Power Rangers: Multiverse Force

[Rebel the Wolfgirl]

The fact that Nazis are going to become a third faction of villains this season just shows how dark things are gonna get.  

[Rebel the Wolfgirl]

Spoiler

WARNING: This episode contains dark and disturbing content, including incest, rape, torture, graphic violence, Nazis, human experimentation, discussions of topics such as racism, extermination camps and genocide, and extremely vulgar language. Viewer discretion is advised.

 

Germany Rising

(ADMIN NOTICE: Our apologies, but due to this chapter being too long for the server, I had to temporarily place it in the google document below.)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ylhs4FzsTIOE7-kFnF7niAZdXzj2jQrMocMzNb0it3I/edit?usp=sharing

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by MLG Vanilluxe

[4EverGreen]

Again, a lot of developments. "Follow You, Follow Me" will have to wait until LATER this season! The next two episodes I write, will be important for the rest of the season! We will see BlackHawk using his Spinosaurus Ranger powers for the last time, the Power Rangers team actually USING their brand new Power Vehicles for the first time, and something ELSE special! You'll have to wait and SEE it for what it is! Enough said!

Edited December 22, 2018 by MLG Vanilluxe

[Rebel the Wolfgirl]

Yep. Now that we're touching on taboo subjects to a degree, things are gonna get darker and darker.

[4EverGreen]

Follow You, Follow Me

 

The scene opens up in Ebony's house, it is night time in the late evening, and BlackHawk is in Ebony's room with Ebony. Ebony says: “Well, BlackHawk, it's nice that we FINALLY managed to get some alone time together for a change!”

 

BlackHawk says: “You said it!”

 

Ebony asks: “By the way; how DID you manage to convince your mother to get to see ME tonight? From what you told me, she considers ME to be nothing more than a two-bit FLOOZY!!!!”

 

BlackHawk says: “And that's HER being generous! But I just told her the honest truth; that I was having a sleep-over at Lettuce's house, to see how my MOTHER'S house stacks up against the 'competition'!”

 

Ebony shockingly says: “BlackHawk! That's LYING!!!!”

 

BlackHawk seriously says: “It's only a LITTLE white lie; not a BIG fat lie! And if it makes my MOM happy, WHY rain on her parade? Besides, Lettuce and his parents are cool with it, they're willing to cover for us. And just in case my MOTHER calls over there, then their butler can imitate my voice and talk to her!”

 

Ebony says: “Clever!”

 

BlackHawk says: “Anything is worth getting to spend an evening with you. It's a shame that Toby can't be here with us.”

 

Ebony says: “You can't really BLAME Toby, though. When he heard that his little brother's condition was improving; he had to rush to...where was it again?”

 

BlackHawk says: “Either Johto or Sinnoh; where they only have 493 Pokemon to catch!”

 

Ebony says: “Right! Either way, he had to rush to the hospital to be by his brother's side for when he wakes up!”

 

BlackHawk says: “You got to admire a man who shows love and devotion to his family! I just wish my MOM would be more understanding of us! I'm hoping I can convince her that I'm trying to make a WINNER out of you! At least THAT way, I wouldn't have to make up stories about TRYING to see you!”

 

Ebony says: “Your mother has WARPED ideas on what is IMPORTANT in this world and in life!”

 

BlackHawk says: “She SAYS she just wants what is 'best' for her two children. Like SHE would be the best judge on what is best for me! She wants to give US the opportunities SHE was never given, all because she was bullied for her child-hood looks. Also, if I can TRULY believe her; she was APPARENTLY abused at age six by her parents just for being 'ugly'. So, I guess that makes me a LITTLE sympathetic to her needs, but she REALLY needs to get over it, and STOP living her life based on her child-hood trauma!”

Ebony says: “You said it!”

 

BlackHawk says: “So, are we REALLY going to go ALL the way tonight?!”

 

Ebony says: “I want to! Not because SLANEESH wants me to!”

 

BlackHawk says: “Ebony; you KNOW how I feel about actually MENTIONING the names of the Chaos Gods in normal conversation, let alone INTIMATE moments together!”

 

Ebony blushes, and she says: “Sorry. BlackHawk, do you think Toby and I have replaced Justin as the designated butt-monkeys of the Power Rangers?”

 

BlackHawk says: “Ebony; where on Core Earth would you get a RIDICULOUS idea like that?!”

 

Ebony says: “I don't know. It's just that lately, everyone has seemed to start treating us DIFFERENTLY! It's subtle, but I just don't feel as respected as I USED to!”

 

BlackHawk says: “Well, you DID lie to me about Draco Malfoy, for starters!”

 

Ebony adamantly says: “WHICH I have constantly and PROFUSELY apologized for, I might add! It was a MOMENT of weakness! The JERK never even called me BACK; I hope he burns in HELL!!!!”

 

BlackHawk says: “I wouldn't wish that. Just having to settle for some second rate WITCH would be punishment enough for me!”

 

Ebony sighs, and says: “Yeah; I guess that would be punishment enough for me, to.”

 

BlackHawk says: “Look; let's just agree that there will be NO more deception between us. I'll be completely honest with you, if you are completely honest with me. After all, isn't that the POINT of this open relationship between the three of us?”

 

Ebony says: “Yes. You don't even HAVE to do this with me because it's what the...Pleasure God wants; do it, because it's what YOU want!”

 

BlackHawk says: “Well, seeing as how NEITHER of us wants to DIE a virgin, even though you're not, I DO want to do it with you because it's what I want!”

 

Ebony happily says: “Awesome!!!!”

 

BlackHawk dims the lights down low, making the action HARD to see! BlackHawk says: “Are you READY for it?!”

 

Ebony says: “Always!”

 

BlackHawk says: “Then here it is, in ALL its glory!!!!”

 

And the sound of BlackHawk's CLOTHES hitting the ground can be heard! Ebony says: “I've been around, and nobody has QUITE the appendage that YOU do!”

 

BlackHawk says: “Well, when you have the dad that I have, you will realize that there is NOTHING little when it comes to the male appendage in our family!”

 

Ebony says: “I believe that! Now, how about me? Do you like what YOU see?”

 

And the audible sound of Ebony unbuttoning her clothes can be heard! BlackHawk gasps, and he says: “Ebony, on a scale of 1 to 10, with ten being the HOTTEST; you'd be a MILLION!!!!”

 

Ebony says: “BlackHawk, don't just say that because things didn't work out with StarHawk.”

 

BlackHawk scoffs, and he says: “Like I WANT to think about that! She and that LECHEROUS 'sister-wife' of hers, who I STILL don't trust as far as I can throw; which is PRETTY far, are off on their honeymoon, searching for Necrons to KILL!!!!”

 

Ebony asks: “Why would FireHawk do that?! I thought she was the one who RELEASED the Necrons on Planet Hawkia in the FIRST place!”

 

BlackHawk says: “Well, apparently StarHawk was able to convince FireHawk that the Chaos Gods, might want to USE the Necrons in one of their many nefarious plans! And because FireHawk doesn't like them...well, that's why she's now willing to HUNT them!”

 

Ebony asks: “Than WHY don't you completely trust FireHawk yet?”

 

BlackHawk says: “Because if I COULD trust her, than she WOULDN'T have seduced her own sister into MARRYING her! I won't break the bad news to StarHawk, because I PERSONALLY think she's too naïve and trusting; but you've got to admit, FireHawk's motives seem a little...suspicious.”

 

Ebony says: “She got rid of Usagi's devotion to the Blood God, didn't she?”

 

BlackHawk says: “Maybe so. But when she is willing to do the same thing for you, Pinkie, Toby, and Lettuce; THEN I will feel like I can totally trust her, and NOT before! I have made the mistake of BLINDLY trusting women MORE times than I would CARE to admit; I will NOT make that same mistake with HER!”

 

Ebony shrugs, and she says: “Fair enough. Why are we even TALKING about her, anyways?! Let's focus on us, here and now!”

 

BlackHawk says: “Agreed! I know I'M not your first time, but I hope to be your BEST time!”

 

Ebony says: “And I'll actually be ABLE to enjoy and remember it! I've been clean for THREE days now!”

BlackHawk says: “Impressive! Now let's see YOU impress me more, by seeing how LONG you last!”

 

Ebony seductively says: “I might be able to pleasantly SURPRISE you!”

 

BlackHawk says: “Well, don't tell ME how it ends; I don't want any SPOILERS for MY first time!”

 

Ebony says: “Fair enough. Do...what you NEED to do, then!!!!”

 

And they dive underneath the covers, and in the background, the radio begins playing an APPROPRIATE song by Michael Jackson; “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”!!!! /

 

Michael Jackson sings: “You know, you—you make me feel so good inside. I always wanted a girl just like you. You're such a P.Y.T., pretty young thing. Where did you come from, baby? And ooh, won't you take me there? Right away; won't you baby? Tender; only you've got to be! Spark my nature sugar, fly with me! Don't you know now is the perfect time? We can make it right, hit the city lights! Then tonight, ease the love and pain. Let me take you to the max! I want to love you (P.Y.T.) Pretty young thing! You need some lovin' (T.L.C.) Tender love, and care! And I'll take you there, take you there! I want to love you (P.Y.T.) Pretty young thing! You need some lovin' (T.L.C.) Tender love, and care! And I'll take you there, take you there! Anywhere you wanna go (Yes, I will.) Nothin' can stop this burnin', desire to be with you; gotta get to you baby! Won't you come, it's emergency! Cool my fire yearnin' honey, come set me free! Don't you know now is the perfect time? We can dim the lights just to make it right! In the night, hit the lovin' spot! I'll give you all that I've got! I want to love you (P.Y.T.) Pretty young thing! You need some lovin' (T.L.C.) Tender love, and care! And I'll take you there (Yes, I will.) I want to love you (P.Y.T.) Pretty young thing! You need some lovin' (T.L.C.) Tender love, and care! And I'll take you there, take you there! Pretty young things, UHHH!!!!! Pretty young things. Pretty young things, UHHH!!!! Pretty young things. Pretty young things, repeat after me; say 'Na, na, na.'
[P.Y.T.'s] Na, na, na. [Michael] Na, na, na, na. [P.Y.T.'s] Na, na, na, na. [Michael] Say 'Na, na, na.' [P.Y.T.'s] Na, na, na. [Michael] Na, na, na, na, na. [P.Y.T.'s] Na, na, na, na, na. [Michael] I'll take you there, take you there! I want to love you (P.Y.T.) Pretty young thing! You need some lovin' (T.L.C.) Tender love, and care! And I'll take you there, take you there! I want to love you (P.Y.T.) Pretty young thing! You need some lovin' (T.L.C.) Tender love, and care! And I'll take you there, take you there! I want to love you, and treat you right. I want to love you and treat you right! You know, I think you are really nice. You're such a P.Y.T. Pretty young thing. I just wanna love you, you know, it's...I'd give you all.” /

 

But unbeknownst to EITHER BlackHawk OR Ebony, a SINISTER secret robotic drone has been RECORDING their intimate 'romance' session, and quickly FLIES off when the epic song ends! /

 

In Queen Beryl's sinister space ship, Dr. Maniac is reviewing the footage that his SECRET robot drone has picked up for him, and he openly GAGS over it!!!! Dr. Maniac sourly says: “Look at BlackHawk and Ebony openly making sexual 'LOVE' to each other! THEY MAKE ME SICK!!!! How does a guy even GET a male appendage THAT big?!!!”

 

Meison says: “Well, he IS a Hawkian; you know! The males DO tend to have impressive appendages, and they CAN mate with just about ANY species in the known multi-verse! It's one of the secrets to their reproductive success! Don't tell me you're JEALOUS of them?!!!”

 

Dr. Maniac scoffs, and he says: “ME; jealous?!!! I'm too SMART to let myself succumb to PETTY, USELESS emotions! I'm a man of SCIENCE!!!! And as such, I have no USE for things that would get in my WAY of pursuing the knowledge of SCIENCE!!!! My emotions are DEAD to me!!!!”

 

Psygorn sinisterly chuckles, and he says: “Let's hope you're RIGHT for your own sake! If you were LYING and were STILL holding onto some emotions, even NEGATIVE ones, it COULD come back to HAUNT you someday; like, once you become FULLY robotic like you INTEND to be!”

 

Fara says: “IGNORE HIM!!!!”

 

Dr. Maniac says: “Noted, moving on! Their love is a WEAKNESS!!!! Love gets in the way of training and duty! It messes you up! When you get attached to something; you will INEVITABLY lose it! I need a Youma to BREAK up the little love fests going down on Core Earth! Got any ideas, Queen Beryl?”

 

Queen Beryl says: “You know full well that there is no POINT in ME sending down any Youma, as long as our energy STORAGE unit is BROKEN!!!! That traitorous Abaddon really did a NUMBER on what we were using! Even with the skills of my three...well, FOUR great wizards COUNTING Meison; it is taking them MUCH longer than expected to get our machine back up and running!”

 

Dr. Maniac scoffs, and he says: “Slackers! Fortunately, I've devised something that will help us out in the mean-time! I hope you APPRECIATE it!!!!”

 

And Dr. Maniac unveils a portable energy storage unit! Kunzite says: “Gee; pretty fancy-schmancy! I guess if you invest your money WELL for two centuries, you can BUY something pretty nice!”

 

Dr. Maniac says: “Buy nothing!!!! I made THIS baby from SCRATCH!!!! Not only can this portable energy storage unit COLLECT the energy from the YOUMA, it can also collect the energy my BIO BEASTS can gather! Granted, it can't store all the energy your HUGE machine can collect, being a PORTABLE unit! It's not a permanent solution, but this little baby will solve our energy dilemma for the time being.”

 

Ahminnan says: “Why not simply have those NAZI soldiers do your dirty work for you?!”

 

Dr. Maniac almost VOMITS for real, and he FORCEFULLY swallows and says: “I just threw up a little bit in my MOUTH!!!! Those JERK FACES left a bad TASTE in my mouth, in more ways than ONE!!!! I mean, NAZIS?!!! Did I miss the memo saying that we were fighting against the very FIRST Power Rangers team, the Power Rangers Valor Force; or the FIFTH Power Rangers team, the Power Rangers Solar Force?! THEY both HAD to fight, and eventually WON; against the forces of the Nazis, I CAN'T endorse having the forces of any NAZIS facing against a team of Power Rangers, and LOSING a THIRD time!”

 

Fara asks: “Can't; or won't?”

 

Dr. Maniac says: “BOTH!!!! Either/or; I don't want to, for won't; and I can't, because my Wormhole Creator, which allows us to ACCESS the Nazi realm dimension as I like to call it, is EXPENSIVE to run and maintain. My Wormhole Creator isn't exactly CHEAP, you know! I can only run it for like, every other monster we send down to Core Earth!”

Queen Beryl sighs, and says: “Fine! What do YOU propose we do THIS time?!”

 

Neo Falcon walks in, and he boldly says: “Allow me the chance to REDEEM myself, for the last time!”

 

Nephrite nervously says: “HIM?! Are you sure that's a good idea?!”

 

Benzite says: “This little clown nearly fell in BATTLE against Usagi in his last fight! What makes YOU think that you'll do any better THIS time?!”

 

Neo Falcon says: “Because I have the added genetic material of the fallen Neo Aquaiger inside of me! With it; I have DOUBLE the power that I did the LAST time! Besides, Dr. Maniac has received some very VALUABLE information! While FireHawk MAY be a nuisance to us, she DID do us the favor of getting RID of Khorne's influence over Usagi! Without the mark of Khorne, she can no LONGER feel the rage and blood-lust that she USED to feel! In fact, she will probably become PUTTY in the hands of ANYONE who is NICE to her, which, will fit PERFECTLY in our plans!”

 

Farrah Cat says: “And besides, IF you fail, I'll still be around to FINISH the job after Nephrite's NEXT monster creation INEVITABLY fails!!!!”

 

Nephrite asks: “Why would you think that I would fail MY queen?!!!”

 

Mettzler says: “Because you're a coward and a liar!!!! And from OUR perspective, that's even WORSE than being a blood-thirsty TRAITOR the way Jaedite was, and Radiguet is!”

 

Bio Gorilla just grunts, and says: “Be careful you don't CHOKE on your own cowardice, Nephrite!”

 

Neo Falcon says: “Meison, use all the magic skills you know of to back me up, and I'll take care of everything else on Core Earth!”

 

Meison says: “Crush the Rangers with EVERYTHING at our disposal!!!!”

 

Neo Falcon says: “If all goes well, I might even TAKE one of the Power Rangers WITH me! Or I'll DIE trying in the ENDEAVOR!!!!”

 

And Neo Falcon, dons a protective space energy suit, and FLIES down to Core Earth! Dr. Maniac says: “Soon the Power Rangers will know the TRUE threat of my genius, and they will FOREVER remember THIS important fact; Dr. Maniac ALWAYS manages to kill at least ONE Power Ranger member of ANY team he FIGHTS against! They can COUNT on it! MWA, HA, HA, HA, HA!!!!” /

 

Meanwhile, from FAR off in Outer Space, Radiguet's EVIL space ship, and his evil force of Vyram loyal cronies, are busy attacking, and DECIMATING, most of the forces of the LESS evil Irken empire!!!! Radiguet is SO confident in the abilities of his forces, he doesn't even BOTHER to fight with them, knowing that the Irkens are NO match for his superior fire-power, even though they ARE prolonging their demise as long as possible, just to PISS him off as long as they can! Radiguet sighs and says: “I wonder if I will actually have to go out and blow up all these glorified, over-grown grasshoppers away MYSELF?!!!”

His robot Gray, says: “I honestly don't know, sir.”

 

Radiguet rolls his eyes, and he says: “You know; you COULD give it a SHOT and; PRETEND to be HAPPY for our continued success ONCE in a while!”

 

Gray, continuing his monotone way of speaking, says: “Believe me; I am just BURSTING to the limit with EMOTIONS!!!! If I felt ANYTHING more inside of me AT all; I would LITERALLY explode from the excess of all the feelings INSIDE of me!!!!”

 

Radiguet excitedly says: “OOH!!!! SARCASM!!!! We're MAKING progress! I might as well take this time, and set my sights on Core Earth! Queen Hedrian MUST be dead, by NOW!!!! After all, MISERY has fore-seen it, so it must have happened!!!!”

 

Radiguet uses his psychic sight, and looks down onto Core Earth, and he says: “Insects, peons, barely-evolved pond scum everywhere; totally convinced of their OWN superiority as they scurry about their SHORT, POINTLESS lives!!!! Totally unaware that I will someday SWAT them ENDLESSLY! It's too bad that PITIFUL little Queen Hedrian is...ALIVE?!!!”

 

And Gray tenses up in nervousness, as Radiguet ANGRILY knocks his glass of blood-red WINE to the ground, SHATTERING it, and Radiguet glows an unhealthy, very VIOLENT shade of RED!!!! Gray shudders, and moaning, says: “Oh, no! Not THIS again!!!!”

 

Radiguet FLIES out of his space ship, and announces his arrival to ALL the Irkens!!!! Radiguet angrily says: “ATTENTION PITIFUL WORMS!!!!”

 

Tallest Red says: “THAT'S the one in CHARGE!!!!”

 

Tallest Purple says: “How DARE he subject us to this?!!!”

 

Radiguet laughs maniacally, and says: “Don't take this the wrong way, you've been SURPRISINGLY entertaining, but I'm afraid I've found out some news that has GRAVELY upset ME!!!! And do you know what happens when I get upset? I get ANGRY!!!! And when I get angry, entire RACES DIE!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

And Radiguet QUICKLY and EFFORTLESSLY powers up a HUGE energy ball of crimson red power, and Tak just sourly says: “Power Level 530,000?!!! Oh, SHI--!!!!”

 

But she NEVER gets to finish her thought, because Radiguet FIRES onto the ENTIRE Irken army, killing all who are present, save for TWO Irkens; Skoodge, and Zim! Zim hollowly asks: “What...have...you...done?”

Radiguet flies down to Zim, and Radiguet casually says: “NOTHING!!!! Well; maybe just one TEENSY, TINY little THING...I DOOMED your ENTIRE little RACE!!!! That's all! MWA, HA, HA!!!!”

 

Zim boils with anger, and he says: “You KILLED them!!!! YOU KILLED MY PEOPLE!!!! DIE!!!!”

And Zim ANGRILY fires at Radiguet with his laser gun, convinced that he has GOTTEN his revenge, but Zim recoils in HORROR when the smoke clears, and Radiguet didn't even BOTHER to flinch, and he doesn't have a SCRATCH on him!!!! Radiguet is bored, and he asks: “Did you actually think you could POSSIBLY harm me with a puny laser gun, with a paltry power level of only 13,000? I eat guns like that for BREAKFAST!!!! WATCH!!!!”

 

And Radiguet TAKES Zim's laser gun, and eats it whole, and just burps SMOKE when the contents explode in his stomach! Radiguet says: “THAT'S a spicy meatball!”

Than Radiguet gets serious, GRABS Zim by the neck, Radiguet lifts Zim up, and Radiguet creepily says: “Listen now, and listen WELL, sole survivors of the Irken race; if you WANT to continue LIVING, you will go down to Core Earth, find the evil witch, who calls herself Queen Hedrian, and you tell her that if Doctor Maniac and Queen Beryl don't end her MISERABLE existence, that Radiguet will personally come and do the job himself, and he will NOT do it quickly and MERCIFULLY the way he DOOMED the Irken race!!!! Do you UNDERSTAND?!!!”

 

Zim angrily says: “Go to HELL!!!!”

 

Radiguet yawns, and he says: “You mean the Chaos Realm? It's REALLY not all the Chaos Gods hype it up to be! I should know; because I just went there myself, to STEAL the son of NERGAL!!!! He won't even notice it for a YEAR; because I left behind a CONVINCING look-alike MONSTER! But when he does, he will have no CHOICE but to come face me; and DIE!!!! Because I will STEAL his power and make it MINE! Those Chaos Gods, they make me SICK!!!! They have infernal powers, infernal legions of soldiers to FIGHT for them! But they don't USE them effectively!!!! The multi-verse DESERVES a better class of VILLAIN, one who doesn't HESITATE to use ALL the powers at HIS disposal, and I intend to give it, to EVERYONE, whether they WANT me to or NOT, and NO one can STOP me!!!! And don't THINK YOU can stop me, or I'll take away the one thing you value MORE than your INSIGNIFICANT pride; your secret and SINFUL love for that FILTHY human, Dib!!!! Because I can and WILL kill him, unless you DO as I SAY!!!!”

 

Zim gasps, and he says: “You wouldn't DARE?!!!”

 

Radiguet chuckles, and he says: “So naïve!!!! If I can kill a BILLION Irken EFFORTLESSLY, killing one more human is NOTHING for me at ALL!!!!”

 

And Zim shudders in horror, as he realizes that Radiguet isn't bluffing!!!! Radiguet says: “And now you bore me, because all your bravery and bravado has been forever shattered, leaving you NOTHING more than a mere shell of your former self! I'll leave you two to wallow in your self-pity, while I seek a NEW target, the WORTHLESS planet of Edenoi!!!! Hopefully, they'll be more of a challenge than YOUR race WAS!!!! Enjoy the rest of your lives...while you CAN!!!! MWA, HA, HA, HA!!!!”

 

And Radiguet flies back into his spaceship, not even BOTHERING to look BACK at the two Irkens! Skoodge, goes to Zim, and Skoodge asks: “What are we going to do, Zim?! He killed all the other Irkens like they were NOTHING to him!!!!”

 

Zim says: “Well, I don't think immediate extinction for everyone living on Core Earth is his ideal goal. If it was, he would've killed US, to; and thought nothing of it! It seems he enjoys TORTURING those he conquers BEFORE he gets bored and KILLS them!”

 

Skoodge asks: “So why did he just kill OUR race?”

Zim breaks down, crying sulfur, and says: “Because...something, made him MAD!!!! And we HAVE to warn this Queen Hedrian! Because if we don't, Dib, and all the REST of his fellow Earthlings, will suffer a fate WORSE than WE did!!!!” /

 

Back in Radiguet's space-ship, Gray asks: “Radiguet, did you HONESTLY have to blow up every single LAST Irken that COULD have been a threat to you?”

 

Radiguet says: “Of course NOT!!!! I also blew up MOST of the ones that could NEVER pose a threat to me! But you know how I am; I always leave at least TWO survivors of any given race that I kill, just so they can SPREAD the tragic word, of how I was the LAST thing MOST of THEIR pathetic race ever saw in their ENTIRE existence!”

 

Gray sighs, and says: “Of course. You're ALWAYS so classy like that!”

 

Radiguet scornfully says: “I have every RIGHT!!!! My mother tried to MURDER me you PATHETIC pile of scrap metal! This universe OWES me the debt of letting ME conquer it! The only one who is ALLOWED to kill those PATHETIC Power Rangers is ME!!!! Dr. Maniac can have ONE if he must, but the REST of them are reserved for MY personal enjoyment alone, to TORMENT for however long I see FIT!!!!”

 

Gray, seeing no point in continuing to try to REASON with Radiguet, merely sighs, and says: “Yes, sire.”

 

Radiguet says: “Well, as long as Queen Hedrian IS still alive, I might as well POSE as Khorne again, just to give her a HOPE SPOT that I can SMASH when I inevitably hurt her in the most SADISTIC way POSSIBLE!! Oh, I just LOVE it when I'm NASTY!!!! Which is all the TIME!!!! Ha, HA!!!!” /

 

Queen Hedrian is in her secret room in the Command Center; a pile of crumpled, lousy plans for trying to conquer Earth litters the ground, rejected either for being too pointless, or for a lack of available resources. Queen Hedrian is meditating, and has her eyes closed. Queen Hedrian says: “Khorne, please talk to me again! I, am LOST!!!! Omnus is my sworn enemy! Zordon's heir! He is everything my father has told me to HATE and destroy! Why can't I find it in me to do what I KNOW should be done? Am I not CAPABLE of taking his life, after all this time? I felt NOTHING when I pretended to fall in love with my LAST two husbands! So...why have I not been able to commit to killing Omnus? I can't actually LOVE an Eltarian! It...is SO forbidden! My father would never FORGIVE me for even THINKING such a thing! And yet...Omnus has opened something inside me that I have NEVER felt before! And the more I try to understand it; the less able I am to think straight and clearly about my intended goals of trying to conquer Core Earth. Is this romance, right? What should I DO?!!! I wish you would give me some sort of a SIGN, or something!!!!”

 

Omnus unexpectedly walks in, and he says: “Forgive me for the intrusion, Queen Hedrian, but I just wanted to tell you that breakfast was ready.”

 

Queen Hedrian fake-coughs, and she says: “I could stand a little brekky. Some brain food ought to help me out! I was...trying to seek counsel with T'zeen...the Chaos God Drako used to worship.”

 

Omnus, seeming to know MORE than Queen Hedrian is letting on, doesn't let HER know that; and Omnus merely asks: “Did he help?”

 

Queen Hedrian sighs, and she saids: “Silent as the stars. My father would NEVER...”

 

Omnus chuckles, and he says: “Oh, Queen Hedrian; you expect SO much that you NEED to walk the path that Master Vile set down for you, that you never stop to look at your OTHER options!”

 

Queen Hedrian asks: “What?! How did you know that I was feeling conflicted?!!!”

 

Omnus chuckles, and he says: “Queen Hedrian, I know all about the Chaos Gods, just as well as you do! Once you get to really know me, you could really LOVE me!”

 

Queen Hedrian nervously says: “No!!!! Let me go away! FAR AWAY!!!! If Master Vile knew I was taking refuge with you, he would KILL me, and he would NOT do it with MERCY!!!!”

Omnus asks: “Aren't you being a LITTLE overly dramatic? Master Vile doesn't even understand things like love, or compassion, or, the joy of helping others! You know; sometimes, I don't think he's REALLY that happy, personally speaking!”

 

Queen Hedrian asks: “And how often do YOUR mentoring duties let you go out and about?!”

 

Omnus says: “That's totally NOT the point, Queen Hedrian! And even if it was, I would STILL be a better expert at understanding other species than YOU do, because I actually KNOW and understand what having empathy for others FEELS like!”

Queen Hedrian says: “I don't know if I CAN have empathy, or even if I should. Besides, an Eltarian and a member of the Vile clan? We could NEVER get along together!”

Omnus asks: “Queen Hedrian; how can you possibly KNOW if an Eltarian and a Vile CAN'T get along with each other, unless we experiment for ourselves?”

Queen Hedrian asks: “Are you suggesting...what I think you're suggesting?”

Omnus says: “I've always wanted a family, and I think you do to. You've lost your older brother Rito due to a pointless fight. Don't lose your chance at happiness, just because your father wouldn't approve of it. Think of what would be best for YOURSELF, for a change, and NOT what your father would or wouldn't approve of!!!!”

 

Than suddenly, Radiguet's creepy voice fills the air, and he says: “DON'T LISTEN to that lying CREEPAZOID OMNUS!!!!”

 

Queen Hedrian shuts her eyes, and says: “Khorne, I HEAR you!!!! What do you want?!!!”

 

But Queen Hedrian is unaware that Omnus is REACTING to everything that Radiguet is SAYING to her! In the mental vision conversation, Radiguet says: “Simple; my faithful servant, Queen Hedrian! I want you to take the magic staff of your goody-two shoes SISTER; Rita Repulsa, who otherwise calls herself the Magi-Mother, and USE it to STAB Omnus to DEATH!!!! By doing so, not only will you KILL your ENEMY OMNUS; but you will GET your old SISTER back; and TOGETHER, you can RULE Core Earth the way you were ALWAYS meant to!”

Queen Hedrian nervously says: “I...can't!!!! It's ONE thing to maybe kill Omnus, but I can't BETRAY my own sister!!!!”

 

Radiguet says: “You're NOT betraying her. You're doing her a FAVOR!!!! Do you HONESTLY think that anyone in the ENTIRE universe actually WANTS to be GOOD?! Everyone is just LYING to themselves about what IS and isn't MORAL!!!! Why worry about society and rules?! You should be able to TAKE what you can; WHEN you can, without ANY regards for what is 'good' and 'moral'! The ONLY thing that EVER actually matters is about making yourself happy, because EVERYONE else is completely WORTHLESS!!!”

 

Than Queen Hedrian suddenly tenses up, when OMNUS enters the conversation, as Omnus angrily says: “You would KNOW; wouldn't you, RADIGUET?!!!”

 

Queen Hedrian can only SEE the image of Khorne, and she says: “That's not Radiguet, it's KHORNE!!!!”

 

Radiguet/Khorne says: “Give it UP; Omnus!!!! You CAN'T DEFEAT me!!!! I am THOROUGHLY WRAPPED AROUND Queen Hedrian's BRAIN!!!! She will ONLY see what I WANT her to SEE!!!! And if you try to free her, you will make her DIE!!!!”

 

Omnus merely chuckles, and he says: “You must REALLY think I'm an AMATEUR; DON'T you, Radiguet?!”

 

Radiguet/Khorne yells: “WHAT?!!!”

 

Omnus screams, and with a stunning flash of BRIGHT light; he REPELS the invisible MIND tentacles MIND-RAPING Queen Hedrian's brain, and DESTROYS them, ERASING the image of Khorne OUT of Queen Hedrian's mental image, and leaving ONLY Radiguet!!!! Queen Hedrian gets scared and says: “YOU?!!! You were the image of...KHORNE?!!!”

 

Radiguet angrily says: “Yes. And how DARE you, Omnus?!!! I had a WONDERFUL thing GOING; constantly MIND-RAPING Queen Hedrian's MIND without her even KNOWING it! The activity filled me with SUCH joy! But now you've RUINED it, and you have DOOMED the ENTIRE Core EARTH to DIE by MY HANDS!!!!”

 

Omnus angrily says: “You FOOL!!!! That is NEVER going to happen even if you DID still have control over Queen Hedrian's MIND, so it really doesn't MATTER now; does it?!!! Get out of Queen Hedrian's mind, and don't you DARE let me CATCH you talking to her AGAIN; or next time, I'll leave a scar on your FACE!”

 

And before Radiguet can even BLINK; Omnus FIRES a POWERFUL blue energy wave at Radiguet, knocking his image OUT of Queen Hedrian's mind, and the mental conversation ends! /

 

In Radiguet's Space-ship, Radiguet finds himself KNOCKED BACK from his evil bed; and to his DISGUST, he finds the image of a hawk-shaped burn mark, from Omnus' attack, INGRAINED on his stomach!!!! Radiguet yells: “Tranza, my son! What was Omnus' power just now?!!!”

 

A young Asian boy, with Vyram shaped ears, walks in, and he says: “The scanner level showed that the extent of Omnus' full power, registers at 530,000! Does that mean he is...?”

 

Radiguet finishes: “As strong as me? Of course not! He merely caught me off-guard! I had no idea the heir of Zordon would actually have SOME fighting abilities available to him! So, it seems that Core Earth isn't as COMPLETELY defenseless as I initially thought! It looks like conquering it just got a LOT more INTERESTING!!!! Omnus is stronger than I gave him credit for, but he will NOT catch ME off-guard again; you BETTER believe THAT!!!!”

 

Tranza asks: “Do you want Maria to whip you up a potion to get rid of that burn mark on you?”

 

Radiguet seriously says: “No. I think I'll keep it. This will serve as a healthy reminder to US, that the Power Rangers are NOT to be taken lightly. And when you FIGHT against them, you will NOT show them any mercy!!!!”

 

Tranza seriously says: “I don't even know the MEANING of that word! And by 'word,' I mean, 'MERCY'!”

 

Radiguet creepily says: “GOOD!!!! So much for being able to DICK around with Queen Hedrian! But at least I can still pursue my OTHER goals! Stay on course for Edenoi! Their champion, the Masked Rider, should be no match for MY superior fire-power!” /

 

Back at the Command Center, Queen Hedrian sobs, and says: “Radiguet.”

 

Than Queen Hedrian screams a great, big: “NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not RADIGUET!!!!”

 

Queen Hedrian falls to the ground to cry, and Alpha Eight says: “Aye-yai-yai-yai-yai! That is ONE powerful and angst-filled scream!”

 

Queen Hedrian actually cries, and says: “It's all been a joke! All my plans to conquer Core Earth have been NOTHING but a big fat joke!!!! Demon King Banriki, he WARNED me not to LISTEN to him! But, I was SO consumed by my want for REVENGE, to take out my anger on the Power Rangers; I pushed him AWAY!!!! I pushed EVERYONE who could have WARNED me away! I was so INTENT on making the Blood God proud; I wouldn't CONSIDER anything else!!!! And that CREEP; Radiguet, he was MIND-RAPING me this WHOLE time; and I LET him do it like a STUPID CHILD!!!!”

 

Omnus hugs her tenderly, and he says: “I don't think you're stupid. Selfish? Yes. Misguided? Yes? Misinformed? By FAR!!!! But you are NOT stupid! All things considered, you're one of the more CLEVER villains the Power Rangers ever fought against!”

 

Queen Hedrian asks: “So WHY did I fall for it? How could I let myself be DECEIVED by Radiguet?!”

 

Omnus says: “Sadly, you are hardly the first that Radiguet has LIED to in such a way! At the very least, Trakeena, Queen Bansheera, Master Org, Lothor, Mesogog, Emperor Grumm, Dai Shi, and even Emperor Marvo, all listened to and DIED by the advice of Radiguet posing as Khorne! If it weren't for Radiguet, there is a very GOOD possibility that Trakeena, Mesogog, Emperor Grumm, Dai Shi, and Emperor Marvo WOULD have won in their fights against the Power Rangers!”

 

Queen Hedrian says: “My whole BODY of work has been MEANINGLESS!!!!”

Omnus says: “Only your EVIL body of work!!!! But Radiguet is GONE, NOW!!!! He KNOWS that I'm protecting you, NOW; and he WON'T risk getting attacked mentally ever again by trying to deceive you!”

 

Queen Hedrian gets up off the ground, stops crying, and she says: “Well, I guess there's no more point in trying to scheme behind your back, anymore. I'm not completely sure how much of it was my own petty behavior, or just Radiguet trying to get me hurt or WORSE; but there is clearly no way I COULD succeed as things are; I'm HORRIBLY over-powered, and with no resources or loyal crew to back me up!”

 

Omnus asks: “So are you willing to officially join us now?”

 

Queen Hedrian says: “I don't know why Radiguet wanted to go after me, and I'm not sure I want to know. But...I do know, that I'm TIRED of being lied to! I'm tired of being treated like just SOMEONE who is useful to do the dirty deeds of someone else! I'm tired of living that way, Omnus! Let the Chaos Gods do whatever they WANT to me when I die! All I care about, is being with the first being, who has EVER cared about me for MORE than just the things I can DO for them! Someone who cares MORE about me, than I EVER cared about myself! Omnus...I'm not sure if this is really love; or if this is what love is supposed to feel like. But...whatever it is; I think I would be a lot happier living WITH you, than living without! There will be no more schemes from me; that part of my life, is over.”

 

Omnus happily says: “That's all that I EVER wanted to hear from you, Queen Hedrian.”

 

Queen Hedrian says: “Machiko. My first name is Machiko.”

 

Omnus leans in close to her, and he says: “All right, Machiko.”

 

But before they can DO anything; they hear a space-ship crash right near the Command Center! Alpha Eight says: “Aye-yai-yai-yai-yai! An Irken space-ship has CRASHED right outside our door!!!!”

 

Omnus says: “That's strange. I'm detecting no malice from them!

 

And a strange beeping alert comes through the Viewing Globe! Alpha Eight says: “Aye-yai-yai-yai-yai! They're actually sending us a DISTRESS message! It's URGENT!!!! It seems that they NEED to talk to us immediately! It is of the UTMOST importance!!!!”

 

Omnus says: “Than we must find out what it is! Transport the Irkens in here IMMEDIATELY!!!!”

 

Alpha Eight pushes some buttons, and Zim and Skoodge are warped into the Command Center! Zim gasps, and he says: “HELP!!!! Queen Hedrian! Irkens! Crushed, DESTROYED!!!!”

 

Omnus says: “Just take a deep breath! And tell us what the problem is.”

 

Zim says: “Have you ever heard of the Vyram alien who calls himself Radiguet?!”

 

Omnus says: “We kind of just had our own situation with him! What happened?!”

Zim, holding back tears, says: “Radiguet just DECIMATED our entire race! He KILLED us all! He must have been IRRITATED about something regarding Queen Hedrian!”

 

Queen Hedrian says: “I'm Queen Hedrian! Why is Radiguet irritated about me?”

 

Zim says: “I have no way of knowing; but in any case, he sent us to tell you, that if Dr. Maniac and Queen Beryl don't end your life first; than HE will come to Core Earth, and end your life in the most HORRIFIC manner you can THINK of; maybe even WORSE!!!!”

 

Queen Hedrian gulps, and nervously asks: “ME?!!!”

 

Omnus sighs, and he says: “I didn't think Radiguet would find out this soon. Apparently, Radiguet is NOT as arrogant as I thought he would be. It seems that he IS amassing power for one REAL purpose; he INTENDS to attack and attempt to conquer Core Earth again!”

 

Queen Hedrian says: “But my sister; Rita, the Magi-Mother; you said that her spell is PROTECTING Core Earth from any attacks by Radiguet!!!!”

 

Omnus says: “I think the connection is CLEAR; as to WHY Radiguet has been USING and abusing you! Without even realizing it, YOU were attacking us in SUCH a way, that it was actually WEAKENING the very barrier, keeping Radiguet OUT!!!! In other words, Radiguet was USING you, to ACCELERATE your OWN demise!!!! Radiguet ALWAYS WAS sadistic in the ways he CHOSE to torment his opponents!”

 

Zim says: “And he wiped out our entire RACE!!!!”

 

Queen Hedrian asks: “All one billion IRKENS?!!! That's not true!!!! That's IMPOSSIBLE!!!!”

 

Skoodge speaks up, and he sadly says: “It's true. Zim and I; we're...all that's left. We're the last two of our race left alive.”

 

Omnus says: “That's Radiguet, all right. Only he would be so MEAN, as to only leave TWO of a race he annihilates alive. He wants you to spread the word, and fear, that what has happened to your race, will eventually happen to Core Earth; but NOT before he TORTURES all he finds amusing enough to keep alive! That's ANOTHER part of his sadistic, and twisted nature!”

 

Zim asks: “What are we going to do?”

 

Omnus says: “Well, unfortunately, it's too late for your race. I honestly don't know what to say. But you're STILL relatively safe here, for the time being! I don't know the current strength of Rita's barrier spell, or how much longer it's going to last! That, I'll have to consult with Rita about it, and see if anything can be done to boost the strength and/or length of her spell! But we'll find a safe place for you, just as soon as we can!!!!”

 

(WHIR!!!! WHIR!!!!) The Alarm in the Command Center goes off, and Alpha Eight says: “Aye-yai-yai! Even MORE trouble abounds!!!!”

Omnus says: “Switch on the Viewing Globe; immediately!!!!”

 

Alpha Eight does so, and they see Neo Falcon, flying around the town of Angel Grove; specifically ATTACKING couples who are in love with each other! Queen Hedrian says: “I SWEAR!!!! Doctor Maniac is SO predictable!!!! No sooner do I decide that MAYBE I'm actually falling in LOVE with you for real, does he decide to send a monster to ATTACK couples who ARE in love with each other!”

 

Omnus says: “This has nothing to do with us; I'm afraid. Skoodge and Zim, can the two of you hold on for a while? I'm afraid we've got urgent business to take care of.”

 

Skoodge says: “It's not like we're in a great big rush! Our species is extinct, either way!”

 

Omnus says: “Not entirely. Zim has just recently discovered that Irkens are actually reproductive compatible with HUMANS!!!! And because of your unique alien gender alignments; you can actually reproduce either as the male, or the FEMALE of whoever you mate with!”

 

Skoodge gasps, and asks: “Is this...TRUE Zim?!!!”

 

Zim blushes, and he says: “Well, I always DID fantasize about me and Dib together! So...I kind of took some D.N.A.; samples to see whether the two of us could...do it together or not!”

 

Skoodge happily says: “Suddenly, the outlook for the two of us doesn't look so bad!”

 

Omnus says: “That will do! I must contact the Power Rangers right now!!!!” /

 

In Adam's Gym, in Coastal Falls, the action shifts inside! While Alpha Six has done an AMAZING job with the gym, filling it with unique alien machines and exercises from around the cosmos, the action focuses in on one of the physical classes being taken inside. The class is called “Naturalist Yoga”; so named, because all who are IN the class are stretching NAKED!!!! Although to be fair, only anthropomorphic animals and space aliens from other planets seem to be in the class. Among them, are Lettuce, Pinkie Pie, the anthropomorphic D.O.G., Coop, Samson, Edward, and Almondine. Lazlo is leading the class.

 

Lazlo says: “Welcome students; to our first session of Naturalist Yoga. I want each of you to thank Adam for being so understand of my desires and needs, by letting us have this class without question. Now, for our first session, we are going to learn how to find the energy within ourselves; or, what the Japanese call; your 'Chi', and bring it to the surface!”

 

Edward asks: “Just one question; what does this 'Chi'; look like or is SUPPOSED to look like?!”

 

Lazlo says: “Well, it's kind of like a...sort of like a...this could be harder to explain than I thought.”

 

Coop says: “It's like THIS!!!!”

 

And Coop produces a green fireball of energy from his left hand, sends it flying all around the students, grabs it with his right hand, than sends it FLYING into a piece of wood being held by Adam, and it disintegrates! Adam says: “Wow! You are definitely BlackHawk's younger brother all right!”

 

Lazlo says: “Yes; it's like that. As our student Coop has shown us; energy exists not just outside us, but is accessible with our bodies. But many humans, and a good number of anthropomorphic animals and even some aliens, don't understand this concept. The reason for this, is that they do not appreciate who they TRULY are! They do not appreciate the goodness in others, just because they have different values! But just because they have different values, that doesn't automatically make them bad! We need to realize the potential within ourselves! Because we ALL have the potential for being able to utilize the energy within each and every one of us! And once you find it; you never lose it! Simply start, by finding the energy inside yourself; or, what the Japanese call; your 'Chi', and bring it to the surface!”

 

Coop, being a Woo Foo Warrior, creates a healthy-sized green energy ball almost immediately; but everyone seems to really STRUGGLE with it! Pinkie asks: “Doesn't this seem ODD to you?!”

 

Lettuce asks: “Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black; or something like that?! Besides, BlackHawk suggested that this class would be a GOOD thing for us! If we LEARN how to harness our inner energy, we can USE energy attacks the way HE can! It will help us become better fighters, and will give us an edge against those CREEPS we have to fight against!”

 

Pinkie says: “But I don't want to BE a fighter! I want to be an artist!”

 

D.O.G., says: “I personally don't want to fight either. But you Power Rangers could use all the help you can get! And confidentially, BlackHawk told me that having a good mastery of your inner energy, can also help you FLY!!!!”

 

Lettuce excitedly says: “You mean if I master my inner energy, I can eventually FLY?!!!”

 

D.O.G., says: “Sure! StarHawk once told me that on her home planet, even a new-born can experience the joy of flight! It all comes from being able to access your inner energy!”

 

Samson says: “I think I got something! It's faint, but it's there!”

 

And sure enough, a small, but very VISIBLE point of white light, radiated from Samson! Lazlo, Edward, and Almondine all follow suit, but they quickly collapse. Samson stops, and he says: “That's not as easy as Coop makes it look!”

 

Coop says: “Don't expect to get it as fast as I did! I've TRAINED in these special techniques for a while, so it's only natural that I'd be better at it!”

