestimated these... Power Rangers. And the girl... " the figure trailed off like it was distracted by its thoughts.
"What are your orders, my King?" Serpentis asked, its forked tongue flicking out nervously.
The figure stood, darkness coalescing around his form, "keep out of sight for now, when the time is right I want you to push the girl to her limits. lets see just how far she can go before she breaks, and intensify the search for the Summer Maiden. She must be here somewhere."
"And what of our primary objective?" Taurus inquired.
A cruel smile could be heard in the 'King's' voice. "All is proceeding as planned, take great care not to be seen, as The barriers between worlds are growing weaker. in a few days we will have enough power to bring forth our brethren, and then, not just this world, but all worlds will know the true power of our Queen and creator, Salem."
As Taurus and Serpentis bowed and retreated, the shadowy 'King' turned to gaze into a swirling pool of darkness. Images of a future flickered across its surface - Yang training with the Rangers, other Ranger teams battling Grimm across the globe, and glimpses of Remnants' future, where panic was spreading as more and more people mysteriously vanish.
"Soon, my Queen" the 'King' whispered, her voice filled with dark promise. "Very soon."