A few days had passed since The Ranger's coins had been damaged by the stranger, who had not been seen since. The Rangers were now relying on the exo-suits to defend Angel Grove, all except for Tommy since there were only five suits and he had The Force to fall back on. The six teens had teleported into the park to stop a large band of putties from attacking some civilians there. Even with the suits and The Force, they were beginning to tire, the putties just kept coming. Among the civilians who were filing into a shelter to lock themselves in were Rocky Desantos, Adam Park, and Aisha Cambell.
"Guys, we've got to help them," Rocky said as he looked over at the rangers who were valiantly fighting against the putties.
"What can we do?" Adam asked. "We're just normal people."
"So are they," Aisha said. "You heard what they told us, some stranger damaged the coins that let them change into rangers they're powerless, well except for Tommy," she added as she and her friends watched Tommy cut down a putty with his double-bladed lightsaber.
"I'd still like to know what a Jedi Knight is exactly," Rocky said, taking a step away from the shelter.
"I don't care what you two say, I'm going to help them," Aisha said before she took off on a dead run toward the ongoing battle. Rock and Adam looked at one another before shrugging and taking off their friend.
"Back off, ugly!" Adam said as he delivered a powerful kick to a putty creeping up behind Zack.
"Thanks, man," Zack said breathing heavily and his face covered in a sheen of sweat, "but you need to get out of here."
"Not going to happen," Adam replied as he dodged a strike from a putty and landed a counter punch to the putty's face sending it staggering back.
"Then aim for the Z plate on their chests," Zack advised as he kicked a Putty's Z plate to prove his point.
"Aiiya!" Rocky shouted as he landed a spinning sidekick to a putty's Z plate destroying it.
Trini blocked a kick from a putty and swept its legs sending it crashing to the ground she then struck its Z plate with her palm. As she went to stand back up a putty kicked her sending her sprawling back to the ground. The putty pounced kicking and stomping at her.
Aisha ran up behind the putty and tapped it on the shoulder. "Can I cut in?" She asked before swiftly kicking its Z plate.
Rocky joined Jason who was being swarmed by four putties. He moved behind two the them and slammed their heads together. "Care for a hand?"
"I'd love one, man," Jason said breathing heavily, as he kicked one of the other putty's Z plates and then dodged a punch from another putty. "Hey, Rocky listen aim…" before Jason could finish speaking, Rocky punched the second putty's Z plate.
"For the Z plate, I noticed," Rocky said with a smirk.
As all of this was going on, Tommy used his lightsaber to cut down several putties as he guarded Kat's back. As the nine teens worked together the putty's numbers finally began to dwindle.
"Is that all of them?" Tommy asked as the last putty finally shattered.
"Wasn't that enough?" Tommy asked in return. He suddenly spun to his right and tightened his grip on the hilt of his lightsaber, having gone back to using the traditional single-bladed variant.
"That was only the beginning, soon Lord Zedd and I will rule this pathetic world," the stranger said as she appeared from a swirl of pink and black energy. She began to charge at them before they suddenly vanished in streaks of light.
"Whoa, where are we?" Aisha asked as she, Rocky, Adam, and the rangers suddenly appeared in The Command Center. She glanced around looking at the strange light clusters and columns that surrounded them, the dark blue computer councils, and the platform they all stood on. Her skin broke out in goosebumps, not from fear, but from a strange palpable energy that permitted the air.
"Never mind that," Rocky said as he saw Zordon's head floating in his tube.
"Who is that!?" Adam shouted asking the question lingering on Rocky's lips.
"Greetings my friends, I am Zordon, an interdimensional morphological being, caught in a time warp, Zordon said greeting the newcomers.
"And I am Alpha Five," Alpha said as he stepped up onto the command center's central platform.
"Wh-wha-wha-what?" Aisha asked suddenly very fearful. Adam and Rocky looked from Zordon to the Rangers, to the robot.