 

Lettuce says: “I think THIS is IT!!!!”

 

And Lettuce produces a BRIGHT, green fire-ball of energy, that manages NOT to hurt him!!!! Coop is visibly amazed, and he says: “WOW!!!! Impressive!!!!”

Pinkie says: “Like THAT?!!! Let me SEE!!!!”

 

And Pinkie produces a BRIGHT, pink fire-ball of energy, that manages not to HURT her!!!! Coop says: “Most impressive! Make that; MOST of you shouldn't expect to get it as fast as I did!”

 

D.O.G., says: “I think I've got something! WATCH!!!!”

 

But instead of producing a bright fire-ball, many rays of LIGHT flood the room; and would've BLINDED everyone if they didn't QUICKLY close their eyes!!!! Lazlo asks: “What is THAT?!!!”

 

D.O.G., says: “I don't know! I was just thinking about how happy I was to be with BlackHawk and everything; and the next thing I know; a bunch of LIGHT shot out from my hands!”

 

The light dies down, and everyone gets up!

Samson says: “I think there's more to this energy stuff than simply HAVING the necessary strength to express it. I think you also have to have the proper emotion needed to attack with. If you have a strong emotion, you might have a stronger attack!”

 

Pinkie says: “That makes sense! Just like the love Lettuce and I have for each other! We'll have to keep that in mind for our future fights against bad guys!”

 

(Beep! Beep! Ba-Beep! Beep! Beep!) Adam says: “And speak of the devil! It sounds like your alarms are going off now!”

 

Alpha Six says: “Aye-yai-yai-yai-yai! That definitely takes ME back; all right!”

 

Lettuce, D.O.G., and Pinkie quickly put their clothes on; and Lettuce activates his communicator! Lettuce says: “Talk to me Omnus; what have we got?”

 

Omnus says: “Rangers; Dr. Maniac has sent his evil soldier; Neo Falcon, to attack loving couples in Angel Grove; including Alphys and Undine!”

 

Pinkie says: “Can't we EVER catch a BREAK from this routine?!”

 

D.O.G., says: “I've been asking myself the same question for the past 200 years, and the answer is apparently NOT!!!!”

 

Adam says: “Trust me; from personal experience, it is a LOT better to have reliable morphing powers and NOT need them; than to NEED them and NOT have them!”

 

Over the communicator, a familiar voice is heard! Tommy says: “I'm in the area! I'll hold them off!”

 

Omnus says: “Tommy! NOT...he's not answering! He IS brave; I'll give him THAT!!!!”

 

Lettuce asks: “What GOOD is bravery if it ends up getting you KILLED?!”

 

Alpha Six says: “You SHOULDN'T worry! He's HAD like; five major RANGER powers in his life, I think he's going to be okay!”

 

Pinkie says: “Yeah, well; Kendrix thought she was protected by her powers, and it ended up COSTING, her own physical body, for a good CHUNK of her journey to Mirinoi!”

 

Omnus says: “I've already contacted the other Rangers! But Toby won't be able to help you. He's busy attending to his younger brother!”

 

D.O.G., says: “We'll just have to get by without him. I mean, Tommy is like PLUS Two Rangers, anyways!”

 

Lettuce says: “We better get to the Command Center; it's MORPHING time!” /

 

Lettuce says: “Power of Jupiter! Lightning!!!!” / Pinkie says: “Power of Venus! Aether!!!!” /

 

Lettuce, Pinkie, and D.O.G., warp to the Command Center, and upon arriving there, Lettuce and Pinkie take off their helmets. They are soon joined by Naruto, Usagi, BlackHawk, and Ebony! Ebony sourly says: “This BETTER be FREAKING important! BlackHawk and I just got FINISHED 'performing' in MANY various stunts of the Kama Sutra!”

 

Naruto shouts: “EBONY!!!!”

 

BlackHawk protests, and asks: “WHAT?! We DID!!!! And since Ebony likes to brag; I'll save her the trouble, and admit that we DID it for the first time; 44 TIMES!!!!”

 

Ebony says: “Apparently; once a Hawkian's sexual drive is turned ON; it's hard for them to turn it back OFF again!!!! I'd chalk it up to reproductive instincts!”

 

Usagi says: “Well, it's time to turn off such unimportant talk! I'd like to be with Kras'hir; but she heard that evil members of Team Rocket were lurking about in Johto, where Toby and his younger brother currently are, so she went off to kill them so they wouldn't interfere with the recovery of Toby's younger brother in Johto!”

 

Omnus says: “Save your conversations for later, Rangers! You must deal with Neo Falcon and some Mecha Clones attacking Angel Grove! Tommy is currently holding them off! But with their Mechanical resistance, even HE is having some difficulty!”

 

D.O.G., says: “The rest of you, better morph as well!”

 

Usagi says: “Good call, D.O.G.! It's MORPHING time!” /

 

BlackHawk says: “Spinosaurus!” / Naruto says: “Power of Mars! Fire!” /

Ebony says: “Power of Earth! Air!” / Usagi says: “COSMORPHER! Sailor Moon! White Ranger Power!” /

 

Tommy, clad in Green, and with his short hair-cut and goatee from his days in “Power Rangers Dino Thunder;” is GRADUALLY wearing down the Mecha Clones, who can't keep UP with all of Tommy's superb martial arts skills!!!! Neo Falcon screams: “He's just ONE human!!!! Just HIT him, already!!!!”

 

But despite their best efforts, the Mecha Clones are unable to do so, and they finally ALL fall down, and disappear BACK to Queen Beryl's ship!!!! The Power Rangers warp in, and Naruto says: “We're here to help...TOMMY?!!! Don't tell me that you managed to beat ALL those Mecha Clones by yourself?!”

 

Tommy chuckles, and he says: “Come on! You don't THINK that everybody ELSE calls me the BEST for NOTHING; do you?!”

 

Neo Falcon says: “Very impressive...for a MERE human, but such tactics, will not work against ME!!!!”

 

Tommy says: “Lucky for me; I AM no mere human! I'm a Power Ranger! And I have my choice of four ADDITIONAL powers that I can use for such an occasion! The FIFTH one; I have to SAVE for a SPECIAL occasion! (Tommy pulls out his Dragonzord Morpher!) It's been a while, but; It's MORPHING TIME!!!!”

 

/ Tommy gets an IMPROVED morphing sequence, SIMILAR to Adam's from “Once a Ranger!” Tommy is standing on a busy ocean port, the wild waves SPLASHING all around him! The Green Mighty Morphing Power Ranger costume surrounds him, while the Dragonzord RISES out of the ocean to celebrate his morphed appearance! The morph finishes, and Tommy says: “Dragonzord!!!!” /

 

Tommy says: “Witness what a fully-powered Dragon Dagger can do!!!!”

 

And with incredible SPEED; Tommy BLASTS two green lasers from his Dragon Dagger; hitting Neo Falcon TWO times in his left wing, SEPARATING the wing from his body! Than Tommy fires two MORE green lasers from his Dragon Dagger; hitting Neo Faclon in the right wing, separating the wing from his body!! Neo Falcon says: “You JERK!!!! I just UPGRADED my wings from stone to flesh! Now I'm REALLY mad!!”

 

Tommy says: “Your powers and strategies are about two decades out-dated from MY personal perspective, and about two centuries out-dated from Toby's and Lettuce's perspectives!”

 

Neo Falcon says: “Lucky for me; I've got an improvised TRICK for this occasion, just for YOU!!!! MWA!!”

 

And concentrating REALLY hard; Neo Falcon produces TWO giant sized monsters, giant versions of Neo Aquaiger and his OLD Gargoyle Falcon form! Neo Falcon says: “CHOOSE; RANGERS!!!! Do you prevent ME from attacking LOVING couples, or do you SAVE the city from the giant MENACES?! FAREWELL!”

 

And Neo Falcon zooms off TOWARDS the mountains on the out-skirts of Angel Grove! Usagi says: “Fool! I may not be controlled by the Blood God anymore, but I can think up of good plans BETTER than ever! BlackHawk and Tommy, you double-team and take out the giants! The rest of us will go after Neo Falcon and stop him before he HURTS anybody!!!!”

 

BlackHawk says: “I've always wanted to FIGHT with the legend himself!”

 

Tommy says: “You're pretty tough yourself, from what I've been hearing!”

 

BlackHawk says: “I need Dinozord power, NOW!!!!”

 

The Spinosaurus zord hears BlackHawk's call, and runs to him! Tommy, uses his Dragon Dagger as a flute, and summons the Dragonzord from the sea! It emerges as fresh and as pristine as the last time it was summoned! Tommy says: “You've got to admire the unique metal from Edenoi, used to construct the Dragonzord! No matter how long it sits in the ocean, it NEVER rusts!”

 

BlackHawk says: “I always DID wonder about that! Let's do it!”

 

And they both jump in their zords! BlackHawk says: “Tommy! It looks like our zords our compatible with each other! We can link them up, and do REAL damage to those freaks!”

 

Tommy says: “All right! Time for some mega-zord ACTION!!!!”

 

The chest and the tail separate from the Dragonzord, and it's primary head recoils, revealing a WARRIOR head! The Spinosaurus tail separates, and forms a POWERFUL drill! The Spinosaurus jumps into the reformed Dragonzord; and form a POWERFUL coat of armor protecting the Dragonzord! With a powerful Spinosaurus Drill and powerful Dragonzord tail now functioning as a powerful drill spear; Neo Aquaiger and the giant Gargoyle Falcon REALIZE they are horribly out-matched!

 

BlackHawk and Tommy say: “Legendary Dragon Megazord!!!!”

 

Neo Aquaiger says: “Are you going to fight us with those TOOTHPICKS!!!!”

 

Tommy says: “We're not going to FIGHT you! We're going to destroy you!”

 

BlackHawk says: “Double DRILL attack!!!!”

 

And powering up the two weapons, they bore right THROUGH Neo Aquaiger and the giant Gargoyle Falcon!!!! Neo Aquaiger says: “NO!!!! Our atoms are DISINTEGRATING!!!! We're gone...for GOOD!!!!”

 

And they both hit the ground and EXPLODE!!!! Tommy says: “That was one cool maneuver!!!!” /

 

Neo Falcon reaches the mountains just outside of Angel Grove; and begins attacking couples who have decided to hike up there today! Neo Falcon says: “For humans, they sure can DUCK fast! I've got to be QUICKER on the draw! My master needs the ENERGY!!!!” /

 

On the mountains, just WHO should be walking around except Bash and Smash, walking with Alphys and Undine, who have Sans, as their GUIDE?! Sans says: “You guys are lucky! Today is my first day as a guide for the scenic Angel Grove mountains! You'll see many native varieties of pines and fir; which, despite it's name, does NOT give you fur coats for the winter time!!!! Ha, HA!!!!”

 

Smash Swallow sighs, and asks: “Remind me; why did I AGREE to do this with you again?!”

 

Bash Buzzard says: “Seriously?! My parents are HOUNDING me about the LACK of my good grades! We've got an important test coming up in Geography class, and it's worth like, sixty percent of our final grade at LEAST!!!! We NEED to ace the test, Smash; and Sans can help us with ANYTHING!!!! I'm not sure how, but he SOMEHOW, always KNOWS just HOW we need help!”

 

Alphys says: “It's too bad you weren't born as a naturally smart, yellow lizard thing, like I was. I got straight A's; and I managed to skip the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh years of my academic classes! I graduated when I was only twelve!”

 

Smash Swallow sarcastically says: “How GOOD for you! In the meantime, the rest of us actually have to STRUGGLE to get ANYTHING near a good grade!”

 

Undyne sighs and says: “It's not like YOU two are the only ones who don't WANT to be here! I would rather be back HOME; polishing up on my warrior skills, just in CASE, Alphy's Mettaton creation ever MALFUNCTIONS again!!!!”

 

Alphys groans and says: “COME ON!!!! ONE malfunction, and you LABEL the thing for LIFE!!!!”

 

Bash Buzzard asks: “Why do you even HAVE that thing?”

 

Alphys says: “For RESEARCH!!!! I want to study it's brain patterns, and analyze it's way of thinking, in order to create a more compassionate, more understanding artificial being! I just LOVE making things BETTER than they already ARE!!!!”

 

Sans says: “I kind of NOTICED!!!! But Undyne; why are YOU here, if you don't WANT to be here?!”

 

Undyne sighs, and says: “I lost a bet. Apparently; Yami Yugi in Yu-gi-Oh DOESN'T win every single duel by playing the Exodia cards!”

 

Smash Swallow says: “Even I knew that Yugi didn't do that; and I watched every single episode of the FIRST two seasons!”

 

Sans says: “Can we FOCUS on why THREE of you need to be here?!”

 

Alphys says: “Research on the local flora and fauna!”

 

Bash Buzzard sighs, and says: “Basically, the same. But for school, not for curiosity!”

 

Smash Swallow says: “Ditto! But that doesn't mean I have to LIKE it!!!!”

Bash Buzzard says: “You don't even like MIGRATING back to San Juan Capistrano, for your annual family reunions every summer, but you do it anyway!”

 

Smash Swallow says: “I only do it just in CASE my parents have changed their minds about DUMPING me with my aunt and uncle! So far, no dice!”

 

Bash Buzzard says: “Well, maybe if you ace THIS test, they'll change their minds!!!!”

 

Than Neo Falcon zooms in, and starts BLASTING them!!!! Sans says: “WATCH it! The ground around here is very UNSTABLE!!!! It could give AWAY if you're not careful!!!!”

 

Neo Falcon scoffs, and says: “Do you think I care about that?! Which of YOU are loving couples?!”

 

Smash Swallow nervously says: “For the record; Bash and I are just good friends! No shenanigans go on between the two of us; like, EVER!!!!”

 

Bash Buzzard says: “Agreed! I only like GIRLS!!!! Granted, I haven't MET a girl who actually LIKES the fact that I sometimes eat rotting carcasses; but STILL...!”

 

Undyne angrily says: “Alphys and I are a loving couple!!!! You've got a PROBLEM with that?!!!”

 

Sans says: “OOH!!!! You pressed her BERSERKER button!!!! If you keep going on the way you are now; you're going to have a bad...”

 

Neo Falcon angrily says: “SHUT UP!!!!”

 

And Neo Falcon SHOOTS again; and the ledge that Sans is standing near gives WAY; and he APPEARS to fall down a SHEER cliff; and the sound of the BLAST causes rocks from FARTHER up the mountain to FALL down BEHIND Neo Falcon, leaving the now FOUR victims trapped between ROCKS and a SHEER drop-off!!!! Alphys says: “Undyne! We're TRAPPED!!!! Sans is...GONE; and I don't think MERCY is going to be an OPTION with this monster!!!!”

 

Sans shouts: “I'm FINE!!!! There was this CONVENIENTLY located, little tree that STOPPED my fall!!!!”

 

(CREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!) Sans seriously says: “But Undyne! You and the others MIGHT want to hurry! Even with MY light weight; I don't think the tree will hold ONTO me much longer!”

 

Undyne angrily says: “If you PUSH me; you're going to be DEAD!!!!”

 

Neo Falcon says: “I want to push you around! Oh, I will! I WILL!!!! I want to PUSH you DOWN!!!! Well, I will! I WILL!!!! I want to take you for GRANTED!!!! I want to take you for GRANTED; and I will, I WILL!!”

 

But before Neo Falcon can fire, Lettuce's NEW Verde Starship Blasts the rocks blocking the path back down, and shoot Neo Falcon DOWN to the ground!

Lettuce says: “Flying in the air! It's the ONLY place for a BIRD to be!”

 

Ebony and Pinkie zoom in on the Electric Shocker; and Pinkie says: “Do you trust me?!!!”

 

Smash Swallow LITERALLY gets hearts in his eyes, and he says: “More than ANYONE else on Core Earth!”

 

Ebony says: “Than come with us, if you want to live!”

 

Bash Buzzard asks: “But what about our RESEARCH?!!!”

 

Alphys says: “I'll e-mail you my notes, later! Just don't copy them, verbatim!”

 

Bash Buzzard sighs, and says: “Oh, all right!”

 

And Bash and Smash both get in the car with Ebony and Pinkie, and they ZOOM back down the mountain! Naruto charges up on his Fire Blazer, and he asks: “Alphys and Undyne; are you BOTH okay?!”

 

Undyne says: “We're fine! But Sans is in trouble! He's trapped on a tree below the ledge! He needs a Ranger's help!!!!”

 

Naruto talks into his communicator, and he asks: “Usagi; you've got this?!” /

 

In her Sailor Moon Cruiser, Usagi says: “With this machine, I can do ANYTHING!!!!” /

 

Sans looks up, and he says: “Cool! It's a Power Ranger! My life is--!!”

 

(RIP!!!!) Sans' clothes are RIPPED off him by the thorny tree and Sans screams: “SAVED!!!!”

 

Thankfully; Usagi ZOOMS in at super-sonic speed, and opening the passenger door, flies DIRECTLY underneath Sans at the PRECISE right moment, and Sans hits the CUSHIONED interior of the plane!

 

Neo Falcon gets up, and he angrily says: “I've had ENOUGH of you meddling TWERPS!!!!”

 

Lettuce says: “Give it up, Neo Falcon! You're out-numbered in terms of numbers, and fire-power!”

 

(BOOM!!!!) And everyone turns around to see that Tommy and BlackHawk have finished with the giant monsters! Naruto says: “And NOW; you're out of giant monsters to send you back-up!”

 

Neo Falcon yells: “What about my PROMISE?!!! I was going to KILL at LEAST one of you!”

 

Naruto says: “Have you even CHECKED your own power level?! It's only a power level of 17,000! If it had been four months ago, you MIGHT have been a challenge for us! But the way things stand, you don't have a CHANCE against seven of us! EIGHT; if you count Undyne!”

 

Neo Falcon, thinking quickly; rushes over, and KNOCKS Alphys down! Her scientific equipment and plant samples fall to the ground, and Neo Falcon GRABS everything he can! Neo Falcon says: “I'll get even STRONGER than this, from THESE things, and I'll be back to FINISH you!!!!”

 

And Neo Falcon disappears!!!! Lettuce says: “Come on! At LEAST; give us a chance to USE our new Power Vehicles against you!”

 

Naruto asks: “Alphys, did he grab anything important?”

 

Alphys nervously says: “I don't THINK so! But given that it's Dr. MANIAC we're talking about; there's no telling what he could do with all of that replaceable stuff!” /

 

Ebony and Pinkie finish driving down the mountain with Bash and Smash, and they let them out of the car! Pinkie says: “This is as far as we can take you! You can call for help for here, and get to wherever you need to go to! We've got Ranger duties to take care of!”

And they drive back up the mountain!!!!

Bash Buzzard says: “That was INCREDIBLE! That was AMAZING!!!! Our lives were saved by the Power Rangers THEMSELVES!!!!”

 

Smash Swallow lovingly says: “I know! The Pink one was pretty cute!”

 

Bash Buzzard says: “Cute?! Think CRITICALLY; for ONCE, in your life! The Power Rangers saved our lives, and we have NO idea who they are! We NEED to find out their secret identities, so that we can thank them PROPERLY for what they have done! Besides; think of how JEALOUS Pinkie Pie will be, when you TELL her that you're DATING the Pink Power Ranger!!!!”

 

Smash Swallow asks: “Do you really think the Pink Ranger would be attracted to a guy like me?!”

 

Bash Buzzard says: “She's BOUND to be attracted to SOMEBODY!!!!” /

 

In Usagi's Sailor Moon Cruiser; Sans, not realizing himself, says: “Thank you SO much for saving my LIFE; Usagi! Is there ANYTHING I can DO to repay you?!”

 

Usagi takes one look at Sans' NAKED skeleton body, and she says: “Would you PLEASE put a pair of CLOTHES on?!” (Gilligan Cut!)

 

In Usagi's house, Usagi is back in her civilian clothes; Sans is now WEARING clothes, and Sans says: “Thank you SO much for saving my LIFE; Usagi! Is there ANYTHING I can DO to repay you?!”

Usagi says: “What are you TALKING about?! I'm a Power Ranger, and you're my friend! So, that kind of makes it a DOUBLE duty thing for me, to do for you!”

Sans says: “But I'm just SO indebted to you! I would do ANYTHING for you, in order to pay you back!”

Usagi gets a funny look, and she says: “Wait a minute! This isn't that whole; 'I saved your life, so now you're going to follow me ANNOYINGLY around EVERYWHERE until you eventually pay me BACK,' Plot; is it?!”

Sans, deadpan, says: “It is!” Than Sans faces a fourth wall, and he says: “Sorry; but we had to get around to DOING it, sooner or later!”

Usagi asks: “Sans; who are you talking to?”

 

Sans turns back to face Usagi, and he says: “Nobody; in particular!”

Usagi turns back from Sans, and out loud, she says: “You know; it actually doesn't sound like a BAD idea at all! I mean; BATMAN gets to have a butler!”

 

Usagi turns back to Sans, and she says: “All right! It's a deal! I'm the boss lady; you're the servant skeleton! Your job; is to do the cooking, sweeping, dusting, mopping, scrubbing, polishing, mending, knitting, shopping, laundry, washing, drying, and ANYTHING else I can think of!” /

 

A montage of scenes is shown. First, Usagi is shown watching a brand NEW 72-inch screen H.D.T.V., eating a box of chocolate strawberries that Sans is feeding her! / Usagi is in a limo that SANS somehow has; and she's eating a box of popcorn and drinking soda at a drive-thru movie that no one ELSE is using for the night! / Usagi wakes up, and gets to eat breakfast in bed, INCLUDING French Toast actually MADE in France; and Belgian Waffles imported directly from Belgium! / Sans holds up a white sweater, and he says: “I got the YELLOW out of your sweater!”

Usagi says: “It WAS a YELLOW sweater!” /

Sans holds up a yellow sweater, and he says: “I got the YELLOW back INTO your sweater! Let's just leave it to the IMAGINATION as to HOW I did THAT!!!!” /

 

The montage ends, and Usagi says: “What a wild couple of last days THOSE were! Bossing Sans around to do my bidding sure gets tiring! I think I'll take a break and get myself a bite of LUNCH to eat!”

But before Usagi can GO anywhere, she nearly BUMPS into Sans, who is STANDING right in front of her! And instead, Usagi FALLS over; in the hilarious fashion of “Dragonball” fall-overs!!!! Usagi asks: “How did you DO that?!!! You're almost as sneaky as Droopy Dog, whenever he outwits that dumb, bad WOLF in those old Tex Avery cartoons!”

 

Sans says: “I replaced ALL your silverware with smart, self-cleaning SILVERWARE!!!! Now you will NEVER need to worry about dirty utensils EVER again!!!!”

Usagi says: “You didn't throw OUT all my OLD silverware, did you?! My human MOTHER gave me some of that silverware! It's IRREPLACEABLE!!!!”

 

Sans says: “That's not what Papyrus said! Confidentially; your mother got ripped OFF!!!! $20.99 for a FULL set of silverware?! PLEASE!!!! I UPGRADED for you! And I was able to convert your OLD silverware into nice little PLANT holders for your Back Garden!!!!”

 

Usagi laughs, and she says: “I DON'T have a back garden!!!!...(beat)...Do I HAVE a back garden?!!!”

 

Sans says: “Well, you do NOW!!!!”

 

Usagi runs into her back yard, and she sees the ENTIRE, formerly GREEN yard; converted into a greenhouse FILLED with plants from every SINGLE climate on Core Earth; including a HANDFUL of exotic alien plants that Sans got from WHO knows WHERE!!!!

Usagi says: “My BEAUTIFUL back YARD!!!! I was MAYBE going to convert it into a swimming pool, one of these days!”

 

Sans excitedly says: “OOH!!!! That's the plans for the FRONT yard! You'll NEVER have to go swimming at a public pool EVER again!!!!”

 

Usagi gets exasperated, and she says: “Will you PLEASE just STOP?!!! I don't want you to do any more CONVERTING; any more PLANNING; any more SHOPPING; or any more ANYTHING; got IT?!!! I just want a NICE, quiet, LUNCH for myself, that I will pay for, by MYSELF!!!! I don't want anybody pre-chewing my food so I don't HAVE to; I don't need ANYBODY testing my food to see if it's POISONED; and I certainly don't NEED to be carried there; I am perfectly capable of WALKING!!!!”

 

Sans thinks about it, and he winks, and he says: “I GET YOU!!!! You're just TESTING me, to see if I'm going to abandon you in your time of NEED!!!! Don't worry! I won't let down the girl who saved me!”

 

Usagi says: “You're NOT letting me DOWN!!!! Now stay, RIGHT HERE!!!!”

 

Usagi begins to walk, but she hears Sans feet SHUFFLE right behind her!!!! Usagi stops, and she hears Sans stops! Usagi steps once, and Sans steps once! Usagi steps three times, and Sans steps three times! Usagi quickly points up, and she says: “Look at the DISTRACTION!!!!”

 

Sans quickly looks in Usagi's pointed hand direction, and he says: “WHERE?!!!”

 

And Usagi QUICKLY runs off while Sans is distracted!!!! / A montage of running scenes is played, as Usagi keeps TRYING to find different places to hide, and different DISGUISES to use, in order to ESCAPE from Sans' pursuit; but just like Droopy Dog, Sans KEEPS finding Usagi EVERY single time; all to the tune of a FAMILIAR hit song by The Beatles! / “It's been a hard day's night, and I've been working like a dog! It's been a hard day's night, I should be sleeping like a log! But when I get home to you, I find the things that you do, will make me feel all right! You know I work all day to get you money to buy you things! And it's worth it just to hear you say, you're going to give me everything! So why on earth should I moan, cause when I get you alone; you know I feel OK! When I'm home everything seems to be right! When I'm home, feeling you holding me tight, tight, yeah! It's been a hard day's night, and I've been working like a dog! It's been a hard day's night, I should be sleeping like a log! But when I get home to you, I find the things that you do; Will make me feel all right; ow! (Guitar solo)

So why on earth should I moan, cause when I get you alone; you know I feel OK! When I'm home, everything seems to be right! When I'm home feeling you holding me tight, tight, yeah! It's been a hard day's night, and I've been working like a dog! It's been a hard day's night, I should be sleeping like a log! But when I get home to you I find the things that you do; will make me feel all right! You know I feel all right! You know I feel all right!” /

 

Usagi is meeting with the other Power Rangers, using the Simulation Planet for training, and instead, using it for hiding; hiding on a SIMULATED version of the Planet Mirinoi! Usagi says: “It's the most BIZARRE thing!!!! No matter WHERE I go; no matter WHERE I hide, he ALWAYS finds me!”

 

Naruto says: “And that's frustrating HOW?! You're the one who WANTED him as your butler!”

Pinkie says: Exactly! You told me it would be FUN!!!!”

 

Usagi says: “Well, it WAS fun; at first! But now, it's just ANNOYING!!!! I can't even get a moment's PRIVACY to myself, the way he follows me AROUND!!!!”

 

Toby says: “I've missed the past three days, because I've been with my younger brother! By the way; he's almost all better! He's going to move back in with my mother and me, said he's had enough of Pokemon catching for now! It certainly makes my mom feel better!”

 

BlackHawk says: “That's good to know! By the way; Usagi, I noticed that Sans isn't with you right NOW!! How did you manage to ditch him THIS time?!”

 

Usagi says: “Simple! I ordered him to do the ONE task that Sans can NEVER do! Even WITH his crazy, capable, skeleton skills!!!!” /

 

Sans is BUSY (in VAIN!!!!) trying to teach Luna and Artemis (Usagi's cats), DOG tricks!!!! But all Luna and Artemis are doing are just SLEEPING on their cat beds!!!! Sans says: “Come ON!!!! Sit up!!!! Beg!!!! Roll over!!!! Fetch!!!! Play dead!!!! Will you PLEASE think about for something OTHER than yourself for MORE than a NANO-SECOND?!!!”

 

And Luna and Artemis unleash their cat claws, and start SCRATCHING Sans in a cartoon dust cloud! /

 

Back in the Simulation Planet, Ebony says: “Well, teaching two cats, DOG tricks, isn't going to keep Sans occupied forever! He's either GOING to give up the task EVENTUALLY; or he will FIND a way to DO it! THEN; what will you do?!!!”

 

Usagi says: “That's why I ASKED you to HELP me! To come up with an idea to STOP this whole STUPID idea, of Sans being my BUTLER!!!! He's TOO good at it; and he's TOO intrusive!!!!”

 

Lettuce says: “Well, the way I understand it; the whole thing STARTED when you saved HIS life, so if you get him to save YOUR life; that would make the BOTH of you, even!!!!”

 

Usagi scoffs, and she says: “Him save MY life to repay me saving HIS life?!!! You would THINK we could come up with something MORE original than THAT!!!!”

 

Naruto asks: “You've GOT a BETTER plan?!!!”

 

Usagi gets an anime sweat drop, and she sighs, and says: “Sadly, no.”

 

Toby says: “Don't worry. We'll set you up with something EASY!!!! Something that even SANS could save you from; and it won't ACTUALLY threaten your life even if something goes wrong!”

 

Usagi sighs in relief, and she says: “Thank you, I feel SO much better!!!!” /

 

Back in Queen Beryl's space-ship, Dr. Maniac is putting the FINAL touches, on using ALL the materials Neo Falcon has given him, in an attempt to STRENGTHEN him ONE last time! Dr. Maniac says: “That should do it! With the modifications I made to the supplies you stole from Alphys; you will be UNSTOPPABLE!!!!”

 

Farrah Cat says: “You're not HONESTLY going to try to strengthen up Neo Falcon AGAIN; are you?!”

 

Dr. Maniac says: “Don't try and STOP me!!!!”

 

Farrah Cat says: “Either YOU succeed, and he destroys the Power Rangers; or the process blows him up and I get MY shot at killing the Power Rangers! Either way, my day doesn't end up TOO badly!!!!”

 

Dr. Maniac says: “Use the energy from my portable Energy unit, and RECEIVE your power NOW!!!!”

 

Dr. Maniac FIRES at him, and turns Neo Falcon COMPLETELY gold; BULKING up his muscles, and giving him BRAND new WINGS; and laser RED EYES!!!! In a bold voice, Neo Falcon says: “I have the POWER!”

 

Meison sighs and says: “Dr. Maniac NEVER quite got over the cancellation of the ORIGINAL 1980's version of He-Man!!!! He kept hoping Skeletor would FINALLY get to kill OFF the blasted hero!”

 

Dr. Maniac says: “He-Man was GAY!!!! I can PROVE it!!!! But in the mean-time, why don't you USE your new-found POWERS, and DESTROY the Power Rangers ONCE and for all?! You can START by going after that BLASTED Tommy Oliver! He has been a THORN in the sides of evil for FAR TOO LONG!!!!”

 

Neo Falcon boldly says: “Dr. Maniac's sworn enemy, is MY sworn enemy!!!!”

 

And Neo Falcon flies BACK down to Core Earth, not even NEEDING a space suit this time around! Dr. Maniac chuckles, and he says: “The advantage ball, is in MY court NOW; PUNKS!!!!” /

 

In Angel Grove, Billy and Rocky are finishing up putting the finishing touches on their 'rescue' plan for Usagi! At the old Juice Bar; they have set up a ladder, a bucket of non-toxic white paint, all in a way which could CAUSE both the ladder AND the bucket to FALL on Usagi! Usagi says: “For the record; I still think this is a LOUSY plan! This is NEVER going to work!!!!”

 

Billy says: “For the record; the word 'Never'; is not a term that you will find me USING!!!! At least, not in terms of me coming up with a plan! I mean, have you ever known a plan of mine to NOT work, when it's NOT tampered with by somebody EVIL or something like that?!”

 

Rocky says: “Billy came up with the holistic rejuvenation remedy that cured my broken back after my days of being a Zeo Power Ranger ended! I'd trust Billy with my life!”

 

Usagi sighs, and says: “Fine! If you can trust Billy with your life, I guess I can, as well! I just hope that I don't get white PAINT over me!”

 

Lettuce says: “I'd be more worried about the ladder! We got the lightest one we could FIND; but still, I wouldn't WANT it to fall on me!”

 

Toby says: “Just stick to the plan; and Sans will take care of the rest!” /

 

BlackHawk is flying in the sky, talks into his communicator, and he says: “The hero is on his way! Take your positions and hide! We want to make SURE Sans doesn't doubt his own abilities to save Usagi!!” /

 

Pinkie says: “Will do! Break a LEG; Usagi!!!! Not; literally, of course!!!!”

 

The other Rangers hide; and stilted, Usagi 'accidentally' drops her paint roller! Usagi says: “Oh, no. I accidentally, dropped my paint roller on the ground.”

 

Ebony yells: “Is THAT the BEST that you can ACT?!!!”

 

Usagi says: “Does anyone WANT to be my stunt double?! I didn't THINK so!”

 

Usagi waits, and she sees Sans come into view, she 'accidentally' stumbles, and she says: “Oh, no. I accidentally TRIPPED on the ground, and TWISTED my ankle! I sure hope the PAINT can and LADDER that I set up; don't accidentally FALL on ME!!!! That would be TERRIBLE!!!!”

 

Neo Falcon appears, and he says: “Yes, it WOULD!!!!”

 

And a familiar voice flies in, and says: “HI-YAH!!!!!”

 

Rocky asks: “TOMMY?!!!”

 

Billy groans, and says: “Why does HE always HAVE to save the DAY?!!! He even SAVED Justin once; it's like an ADDICTION, for him!”

 

Tommy is now wearing all black, and he says: “Back for more?! I thought you would be!”

 

Usagi says: “Tommy; get OUT of here! You're ruining the...surprise!!!!”

 

Toby asks: “What surprise?!!!”

 

Usagi improvises, and she says: “The grand re-opening of Lieutenant Stone's Juice Bar; with a brand new paint of coat and EVERYTHING!!!!”

 

Tommy says: “I'll take care of the monster! Skeleton boy; take Usagi to safety!”

 

Sans says: “Yes, sir! As you wish, sir!!!!”

 

Neo Falcon says: “Do you think I'm just going to let them LIVE?!!!”

Tommy GRABS Neo Falcon's firing arm, and yanks it PAINFULLY away, but he fires DIRECTLY at the paint bucket, which teeters over, KNOCKING the ladder askew, and Sans dramatically says: “Usagi!!!!”

 

And in what SEEMS like a SLOW-MOTION sequence; Sans rushes in, PUSHES Usagi out of the way; but is unable to get OUT of the way of the falling ladder and white paint bucket HIMSELF!!!! The slow-motion sequence ends, and Usagi says: “Oh, no! Sans! SANS!!!!!!!!!!”

 

Tommy says: “I'm going to FINISH YOU!!!!”

 

Usagi, angrily says: “Don't you DARE!!!! This piece of meat is all MINE!!!!”

 

Neo Falcon says: “WHAT?!!! Power level 27,000?!!! Your power was supposed to go DOWN without Khorne's influence!!!!”

 

Usagi angrily says: “You don't know the first thing about us; do you?! We didn't GO to the Chaos Gods for help because we wanted to; we did it because we had to! And did you ever stop to THINK that MAYBE; just MAYBE the Chaos Gods were actually holding us BACK from reaching our TRUE potential?! That maybe their AFRAID of our TRUE powers, and were TRYING to limit us?! But without their INFLUENCE; I can achieve my OWN true potential, and I will USE that potential to bring you DOWN!!!!”

 

Sans weakly says: “You ARE a true hero! I was hoping that you would see the light, eventually!”

 

Neo Falcon angrily says: “So, you STILL live?!!! But you're a SKELETON!!!! You're DEAD!!!! I'll make you DOUBLE DEAD!!!!”

 

Usagi angrily says: “Wrong, again!!!! Because we're going to STOP you! Back to ACTION!!!!” /

 

A split-screen shot shows the Power Rangers; except for Usagi, morphing simultaneously. Than it shows Usagi's morphing sequence separately! / Tommy says: “Dino Thunder, Power up!!!!” /

 

Tommy doesn't GET an improved morphing sequence this time; instead using the same morphing sequence from his days as a Dino Thunder Power Ranger! Tommy says: “Brachio power, Dino Thunder!” /

 

BlackHawk says: “I don't know what kind of new powers you got, but it WON'T be enough to stop us!”

 

Neo Falcon says: “You can't beat me! I'm a better bird than YOU'LL ever BE!!!!”

 

BlackHawk says: “Those are fighting words! Lettuce, let's double-team this creep!!!!”

 

Lettuce says: “Right! Thunder Hammer!!!!”

 

And he SWINGS the Thunder Hammer at him, but it only knocks him back a few feet! Naruto says: “I think these creeps are getting STRONGER! This one can actually TAKE a blow to the head!”

 

Tommy says: “You've got new Power Vehicles, right?! Use them!!!!”

 

Toby says: “Good call! /

 

Usagi says: “Sailor Moon Cruiser!” / Naruto says: “Fire Blazer!” / Lettuce says: “Verde Starship!” / Toby says: “Ice Smasher!” / Pinkie and Ebony simultaneously say: “Electric Shocker!” /

 

They all jump in their Power Vehicles, and Toby says: “Feels so GOOD to be back in a Power Vehicle!”

 

Lettuce says: “Let's show this creep what we're made of! Fire FULL arsenal!!!!”

 

And FIRING every single power weapon in their artillery, they fire upon Neo Falcon, and he says: “A combined power level of 58,000?!!! How; is that POSSIBLE?!!!” (BOOM!!!!)

 

Neo Falcons' body chunks fall to the ground, and Tommy says: “That's what I'm talking about! These creeps are no match for you!” /

 

Dr. Maniac angrily says: “Don't party just yet! That was just the appetizer! Now, try the main course! I hope you brought PLENTY of Mulan Szechuan McNugget Sauce!” /

 

And Dr. Maniac FIRES his Bigga Ray; and restores Neo Falcon, and makes him bigger!!!! Pinkie says: “Sheesh! These guys just never know when to QUIT!!!!”

 

Tommy says: “I've got this one! Brachio Staff!!!! Change modes!!!! Power of EARTH!!!!”

 

Tommy charges up his Brachio Staff, and it powers up an EARTHQUAKE that rocks the ground beneath Neo Falcon!!!! Tommy says: “Change modes!!!! Power of WIND!!!!”

 

Tommy's Brachio Staff powers up a HUGE twister; which KNOCKS Neo Falcon all around with its INTENSE powers, tearing off his WINGS let again!!!! Tommy says: “Final mode!!!! Power of FIRE!!!!”

 

And from the caverns of Core Earth, huge molten LAVA washes over Neo Falcon, destabilizing his body!! Neo Falcon says: “Dr. Maniac, I'm finished!!!! Eviscerate these BRATS for ME!!!!” (BOOM!!!!)

 

Tommy says: “If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen!!!!” /

 

Queen Beryl sighs and says: “Looks like all of Neo Falcon's claims to strength weren't all they were cracked up to be! You've lost yourself a loyal soldier, Dr. Maniac! That does NOT look very good on you!”

 

Dr. Maniac sarcastically says: “I am SO worried!!!!” Than he seriously says: “As IF!!!! At least Neo Falcon got us some VERY valuable energy for us! We can store it for Queen Metallia's eventual revival! Neo Aquaiger and Neo Falcon were my two weakest soldiers, anyways! Although admittedly, they did last a lot LONGER fighting against the Power Rangers Bionic Force! That only means these Rangers are STRONGER than those older Rangers! Which means that my soldiers will just have to fight HARDER against them in order to kill them! I TRUST; YOU won't fail when it's YOUR turn; RIGHT, Farrah Cat?!”

Farrah Cat fiercely says: “With KHORNE as my WITNESS; I won't let you DOWN!!!!” /

 

It's later, at the newly re-opened Angel Grove Juice Bar. Sans is all cleaned up, and all patched up. And BlackHawk and Ebony are dancing together. Usagi looks at Sans; sighs, and says: “Sans, I need to, apologize to you. I took advantage of you. I REALLY thought having a butler would be a good thing! But, you just got TO into it! I wasn't thinking and...I'm really sorry about the whole thing. I guess, even without the Blood God's influence, I'm still capable of making a bad idea decision.”

 

Sans says: “Forget about it. You realized that you did something wrong, and you apologized. That takes a lot of courage, Usagi! There are FAR too many who NEVER admit it when they're wrong! And because they don't, that just causes FAR more problems for others, and eventually, themselves; than would occur for them if they would just ADMIT their mistakes in the FIRST place!”

 

Usagi says: “So; we're even, right?”

 

Sans says: “Of course! A life, for a life; to paraphrase the old saying! Besides, if you HAD kept going on the way you were going, you were GOING to have a BAD time!”

 

Usagi says: “You know, I really wish I knew I could tell whether you were JOKING whenever you made that statement, or not!”

 

Sans says: “I don't think you WANT to know! And quite frankly, I hope that I NEVER have to find out for myself, either!” /

 

Epilogue: BlackHawk and Ebony are slow-dancing at the Angel Grove Juice Bar, while a familiar tune by Genesis is being played. / Phil Collins sings: “Stay with me. My love, I hope you'll always be, right here by my side if ever I need you! Oh, my love! In your arms, I feel so safe and so secure. Every day is such a perfect day to spend, alone with you! I will follow you; will you follow me? All the days and nights that we know will be, I will stay with you; will you stay with me? Just one single tear in each passing year. With the dark; oh, I see so very clearly now. All my fears are drifting by me so slowly now; fading away. I can say, the night is long, but you are here. Close at hand, I'm better for the smile you give! And while I live, I will follow you; will you follow me? All the days and nights, that we know will be. I will stay with you, will you stay with me? Just one single tear in each passing year there will be! (Drum solo) I will, follow you; will you follow me? All the days and nights that we know will be. I will, stay with you; will you stay with me? Just one single tear in each passing year, I will, follow you; will you follow me? All the days and nights that we know will be. I will, stay with you; will you stay with me? Just one single tear in each passing year, I will, follow you; will you follow me? All the days and nights that we know will be. I will, stay with you; will you stay with me? Just one single tear in each passing year.” /

 

Episode Notes: Final appearances of Neo Aquaiger, and Neo Falcon, as they are both destroyed permanently in this episode. First appearance of Invader Zim and Skoodge in this series. Sadly, they also both lose the REST of the Irken Empire in this episode, because Radiguet DESTROYED the rest of them! Queen Hedrian officially renounces her evil ways in this episode, and reveals her first name to be Machiko. First time that Tommy has morphed since “Legendary Battle”, and he morphs into TWO different Ranger forms! The Dragonzord Green Mighty Morphing Power Ranger, and the Brachio Black Dino Thunder Power Ranger! First time that the Power Rangers have actually USED their new Power Vehicles in a fight against a monster! Bash and Smash make it their NEW goal to find out the secret identities of the Power Rangers; in a nod to the sub-plot Bulk and Skull had during season two of “Mighty Morphing Power Rangers!” Featured songs in this episode: “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Things)”; “A Hard Day's Night”; and “Follow You, Follow Me”, also the name of the episode title!

Personal Notes: “While I have HAD the idea of utilizing the whole “Someone Saves Someone's Life; and that someone feels that they have to repay their debt”, plot idea, since season one, this was the first opportunity I had where I could implement it. Also, I feel as though the series is kind of straying from it's roots as an action-adventure oriented series. Personally though, I feel that what season two seems to be doing, is showing that while saving the world is EASY for the Power Rangers, they have just as MUCH of a difficulty, living their own PERSONAL lives, as every other normal person does, as well! And the reason why Radiguet appears in this episode? To REMIND viewers/readers that he's STILL out there, waiting in the wings! So, even if the Power Rangers prevail against Doctor Maniac and Queen Beryl, there is still Radiguet's evil crew to contend with! /

That's my episode idea for today! Enough said, true believers!

[Rebel the Wolfgirl]

 

Fear No Evil

 

Spoiler

 

“Hello again, Dr. Wade.”

 

“Please, call me Harlan. Sit down, if you would. I must say, it is a pleasure to meet you in the flesh. You are something of a legend amongst those who know their history.”

 

“So I have heard. Tell me: What was the reason for this invitation? I was under the impression Armacham was content to keep to itself.”

 

“Well...it's about my daughter. She is...troubled, shall we say.”

 

“Oh? In what way?”

 

“She was born with great psychic power, and has passed all the tests we have conducted swimmingly. However, she is not well mentally. She's been deliberately failing the recent tests, and those around her have been suffering horrible nightmares. I was hoping that you may be able to help her. Maybe you could act as a mentor, of sorts. Keep her calm and distracted so that she doesn't hurt anyone.”

 

“...I'll see what I can do.”

 

“Thank you. A pleasure meeting you, Omnus.”

 

----

 

Omnus jolted awake. He was slumped over the console he had been working at. The previous night had been long and tiring, and he had fallen asleep as he worked. He hadn't expected to recall old memories in his dreams. He hadn't expected to think of...her. All was quiet in the Command Center, Hedrian and Alpha in their bedrooms sleeping, and little Karanak at his feet, curled up and snoring softly, occasionally scratching himself and whimpering. Artemis, who had been keeping watch, hopped down from a nearby console and looked at the Rangers’ mentor, slightly concerned.

 

“Omnus, you’re awake. What’s the matter?” the white tomcat asked. Luna, who was sleeping nearby, stirred, her left eye opening.

 

Omnus replied, “Old memories I tried to bury have come back to the surface. It startled me out of my slumber.”

 

“Old memories?” Artemis asked. “What sorts of old memories? Given you’ve lived far longer than any of us, you must have had all sorts of experiences.”

 

“These are relatively recent. Memories of a little girl I failed to save from the evils of men.” Omnus said softly.

 

“How recent?” Artemis asked.

 

“Less than fifty years ago.” Omnus replied. Artemis rubbed his head on Omnus’ legs in an effort to comfort him.

 

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” he reassured. Omnus nodded, before falling back asleep.

 

Firehawk, meanwhile, was standing on the balcony of the apartment she and Starhawk shared, watching the sun as it began rising. Starhawk stood next to her, having readjusted her sleep cycle to fit her sister’s. “Isn’t it beautiful?” she whispered, placing a hand of Firehawk’s shoulder. Firehawk nodded.

 

“Yes, it is. It's the second most beautiful thing in the world.”

 

“What’s the first?”

 

Firehawk turned and stared at her, not saying a word. Starhawk blushed, looking away. Her sister grinned, putting an arm around Starhawk and pulling her close. Starhawk only blushed harder. Firehawk kissed her gently, rubbing Starhawk’s back. Starhawk kissed back, doing the same to her. Firehawk broke the kiss after a minute, still grinning.

 

“You really do think I’m more beautiful than a Core Earth sunset?” Starhawk whispered softly. “Because I am more than flattered.”

 

“I don't think you are, sister dear.” Firehawk replied. “I know you are.” Starhawk could only blush harder, at a loss for words. Firehawk smiled again.

 

“What? Weren't expecting me to say such things?”

 

“...I was, just not in the way you did.” Starhawk replied. “I love you.”

 

“I love you too, Star. More than anything else in this world, or any world.”

 

“Any world?”

 

Firehawk nodded. Her sister smiled, pulling the former into another kiss. Firehawk purred. This led to the two of them making love in the light of the rising sun.

 

Kras’hir, meanwhile, was sound asleep, snoring loudly. The Daemoness sounded like a roaring buzzsaw when she snored, and it drove Usagi a bit crazy. The latter lay on her bed, her eyes wide open and bloodshot, with heavy bags under them. She was absolutely sleep-deprived, but thankfully, there was no school today. This somehow led her train of thought to wonder why none of the Rangers had been going to school lately. The Necron threat oncoming might have been a factor. Or it might not have been, her brain told her. She was too deprived of sleep to really think on it. She could hear Ikuko downstairs, starting to brew coffee. Usagi usually wasn’t very fond of the stuff, but she decided she needed a cup. Desperately needed one, in fact. She forcibly dragged her tired body downstairs, and slumped in a chair. “Morning, Mom.” she grumbled.

 

Ikuko raised a brow. “What's wrong with you this morning?”

 

“...Have you ever heard Kras’hir snore?” Usagi replied, hoping her mother would get the point. “I haven’t been able to sleep.”

 

“I have heard her, yes. She's like a damned chainsaw.”

 

“Tell me about it. It scares Sally, did you know that?”

 

“It does?” Kras’hir said, entering the room. Usagi jumped out of her seat, turning around.

 

“Erm...um...good morning, my love.” she said nervously.

 

“Why so skittish, Usagi?” Kras’hir asked. “Afraid I'll get mad?”

 

“If I’m telling the truth, yes.” Usagi said. Before she could say anything further, Sally came out of her own room, teddy bear in hand.

 

“Good morning mommy, Usagi, and Aunt Ikuko.” the toddler said sleepily. Kras’hir picked the girl up gently, setting Sally on her shoulder.

 

“Hey, kiddo.” She said happily.

 

“Hi, mommy.” Sally replied, snuggling into the Daemoness’ shoulder. “Your snores kept me up last night...and I didn’t have Karanak to protect me…”

 

Kras’hir gently turned Sally’s head so the two were making eye contact. “I'm sorry I kept you awake, kiddo. But you know I'd never hurt you, right? Even if my snores sound scary?”

 

“Uh-huh.” Sally replied. “You’re my mommy. You’d never hurt me.”

 

Kras’hir smiled, ruffling her adopter daughter’s hair. Sally giggled, hugging Kras’hir tighter. Ikuko couldn't help but smile as she handed Usagi a mug of coffee. Usagi downed it. “Thanks, mom. I needed it.”

 

“It is no trouble.” Ikuko responded. The rest of the morning, and day, passed quietly....until they all received a call from Omnus in the evening, requesting the Rangers, along with Kras’hir, Starhawk and Firehawk, come to the Command Center right away. Naruto was the first to arrive, followed by Toby, who arrived with a girl the former didn’t recognize. She appeared to be about three years older than Toby, and rather attractive. Naruto then noticed she had black hair like Toby’s. “Who’s this?” he asked. Toby sighed, a hint of irritance in his voice.

 

“My older sister, Naruto. Meet Lucy Wilder Jones.”

 

Lucy smiled shyly, shaking Naruto’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

 

“Nice to meet you too.” the blonde ninja replied, though he seemed unnerved around this girl for some odd reason. “Toby has a sister, huh? Never would’ve thought.”

 

Firehawk arrived next, lighting a cigarette casually as she entered. Starhawk came next. “Oh. I see we have someone new here.”

 

“Lucy, this is Starhawk and Firehawk. Guys, meet Lucy, my sister.”

 

Firehawk immediately got a very bad vibe from Lucy, and wasn't sure why. She decided to keep an eye on the girl. Lettuce and Pinkie came next, having spent the day and the night before binge-watching movies. Lettuce, like Firehawk, did not like Lucy upon first seeing her. Once everyone had gathered, Omnus looked at all of them, his face expressionless, though there was worry to be found if one looked hard enough.

 

“Let me start this by asking a question: Have any of you ever heard of the Armacham Technology Corporation?”

 

“Armacham...the name sounds familiar, but I don’t know where I’ve heard it…” Naruto said.

 

“My dad holds some stock in that corporation.” Lettuce said.

 

“You would know that, wouldn’t you?” Ebony snarked. “Your net worth is what, 7 billion?”

 

Firehawk, meanwhile, was staring at Omnus, her eyes wide. The cigarette had dropped out of her hand, and was left smoldering on the floor, forgotten.

 

“Holy shit. I never thought I would have to hear that name again.” She said softly.

 

“Whatever do you mean, sister?” Starhawk asked, worried.

 

“It means,” said Toby. “we aren’t hearing the whole story. What’s the deal, Omnus? The hell does this corporation have to do with us?”

 

“And what does my dad have to do with this?” Lettuce asked, only for Naruto to slap him.

 

“Stop asking stupid questions, this is serious.”

 

Omnus said, “Let me tell you all a story, shall I? A story about a little girl named Alma.”

 

He paused, cleared his throat, then began.

 

“Alma Wade was born to Harlan Wade and Elizabeth Wade about 50 years ago. Alma's mother died during labor, leaving Alma alone with her father. For reasons never revealed to me, Alma was gifted with tremendous psychic powers from birth, and as a result, she suffered nightmares and was attuned to the negative emotions of the people around her. At the age of only three, the Armacham Technology Corporation became interested in Alma due to her tremendous psychic abilities and inducted her into Project Paragon, where they tested her for every known psychic ability. Alma passed all tests, and, should the very powerful psychic appear not to have any power, her father would work tirelessly with her until she was able to focus her powers and complete the objective. She was experimented on tirelessly to discover the source of her powers and how they responded to external stimuli.

When Alma was five, she began to purposefully fail all her tests, and it was discovered that she was failing them so that the company would stop experimenting on her. Sometime later, she started a fire in one of their laboratories. Armacham scientists began to have vivid nightmares, sudden mood changes, and delusions, and it was concluded that Alma was psychically attacking them. Soon after, Armacham made plans to keep Alma alive, but to also stop her from being able to harm their employees by keeping her sedated.

In her seventh year, Alma was recruited into the Armacham Technology Corporation's Project Origin with the aim of creating psychics from a psychic fore-bearer, and to keep her from using her psychic powers against Armacham's scientists. Two days before her eighth birthday, she was put into an induced coma and locked in the Vault, a spherical structure located deep inside the secret Origin Facility, blocking her psychic abilities. During the project, Alma was impregnated twice with clone embryos, made from her own DNA, combined with genetic contributions from various Origin staffers...including Harlan Wade himself.

She gave birth to the First ‘Prototype’, the Point Man, when she was only 15 years old, and then a second, Paxton Fettel, a year later. Alma merged her consciousness with that of Fettel when he was 10, causing the first Synchronicity Event and prompting ATC to shut down Project Origin completely and to "pull the plug" on Alma. Her life support system was removed and her physical body died six days later from malnourishment and the trauma she suffered while giving birth. Alma was 26 at the time of her death.” The Rangers looked at their mentor, horrified.

 

“...How do you know all this?” Ebony asked.

 

“...Because I was brought in to try and bring Alma ‘under control’ when she was 5. I failed, at least in the eyes of the ATC Board of Directors.” Omnus replied. “She was a scared little girl, and they treated her like an object. Bastards…”

 

“...Let me guess. She’s returned.” Ebony replied, knowing how a horror film worked.

 

Omnus hesitated. “Before I answer that, you need to know what you will be heading into. You need to know about the Replicas.”

 

“Replicas?” Lettuce asked. “Like clones?”

 

“Kind of. They are the ATC’s attempt to create an army for hire. Replicas are legion of clones. Without a psychic to give them orders, they're effectively brain-dead. With a commander…”

 

“...they're Death Incarnate.” Firehawk finished. Omnus nodded. Ebony immediately held Toby, ignoring the look Lucy was giving her.

 

Omnus turned to the console. “I was sent this a little while ago. Watch.”

 

The footage he showed them was...horrific. Replica soldiers were sweeping through an ATC facility, slaughtering anyone they came across without hesitation or mercy. A man could be seen, crouching over a corpse. He appeared to be eating it. Naruto covered his mouth, nearly vomiting. Ebony held Toby tighter, Starhawk burying her face into her sister’s chest like a child.

 

Omnus said, “That, Rangers, is Paxton Fettel. Pleasant fellow, isn't he?”

 

“Yeah, really pleasant.” Ebony muttered, looking at Blackhawk. On the screen, Fettel turned to the camera, wiping blood off his mouth.

 

“I know you will see this, Omnus. Come, come. Find us. Mother is waiting to see you again…” he said, his tone flat and a bit mad. Lettuce shuddered.

 

“What a creep.”

 

“Tell me about it.” said Naruto.

 

The footage cut out. Omnus stared at the screen, his hands linked behind his back.

 

“You saw one of Alma’s sons. The other will meet you outside the facility.”

 

“Where is this facility, exactly?” Usagi asked.

 

“It can’t be far, considering this city’s size.” Toby said.

 

“Oh, it's not far at all.” Omnus replied. “It's just heavily guarded most days, and concealed inside various business fronts.”

 

“Well, fuck.” muttered Lettuce. “Looks like we’re gonna have to sneak in action-movie style.” Toby facepalmed. Omnus did the same.

 

“Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Buddha, Allah, Yahweh and Shiva, have mercy.” Omnus muttered.

 

“Was it something I said?” asked Lettuce.

 

“...Do I even need to answer that?” Usagi asked. “We can easily just take out the guards.”

 

Firehawk rolled her eyes. “He said the place is guarded most days. All of the guards are dead. The Replicas are patrolling now, and believe me, taking them head-on will be no easy task. That's why the Point Man will prove invaluable in getting in.”

 

“The Point Man? How are we gonna use him?” asked Toby, who had freed himself of Ebony’s grasp only to find himself held by his sister.

 

“Use him?” Firehawk replied. “No, no, no. You misunderstand. He will be the one who is going in. If anything, we are the ones who will be used.”

 

“...That’s what she said.” muttered Toby.

 

“Who did?” Starhawk asked.

 

“...My sister.” he replied with dry sarcasm. Starhawk looked at Lucy, then Toby muttered, “Forget it.”

 

Firehawk walked over to Toby, before promptly slapping him across the face.

 

“OW!” came the response. “What was that for, Princest?” Way to dig yourself deeper, his brain said. She hit him again, this time much harder. Lucy stepped between the two of them, glaring at Firehawk. The Hawkian was unfazed.

 

“I've killed enemies ten times your size while suffering from cyanide poisoning. I think I can handle an unarmed human female.” Firehawk said.

 

“Don’t mess with my sister. Seriously, don’t.” Toby warned. “It’s a very bad idea.”

 

Lucy had drawn a knife, and was casually sharpening it as she looked at Firehawk, smiling serenely. Firehawk stared her down, unafraid. Neither girl moved. It became clear to those  watching that this wasn't a mere disagreement; it was two alpha predators sizing each other up.

 

Now, it was Toby’s turn to get between them. “Ladies, please, there’s enough of me to go around.” he joked in an effort to ease the tension. Firehawk snorted.

 

“I'll pass. There is only one person who can satisfy me, and it isn't you.”

 

Toby looked at Lucy. “Sister dear, is there something you’d like to say to Firehawk?”

 

“Yes!” Lucy said brightly, before flipping Firehawk off. “She's a cunt!”

 

Firehawk snorted again. “Yes, well, you're a…”

 

She then let out a series of harsh squawks in her native tongue, all of them very vulgar insults. That was when Omnus slammed his fist into the console.

 

“ENOUGH!”

 

The other Rangers stared, wide-eyed. It seemed Omnus would not be playing games this night. Even Firehawk stood silent, her eyes a bit wide. Omnus looked at each of them.

 

“Get your gear, and head to the coordinates I send you.” he said seriously. “I fear Paxton Fettel plans to release Alma. Do not let him.”

 

“What’ll happen if we do?” Naruto asked. “Nothing good, I suspect.”

 

“Yep.” Toby agreed. “IT’S MORPHING TIME!”

 

Omnus said quietly, his tone one of soft fear, which was unexpected coming from him, “Alma is hate incarnate. If she is freed, she will drown the world in blood and fire.”

 

“We won’t let that happen.” Lettuce reassured.

 

Omnus wasn't so sure, but he nodded. The team left, heading for the coordinates he provided. The Armacham facility was eerily quiet when they arrived at the gates. “...Are you sure this is the company your dad put stocks in?” Ebony asked Lettuce. “Because it seems...empty.”

 

“Positive.” Lettuce said. “But you’re right. It feels empty. Like something doesn’t want us here.”

 

Firehawk walked up to the gate. “Or there isn't anyone left alive…”

 

“...just...her.” Starhawk finished cryptically. “Only Alma.”

 

“And her bastard son…” Firehawk replied.

 

“What are we waiting for, then?!” Toby urged. “We need to get in there ASAP!”

 

“Toby’s right.” said Usagi. “We can’t waste time.”

 

Firehawk, without another word, kicked the gate down, not wanting to waste time trying to open it. Usagi led her teammates inside swiftly yet quietly. All they could see was darkness; inky...black...just like Fettel. Speaking of the Devil, laughter began, and Paxton Fettel emerged from the darkness, a wide smile on his face. Usagi stared him down, her blue eyes a bright flame of determination and justice.

 

“Face us.” she challenged. “Lest you be struck down.”

 

“Oh, I'm not really here.” Fettel said. “This form is but a projection of myself. I'm a psychic, you see.”

 

“...I couldn’t tell.” Usagi replied dryly.

 

“Even then, we’re still coming to stop you.” Naruto replied. “So stop hiding.”

 

“Hmmm...no.” Fettel said mockingly. “You see, Rangers, I am not one of the dumb, mindless beasts you slay on a weekly basis. I'm not going to throw myself at you, just so you can kill me and learn some tacky moral lesson.”

 

“We’ll play by your rules, then.” Toby spoke. Lettuce, in a panic, tried covering his best friend’s mouth.

 

“You don’t know what you’re dealing with here, Jones.” the penguin whispered harshly. “We’re dealing with something that can’t be reasoned with. Something that won’t stop until his mother is freed and let loose upon Core Earth. Do you understand that?!” Toby’s expression changed to one of realization that Lettuce was right. He nodded, and Lettuce let him go.

 

Fettel grinned. “My rules? No, no. You won't be playing with me. You'll be playing with her.”

 

“...Well, crap.” Lettuce muttered. “Nice going there, Toby. You really helped us there.”

 

Before anything more could be said, soft footsteps became audible, coming from the darkness. The footsteps of a child. Usagi turned to look, and saw a little girl in a red dress. Alma. Alma had black shoulder length hair, dark blue eyes, and pale skin. She was barefoot, and was carrying a ragged teddy bear. “Whatever you do, stay away from her.” Usagi ordered.

 

“Roger that, captain.” Naruto said.

 

Ebony nodded. “...I’ve seen enough movies to know that a ghost girl is never a good sign.”

 

Alma continued to walk, her steps soft and quiet. She approached the Rangers slowly,

 

“Uhhh...hi.” Lettuce said, looking nervously at Alma, then to Pinkie. “Are you lost?” Usagi glared at him. “...What? I’m just going on instinct.”

 

Alma, as expected, didn't respond.

 

Ebony looked at her. “We need to run. Take out Fettel, then get out.” she whispered.

 

“Agreed.” Naruto replied. A moment later, the door they had used to enter the building shut and locked.

 

“Do we run now?” Starhawk asked.

 

“Now.” Ebony said before bolting off into the darkness. It wasn't long before the group was divided, the various members alone, with only one or two others for company. Firehawk had ended up alone with her sister, the two of them in a small, abandoned kitchen. Starhawk held her close, whimpering softly in terror. After Ebony had taken off, Alma had vanished...before something emerged. It was horrifying, and too much for them to handle. This led to everyone fleeing in different directions in sheer terror. Toby had been paired with Blackhawk, and ran behind him.

 

“Can you fly us outta here, dude?” the Pokemon Trainer asked.

 

“I would, if I knew the way out. And before you ask, I'm not going to start busting through walls. That could cause the whole building to collapse.”

 

“Then what are we gonna do? You’re smarter than I am.”

 

“I don't know. I have no idea what the fuck we're dealing with.”

 

“...We’re screwed, then, aren’t we?” Toby said, sitting against a wall and folding his arms.

 

“No. Not yet. We just need to find the others, and come up with a plan.” Blackhawk replied, sitting next to him. The two of them waited, trying to build up the courage to venture into the darkness.

 

Kras’hir, meanwhile, was pacing, muttering angry curse words under her breath. Usagi followed her, trying to calm the Daemoness down. Kras’hir wasn't having it. Not this time.

 

“Stupid fucking son of a whore...Bastard...How could I have run like that?”

 

“We were afraid, Kras’hir. There wasn’t any choice!”

 

“I'm a Goddamned Bloodthirster. I'm not supposed to be afraid.” Kras’hir spat.

 

“Well, I’m a human, and I am.” Usagi fired back. “I can’t help it.”

 

“Then I'll kill whatever scares you.” Kras’hir responded, her tone softening.

 

“Oh, you.” Usagi said playfully. “You always know what to say.”

 

“I'm quite the charmer, if I do say so myself.” The Daemoness replied, snorting.

 

“You are. So what are we going to do?” Usagi pondered.

 

“I dunno. Finding the others would be a good start.” Usagi nodded, and ventured into the darkness, summoning the Full Moon Blade in case she needed it. Kras’hir followed her, weapons in hand.

 

Firehawk, meanwhile, was trying to calm Starhawk down by talking about good memories from their childhood. Starhawk listened, smiling softly.

 

“You are the greatest sister-wife ever. Did you know that?”

 

Firehawk giggled. “I had some idea, yes.”

 

Starhawk began giggling as well, and nuzzled into her sister. Lettuce, meanwhile, was alone, separated from his darling Pinkie. The small penguin wandered, his sole motivation being Pinkie’s advice to laugh at your fears. Courage, he remembered Omnus saying, was not merely overcoming your fears. Courage was having the strength to face down your fears, and the confidence to overcome them. And courageous was what he needed to be right now. Kras’hir had given him the same advice, he would recall, but her words were more direct: Don't be a pussy. Oh, yeah, right. Like a spider monster was sooo scary, he remembered. Queen Beryl had sent down a giant spider youma, and as if fate had decided to yank his chain, Lettuce had to be the one to learn the moral of the day. One he already knew, in fact.

 

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud crash coming from a nearby room. “...Is anybody out there?” he asked, looking inside. “I’ll have you know I’m armed.” He pulled his thunder hammer out, as if from nowhere (he really had to ask Omnus sometime how this whole ‘hammerspace’ thing worked) and slowly entered. There was no one in the room. Rather odd, considering the noise he had just heard. Lettuce, like a fool, began searching for where the noise came from. Nothing. A sound came from behind him after a few minutes, but once again, there was nothing there, though the feeling of being watched was obvious. Lettuce tried to not run screaming, but that being watched feeling was eating away at his confidence. That was when the Replica Assassin that had been trailing Lettuce for half an hour decloaked. The silent killer wore black body armor, including a face mask, and had several blades sheathed on his back, arms and legs. The Assassin stared at Lettuce for a moment before reactivating his cloak and exiting the room through a vent. That was when Lettuce lost it, and ran from the room.

 

Pinkie, meanwhile, was also alone, but she wasn't afraid. She hummed as she walked, unbothered by the creeping shadows. She knew she was likely being followed, but didn't let it bother her. She would find her friends eventually. Hopefully, Lettuce was alright. Key word being hopefully. A Replica Assassin watched her, waiting for the perfect time to strike.

 

“Assassin D-5467, status report.” Came the voice of his superior, crackling in his helmet’s radio.

 

“Pink horse is alive. I’m just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.”

 

“Negative. Target is to remain unharmed until further notice. Commander Fettel has plans for her and her companions. Continue to trail your target and await further orders.”

 

“Roger that. D-4567 out.” came the reply, as the Assassin could hear Pinkie singing a little nonsense rhyme. He continued watching and waiting.

 

There were two Assassins observing Firehawk and Starhawk. They had been told that the Hawkians were unpredictable, so two sets of eyes were needed. “Do you hear that?” Starhawk whispered. “Something is in here with us.”

 

Firehawk listened, before flicking her wrist and blasting a nearby vent with energy. One of the Assassins dodged in the nick of time. The other was killed. Starhawk tried tracking the remaining one, but to no avail. “Damn.” she muttered. “I missed him.”

 

Ebony, meanwhile, was also alone, walking silently yet carefully. After a moment, sound could be heard, emanating from nearby. There was...music playing. Pop-punk, Ebony’s favorite. While she was sorely tempted to try and find the sound like the squealing fangirl inside wanted, she stopped herself. She knew how this played out in the movies. She would find the sound, then get killed like a killer’s many hormonal teenage victims. Not her, no sir. She may have been hormonal, but she wasn’t stupid. After a minute, the music faded, before a different tune began to play. This time, it was coming from down the hallway, and it sounded almost mournful. The song was coming from a music box. Ebony gave into curiosity, and walked down the hall, much to her conscience’s protests. She followed the sound, then stopped. The box sat in the center of the hallway. Alma was sitting in front of it, her back to Ebony. She hummed along to the tune, her voice surprisingly pleasant. Ebony slowly approached, cursing herself for being idiotic. This isn’t a horror movie, she muttered. This is real life. Then again, given how odd real life was on Core Earth, was that statement truly viable? But, in all honesty, Alma was a little girl. How much harm could she really do? Ebony placed a hand on Alma’s shoulder, smiling gently. Alma stopped humming, raising her head and staring down the hallway. The music continued, now sounding much more ominous. Alma turned around, gazing at Ebony. “Hello, Alma. I’m Ebony Way.” the latter said softly.

 

Alma stared at Ebony, her expression unchanging. “Did Daddy send you?” she asked after a moment, her voice a soft whisper.

 

“No. Omnus did. You know him, don’t you?” Ebony responded, gazing into Alma’s eyes. Something in that stare unnerved her. There was something dangerous lurking beneath the surface. Something dark and hateful. It scared Ebony, and she was not one to be scared easily. All she could do was wait for an answer to her question.

 

“Yes, I know Omnus. He was my friend once, when I was younger…”

 

“...What happened?”

 

“Daddy locked me away in the dark place, and I was put to sleep for a very long time. They took my baby away from me…” Alma muttered.

 

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Ebony said. She sympathized with Alma, but a part of her was still distrustful. “I’m so, so sorry, Alma…”

 

“No, you're not.” The girl replied. “You're just like Daddy. A person wearing a mask and pretending to care.”

 

“No, I’m not. I swear.” Ebony insisted, though she knew deep down it was true. She was still that self-absorbed ‘goff’ girl who pined for Hogwarts’ greatest douchebag, even if she didn’t care to acknowledge it.

 

“LIAR!” Alma screamed, the sound loud enough to deafen Ebony for a moment. When she looked back at where Alma had been, the girl was gone. Ebony didn’t move. All she did was sit there and cry, her soft wails echoing.

 

“...I’m not wearing a mask...I’m not…” she whispered.

 

Firehawk, meanwhile, ran into Fettel again. He was grinning widely, his mouth caked with dried blood. Starhawk glared at him. “Stay back, fiend.” she hissed. “I will not say it again.”

 

“Save your breath, Princess of Hawkia. I'm not here to fight.” Fettel replied, his tone one of boredom.

 

“Then why are you here? To set your mother free?”

 

“That's the plan, yes.” Fettel said dryly.

 

“We will not let you.” Starhawk said defiantly.

 

“You will not let me, true. But what of your sister?”

 

Starhawk turned to her, as if waiting for an answer. Fettel grinned.

 

“What? You mean to say you haven't told her the true extent of your grand schemes? Shame on you, Firehawk. Shame. On. You.”

 

“What schemes, devil-spawn?!” Starhawk shouted, her eyes glowing a powerful green. “MY SISTER PLANS NO SCHEMES!”

 

“She has fingers in many pies, as I am sure you are aware. She played a rather vital part in Project Origin.” Fettel replied, completely unfazed.

 

“Is this true, sister? Please be honest.” Starhawk said, the glow fading. She seemed worried, almost terrified. Firehawk exhaled slowly, closing her eyes.

 

“Yes. It is true.”

 

“...What part? What part did you have?” Starhawk whispered.

 

“Do you even know what Project Origin is, Starhawk?” Fettel asked her.

 

“No. At least, I don't know details.”

 

Firehawk sighed, deciding to explain. “Project Origin was born, in part, out of desperation. Alma Wade was becoming too hard to control, and this was made worse when she began attacking Armacham personnel, causing the men and women working around her to suffer from mood swings, hallucinations, and horrific nightmares. Containment was recommended for the child by the ATC Board of Directors, with DNA being extracted from her to create psychic prototypes to be used for military purposes. At first, this was all that was to happen, but Doctor Harlan Wade wasn't convinced that her powerful abilities were entirely genetic, so the project changed: Alma would be put into an induced coma, and impregnated with these prototypes, created from combinations of her DNA and samples from several members of the research team...including Harlan himself.” Starhawk’s beak dropped, horrified.

 

“...While you and I are biologically related and married, that is incest of the worst sort.”

 

“Indeed. Now, I had no part in what happened to Alma. I was not informed about what they planned to do to her. I only provided funding for the project.”

 

“I...I do not know what to say.” Starhawk said.

 

“It is hardly the most evil thing I have ever done.” Firehawk said dryly. “Necron Prophet, remember?”

 

“Oh, right.” Starhawk said sheepishly. Fettel had gone. His work was done, for even though the two sisters hadn't come to blows, he had planted seeds of distrust in Starhawk’s mind. She was wary of her sister-wife, suspecting she had plans. Firehawk suspected this, and could only blame herself for it.

 

Meanwhile, in another building in the facility, Harlan Wade was hiding in an abandoned office. The Replica were hunting him, but he was very good at avoiding them. He moved slowly, avoiding the gaze of the sniper he knew was aiming through the window. Harlan crept out of the room, trying to find anyone else that hadn't been killed. The person he truly hoped to find was his daughter, Alice. She had grown into a strong woman, and had turned out far better than...her.

 

“Alice?” He called, being careful not to raise his voice above a loud whisper. “Are you here?” No answer.

 

“...Fuck.” He muttered, continuing his search. No such luck, until a voice was heard.

 

“Father?”

 

“Alice!” he said, letting out a sigh of relief. “Where are you?”

 

“Over here. Follow the sound of my voice!” she replied, trying to stay hidden. Harlan did so, and found her hiding behind a desk. She looked panicked, yet relieved. “We’ve survived. Thank God.”

 

“I wouldn't thank Him just yet, Alice. We're still up Shit Creek without a paddle.” He said dryly, sitting next to her. “Still, we lived. That's a very good thing.”

 

“Hopefully, those Power Rangers or whatever they’re called know what they’re doing. One of them is the son of one of our stock buyers, isn’t he?”

 

Harlan nodded, chuckling a bit. “I don't think those stocks will be worth shit after tonight.”

 

“Agreed.” Alice said, hugging her father. He hugged her back, holding her close. “I missed you.”

 

“Missed you too, kid.” Harlan replied.

 

Meanwhile, Naruto had found himself stuck with Lucy. Of all people, why her? While he didn’t necessarily think of her as a bad person, she was Toby’s sister after all, he did think of her as a bit nuts, particularly when it came to her brother. She was insanely protective of him, that much was obvious, and she didn't have much love for Blackhawk or Ebony. Given that her youngest sibling was dying of cancer, it wouldn’t be a problem that she was protective. What was, however, was the feeling that this just wasn’t familial love. This seemed very...what was the word...romantic, and not in a good way. With Starhawk and her sister, that kind of love was ingrained in their culture. This was entirely different. More icky, to use a childish term. The Replica Assassin watching them would have been amused by the rather petty arguments the two were having...if he were capable of feeling emotion. He wasn't, so his only reaction was to silently note this happening.

 

“Seriously, what’s your problem with Blackhawk and Ebony? They're good people, and they both love your brother dearly.” Naruto asked. Lucy snorted, before firing back with something that was quite hard to deny.

 

“Ebony loves anything with a pulse and functioning genitalia.”

 

“That’s true. I mean, you have been rooming with her after all. But what’s your deal with Blackhawk? He’s the perfect guy for your brother. Granted, I don’t know if he’s really bisexual or just experimenting, but still.”

 

“My brother has tried dating a boy before. It...didn't end well. At all.” Naruto noted the satisfaction in her voice, which put him off even more. He would also note it was mixed with rage, and not the usual jealous sort, either.

 

“What happened?”

 

“The bastard got a bunch of his buddies together, and all of them took turns beating the shit out of Toby.” She said bluntly.

 

“What assholes.”

 

“I cut his throat while he slept, then hunted down and killed his friends with a hammer.” Lucy responded. Naruto was not averse to violence, but this freaked him out.

 

“You-you killed them. Isn’t that going a bit far?” he asked. He had faced death many a time, but killing usually had a purpose, and only when needed. This was petty. Well, not petty, per se, but extreme.

 

“Really? And what if I told you that the pain they inflicted was more than physical? Would it be too far then?” Lucy spat.

 

“...They abused him mentally?!”

 

“No.” she said flatly, allowing him to reach the conclusion she knew he would.

 

“...Then I don’t blame you for killing them.”

 

“Good.” She said. The Assassin on watch contacted his superior.

 

“Assassin D-2841 reporting in. I have a query.”

 

“State your query, Assassin.”

 

“I am aware of our orders not to harm the Power Rangers. What of the others with them? Are they expendable assets?”

 

“Why do you ask?”

 

“I am looking at one of the non-members right now. I wish to know if cutting off her head will be in defiance of any orders.”

 

“...Yes.” came the answer. D-2841 was unique amongst the Assassins, as he enjoyed his work.

 

“...Understood.” He replied, before continuing to watch his targets.

 

Kras’hir and Usagi, meanwhile, had accidentally run into Replica soldiers, and were in the middle of a fight. Usagi told Kras’hir to get back before slashing at them with the Full Moon Blade. Several of them fell dead, but the survivors fired back at her, forcing her to take cover. That was when the sound of a door being kicked open could be heard, and two grenades bounced off the ground several times, landing near the remaining Replicas.

 

“Oh, fu-” One of them managed to get out before the pair of grenades detonated, blowing blood and limbs across the room. Usagi looked to see where the explosions had come from, and found Toby standing there.

 

“No one fucks with my teammates. No. One.” he muttered, Usagi rushing to hug him.

 

“Toby! How did you find us?” she asked. Kras’hir looked past Toby, her eyebrows going up.

 

“I think the answer is standing right outside the door.” She said, pointing. Just outside the door stood a man in full combat gear. He had jet black hair, a trimmed mustache, and tanned skin. A long scar ran across his left cheek and chin.

 

“Who the heck is that?” Usagi asked.

 

“I'm the Point Man.” The stranger said gruffly. “I assume Omnus mentioned me?”

 

“Yep.” Usagi said. “How the hell did you find our friend?”

 

“Now that’s a story.” Toby said. “It all started when Blackhawk and I were trying to find a way out…”

 

The Point Man snorted. “You two would have been plugged full of holes if I hadn't found you when I did. These Replica bastards don't screw around.”

 

“We’ve faced easier stuff.” Toby bragged. Kras’hir facepalmed.

 

“That's not a boast, Toby.” She sighed.

 

“It isn’t?”

 

“No. If you had said you've faced harder stuff, on the other hand…”

 

“Oh. Right.”

 

The Point Man then led the way as they looked for the others. Fettel, meanwhile, was looking for Harlan and Alice. Harlan knew where the Vault was located. The Vault contained Alma, so it was vital Fettel found it. He continued his search.

 

“Grandfather? Aunt Alice?” He called, his voice loud and a bit mad. “Where are you hiding?”

 

Alice didn’t answer, lest she give away her hiding spot. However, the fear she felt was outweighed by confusion at the way Fettel had addressed her and her father. Grandfather...Aunt Alice...Odd, considering she didn't have any siblings. Or did she? Harlan had never mentioned any, living or dead. But the fact that Fettel called her “aunt” made her suspicious. Eventually, Fettel moved on, allowing her and Harlan to speak.

 

“Father, do I have any siblings?”

 

He sighed, not seeing the point in lying to her. “You did. She died not long before you were born.”

 

“What was her name?”

 

He whispered it, his voice almost inaudible. “Alma…”

 

Why did that name sound so familiar to her…? It had been whispered in her dreams for months. The voice that spoke it was calm and distant, almost drowsy, like the speaker was in a deep slumber. The nightmares had begun several days before Paxton Fettel went berserk, with Alice seeing visions of blood and death, a city drowning in fire, and a little girl in red. But what did it all mean? And what did she have to do with it? And why had Alma never been mentioned before? So many questions, with precious few answers. For now, however, she had to focus on surviving.

 

Alma, meanwhile, (or, at least, a manifestation of her) sat in a chair, holding her teddy bear to her chest. She was singing softly to herself, the sound quiet and calm. She was alone, the only other sound coming from a fire crackling nearby. Alma didn't care. She was used to being alone. She missed her old friend Omnus on nights like this one, when the solitude was heavy and dark. She hoped he was alright. But he abandoned you, a voice in her head said. He said he needed ‘to go back to sleep’.

 

Shut up. Alma flatly told the voice. Go away, sit in a corner, and leave me alone.

 

Oh, you can’t get rid of The Man in Black that easily. No siree.

 

Alma, who had been enduring his whispers for months, snapped. Her hate flared, and worlds away, the man known as Flagg began to choke on it, his hands wrapping around his own throat. A man known only as the Gunslinger smirked in amusement as he sensed Flagg forcefully choked himself. What really interested him, however, were these ‘Power Rangers’. Were they gunslingers like he, destined to keep the world from moving on as his had? Perhaps. One thing he knew was that, if there was a God, Her name was Alma, and She was not merciful or kind. The two of them, Alma Wade and Randall Flagg, began a battle of wills, and thousands of psychics across many worlds felt the backlash. The Point Man, Fettel, and Kras’hir all collapsed, beginning to howl in pain as the Man in Black and Girl in Red fought. Usagi rushed by her girlfriend’s side.

 

“Kras’hir, are you alright?”

 

After another moment, the fight ended, with Flagg and Alma pulling away from each other. Kras’hir panted, getting up. Usagi helped her, concerned.

 

“Yes, I'm alright. That was painful.” The Daemoness replied. “Gods above…”

 

“What happened?” Usagi asked.

 

“Alma happened. She and some other psychic fought, and I felt it.”

 

“Another psychic? But there isn’t another psychic like her for miles.”

 

“He is not of this world.” She said cryptically. “But we can worry about that later. For now, we need to stop Fettel from releasing her.”

 

Alma had gone back to singing to herself after her battle with Flagg. She hugged her teddy bear close, the toy a remnant of a lost childhood. She could thank her father for that. Her hatred and rage burned most brightly for him, and for her sister. Alma hated Alice with a burning passion, for Alice had received the love and affection she never had. Alice, however, had no idea she existed. Alma didn't care. She didn't resent Alice because her sister had wronged her. Alma resented her for getting what Alma never had. That was why Fettel and his Replica soldiers were primarily focused on finding them. S

 

Meanwhile, several of the Rangers, namely Blackhawk, Lettuce, Pinkie, and Ebony, had reunited. “So, what do we do first?” Lettuce asked as he hoisted himself onto Pinkie’s back. “I say we find Usagi, Kras’hir, Toby, Firehawk, Starhawk, Naruto, and Lucy before we do anything else.”

 

“That isn’t a bad idea.” Ebony said. “Good thinking, Lettuce.”

 

That was when the music box began playing again nearby. None of the Rangers knew what it was, save for Ebony. “Run.” she urged Blackhawk, Lettuce, and Pinkie. “Don’t ask questions. Just run.”

 

Alma watched as they fled. “You won't make it far…” she whispered before disappearing. Ebony followed her friends, not looking back.

 

Harlan, meanwhile, was heading for the Vault. The years of guilt, depression and drinking after Alma’s death had taken their toll. He knew she hated him. She had told him as much. He knew that what he was planning would likely end badly. But he had to try. At the same time, Alice was frantically trying to contact the Rangers. She wanted to tell them where Harlan was going, and what he planned to do. Usagi, thankfully, was the first to answer.

 

“Yes? Who is this?”

 

“My name is Alice Wade. You're one of the Power Rangers, right?”

 

“The leader, actually. My name is Tsukino Usagi, or as it’s pronounced in the West, Usagi Tsukino.”

 

“Alright. Listen, you have to stop my father.”

 

“Why, what’s happened?”

 

“He's gone crazy! He said he's going to the Vault, to try and ‘make it up to Alma.’ He plans to free her!” Usagi’s eyes widened, before she dropped her communicator in shock.

 

“Hello? Hello? Ms. Tsukino? Are you still there?”

 

Usagi turned to Kras’hir and mouthed, “Go find Fettel. I’ll gather the rest of the team, and we’ll go after Harlan.”

 

Kras’hir nodded, sprinting out of the room in pursuit of Paxton Fettel. Meanwhile, Kras’hir, the Point Man, and Fettel were not the only psychics recovering from the bout between Alma and Flagg. Ahzek Ahriman had been affected by it, as well, the backlash nearly killing him. Beryl looked at him, concerned.

 

“By...by the Gods…” he muttered, vomiting into an urn. “That was unpleasant.”

 

“What ails you, my love?”

 

“Alma Wade…” he muttered, his voice laced with dread. Beryl seemed unfazed, as she had no idea who Alma was. Another bout of vomiting prevented Ahriman from explaining.

 

It was about an hour before all of the Rangers assembled. In that time, Harlan had entered the Vault, and was approaching the room where Alma lurked. The team followed him, Usagi blocking the entrance to Alma’s room.

 

“You stupid bitch.” Harlan muttered. “I have to do this!”

 

“No you don’t. If I must, I will kill you.” Usagi replied calmly.

 

“Now just back away, and we can resolve this without force.” Naruto said.

 

“Computer?” Harlan said calmly, putting ear plugs. “Activate security protocol Origin. Access code 651987.”

 

With that, devices in the walls activated, letting out a loud, piercing whine which brought the Rangers to their knees. By the time they shut off, Harlan had entered the room where Alma was, the door shut and locked behind him. An observation window, made of reinforced glass, overlooked the inside, where they could see Harlan typing at a console.

 

“We have to break through. Somehow.” Blackhawk said.

 

“How?” Usagi asked. In desperation, Blackhawk began beating the glass. It shuddered, but don't crack.

 

“Come on!” he shouted. “Break, damn it!”

 

Call on the strength of your father, a voice said. To Blackhawk, it resembled something akin to a cowboy from a Western, not unlike his own barely-noticeable drawl. He followed the advice of the mysterious voice, and the glass began cracking. But alas, it wasn't enough. Harlan stepped away from the console, and the Vault containing Alma’s long-dead corpse began to open. Fog spilled out of the opening doors, the cold inside finally escaping after twenty years. Alma, now appearing as a young, naked, emaciated woman, emerged, taking the form of how she had looked when she died. Harlan reached for her, hoping she would be merciful.

 

“Alma?” He whispered. Almost immediately, Harlan began to scream. He rose into the air, skin and muscle peeling off of him, before his corpse fell, reduced to a bloody skeleton. Alma looked towards the Rangers, her eyes peering out from behind black, matted hair, her locks dripping with water.

 

“What do we do?!” Toby grunted. “We can’t get free!”

 

“I suggest we run.” Blackhawk said, panic overcoming him, before he took his own advice, sprinting in the other direction. Coward, the voice in his head chided. You have forgotten the face of your father, haven’t you...maggot?

 

Blackhawk stopped, before reaching into one of his pockets. He drew a revolver out of his clothes that wouldn't have been out of place in a Western.

 

No, Cort. Never. He said to the voice of his old mentor, before striding back towards the others. He loaded the gun slowly, reciting the Creed of the Gunslinger as he reached them.

 

“I do not aim with my hand; He who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I aim with my eye.
I do not shoot with my hand; He who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I shoot with my mind.
I do not kill with my gun; He who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father. I kill with my heart.” He said, his voice as calm as water, as cold as judgement, as final as Death.

 

“What the-” Toby and Ebony asked in unison, before they were shushed by Kras’hir. They noted that she seemed entranced by the gun Blackhawk carried, as if she hadn’t seen one in a very, very long time.

 

“This reminds me of something out of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Lettuce muttered as he continued to observe Blackhawk.

 

“I never thought I'd see a gunslinger again.” Kras’hir muttered. “Old Cort must have taught more recruits than I knew about…”

 

“What’s a gunslinger?” Usagi asked. “I’ve never heard that word outside of a few movies.”

 

“...Whoa, Blackhawk. That’s pretty cool.” Naruto complimented. Blackhawk didn't respond. Instead, he was staring down Alma, who was returning his gaze with icy indifference, though the rage simmering beneath the surface was apparent. No one spoke, they merely observed as a battle began. Blackhawk was well aware that he had no chance of vanquishing Alma. It would be like attempting to slay God with a butter knife. Still, his eye was sharp, his aim was true, and his gun was loaded. He would delay her or die trying. So, he waited, watching to see what she would do. Alma gazed at him, before unleashing a powerful wave of energy. It threw Blackhawk off his feet for a moment, but he quickly stood again.

 

“May the strength and eye of my father guide me.” He said, before opening fire. This did little more than irritate Alma, who let out a loud, piercing scream. This sound shattered glass, bent metal, and nearly drove Kras’hir mad from psychic backlash.  It also affected Ahriman,  who began vomiting again, this time coughing up blood. Beryl rushed to his aid, holding him gently as he emptied his bowels. That was when Paxton Fettel arrived, walking in casually with a spring in his step.

 

“My God, this place is even larger than I imagined.” he said cheerfully.

 

“Who are you, and why are you here?” Beryl demanded.

 

“My name is Paxton Fettel. As for why I am here...well, Mother wanted me to say hello.”

 

“And just who is your mother?”

 

“Alma Wade. The one who is currently making your lover ill.”

 

“...Tell Alma that she can go fuck herself.” Beryl snarked.

 

“Why don't you tell me that yourself, Queen Beryl?” Alma spoke in her mind, her tone one of deep, simmering rage and hate.

 

“If we’re being honest here, I’d rather not risk you making me vomit up blood or some other thing.”

 

“That is unintentional, though I will not pretend to feel bad about it. Believe me, I can do far, far worse things than making you puke up blood.”

 

Beryl, who would normally have asked ‘Such as?’ at that point, wisely kept her mouth shut. All she did at that moment was try and soothe Ahriman. Alma’s tone made it clear that she would show Beryl these things first-hand if asked, so not asking was wise.

 

“I am not here to propose any sort of alliance or offer services of any sort to you. I have merely entered your mind to inform you that Core Earth will soon burn with the flames of my hatred. I'm going to kill them all for what they've done to me. Every last man, woman and child shall perish in blood and fire.”

 

“...Never.” came Beryl’s response. “I will oppose you, not out of ‘justice’ or ‘goodness’, but because Core Earth will be mine.”

 

“Then may the best of us win.” Alma said, before withdrawing from Beryl’s mind. Fettel disappeared at the same moment.

 

“Erm...what just happened?” Zoisite asked.

 

“We have officially declared war.” Beryl replied.

 

“Is this a wise choice?” Nephrite asked. “She appears to be incredibly powerful, this Alma.”

 

“It is not, but I will die trying.” Beryl said. “May the gods help me.”

 

Alas, the Gods of the Warp would not be much help, for they were afraid of Alma. Very afraid.

 

Meanwhile, the other Rangers continued watching Blackhawk try and shoot Alma. Alma had stopped attempting to kill him. Instead, she left the Vault, beginning to search for her sister. Usagi looked at Blackhawk. Without a word, she chased after Alma, intent on rescuing Alice. Naruto followed, as did Toby, Lettuce, and Pinkie. That left Ebony as the only other Ranger. She placed a hand on Blackhawk’s shoulder, smiling softly.

 

“You remind me of Clint Eastwood, did you know that?”

 

It helped he was wearing a black duster. Blackhawk snorted, taking out a pack of cigars and lighting one.

 

“There's a lot about me you don't know.”