"Relax, these our our friends," Kat said placing her hand on Aisha's shoulder. "Zordon is our leader, and Alpha is his assistant."
"So you're the one who picked these guys to be rangers?" Rocky asked.
"Not quite, Rocky," Jason answered before Zordon could. "Technically, our coins picked us, they just happened to be in Zordon's possession."
"Most of them, anyway," Tommy added. "Zordon, this is Rocky, Adam, and Aisha. Friends of ours," Tommy said introducing the three non-ranger teens.
"It's nice to meet you all," Alpha said with a nod of his saucer-shaped head.
"Rangers, Alpha, and I may have a way to activate the non-damaged coins you found while helping our friends in The Rebellion," Zordon said, making the rangers smile.
"What is it, Zordon?" Billy asked, a look of hope coming over his face. Suddenly a rolled-up map appeared in what looked like white lighting in Billy's hands.
"When Alpha and I found the coins centuries ago they were with this map. According to legend, the map will lead you across The Desert of Despair to The Temple of Power where Ninjor is said to reside."
"'Ninjor?'" Tommy asked.
"The fabled Ninja Master, and creator of the coins. If anyone can activate them, it is him," Zordon explained. "The six of you will have to cross the desert in search of the temple and Ninjor."
"Zordon, if we all go, that will leave Angel Grove defenseless. What if Zedd and the stranger attack again? Trini asked.
"Can anyone use those suits?" Adam asked gesturing to Zack's exo-suit."
"Yes, anyone can," Alpha answered.
"Then we'll stay here and defend the city while the six of you find the temple," Rocky said with a determined nod.
"Sorry man, but we can't let you do that," Tommy said shaking his head.
"Why not?" Aisha asked with a scoff.
"Because when we became Power Rangers, we had The Power to guide and protect us," Billy answered. The three looked at the group's genius with a look of confusion.
"The suits will indeed grant you superhuman strength, and speed, but you don't have the experience we do, and you won't have The Power to protect and guide you," Trini added.
"What you say is true," Zordon said, "However, I would feel more comfortable if six of you made the journey to Ninjor's temple."
Kat stepped forward. "There has to be a way."
"There is," Tommy said as he rubbed his chin in thought. "We split up, three of us will stay behind to defend Angel Grove if need be, and the other six will look for the temple."
"Right," Jason said with a nod. "Trini Zack and I will defend Angel Grove. We're three of the most experienced Rangers and three of the more gifted fighters. No offense Billy."
"None taken, Jason. The plan is quite logical."
"It's settled then," Tommy said with a sigh. "While the six of us cross The Desert of Despair, Jason, Zack, and Trini will protect the city."
"Good luck Rangers, and may The Power Protect you," Zordon said. "Alpha prepare to teleport Tommy, Adam, Katherine, Billy, Aisha, and Rocky to The Desert of Despair."
"At once, Zordon. "Aiyi yi yi yi yi, I hope Ninjor exists."
"As do I, Alpha," Zordon said as Alpha began to press buttons on one of the computer councils.
"May The Force be with us," Tommy said just before he and the others vanished once again in streaks of light.
A few seconds later, Tommy, Kat, Billy, Rocky, Adam, and Aisha landed in landed in their destination. "Whoa!" Aisha said as she stood a little uneasy on her feet, her right hand going to her stomach. "I think the rest of me beat my stomach here."
"Yeah, teleporting takes some getting used to," Kat said with a sympathetic laugh.
Tommy scanned the landscape with his eyes. He could see why this place was called The Desert of Despair, it was desolate and miserably hot. Yet, he could feel a strong connection to The Force, much like Dagobah. Far off he could feel a particularly strong presence within The Light. His eyes settled on a large triangular structure of rocks far off in the distance. Whatever he felt, it was beyond them somewhere. "Billy, which way?" he asked as he looked over to Billy who still held the map.
"If I'm interpreting the map correctly," Billy began as he looked up from the map, off into the distance, then to the map once more. "The path to Ninjor's Temple starts at that rock structure over there," he added pointing to the very structure Tommy had noticed.
"I wonder if it's Ninjor I sense," Tommy thought, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the rock structure again. "Alright, Billy you've got the map so you take point. Everyone Keep your eyes open, we don't know what's out here."
"Right," the other five teens said at the same time as they began to cross the vast open landscape. As they walked it seemed to take forever for the rock structure to get any closer.
"How long have we been walking?" Kat asked.
"ugh, about thirty minutes," Tommy said as he checked his watch. They walked for nearly two hours, their eyes constantly scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. Finally, they reached the rock structure and took a break enjoying the welcome relief of the shade.
"Let's see," Billy said as he looked at the map. He circled the rocks and looked off into the distance. Two tall stone pillars looked like a gateway in the distance. "Guys, this way."
"Right, come on guys," Tommy said as he moved to follow Billy. He knew they were heading in the right direction, the welcoming disturbance he had felt in The Force, he felt only got stronger as they walked on. Thankfully the walk to the pillars seemed to be much shorter than the one to the rock structure. For the entirety of the walk, Billy studied the map. As soon as they passed through the pillars a white bolt of lightning struck one of them causing it to fall. Instinctively Tommy caught the falling boulders with The Force. "Go!" he shouted.
The Other rangers scrambled through, Billy dropping the map as he ran. "The map!" he shouted suddenly realizing he had dropped it.
"Billy, go! I can't hold this forever!" Tommy shouted, his voice strained with the effort of holding the falling boulders telekinetically.
Billy reached for the map only for a second bolt of lighting to strike the paper, and disintegrate it. "No!" Billy shouted.
"Billy, come on!" Rocky said jerking him away. When Billy was clear, Tommy moved from beneath the boulders and let them fall to the ground filling the air with dust. He fell to his hands and knees, sweat dripping from his face.
"Tommy, are you okay?" Kat asked as she knelt next to him.
"Yeah, I will be," Tommy said as he took a deep breath and opened himself to The Force, allowing it to boost his energy. He slowly stood and took a second to reach out and feel for the presence in The Force that he had sensed from the second they had teleported to The Desert of Despair. It was somewhere beyond a high dune off to their left.
"Billy, any chance you know which way?" Aisha asked tentatively.
"I-I-I'm not sure," Billy replied.
"Billy, you can do this," Adam said reassuringly.
"Adam's right, Billy. You got this," Tommy said placing his hand on Billy's shoulder.
Billy nodded and looked around. "I-I think it's this way, somewhere over that high dune there," Billy said pointing to the dune. "If I'm correct, there should be a path leading down to another rock formation on the other side. The entrance to Ninjor's Temple should be in a cave somewhere in that rock formation."
"Good job, Billy," Tommy thought before he spoke. "Alright everyone, I'd say it's a safe bet Zedd knows what we're doing, let's get moving."
The teens moved quickly across the open desert fearing Zedd or the black-suited stranger attacking them again. They reached the bottom of the dune in only a few minutes, suddenly realizing how tricky of a climb it was likely to be. The dune was steep, and the sand was loosely packed.
"Move slow, and watch your footing," Tommy said as he began making the slow ascent to the top of the dune. The other teens began to follow, placing their hands and feet where he had. When they all finally reached the top they easily found the winding path leading down the backside of the dune.
"Look!" Kat said excitedly as she pointed down the winding path. "There, I can see the rock formation!"
"Affirmative," Billy said with a relieved smile.
"That must be the cave there at the end of the trail," Rocky added.
"Good job Billy, you lead us here, map or no map," Aisha said sharing a high-five with Billy.
"Come on guys," Tommy said with a smile as he began down the winding path. Thankfully, the way down was much easier than the way up. They reached the opening in only a few minutes. When they passed into the cave it looked to be a dead end, nothing more than a small cave no larger than an average-sized living room.