 

“Oh? Try me, smart guy.” she teased. “Where did you learn to be a crack shot like that?” A phrase passed through Blackhawk’s mind: The world has moved on.

 

Thanks, Cort, you salty old bastard. He thought, exhaling smoke.

 

“A mentor of mine.” He told Ebony. “An old gunslinger named Cort.”

 

“He must’ve been badass if you learned those skills from him.” Ebony said. A memory from long ago played in Blackhawk’s head: he, a Hawkian barely on the cusp of puberty, staring down old Cort. He had one more task ahead of him before he left All-World, and that was to master the art of the gun. His weapon of choice was his supernatural martial arts; Cort had laughed and said that his fists would do no good. He would be sent west before he could best his teacher. Those words had proved true, indeed. Blackhawk ended that particular day with three broken toes, four broken fingers, a snapped wrist, a dislocated shoulder, and a concussion, along with an artist’s gallery of cuts and bruises. He was exiled to the wastes, but not before breaking into the storehouse where the apprentices’ guns were stored. He would return to his world a master of the gun, sent west or not.

 

The next several weeks were hellish. The wastes were a punishment for exiles for a very good reason. Everything there tried to kill him. Everything.  He had learned to master the gun on his own quickly, however. He didn’t need Cort or his archaic brutal training, he decided. Alas, Cort’s words would prove painfully true once again. A mutie cow, one with eight legs and three eyes on stalks, had attempted to gore him, and nearly succeeded, spearing Blackhawk with its horns. Only a few precise shots to the cow’s eyes and throat saved his life. He’d returned to his home a disgrace, at least to himself. Everyone else, however, thought differently. They had said that Blackhawk didn’t need to be a master of the gun to be a true warrior. Cort had finally relented, taking Blackhawk under his wing and training him to be a master of the gun, sensing the young Hawkian’s dissatisfaction with what he had been told. He trained for a few more years, then bid Cort an amicable farewell. Now, the others were all dead and buried, and he was alone. As far as he knew, he was the last gunslinger, and All-World had moved on since then. All-World had emptied. He had buried old Cort himself. He began hearing the voice of his mentor not long after, and it brought him some comfort. He had his friends in Neo-Chicago, and his friends here in Coastal Falls, but his friends in Gilead...they were his ka-tet, as the High Speech said. Roland, Cuthbert, Alain...where were they, he wondered.

 

He had told Ebony all of this as he was reflecting on it. Ebony listened, and was encaptured by Blackhawk’s descriptions, especially of a place Blackhawk’s friend Roland had called the Dark Tower. Blackhawk had said Roland went on a quest for the Tower after the Battle of Jericho Hill, where all the others except for him and Blackhawk had died and Gilead had fallen. He never saw Roland again after that. He didn't think Roland had perished, though, he told her. The voices of the dead whispered to him while he slept, and he didn't hear Roland’s voice when they did.

 

“Well, then, what do you think happened?” Ebony asked, lighting a cigarette.

 

“I don't know. The last thing he said to me was that he was going off to pursue someone he called the Man in Black.” Ebony recalled a passage from a book she’d once read, though she couldn’t remember the name. The Man in Black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

 

“So, he went to chase Johnny Cash?” Ebony asked, noting the dry look Blackhawk was giving her. “Sorry.”

 

“Roland may also be looking for a girl he loved once. Susan, her name was. She was burned as a sinner on a Charyou Tree, but the world moved on, so she could have come back.”

 

“What does that mean, ‘moved on’?” Ebony asked.

 

“It refers to the collapse of civilization itself.” Blackhawk said simply, picking tobacco off his tongue.

 

“But if this Susan chick is dead, then how can she have come back?” Now that was a question that puzzled Blackhawk, seeing as how reality was rather screwy in All-World. Moved on meant more than just civilization collapsing. Reality itself was starting to go, starting with time and direction. The Tower was shaking, and if it fell...well, the Necrons would be the least of Core Earth’s problems. Don’t worry about that, Blackhawk-sai, Roland’s voice echoed in his head. It is not your responsibility. It is mine and mine alone. Ebony took the cigar from Blackhawk, and put it in her own mouth now. Blackhawk snorted.

 

“You're welcome.”

 

Ebony took a puff, smirking. “Thanks.”

 

Usagi, meanwhile, searched for Alice with the rest of the team. They would eventually find her, hiding. Usagi calmly approached her. “Come on, Alice. Let’s get out of here.”

 

“No...no...leave me alone…”

 

“We need to get you out.” Naruto said. “Please?”

 

“She's coming…” Alice whispered. “She's coming for me…”

 

“Is there any way we can get her back in the Vault?” Lettuce asked.

 

“Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything we can do.” Toby pointed out.

 

And, indeed,  there wasn't. Not really, for Alma didn't have a physical body. That particular thing was rotting in the Vault where she had died.

 

“So what can we do?” Lettuce asked.

 

“I’m not sure.” Usagi said. “We just need to get Alice out of here quickly.”

 

The Point Man, meanwhile, was trying to figure out a plan. What was he to do? Escape wasn’t an option, nor was it needed. Perhaps he would find the Rangers and help. They would need it. He had another problem: Alma. He needed to stop her. But how…? He recalled the facility had an experimental nuclear reactor at the center. If, perhaps, he could cause it to overheat...he could, in theory, stop Alma. The Rangers would need to get out quickly, however. It would also destroy a large section of Coastal Falls, douse the area in radiation, and potentially kill hundreds, if not thousands, of people. In any case, Alma would be contained, at least temporarily. Hopefully. Usagi was contacted, and told of the plan. “...” Silence, then a soft whisper. “Are you sure this is right?”

 

“No. But neither is letting Alma loose and doing nothing to stop her.”

 

“Do we have a choice?” Usagi asked, on the verge of tears. “I don’t want anyone to die…”

 

“Usagi...can you do something for me?”

 

“What?”

 

“First, you need to calm down. Take a few deep, slow breaths.” Usagi nodded, and he could hear her breathing slowly and gently.

 

“Feel a bit better?”

 

“Yeah…” came the response.

 

“Good. I need you to do whatever you can to get people evacuated. Omnus will help you.” Usagi nodded, and explained the situation to Omnus. He was silent for a moment, before speaking.

 

“I will arrange for evacuations to begin. Just so you are aware, the blast zone is where your family lives, along with the families of Lettuce and Blackhawk. Undyne and Alphys live there, too.”

 

“Where are they to be evacuated to?” Naruto asked.

 

“I'll worry about that. You worry about rounding up everyone and getting out before the place explodes.” Usagi nodded, and after gathering the rest of the team, began evacuation of the area.

 

The Point Man, meanwhile, was being pursued by Alma. She had figured out he was her son, and wanted so very badly to hold him in her arms. The Point Man didn't return her affections. Alice, meanwhile, was helping in evacuation plans, though she felt afraid. Understandable, considering a sister she never knew she had wanted her dead. She kept aiding in evacuations, trying to push the thought into the back of her mind.

 

Alma, meanwhile, was once again sitting in a chair with her teddy bear. She could manifest in multiple places at once, and while her adult form hunted her foes and pursued her son, her child form could sit and relax. She wanted to hold her baby so badly. She had never gotten the chance to when he was born. The research staff had wheeled him out of the room, and all she could do was helplessly watch. Now, however, she could finally do what she wanted to for so many years. That was, if he would stop running away from her. Alma continued hugging her bear, humming softly to herself. The Rangers, meanwhile, continued evacuations. Not long after, the facility began to rip apart, a series of explosions occurring across it, before the whole place exploded into a massive inferno, taking a large chunk of Coastal Falls with it. The Rangers teleported to the Command Center in an effort to shield themselves from the explosions. This would, unfortunately, fuel yet more resentment on the people’s part down the line, as the Rangers had put their own lives above those of the civilians they claimed to protect. For now, those evacuated were grateful. The outcome in general was bittersweet..until Alma emerged from the flames of the facility, stepping out of the blazing inferno like a hellish spectre.

 

“Crap…” Usagi muttered upon seeing this in the Viewing Globe. Alma walked slowly out of the decimated Armacham facility, beginning to stroll through the streets of Coastal Falls that the detonation had annihilated. She was in no hurry. What was her goal? Anyone who had glimpsed her mind had already seen it: Alma’s mental landscape, her ‘Almaverse’, was a hellish, burning city inhabited by vicious monsters. She wanted everything, and everyone, to suffer. The Power Rangers were just another obstacle. They would be dealt with like all who threatened her: Swiftly and violently.

 

 

Spoiler

First appearances: Alma Wade (antagonist), Randall Flagg (antagonist), Lucy Jones, Roland Deschain

-The Man in Black, first mentioned in Disney's SMiLE, makes an appearance.

-Alma, from the F.E.A.R. series, debuts. Much like the Nazis, she will be a recurring threat.

-A large part of Coastal Falls is destroyed.

-Toby's sister Lucy debuts. She has similar feelings to Toby that Firehawk does for Starhawk. Unlike that relationship, Lucy's feelings for Toby are not portrayed as sympathetic, and are played for all the squick that comes with it.

-It is revealed that Blackhawk is connected to a mysterious order of cowboy-knights known as gunslingers. Along with a man known only as Roland, Blackhawk is the last one remaining; the other gunslingers were killed long ago.

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by MLG Vanilluxe

[Rebel the Wolfgirl]

 

Heroes and Villains

 

Spoiler

 

Two hours after the emergence of Alma Wade from the raging inferno, Blackhawk sat in the Command Center, looking at the other Rangers. He was silent, the only sound emanating from him being the quiet noise of a shell casing dancing between his fingers.

 

“So, we failed the entire city.” Toby muttered. “Greeeeat.”

 

“As if they didn't have enough reason to hate the Rangers…” Omnus sighed, his head in his hands. “At least Alma has been quiet since she left the burning facility. She seems to have disappeared.”

 

“What are we going to do?” Naruto asked. “It isn’t like we can just track Alma down and fight her.”

 

Omnus nodded in agreement. “For now, there isn't much we can do. I believe you all wish to address the elephant in the room, yes?” He asked, looking at Blackhawk.

 

“Yeah.” Ebony said. “Just what exactly went on during your years as a gunslinger, Blackhawk?”

 

“Must’ve been exciting, being a Bird With No Name.” Lettuce commented.

 

“Exciting?” Blackhawk whispered. “You think being a gunslinger is exciting? All of my old friends and family are dead, except for my mother and brother.”

 

Lettuce was taken aback, a look of shock and worry in his eyes. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

 

Blackhawk nodded once, the closest he would come to accepting the apology.

 

“My father, and his father, and his father’s father, were all gunslingers. You see, I was not born on Hawkia. I was born on All-World.”

 

“And then at age six, you were somehow taken to the Warp by someone known as the ‘Night Master’.” Alpha continued. “Right?”

 

“Yes and no. I spent several months in the Warp, but returned to All-World after I got out.”

 

A pause. “It was during my time in the Warp when I first encountered the King. I assume, Omnus-sai, you know who I am talking about?”

 

Omnus nodded in response.

 

“The Crimson King…” muttered Alpha.

 

Toby immediately began singing a tune to himself. “The gardener plants an evergreen

Whilst trampling on a flower.

I chase the wind of a prism ship

To taste the sweet and sour.

The pattern juggler lifts his hand;

The orchestra begin;

As slowly turns the grinding wheel

In the court of the crimson king.” He finished, then grinned. “Love that album. It was my dad’s favorite.”

 

Blackhawk turned his eye towards Starhawk, Usagi and Kras'hir. “You three, obviously, know what my mother is like.”

 

“Yep.” Usagi said. “Why do you bring that up?”

 

“Do you know why she is like that?” He asked. The question was rhetorical, but he knew she would answer, anyway.

 

“An abusive childhood?” Usagi answered with a rhetorical question of her own.

 

“I mentioned my father was a gunslinger.” Blackhawk began. “For countless generations, my family inhabited the city of Gilead. A beautiful, wondrous place, Gilead was. Alas, like all great cities, it eventually fell. Destroyed by the forces of the Good Man, John Farson.”

 

Ebony snorted. “He doesn’t sound so good.”

 

“Waitwaitwaitwait, hold up.” said Toby. “If your lineage comes from All-World, then why did your father Ace Little, and then his father, Buck,  end up growing up in the Americana suburb that is Oakey Oaks?”

 

“They did, yar.” Blackhawk replied, nodding. “Eventually, they were drawn back home. Drawn by ka.”

 

Lettuce, like the immature young adult he was, began to snicker. “Ka...sounds like kaka.”

 

Blackhawk didn't even smile. “Their decision to return was what got my father killed.”

 

“Killed? By who?” Starhawk asked.

 

“He died during the Fall of Gilead. The Good Man vaporized the city, killing most of the population instantly. My father wasn't so lucky. He was captured by the Good Man, and burned alive.”

 

Blackhawk said this with absolutely no emotion whatsoever, as if he was discussing the weather.

 

“I am sorry for your loss.” Starhawk said, pulling him into a comforting hug. He hugged her back.

 

“Thankee.” He whispered after pulling away. He then turned back to the others.

 

“You are all my friends, I hope you know that. But those I trained with...well, they are...were...my ka-tet.”

 

“What’s a ka-tet?” Usagi asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

 

“Hmmm, how to explain?” Blackhawk said. “Well, ka is fate or destiny. Tet is a group of people with the same interests or goals. Ka-tet, then, roughly translates to ‘those bound together by destiny.’”

 

“What language is that?” Lettuce asked. “It doesn’t sound like anything I’ve heard.”

 

“That's because I am one of the two people alive who can still speak it. It is known as High Speech.”

 

“Who’s the other?”

 

“Roland.” Blackhawk replied. “However, we before discuss him and my other gunslinger friends, I will finish explaining the ka-tet concept. A ka-tet is something that can never be broken, save for by death or treason. And it is not only friends who make up the puzzle that is a ka-tet.”

 

He gestured to Usagi. “You and Queen Beryl would be considered ka-tet.”

 

“Really?” Usagi asked. “Me and...and her? We’re bonded by fate?”

 

“Yar. You cannot tell me this comes as a surprise.”

 

“It doesn’t. But what about us as a team? Are we all part of a ka-tet?”

 

Blackhawk considered it. “I am uncertain. Ka is a murky thing.”

 

Another pause. “We were speaking of my mother before. After my father perished, my mother...well, she kind of lost it.”

 

“As if she wasn’t a bitch before…” Usagi muttered dryly. Blackhawk stood up, walked over to Usagi, and backhanded her without a word. “...I deserved that, didn’t I?”

 

“Yes. By ‘lost it’, I mean she shut down for a few months. She wouldn't talk, barely ate, and barely slept. Even after she came back out of it, she wasn't the same.”

 

“If my psychology is correct-and trust me, I know what I’m saying-then your mother’s just putting up a front. She’s still in denial.” Lettuce elaborated. Having a therapist mother had its perks, Blackhawk would note.

 

“Ah, you're referring to the fact that she never says that he's dead.” Blackhawk replied. “You're right.”

 

“I’m also talking about that haughty ‘I’m a winner’ bullshit.” Lettuce said.

 

“Those trophies are all duds.” Blackhawk said bluntly. “All of them are either for events that never happened or were actually won by me or Coop.”

 

“Ah, I see.” Lettuce said.

 

“After Gilead was destroyed…” Alpha began. “That’s when you started traveling the multiverse, yes?”

 

Blackhawk shook his head. “No. That was after...Jericho Hill.”

 

“What’s Jericho Hill?” Starhawk asked. Blackhawk didn't answer for a moment. He could hear it in his mind. The rhythmic crack of gunfire. Men screaming. Roland bellowing as he lead the final charge against the forces of the Good Man. The enemy marching past him and Roland, the two of them having hidden amongst the dead to survive.

 

“It was the last defiant stand of the gunslingers. A dozen of us in all against two thousand foes.”

 

He remembered his father...oh dear God, his father...the Good Man’s soldiers had been carrying his burnt corpse, tied to a post. Charyou tree...Charyou tree...Charyou tree…, they had chanted, the Good Man, John Farson, laughing madly.

 

He remembered the words of Cort, Don't do anything stupid now, maggot. We can avenge him, but not if you're dead.

 

“When the battle was over, and all of us save for Roland and I were dead, the grounds were littered with bodies. We had made them pay, in blood, for every inch.” Blackhawk said.

 

“Then you two went your separate ways.” Starhawk said. “At least, not immediately, I assume.”

 

“This was nine years after the Fall. Roland was 25. I was six months younger than that. We parted about half a year after Jericho Hill. Both of us had been irreversibly changed by it, and the world had moved on.”

 

“So, wait, you’re not 16?” Toby asked with an extremely weirded out look. “Ewww…”

 

“He is,” Starhawk said. “But by our standards, not human ones. Hawkian years are about 9 of yours.”

 

“...Aliens sure are odd.” Toby muttered.

 

“So, technically, you're fucking someone who isn't even three, if you think about it.” Kras’hir said dryly.

 

“Excuse me, but I need to go bleach my brain.” Toby said, walking into a bathroom and vomiting.

 

Kras’hir snorted, turning to Blackhawk. “So, when you say the world ‘moved on’, what does that mean?”

 

“Technology has broken down. Organized religion has broken down. Once great cities have fallen into ruin. Nations, once mighty and expanding, have been torn apart by war and famine. The last heroes have disappeared. Time no longer runs on a fixed wheel, and reality itself is coming apart. Sometimes, the All-World sun rises in the north and sets in the east.”

 

“So, it’s like the Warp: nothing makes a lick of damned sense.” Lettuce said, as Toby returned.

 

“What I wanna know is what this Crimson King is, and how he’s connected to you.” he said.

 

“The Crimson King, from what I can gather, is linked to the Tower.” Blackhawk replied.

 

“The Tower?” Lettuce, Toby, and Usagi asked. Pinkie said nothing, already knowing of the Tower from Discord.

 

“The Tower is the center of creation. Held up by six Beams, it is connected to every world at once. The Crimson King wishes to destroy it.”

 

Usagi’s eyes widened. “Is there anything we can do?”

 

“The Tower was where Roland was headed. That was why he set off after the Man in Black. I don't know where he is now, or how much of what I know he has learned.”

 

“So, this ‘Night Master’ guy…” Lettuce began. “Is he connected to the Crimson King?”

 

“Yar. I don't know what his goals are, but I know he serves the King. You mentioned, Lettuce, that All-World is just like the Warp. It's not. All-World is worse.”

 

“Worse? What can be worse than the Warp?” the penguin asked.

 

“You see, long, long ago, the Great Old Ones ruled All-World. They weren't alien gods. They were men. They grew proud and mighty, replacing the magical Beams of the Tower with their own technology. Eventually, they fell, and fell hard, their civilization tearing itself apart in a cataclysmic war. Also known as The Old War, The Great Fire, or The Great Poisoning, it was a combination of biochemical, nuclear, and biological disasters that left the air, water, and soil toxic and led to widespread mutations of both animals, such as horses and wolves, as well as humans. They left their technology behind, much of which has still lasted to this day, even though the knowledge of it has been lost to time.”

 

“How the hell were you able to live in that place?!” Lettuce asked.

 

“My guns, wits, and training kept me alive. My martial arts didn't do me much good.” Blackhawk said, chuckling.

 

“...Are you gonna tell us what life was like for you?” Pinkie guessed.

 

“Let me tell you, first, about old Cort. You see, when a gunslinger wishes to earn their guns, they must challenge their mentor to a duel, using whatever weapon they wish to do so. I took on Cort with my martial arts.” Blackhawk replied.

 

“Blackhawk says he was ‘barely hitting puberty’ when he did.” Ebony said. “At least, in terms of his years.”

 

“The first punch, Cort caught. He snapped my wrist with one motion.” Blackhawk said. Everyone gave a wince.

 

“T-then what?” Pinkie asked. “Did he hurt you more?”

 

“He left me with three broken toes, four broken fingers, a snapped wrist, a dislocated shoulder, and a concussion, along with an artist’s gallery of cuts and bruises.”

 

“And then he ‘sent you west’.” Ebony finished. “Exiled to the wastelands outside Gilead.”

 

“Yar. I stole a pair of pistols before I left. I decided to learn the way of the gun on my own. It...didn't turn out like I thought it would, but Cort did end up training me.”

 

“Which brings us to today’s story.” Ebony said like a female Rod Serling.

 

Blackhawk leaned back in his chair. “Hmmm...there is one story I could tell. A story of myself and my ka-tet, after I learned the way of the gun. You see, we, myself, Roland, Cuthbert and Alain, were all fairly skilled gunslingers by that point. On this particular day, a hot, arid day, the four of us set out into the desert. We had heard from a traveling merchant about a band of mercenaries flying a peculiar sigil, raping, burning and pillaging as they traveled. This day would be the first encounter of many with the forces of the Good Man. It began, like many days did, with the march…”

 

-------

12 years earlier…

-------

 

Roland slowly marched through the desert outside of Gilead, his face covered by the brownish cowboy hat atop his head. He was Caucasian, a male of indeterminate age, with pale blue gunslinger eyes and a face that looked like something out of a Sergio Leone spaghetti western. He wore typical wear for his place in society: white shirt overlaid with a brown longcoat, and rugged jeans stuffed into large boots. Around his belt were the twin sandalwood guns, emblazoned with the rose crest of his lineage, that of Arthur-Eld. Following him were the others of his tet: Cuthbert Allgood, Alain Johns, and Blackhawk Little. The lineage of Little were unusual in terms of Gilead’s inhabitants, as they were not human at all. In fact, no one could say just what they were, exactly, nor where they came from. All that was known was that they had lived in Gilead for many generations. Their tet of four had formed four years earlier, when they were boys in training, under the old gunslinger Cort. He had been a harsh, often sadistic mentor, but he had done his job well, and molded the four of them into skilled masters of the way of the gun. Despite the fact that none of them were older than sixteen, they all looked to be twice that age, due to growing up in the Hell that was All-World.

 

“How much farther is this town we're headed to?” Blackhawk asked, taking a long drag from his hand-rolled cigarette, or poke.

 

“Several more wheels.” Roland said. Wheels were about half a mile, or 1.5. Cuthbert, a dark-eyed and black-haired young man, chewed on some jerky. Alain drank from his waterskin.

 

“The sooner we get to Hambry, the sooner we can grab a few drinks in the watering hole and sing ‘na, na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na-naaaa, hey Jude…” Cuthbert said through a mouthful of jerky.

 

Roland snorted. “Typical Bert...always wanting to put fun and jokes before his duties. I swear, Blackhawk can be more relatable at times.”

 

“Hey, Cuthbert?” Blackhawk asked. “How long’s it been since you threw that little jilly of yours a fuck, eh? The one that girl you're courtin’ doesn't know about?”

 

Cuthbert snorted. “Says the one who isn’t courting any women.”

 

“And what, exactly, is that supposed to mean?” Blackhawk replied, raising a brow.

 

“I’m saying you need to get laid, bird boy.” Alain did a spit take, as if on reflex. Blackhawk, who was in front of him, promptly got soaked across the back.

 

“Thankee, Alain.” He said dryly.

 

“Apologies, Blackhawk-sai.” Alain said sheepishly. “What Bert said caught me off-guard.”

 

“I don't see you telling Roland that.” Blackhawk said to Cuthbert. “He isn't exactly drowning in the affections of ladies, either....actually, I take that back. There aren't many Gilead girls who don't want to take him to bed.”

 

“That is true.” Roland said. “But I feel no affection for them. I want to find a woman who truly loves me.”

 

Blackhawk patted him on the shoulder. “You're into men, aren't you? That's okay. I won't condemn ya for that.”

 

Roland glared at him. “Very funny.” From the tone of his voice, he was not amused. Blackhawk stepped away, raising his hands defensively.

 

“I cry your pardon, Roland. I was merely making a joke.”

 

Roland gave a nod. “Let us move on from that. We’re close to Hambry.” Cuthbert gave a sigh of relief, as did Alain. The road into town was mostly empty, save for a few merchants riding horse-drawn carts. The band of gunslingers drew a few weary gazes, but little more. The four of them, sent by Roland’s father to investigate the band of mercenaries known as the Big Coffin Hunters, who were rumored to have ties to a person known only as the Good Man, started their time in town by heading to the local tavern. They could hear the familiar chorus of Hey Jude being played on a piano, Roland slowly stepping in, followed by the rest of the tet. Typical Mejis cantina, with drunkards playing cards or trying to flirt with the girls who danced for them. One in particular caught Blackhawk’s eye: she was dressed in red, with skin the hue of bronze and dark locks that brought out her emerald eyes. Another, meanwhile, caught Roland’s: A girl around his height, with fair skin and blonde hair, wearing white. She was drinking at the bar, a glass cradled in her right hand. Roland sat next to her, ordering three burgers and a beer. The darker-skinned girl smiled at Blackhawk, while Cuthbert and Alain sat at further corners, the former requesting Hey Jude to be played once more.

 

Blackhawk, returning the girl’s smile, beckoned her over. “Hello, handsome.” she greeted. “What an unusual sight I behold. A taheen gunslinger.”

 

Roland, meanwhile, chewed on his burgers, taking a swig of beer every now and then. The girl in white sipped her drink, not saying anything. “I am Roland, son of Stephen. Who are you?” the gunslinger asked, trying to make conversation. By God, she was beautiful.

 

“I am Susan. Long days and pleasant nights.”

 

“And may you have twice the number.” Roland replied. “Who is that girl talking to my friend Blackhawk, son of Ace?” Maybe she was a close friend of Susan’s. It wouldn’t hurt to ask.

 

“One of the dancers. I don't know their names.” Susan replied. “They don't come over to me, after all.”

 

“And why not? You’re certainly attractive enough.” Roland was not exactly known for being subtle. “Do their barn doors not swing that way?”

 

“Alas, they do not. Do yours, fair stranger?” Susan asked, her tone flirtatious.

 

Roland was also not known to understand figures of speech. “No, I do not enjoy the company of men, if that’s what you wonder.”

 

“I meant, are you attracted to ladies?” Susan asked.

 

“I cry your pardon, fair lady Susan. I am attracted to ladies, and dare I say, I am attracted to thee.” Roland answered. The dancer girl, meanwhile, had begun to make small talk with Blackhawk. She had told him her name was Margarita, and that her father was the cantina’s owner. He ran it with his brothers Carl and Dennis, their cousin Michael, and their friend Al. Blackhawk had nodded when she finished, quite enjoying the special dance he was receiving. He made a mental note to pay her well when she was done. She was attracted to him, and did not waste time in subtlety. When she was done, Margarita grinned smugly.

 

“Pay my fee.” she said in a mock-intimidating tone.

 

“Oh, by the Man Jesus, what is a poor, helpless gunslinger like me to do in response to such demands?” He responded, before flicking a gold coin her way. It was one of the gold coins of Gilead, and was an extremely rare sight outside of the city. It was worth far, far more than what Margarita was paid by the day.

 

She stared wide-eyed, then whispered, “This will pay for quite a few things. Papa teaches music lessons, Tio Carl’s pokes, Tio Dennis’ drinks…”

 

“I am glad I could be of help to thee.” Blackhawk said.

 

“Long days and pleasant nights to you, Blackhawk-sai.”

 

“And may you have twice the number.” He replied, staring at her as she walked away.

 

------

 

“And just like that, I was in love.” Blackhawk said to the others. “It was that quick.”

 

Toby and Ebony stared at him. “So, you were in love before us?” the former asked. “I’m not surprised at all, or disappointed, really. Just a bit off-put.”

 

Blackhawk smiled sadly. “She was my first, and, if I'm honest with myself, only true love.”

 

“I understand completely.” Toby said. “There’ll always be that one love that got away.”

 

“Oh, she didn't get away. She died.” Blackhawk responded, chuckling bitterly. “I guess we, like Roland and his lady love Susan, were too happy for it to last…”

 

----

 

Roland had shared the last two burgers he had with Susan, Blackhawk having ordered a platter of popkins for himself. “He tends to eat a lot, and not gain an ounce.” Roland observed.

 

Susan snorted, finishing her drink and ordering another. “So, what brings a band of gunslingers to this little town?”

 

“We’re here on my father’s orders. Sightings of a band of mercenaries associated with the Good Man Farson.” Roland said, ordering three more burgers and another beer. If Susan was ordering another drink, why shouldn’t he do the same with his previous order?

 

“Associated with the Good Man, you said? Ah, you must be after the Big Coffin Hunters.”

 

“Yes, them. Who are they, and what is known?”

 

As Susan replied, her voice dipped down into a whisper. “They came to town several months ago. They are supposed to enforce our laws. Instead, they intimidate and attack anyone they please, either robbing them blind, killing them in their beds...or both.”

 

“Bastards. I and my ka-tet will track them down and they will pay for their crimes.” Roland promised. “I swear on the face of my father and in your name, lady Susan.” Another song by the piano player began, this one similar to yet different from Hey Jude:

 

“Hey Jude

 

Come on, Joe

 

Don't make that sad song

 

Any sadder than it already is

 

Hey Jack

 

Get back

 

Get yourself together

 

Come on, come on

 

I know you're thinking of your nervous love

I know exactly what you're thinking of

 

Hey Cid

 

No matter what you did

 

It can work out

 

Work out

 

No matter how you feel right now

 

Hey George

 

Do your chores

 

Don't feel sore

 

I know it's a lot more than just being bored

 

There's a heaven and there's a star for you

 

There's a heaven and there's a star for you

 

There's a heaven and there's a star for you…”

 

Another song from before the world moved on, Roland observed. To him, it sounded rather childish, yet sad...but also hopeful. Like the one who had played it God-knew-how-many-years ago was trying to fling a light of hope to those who would come after he had passed on. Susan hummed along to the tune. “You know this song, Susan?” Roland asked. “I have never heard it, even in Gilead. And there are hundreds, if not thousands of old songs and rhymes I have heard there.”

 

“I do, indeed. My father used to sing it to me sometimes.” She replied.

 

“But what does it mean?” Roland asked. “...No matter, it is a song. I should not have to ‘overthink’ things, as Cuthbert often tells me I do.”

 

“Sometimes, putting a lot of thought into the matter at hand is wise.” Susan said to reassure him. “Other times, you simply need to go with your gut.”

 

“Like Blackhawk often does.” Roland snarked, looking at the gunslinger in question. He was chatting idly with the dark-skinned dancer Roland had yet to learn the name of. Susan snorted again.

 

“There is a difference between going with your gut and being impulsive. I hope your friend is aware of that difference.”

 

“Blackhawk is quick with his mind just as he is with his gun, yes.” Roland said.

 

“Which gun, if I may ask?” Susan asked. Unfortunately, the innuendo went straight over Roland’s head.

 

“Both of them.” Roland said bluntly. Or maybe it didn't, Susan thought, laughing. Roland cracked a smile, before embracing Susan. She pulled him close, before gently kissing him. Roland kissed her back, before pulling away. She smirked at him. “Are you pondering what I’m pondering?” Roland questioned.

 

“Are you planning on taking me to bed, handsome gunslinger?”

 

“Yes.” he replied, smirking.

 

“Then, by all means, let us go find a place that's warm and quiet to spend the night.” Susan responded. Roland inquired to the bartender if there was any rooms available. Carl nodded, before lighting a poke. The two of them rented a room for the night, and went to it together.

 

----

 

“OH, COME ON!” Ebony complained. “YOU’RE GONNA SKIP THE BEST PART?!” Toby snorted.

 

“Typical Ebony.”

 

“I actually know the song you described, Blackhawk.” Lettuce said. “Hey Joe by Daniel Johnston.”

 

“Who the fuck is Daniel Johnston?” Ebony asked.

 

“A singer-songwriter Kira introduced me to. Lo-fi Beatles-inspired indie pop. Firehawk would like him.” Lettuce said. “Anyway, I bring him up because you never told us how similar All-World was to Earth. Not Core Earth. Just Earth in general.”

 

“It is very much the same, though also different. The Old Ones built a mighty empire ages ago...called the Imperium.”

 

“Wait.” said Usagi. “Did you just say…?”

 

“I think he did.” said Pinkie.

 

“Not that Imperium.” Blackhawk said. “The Old Ones didn't expand nearly as far, and never encountered any alien species.”

 

“Their Imperium was more like, say, a worldwide United States.” Alpha said. “Similar culture, companies…”

 

“...but they grew proud, and the Great Cataclysm destroyed them.” Omnus finished. “And All-World moved on.”

 

Blackhawk nodded. “As for why I skipped the ‘best part’, Ebony...it would be disrespectful to the memory of the girl Susan, who burned in a Charyou Tree while Roland could do naught but watch.”

 

“Continue.” said Alpha.

 

-----

 

The next day, the ka-tet began the investigation into the Big Coffin Hunters. Before that, however, Susan and Roland awoke in a warm bed together, holding each other close. Roland kissed her gently. “Good morning, Susan.”

 

“Good morning, Roland. Thought last night was better.” She said, grinning a bit.

 

“Agreed. You are a fantastic lover.”

 

“Good.” Susan replied. “I am glad.”

 

“I am as well.” Roland said. “Shall we get dressed and begin the day?”

 

Susan nodded, rising and gathering her clothes. Roland silently redressed, rearmed himself, and exited. The others in his ka-tet met him outside. Cuthbert winked at him, and slapped him on the back. Alain said nothing, being his usual quiet self. Blackhawk smirked.

 

“My, my, Susan is a bit of a screamer, isn't she?”

 

“Yes, she is. I cannot say the same for Margarita.” Roland replied.

 

“Oh, she didn't need to scream for me to know I was pleasuring her.”

 

After Roland and Susan had left, Blackhawk had invited Margarita to have a few drinks with him. After that, one thing led to another, and they ended up in bed together. When they were finished, she held him close, snuggling into his feathers. He had kept her quite warm as she slept, she told him when they awoke. This pleased him greatly to hear. “Always stay with me.” she had whispered.

 

“I will. Always.” He had whispered back to her. These words would haunt him for years after their tragic tale reached its end.

 

“I love you.”

 

“And I, you. Until the end.”

 

She had kissed him before falling back asleep. When she awoke, he had left.

 

Once the idle small talk about the previous night ceased, the four gunslingers began their search.

 

“Where to, Ro?” Cuthbert asked.

 

“Let’s check the Sheriff's office first.” Alain suggested. Roland nodded.

 

“Yes. That would be the logical thing to do.” he said. “Avery might give us a lead.” And so, they headed to the Sheriff’s office. Upon entering, Blackhawk could almost smell how corrupt the place was. Sheriff Avery immediately struck him as an untrustworthy man. Roland had that same intuition, and asked forwardly, “Do you know anything about the Big Coffin Hunters?”

 

In hindsight, the question was foolish, and would ultimately lead, in part, to the deaths of Susan and Margarita. Still, Roland had few options. Avery stroked his chin.

 

“No, I cannot say I do.” He replied.

 

“Do not lie.” Roland stated.

 

“I won't be taken for a liar, boy.” Avery said. “I answered your question.”

 

They left not long after. It was about twenty minutes later when Blackhawk realized they were being followed. Roland turned around. “Who goes there?”

 

Four men stood not far from them. They were all dressed in black and grey clothing, wearing hats, coats and tall boots.

 

“If you are wise, you'll be out of town by the time the sun sets.” one of the men said. “Sheriff Avery doesn't like boys like you asking questions, and he has powerful friends.”

 

“Oh?” Cuthbert challenged. “What sorts of friends?”

 

“Cuthbert, don’t…” Alain pleaded.

 

“Cuthbert, do not challenge these men. As for you four, we will not leave until we finish business.” Roland said. Blackhawk saw one of the men moving his hand. Blackhawk was faster. A shot cracked, and a bullet tore through the man’s throat, his gun, half-drawn, clattering to the ground as he fell, clutching the bleeding wound.

 

“Let that be a lesson to you, sai. No one interferes in gunslinger business. No. One.” He growled out, holstering his gun. The other men ran.

 

“It seems there’s more to this town than meets the eye.” Roland observed. Blackhawk nodded in agreement.

 

“Where should we head next?” Cuthbert asked. “Obviously, we’ll need to dig deeper.”

 

“I’m not sure.” said Alain. “Ro? Black? Any ideas?”

 

Blackhawk stroked his chin. “I think we should ask Susan what she knows. I think there is more to her…”

 

----

 

“...than we are aware of.’” Blackhawk finished, recounting what he had said at the time. “And by the holy Man Jesus, was I right about that.”

 

“Man Jesus…” said Ebony. “As in Jesus Christ? He has another name in All-World?”

 

“Yar.” Blackhawk replied, nodding. “As for Cuthbert challenging those men, he would have ignored Roland’s command if it came to it. He made his own decisions, always, and listened to few who commanded him. After all, a man chooses, a slave obeys…”

 

-----

 

The four headed back into the cantina, Margarita waving at Blackhawk flirtatiously. Susan was gone. Blackhawk asked the bartender where she was. The man ignored him, his only response to spit in Blackhawk’s face. The gunslinger wiped the saliva off his cheek, before smiling dangerously.

“Let's try that again, sai.” he said calmly, before grabbing the man’s arm and twisting hard enough to cause extreme pain. “Where. Is. Susan. Delgado?”

 

“I...I don’t know.”

 

“Don’t know,” growled Cuthbert, the humor gone from his eyes. “Or won’t tell?”

 

Blackhawk grabbed the hand of the arm he had been twisting. He broke the thumb with a casual twist.

 

“One down, nine to go, friend.” He said pleasantly.

 

“Where is Susan?” Roland asked the bartender. “Do not lie.”

 

“SHE WENT TO SEE THAT DAMNED WITCH!” The man shouted, his tone one of pain and terror.

 

“A witch?” Cuthbert said. “What is her name?”

 

“Rhea…” the man whispered. “Her name is Rhea…”

 

That was when Margarita came forward. “I know of her. Allow me to guide you to where she dwells, if it do ya fine. It’s the least I can do.”

 

“We would appreciate it immensely.” Alain said. “Thankee-sai.”

 

----

 

Blackhawk paused in his telling, staring at his hands for a moment. “I wish now we had declined her offer.”

 

Toby hugged him, as did Ebony. “...We’re so sorry…” the latter whispered. “She was only trying to help.”

 

“Help? Yes, she was. Trouble is, helping others on All-World tends to get you killed.” He replied, pulling away from them. “As old Cort aptly put it, ‘If ya stop to help every poor bastard who has lost his dog, the rats’ll be chewing on your bloodied corpse quick as spit, maggot.’”

 

----

 

Rhea lived on the outskirts of Hambry, in a small hut. She was an old woman, even older than Arthur-Eld, with pale skin, grey hair, and dressed in rather ratty pink robes. She sat in her hovel, looking intently at what resembled a pink glass ball, about the size of a grapefruit. It was known as Marelyn’s Grapefruit, and it was one of the thirteen Bends O’ The Rainbow, powerful magical artifacts containing the secrets of the 12 Guardians of the Dark Tower. It was said even the agents of the Crimson King were weary of crossing the Witch of Hambry, for she was older than Him. Far older.

 

Susan sat in a half-rotted armchair facing Rhea. The girl wrung her hands nervously, waiting for the witch to finish whatever she was doing. Rhea stopped looking at the Grapefruit to attend to Susan, though it took all the willpower she had. She was going to check Susan’s ‘honesty’, or, to use a more simple word, her virginity, for Susan was promised to a very powerful man in Hambry. She was to be his gilly.

 

-----

 

“Hold on a minute…” Lettuce interrupted with a...rather disgusted expression. “She was going to check Susan’s virginity? That’s wrong on way too many levels.”

 

“No shit.” Blackhawk said bluntly, rolling and lighting a cigarette. “Susan had no choice in the matter. Her aunt Cordelia made the arrangement.”

 

“If I may ask,” said Naruto. “Was ‘checking for honestly’ a common practice in the baronies?”

 

“Yar.” Blackhawk said flatly. “Not in Gilead, though. Gilead girls were too spirited for that. My mother had someone try it on her at one point. She...didn't react well. And by that I mean she ripped out the throat of the poor woman. With her teeth.”

 

“What’s a gilly?” Ebony asked. Like Blackhawk, she pronounced it with a hard j sound.

 

“A mistress.” He replied simply. “Susan was to be his mistress.”

 

“Even though she was in love with Roland?” Lettuce asked. “I swear, are all your stories about All-World messed up Westerns?”

 

Blackhawk didn't laugh. He didn't even smile. Instead, his left eye twitched.

 

“I'm sorry, Lettuce, that my stories aren't the entertaining adventures you thought they would be. You are hearing about my past. Try living it. Imagine if, say, you discovered Emperor Diabolica was fucking your mother, and beating her while he was at it. Could you live with that? Roland had to. It turned out one of the advisors to his father, Marten Broadcloak, was sleeping with his mother, Gabrielle. Roland swore to kill him, and challenged Cort, at age 14, to the duel that would end his time as a student, so he could get his guns. Imagine, say, if you, after seeing this hypothetical affair going on, you had to challenge Omnus to a duel to earn the weapons you needed to get your revenge. Could you do it? Hmmm? Could you?”

 

Lettuce glared at him; it was the same glare Cuthbert had when he was serious. Ignoring the worry in Pinkie’s eyes to stare down the Hawkian, he answered flatly and gravely: “Yes.”

 

Cort whispered to Blackhawk, Come now, maggot. Let me speak through your tongue, and teach these children something.

 

Blackhawk agreed, and Cort took over. His former mentor looked around through sharp eyes, flexing leaner muscles than he had possessed in life. When he spoke, it was still clearly Blackhawk’s voice, and yet, not. It sounded much older and deeper, with a noticeable rasp.

 

“Greetings to thee, maggots. I am the one who was known in life as Cort.” He said, grinning humorlessly. “Blackhawk here has allowed me to speak through him for a time, so here I am.”

 

“I thought you were dead.” Lettuce said.

 

“Oh, I am. I, or at least, part of me, lives inside Blackhawk’s head. There's a lot of company in here. He is haunted by the ghosts of those who he has lost.” Cort replied, walking around the room. He looked over each of the Rangers with a critical eye, snorting.

 

“You’re not impressed?” Ebony asked. “Granted, we weren’t trained by a hardass like you, so I’m not surprised.”

 

Cort grinned again. “If you were one of my students, girl, I would have made you bleed for that remark. I turned boys into men, not children into soldiers.”

 

“We’re not soldiers. We’re superheroes. There’s a big difference.”

 

“Aye? Care to educate this old gunslinger on what that is?” Cort asked.

 

Ebony morphed into her Ranger suit, and grinned beneath her helmet. “Our job is to protect this city from evil, like you gunslingers had with your baronies. Then again, we have it easier. We just have to fight a weekly monster.”

 

“Ebony, as your boyfriend, take my advice and shut the fuck up. You aren’t helping.” Toby said sharply. He had a gunslinger’s mind, Cort noted. But not a gunslinger’s training. This fact didn't stop Cort from striking him on the ear with a cuffed fist.

 

“Speak when spoken to, maggot.” He snapped. “I'm here to teach you children something, not listen to petty lover’s quarrels.”

 

“Y-yes, sai! I cry your pardon!” Toby responded.

 

“This isn’t gonna be one of the tacky moral lessons we have to deal with, right?” Lettuce muttered under his breath. “Because I enjoy hearing about Blackhawk’s past more.”

 

“You won't understand his story, little bird, unless you understand what being a gunslinger was truly like. You fight evil, you claim? None of you would know what evil truly is even if it came up and bit you on the ass.” Cort said.

 

“I am a soldier, Cort.” Naruto said. “So with all respect to you, I have seen and done things no one my age should. I am a shinobi, my world’s gunslingers.”

 

“You ever seen a city die, boy?” Cort asked. “Ever heard the screams of countless men, women and children as they are burned to ash and scattered to the wind? I have, when the Good Man came for Gilead. Those who burned were lucky. Many who made it out were mounted on spikes and paraded around, unable to die. The Good Man was evil, boy. Evil, sadistic, cruel, and merciless. He would have raped your lover right in front of you, skinned her, and made her body into clothes. And if you were fortunate, he would do it in that order.”

 

Naruto’s face twisted into unbridled rage, and without thinking charged at Cort-in-Blackhawk’s-body. Cort sidestepped casually, letting Naruto charge into the wall like a raging bull.

 

“What is your deal? You consider us pansies or something?” Usagi asked.

 

“Yar.” Cort agreed. “While some of your past deeds are commendable, none of you are ready for what is coming.”

 

“The Necrons? Yes, we aren’t prepared. Radiguet? No, we can handle him.” Usagi said. “He’s an almighty idiot with his ambitions of godhood.”

 

“And what of the Crimson King?” Cort asked her. Immediately, the room felt a bit colder, as if the name had caused a dreadful shroud to settle over it.

 

“How does He factor into this?” Starhawk asked.

 

“Are you prepared to face Him? He will not set foot on this world-It is so far beneath His notice, you all might as well be ants-but He will attempt to destroy the Tower and usher in Discordia.”

 

Several eyes fell on Pinkie, as that name reminded them of Discord, the ‘Spirit of Chaos’ on her world. Cort rolled his eyes.

 

“I can guess what you are thinking, and no, Discordia has nothing to do with any chaos spirit. It is the state of chaos and anarchy all of reality will fall into if the Tower crumbles.”

 

“It is not our duty to protect the Tower.” Starhawk said. “That is Roland’s, or so Blackhawk says.”

 

“But it is.” Alpha said. “The Tower has manifestations on all worlds, but can only be physically entered in All-World.”

 

“If the Tower falls-and the full might of the King and His agents are bent on ensuring it does-all of reality will shudder. Discordia will come, and anarchy will rip every world apart. Rape, murder, cannibalism, human sacrifice, and many worse things will occur on this world and every other. Time and space will shatter into fragments, and the King will rule over a fractured universe, seeking to reforge it as He wishes.” Omnus added.