"No! No! This is it! It has to be here!" Billy shouted as he looked around the empty cave and kicked the sandy floor in frustration.
"It is, Billy," Tommy said, instantly making Billy stop in his tracks.
"What?" the frustrated teen asked.
"Yeah, Tommy, I'm confused. There's nothing here," Aisha said.
"That's what we've been made to think, but ever since we teleported to this desert, I've felt a strong presence in The Force, and it's coming from over there," Tommy said pointing to the wall at the rear of the cave.
"Uh, guys, look!" Adam shouted as a large group of putties materialized outside of the cave entrance. Tommy took a quick look around and spotted a large wedge-shaped rock that looked like it was made to fit into the narrow opening of the cave and block the entrance.
"Not so fast, clay brains," Tommy said before sending a powerful Force Push out of the cave and knocking the approaching Putties back. He then used The Force to slide the rock into place, blocking the entrance. "Come on!" he shouted as he ran towards the back of the cave and passed right through it. The other teens looked at one another in shock at what they had just seen. One by one the teens followed Tommy through. The last was Rocky who stood in front of the cave wall with a bewildered look on his face. Suddenly, Tommy reached through the wall, grabbed Rocky's shirt, and pulled him through.
"Whoa," Rocky said wide-eyed as he looked around. The six now stood in an oasis, a peaceful-looking pond surrounded by green grass, tall palm trees, and fragrant flowers was in front of them, and a pathway made of large flat stones led around the point to an open gateway. Tommy led the way along the path until they reached another cave not far beyond the open gate. This cafe was dark, lit dimly by candles, and a layer of mist covered the floor. When they approached a heavy-looking iron gate it swung open all on its own. The teens stepped into a large circular room with a stone pedestal at the center. Sitting atop the pedestal, was a large plain-looking vase.
"Okay, now what?" Kat said looking at Tommy.
"Whose there! I want answers!" a voice called out in a sing-song tone. While the others looked around in confusion Tommy's eyes settled on the vase and narrowed. He pointed to it, drawing the attention of the other rangers.
"We were sent by Zordon of Eltar to find Ninjor," Tommy said as he and the others approached the vase. They all looked in and saw a tiny being inside in blue armor trimmed in gold with a large golden N at the center of his helmet just above the visor, and another at the center of his chest.
"Well, now that you've found me, go away please," Ninjor said waving his hand dismissively.
"Wait," Kat said looking up from the vase. "You mean to tell me, that little twerp is The Great Ninjor?"
"You're a rude little girl, aren't you? Now go away."
"Come on guys, he won't help us, but we can't let the putties get in here. I can sense this place is a bastion of Light Side energy. I can't let it be tainted."
"Right," Rocky said as he moved to follow Tommy.
"And what if that woman shows up?" Aisha asked.
"I still have The Force. You guys will teleport back to The Command Center, and I'll keep her out of here."
"Tommy, alone you could be…" Kat began to protest before Tommy turned to look at her. "I know, but I have to defend this place."
"Then we stay too," Kat protested.
"Kat, you guys are powerless you'd be…"
"Powers or no, Kat and I were chosen by The Power, same as you. That makes us Power Rangers all the same," Billy said.
"And after all you've done for this world you three out out of your minds if you think we're going to abandon you," Aisaha added.
"Yeah," Rocky said with a confident nod.
"We're with you to the end," Adam added.
"Wait, wait, wait," Ninjor said after sighing heavily. "I sense the truth of your words, and if this world has made six individuals so willing to fight against evil, then we might just have something here." A plume of blue smoke erupted from the vase and took a roughly human-shaped form before solidifying into Ninjor, now normal-sized.
"Can you charge these, Ninjor?" Tommy asked as he pulled a velvet bag containing the Power Coins they had recovered from his back pocket. Ninjor took the bag and opened it. When he looked inside his head snapped back in surprise.
"Where did you find these, I thought they were lost forever?"
"It's a long story," Tommy answered.
"Charging them is not the issue," Ninjor said as he placed the coins around the pedestal. "Each of these coins contains an animal spirit, and the true essence of Ninja." With each coin that Ninjor placed on the pedestal, a column hidden by darkness was lit up by a fire appearing on top of it. Just behind and above each column was a statue that corresponded with each image on one of the coins. A falcon, a frog, a crane, a wolf, a bear, and an ape.
"Whoa," Rocky said in amazement.
"Form a circle, close your eyes, hold your hands up, and join your fingertips with each other," Ninjor instructed. The rangers spread out forming a circle around the pedestal. They closed their eyes and their arms into the air, touching their fingertips to the two standing next to them. Ninjor stood behind the pedestal between began making motions with his hands. "I will now wake the coins, if they sense within you the ability to wield the animal spirits for good, they will bond with you and allow you The Power of The Ninja."
As Ninjor continued to move his hands, making symbols with them, the six coins began to rise into the air and began to slowly spin in a circle. As they spun each began to glow, one white, one purple, one pink, one blue, one yellow, and one red. They spun faster and faster, humming with energy and glowing brighter as they did. Eventually, the coins came together and then shot toward the teens in beams of colorful energy, each striking a teen in the chest. As the beams hit them the teens closed and were replaced by loose-fitting robes, hoods, and face masks that covered the lower half of each of their faces. Tommy's white, Adam's black, Kat's pink, Billy's blue, Aisha's yellow, and Rocky's red. Each robe had an enlarged version of the Power Coin that had struck each of the teens on the chest, a pair of leather braces on their forearms, and graves on their shins. Each set of bracers and graves had a golden diamond pattern on them, save for Tommy's. The diamonds on his bracers and graves were black, lined in gold. Each set of robes also featured a wide belt around the waist Tommy's black, the other five in white.
Adam looked down in awe at his body, until he saw the large coin on his chest. "Aw man," he thought as he touched the large Power Coin with the image of a frog on it.
"The coins have found within you a strong sense of selflessness and now and forever have joined with you, granting you the power of The Ninja," Ninjor said as he began making his way toward Adam. As he neared he saw the look of disappointment in the young man's eyes. "Um… something wrong?"
"I'm a frog," Adam said in a dejected tone.
"Patient and often overlooked," Ninjor said placing his hand on Adam's shoulder. "But, believe me, the powerful spirit of the humble frog is not to be underestimated. The Ninja Frog Zord is your's to command, Adam." Adam looked at Ninjor with newfound determination and nodded.
Ninjor moved next to Kat. "Katherine, graceful and smart, you possess the crane spirit, and The Ninja Crane Zord is yours."
"Thank you," Kat said with a nod. Ninjor gave a nod of his own before moving to Billy.
"Billy, loyal and cunning, the powers of wolf spirit and The Ninja Wolf Zord are at your disposal. Billy, smiling behind his cloth mask, nodded at Ninjor, before the blue-armored Ninja Master moved on. "Aisha, fierce and brave. The mighty bear spirit and Ninja Bear Zord will serve you well."
Aisha looked first across at Adam, then next to her, at Rocky. "Guys, can you believe it?! We're Power Rangers!" The rest of The Rangers couldn't help but laugh at Aisha's excitement.
"Rocky, powerful and clever, the ape spirit and The Ninja Ape Zord will answer your call."
"Thanks, Ninjor," Rocky said the sense of awe he felt clear in his voice.
Finally, Ninjor stopped in front of Tommy. "Tommy, just and wise beyond your years, the powerful. You possess the powerful falcon spirit, and will control The Ninja Falcon Zord."
"Thank you, Ninjor, we won't let you down," Tommy said.
Ninjor nodded before moving back to the center of the room. "Time is short my friends, follow me deeper into the temple to claim your Zords, then we must defend the temple," he said before leading the teens back out of the room through a hidden back entrance to another section of the oasis where a large monolith adorned with enormous statues of the animals their new Zords were based on.