 

“Is there a manifestation of the Tower here on Core Earth?” Toby asked. “If there is, then we can be trained as gunslingers so that we may protect it.”

 

“No.” Omnus said. “It is the destiny of Roland Deschain to carry out a quest to save the Tower. He is the gunslinger ka has chosen to save it. The King must not take notice of Core Earth, and He will if His agents catch wind of gunslingers being trained here. The manifestation of the Tower resides within the same vault the Emperor, Usagi’s Lord-Father, is seated in. He has kept it safe for a very long time.”

 

“So, to put it bluntly, we can’t do jack shit.” Lettuce said.

 

“For now, that is correct, at least when it comes to the Tower.” Omnus replied. “This is not to say we will be doing nothing to hamper the King, however. His agents here still carry out His will, and must be stopped.”

 

That was when Cort gave control back to Blackhawk, who sat down, feeling a bit drained.

 

“You OK, man?” Toby asked.

 

“I will be.” He said, rolling and lighting another cigarette. “Just...give me a few minutes.”

 

Toby backed away slowly. “Keeping my space.”

 

“Sister?” Firehawk said, turning to Starhawk. “Can we talk for a minute? Alone?”

 

“Of course.”

 

The two of them got up, leaving the room. Firehawk went to a window, opening it, climbing out and flying to the roof. Starhawk followed her, looking out onto the horizon. Fires blazed in the distance, the flames lighting up the sky in shades of red and orange. “It is beautiful, yes?”

 

“Yes.” Firehawk replied. “Of course, the cause of those fires isn't so beautiful, is it?”

 

“Is that why you wish to talk?”

 

“No.” her sister replied. “I wanted to talk about the Tower, and the Crimson King. Or, rather, how I would like to avoid the coming battle against His agents.”

 

“I am listening.” Starhawk said.

 

“I think you and I should be far away from here when the coming war begins.” Firehawk replied. “I know how these sorts of things end, sister dear.”

 

“If it begins. The King isn’t aware of Core Earth, remember? And we intend to keep it that way.”

 

“But His agents are. Some of them are already here, and all of them will do their best to carry out the will of their King. I don't wish for either of us to die, sister, so soon after our marriage.”

 

“Neither do I, dear.” Starhawk whispered. “I love you, and I don’t want to ever leave you.”

 

Firehawk pulled her sister close, kissing her head. Starhawk let out a soft purr, nuzzling into her sister’s chest.

 

“I love you, sister.” Firehawk whispered. “Now, and forever.”

 

“And a day.”

 

Firehawk smiled, kissing Starhawk gently on the mouth. A few minutes later, the two of them returned to the others, holding hands and smiling.

 

“Well, that must’ve been a pleasant talk.” Usagi observed.

 

“It was, indeed.” Firehawk replied. “My, I only sensed a little bit of resentment in your tone. You're making progress, Blondie.”

 

“Don’t call me Blondie.” Usagi insisted.

 

“Yeah.” Lettuce agreed. “She much prefers Debbie Harry.”

 

“...SHUT UP, LETTUCE!”

 

“And let us not get into my names for her.” Kras’hir said. “Some of them aren't exactly...kid-friendly, I suppose you could say.”

 

Usagi blushed hard, giving a small ‘ be quiet’ nudge. Kras’hir simply chuckled.

 

“What is it, my dear? Embarrassed?” she asked.

 

“Y-yes!”

 

“I must say, you have the most adorable blush.” Kras’hir replied, continuing to grin.

 

“Stooop! You’re embarrassing me!”

 

Kras’hir knew this was true. She also knew her girlfriend was barely holding back a smile. She could see it. Usagi’s smile turned into a grin as she hugged the Daemoness. Kras’hir chuckled again, nuzzling Usagi.

 

“I am so very lucky to have met you.” She said.

 

“Me too, even if you embarrass me sometimes.”

 

“You cannot say you don't love it.” Kras’hir responded.

 

“I really can’t.”

 

“Good.” Kras’hir said. “Because, like it or not, I will continue to do so, love.”

Usagi giggled, kissing her. Kras’hir returned the kiss, holding Usagi close. Toby coughed awkwardly. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but…”

 

“...Oh, sorry.”

 

“I'm not sorry.” Kras’hir said bluntly. “Piss off, Toby.”

 

“...We have more important things to worry about.” he said just as bluntly.

 

“Like what?” she responded. “The Necrons? The Crimson King? Yeah, all of you seem reeeeeeeeeal worried. Is that why you're all sitting here and listening to Bird Man tell you a story?”

 

“Just because we don’t share your cynicism doesn’t mean we aren’t worried.”

 

“Really?” the Daemoness asked, snorting. “Well, forgive me for being cynical. Optimism has gotten a lot of people I've known killed. Or worse.”

 

“...I’m an optimist.” Usagi whispered.

 

“You won't get killed.” Kras’hir said flatly. “I'll butcher anyone who tries to hurt you.”

 

Usagi nodded, kissing her. Kras’hir returned it, before sitting down, Usagi on her lap. Blackhawk looked at them, before going back to his tale.

 

----

 

Susan sat uncomfortably as the Witch of Hambry gazed at her, nervously wringing her hands and staring at her feet. She knew what Rhea intended to do, and she was scared, as Susan no longer had her ‘honesty.’ Rhea grinned at her, the teeth yellow and crooked. Susan stayed silent, doing her best to avoid eye contact. Rhea began the ritual of ‘checking her honesty’, but then immediately noticed something was off. Very off. Susan lacked a hymen, she realized, and she glared at the girl.

 

“Who?” she whispered. “Who did you give your virginity to, girl?”

 

Susan, terrified, could only whisper, “A gunslinger…”

 

“A gunslinger, hmmm? You do know what must be done now that you have no honesty, yes?”

 

“Charyou Tree...death to you, life to my crop…”

 

“...Charyou Tree.” Rhea repeated. “You will be the sacrifice for the crop, dear Susan.”

 

“...Go to Hell.” Susan whispered. “Go to Hell, you wretched fucking crone.”

 

With that, she kicked a small table in front of her at the witch, who had sat back down. It was a brief distraction, but it worked, giving Susan time to flee. She ran headlong into the ka-tet and Margarita. Literally, it turned out, as she had managed to knock Roland flat on his back. “Hello, Susan.” Margarita greeted, trying to hide her urgency behind a casual tone.

 

“She...she knows. Rhea knows.” Susan muttered. This meant nothing to the gunslingers, but she knew Margarita would understand.

 

The girl’s eyes widened, and she whispered, “We must escape. Before you’re killed.” Her false casualness was dropped entirely, replaced with urgent panic, strengthened further by how hard she was pulling on Susan’s arm.

 

“Would either of you be kind enough to tell us what is going on?” Blackhawk asked, his tone one of confusion. Susan explained the situation as quickly as she could, mentioning every major detail, including the arrangement that had been made regarding herself and the mayor. Roland looked her in the eyes, and whispered three words:

 

“Come with us.”

 

Alain and Cuthbert agreed. They couldn’t let an injustice like this be taken lying down. Susan couldn't help but smile.

 

“I thank thee.” She said to Roland. “Now, we must go.”

 

“Yes, before the witch comes for you.”

 

They all ran away, heading for the Bad Grass outside of town.

 

----

 

“Wait, what's this Bad Grass you mentioned?” Kras’hir asked.

 

“It's a field of tall, poisonous grass stalks, full of winding paths.” Blackhawk replied simply. “A good hiding place, all things considered.”

 

“But then she found you guys, yar?” Toby asked.

 

“No.” Blackhawk replied. “The Big Coffin Hunters did.”

 

----

 

The group of six ran through the maze that was the Bad Grass, looking for a place Susan could hide for the night. Eventually, they came across a house, made of wood, with red doors. Susan hurried inside, before collapsing on a couch in the sitting room, panting. Roland sat next to her, stroking her hair idly. Blackhawk kept watch by one of the windows, guns in hand. Cuthbert and Alain did the same, stationing themselves by two other windows.

 

“I'm going to die…” Susan whispered, her tone one of quiet terror. “I'm going to be burnt as a sacrifice…”

 

“No, you’re not.” Roland whispered gently. “I will see to it, my life be damned.”

 

Susan leaned against him, relaxing a bit. Roland kissed her, holding her close to him. Susan closed her eyes, falling asleep on his arms. She was woken up soon after by voices. There was a rather spirited discussion going on, Susan gathered. She could hear the gunslingers, along with three men whose voices everyone in town knew: The Big Coffin Hunters.

 

“Why are you here?” Roland inquired. “There is nothing of importance that you can seek.”

 

“We're looking for a girl who goes by the name Susan Delgado.” one of the men said. He was tall and white-haired, with a handlebar mustache. He wore a long, black coat and trousers, along with a pair of boots. “Perhaps you boys have seen her?”

 

“No.” Roland said bluntly. The white-haired man narrowed his eyes.

 

“Don't lie to me, boy.” He said. “We know you're hiding her.”

 

“He does not lie.” Blackhawk replied. “We have not seen her.”

 

The man turned towards the two other men with him, nodding once. Immediately, chaos erupted, as the Big Coffin Hunters charged the house, the ka-tet of gunslingers opening fire on them. Susan, knowing that, at the moment, she was unable to fight back, ran to hide, dragging Margarita along with her. Unfortunately, Margarita was caught in the crossfire of bullets. Blackhawk could do nothing but watch as she fell, bleeding, to the floor.

 

“No…” he whispered, hurrying to her side and kneeling. “No, no, no…” She coughed, blood spewing from her throat. Blackhawk, desperate, tried to stop the flow of blood, covering the wound with his hand.

 

“Stay with me…” he said, tears in his eyes. “I can't lose you…please, stay with me...”

 

“Heroes and villains…” she cursed. “Just see what you’ve done…”

 

“Don't go…” he whispered pleadingly, helplessly. She looked so very pale now, the light in her eyes fading. “Don't go where I cannot follow…”

 

“I love you, Blackhawk...I always will. But ka has made its decision.”

 

Blackhawk could only hold her as she died. He listened to her final, shuddering breaths, before one last gasp escaped her, her body going still, her eyes going dark and shutting forever.

 

----

 

Blackhawk went silent, staring at the floor. No one said anything, too shocked to speak up. Even Kras’hir, who was very intimate with death, kept silent. Blackhawk didn't say a word, lighting yet another cigarette with shaky fingers. “I’m sorry for your loss.” Ebony finally said. “I can never replace her.”

 

“You're right.” Blackhawk said flatly. “You can't.”

 

“...Geez, say that even more flatly, why don’t you?”

 

Blackhawk knew she was quite hurt by what he had said. He also knew he couldn't really bring himself to care. “I can try, if you like.” He said dryly, exhaling smoke.

 

“...You’re an asshole sometimes, you know that?”

 

“Yes.” He said, his tone unchanging. “I am aware.” Ebony glared at him, pouting as Toby comforted her.

 

“See? At least Toby pays attention to me.”

 

“Good for him.” Blackhawk spat. It was clear this hostility had been hidden, and building, for a while. “You two want a smoke break? I know how much you both love weed, so I wanted to make sure you can last the rest of my tale without dying from withdrawals.”

 

“Shut the fuck up.” Ebony spat back.

 

“And what if I don't?” He asked. “If you try to lunge at me, I should warn you that I can draw quicker than you'll be able to reach me. I won't shoot you dead, of course. A shoulder wound will hurt like hell, but you'll live.”

 

“This will go no farther.” Omnus said firmly, in a tone that made it clear he wasn't going to debate the subject. “The last thing that is needed at the moment is members of this team being at each other’s throats.”

 

“Yeah, the only thing I want in my throat is Toby’s-” Ebony began before Toby slapped her. “OW!”

 

Blackhawk was silent once again, staring at his hands. “I hope, so sincerely hope, that none of you who are in love have to go through what I did. Cradling the one you love as they die in your arms is unspeakably painful.”

 

Lettuce looked at him. “I hope I don’t.”

 

“It will be worse for the ones who killed her.” Kras’hir said, holding Usagi close. Firehawk nodded in agreement.

 

After another moment, Blackhawk said, “There is one thing I must say: The reason I am aware of Susan’s thoughts and actions that I could not have witnessed or known was quite simple. I will explain that soon. Now, returning to the tale, Margarita’s death wasn't the only terrible thing that occurred. In the chaos, the Big Coffin Hunters had managed to capture Susan, fleeing before anything could be done. Fortunately, we soon learned where they had taken her: The mayor’s residence. So, we split up: Roland and I went to confront the Witch of Hambry, while Cuthbert and Alain went to rescue Susan…”

 

------

 

Susan sat in a small, dark bedroom in the home of Hambry’s mayor. Her wrists were bound tightly with rope, and her face was bruised, as the three men who had taken her were forced to beat Susan into submission as they dragged her along, as the girl had been quite resistant. Now, she was alone, uncertain of what was to come. Thankfully, she wasn't completely defenseless: She had a gun in her dress sleeve, one that had once belonged to her father. The bullets for it were stored in various folds of her outfit, and, fortunately, hadn't been dislodged. Now, all she had to do was try and remove the rope. She did so by carefully pulling at it with her bound hands. Slowly, ever so slowly, the rope began to loosen. Susan was unaware of the two gunslingers coming to save her. As far as she knew, she was on her own, and acted accordingly. When Cuthbert and Alain did arrive, they were greeted by the sight of several dead guards, along with the periodic sounds of gunfire.

 

“...Well.” Cuthbert observed. “Seems we’re late to the party.”

 

“...Shut it, Bert.” Alain muttered. “It’s obvious Susan did not need our help.”

 

She ran into them a few minutes later as she came around a corner in another part of the house. “Oh. Hello, Alain, Cuthbert.”

 

“Hello, Susan-sai.” Alain greeted respectfully. “You would make an excellent gunslinger. That is, if the laws allowed it.”

 

Susan nodded, grinning a bit. “I guess you boys came here to save me, yar?”

 

“Yar.” Cuthbert said, grinning back. “But you don’t need saving now, obviously.”

 

“Obviously not.” She said dryly, before shooting one of the mayor’s guards in the throat as he came around the corner behind her. She did this without turning around.

 

Cuthbert gave an impressed whistle. “...Where did you learn the way of the gun?”

 

“My father.” Susan replied. “He was never a proper gunslinger, but he taught me how to shoot, all the same.”

 

“And you have earned our respect all the same.” Alain said. “We mustn’t dawdle now; we must return to Roland and Blackhawk.”

 

Susan nodded, and they left.

 

-------

 

Blackhawk paused, before snorting. “That old cunt wasn't there when Roland and I went to her hut. We found Maerlyn’s Grapefruit, but not Rhea. The Witch of Hambry wasn't home.”

 

“Please tell me you didn’t take that damned crystal ball.” Alpha pleaded. Blackhawk looked at him.

 

“Roland took it.” He said. “As far as I know, the Grapefruit remains intact, though I have no idea where it is now. After the Fall, well…”

 

“...we can probably guess what happened.” Starhawk said. “Please, Blackhawk, continue.”

 

------

 

Susan, Cuthbert and Alain had made it to the edge of town when they heard it. A low, hysterical cackle, resounding through the air like a deathly omen.

 

“We must tread carefully.” Alain said, arming himself. Cuthbert did the same. “Lest the witch cast a curse over us.”

 

Susan armed herself as well, walking slowly and looking around. “What do you see?” Cuthbert whispered. “Anything important?”

 

Susan looked again. She saw a nearby bush shifting, but it was too late. A bright light flashed, and everything went dark. When Susan woke again, her arms were bound behind her. She was tied to a makeshift stake resembling a tree. A Charyou Tree, she realized with dawning horror. She could see her aunt Cordelia standing at the front of the crowd gathered around her.

 

“People of Hambry!” she proclaimed. “We are gathered here to offer a sacrifice so that our crop may be plentiful once more!”

 

“CHARYOU TREE!” came the response. “DEATH TO YOU, LIFE FOR MY CROP!”

 

Susan looked at the crowd, gazing at each face in turn. She was unafraid, her face completely devoid of terror or despair.

 

“I hope you are content with what you choose to do here, Aunt Cordelia.” Susan said serenely. “My father will not be happy to see you when you finally die.”

 

“Death to you, Susan dear...you should have been more honest for the mayor.” Cordelia said, striking a match and setting the Tree alight. The flames took their time creeping up the wood. Susan remained serene and unafraid, even when she began to burn. The fire slowly began to consume Susan, moving up the Charyou Tree and igniting her dress. She did not scream or cry. Even when her hair burst into flames, turning the blonde locks into a blazing orange, Susan said nothing. It was only when she could feel death close by that Susan finally spoke, her words soft and gentle.

 

“Roland...I love thee.” Susan Delgado whispered, before the inferno devoured her completely.

 

----

 

“...Oh, dear God…” Usagi whispered, terrified. “At least she faced death honorably.”

 

Blackhawk looked at her. “What honor is there in death?” He asked, bitterness in his tone. “Death is not honorable. Death is cruel and uncaring, blind and merciless. There is no honor to be found in death…”

 

“She begs to differ.” Pinkie said, looking at Kras’hir.

 

“He is not entirely wrong.” The Daemoness said. “Death itself is not honorable. Fighting and killing is where honor can be found.”

 

“...That’s true.” Lettuce said.

 

“Not helping.” Toby muttered.

 

Blackhawk looked at him, raising a brow.

 

“...Never mind.”

 

“Anyway, continue.” Alpha said.

 

“What more is there to say?” Blackhawk replied. “Roland was gutted by this loss, of course. That was the first time I'd ever seen him weep. We found the Witch of Hambry on the edge of town. She tried to cast a spell, but Roland was faster. He shot her in the head before she could say a single word.”

 

“...That’s it?” Ebony asked, the hostilities flaring up once again. “THAT’S IT?!”

 

“Um, Ebony? I don’t think you should be acting this way. Blackhawk just poured his heart and soul out to us…” Pinkie advised, though Ebony ignored her. The Hawkian gunslinger stared at Ebony, his gaze cold and hard.

 

“I apologize, Ebony. Should I have brought popcorn? I wasn't aware this tale was so enthralling and entertaining for you.”

 

Toby facepalmed. “Oh, sweet Arceus, here we go…”

 

“IT’S A WESTERN! IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE ENTERTAINING!”

 

Blackhawk said, his voice unchanged in volume, “It was not. I would know. After all, I lived it.”

 

“...” Ebony glared at him. “...You still love her, don’t you?”

 

“Yes.” Blackhawk responded.

 

“...Why can’t you show that to me? I’m your girlfriend too.” Her tone was venomous; given her vampiric nature, she would have fed on Blackhawk then and there if she lost her temper. Blackhawk drew one of his guns, aiming it at her.

 

“Try and feed from me, Ebony, and I will shoot you dead.” He said calmly. “As for why I don't show you the same amount of affection? Margarita wasn't a whore.”

 

“...You take that back.” But it was not Ebony who said this. It was Toby.

 

“No.” Blackhawk spat. “I will not.”

 

“I said, take it back, Blackhawk Little of Gilead. She’s my girlfriend.” Toby replied, his voice low.

 

“And you're welcome to her.” Blackhawk responded. “There are very few people who can give me orders, Toby. You are not one of them.”

 

“...Calm the fuck down, both of you.” Usagi said. “I hate to enforce my position as leader, but I have to.”

 

“Calm down?” Blackhawk replied, smiling serenely. “I am calm. It'll take a helluva a lot more than these two getting offended to make me upset.”

 

“Good. You two,” she said, turning to Toby and Ebony. “Go get some air or something.”

 

“Fine.” Ebony muttered, walking out. Toby followed her.

 

“...As much as I want to agree with Ebony in how anticlimactic that was,” Lettuce began. “That’s probably not the end of your little tale, Blackhawk.”

 

“Yeah.” Naruto agreed. “What happened to the Big Coffin Hunters?”

 

“Oh, those three men weren't a problem for long.” Blackhawk replied. “You see, there were three Hunters: Eldred Jonas, Roy Depape and Clay Reynolds. The former two are dead. Roland and Cuthbert saw to that.”

 

----

 

It was not long after Susan Delgado was, for lack of a better phrase, sentenced to death by Charyou Tree that Roland and Cuthbert confronted two of the Hunters. Now, in any other western, this would have been the climactic showdown between the heroes and villains.

 

(just see what you’ve done)

 

But this was not a western as the Rangers knew it. This was All-World. This shootout was bloody and short. Cuthbert had two of his fingers blown off. Roland took three shots to the stomach and left hip. Eldred Jonas ended up with a round in each eye, a third piercing his throat, causing him to choke on his own blood. Roy Depape was killed by Cuthbert, who shot him several times in the groin, gut and chest. When all was said and done, the two young men were still alive, yet bleeding out from their wounds.

 

“Come on, Ro.” Cuthbert said, his voice low and hoarse. “Let’s get healed up.”

 

“Right.” Roland said, and the two best friends went, hands on each others’ shoulders, to the local doctors’ office.

 

------

 

“After they got their wounds treated, the four of us returned to Gilead.” Blackhawk said. “At least, for a short time. Then, Roland and I traveled back to Hambry...and avenged Susan. Not a single soul survived, save for the children.”

 

“...Oh, dear God...you even killed Margarita’s family?” Usagi asked. “Why them?”

 

“They did nothing when Susan was burned.” He responded. “In fact, they were among those chanting as she was burned. They got what they deserved.”

 

“...You are one jaded and cynical bastard.” Usagi said dryly. “No offense.”

 

“You would be too if you had to grow up in the same place I did.” He replied, shrugging. “All-World is not kind to the weak and naive.”

 

“...Is your power to know stuff you haven’t seen like Pinkie’s fourth wall breaking?” All but Pinkie herself stared at Lettuce, who had spoken.

 

“...What?” Naruto asked.

 

“Never mind, that’s not important now.” Pinkie said, brushing it off. “But how do you do that? Knowing what others are doing exactly when you’re in another place?”

 

“Because they all live inside my mind.” Blackhawk said. “Cort, Cuthbert, Susan, Alain, Margarita...they all live in my head, and I can see all their memories and experiences. That is how Cort spoke to you.”

 

He paused, then spoke again, his voice that of a woman, “How I can speak to you. My name is Susan. It's nice to meet all of you.”

 

“Nice to meet you too!” Pinkie said. “I wish I could give you a big welcome hug, but you’re well, a voice.”

 

“Long days and pleasant nights to you.” Naruto said.

 

“And may you have twice the number.” Susan replied, bowing ‘her’ head.

 

“We don’t think any less of Blackhawk after hearing what he’s been through.” Usagi said. “In fact we see him as even more than just a friend and teammate. He’s family. And, maybe, even part of our ka-tet.”

 

“Yeah.” Lettuce agreed. “He and Naruto may still not get along at times-”

 

“HEY!”

 

“-but that doesn’t mean Blackhawk’s any less of a Ranger to us. Because Power Rangers and gunslingers have one thing in common: they help each other in the worst of times.”

 

“Well said, Saladleaf.” Naruto said, grinning. Susan could only smile sadly.

 

“I admire your strength, Rangers.” She said. “Truly, I do. But it may not be enough to stop the coming storm. Dark forces are converging on this world, and I cannot say whether any of us will survive.”

 

“...It may not be enough, you’re right.” Usagi said. “But we’ll fight back or die trying, come hell or high water.”

 

Susan nodded, before Blackhawk took control again. He inhaled and exhaled a few times, before leaning back in his chair.

 

“...Roland ended up shooting his own mother, you know.” He said sadly.

 

“You mentioned it earlier.” Lettuce said. “I’m not gonna ask.”

 

“He was tricked.” Blackhawk said. “That damned Grapefruit fooled him into thinking the Witch of Hambry was on her way to Gilead. Roland, paranoid and angry, mistook his mother for Rhea, and ended up shooting her dead.”

 

“...I said I didn’t want to know!” Lettuce said, his voice near-breaking.

 

“I'm not telling this story for your benefit, Lettuce.” Blackhawk replied. “I'm telling it for myself, so that I may finally have some peace.”

 

“I know, man. Believe me, I know…”

 

Blackhawk took a shake breath, before standing up. “I need some air.”

 

With that, he left the room. He found Ebony feeding off Toby, the latter holding her close and stroking her hair. Blackhawk promptly turned around, trying to leave without them noticing him. They didn’t, thankfully. Good. Blackhawk wasn't in any mood to have the two of them ganging up on him. The fact that they were both naked would have made things even more awkward.

 

Blackhawk, after a minute of debating, went home to see his mother. Hopefully, despite their differences, they would see eye-to-eye this time. He did not always get along with her, but he also pitied his mother. She was broken, just like him. Blackhawk knocked on the door of the apartment she and his brother were staying in, waiting. Coop answered. “Hey, bro. What’s up?”

 

“Is mom going to try and kill me if I come in?” Blackhawk asked, casually cleaning one of his guns.

 

“...Dude, is that…?” Coop whispered, his tone having slight panic. “If Mom sees that, then she’ll definitely kill you!” He took a deep breath, trying desperately to calm himself down.

 

“Oh, good. That'll spice up my evening.” Blackhawk said dryly, holstering the gun and entering the apartment. He would notice that, much like Alphys and Undynes’ old apartment, it was bigger on the inside. How odd. His mother sat in her bedroom, casually channel surfing and eating cheese puffs.

 

“The Prodigal Son has returned.” she said half-dryly, making it clear she was glad to see him nonetheless. Blackhawk had learned that his family spoke almost nothing but dry sarcasm and dark humor, so his mother’s snarky tone was expected. He sat down next to her, removing his coat and draping it on the bed behind him.

 

“...Are those your father’s guns?” she whispered fiercely. “We swore as a family to never speak of Gilead ever again.”

 

“My father’s guns? No, they're my guns. I dueled Cort for them, remember?”

 

“Even still, we swore never to talk about that damned land of milk and honey again.” she said. “Get rid of them. Now.”

 

“You're not the only one who has suffered, you know.” Blackhawk replied. “I loved him, too, but he's gone. You can't bury that forever.” Immediately, she began to cry. She, the seemingly infallible Abigail Little, actually began to cry.

 

“I know I can’t, but what do you want me to do?” she asked him. “You boys are the only pieces of him I have left.”

 

“I know, mom. I know.” He whispered, pulling her into a hug.

 

“I love you, Blackhawk. I always will. Because no matter what, you and Coop will always be my winners.”

 

He smiled softly, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “And no matter what...I’ll remember you as a crazy woman who bit off a man’s balls for trying to force himself on you.”

 

“...They tasted terrible.” she chuckled. “Too salty for my liking.”

 

“Oh, my God.” Blackhawk snorted, laughing as well. “Please, don't talk to me about how balls taste again.”

 

“Oh, why not? You should know from that Toby you like to see.” Immediately, she saw Blackhawk’s expression change. “Was it something I said?”

 

“I'm not overly fond of Toby at the moment.” Blackhawk responded, sighing.

 

“What happened? Talk to me.” she said, her tone concerned. He did, telling his mother about all of the drama involving Toby and Ebony. “...Shoulda guessed. Told you I was right about that girl. Want my advice, Blackhawk? Break up with her. She’s going to act like a self-centered whore, then treat her that way.”

 

Blackhawk nodded. “I've given her more chances than she deserves to change. I'm done.”

 

“Good.” Margarita’s voice echoed in his head. “But what about Toby? He’s the innocent party being dragged into your quarrel.”

 

‘He's devoted to her. He isn't going to abandon Ebony. He also said nothing when she complained about my tale like it was some sloppily written Western. He can have her. I'm done.’

 

“Again, that is good. Besides, you and I can’t be separated.”

 

‘No, I suppose we can't.’

 

“I love you, mi querido.” Blackhawk was fluent in Spanish: she had called him ‘my dear’.

 

‘And I, you. Now, and forever.’ He said, feeling her withdraw back into his mind. He spent quality time with his mother for a while longer, then went into what served for now as his bedroom. He spent his time in there cleaning his guns. Normally when doing a task like this, he would have listened to some music; generally, it would have been something like Elton John or Michael Jackson. Not this time, however. He needed to be attentive and focused entirely on his guns. As he did, he muttered the Gunslinger’s Creed repeatedly, which made the time go faster. Once he finished, he decided to text Toby. As much as he disliked him at the moment, how else was he going to get the message across? With a sigh, he took out his phone and texted Toby.

 

At this point, Toby and Ebony were lying in one of the Command Center’s many, many spare bedrooms, having decided to engage in some carnal pleasures after the latter had finished feeding on Toby. Tiredly, Toby reached for his phone as it started to buzz, but Ebony was much quicker. “Oh.” she muttered irritably. “It’s from Blackhawk.”

 

“Really?” What’s it say?”

 

“He’s breaking up with me. Again. And this time, he says it’s permanent.” She didn’t sound upset, angry, or generally concerned, which Toby immediately noticed. “He also says you can have me all to yourself.”

 

“Huh. You don’t seem all too bothered about it.” Toby replied.

 

“I’m not.” Ebony said flatly. “Why should I date someone who doesn’t like me for who I am? Besides, the only reason I didn’t break up with him is because he was good in bed.”

 

“Hey…” Toby said, displeased at his own manhood being compared to Blackhawk’s. Ebony giggled, wrapping her arms around him.

 

“Don’t worry, you’re not gonna get compared to Blackhawk anytime soon. Wanna know why?”

 

“Surprise me.”

 

“Because we’re a team. It’s you and me against the world, babe.” Ebony said, kissing him. “And nothing, I mean nothing, is gonna change that.” Toby snuggled into her, and they made love once again before falling asleep.

 

Spoiler

Apologies for the long wait, I've been rather busy. Now onto the notes/trivia:

-The episode is named for the Beach Boys song "Heroes and Villains", and deals with similar themes of deconstructing the idea of the Wild West.

-In addition, Margarita's family members are named after members of the Beach Boys.

-It's revealed that Blackhawk is much older than the other Rangers by human standards, and given the nature of the Dark Tower, he may possibly be immortal. The same can be said for his family members.

-With that being said, Blackhawk has the spirits of those he has lost inhabiting his subconscious, and they're able to speak through him as shown with Cort and Susan. However, this causes great fatigue immediately afterwards.

-This is the third flashback-based episode, and the second to take place immediately after a preceding episode.

-One of my favorite moments in this episode is near the end, when Blackhawk and his mother have a heartwarming (and at one point funny) moment together. It really shows that his mother isn't a narcissistic woman; in fact, she is incredibly broken from her husband's death.

-Blackhawk and Ebony break up permanently starting with this episode.

-Blackhawk is revealed to hail from All-World, the setting of the Dark Tower books.

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by MLG Vanilluxe

[4EverGreen]

Vision Quest Part I: Head Games!

(Warning: Walls of text ahead)
 

Captain Retro narrates and says: “Previously on Power Rangers Multiverse Force; a powerful psychic girl named Alma was released from her catatonic prison, and began toying with the minds of the Power Rangers, getting them to distrust each other! Desperate, the Power Rangers decided to resort to drastic measures, and unleash a nuclear bomb in order to get rid of her! But, the tactic failed MISERABLY, and instead ruined most of Coastal Falls, leaving most of the Power Rangers without a proper place to call home. If that wasn't bad enough, when BlackHawk revealed the secrets of his gunslinger past to Ebony, she wasn't impressed by it, and BlackHawk broke up with her; again! Now, as Coastal Falls is left to pick up the pieces after the last attack, the Power Rangers must now find and locate Alma, before her psychic powers fall into the wrong hands, or used for an evil purpose...”

 

BlackHawk is sleeping in his temporary apartment room, surrounded only by his video game systems, and a handful of the trophies that his family managed to take before his old mansion house was destroyed. As he is sleeping, BlackHawk questioningly asks: “Dad? Ace! Father! Where are you?!” /

 

The action flashes into BlackHawk's dream. In it, BlackHawk sees himself on a beach, completely naked! But there is no one else around to see him anyways! BlackHawk asks: “Why am I seeing myself like THIS?! I shouldn't be seeing myself like this!”

A familiar voice says: “You're seeing yourself the way you WISH to be seen by your friends, and the rest of the world, as well!”

BlackHawk asks: “Captain Retro; is that you?!”

Captain Retro suddenly appears, but HE is fully clothed! BlackHawk asks: “How come I'm NAKED and you're NOT?! Isn't this MY dream?!”

Captain Retro says: “I'm afraid it's more complicated than that! I'm currently asleep myself, and I'm seeing the exact thing as YOU are. But, I'm afraid I'm NOT in control of this, either!”

BlackHawk asks: “How could we NOT be in control of what we're dreaming?!”

Captain Retro SLAPS BlackHawk in the face, and Captain Retro angrily asks: “How DARE you and your fellow Power Rangers NUKE Coastal Falls the way you DID?!!! What the HELL, heroes?!”

BlackHawk seethes, but he calmly says: “I HATE it when you utilize TV Tropes against me like that! But for the record, I personally THOUGHT it was a bad idea! How would YOU have fought against Alma?!”

Captain Retro says: “Well for starters, I wouldn't have done ANYTHING that drastic without exhausting ALL my other options! Besides, you of ALL Rangers, are the most fond of Taking a Third Option when it comes to bad decisions! And more importantly, I think that it's BECAUSE of Alma that we're even SEEING the same thing! She IS psychic, after all! She may be PLAYING with your minds, right NOW!”

BlackHawk asks: “Why would she do THAT to us?! We aren't even BAD guys!”

Captain Retro says: “As far as Alma is concerned, you might as WELL be! You didn't EXACTLY make the BEST first impression on her, you know!”

BlackHawk asks: “But what I want to know is, why are we HERE?! One minute, I was LOOKING for my father, even though I KNOW that he's dead; than the next minute I'm HERE! It looks like the coastal town of Avila Beach, California!”

A voice that sounds like Jason David Frank suddenly says: “That's because it IS!!!!

And Captain Retro and BlackHawk stare in agape and AWE, as the muscled figure of a NAKED Ace Little, appears in FRONT of them! BlackHawk asks: “Dad?! But you're...DEAD!!!!”

Ace says: “I won't be for long! Not once Alma gets to me!”

Captain Retro asks: “Why would Alma go to you?”

Ace says: “I think you already know the answer. Alma MAY be powerful, but she's STILL a young girl! She can be EASILY misled by someone who does NOT have her best interests at heart!”

BlackHawk's eyes open WIDE in horror, and he says: “Radiguet is POSING as a Chaos God to HER!!!!”

Ace says: “Precisely! Radiguet WANTS Alma to REVIVE my body, so that he can USE it as a vessel to enter this world IMMEDIATELY, and FIGHT against you personally! Even though my powers would be WEAKER than his, he STILL wants REVENGE against you, for what you DID to his weaker alternate personality in that mirror dimension!”

BlackHawk asks: “How can you KNOW about this?! And how are you talking to me?!”

Ace says: “You are my first born son. My blood runs through you. My knowledge is your knowledge. Your Vision Quest will start soon. Whatever you do, you must...not...let...Radiguet...succeed.”

And Ace's vision begins to electronically fade away! BlackHawk says: “Father, don't LEAVE me!”

Ace says: “Alma...getting closer...must...stop...now...” /

 

And suddenly, BlackHawk jolts awake! This also wakes the anthro D.O.G., and D.O.G., asks: “BlackHawk, what's wrong?”

BlackHawk notices he's sweating, but he just breathes, and says: “I know where Alma is going to!”

Than his cell phone rings! BlackHawk sees that the caller I.D., says “Captain Retro.” BlackHawk answers it, and BlackHawk asks: “What's going on, Captain?” /

From Root Core, Captain Retro asks: “BlackHawk, you just had the SAME vision that I had, didn't you?”

Over the phone, BlackHawk says: “You mean of seeing my father alive again, in Avila Beach, California? Kind of hard to forget, seeing as how me and my father were NAKED in it!”

Captain Retro says: “Well, I already asked the Magi-Mother to run a diagnostic on it!”

Rita comes in, and she says: “I'm afraid your suspicions are correct, Captain Retro. Alma IS heading towards Avila Beach, California, and I have a sense that Radiguet IS the one guiding her!”

BlackHawk asks: “Is Alma's mind REALLY powerful enough to bring someone back from the dead?!”

Captain Retro says: “Anything is possible, once you're a Power Ranger! I'll call the other Rangers, and have them meet us at the Command Center. You come join us as soon as your ready.”

BlackHawk asks: “You're going to help against Alma?! What can YOU do that we couldn't?!”

Captain Retro says: “My powers are magic and psychic based. I may be able to help you fight her on her own level, and EXPEL Radiguet's influence AWAY from her! But if Radiguet is getting THIS brazen, than that can only mean he's DESPERATE to control the powers of the four main Chaos God's, and make their power, his own! And we cannot allow THAT to happen; or the fate of the universe, will be WORSE than what happened at the end of Avenger's Infinity War!” /

BlackHawk says: “Agreed! I'll see you soon! BlackHawk, out!”

BlackHawk, completely naked, faces D.O.G., and BlackHawk says: “D.O.G., I have to go and face down Alma. So, if my mother and brother wake up and ask, you must tell them!”

D.O.G., says: “BlackHawk, I wish you didn't have to go. I get WORRIED whenever you have to go away on one of these missions without me!”

BlackHawk says: “I'm glad YOU'RE worried! I can't IMAGINE Ebony ever being worried about ME, let ALONE WHO knows how MANY people she slept with, than LIED to me about it?!”

D.O.G., says: “BlackHawk, if it's any consolation, I love you.”

BlackHawk says: “I know that, D.O.G.! You tell me that every day!”

 

D.O.G., gets up, and gets close to BlackHawk, and D.O.G., says: “No! I mean; like LOVE, love you!”

BlackHawk asks: “You're serious?!”

D.O.G., sighs and says: “I've felt something special between us, since the first time I saw you. Somehow, I ALWAYS knew, that there was a bigger bond connecting us, than just a good friendship. However, as I was just a regular Eltarian dog before, it never felt RIGHT to me, to act out on my inner feelings for you, because I KNEW the world would NEVER understand or comprehend the way I felt. But, ever since I was turned Anthro, I've suddenly felt brave enough to express my feelings for you! I truly love you, BlackHawk! And, if you feel the same way about me, as I do about you, I hope you will tell me that you love me, to.”

BlackHawk smiles, and he says: “D.O.G., I really DO love you, but I'm afraid I don't have time, here and now, to express it to you.”

BlackHawk puts his orange clothes on, and BlackHawk says: “But D.O.G., when I come back, we WILL spend some quality time together! You can COUNT on it!”

D.O.G., smiles and says: “Thank you, that's all I wanted to hear!”

BlackHawk says: “I'll see you later! To the Command Center!”

And BlackHawk warps in an orange streak of light! /

BlackHawk arrives at the Command Center, and the other Power Rangers and Captain Retro, are already there! Lettuce says: “There you are! What took you, so long?”

BlackHawk says: “Not that it's any of EBONY'S business, but if you MUST know, D.O.G., was just telling me how much he TRULY loved and CARED for me, in a ROMANTIC matter, which is SOMETHING that Ebony would know NOTHING about!”

Ebony gasps and akss: “WHAT?!!! You're telling me that you're going to trade ME, for a canine who is now ANTRO?!”

BlackHawk says: “I think you gave UP your vote on who I chose to love, when you were DISGUSTED by how MY Gunslinger past turned out!”

Ebony says: “It was supposed to be DRAMATIC and exciting, like all the GOOD Western films I've seen in my LIFE!!!! Besides, it's not like YOU'RE the only one who has had something DRAMATIC happen in their personal lives!”

BlackHawk scoffs and says: “I'm not even JEALOUS of you, and Toby! Besides, you know as well as I do that he DOESN'T measure up to me!”

Toby gasps and says: “I'm right HERE!!!! I can HEAR every single WORD you are SAYING!!!!”

Ebony sarcastically says: “Like you're the LEAST bit shocked and insulted to hear that?! If I'm going to be STUCK with just you, the LEAST you could do, is be a little more FLEXIBLE, if you know what I mean!”

Toby says: “I can't CONTORT myself into all the various positions of the Kama Sutra OVERNIGHT! I haven't HAD about the equivalent of 100 Earth years of PRACTICE that BlackHawk has had!”

Pinkie asks: “Lettuce, what's the, Kama Sutra?”

Lettuce groans, sighs, and calmly says: “Pinkie, I'm afraid I have to tell you a VERY necessary truth!”

 

Lettuce whispers into Pinkie's ear, and she screams: “The Kama Sutra involves WHAT?!!! Are you telling me that MEN, put THEIR Nether regions, into the TENDER spot of a FEMALE, than after WRITHING and MOANING around, they RELEASE tiny things INTO the woman, in order to cause the creation of LIFE?!”

Usagi rolls her eyes, and says: “Pinkie, SURELY you've HAD Sex Ed on Equestria, or at least HERE?!”

Pinkie loudly asks: “What is SEX ED?!!!”

Naruto groans, and sarcastically says: “THANK YOU draconian budget cuts enacted by SO many Republican lawmakers!”

Pinkie defiantly says: “Nobody is going to put NO part of THEIR body into me! I forbid IT!”

Lettuce says: “We're in a RELATIONSHIP now! And if you EVER want to have children of your OWN, you're EVENTUALLY going to have to let someone IN!”

Pinkie says: “I don't HAVE to HAVE this thing called, 'sex'. I have a note!”

Kras'hir suddenly appears, and she says: “Like THAT would be the WORST thing to EVER occur to you! There could be FAR worse things that can happen! Trust somebody who KNOWS from experience!”

Usagi says: “Glad to see YOU'RE here!”

Kras'hir says: “Sorry I'm late, but things have been REALLY unstable in Coastal Falls as of late! With the town in disarray, there have been PLENTY of demons running amok, I needed to run around not just to satisfy my OWN needs, but to keep Sally Anne safe as well! Sans has agreed to watch her while we do this thing!”

Pinkie just seethes, and says: “The discussion is CLOSED! I would NEVER do something as IMPURE and INDECENT as THAT!!!! It VIOLATES everything that EVERY pony in Equestria has ever STOOD for!”

Naruto takes a knowing glance at Lettuce, and Naruto says: “I TOLD you being in a relationship was a bad idea! Looks like you WON'T be having any children AFTER all, WILL you?!”

Lettuce says: “Pinkie is just in denial! She'll have to learn acceptance sooner or later!”

BlackHawk says: “Let's FOCUS!!!! We need to get to Alma, and we NEED to get to her fast!”

Omnus says: “Agreed. Alpha Eight has already put in her coordinates, and you will MEET her, right away!”

Captain Retro says: “Better be mentally prepared! There's no telling WHAT kind of psychic tricks she might throw at you!”

Alpha Eight says: “Good news! Kira Ford is in the area! I'll contact her, and have her MEET you there!”

Lettuce says: “It will be good to see at least ONE lady who isn't in denial!”

Pinkie asks: “How could she be in denial?! The Nile is a river in Egypt!”

Kras'hir says: “Totally NOT what Lettuce means! I better go, to. I have a feeling you'll NEED me!”

Usagi says: “Let's do it! It's MORPHING time!” /

 

BlackHawk says: “Spinosaurus!” / Naruto says: “Power of Mars! Fire!” / Toby says: “Power of Mercury! Water!” / Pinkie says: “Power of Venus! Aether!” / Ebony says: “Power of Earth! Air!” / Lettuce says: “Power of Jupiter! Lightning!” / Usagi says: “Cosmorpher! Sailor Moon! White Ranger Power!” /

The seven Rangers, Kras'hir, and Captain Retro, land on a Bike Path just outside of Avila Beach, California. It is a bright, sunny day here, but the place seems strangely silent! Usagi says: “I don't like this!”

Naruto says: “Agreed! It's quiet. TOO quiet!”

A familiar voice says: “Thank goodness you're here!”

BlackHawk says: “Kira, you're here!”

And Kira rides in on her Dino Thunder Motorcycle wearing a yellow helmet. She takes it off, and she says: “I've already checked out the town! Everything seems frozen in place!”

Toby says: “It must be the effects of Alma's psychic powers! She couldn't be too far away!”

Lettuce asks: “But why would Alma come HERE, out of all places?”

BlackHawk solemnly says: “Because, this was my Dad's final resting place. He asked to be buried here, in case he ever met an early, untimely end.”

Kira sighs, and she says: “I know how you feel. My dad was an unaccomplished, alcoholic, who wanted to be a singer/musician, but did not have the drive nor the determination to pursue his goals. He died of liver cancer. I guess that's partially why I wanted to become a famous singer/musician. To accomplish what my father dreamed of doing.”

Lettuce says: “Look, let's not talk about that! Why don't we talk about something important to Pinkie?!”

Kira asks: “What would that be?”

Lettuce seriously says: “Kira, would you PLEASE tell Pinkie that having SEX is just a natural part of LIFE once you get OLD enough, and if she EVER wants to have a FAMILY, than she's going to have to REALIZE that, and just ACCEPT it!”

Kira seriously says: “I'm afraid I can't do such a thing!”

Lettuce asks: “Why ever NOT?!”

Kira says: “I hardly think I'm in ANY position to tell Pinkie what she SHOULD or shouldn't do! After all, there ARE genuinely asexual people and/or creatures living in this universe, who choose to NOT have sex at all! I'm not saying Pinkie IS asexual, but if she IS, and you TRULY love her, you'll have to ACCEPT that!”

Pinkie says: “I never said I WAS asexual! I just can't STAND the thought of having somebody ELSE'S body entering into MINE! Not even, what I ASSUME, is a healthy, normal-sized seven inch appendage!”