Ninjor stood before the monolith and looked at the rangers. "Each of you may step forward, and claim your new Zord."
Tommy nodded and followed the guidance he felt both from The Power, and The Force. "I am the falcon, just and wise!" After Tommy spoke, a bolt of white lightning struck the statue of the falcon and The Falcon Zord burst from the statue, screeching loudly as it soared into the sky.
Adam stepped forward and gulped. "I am the frog, patient and humble!" Black lightning struck the frog statue and the stone fell away revealing The Frog Zord.
"I am the crane, graceful and smart!" This time pink lighting struck the crane statue freeing The Crane Zord. It let out a cry and soared into the air, joining The Falcon Zord, circling overhead.
"I am the wolf, loyal and cunning!" Blue lighting freed The Wolf Zord from the wolf's stature and the robotic wolf howled, its eyes glowing red.
"I am the bear, fierce and brave!" Yellow lightning struck the bear statue freeing The Bear Zord. It stood on its hind legs and roared.
"I am the ape, powerful and clever!" A red bolt of lightning struck the final statue. The newly awakened Ape Zord roared and bashed its metallic chest with its fists.
"Well done Rangers," Ninjor said approvingly as he looked at The Ninja Zords. "Care to join me in defending the temple?"
"Absolutely," Tommy said with a nod.
"This way we can exit the temple from the rear and surprise Zedd's goons," Ninjor said as he began to walk away. The rangers followed after Ninjor eventually entering another cave and emerging from the other side of the rock structure. With newly granted speed and grace, far beyond what their old powers allowed, The Rangers and Ninjor circled the rock structure that housed Ninjor's hidden temple.
In a white streak, Tommy burst forward and touched the Z plates of three putties. "You clay brains best take off," he said. From behind him, another putty tried to attack him only for him to move a few feet away in a white streak. "Strike one." The putty tried again. "Strike two!" Tommy shouted again, moving away in a white streak. The putty leaped into the air intent on attacking with a flying kick. When the putty's foot made contact with Tommy his robes fell limp to the ground. The confused putty picked up the robes and looked at them, its head rocking from side to side. "Strike three!" Tommy yelled his fist suddenly coming up from the ground and hitting the putty's Z plate as Tommy himself rose from beneath the ground without disturbing even a pebble. "You're out!" he added as the putty shattered.
Kat and Aisha jumped into the air and landed among a group of putties, their hands and feet moved in a flurry of motion striking putties quicker than the foot soldiers could react. As another group of putties moved in Rocky, Adam, and Billy, appeared behind them in plumes of red, blue, and black smoke. The other three rangers and Ninjor moved in trapping the putties between them.
"Let's see what these new powers can do," Billy said as he streaked forward taking out several putties. "Morphinaominal," he said with a laugh.
Rocky baited a putty into chasing him towards a large boulder. When he reached the boulder, Rocky phased through it, and the putty crashed into it, falling backward. Rocky leaped from through the top of the boulder, landed next to the putty, and poked its Z plate. As this was going on, Adam and Ninjor fought back-to-back, taking out the last of the putties.
"Alright, great job guys," Tommy said as the last of the putties shattered. Before anything else could be said his communicator sounded. "I read you, Zordon."
"Rangers," Alpha's voice came from the wrist-mounted device. "The strange woman is back and attacking Downtown Angel Grove!"
"We're on our way, Alpha," Tommy said with a nod. "Ready guys?"
"Let's do it," Kat said clenching her fist.
"Rangers, before you go, if you need more power simply call out the name of your animal spirit and ranger power to morph fully," Ninjor said. "For example, Tommy you would say 'Falcon Ranger Power. If you are ever in need of my assistance just call for me."
"Thank you, Ninjor for everything," Tommy said with a nod. Without another word, The Rangers teleported off to defend Angel Grove.