Lettuce shockingly asks: “WHAT?! Now you're some sort of FREAKY psychic appendage ruler?! Listen, if YOU won't play BALL with me, I think I KNOW of somebody who WILL!”

Pinkie scoffs, and she says: “As IF!!!! Who would THAT be?!”

Lettuce seriously says: “Miss Kira Ford! I've entertained thoughts about you for a long time, but since Pinkie is being UNREASONABLY defiant; I think I'm going to pursue them! After all, you believe in ALL sexual pursuits equally!”

Kira says: “Just because I BELIEVE in it, doesn't mean that's the goal I PERSONALLY follow!”

Lettuce is momentarily stunned, but he regains his composure and asks: “What do you mean?”

Kira says: “My mother did not RAISE me to have SEX outside of my SPECIES, or she'll DISOWN me from her will! That's a line I can't CROSS, Lettuce, even if you DO truly love me!!!!”

The sound of a bunch of GLASS plate-ware inexplicably breaking is suddenly heard, and Lettuce drops RIGHT down to the ground! Ebony asks: “What HAPPENED to him?!”

Captain Retro puts his right hand over Lettuce's power suit, and Captain Retro says: “Physically, he's perfectly fine. But mentally? He's in catatonic SHOCK!!!! The revelation that Kira will NOT ever date him, as long as her mother is alive, was a thought that Lettuce just couldn't comprehend! He's gone STRAIGHT into depression!”

A haughty voice says: “I NEVER would've figured that HE would be the first to crack!”

BlackHawk groans, and he says: “Just what I NEEDED to see; FireHawk and her sister wife!”

StarHawk flies in just behind, FireHawk, and StarHawk says: “I HAVE an actual NAME!!!! Why don't you TRY it, instead of being INSULTING?!”

BlackHawk says: “My anger has NOTHING to DO with you! It has EVERYTHING to do with a certain HAWKIAN, who shall FOREVER be NAMED FireHawk!”

FireHawk chuckles, and she says: “Jealous that I managed to win StarHawk's love SO easily, while YOU fell FLAT on your BEAK?!”

BlackHawk says: “You WISH that I envied you! I'm just CONCERNED about StarHawk's well-being! What have YOU ever done for her, that DIDN'T involve anything that SOLELY benefited YOU?!”

FireHawk says: “I HOPE you don't expect me to DIGNIFY that with a response!”

Usagi gets irritated, and she yells: “That's ENOUGH guys! StarHawk, we would be HONORED to have your Morphed help on this mission of ours!”

StarHawk says: “That's what I'm here for! My Hawkian sensibilities attuned me to trouble in this area! Shift into Turbo!” / StarHawk says: “Phantom Ranger, Turbo Power!”

And StarHawk morphs! FireHawk charmingly says: “I love a REAL soldier in UNIFORM!!!!”

BlackHawk seriously says: “Like you LOVED all those Nazi soldiers you said you CARED for, but then FRIED them to a CRISP?! Even if they actually DID nothing WRONG?!”

FireHawk seriously asks: “WHAT?!!! How did YOU know I FAKE-LOVED a bunch of Nazi soldiers, than FRIED them to a CRISP even if they actually DID nothing WRONG?!”

BlackHawk smugly answers: “Because you just TOLD me, FATHEAD!!!!”

FireHawk literally gets RED in the face, and she says: “I HATE it when someone uses an engineered confession to extract information out of me!”

StarHawk seriously asks: “Sister; is what BlackHawk saying is the truth?”

FireHawk says: “Depends on how you...I mean, there ARE other ways, to...”

But StarHawk grasps FireHawk's arms tenderly, and FireHawk sighs, and says: “It's true.”

StarHawk gasps, and she says: “How COULD you?! You told me you had REFORMED, sister! Was THAT another lie?!”

FireHawk looks at Captain Retro, and she asks: “Captain Retro, you KNOW the truth as well as I do!”

Captain Retro shakes his head, and says: “Sorry, I don't intervene whenever a LIAR gets the KARMA they deserve, which YOU should have thought of SOONER, Necron Prophet!”

StarHawk says: “I LOVED you! I trusted you! How could you BETRAY my trust like this?!”

FireHawk says: “That happened LONG ago in the PAST!!!! You have NO idea what it was like trying to SURVIVE in the Nazi Dimension! None of YOU were there! None of you KNOW the extents of the EVIL that all those CREEPS were doing!”

Captain Retro says: “Even so, that was NO excuse for you to KILL the innocent.”

FireHawk says: “They are freaking NAZI'S!!!! They don't know the MEANING of the word; 'Innocent'!”

Captain Retro says: “You DON'T get to DECIDE that, even WITH your powers! Ransik once went down the path YOU are going down on; the path of REVENGE, and it ALMOST cost him the one thing he held DEAR more than anything ELSE!”

FireHawk bitterly says: “This has nothing to DO with REVENGE! It's about obtaining the power that I DESERVE!!!! What is my BIRTHRIGHT!!!! I've spent too many YEARS in exile! And I'm GOING to come back to Planet Hawkia a WINNER!”

Captain Retro says: “If you EVER want to be a winner, you'll stop DENYING and BARGAINING, and ACCEPT the truth that you need to ATONE for your sins, if you EVER want your sister to truly LOVE you!”

Naruto says: “Enough chit-chat! We got to get a move on! BlackHawk, where was your father specifically buried in this town?!”

BlackHawk says: “He was buried on the beach! Of course, there HAS been about 100 Earth Years of ocean tide activity, and continental drift, so his position might have shifted!”

Usagi says: “Just look for Alma! We find Alma, we FIND Ace's body! Is Lettuce feeling BETTER yet?!”

Captain Retro places his hand on Lettuce's power suit again, and Captain Retro says: “STILL nothing! I think I better carry him until he's better! Once we get into danger, I'm SURE he will spring back into action again!”

Pinkie says: “Let's hope so! Because unless my Pinkie sense is acting up thanks to Alma, than I have the STRANGEST feeling that Alma and Radiguet aren't the ONLY ones we need to worry about! After all, Doctor Maniac and Queen Beryl might be monitoring this situation, and they are HARDLY the only evil threats that are lurking OUT in the galaxy!” /

 

On the distant, wild western monster planet of Onyx, a purple streak of light streams WILDLY towards the ground! It crashes into the rocky terrain, and it's revealed to be the BADLY scarred, missing most of her limbs, Vipera! Vipera, feels as BAD as she looks, as she wearily groans, and says: “Must...make it...to the town. Must get...help!”

But Vipera is STOPPED in her tracks, by a sinister, old man/cyborg, Doctor Maniac!

Doctor Maniac chuckles, and he says: “So, still alive, are you? I guess even at their most blood-thirsty, Usagi and Kras'hir STILL couldn't find it in themselves to finish you off! Which actually fits into my plans, rather PERFECTLY if you ask me!”

Vipera groans, and she says: “Would you SHUT UP and stop lording your SUPERIORITY over ME?!!! I've only got ONE arm, most of my armor has been BLOWN off, and I don't have a single LEG or minion to SPEAK of!!!! Circe and Kraky have run off to who knows where, and Galaxy Lightning has ABANDONED me to go BACK to that Fuhrer Saturn that she used to work with! And I don't even NEED to tell you what happened to Baphomet and Kraky!”

Doctor Maniac says: “What would you say, if I told you that there was a WAY for you to get EVERYTHING you had BACK, and MORE?!”

Vipera says: “I'd ask, what's in it for YOU?!”

Doctor Maniac asks: “Why are you so SUSPICIOUS?! Come ON!!!! We BOTH want the SAME thing, the complete and UTTER annihilation of those POWER brats!”

Vipera says: “Do you think I'm currently looking like THIS by getting on Master Vile's BAD side?! What miracle do YOU possess?!”

Doctor Maniac holds out a box, and he creepily says: “The DISTILLED essences of FIVE of the most FEARED evil BEINGS the cosmos has ever KNOWN; the PSYCHO RANGERS!!!!”

Vipera says: “The Psycho Rangers were DESTROYED after they faced off against BOTH the Astro Rangers AND the Lost Galaxy Rangers! They are no more!”

Doctor Maniac says: “Before they were DESTROYED, they were DOWNLOADED onto a super computer in Secret City! And I was the one, who re-discovered them!”

Vipera shockingly asks: “That was you?!”

Doctor Maniac says: “Indeed! And with their file cards, I discovered that not only COULD I revive them, I could DUPLICATE their powers, and I have their life-source RIGHT here!”

And he opens the box, and it PULSATES with evil energy; Red, Blue, Black, Pink, and Yellow vials of evil energy, that entices Vipera! Doctor Maniac says: “I will give the power of the RED Psycho Ranger to you, which is fitting for a leader such as yourself. In exchange, you must DO something for ME!”

Vipera groans, and she says: “I KNEW it was TOO good to be true!”

Doctor Maniac says: “No, REALLY! It's no big deal! You know those Zero Girls who USED to work for Fuhrer Saturn until they BETRAYED him and left his evil employ? With the remaining vials of Psycho serum, you can INFECT each one of the Zero Girls, and even THEY would be POWERLESS to RESIST the evil energy within! They would not JUST become the Zero Girls again, they would become the Super PSYCHO Zero Girls! The energies of TWO evil Ranger teams, combined into ONE! A team that will KILL one of those PATHETIC POWER Rangers! After all, it IS what Psycho PINK did to Kendrix back on Terra Venture all those years ago!”

Vipera says: “I want this! No; I NEED this! I HAVE to have my REVENGE!!!! But I can't DO this by myself, all on my own!”

Doctor Maniac says: “Just cooperate with me, and you won't BE alone!”

Vipera says: “Very well! Do your WORST!!!!”

Doctor Maniac says: “My WORST is NOT an option!”

And Doctor Maniac makes Vipera DRINK every single last drop of the Psycho Red serum, and sure enough, Vipera's missing limbs COMPLETELY regenerate, her armor is not only restored, it TRANSFORMS into an even more POWERFUL red-coated armor, and Vipera pulsates with energy she has NEVER felt before! Vipera shouts: “This is AMAZING!!!! I can DO this!!!! I can WIN against the Power Rangers! No matter HOW strong they get, I WILL win AGAINST them!”

Doctor Maniac says: “Now it's time for me to fulfill MY end of the bargain, to you, Vipera! I've got something I think you will be MOST happy by!”

And Doctor Maniac pulls out two tiny capsules; he tosses them, and just like the capsule technology of “Dragonball Z”, they poof to reveal the contents of one badly MANGLED Baphomet, and one frozen to death Drako! Vipera gasps, and she says: “That's the dead bodies of Drako and Baphomet! How did YOU come across them?!”

Doctor Maniac says: “I found Drako floating in the abyss of space after he FOOLISHLY wished to escape the deteriorating situation with your FORMER Emperor! And to get Baphomet's body back, I had to promise the return and/or destruction of at least 200 Necron robots. No EASY task, I might add! That's where you and your resurrected RECRUITS will come in!”

Vipera excitedly asks: “You're going to bring Drako and Baphomet back to life?!”

Doctor Maniac seriously says: “IF you PROMISE to use the Psycho serum vials on the Zero Girls, AND hunt down the 200 Necron robots for me! Oh; and DON'T think this is one of those PROMISES that you can MAKE to me, and decide to BREAK, like you constantly did with the Power Rangers! I added in a little something EXTRA to that Psycho serum I gave to you, so that if you ever TRY to use the gifts I gave to you, AGAINST me, you will feel pain and agony BEYOND your IMAGINATION!!!!”

Vipera seriously says: “I don't know. I can IMAGINE a lot! But since I'm not INTERESTED in feeling pain, I'll agree to your circumstances! It will be GOOD to get my loyal crew BACK again!”

Doctor Maniac has his portable energy unit warped in, and Doctor Maniac says: “Seeing as how Queen Beryl's USELESS magicians STILL haven't fixed the proper Youma energy unit, I see no point in keeping this stored energy sitting around; so I'll use it, to restore Baphomet and Drako BACK to life!”

And Doctor Maniac turns ON the energy unit, and sure enough, Drako begins to thaw out, and regains the feeling BACK in his body, while all of Baphomet's cuts and scars disappear, and his wings even regenerate! The glowing fades off, and Drako suddenly shouts: “Goodness me! How am I here?!”

Baphomet says: “The last thing I remember, was riding into battle to beat down those despicable demons! Than I SWEAR that I felt my HEAD leaving my body, then, nothing!”

Vipera says: “I'm afraid that wasn't a dream, Baphomet, and Drako, I'm disappointed that you would try to LEAVE us in our time of need. Unfortunately, with things the way they are now, I NEED you!”

Drako says: “Oh, dear! Why on Core Earth and/or Onyx do you NEED us?!”

Vipera says: “Emperor Diabolica has abandoned us, and I am the NEW Empress now. However, taking care of those Power Brats has proven to be...far more problematic than I thought it would.”

Baphomet says: “Aren't Queen Hedrian and Fuhrer Saturn still helping you!”

Vipera angrily says: “NO!!!! Fuhrer Saturn has gone off to SEEK the Spirit of the Dark Kaiser, and FIND the fabled Nazi realm! Queen Hedrian did one even WORSE, and has JOINED Omnus!!!!”

Drako sighs, and he says: “I should have expected that something like this would happen. It IS what happened to Queen Hedrian's older sister, after all.”

Vipera says: “But once you and I get Kraky and Circe BACK, we won't NEED Queen Hedrian and Fuhrer Saturn! Not with the tools that Doctor Maniac has just provided to us! AND for giving you BACK your life! With our NEW resources, I have every confidence that we will SOON be BACK on top of the most EVIL Villains in the Cosmos list! And I will rule Neo-Austrailasia at last!”

Baphomet romantically says: “Some things NEVER change!”

Doctor Maniac hands Vipera the box containing the vials of Psycho Energy serum, and Doctor Maniac says: “Don't you DARE forget what I have TOLD you about this deal! And under no circumstances, will you EVER let that narcissistic psychopath RADIGUET find out about this! Even Radiguet finds the prospect of the Psycho Energy Serum a bit too unnerving for his taste!”

Vipera says: “Don't worry sir, WE won't let you down!”

Doctor Maniac says: “Let's HOPE not!”

Vipera says: “We shall take our leave now, and maybe someday, our paths shall align again! Let's GO, my fellow cohorts!”

And Vipera and her resurrected followers warp back to the Diabolic spaceship, and Doctor Maniac says: “Good luck! You just might NEED it!” /
 

The Power Rangers and their warrior friends, are running down the road, that is right above the beach, and BlackHawk says: “It can't be much farther now! The beach we need is right up a—OOF!!!!”

And suddenly, BlackHawk is bounced BACK, by something invisible! Kira asks: “What happened?!”

Captain Retro says: “I have a hunch. Kamehameha!!!!”

And Captain Retro FIRES a blue wave of energy STRAIGHT ahead, revealing a BLUE energy force field! Captain Retro says: “We've been cut OFF!!!! Radiguet is very genre-savvy for a villain, I'll give him that! He KNEW we would try to come and ruin his evil plot early, so he had Alma set this up, to buy himself the time he would need!”

Toby says: “But we've GOT to get through! We can't let Alma bring Ace back to life!”

BlackHawk chuckles nervously, and he says: “Toby, you're not SPEAKING for everybody who might not FEEL the same way about it that YOU do!”

Ebony says: “As a certain animated movie that had a popular song in it, once sang; let it GO!!!! It's time to put the past BEHIND you!”

Usagi says: “Well, unless you LEARN from the past, things are NEVER going to get better for you!”

StarHawk says: “Don't stand there talking! We've got to BREAK this force-field down! I just hope we're not too late!” /

 

On his evil spaceship, Radiguet is ENJOYING dinner, which just HAPPENS to be a bunch of EVIL Mogwai, but even THEY are terrified by Radiguet! Radiguet sinisterly chuckles, and he says: “Poor, simple FOOLS!!!! Don't you know it's ALREADY TOO LATE?!!! I will not be DENIED my PRIZE this time!!!!”

And Radiguet SWALLOWS the biggest evil Mogwai he can get his hands on, in one gulp! Radiguet says: “To think, SOME Earthlings actually FIND you creatures TERRIFYING! But even the most VICIOUS of creatures, COWERS at the feet of Radiguet! Tranza!!!!”

His son comes in, and he says: “Have you finished dinner, now?”

Radiguet says: “Yes, my son! You, Maria, and that little BRAT of Nurgle's may have the rest! I must now FINISH what I set out to do! I shall be temporarily inhabiting a new body, until I have finally KILLED those Power Brats PERSONALLY! They will NOT make a FOOL out of Radiguet, AGAIN!!!!”

Tranza says: “Understood. I'll see to it that GRAY does NOT try to disturb you from your mission!”

And Tranza takes the dinner plate away, and Radiguet sits on his luxurious emperor's chair, and he closes his eyes, and starts speaking to Alma, in T'zeen'tch's voice! Radiguet says: “Alma, my dear. It's time!” /

 

Alma's eyes open up, and she says: “I hear you! Where are you?!”

Radiguet, with false sincerity, says: “FOLLOW the sound of my voice! SOON, you will HAVE the father you have ALWAYS desired, and get REVENGE on those EVIL Power Brats soon enough!” /

 

The Power Rangers, and Kras'hir, are all brandishing their weapons and power attacks, but they're not even making a CRACK in the Force-field! Naruto pants, and he says: “It's no use! We've tried everything!”

Captain Retro says: “Maybe not! If we all FIRE at the Force-field at the EXACT same time, I bet we can BREAK it THEN!!!!”

Pinkie says: “It's sure worth a shot!”

Usagi says: “Then ready!”

BlackHawk says: “AIM!!!!”

And everybody simultaneously says: “FIRE!!!!”

And they unleash everything they have, and sure enough it not only CRACKS the entire force-field, it completely SHATTERS it, and it dissipates into nothingness! StarHawk says: “There's Alma! Directly ahead on the beach!”

Toby says: “Alma! Alma, wait!” /

 

Radiguet says: “Those Power brats are COMING!!!! Say the SPELL I taught you!” /

 

Alma, in a foreign language, says: “Zimmer zot, radi-tot...”

Kras'hir says: “Alma, NO!!!!”

Alma loudly says: “KAZORDNEE!!!!”

 

And red lightning FLOWS into the sandy ground of the beach! It flows FROM the sky of the Earth, PENETRATING through the Force-field set up by Rita, and Radiguet chuckles, and he says: “Vengeance will SOON be MINE!!!!” And his body goes comatose as his spirit LEAVES his body, and flows THROUGH the lightning, and into the spot on the ground, where the red lightning is going into!

To everyone's sheer amazement, Ace's body enters RIGHT out of the ground, as it is RESTORED, and REGENERATED to the way it LOOKED before he was killed! And as Ace's body pulsates with EVIL energy, Ebony just stares dumbstruck, as she can't BELIEVE how INCREDIBLE Ace looks, in all his naked glory!

Ebony says: “That's your FATHER?!!! RATS!!!! Now I feel AWFUL for having TOLD you to let him go, BlackHawk! No WONDER you wanted him back so bad!”

BlackHawk says: “Not like THIS!!!! And the proper term is, 'badly'!”

Ebony sarcastically says: “Great! Even my GRAMMAR is being criticized, now!”

Alma excitedly says: “You CAME!!!! Just like the nice god, T'zeen'tch SAID you would! He said that once I revived you, that you would LOVE me, and take CARE of me! I always BELIEVED that you would!”

Ace turns around, and smiles, but in a creepy blend of a voice that sounds like Jason David Frank's, and Radiguet's, Ace sincerely says: “My child; if only somebody truly DID love you, you STUPID little FOOL!!!! You just brought to Core Earth the GREATEST threat the Power Rangers have ever known, all because some invisible voice CHARMINGLY told you to do so! And you actually BELIEVED all those LIES I fed to you, now, didn't you?!”

Alma looks dumbstruck, and she says: “But, you SAID, you LOVED me! Don't I DESERVED to be LOVED?!”

Radiguet/Ace menacingly says: “It doesn't MATTER what you DESERVE! Now that you've brought me here, I no longer NEED YOU!!!!”

And Radiguet/Ace quickly KNOCKS Alma to the rocky outcrop of rocks lining the sea wall at the edge of the beach, and Captain Retro seriously says: “Are there no DEPTHS you won't SINK to, Radiguet?! You want to try to kill us? FINE!!!! But when you MESS with a helpless little girl, there WILL be a price to PAY!!!! We will NOT let you get AWAY with this!”

Radiguet/Ace says: “The prodigy of the Magi-mother. I've heard quite a BIT about you! You are SO idealistic! Always so righteous and moral, aren't you?! If your so-called FRIENDS ever HEARD about your checkered past, they would TURN on you in an instant!”

Naruto says: “Captain Retro, what is he TALKING about?!”

Captain Retro says: “Don't LISTEN to him! I've got NOTHING to be ashamed about! He's LYING!!!!”

Radiguet/Ace asks: “Oh, I'm the LIAR now, am I?! Why don't you tell that to Naruto? Or as YOU called him, once you first GAINED your powers; the most USELESS, ANNOYING, YOUTUBE POOP OBSESSED, PATHETIC, DISGRACEFUL EXCUSE for a Z-Grade NINJA!!!!”

Naruto reels back, and he asks: “Captain Retro, is that TRUE?!!!”

Captain Retro sighs, and says: “Yes, it's true. But I was YOUNGER than! I wasn't as enlightened as I am now. I have come to realize that if I ever wanted to achieve REAL power and real friendship, I would have to put my preconceived notions of you aside! And work with you in SPITE of the differences I feel with you, because I believe TOO strongly in the goodness of the Power Rangers, to let THAT deter me, from helping you out in a fight!”

Radiguet/Ace sarcastically claps, and he says: “Bravo, Captain Retro. Truly riveting. You almost moved me to TEARS...if I even KNEW what crying FELT like! But what will USAGI say, when she finds out that despite your CONTINUED promises to research her historic and heroic life as a Sailor Moon Scout, you STILL don't know MUCH more about her, than you DID when you first MET her!”

Captain Retro says: “I'm LEARNING how to be virtuous and powerful enough to fight the likes of you! Which is something YOU would know NOTHING about! That takes dedication and patience! It's not a question of 'If,' only a question of 'When'. I don't KNOW when I will get the time to research Usagi's life, but I WILL find out more about her, so that when she TELLS me her stories about her heroic past, I will be able to RELATE to it!”

Radiguet/Ace says: “And what about Ebony and BlackHawk; or Lettuce and Pinkie?!”

Lettuce FINALLY comes to his senses, and asks: “Did someone just say my name?! Oh, CRUD!!!! It's Radiguet in Ace's body, isn't it?!”

Ebony sarcastically says: “You catch on fast, don't you?! And what about us?!”

Radiguet/Ace says: “The fact that BlackHawk has ABADONED Ebony and gone to D.O.G.; or that Ebony is now with Toby, or that Pinkie REFUSES to get together with Lettuce, or that Lettuce TRIED to dump Pinkie for Kira Ford, has not STOPPED you from having SUCH deviant fantasies, like BlackHawk and Ebony making such TENDER love together; or Lettuce and Pinkie writhing around NAKED, as they enter--!!!!”

Pinkie covers her ears and she loudly yells: “WHAT'S THAT?!!! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!! IT'S LIKE 'LA, LA, LA!!!! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!!!! LA, LA, LA...'!!!!”

Radiguet/Ace's voice suddenly BOOMS to overcome Pinkie's self-distraction, as he reverberates: “AND DRAWS NASTY PICTURES OF YOU DOING THE NASTY TOGETHER, WITH THE HOPES THAT ONE DAY, HE WILL BE ABLE TO PUT IT ON--!!”

Captain Reto yells: “SHUT UP, HANNIBAL!!!!”

 

And Captain Retro ZOOMS and SUCKER punches Ace/Radiguet in the GUT!!!! FireHawk asks: “Did YOU just punch out C'thulu?!”

Radiguet/Ace reels back in pain, and asks: “What kind of FREAK ARE YOU?!!!”

Captain Retro asks: “I might ask you the SAME thing, Radiguet! How can you LIVE without such things as Empathy and Sympathy?!”

Radiguet/Ace says: “Such petty emotions would only hold me BACK, from DOING what I must DO to achieve my DESTINY!!!!”

Captain Retro says: “I figured you would say that, but I had to at least TRY to reason with you! But since that won't work, I guess I'll just have to go with Plan B!”

Radiguet/Ace says: “You are a FOOL to challenge me! I may ONLY be in Ace's body, but I am STILL far more POWERFUL than all of YOU!!!!”

Captain Retro skeptically asks: “Is that so? Then why don't you take a look through THIS?!!!”

And Captain Retro throws a power scanner, to Radiguet, and Captain Retro says: “I know you can't sense energy, the way that BlackHawk and I can, so I gave you something to compensate, for your utter apathy and LACK of comprehension of how many LINES you just CROSSED with all of us today!!!!”

Radiguet/Ace puts on the power scanner, and he says: “I know you're BLUFFING!!!! You DON'T have the power it TAKES!!!!”

Captain Retro asks: “If you're SO confidant, than try it for YOURSELF!!!! I should warn you, I don't GET much practice powering up to my FULL potential!”

Radiguet/Ace turns the power scanner on, and he says: “I KNEW it was a fluke! Only a power level of 4!”

Captain Retro says: “First impressions can be deceiving! I thought you were DIFFERENT!!!!”

Radiguet/Ace yells: “I'm the most POWERFUL BEING in the UNIVERSE—WHAT?!!! 77? 400? 700? 4,000? 4,400? 7,000? 33,000?! 44,000?! 70,000?! IMPOSSIBLE for an Eltarian Dog! And yet, it's STILL going UP?!!! 77,740?!”

And Before Radiguet/Ace can even BLINK, Captain Retro charges head FIRST, and HITS Radiguet/Ace STRAIGHT in the gut! Radiguet/Ace agonizingly says: “You...only hit me TWICE so far!!!! So, why do I feel SO WEAK?!!!”

Captain Retro says: “Let me put it into terms that even YOU can understand. When Ace was originally killed, he only had a power level of 66,600. While you PERSONALLY have a power level that I estimate to be at about 666,000; as long as you're in Ace's body, you can only use 10% of your TOTAL power, and I already SURPASS it!”

Radiguet/Ace creepily smiles, and he says: “I still HAVE a BACK-UP plan!!!! ALMA!!!!”

And Alma suddenly wakes up, and she asks: “What's going on?”

Radiguet/Ace says: “Captain Retro is using HIS psychic powers to DECEIVE you!!!! Immobilize him, so that I may take care of him FOR you!!!!”

Captain Retro says: “I would never DO such a thing! I would NEVER lie to you the way Radiguet has!”

Alma looks uncertainly, and Radiguet/Ace yells: “Are you DEAF as well as BRAIN-DEAD?! I'm giving you a direct ORDER!!!!”

Ebony sarcastically says: “Sure. Berate and insult the one person who can HELP you! That will get you far...NOT!!!!”

Radiguet/Ace shouts: “Alma! I'm NOT going to tell you AGAIN!!!! Stop standing around and FREEZE Captain Retro in a MIND trap!!!!”

But Alma has turned around, and Radiguet can't SEE that she's starting to look REALLY irritated! Radiguet/Ace says: “FINE!!!! You want to ACT like a child?! Than I'll TREAT you like a CHILD!!!! You HAVE until the count of THREE!!!! ONE!!!! TWO!!!!”

Alma shouts: “ENOUGH!!!!”

And with a BLAST of psychic energy, her mind waves ripple through EVERYTHING within a 40 mile RADIUS, stopping the normal flow of time through that area, and FREEZING Radiguet/Ace solid!!!! Radiguet/Ace says: “What's THIS?!!! I...can't MOVE!!!!”

Captain Retro says: “Kamehameha!!!!” And he TRIES to fire at Radiguet/Ace, but nothing comes out!

StarHawk draws out her weapon, and says: “Phantom Blaster!” But it doesn't work!

Usagi says: “What gives?”

Alma says: “I have been told many things by this T'zeen'tch, Radiguet, Ace...whoever he TRULY is! And everything he has said to me, has seemed to be at odds with each other. Captain Retro; you, on the other hand, even when Radiguet confronted you with ugly truths that you didn't necessarily want other people to find out, did not try to DENY any claims. Rather, you told us all what had happened, and told us what it was like from your personal perspective.”

Usagi asks: “Are you gonna restore the flow of time here? We've got to STOP Radiguet before he USES Ace's body to try to harm anyone else!”

Alma says: “I haven't made my decision yet! Captain Retro has learned Acceptance, but the rest of you have NOT!!!! Some of you are strictly in Denial, some of you are in Anger, some of you are in Bargaining, and one of you is in Depression. Therefore, I think I will test you with a Vison Quest and some head games. If you can LEARN to move PAST your various stages of not being in Acceptance, I feel that I will be able to TRUST you, and I will allow you to finish off Radiguet as you see fit!”

Kras'hir says: “Bad idea! She's talking about taking us into the realm of our MINDS! We'll have no idea if Radiguet/Ace is being frozen while we're GONE or not!”

Captain Retro says: “Not necessarily. We HAVE Kira Ford! Kira, you will keep an eye out for all of while the rest of us dive into the realm of our minds. I'm afraid it's the only way to earn Alma's trust.”

Kira says: “But Alma said that you have already LEARNED Acceptance! Why do YOU need to go?!”

Captain Retro says: “Just think of me as a referee/guide. I just want to make sure everything is straight and on the level. But otherwise, I don't intend on stepping in, or interfering, if I don't have to.”

Toby asks: “Will you at LEAST be able to give us advice?!”

Alma says: “As your friend, Papyrus is so fond of saying; 'I will allow it!' You'll need all the help you can get to confront all your inner demons, Ebony and FIREHAWK!!!!”

Ebony says: “That's how SANS talks, you TWIT!!!!”

Naruto asks: “Like YOU'RE some text expert?! Besides, YOU are in NO position to talk DOWN to her, right now! So I suggest we cooperate with her, if we want to get THROUGH this, with both our sanity, and our dignity intact!”

Ebony sighs, and says: “Yes, Naruto. Sorry, Alma.”

Alma says: “Apology accepted. Time to dive INTO your minds!”

And with Alma's psychic powers, she conks out everybody EXCEPT for Kira Ford, and as they mentally dive into their own minds. Captain Retro plays a familiar song by Foreigner, as various mental images flash by throughout ALL of their minds! /

 

“Daylight, alright. I don't know, I don't know if it's real. Been a long night, and something ain't right. You won't show, you won't show how you feel. No time ever seems right to talk about the reasons why you and I fight. It's high time to draw the line. Put an end to this game, before it's too late. Head games, it's you and me baby! Head games, and I can't take it anymore! Head games, I don't wanna play the, Head games! I daydream for hours, it seems. I keep thinkin' of you, yeah, thinkin' of you. These daydreams, what do they mean? They keep haunting me, are they warning me? Daylight, turns into night. We try and find the answer, but it's nowhere in sight. It's always the same, and you know who's to blame. You know what I'm sayin', still we keep on playin'; Head games, that's all I get from you! Head games, and I can't take it anymore! Head games, don't wanna play the...Head games! So near, so far away. We pass each other by, 'cause we don't know what to say. It's so clear, I'm sorry to say. But if you wanna win, you gotta learn how to play; Head games, always you and me, baby! Head games, 'till I can't take it anymore! Head games, instead of makin' love! Head games, ooh! Head games, always you and me, baby! Head games, 'till I can't take it anymore, no more Head games, instead of makin' love, we play Head games! Head games, in the first degree! Head games, yeah, always you and me! Head games, why do you do it baby? Head games!” /

And the song ends, as the Rangers, Alma, and their selected friends wind up in what looks like a replica of Riley's HEAD-quarters after it was remodeled, from the animated movie, “Inside Out!” Pinkie says: “This is what our MINDS, look like in the inside?! I thought MY mind would have more cotton candy and rainbows in it!”

Captain Retro says: “This isn't REALLY what your minds all look like. Alma just chose an image of a mind that she KNOWS and can UNDERSTAND! And quite frankly, most of you, especially BlackHawk, probably DON'T want to know how a mind can TRULY look like!”

BlackHawk asks: “What do you mean by that?”

Captain Retro says: “All I'm saying is, that if it weren't for your discipline, your mind could go to some pretty DARK PLACES! No offense to any dark places you've actually BEEN to!”

BlackHawk says: “No offense taken.”

Alma says: “This is the thinking and processing center. It is here, where I will determine your various performances. Since it would be too problematic for me to monitor your activities all at the same time, I shall instead break you up into groups. Pinkie, Toby, Ebony, and StarHawk will all be facing Denial, the First Stage. Kras'hir, Naruto and BlackHawk will be facing Anger, the Second Stage. Usagi and FireHawk will be facing Bargaining, the Third Stage. And Lettuce will be facing Depression, the Fourth Stage. Once you all get past your stages, I shall free you from this realm.”

Toby asks: “Can we trust her?”

Usagi says: “We don't have much of a choice, at this moment. Very well, begin your tests.”

Alma mentally opens up a swirling portal in the simulated mind. Alma says: “Pinkie, Toby, Ebony, StarHawk, and Captain Retro will come with me. The rest of you STAY put!”

And the six of them travel through the swirling portal, and it closes! BlackHawk says: “Not a lot to look at in here! She could have at LEAST mentally left us some electronic games or something while we wait for them to return!” /

 

Alma, Captain Retro, StarHawk, Pinkie, Toby, and Ebony, exit out of the swirling portal that looks like a land of pink cotton candy clouds, rainbows, sunshine, lollipops, gumdrops, and every other kind of sweet that one could possibly think of! Toby says: “Woah! I think this is where AIR fresheners come from!”

Alma says: “Actually, this is a visual representation of Pinkie's mind. I've chosen this one to take you to, since it's the one that is the MOST in denial! And you KNOW what you're in denial about, don't you, Pinkie Pie?!”

Pinkie says: “I refuse to answer that, or participate in ANYTHING that will FORCE me to see such things that I am NOT ready to 'un-see'!”

Captain Retro says: “Why don't you get back to Pinkie later? For now, just focus on the others.”

Alma sighs, and says: “Very well. First of all, StarHawk, I know it's hard for you to accept the enigmatic nature of your sister.”

StarHawk says: “I just don't understand how she can still be the so manipulative? I thought that time and perspective would change all that for her.”

Captain Retro says: “This might be hard for you to accept, but there are some creatures out there who will NEVER change how they behave and/or feel, not even if they were given all the time in the world. The sad fact is, the reason for doing this is not always the same. Sometimes, it may just be their true nature, or a defective or recessive gene, or the way they were raised. But the philosophy that I always followed, and one that was followed by the late, great poet Maya Angelou; is that when somebody shows you who they are, believe them!”

StarHawk says: “I can't just turn the feelings for my sister off.”

Captain Retro says: “None of us are asking you to do that. All we want you to do is think for yourself, and not let others tell you how to think. You can't just feel with your heart to get through every crisis. Life isn't always going to be that simple. Sometimes you have to look with your eyes, listen with your ears, and think with your brain, in order to figure out who's being truthful, and who is just lying to you!”

StarHawk sighs, and says: “I understand. I won't abandon my sister-wife, but I will at least take the steps I need to take, so that FireHawk will be the more truthful with me.”

Alma says: “As for you, Ebony and Toby, you are BOTH in denial, in regards to your relationship status with everyone else at large! Do you want to know the REAL reason why nearly everyone else has been treating you like a BUTT Monkey lately?! Toby; your reason is that you have become a blatant drug user, and you REFUSE to clean yourself up and become a good role model to your younger brother! And Ebony, you CALLOUSLY disregarded BlackHawk's problematic past, with NO regards to his feelings, LIED to him about being a squeaky clean version, promiscuously sleep with everybody that you possibly can, and yet somehow WONDER why it is that nobody truly loves you!”

Ebony defiantly says: “Draco Malfoy LOVES me!!!! He and I have a thing together that you would NEVER understand! He's the greatest! He would NEVER do anything to BETRAY my trust!”

Captain Retro sighs, and says: “Ebony, I hate to be the bearer of bad news to you, but in the time that you've been away from Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy has become a Death Eater.”

Ebony shockingly screams: “He WHAT?!!!”

Captain Retro nods, and he says: “It's true. He even disarmed your beloved headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, just so Severus Snape could swoop in, kill him, and claim the Elder Wand for his own!”

Ebony dumb-founded, says: “Not MY Draco! Not Draco Malfoy!”

Captain Retro says: “I'm afraid it's only going to get WORSE for you. In the next few months to come, You-Know-Who, the man who USED to call himself Tom Marvolo Riddle, will infiltrate and take over the Ministry of Magic, as well as the Hogwarts School. Your parents are going to flee from their jobs, and take refuge BACK in your house with you! You're no LONGER going to be able to cavort and flirt with any guy you see FIT! You WON'T be able to get away with anything you WANT, anymore!”

Ebony sobs, and she says: “But, that's not FAIR! I merely told Draco that he should take some more initiative! I never told him to aid and abet a MURDERER!”

Captain Retro says: “If you had TRULY not WANTED this to happen, you would have focused more on learning and applying magic as it would have been used for your everyday life!”

Toby says: “Well, if Ebony's parents are going to come back into the picture, I guess that's just one more reason for us to stop using drugs. If your parents ever saw us using drugs, they'd report the activity BACK to my mom, which would NOT be good for EITHER of us!”

Ebony says: “The drugs, we can live without! But what about OUR relationship together?! I'm not even IN denial about what went wrong with BlackHawk, or even holding onto any false hope that he will come back to me! What I'm wondering is, how am I supposed to please Sla...the Pleasure God NOW?! I can't do it by JUST being with Toby!”

StarHawk asks: “Can't you? The Pleasure God only wants you two to have pleasure. He never SPECIFICALLY said how MANY you had to have pleasure with! And if you have pleasure in many DIFFERENT ways with the same person on multiple occasions, isn't that just as good as doing the same thing with many different people on one occasion?”

Ebony says: “I never thought of it that way before. One thing's for sure, once we take OUT the drugs, we'll be a lot more FOCUSED, and have a lot more TIME, for making love with each other, Toby!”

Toby says: “And I bet that once we clean up our act, people will probably start respecting the both of us a lot more than they are right now!”

Alma says: “That just leaves Pinkie Pie! Now, Pinkie Pie, we must discuss the issue of--.”

Pinkie yells: “NOT INTERESTED!!!!”

Captain Retro says: “Come on! It's NOT going to be as BAD as the time you were FORCED to watch Usagi and Kras'hir make love together. Besides, it's standard knowledge you SHOULD know!”

Pinkie defiantly says: “NO!!!! No, no, NO!!!!”

Captain Retro seriously says: “Pinkie Pie!!!! I'll have the Magi-Mother TURN you into a HUMAN if you won't cooperate with us!”

Pinkie says: “You wouldn't dare!”

Captain Retro says: “I will! So help me, I will!”

Pinkie Pie groans, and says: “All right, all right, all RIGHT!!!!”

And Pinkie Pie finally stops sitting and joins everyone else! The others look at Captain Retro, and Captain Retro says: “Works EVERY time! Just like magic!”

Alma says: “Now, like I was saying before you so RUDELY shot me down; we must discuss the issue of, as Salt-N-Pepa once sang; 'Let's talk about sex, baby. Let's talk about you and me'!”

Pinkie Pie groans, and asks: “Why do I HAVE to talk about it?! I simply DON'T want to have anything to DO with it!”

Captain Retro rolls his eyes, and he asks: “Seriously? How do you think YOU were born?!”

Pinkie asks: “What do you mean?!”

Captain Retro, more seriously, asks: “HOW, do you THINK, you were BORN?!”

Pinkie Pie stammers: “UH...a magical stork from Canterlot came to my parents and left me as a baby like every other single Pony in Equestria is?”

Captain Retro, sighs, and seriously says: “Oh, for crying in mud...EBONY!!!!”

Ebony says: “Got this!” And she walks RIGHT up to Pinkie Pie and SLAPS her in the face! Ebony says: “Man! It feels GOOD to not be the Butt-Monkey of a statement for once!”

Than Ebony straightens up, and gets serious, as she says: “But seriously, get your proverbial head out of your proverbial BUTT and think about it LOGICALLY!!!! Your parents had SEX!!!! It's SEX!!!! That's how YOU were even created in the FIRST place! That's how you were BORN!!!! Your parents had SEX; and YES, they probably really ENJOYED it! The parents OF your parents had SEX with each other to give BIRTH to your parents so THEY could eventually have SEX, and so on and so FORTH!!!! Everyone who has EVER had a family, has been born, or WILL be born, with the possible exception of clones, will be created SPECIFICALLY through SEX!!!! That's the basic fact of LIFE!!!!”

Pinkie says: “But...I was always taught that the physical coupling of a mare and a fillie was NEVER to be TALKED about! That such matters were a PRIVATE concern, and little colts and ponies did NOT have to KNOW about!”

Toby says: “But you're NOT a little pony anymore, are you?! You're 16 years old! You're not a little child any longer! You no longer NEED to have someone hold your hoof, tell you that rainbows have a pot of gold at the end of them, or that the Tooth Fairy doesn't exist!”

Pinkie screams: “The Tooth Fairy doesn't EXIST?!!!”

Captain Retro says: “You're dramatically missing the point! The point is, real life isn't like one of those Fairy Tales you have probably read a million times in your story books. Real life is often messier, more uncomfortable, confusing, problematic. But; it can also be richer, more exciting, more fun, more enjoyable, and YES; even more intimate! Pinkie, do you truly LOVE Lettuce?”

Pinkie says: “More than any other penguin, that I have ever met. Even if he DID try to dump me for that Kira Ford!”

Captain Retro says: “He ONLY tried to do that, because he felt like you were being unreasonable.”

Pinkie sighs, and says: “Well, it's going to take me some time to come to terms with this whole...Sex thing. But, since I don't want to lose Lettuce to anyone else, I'll stop being in denial, and come to terms with the truth, whatever that ends up being.”

Alma says: “And with that, you have ALL overcome Denial!” /

 

The scene dissipates, and they arrive right back in Head-quarters! FireHawk says: “Finally! Took you long enough to get BACK here!”

StarHawk firmly says: “Sister-wife, no more lying, and no more deceptions between the two of us! From now on, if you WANT my love and trust, you're going to have to EARN it just like everyone else! I'm no longer going to be cool with you trying to LIE to me, and I'm NOT going to just forgive you anymore if you try to LIE to me! If you want me to STAY with you, than you're GOING to have to be HONEST with me! That's the only way our relationship together is EVER going to work!”

FireHawk is taken aback, and seriously asks: “WOAH! What happened to YOU in there?!”

Captain Retro says: “You'll find out when it's YOUR turn!”

Pinkie says: “Lettuce, I just wanted to say I'm...sorry, about before. It was uncomfortable for me to think about SEX as something the two of us will one day have to do together, rather than just some nasty thing that little ponies aren't supposed to know about.”

Lettuce, sighs, and says: “That's wonderful.”

BlackHawk sarcastically says: “Great! He's STILL in depression!”

Alma says: “And I'm afraid that it's time for the next group! Naruto, BlackHawk, Kras'hir, you're coming with me and Captain Retro!”

Alma opens another swirling vortex, and Kras'hir asks: “Captain Retro, do you know where we're going to wind up?”

Captain Retro says: “That would be telling, wouldn't it? Besides, I already revealed the future to ONE person today! I'm afraid I can't go over my quota for that!”

Kras'hir looks at Usagi, and Kras'hir says: “I tried!”

Alma says: “Enough! Into the vortex!” And the five of them enter through the swirling vortex!

Usagi asks: “Pinkie, do you think they'll be all right?”

Pinkie says: “Probably. But unless my Pinkie sense is acting up yet AGAIN, there's someone with a LOT of anger somewhere in Core Earth, looking for SOMETHING, and SOMEWHERE important to him!” /

 

A familiar villain, decked out in Nazi regalia and propaganda, arrives at the site of one of the most infamous Nazi Concentration camps; Auschwitz II-Birkenau in Poland, where at least 1.1 million prisoners were exterminated and slaughtered, purely for their religious beliefs and/or ethnicity. The villain, Fuhrer Saturn, in a German accent, says: “Mein Hitler; SO many things you did to bring about the creation of a master race! So much HATRED you must have felt against the Jews! So much RAGE you had against the Poles, the Slavs, the Russians, the Gypsies! All those backwater countries of Europe, who tried to keep you down before! You had a vision, and you were going to pursue it. I have LONGED to complete your DREAM of a master Aryan race, but I am at a standstill. I am NOT; a perfect clone of you! A FAILED experiment of one of those 'Boys in Brazil' project! That's what they called me! Injected into the egg of a Japanese Mother, I was to be the perfect combination, of the Japanese Warrior, and the German spirit! But the project's plug was pulled OUT; before you could see me rise up properly, to achieve your goals! Now, I stand here, looking for some kind of sign as to what to do next. I have Galaxy Lightning back, but I need MORE!!!! If your spirit still roams this world, than show yourself to me NOW!!!! Show me that I am the Chosen One, that YOU have always WAITED for!”

A black colored spirit, decked out in Black Colored clothes, with the decorations of the old German Kaiser's rises out of the ground! The spirit creepily says: “If you've come here looking for the spirit of Adolf Hitler, you have wasted your time. All the old spirits of the Nazi's in THIS world have been banished to the Demon World, with but ONE exception! I am like you; the LAST of our kind in this world! In life, I was the very FIRST real enemy the Power Rangers ever fought! I am the Dark Kaiser!”

 

Fuhrer Saturn gasps in awe, and he says: “Dark Kaiser! I've heard about you! You lasted against the Power Rangers for FAR longer than any other major enemy...with the exception of Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, of course! Is it TRUE that you created a monster that destroyed the SECOND Yellow Ranger of the Power Rangers Valor Force?”

Dark Kaiser says: “Aye. That is true. That is one of the greatest events of my life...when I WAS alive. But ALAS!!!! Now, I am DEAD!!!! I have been waiting in limbo for untold YEARS waiting for a worthy warrior to join forces with! I tried once with Emperor Marvo, against the Power Rangers Super Mega Force. Needless to say, we were LESS than successful in conquering the Earth!”

Fuhrer Saturn says: “No WONDER those Rangers had to pull out all the stops in trying to DESTROY him!”

The Dark Kaiser says: “But I believe YOU may be DIFFERENT! After all, you are a Nazi Warrior just like ME! We both THIRST for the destruction of the Power Rangers, by any means NECESSARY!”

Fuhrer Saturn says: “And the creation of a Master Race, like Hitler always DREAMED of!”

The Dark Kaiser says: “It is STILL possible! I KNOW what you seek! A realm where the Nazi's GOT what they always dreamed of, what WE deserve! I have the POWER to give you what you seek; but I NEED to inhabit the body, of a warrior who is worthy, in order to access this place! Tell me you are the one that I have been waiting for ALL these years!”

Fuhrer Saturn says: “I am! I shall let you inhabit my body, and give me INCREASED power, and the ability to access this Nazi realm, at anytime that I PLEASE!!!!”

And the Dark Kaiser's spirit FLOWS into Fuhrer Saturn, and the energy is jarring, even to Fuhrer Saturn! With a loud crackling, and purple-black lightning flowing out, a menacing voice says: “The Dark Kaiser is in COMPLETE control and power ONCE again! This NEW body is INCREDIBLE! I'll make short work of—Ack! ACK!!!! What is happening to ME?!!!”

Fuhrer Saturn shouts: “AHHH!!!! You FOOL!!!!”

The purple-black lightning turns into red-black lightning, and Fuhrer Saturn says: “Dark Kaiser, did you think I was some NAIVE fool you could JUST take control over?! I am a NOBLE DEMON!!!! And this Nazi Realm that I know of, it is NOT the Nazi Realm that should exist! They are HARSHLY unfair against people who are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer, or have some other form of biological sexual condition! Treating them badly is NOT something I would WISH against them! Even EVIL has standards! I will NOT be Hijacked by Ganondorf today; thank you very much! But, your evil spirit SHALL become my OWN spirit! Purified by my noble blood and ambitions, I shall henceforth be known as Dark Fuhrer Saturn! But; perhaps this Nazi Realm could still be, of use to me. I think the time has come, for this Nazi Realm to be under New Management, so to speak. I shall free these people with biological sexual conditions from their unfair punishments. It's the LEAST I can do, to make their realm a LITTLE more pleasant! After all, no need to create dissent and distrust, where there doesn't NEED to be any! Now, let me find out more about this realm, from my loyal servant Galaxy Lightning!”

And though physically, Dark Fuhrer Saturn himself doesn't look any different, his Gold Plated Armor and Red Cape now contain jagged black lines and jagged purple lines running through them respectfully, indicating the presence of Dark Kaiser inside of Fuhrer Saturn! Dark Fuhrer Saturn then sees the image of Galaxy Lightning in the sky, hailing through a magical dimensional channel. Galaxy Lightning says: “Fuhrer Saturn?! Is that still you?”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “Pretty much. My journey has proven successful. I have absorbed the spirit of the Dark Kaiser, so I will expect you to refer to me properly as Dark Fuhrer Saturn!”

Galaxy Lightning says: “Understood. Are you ready to review the people you need to meet and know once getting into this Nazi Realm?”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “Of course. They are OBVIOUSLY inferior to me, but they might STILL be very useful to me, so long as I use them PROPERLY!”

Galaxy Lightning pulls up a 3-dimensional computer screen, and she shows images as she describes who the people are. Galaxy Lightning says: “There are four people of note. Reinhard Heydrich; the de facto leader of the Third Reich. In his dimension, Adolf Hitler dubbed him the Man With the Iron Heart. He is cold, cruel, ruthless, cunning, and a sociopath. He cares very little about his enemies.”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “So in order to get control of the Nazi's, I need to handle HIM first!”

Galaxy Lightning says: “The next person is Amon Goth. He is considered to be the most dangerous man on his version of Core Earth. He is a cruel, vicious, unpredictable sadist. He is hated and feared by everyone who knows his name.”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “I know nothing of fear ever since I sold my soul to Satan, the master of Queen Bandora. Still, I shall handle him with extreme caution and care.”

Galaxy Lightning says: “This next person has NO history on OUR version of Core Earth, but on HER version, Emma Heydrich is Reinhard's daughter! She is just as cold as he is, but can hide behind charisma when the need arises. She serves as both a spy, and an assassin. She uses her guile, seduction, stealth, and martial prowess to carry out the tasks that she is assigned. She's very good at what she does. And if the RUMORS are to be believed, she is FAR closer to her father than a NORMAL daughter SHOULD be!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “She sounds VERY interesting! We could USE someone like her in our crew!”

Galaxy Lightning asks: “Aren't you worried that she could BETRAY us?!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “I wouldn't doubt, that would be one of the first things on our mind! BUT; it's important to have at least ONE of these people around to KNOW how they think! You know the old saying; 'Keep Your Friends Close, and Keep Your ENEMIES Closer! If you catch her trying to betray either of us, you shall handle her with EXTREME prejudice; to send the message that I shall NOT be trifled with under ANY circumstances!”

Galaxy Lightning says: “Of course. And the last person is Ilsa, the She-Wolf. If one did not know any better, it would be EASY to mistake Amon Goth and Ilsa for twins! But Amon prefers conventional torture, whereas Ilsa, deals with pain of the sexual nature!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn's mask GLOWS a crimson shade of red, indicating an angry face beneath his yellow mask! Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “And no doubt she INFLICTS this pain on these people with biological sexual conditions, that they cannot control! Thank you for informing me, Galaxy Lightning! I shall handle everything else from here!”

Galaxy Lightning says: “Yes, sire!” And her image dissipates.

Dark Fuhrer Saturn than turns on his red lightning energy and aims it STRAIGHT forward into the air; prying open a portal between the realm of Core Earth, and THAT of the Nazi Realm! Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “There it is! It's time to see if my new underlings will be as happy to see me as I HOPE they will be! Because if they're not, they're going to be SORRY they ever treated people with biological sexual conditions SO badly!” /

In the Nazi Realm, at their version of Auschwitz II-Birkenau, it is another dreary, down-trodden day for anyone unfortunate enough to be a prisoner there, which includes WELL over 1.3 million people, which would be basically anyone who is NOT a blond-haired, blue-eyed German of the fabled Aryan race! Reinhard Heyrich, is currently supervising the prisoners forced to break apart rocks to make raw materials for Nazi weaponry and technology! He is BRUTALLY whipping them, as he says: “Don't slack off! Get back to work! You had a break three days ago!”

Amon Goth says: “Let me use the mace! I want to use some mace!”

Reinhard says: “Not unless someone TRIES to start something! After all, they're already WORTHLESS compared to us! No need to make them USELESS as well, by making them BLIND in their eyes!”

Emma seductively says: “You're such a strong, WISE leader!”

And Ilsa says: “Personally, I couldn't CARE less! There's not a single guy OR girl among this group, that I would want to--!”

And someone shouts: “FIRE!!!!”

And all four of them look, and sure enough, a BLAZING fire appears right in the middle of the Concentration Camp, and out of it appears Dark Fuhrer Saturn! Emma asks: “Who is THIS new guy?!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “Just another proud member of the Aryan race! I'm here to light your path to a brand new avenue of opportunities that you never KNEW existed!”

Amon Goth angrily asks: “Well, if you're so PROUD of being Aryan, than WHY do you wear a MASK?!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “I am Dark Fuhrer Saturn, and I DON'T need to dignify THAT with a response!”

And Dark Fuhrer Saturn EASILY knocks Amon Goth to a far-away wall, putting many fractures and cracks into the bricks! Reinhard seriously asks: “Just a minute! You can't just BARGE in here! Who do you think you are?!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “I am a clone of Adolf Hitler. I am the leader THESE poor souls have been waiting for!”

An old man asks: “Are we saved?”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “Only if you have a biological sexual condition. Otherwise, I would say more like, you're under new management!”

Reinhard says: “You can't just come around here and bark out orders! We TRUE Nazi's won't allow it!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “And what are you going to do about it?”

Emma asks: “Do you want ME to take care of him?”

Reinhard says: “I'll handle him MYSELF, my PRECIOUS daughter! It's been quite a long time since I've had a WORTHY challenge!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “You seem confident! Let's see if that confidence is well-placed!”

Reinhard takes his shirt off, revealing his ripped muscles! Reinhard says: “You'll see a lot more than that! Now, let's have at it!!!!”

And Dark Fuhrer Saturn BARELY has time to react, and just NARROWLY misses being hit by a powerful LEFT hook! Dark Fuhrer Saturn quickly counters with a strong uppercut, but Reinhard dodges backward, and the two of them QUICKLY break into a melee of punches and kicks! Even though BOTH of them have exceptional strength and speed, neither of them seem to be gaining an edge over the other! Finally, Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “Most impressive! I didn't THINK there was a MERE mortal who HAD such strength, other than the Power Rangers of course!”

Isla asks: “Wait a minute! You KNOW the Power Rangers?!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “I've tangled with them on several occasions. They are QUITE the nuisance!”

Reinhard says: “Than WE have a common enemy! We want REVENGE on the Power Rangers to! Doctor Maniac tried to partner up with us in order to use our resources to DESTROY the Power Rangers, and instead they HUMILIATED us, by defeating our latest biological weapon in NOTHING flat!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “Well, I'm not a scientific blowhard like Doctor Maniac is! I won't make you promises that I can't keep! But, perhaps we can arrange a working relationship that would benefit ALL of our needs!”

Reinhard says: “Very well!” He puts his shirt back on, snaps his fingers, and just like that, Amon Goth wakes up and joins the rest of them! Reinhard continues, and he says: “We're listening.”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “I want to DESTROY the Power Rangers! I have the magic necessary to KILL them, but I need some warrior resources to turn into Black Magma monsters! Since you CLEARLY don't want to take care of these ethnically inferior races, I think I have a solution to your lodging problem. You can send me your best-bodied prisoners, to become MY new, unwilling employees!”

Amon asks: “And what is in it for us?”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “You will be able to sleep easier, knowing that potential riot threats to your reign are being BETTER used, once they are BRAINWASHED and transformed into MY monsters!”

Ilsa says: “I don't like this plan! Less prisoners means LESS people for me to exploit my sexual prowess on! I say, don't go for it!”

Amon says: “Kill him NOW!!!! That jerk HIT me!”

Emma asks: “After all, how do we KNOW we can even TRUST you?!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “I wouldn't expect you to. But, I KNOW that having control of ONE Core Earth isn't enough for you! There IS one where, as much as you DON'T want to hear this, Hitler and his Nazi forces LOST World War II! Adolf Hitler committed suicide before the war ended, and most of the Nazi's were forced either into prison or into death for what they had done at Concentration Camps like this one! Don't you want to go to this alternate version of Core Earth, and show them that the Nazis do not TAKE being humiliated lightly at ALL?! It would be a good opportunity to AVENGE their loss, and strengthen your reign over ALL inferior races!”

Reinhard says: “You make a point I cannot refuse. Very well, I shall SEND you my best-bodied prisoners. I'm afraid I can't spare more, though. We're currently dealing with a problem of our own. We're currently dealing with an alien threat who simply calls himself the Guillotine. There's also this giant robot called GR-01, and we're not entirely sure whether we can trust it to stay loyal to us, since a young boy is the one who pilots it and all.”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “That is all right. Any help you can spare is better than no help at all.”

Amon says: “Just don't tell us what to DO, anymore!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “You're LUCKY Reinhard has exceptional strength, and what appears to be SOME form of superhuman invulnerability; otherwise I would rip that tongue right out of your MOUTH right now!”

Isla says: “Straight and to the point! I like his style!”

Dark Fuhrer Saturn says: “I'll be watching you, to make SURE you don't treat prisoners with biological sexual conditions TOO badly! After all, even though you don't have to WORRY about protecting your leader Reinhard, I'm not sure if Reinhard doesn't have to worry about protecting YOU! After all, your technology, while impressive, is very dated compared to Doctor Maniac's inventions!”

And Dark Fuhrer Saturn disappears in a blaze of fire! Emma asks: “Are we REALLY going to help this...OUTSIDER who questions OUR methods of dealing with prisoners?! He's not even a TRUE clone of Adolf Hitler! A TRUE clone wouldn't hide his face behind a mask!”

Reinhard says: “True. But, this world has grown rather soft, and broken! We Nazi's ALWAYS do our best when we have some other threat to deal with! And if we focus on THIS distant threat, it will help us stay prepared for REAL threats here at home!”

Amon says: “You are VERY brilliant, Reinhard!”

Reinhard says: “That is true! But Ilsa; DO try and show some restraint when dealing with your...sexual play-things. I can't exactly afford to replace you, after all.”

Ilsa sighs, and says: “I shall simply have to...refine my approach, sir.”

Reinhard says: “Very well. Emma, Amon; round up all the able-bodied prisoners you can find! We have an obligation to fulfill to Fuhrer Saturn!” /

 

Meanwhile, back in the mental Head-quarters envisioned by Alma; the psychic girl takes Naruto, BlackHawk, Kras'hir, and Captain Retro into a place that looks a LOT like the inside of Barrel Volcano from “Super Mario R.P.G.: Legend of the Seven Stars”!

Captain Retro says: “1996 Retro 16-bit graphics! This is SO cool! I mean, hot!”

Kras'hir says: “I imagine that the reason WHY we're here, has to do more than just pleasing us with very good video game aesthetic design.”

Alma says: “Very perceptive! I have simply taken all the rage, anger, and residual hatred residing in the minds of THREE of you, and transformed it into a physical representation that you can understand. Any idea why I chose THIS particular area to represent your feelings of anger?”

BlackHawk says: “Is it because Barrel Volcano is one of the hardest areas in Super Mario R.P.G.: Legend of the Seven Stars, and can CREATE anger if you don't know how to survive in it?”

Alma says: “Precisely. Now, are we going to be able to talk about WHAT you're angry about, or are you just going to be STUBBORN in being angry about it?”

Naruto says: “No, Alma. The sooner we get out of here, the better. Not that this ISN'T enlightening and necessary for at least SOME of us! No offense to Ebony, of course!”

Captain Retro says: “Actually, she learned HER lesson faster than Pinkie Pie says! DON'T assume anything before you SPEAK, Naruto! Or would you rather I refer to YOU as the designated Butt-monkey of this particular Power Rangers team?”

Naruto sighs, and says: “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed anything. Very well, then. I'm angry about a couple of things. I'm angry that Usagi has taken my place as leader of this particular Power Rangers team, and I'm angry that every single time I get a little bit close to BlackHawk's power, he SURPASSES my strength and power yet AGAIN!”

BlackHawk says: “That isn't even ABOUT me wanting to surpass you anymore; it's a matter of necessity! After all, we now have RADIGUET to worry about! He's right outside this mental realm waiting for us!”

Captain Retro says: “And not very happily, I might add! Of course, given that it's Radiguet, I think he's only REALLY happy when he's inflicting pain and torture! He's VERY sadistic like that!”

Alma says: “I quite agree. I was in...denial myself, about why I continue to feel such pain in my life. Radiguet sensed that, and offered me an easy fix to my problems! And I was in SUCH denial about how I SHOULD deal with my problem, I convinced myself that letting Radiguet guide me to where BlackHawk's father was buried, would offer me the answer to everything.”

BlackHawk asks: “Are you saying that you've learned something as well?”

Alma says: “Yes. I'm no longer in denial about what Radiguet has done, but I'm STILL angry about it!”

BlackHawk sighs, and says: “I know. There is plenty that I have been, currently am, and maybe will always be slightly angry about. I'm still slightly angry at myself, for not being stronger and smarter when I was younger, and just starting my gunslinger career. If I had, I might have been able to help my fellow gunslingers from being...well, you know. It was while I was away, that my father was killed. I was angry for not being around to protect him. And of course, I'm REALLY angry at Ebony for lying to me, and disrespecting my past as a gunslinger!”

Captain Retro says: “Well, you can either CONTINUE to just be angry at the facets and facts of your life. Or, you can choose to do something constructive about it.”

BlackHawk says: “I AM doing something constructive about it. I'm building up my strength, so I can be better prepared for future threats to Core Earth. And I'm choosing to pursue a brand new, romantic relationship with my special friend, the anthropomorphic D.O.G.!”

Captain Retro says: “He is a very good choice. I hope you treat him well.”

BlackHawk says: “You know I will! But why does it mean anything to you?”

Captain Retro sighs, and says: “Because D.O.G., is much more than just a fellow Eltarian canine of mine. He's my older half-brother; Aaron Muttson. Same father, but different mothers. That's why we look so different from each other.”

Kras'hir says: “He sure doesn't treat you like you're his younger half-brother.”

Captain Retro says: “It was a condition of me signing up with the Magi-mother, in order to obtain my powers. D.O.G., was never SUPPOSED to become anthropomorphic the way I did. The Magi-mother never foresaw that happening in any of her future visions. Which causes me to worry a little bit, that Radiguet may be affecting the powers of the Magi-mother more than she would care to admit. In any case, please keep this information to yourself. I don't want my older brother to know about his relationship to me just yet.”

BlackHawk says: “Understood.”

Alma says: “And Kras'hir, you're still angry because...?”

Kras'hir just leers angrily, and asks: “Do you want the LONG story, or the short version?”

Alma says: “Since I don't want to be here any longer than YOU do, the short version.”

Kras'hir says: “Very well. Let's just say I have a few ISSUES with my MASTER, the Blood God. And I'm not sure what I can do about it, other than kill criminals to keep myself sane!”

Captain Retro says: “Kras'hir, the Blood God is NOT as powerful, as he would LIKE you to believe!”

Kras'hir says: “That's just what YOU would like to believe!”

Captain Retro says: “No. That's what the DOG Guardian told me!”

BlackHawk asks: “So, Clifford is still alive?!”

Captain Retro asks: “He goes by MANY different names. Huckleberry Hound, Scooby-Doo, Hong Kong Phooey, Courage, and even the obscure Shag from the Road Rovers. In any case, of COURSE the Dog Guardian is still alive! With the exception of Aslan, he is the strongest and WISEST of all the guardians! He has seen ALL that has been, and all that will be!”

Naruto asks: “So, he's omniscient. Can he tell us how to STOP Radiguet?”

Captain Retro says: “The Dog Guardian can only PRESERVE the balance of life between good and evil. He cannot choose sides. That's why he has me, among other warriors, to ensure that the balance is maintained and kept intact.”

BlackHawk asks: “But what about the Tower?”

Captain Retro says: “It's not a physical building, as YOU have come to know it! The truth is, even I don't know how the Tower TRULY looks like, because mere mortals aren't SUPPOSED to know how the Tower actually appears! The only reason WE see it as a tower, is because that's a form we can understand.”

Kras'hir says: “Kind of like how Alma keeps taking us into places that a child would be familiar with. They are all forms of things that she can understand.”

Captain Retro says: “Precisely. As for your problem, Kras'hir. You don't need to face your problem alone. You have Usagi who can help you, and Sally Anne who NEEDS you, to help her grow up into a fine, young women someday. And as for the Blood God, I'm not sure that any of you have noticed this, but as the Emperor of Light begins to awaken, the powers of the Chaos Gods are growing weak. That's why Radiguet was ABLE to steal Nurgle's son away from him SO easily! They can't send anymore demons into our realm anymore, let alone directly interfere with Core Earth itself, anymore! And Radiguet knows this, to! I think that's the main reason why he was so desperate to come here! He wants to DRAW out the Chaos Gods, before they WEAKEN any further!”

Kras'hir says: “Does that mean the Blood God doesn't have any influence over me anymore?”

Captain Retro says: “I don't know that for sure. The Magi-mother will have to run some more tests, before we can confirm or deny anything.”

Kras'hir says: “I'm glad you told me this. I feel like I'm ready to finally let go of my anger.”

Alma says: “And with that, you have all passed the stage of Anger! Time for the next group!”

 

And with that, Alma, Kras'hir, Naruto, and BlackHawk all pass through the Swirling Vortex, and appear back in Head-quarters. Usagi says: “Kras'hir, you're back! You seem...happier, somehow.”

Kras'hir says: “Well, I feel happier than I have felt in years!”

Alma says: “FireHawk and Usagi, it's your turn.”

FireHawk rolls her eyes, and derisively says: “It's about TIME!”

Alma says: “You NEED to be careful about what you say! After all, time is just about the ONE thing YOU don't have MUCH of!”

FireHawk asks: “What's that supposed to MEAN?!”

Usagi says: “I think we'll know, soon enough! Come, Captain Retro! I have a feeling that this won't be an easy test for FireHawk to face alone.”

Captain Retro says: “And that's putting it mildly! We better get through this fast! Things on Core Earth aren't as static as any of us would LIKE them to be!”

And Alma takes Usagi, FireHawk, and Captain Retro through the swirling vortex! StarHawk says: “I do so hope my sister-wife is able to get through her test safely!” /

 

Meanwhile, back in Coastal Falls, the former Zero Girls, Eva, Thea, Nena, and Hedy, are busy helping Billy, Rocky, Adam, Alpha 6, and Karone, with the reconstruction of the city. Billy says: “Eva! Are you able to handle all the heavy lifting by yourself?!”

Eva says: “No problem with a strong girl such as myself!”

Rocky says: “Thea, give me a hand in stabilizing this exterior framework for this building!”

Thea says: “Sure thing, Rocky!”

Karone says: “Nena, you're doing a good job of painting this new building.”

Nena says: “You're not so bad, yourself!”

Adam says: “Hedy, thanks for re-opening the abandoned mine quarry, and getting us the raw materials we needed to help rebuild this city!”

Hedy says: “Anything for our friends! We've got to get this city back up and running again!”

Alpha 6 says: “Aye-yai-yai-yai-yai! That is certainly the truth!”

And they all begin laughing, until one by one, Rocky, Alpha 6, Karone, Billy, and even Adam are all ZAPPED with an immobilizing electricity, and the Zero Girls gaze in fear, as the Diabolic comes OUT of space, and a familiar voice they NEVER thought they would hear again, BOOMS to them LOUDLY! Vipera, with fake seduction and sincerity, smiles with glee as she now has her FULL crew back with her!

In the Diabolica, Circe groans, and she asks: “Remind me, Kraky, how did I EVER let you talk me into joining up with VIPERA again?!”

Kraky says: “It's not like we could refuse! She said she would hit and YELL at us every five seconds we remained indecisive about the whole situation!”

Vipera says: “Hello, Zero Girl TRAITORS! Remember ME?! The Empress you ABADNONED so the Rangers could so EASILY maim me?! Did you THINK I wouldn't take that PERSONALLY?! Well, now, you're going to PAY for your lack of LOYALTY and OBEDIENCE to me!”

And Vipera zaps the former Zero Girls with immobilizing electricity, rendering them completely incapacitated! Vipera then descends from the Diabolic, and the Zero Girls gasp in SHOCK not just at how she looks completely restored, but looks STRONGER than ever! Eva asks: “HOW?! Usagi completely DECIMATED you!”

Vipera says: “Let's just say I met a certain DOCTOR, by the last name of MANIAC, who made me an offer I couldn't REFUSE! Besides, it will mostly benefit ME, anyways! Did you really think you could simply STOP being evil anytime you WISHED?! I think we need to make EXAMPLES out of you!”

Thea says: “We will NEVER go back to working with your crew! So do whatever you want with us, we WON'T be a part of your EVIL any longer!”

Vipera says: “Oh, we'll do what we WANT with you, but you WILL be evil again! Drako!”

Baphomet carries Drako down, and Drako is HOLDING a familiar case filled with pulsating vials of EVIL energy! Karone's eyes open WIDE in horror, as she says: “NO!!!! Don't TELL me that's the Psycho serum!”

Adam asks: “The WHAT?!!!”

Karone says: “The Psycho serum! That's what I used back when I was Astronema, to create the Psycho Rangers! I thought with the destruction of the Psycho Rangers, there would BE no more Psycho serum! But if Doctor Maniac revitalized Vipera, he MUST have been the one who FOUND the file cards of the Psycho Rangers, before having his go-between give it to Deviot and Trakeena!”

Vipera says: “How VERY perceptive of you!”

Nena says: “What do you plan to DO with us?!”

Vipera says: “Very SIMPLE! Not only WILL you become the Zero Girls again, you will become even STRONGER, thanks to the POWER of the Psycho serum! And you will FINALLY, KILL one of the Power Rangers, to SATISFY Doctor Maniac's NEED to KILL a Ranger among EVERY Ranger team he fights! And the BEST part of all of this, is that YOU don't have any CHOICE in the matter!”

Hedy says: “You WON'T get AWAY with this!”

Vipera says: “Watch me! Baphomet, pour the VIALS!!!!”

Baphomet says: “With PLEASURE!”

And one by one, Baphomet pours the Pink Vial into Eva, the black vial into Thea, the blue vial into Nena, and the yellow vial into Hedy! And soon enough, their bodies all begin to shine with UNNATURAL, glowing red energy, and the four of them all scream: “No, NO, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

And they all transform!!!! While they DO look like the Zero Girls, their armor looks a LOT more impressive and STRONGER than it EVER did! With a lot of jagged edges and bulging muscles, rippling within the super-strong armor! Eva says: “Super Psycho Zero 01 is BACK in business!!!!”

Thea says: “Super Psycho Zero 02 will EXTERMINATE the Rangers!”

Nena says: “Super Psycho Zero 03 won't let the Rangers get away!”

Hedy says: “Super Psycho Zero 04 will GRIND the Rangers into dust!”

Vipera says: “And since I have the Red Psycho serum in me, that makes ME your official leader! If you want, you can call ME, the Super Psycho Zero Queen, of you Super Psycho Zero Girls!”

The newly christened Super Psycho Zero Girls, all bend down on their knees, and they simultaneously say: “Our loyalty is only to you! Lead us to victory, and we shall CRUSH the Power Rangers!”

Vipera flashes a SLASHER smile, and she says: “MOST excellent! Drako! Find out where Usagi is right now! WE have some unfinished BUSINESS to attend to! NOBODY makes Vipera look like a FOOL and gets away with it!”

Drako says: “Of course not! I am on it, right away!”

Vipera looks to the immobilized Rangers, and she says: “And don't think you can stop us THIS time, or what happened to KENDRIX, will happen to you TO, TRAITOR Karone!!!!”

And with that, the Super Psycho Zero Girls, Vipera, Drako, and Baphomet, all warp back onto the Diabolic, and it disappears with warp speed! Alpha Six electronically says: “Omnus, we need your help right away!” /

 

At the Command Center, Omnus says: “Machiko, use one of your spells to remove the electricity surrounding Alpha Six and the Legendary Rangers!”

The former Queen Hedrian says: “Goodness! I didn't think I would have to utilize these new, GOOD magic spells so soon! What was it?! Hocus-pocus, abracadabra...whatever!”

And she simply ZAPS in random directions with her magic wand, and amazingly, it WORKS!!!! A flash of BLUE lightning comes and removes the white lightning surrounding the Legendary Rangers! Adam says: “Thank you, Omnus! We've got to warn Kira!”

Adam pushes his communicator, and he says: “Kira!” /

Kira reaches for her Dino Morpher, and pushes the communicator button, and she asks: “Adam, is that you? Why are you calling me?” /

Adam says: “We have a situation! Vipera has returned, and she's STRONGER than ever! And WORSE, she got her hands on PSYCHO serum! She USED it to revive and STRENGTHEN the Psycho Girls! They want REVENGE on Usagi! They may be coming!” /

Kira says: “Adam, you and Tommy are the only ones who have any SPARE emergency Ranger Powers! You better call Tommy and have him come meet you in Avila Beach, California! That's where I'm at! And you better come FAST!!!! The current Ranger team is STILL dealing with something, and I don't know how much longer they will be!”

Adam says: “Got it, Kira! We're practically on our way!”

Kira turns off her communicator, looks at the angry frozen, Radiguet/Ace, than she looks at the immobilized bodies of Alma, FireHawk, Captain Retro, and the Power Rangers. Kira says: “You all better come back here SOON, or you MIGHT not be able to come back at ALL!!!!” /

To Be Continued... /

Episode Notes: The Anthropomorphic D.O.G., reveals that he romantically loves BlackHawk, and BlackHawk returns the affection. Second time that Radiguet has DIRECTLY threatened the Power Rangers, and the first time he has done so in season two! Alma revives Ace's body, and Radiguet steals it in order to fight the Rangers! Vipera is restored and strengthened thanks to Doctor Maniac, and he also brings Drako and Baphomet back to life! Fuhrer Saturn meets the spirit of Dark Kaiser, absorbs him, and becomes Dark Fuhrer Saturn! He establishes an uneasy alliance with the Nazi Realm! It is revealed that D.O.G., is actually Captain Retro's older half-brother! Vipera captures and RESTORES Eva, Thea, Nena, and Hedy into becoming a newer, stronger version of the Zero Girls, becoming the Super Psycho Zero Girls! Featured song in this episode: “Head Games.”

 

Personal Notes: I was originally going to have “Head Games” be a separate episode from the two part “Vision Quest” episode sequence I had originally envisioned. However, this episode was starting to drag and last for too long for my tastes. So I decided to link the events of “Head Games”, with the rest of what I had envisioned for the “Vision Quest” two part sequence, so that it is now a three-part sequence! This way, I can write everything I wanted to write for “Head Games,” but not have it drag ON for however much longer it ends up lasting, and make my three part “Vision Quest” sequence be that much more epic! Needless to say, with the presence of the Super Psycho Zero Girls on the scene, there WILL be blood, soon, and it MAY NOT just be the BAD guys who shed it THIS time! / That's it for my episode today! Enough said for now, true believers!

[4EverGreen]

Vision Quest Part II: Orange Sunset!
 

Captain Retro narrates and says: “Previously on Power Rangers Multiverse Force;BlackHawk and I both received an unwelcome vision. Radiguet, posing as one of the Chaos Gods, was manipulating Alma, to revive Ace's body, so that Radiguet could use it as a vessel, to invade and threaten our world! Despite our best efforts, we were unable to stop her in time! I began to do battle with the evil tyrant, only to be stopped by the psychic powers of Alma, when she decided that she needed to test the other Power Rangers, to see if they were ready to pass their various stages of not being in acceptance. Seeing no alternative, we agreed to her request. Seven of my friends have passed their tests so far, but three others remain. And the longer we stay in the realm of our minds, the greater the risk is, that there will be an attack by the force of evil against us! It is now a race against time, to see if my remaining Ranger friends can pass their tests, and prepare themselves for the next threat against Core Earth, before it is too late...”
 

Captain Retro, Usagi, FireHawk, and Alma arrive within a cold cave, which has the grave of a Goron in it, seen in “The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask”. Usagi says: “Strange. Why has Alma taken us somewhere that's inside of a video game originally released in 2000?”

Captain Retro says: “Because this section of the game, actually revolves AROUND Bargaining, which is the main reason why Alma has taken us here. Isn't that right, Alma?”

Alma says: “Your perception is quite correct. Usagi and FireHawk, why do you continue to try to bargain your way out of a situation, that you KNOW you can't bargain your way out of?”

Usagi, looks down, and she says: “Truth be told, I never ASKED to be a super-hero, I never asked Queen Beryl to swear any kind of vengeance on me.”

Captain Retro says: “You didn't NEED to ask to become a super-hero, you were BORN to be one! The Emperor of Light chose YOU himself! You HAVE everything you NEED to defeat Queen Beryl AND Queen Metalia INSIDE of you! If you didn't, the Emperor of Light would NOT have chosen you to begin with!”

Usagi says: “Then tell me this; if I have the power inside of me, why is it do I not FEEL confident enough to express the power within myself?”

Captain Retro says: “True power comes NOT from wanting it BADLY enough; even RADIGUET has had to fight amongst MANY beings across the universe to get to become as powerful as he already has! True power doesn't even come from confidence! Truth be told, I may SEEM to be completely cool, calm, and collected on the outside, but inside, facing Radiguet, I'm really scared about what he could DO if we don't stop him!”

Usagi asks: “You're AFRAID as well?!”

Captain Retro says: “It's not just you. EVERYONE has something they're afraid of! But you want to know something? That's not a sign that you're weak, it's a sign that you're NORMAL!!!! True bravery doesn't come from NOT being afraid; true bravery comes from doing the things that HAS to be done, even in SPITE of the fact that you're afraid! You WILL be able to defeat your enemies when the time comes, and the power will come within you, to do what needs to be done!”

Usagi sighs, and she says: “You're right. It IS my destiny, but not because somebody else SAYS that it needs to be, it's because I CHOOSE to have this be my destiny, because it's the right thing to do!”

Alma says: “FireHawk, you're STILL trying to bargain with StarHawk, even after EVERYTHING you have done against her, and trying to increase your power through scrupulous methods. What do you hope to gain out, by DOING such nefarious deeds?”

FireHawk says: “My fellow Hawkians are FOOLS! There were ALL these Necrons laying DORMANT on our home planet! They had such POTENTIAL! But the elders wouldn't SEE the truth for themselves! That's why I HAD to awaken them, to SHOW them what they were capable of! And HOW did I get repaid for showing them the LIGHT?! I was BANISHED and EXILED from my planet, while my SISTER got to enjoy all the PERKS of being treated like a princess, for doing NOTHING!!!!”

Captain Retro asks: “You call, becoming the Phantom Ranger, and training with Demitria NOTHING?”

FireHawk says: “Demitria was a Grade A IDIOT!!!! She couldn't even defend HERSELF, let alone teach the SECOND team of Turbo Power Rangers how to successfully DEFEND against lame-brain Divatox! Killing her was PRACTICALLY a GIFT to the Universe, for getting RID of such a dead-weight!”

Captain Retro than forcibly GRABS FireHawk's left arm, and twists it HARD, causing even the normally steadfast FireHawk, to WINCE in PAIN!!!! Captain Retro seriously says: “During the Great Battle 10,000 years ago, against the forces of evil, Demitria helped Ninjor and Zordon more than YOU could ever know! My single greatest regret is that Divatox ZAPPED Demitria before Divatox was initially exiled from Planet Earth, which made Demitria the way she behaved to the Power Rangers!”

FireHawk is actually STUNNED, and she asks: “You mean it WASN'T Demitria's fault that she behaved so STRANGELY; and she could have been FIXED?!!! Now I feel AWFUL about what I did to Demitria, which is something I never thought I COULD feel about ANYONE, let alone, Demitria!”

Captain Retro says: “You should feel more AWFUL about the way you have treated your sister, StarHawk! She has looked up to you, she has TRUSTED you, even though she has SO many reasons as to WHY she shouldn't! And despite her trust, you continually plot and scheme behind her back, looking for ways you can get your hands on MORE Necrons when the opportunity arrives! I know all about your secret dealings with Queen Beryl and Ahminan, and how you've been offering to spy for them! You think you can keep your sister safe from THEM?! Well, you're WRONG!!!! You can't trust THEM to NOT attack your sister! They WILL attack, they WILL hurt her, and they WILL kill her if you let them have a CHANCE! And Doctor Maniac HIMSELF, won't STOP his blood-lust against the Power Rangers, and won't feel satisfied until he has managed to KILL at least ONE Power Ranger! Do you WANT it to be your sister, who SUFFERS for YOUR foolish mistakes?! Doctor Maniac has ALREADY sent out a revived Vipera, to do what you could NEVER do; capture 200 Necron soldiers, for him to control and command! You see, FireHawk, you were NEVER in control of what Queen Beryl could and couldn't do, no matter WHAT you told yourself! And now the one thing you claim to love, StarHawk, is in DANGER, because of your FOOLISH bargaining!”
 

FireHawk actually reels back in a combination of guilt, and HORROR, at what she has just found out! FireHawk desperately says: “I never meant to...put StarHawk's life in such danger! I wanted the strength to protect StarHawk myself! I never wanted her to be endangered by some alien freaks! No offense to YOU, of course!”

Captain Retro says: “If you TRULY mean that, than you need to be HONEST with StarHawk, stop trying to scheme behind everyone's back, and make things RIGHT with StarHawk while you still have a CHANCE! Don't let there be any parting word regrets between the two of you.”

FireHawk asks: “What do you mean by; parting word regrets?”

Captain Retro says: “If you TRULY love StarHawk, you need to MEAN what you say, while you still have an opportunity to do so! Only then, will your soul be at rest!”

FireHawk says: “Well, I don't know what my soul has to do with anything, but, I know that I DO love StarHawk, more than anyone else in the universe!”

Captain Retro says: “Than think about what would be best for HER, and NOT for yourself!”

FireHawk sighs, and says: “If that's what it takes to get StarHawk to trust me and love me again, than that's what I'm going to do.”

Alma says: “And with that, you have all passed Bargaining.” /
 

The four of them warp back into Head-quarters, where everyone else is waiting. Kras'hir asks: “Usagi, did you learn what you needed to learn?”

Usagi says: “Yes. I'm still nervous about what I need to do, but I realized that I'm going to have to rise above it, and summon my inner courage, for when the time comes to deal with both Queen Beryl, and Queen Metalia!”

Toby says: “Just remember; we'll all be by your side, so you won't have to do it alone!”

FireHawk, sighs, and says: “StarHawk, this isn't easy for me to say, but, I was wrong, in everything that I've done to you, and what I've tried to do, in trying to achieve greater power for myself. I cursed you with that lesbian hex, in order to make ME feel better about myself. I tried to control the Necrons, because I thought that would give me the power I thought that I wanted! I even thought I could handle Queen Beryl and Ahminan, so that they wouldn't harm you! But, I know now, that I can't trust them. I'm REALLY sorry about all the lies I've told you before! I know I don't deserve this, but it would mean a lot to me, if you could find it in your heart to forgive me, for everything I've done.”

StarHawk says: “Sister, that is ALL I ever wanted to hear from you! Of COURSE I forgive you!”

They hug each other, and FireHawk genuinely says: “I love you!”

StarHawk says: “I know.”

Captain Retro says: “Eh...still a better love story than Twilight...BARELY!”

Alma says: “Only one test left. Lettuce, I hope you're ready!” /

In Queen Beryl's spaceship, Doctor Maniac warps in, and in a falsetto, Spanish accent, he shouts: “Lucy, I'm HOME!!!!”

Ahminan says: “I'll NEVER understand you Earthlings and your fascination with pop culture references!”

Queen Beryl asks: “And WHO is Lucy?!”

Doctor Maniac says: “I thought for SURE that at least the ORIGINAL I Love Lucy airings would've reached YOUR galaxy by now! But, whatever! I'm here to announce that ALL of our problems will SOON be over! I've restored Vipera, and ordered her to use the Psycho serum on the Zero Girls! By now, they SHOULD already be transformed into the Super Psycho Zero Girls, and on their way to confront the Power Rangers! And they will not REST until they have KILLED someone! My plan on vengeance will be enacted VERY soon! And I will SAVOR it with McDonald's Mulan Szechuan McNugget sauce!”

Kunzite says: “Good! We can USE their antics, to power up the device that will RESTORE Queen Metalia!”

Mettzler says: “You mean you FINALLY got it fixed?!”

Benzite says: “Yes! We finally got it fixed! No thanks to Nephrite!”

Nephrite says: “I REALLY think this is too DANGEROUS what Doctor Maniac is doing! Everyone KNOWS the Psycho energy is unstable, ESPECIALLY when introduced into the bodies of soldiers who are already capable of transformation! Even RADIGUET is afraid of it! I think we should just call this whole invasion thing OFF!!!!”

Psygorn sarcastically says: “No, I have a BETTER idea! Why don't we turn ourselves into the Chaos Gods? Than we can ROT in that Hellish pit of the Demon realm until Core Earth enters a new Ice Age!”

Nephrite says: “I was JUST thinking...”

Farrah Cat says: “Doctor Maniac doesn't PAY you to think!”

Doctor Maniac says: “I'm not paying her at ALL!”

Meison says: “Same difference!”

Doctor Maniac says: “What do you think, Bionic Gorilla?”

Bionic Gorilla grunts, and says: “Nephrite's cowardice has disgusted ME, for the last time!”

Queen Beryl says: “It shames me to say this, but Doctor Maniac and HIS cohorts have a point, Nephrite! You have caused EVERYONE here NOTHING but delays, by dragging your feet, hesitating, and NOT performing to the BEST of your ability! You can't even create a decent YOUMA! I cannot tolerate cowardice and incompetence! Maybe you need to be punished just like Jaedite!”

Doctor Maniac says: “Hold up! I have a much better idea in mind!”

Fara says: “This ought to be good!”

Doctor Maniac says: “I'd like to perform an, 'experiment' on her. And if it WORKS, she will become much more USEFUL as a soldier on the field of battle! If it kills her, it's no skin off YOUR nose! But if it works, I can USE my invention to turn otherwise innocent humans into tools of WAR, and brainwash them into killing THEMSELVES!!!!”

Queen Beryl says: “That's DEMENTED!!!! I like IT!!!! Do what you will!”

Nephrite pleadingly says: “Please, Queen Beryl! Give me another chance!”

Queen Beryl says: “You HAD your chance, Nephrite!”

And Doctor Maniac grabs out a blow-gun, and blows a sinister looking DART into Nephrite's face! She quickly removes it, but it's apparent that the dart has already DONE it's job! Because Nephrite begins changing, from an untrustworthy looking woman with brown, spiky hair, wearing purple clothes, into a monstrous, pumped-up, giant-sized brown rat with torn, purple clothes! Doctor Maniac asks: “How do you like Nephrite NOW?! Or as I like to call her, NephRAT!!!!”

Queen Beryl says: “Very NICE!!!! She is definitely an improvement over her normal form!”

Doctor Maniac says: “And since the experiment didn't kill her, I will be able to utilize this SAME experiment, to transform HUMANS into monsters! My mutating blow-darts, will be able to turn humans, into a monstrous version of whichever animal, they have the CLOSEST relationship to!”

Kunzite says: “That explains why Nephrite turned into a rat, because she IS a rat!”

Benzite says: “That's my GIRLFRIEND you're talking about!”

Farrah Cat says: “You'll get over it! Besides, if she fails, I'm eating her for DINNER if the Power Rangers don't DESTROY her first!”

Doctor Maniac says: “With Nephrat's new skills, it probably won't come to that. She WILL help the Super Psycho Zero Girl's destroy one of the Rangers, and maybe PERMANENTLY knock out the REST if we're REALLY lucky! Our moment of glory is at hand!”

Queen Beryl says: “And Queen Metalia's revival is ALL but assured! Send her down, NOW!”

Doctor Maniac says: “With PLEASURE!!!!” And Doctor Maniac shoots a warping gun at her, making her disappear out of sight!

Ahminan says: “Soon all of our troubles will be over. Sailor Moon will be gone, and we will make SWEET love to each other, over the BURNT remains of her CORPSE!!!!”

Queen Beryl says: “I just LOVE it when you whisper sweet nothings into my ears!” /

Kira looks up startled, as the Super Psycho Zero Girls suddenly swoop in! Kira says: “Here they come!”

Adam says: “And so are WE!”

And Adam, Rocky, and Tommy suddenly jump in, with Adam wearing black, Rocky wearing red, and Tommy also wearing red! Tommy asks: “Rocky, what are you doing here?!”

Rocky says: “Billy was monitoring the situation, and he thought it might be a good idea if I helped! You guys aren't the ONLY ones with spare Ranger powers, you know!”

Super Psycho Zero 01 says: “You foolish Rangers are no match for us! Why don't you TRY to take us on?!”

Tommy smiles, and he says: “I was hoping you'd say that! Are you ready?”

Rocky says: “Always! It's Morphing Time!!!!” /

Rocky gets an upgraded morph, just like Adam's from “Once a Ranger”, and he says: “Tyrannosaurus!” And the Tyrannosaurus Red Dragon Thunderzord soars over a cracking Earth, filled with hot magma, as a volcano spewing lava, erupts in the distance, as Rocky morphs into the Mighty Morphing Red Ranger! / Adam says: “Mastodon!” And he utilizes his special, upgraded morph, seen in “Once a Ranger,” morphing into the Mighty Morphing Black Ranger! / Tommy says: “Shift into Turbo!” And Tommy appears in a desert, and his Red Lightning Turbo zord zooms in as he morphs into the Red Turbo Ranger! Tommy says: “Red Lightning Turbo Power!” /

And the three Power Rangers say: “Power Rangers!”

Nephrat, in her new, monstrous form, jumps in, and she says: “Do you think that we're impressed by THAT?! Don't make me LAUGH!!!! We'll finish YOU, and your fellow Power Rangers!”

Adam says: “You'll have to get past us, first! Kira, you better make sure everyone in Avila Beach is safe! This could get dangerous! We'll take care of the current Power Rangers!”

Kira gets on her Dino Thunder motorcycle, and as she rides away, she shouts: “Don't get yourself KILLED, you guys!”

Tommy says: “Death is not an option!” /

In Head-quarters, Captain Retro's eyes suddenly open wide, and he horrifyingly says: “Oh, no! They're here EARLY!!!!”

Naruto asks: “Who's here?!”

Captain Retro says: “The Super Psycho Zero Girls! That COWARD, Doctor Maniac got Vipera to use the dreaded Psycho formula on them to turn the Zero Girls into super-powered, Psycho versions of themselves! They won't stop until they're DEAD!”

Toby says: “I can't believe this is happening, though I can't say I'm surprised at this, given how this is Doctor Maniac we're talking about!”

Captain Retro says: “I've got to get the rest of you OUT of here so that Adam and the others have an actual CHANCE against them!”

Pinkie says: “But what about Lettuce?! He STILL has to go through his test! He can't do it alone!”

Captain Retro says: “You can help him, Pinkie! You're the one and ONLY one who can!”

Pinkie, slightly unsure, still simply nods, and says: “I know. Somehow, I've always known.”

Captain Retro says: “You help Lettuce out, we'll deal with the Super Psycho Zero Girls!”

Alma says: “Right!”

Captain Retro starts to head for the vortex exit, but he suddenly freezes, and he shouts: “STOP!!!!”

Ebony asks: “What is it now?!”

Captain Retro gazes into SOMETHING with his green, prophetic vision, but he doesn't move from his spot or express any emotion, by what he is seeing. Captain Retro simply says: “ONE of YOU, will SOON die, and there's nothing I can do, to STOP it!”

Usagi asks: “NOTHING?!!!”

Captain Retro shakes his head, and the vision stops! Captain Retro says: “Sorry! I can only see a few PAGES into the future! Most of it is just a blur right now, I can't make out any other details clearly! But when something IMPORTANT comes into focus, I HAVE to tell anyone who might be involved about it!”

StarHawk asks: “What are we going to do?”

FireHawk says: “We're going to FIGHT, like always! If they want to get to you, they're going to have to go through ME, first!”

BlackHawk says: “Are you saying that you REALLY love your sister THAT much?!”

FireHawk defiantly says: “I would DIE for her!”

BlackHawk seriously says: “Well in that case, I don't have to worry about YOUR safety than, do I?”

Kras'hir asks: “Do you really trust Captain Retro to be accurate about this?”

BlackHawk says: “I would trust him with my life! Captain Retro has never gotten anything wrong before, he never lies, and he has no intention of lying, or being wrong now or ever!”

Captain Retro says: “That is true! Pinkie, I leave this in your care! Good luck!”

And Captain Retro, Kras'hir, FireHawk, and the other Power Rangers except for Pinkie and Lettuce, exit the mind vortex! Alma says: “Pinkie, Lettuce, it's time. Come with me through the vortex to finish the final test.”

Lettuce just depressingly says: “Oh, I sure hope Captain Retro KNOWS what he's doing!”

Pinkie says: “Of course he does! I mean, I sure certainly HOPE he does!” And all three of them enter into the vortex that Alma has created. /

Captain Retro, FireHawk, and the other Power Rangers appear back on the beach in Avila Beach! But Captain Retro is REALLY surprised to see Nephrite looking like a mutated rat! Captain Retro says: “WOAH!!!! Looks like I REALLY made the right call THIS time! Doctor Maniac has gotten his mutating process perfected! Nephrite is now a monster!”

Usagi asks: “And that's a BAD thing, right?”

Captain Retro says: “Let me put it this way. In her normal, human-esque form, Nephrite was a cowardly joke. But in this mutant RAT form, she's actually fairly COMPETENT!”

Super Psycho Zero Girl 02 says: “You can't POSSIBLY fight us off! You will DIE if you try!”

StarHawk says: “You don't know what you're DOING! Remember, you LEFT Vipera! You MAIMED her! You wanted nothing to DO with her! Remember what you PROMISED Usagi, and you'll FIND the truth!”

Vipera chuckles derisively, and she says: “I don't think THAT stunt will work on them! You see, the Psycho serum is too deeply ingrained into their D.N.A., for any words but MINE to work on them!”

Naruto says: “Vipera! I should have EXPECTED you find some way to come BACK! Did the not-so-good DOCTOR fix you up?!”

Vipera chuckles gleefully, and she says: “Isn't it obvious? I've got a full body make-over, and now I've got powers you've never even DREAMED of!”

FireHawk angrily says: “We dismembered you ONCE!!!! We'll do it AGAIN!!!! FIREBALL!!!!”

And before anyone can blink, FireHawk SHOOTS a flaming ball of fire at Vipera's left arm, incinerating it upon contact! FireHawk says: “All too easy!”

Vipera says: “You'd THINK so, wouldn't you?!”

And to the horror of ALL the good guys, her left arm starts REGENERATING itself right before their eyes, looking completely BRAND new! Toby says: “Oh, CRAP!!!! She's inherited some form of reptilian regenerative abilities from the serum Doctor Maniac gave her!”

Ebony says: “So shooting off her limbs won't work. Why don't we TRY chopping off her HEAD?!!!”

Vipera says: “I'm not going to give you FOOLS the chance! Get THEM!!!!”

Radiguet/Ace suddenly chuckles, and he says: “I think you're FORGETTING something!”

Kras'hir looks on in horror, and she says: “Not NOW!!!!”

And Radiguet/Ace, through SHEER will-power, finally BLOWS away the electric force barrier that's been keeping him in place! Nephrite, though now transformed into a STRONGER form, is STILL afraid of Radiguet's capabilities! Nephrat says: “Not Radiguet! He'll DESTROY us all!”

Queen Beryl's face suddenly appears in the sky, and she says: “Nephrite, you are NOT leaving this fight!”

Nephrat says: “But Radiguet is TOO powerful! He could kill us ALL! I have to get--!”

Queen Beryl screams: “NO!!!! I will NOT tolerate FAILURE and COWARDICE from YOU anymore! You WILL stay, you WILL fight, and you WILL win!”

Captain Retro says: “You'll have to get past all of US, first!”

Tommy asks: “What's the plan?”

Captain Retro says: “I'll handle Radiguet/Ace, I'm the only one who can. StarHawk and FireHawk, you protect Alma, and the comatose bodies of Pinkie and Lettuce, if they're destroyed, they can't come back from Head-quarters! Usagi, you handle Nephrite's new monster form, since you've had EXPERIENCE against her! Everyone else, pick a target, and DON'T STOP FIGHTING!!!!”

Nephrat gets her nerve back, and she says: “I can handle USELESS in my monster form easily enough!”

Usagi angrily says: “The name's USAGI!!!!”

And Usagi starts running into Nephrat HARD, punching and KICKING her with an IMMENSE amount of force! Radiguet/Ace evilly says: “Captain Retro, you're mine!”

Captain Retro says: “I'm sorry about what I'm about to do, BlackHawk! But it HAS to be done!”

BlackHawk sighs, and he says: “I understand.”

And Captain Retro flies forward, and starts to drive against Radiguet/Ace, parrying against him, as Radiguet/Ace attempts to BLOCK his every attack! And while he's succeeding, he's CLEARLY wincing with every blow Captain Retro lands against him! Super Psycho Zero 03 says: “Super Psycho Zero Girls, ATTACK!!!!”

And as soon as she says that, a BUNCH of Imps, AND MechaClones jump in! Rocky says: “Just what we needed to see! The GOON squad!”

Tommy says: “Just follow my lead! I've fought against the MechaClones before! They're not THAT different from the Putties and Cogs we used to fight!”

Adam says: “Just focus on the REAL monsters! We'll get these guys!”

Super Psycho Zero 04 says: “That's fine! That means the REAL Rangers are all for US!!!!”

And Super Psycho Zero 01 begins attacking against Ebony, Super Psycho Zero 02 begins attacking Kras'hir, Super Psycho Zero 03 begins attacking Toby, Super Psycho Zero 04 begins attacking Naruto, and Vipera begins attacking BlackHawk! BlackHawk says: “I'm surprised to see the LEADER of the group trying to fight against me! I thought you would go for one of the RED Rangers!”

Vipera says: “Rocky was NEVER a leader! Naruto is no LONGER the leader! And even I'M not STUPID enough to try to take Tommy on by myself! Let's just say this is PAYBACK for the thrashing you gave Baphomet during that Mustang Sally business!”

BlackHawk says: “What I can't understand, is why you villains can NEVER just take your bitterness, and do something more constructive with it! Like, create some angst-filled ART paintings, or something!”

Vipera angrily says: “Don't tell ME what to do!”

Toby says: “Pinkie and Lettuce, you better hurry up and get yourselves OUT here!” /

Alma, takes Pinkie and Lettuce, to the ruined town of Mobliz, from “Final Fantasy VI Advance,” AFTER the ruination of the world in the game! Pinkie asks: “Why have you taken us to this 32 bit video game?”

Alma says: “This is the scene of one of the most depressing tragedies, to ever occur in a video game. I think it's a pretty fitting place, for us to deal with the depression that Lettuce is facing.”

Lettuce just sighs, and he says: “Kira rejected me. How can I go on?”

Alma says: “I know it hurts. Believe me, I've been going through my own journey with you guys. I was ANGRY before, because of what I've gone through in my life. But your friends have shown me, that it IS possible, to deal with your anger, and move ON from it! Also, your other friends, some of them were trying to turn to bargaining, to try to make their problems go away. But they realized that there are problems that you CAN'T bargain away! You have to deal with them head-on!

Lettuce asks: “But how do you make something as strong as depression, just go away?”

Pinkie says: “Lettuce, I was WRONG to be afraid of sex before! I'm sorry I shut you out! I wasn't ready to hear the truth! But I got some sense knocked into me, and I've got the BRUISE to prove it!”

Lettuce asks: “So, what's the truth that I'm supposed to learn here? What great lesson can I learn from being rejected by Kira Ford?”

Alma says: “Look, I know it hurts to be shot down by someone you thought cared for you. To learn, that they didn't feel the same way about you, that you did about them. But being depressed about it isn't going to solve anything. You have to move on from it. Depression, isn't going to fight Radiguet/Ace, only the Power Rangers can!”

And a GREAT cracking in the mental realm is heard by all three of them! Pinkie shouts, and cries: “What was THAT?!!!”

Lettuce says: “You know SOMETHING has got to be wrong when PINKIE Pie is worried, because she's NEVER worried!”

Alma says: “I was SO focused on trying to solve YOUR problems, I forgot to keep reinforcing the barrier that had been surrounding Radiguet/Ace! He must have broken FREE!”

Pinkie angrily says: “You should have LET us KILL him when we had the CHANCE!!!!”

Alma says: “I'm SORRY! I didn't think this would HAPPEN! But I can't let you out until Lettuce has learned his lesson!”

Pinkie asks: “Can't, or won't?”

Lettuce says: “Pinkie, this is no time for semantics! If Alma says she can't, than she can't! Whatever reason she may have!”

Pinkie asks: “Lettuce, you can't HONESTLY tell me you're taking HER side?!”

Lettuce sighs, and says: “Look, Pinkie. This whole mess with Alma STARTED, because we JUDGED her, based on purely observational information, from someone who had not SEEN her, in quite a good, long while! Alma IS a powerful psychic, but she's STILL just a little girl! She was young, scared, and frankly, just plain terrified of us! Wouldn't YOU be, if you saw eight costumed fighters, and one cranky Hawkian, walking through what WAS her house in the middle of the night?!”

Pinkie asks: “What are you saying, Lettuce?”

Lettuce says: “All I'm saying is, like it or not, we messed UP in trying to handle the situation the way we did! We TRIED to resort to destroying it, when what we SHOULD have done to begin with, is to try to understand it! That's why Captain Retro was MAD with BlackHawk! That's why he was upset; because we didn't explore that option!”

Pinkie says: “We didn't even think it WAS an option!”

Lettuce says: “Well, now we DO know it is an option, in certain circumstances like THAT one! But I think I see what the whole point of this test was! Denial, anger, bargaining, depression; none of THOSE things are going to help us solve the problem at hand! All we can do is ACCEPT what has happened, move on from it, and keep the lessons we have LEARNED from all this, to do better in the future!”

Alma gasps, and she says: “You did it. You actually passed the test! I didn't think it was possible, for anyone, let alone, a whole group of people, to get past all their individual hang-ups!”

Pinkie asks: “So you're going to let us go now, right? You promised!”

Alma says: “You all got over all of YOUR problems, but what about MINE?! My father is DEAD, he USED me as his scientific play-thing; I indirectly caused all of YOU to be hated throughout Coastal Falls, and I brought that CREEP Radiguet to Core Earth, in the body of BlackHawk's father! How am I supposed to DEAL with that?!”

Lettuce says: “You saw how all of US dealt with OUR problems, you can use the SAME principle to deal with yours! Besides, Radiguet TRICKED you into doing that! It wasn't really YOUR fault! You can SHOW him that you're not going to STAND for being tricked! You can fight against him, you can STILL do the right thing, by Blackhawk, by the Power Rangers, by everyone.”

Alma sighs, and she says: “You're right. I KNOW what I have to do! Stay close to me, I'm going to take us back to the physical world!” /

And Pinkie and Lettuce each grab one of Alma's hands, and she warps them out of the Mental Realm, and they all wake up back in the physical world! Ebony looks back at them, and she says: “Speak of the Blood God, Toby! Lettuce and Pinkie are BACK!”

Lettuce says: “Sorry we're late! We've got some business to take care of! Pinkie, help the Legendary Rangers take out those annoying Imps and MechaClones, so they can help the others fight some of the Super Psycho Zero Girls!”

Pinkie says: “With pleasure!”

And using her super speed, and her Plasma Pistol, Pinkie quickly RACES around all the Imps and MechaClones, taking all of them out with just one blast of her gun! Rocky says: “Wow! That was AMAZING! Thanks, Pinkie!”

Pinkie says: “No problem!”

Lettuce says: “I'll help Usagi take out Nephrite!”

Usagi is clearly causing damage to Nephrat, but Nephrat is STILL getting back up and coming back for more! Nephrat derisively says: “Not so ANGRY without the BLOOD GOD to fill your BLOOD Lust anymore, HUH, USAGI?! Face the facts, Sailor Moon! Without the Blood God, you're NOTHING!!!!”

Lettuce says: “She's EVERYTHING!!!!”

And Lettuce leaps from high up, and slams Nephrat's mutated body with his hammer! Nephrat yells: “AHHH!!!! What have you DONE to me?!”

Lettuce says: “I've set her up, now YOU can make the finishing blow!”

Usagi says: “You've got it! Heavenly LIGHT of the EMPEROR!!!!”

And Usagi fires a HUGE beam of pure, white energy at Nephrat! Nephrat yells: “NO! Not ME!!!!”

And with just ONE blow, Nephrat blows up into chunks, and Lettuce says: “That's a bad guy for you. No sooner do you get to know them, than they just fall ALL into PIECES over you!” /

Doctor Maniac growls angrily, and he says: “Nephrat, you have NOT finished your purpose YET!!!! Meison, activate the BIGGA Ray!” /

The Bigga Ray starts coming down toward Core Earth, and Radiguet/Ace says: “Here's my CHANCE!!!!”

Alma yells: “STOP!!!!”

And Alma FREEZES Radiguet/Ace again, preventing him from INTERCEPTING the Bigga Ray, and it HITS Nephrat's remains as intended! Nephrat says: “Now THIS is the kind of power I've been seeking!”

Radiguet/Ace bitterly says: “You insolent BRAT!!!! You got in the WAY!!!! I'm going to torture you inch by BLOODY INCH!!!!”

And Radiguet/Ace BREAKS free, and starts charging toward her, only for Captain Retro to grab him, and keep him from charging forward! Alma says: “Captain Retro, hold him still! I'm going to get RID of Radiguet, and expel his WICKEDNESS out of Ace's body!”

BlackHawk shouts: “But what will happen to Ace?!”

Alma sighs, and she says: “Ace will live. I'm going to sacrifice MY life, so that Ace can TRULY be brought to life, once again! That's how I will make things right with you. A life, for a life.”

Radiguet/Ace sneers, and he says: “You won't go THROUGH with it! You don't HAVE the GUTS!!!!”

Captain Retro says: “As usual, you underestimate the capacity to which SOME will carry out justice! But even if I WANTED to, it's not in MY place to finish you off here or now; but your day WILL come someday, Radiguet! And it will come when it is MOST inconvenient for you! Alma, do it, NOW!!!!”

Alma closes her eyes and chants: “Weebo, reebo, tick-tock. Weebo, zeebo, zip, zap, ZAG!!!! AHHH!!!!”

And Alma's spirit materializes and LEAVES her body, and ZOOMS forward into Ace's body! Radiguet, with only his own voice, screams: “NO!!!! Your presence is too MUCH!!!! I can't, keep, HOLD!!!! UHHH!!!!”

And Radiguet's evil energy is FORCED out of Ace's body, and zooms BACK towards his spaceship! But Radiguet's voice shouts out: “I'll come BACK to TORTURE you!!!!”

Captain Retro sighs, and he says: “You WILL be back! But, we will be a LOT stronger, the NEXT time, you try to fight us!” /

In Radiguet's space-ship, Radiguet's physical energy re-enters his body, and he wakes up, with LOADS of bitterness and angst towards the Rangers! Radiguet angrily says: “Blast that meddling Captain Retro! Blast that meddling Alma! She MESSED with the WRONG space tyrant! The only thing, I'm glad about, is she had to sacrifice her own life, in order to DO it!”

Tranza comes in, and he asks: “Back so soon, master? Did you forget something?”

Radiguet sighs, and says: “Merely a temporary setback. I didn't destroy the Power Rangers today, but I did learn something important, in regards as to WHY my Dark Mirror Dimension self fell so EASILY to the Power Rangers!”

Tranza asks: “What did you learn?”

Radiguet says: “As hard as it is to believe, there ARE some beings in this universe, who will willingly sacrifice their OWN lives, just to make SURE that I DON'T win!!!! We'll just have to start keeping track on the kinds of creatures that are willing to do that, so THEY never get a CHANCE to! Am I RIGHT, Tranza?!”

Tranza says: “You are correct, as usual, master.”

Radiguet sighs, and says: “Shall we continue on our course, to Edenoi?”

Tranza says: “Better not waste your time, Radiguet. I just intercepted some interesting news. It seems as though the planet is dying, and they've already sent their Champion, Masked Rider, to Core Earth to become another hero. I expect that Count Dregon and his creeps will pursue him, for their own evil purposes. Do you want to destroy him and usurp his powers?!”

Radiguet says: “Those little INSECTS?! They're NOT even worth the TIME, let alone the energy, it would take to pursue and destroy them! They're small BEANS compared to what we're TRULY after! Change our course! We'll instead go to the dimension of thePower Rangers R.P.M.! And if the Venjix Virus hasn't finished them OFF yet, I most certainly WILL!”

Tranza says: “A most wise decision, as usual!”

Radiguet, takes one last glance, as if LOOKING for Core Earth, even though it's nowhere in sight from his current position. Radiguet simply says: “Mark my words, you haven't seen the last of ME, Power Rangers! I WILL come back to Core Earth again! And when I do, you BETTER be prepared to face against me! Because play-time will be OVER, once I come back again! Count on it!”

And Radiguet's space-ship turns around, and heads for the dimension of the “Power Rangers R.P.M.!” /

Alma's spiritual energy flows around Ace, purifying it of the evilness that once plagued him. It heals him of all his wounds; and soon enough, it dissipates. Ace shakes his head, and with a sense of familiarity, he asks: “Where am I? How did I end up here?”

BlackHawk shouts: “Look out!”

And Nephrat tries to CRUSH Ace, but Captain Retro QUICKLY grabs him and zooms him out of harms way! Ace asks: “What's going on here?! And why am I naked?!”

Captain Retro says: “There's no time to explain! I've got to get you out of here! Someone needs to take care of Nephrat!”

StarHawk says: “I can take care of that! I call on the Delta Megazord!!!!”

And through the vast reaches of space, the Delta Megazord zooms forward, and StarHawk jumps into it! Nephrat says: “So, it's just me, against the PRETTY Hawkian! This will be easy!”

FireHawk angrily says: “How DARE you imply that only StarHawk is a pretty--!”

Super Psycho Zero 01 says: “An OPENING!!!!” /

And before anyone can BLINK, Super Psycho Zero 01 sticks a glowing SPEAR of pulsating evil energy, STRAIGHT through FireHawk's heart! Rocky screams: “NO!!!!!!!!”

And Super Psycho Zero 02, 03, and 04, quickly turn around, and VICIOUSLY knock Naruto, Toby, and Ebony to the ground, de-morphing them with just one blow! As FireHawk falls to the ground, Super Psycho Zero 01 turns to Pinkie, and points to HER, indicating that SHE'S next! Lettuce gets in front of her, and determinedly says: “Not my Pinkie, you BITCH!!!!!!!!!!!”

And with a FIRE of determination he has NEVER felt before, Lettuce charges FORWARD with his Hammer, able to hold his own, even AGAINST Super Psycho Zero 01 and her super-powered spear! Adam says: “Somebody HELP FireHawk!”

Vipera asks: “But how can you do that, if you can't even help YOURSELVES?!”

And she blasts a POWERFUL blast of lightning at the Legendary Power Rangers, but Naruto, Toby, and Ebony INTERCEPT it, taking the BLAST for them! Vipera screams: “You little BRATS!!!! You got in the WAY!!!!”

A surge of energy enters into the bodies of Naruto, Toby, and Ebony, DAMAGING their Morphers in the process, as they are propelled BACKWARDS into the side of a rocky hill! Pinkie angrily says: “You're SO despicable!!!!”

And she FIRES a Plasma Pistol at Vipera's head, but her hand QUICKLY shoots up, and grabs it, as she is propelled some feet backwards! Pinkie cautiously goes up to her, wondering if Vipera is truly knocked out, but Vipera's hands fall down to the ground, and REVEALS that she CONTAINED the blast of Pinkie's Plasma Pistol in her hands! Vipera asks: “Did you think THAT piddly weapon was ACTUALLY going to hurt ME now?! You guys are ALWAYS in my way! This is IT!!!! I'm taking YOU out once and for all!”

A bleating voice says: “Not on MY watch!!!!”

And a familiar Fleecian jumps in, and KICKS Vipera several feet away! Toby says: “Woolbur Fleeceley! Are we ever GLAD to see you!”

Woolbur says: “I got over to the construction site to help Karone and the others rebuild Coastal Falls. But when Karone informed me of the situation, I knew that I had to help!”

FireHawk wearily says: “StarHawk, HELP...me!”

Nephrat evilly says: “You'll have to deal with ME first!”

And Nephrat starts firing crimson red laser BEAMS out of her eyes at random targets, not CARING if it hits friend or foe! Seeing that Nephrat means business, StarHawk sighs and says: “I wish it could be different, Sister. But the safety of the MANY, must come before the safety of the FEW! Or the ONE! I will STOP you!!!!”

Nephrat says: “Hit me with your BEST shot!”

StarHawk says: “I will!!!! Energy FIST!!!!”

And a glowing ray radiates from the left hand of the Delta Megazord, and FIRES in the shape of a fist; knocking some SENSE into Nephrat! StarHawk says: “Shooting Star Attack!”

And she fires a bunch of small, energy stars at Nephrat, damaging her MORE!!!! StarHawk says: “Buzz Saw Cut Spin!!!!”

And the Delta Megazord curls up into a ball, and begins SPINNING like Sonic the Hedgehog! It charges forward, and SLICES Nephrat into two! Nephrat screams: “Forgive me, my QUEEN!!!! Avenge ME!!!!”

And Nephrat's body falls forward, and EXPLODES!!!! StarHawk fiercely says: “No one messes with MY sister, and ESPECIALLY not my WIFE!!!!” /

Queen Beryl's face appears in the air, and she angrily says: “Super Psycho Zero Girls, those BRATS DESTROYED my LOYAL servant! NOW, I have GOTTEN REALLY angry!!!! KILL THEM; NOW!!!!”

And the Super Psycho Zero Girls, get FILLED with blood-rage, and start attacking with HYPER ferocity! Vipera chuckles at Usagi, and she says: “Now you're in for it! My work is all done, HERE!!!! Later...oh, WAIT!!!! I guess there won't BE a later! Will there, LOSERS?!!!”

And Vipera warps away! Super Psycho Zero 02, says: “Vipera LEFT us!”

Super Psycho Zero 01, says: “Forget HER! We don't NEED her! I can FINISH off ALL the Power Rangers, all by MYSELF!!!!”

BlackHawk angrily says: “I won't let you! FireHawk may not have been trustworthy, but she was STILL one of us, despite all her flaws! You think you're so STRONG, why don't you take ME on?!”

Ace shouts: “Don't do it! It's too DANGEROUS!!!!”

BlackHawk says: “I just got you BACK! I lost you ONCE, DAD!!!! I'm not going to LOSE you AGAIN!!!!”

Ace asks: “BlackHawk, is that YOU?!”

Captain Retro says: “No time to explain!!!!”

And Captain Retro grabs him, and zooms toward Naruto, Ebony, and Toby, and throws a force field around all of them! Captain Retro says: “Usagi, Kras'hir, Pinkie, Lettuce, Woolbur, Adam, Tommy, StarHawk, beat the other Super Psycho Zero Girls off! BlackHawk will take care of Super Psycho Zero 01!”

Pinkie asks: “Alone?!”

Kras'hir asks: “But what about FireHawk?!”

Captain Retro says: “Rocky, get FireHawk back to the Command Center! It's the only safe place!”

Rocky grabs hold of FireHawk's wounded body, and FireHawk weakly says: “No need, to show any pity on ME! StarHawk, I was a FOOL, to think I could control the Necrons! Once I'm gone, Vipera will SURELY be able to gain control over them, and do what I never could!”

StarHawk says: “Don't talk like that! You're going to be fine! You're going to get better, and we'll destroy the Necrons ourselves!”

FireHawk smiles, and she says: “I...know you will. StarHawk, find someone...be it man, or woman, who will treat you, with all the respect, you deserved from me. I...love...you.”

And she collapses unconscious in Rocky's arms, and she is no longer breathing or moving. StarHawk gasps, and just hollowly says: “I know.”

Rocky groans, and he says: “Zordon is going to have a field day when he hears THIS one!”

And Rocky warps to the Command Center with FireHawk's body! /

BlackHawk beats Super Psycho Zero 01 into a cave in the hill side! Super Psycho Zero 01 laughs derisively, and she says: “Do you think BEATING me is going to make a bit of a DIFFERENCE?! FireHawk is DEAD!!!! Destroying me will NOT bring her back to life, the way Kendrix was restored!”

BlackHawk says: “It's not ABOUT saving FireHawk's life, it's about exacting justice!”

Super Psycho Zero 01 says: “You are a FOOL to challenge ME with your out-dated powers! You KNOW the power of the Spinosaurus is INFERIOR to my Psycho serum energy! I'm all-powerful compared to you!”

BlackHawk says: “I'm not some pushover the way FireHawk was! I DO have the power to take you out!”

Super Psycho Zero 01 asks: “The question is, does the power of the Orange Ruby, have the ability to keep up with YOU?!!! You KNOW I'm speaking the truth; this fight is wearing you DOWN; you're trying to GET more energy from the Orange Ruby, but it's already STRAINED to its maximum potential! If you keep pushing, you'll destroy the Orange Ruby AND yourself in the process! Do you WANT to DIE for NOTHING, you FOOL?! Is THAT what you WANT?!!!”

BlackHawk defiantly says: “You're the FOOL!!!! Even if that IS the truth, I'm NOT going to let it STOP me from destroying you, so it doesn't really MATTER, now, DOES it?!!!”

BlackHawk thinks to himself, and in his inner mind, he says: “The truth of the matter is, this fight IS wearing me down! But I can't give up the fight. My dad never gave up, no matter HOW hopeless the fight seemed! Super Psycho Zero 01 has got an edge on me. Power, stamina, speed, skill. And the Orange Ruby is maxed out to its limit! But I CAN'T give up! I HAVE to push for more! This won't be the end for me! I DECIDE, when I'm DONE!!!!”

And charging forward with renewed intensity, even though it causes his Orange Ruby to glow and rattle around his neck, BlackHawk KEEPS pushing forward! /

Woolbur says: “I think we could use a little extra fire power!” He pulls out his S.P.D. Morph device, and says: “S.P.D., emergency!” And he does his traditional morph, into the S.P.D. Green Ranger!

Super Psycho Zero 03 says: “Another Ranger for us to destroy! How fascinating!”

Adam says: “We'd NEVER let you destroy a Ranger so easily! Power Ax!”

Tommy says: “Turbo Sword!”

Pinkie says: “Plasma Pistol!”

Woolbur says: “S.P.D. Blaster!”

StarHawk fiercely says: “Phantom Blaster!”

Lettuce says: “Heavy Hammer!”

Usagi says: “Staff of Light!”

Kras'hir says: “And my trusty sword!”

Captain Retro says: “This is your last chance, Thea, Nena, and Hedy, surrender, NOW!!!!”

Super Psycho Zero 02, says: “Those NAMES, no longer have any meaning to us!”

Captain Retro sighs, and he says: “Than the Rangers have no choice! FIRE!!!!”

And they do so, unleashing everything they've got against the Super Psycho Zero Girls! When the smoke clears, they're STILL standing, but a good CHUNK of their armor has been BLASTED off! Usagi says: “It wasn't enough! Fire again!!!!”

Super Psycho Zero 04 says: “We can't take another blast like that! RETREAT!!!!”

Super Psycho Zero 03 says: “Right!”

And they warp just MERE seconds before another power blast can hit them! Tommy says: “CRUD!!!! We almost HAD them!” /

Super Psycho Zero 01, is pounding BlackHawk around, knocking him with her powerful energy spear! Super Psycho Zero 01 says: “What's the matter? Out of power, Power Ranger?!”

BlackHawk says: “You don't even know the true MEANING of the word, power! If you knew the Guardians like I do...”

Super Psycho Zero 01 says: “The CRIMSON KING doesn't BELIEVE that the Guardians will be able to do anything to STOP him! And NEITHER can you, or ROLAND!!!!”

BlackHawk says: “Than Eva is TRULY dead!”

Super Psycho Zero 01 says: “Is this the part where I'm supposed to be SCARED?! You've got NOTHING left to fight against me with!!!!”

BlackHawk is breathing heavily, and he yells: “Yes, I DO!!!!”

And he charges up even MORE, but it begins to CRACK the Orange Ruby! /

Captain Retro turns around, and he shouts: “STOP!!!! BlackHawk! It's too MUCH!!!! If you continue to DRAW power from the Oranger Ruby, it will--!!” /

But BlackHawk is filled with too much adrenaline, and screams: “Electric Sabre!!!!”

And with ALL his available energy, he drives FORWARD, right THROUGH Super Psycho Zero 01, and STABS her RIGHT through the heart!!!!

Super Psycho Zero 01 gasps, and she says: “If I go down, I'm taking you WITH ME!!!!”

And Super Psycho Zero 01 EXPLODES herself in a MASSIVE explosion!!!! BlackHawk, already exhausted BEYOND the point of being able to escape, can only BRACE himself in futility! The explosion THROWS him backwards, and his Orange Ruby SHATTERS into three distinct pieces, and his costume AND clothes are completely burned OFF by the explosion, as the cave collapses around him! /

Ebony and StarHawk simultaneously shout: “BlackHawk!!!!”

Everyone runs forward to the collapsed in cave! Woolbur asks: “What are we going to do?!”

Captain Retro says: “Stand back! Kamehameha!!!!”

And Captain Retro blasts a hole through the debris, opening the way back into the cave! Captain Retro says: “Wait here!”

And Captain Retro rushes in! Ace looks at Ebony and StarHawk, and he asks both of them: “Are YOU, BlackHawk's girlfriends?!”

StarHawk says: “Kind of...now that FireHawk's Lesbian hex is no longer in effect.”

Ebony says: “Sort of...especially if BlackHawk destroyed Super Psycho Zero 01.”

Than they both say: “It's...complicated.”

Captain Retro comes out, carrying the slightly charred, but otherwise physically okay, looking BlackHawk! Usagi says: “BlackHawk! Is he...?”

Captain Retro sighs in relief, and he says: “Don't worry. He's alive. He destroyed Super Psycho Zero 01, but it COST him all of his Ranger power to do it. Look at what happened to the Orange Ruby.”

He holds the three pieces of what USED to be the Orange Ruby in his hand, but now, all the Orange and shining power has gone out of it. Toby says: “What's going to happen to BlackHawk now?”

Captain Retro says: “Like I said, BlackHawk is alive, but the fight took a LOT out of him! I'm afraid he may have suffered from Heroic R.S.O.D.! He will recover eventually, but we'll need to keep him someplace safe until that happens! And Ace, you'll have to keep a low profile for a while! It's going to kind of be hard to explain how YOU'RE suddenly alive again, while BlackHawk is currently out of action!”

Naruto says: “He's not the only one! Three of our morphers have been FRIED! Toby, Ebony, and I have ALL gotten our morphers fried by taking that blast from Vipera!”

Captain Retro says: “The Magi-Mother can FIX those morphers, and also SEVER your connections to the Chaos Gods as well! As for BlackHawk, he's going to need rest, and the pieces of the Orange Ruby, in order to recover.”

Adam asks: “Why the pieces of the Orange Ruby?”

Captain Retro says: “Because, the Dog Guardian TOLD me to!”

Kras'hir says: “I thought you WERE the Dog Guardain!”

Captain Retro says: “I am only acting as his avatar. I am ALSO my own being! There may be others like me, creatures chosen by the Guardians to serve there will, throughout the universe! As to who they might be, I am not sure of. That, we'll have to figure out for ourselves!”

Tommy sighs, and he says: “You better take BlackHawk to Billy's, then. As much as I hate to admit it, Billy has got one of the best track records among us Power Rangers. It makes me ashamed that I used to make fun of him so much.”

Woolbur says: “You can apologize to him once you see him again.”

Captain Retro says: “Right, Woolbur, you, Kras'hir, and StarHawk head back to Coastal Falls to help with repairs, and keep watch over what remains of the town. And if the remaining Super Psycho Zero Girls return, you shall inform us, at once!”

StarHawk determinedly says: “I'll make them PAY, for being involved in the MURDER of my sister! You can COUNT on it!”

Captain Retro turns around, and is amazed by the ORANGE SUNSET!!!! Captain Retro says: “Very strange. The sun is setting orange, on the day that BlackHawk lost his Orange, Spinosaurus Ranger powers. I have a feeling, you Rangers are going to be in for a LONG night, this night! This is just a short break, before your NEXT battle against the Super Psycho Girls!”

Usagi says: “I don't doubt that for a minute, Captain Retro! I certainly don't!

And everyone warps to the Command Center, as the Orange sun disappears beyond the horizon!

To Be Continued... /
 

Episode Notes: Alma sacrifices her life, to successfully expel Radiguet out of Ace's body, and give Ace his own life back. Nephrite is mutated and dies in this episode, she is killed by StarHawk. FireHawk dies in this episode, she is fatally stabbed by Super Psycho Zero 01. BlackHawk kills Super Psycho Zero 01, but loses all of his Orange Spinosaurus Ranger powers in the process! Naruto, Toby, and Ebony temporarily lose their ability to morph, as their morphers are fried by Vipera, and they need the Magi-Mother, to repair and fix them, as well as sever their connections to the Chaos Gods!
 

Personal Notes: I think this episode marks a personal record for me, in terms of just how many significant characters, got OFFED in just one episode! While this is still relatively tame compared to the amount of character deaths that happened in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” I do feel that in order to significantly MOVE the overall story arc of “Power Rangers Multiverse Force” forward, that some characters NEEDED to die, and not just a villain, or a misunderstood girl. The reason for FireHawk's death, is to send the Power Rangers a CLEAR message, that whatever preconceived notions of showing restraint towards the villains they fight, they NEED to throw them OUT the window now; because the villains will no LONGER be playing around with them, so they can no longer afford to play around with the villains, either! As for BlackHawk, his story and significance in “Power Rangers Multiverse Force” hasn't come to an end; not by a LONG shot! As to how he will remain relevant?! As has often been said in the “Power Rangers” series itself; “You shall know, soon enough.” /

That's my episode idea for this time! Enough said, true believers!

[4EverGreen]

Vision Quest Part III: Golden Sunrise!
(Warning: Walls of text ahead!) 

Captain Retro narrates, and he says: “Previously, on Power Rangers Multiverse Force, after Usagi and FireHawk finished their portion of Alma's psychic test, I came to the dreaded revelation that the Super Psycho Zero Girls, having been forcibly brainwashed into being evil again, had joined forces with a newly mutated Nephrite, to bring an end to the life of one of my friends. A fate that I soon foresaw happening! Desperate, I left Pinkie to help Lettuce finish his test, while I got the other Rangers out of the mental realm! No sooner did that happen, than Radiguet/Ace freed himself from Alma's metal freezing, forcing me to do battle with him, while the other Rangers had to deal with the combined efforts of the Super Psycho Zero Girls, and a super-powered Vipera! Lettuce, Pinkie, and Alma managed to return from the Mental Realm in time, with Lettuce having passed his test! Alma decided that the only way to get rid of Radiguet, was to use her own life-energy, in order to expel Radiguet out of Ace's body, and restore Ace's life with his own soul. But no sooner was Ace's life saved, than was FireHawk's life taken, by the energy spear of Super Psycho Zero Girl One! Filled with righteous fury, StarHawk used the Delta Megazord to destroy Nephrat, and BlackHawk proceeded to do the same to Super Psycho Zero Girl 01, despite her CLEAR superiority in terms of power, over him. BlackHawk, DESPERATE to destroy her, pushed the powers of the Orange Ruby BEYOND their limits! Although he succeeded in giving Super Psycho Zero Girl 01 a fatal blow, she used all of her available energy to blow herself up, and succeeded in destroying the powers of the Orange Ruby, and the Spinosaurus Orange Ranger powers it contained. Now the Rangers have gone to Billy's, where we hope BlackHawk will be able to recover, and Naruto, Toby, and Ebony, will be able to get the Magi-Mother to repair their morphers. It is bound to be a long night, for all the Power Rangers...”

Captain Retro, carrying BlackHawk's unconscious body over his shoulder, walks into Billy's lab, which has gotten an emergency hospital bed situated in it! Sans walks up, and he says: “You're very lucky, today! My job for today, involves delivering hospital beds to people who needed it. Billy thought something bad might happen, so he asked me to deliver a hospital bed to him! Pretty good call, huh?”

Captain Retro sighs, and he says: “Yes, it is. I wasn't really able to witness BlackHawk's battles, while he was in the underworld with you guys. Has he ever had such a tough time like this?”

Alphys nervously says: “I can answer that! Mettaton was...kind of in a 'kill anything that moves' mode for some reason when BlackHawk first met him! It wasn't easy, but BlackHawk endured Mettaton's attacks, and saved him! Compared to that, this is like a minor BRUISE to him!”

Ace walks in, now wearing a giant-sized green parka over him! Billy asks: “Aren't you a little over-dressed for Coastal Falls?”

Lettuce walks in, and he says: “Look, if Ace is going to be alive and kicking, it would be improper for him to do it buck-naked! So I got him one of my dad's old hand-me downs! It was the only thing he was willing to part with!”

Ace says: “Believe me, I really appreciate it!”

Than a familiar female voice bursts in, and says: “Where is HE?! Where is my darling boy Black--!”

Than Abby stops, as she suddenly stares at someone she NEVER thought she would see again! Ace sweats nervously, and he says: “Did it suddenly get hot in here, or is just me?!”

And not even thinking, he takes off his parka, forgetting that he ISN'T wearing anything underneath! Abby says: “Ace, it IS you! But; HOW?”

Ace says: “I'm a little sketchy on the details myself, but according to Captain Retro, I have a little psychic girl to thank for getting Radiguet out of my body, and bringing me back to life properly.”

Billy asks: “The question is; Abby, what are YOU doing here?!”

The Anthropomorphic D.O.G., appears, and he blushes, and says: “Sorry about that. But Abby got SUSPICIOUS! BlackHawk wasn't returning her calls, he wasn't at any of his usual hang-out spots, so Abby got all accusatory and personal! I panicked and told her that BlackHawk might be here! Naturally, she got Coop to confirm it WITH her!”

Coop appears, and he nervously giggles, and he says: “Hi, dad! Long time, no see!”

Ace says: “I'm sorry we couldn't reunite under better circumstances.”

Abby asks: “You THINK?! BlackHawk is unconscious AND naked!”

Pinkie comes in, and she asks: “And his being naked surprises you HOW?”

Abby says: “I don't recall asking for YOUR opinion! What matters is, can you tell me that BlackHawk is going to be all right?!”

Captain Retro says: “Abby, don't worry. BlackHawk IS going to be fine! He just needs to recover his energy first. Far more critical now, is whether or not Naruto, Toby, and Ebony, can get their Power Morphers fixed.”

Usagi walks in, and she says: “I can answer that. Naruto, Toby, and Ebony have already arrived at Root Core to see the Magi-Mother. She says she can restore their morphing powers, AND detach them from their connections to the Chaos Gods!”

Lettuce asks: “But then, where will their powers come from?”

Captain Retro says: “From the Magi-Mother herself! That's where my powers come from! Quite frankly, you all would be faring a lot better right now, if you had just taken MY suggestion in the FIRST place!”

Pinkie asks: “So what about the two of us? Me, and Lettuce, that is. Can't WE get our powers separated from our Chaos Gods, yet?”

Captain Retro sighs, and he says: “Sorry, but it's a VERY complex, and very energy consuming ritual! As such, the Magi-Mother only HAS the ability to sever it from THREE people at any one time. If she tries to do anymore, it would run the risk of draining her OWN life-force and killing her! But let me put it this way; if the right opportunity presents itself for the two of you to be separated from your Chaos Gods, then it will. Personally, I try to NEVER do anything unless it feels natural! Usagi, are Woolbur, Kras'hir, and StarHawk helping the others rebuild Coastal Falls? And is StarHawk holding up well enough?”

Usagi says: “I talked to Kras'hir recently. They, along with Undyne, Papyrus, and some of the other Legendary Rangers, are repairing Coastal Falls as best as they can. But Rome wasn't built in a day. StarHawk says she still hurts a little emotionally. But thankfully, having gone through Alma's test, seems to have helped prepare her for this. She says she will be able to love again, and wants to apologize to BlackHawk personally for how badly she handles BlackHawk's FIRST attempt at a relationship with her, even if it wasn't really her fault that it went sour.”

Captain Retro says: “Don't worry about it. I'm sure BlackHawk will be VERY happy to hear the news, once he wakes up.”

Coop asks: “Is there anything WE can do?”

Captain Retro says: “It's best to just let him rest right now. In fact, it would be a good idea for all of us to rest, while we can. We have no idea when Doctor Maniac will bring back the remaining Super Psycho Zero Girls for a second attack!”

Lettuce says: “I quite agree. Even at my most rage-filled, I could barely make a DENT into the armor of Super Psycho Zero Girl 01!”

Pinkie says: “In that case, we'll go home for now. I'm sure all our parents are worried.”

Lettuce says: “I'm with you there, Pinkie.”

And Lettuce and Pinkie warp back to their respective homes!

Abby groans, and she says: “Man, I wish I could do that!”

Coop says: “I've been practicing! I could take us all home, if you want!”

Ace says: “First off, we'd have to come up with a good cover story as to how I am suddenly alive again! After all, if anyone else besides YOU guys saw me; they would want to know what was up!”

D.O.G., says: “Why don't we stay here with BlackHawk for now? I'm sure Alphys can set you up with a room in her flexible apartment.”

Alphys says: “Absolutely! You can have FireHawk's old room. I'm sure she won't mind since she's been...permanently, indisposed.”

Abby says: “Humph! Serves that little JERK right! I never DID like that upstart hooligan ANYWAYS!”

Usagi says: “Just don't EVER let StarHawk hear YOU say that about FireHawk! She may not be as LENIENT as I am! Anyways, I better go, as well! Sally Anne will be worried about me!”

Captain Retro says: “See you later, Usagi!”

And Usagi warps to her home! Coop asks: “Captain Retro, do you want to spend the night with us? I'm sure Abby would appreciate the company, of having a reliable guy such as you to protect her!”

Captain Retro says: “I wish I could, but the Dog Guardian says I'm needed here!”

Coop says: “In that case, I guess I'll be the man of the house for a while!”

And to the amazement of everyone else in the room, Coop suddenly transforms from looking like a dorky, stereo-typed nerd wearing eye-glasses, to looking like a cool, black-haired, black-shirted, shades wearing bird! D.O.G., says: “WOAH!!!! Look who just got a coolness upgrade!”

Abby says: “Coop, it's been quite a while since you've needed to utilize your special transformation powers! I almost forgot how awesome they were!”

Coop says: “I haven't had the NEED to use them, until now! We don't EXACTLY want to draw the attention of Doctor Maniac, now, do we?”

Sans says: “I certainly won't argue with that!”

Abby says: “Suddenly, I feel a whole lot better about this night! Take me home, Coop!”

Coop grabs Abby's hand, and he says: “Don't worry, dad! I'll keep her, safe!” And he warps her back to their temporary home!”

Ace says: “I'm sure you will!”

Captain Retro turns to Sans, and Captain Retro asks: “Sans, aren't you going to go back home and sleep?”

Sans just bluntly looks at Captain Retro, and Sans says: “I'm a skeleton. I don't sleep. Blessed with suck, or cursed with awesome; you be the judge! But I do need to get back to Papyrus! I don't want him to worry about me!”

And as Sans walks out, Captain Retro says: “See you around, then!”

D.O.G., asks: “Where is a bed around here?”

Alphys says: “You'll have to share it with Ace, for now. Hammerspace isn't the EASIEST thing in the world to manipulate, you know!”

Ace says: “That's fine with me. BlackHawk is sure lucky to have a companion like YOU around him!”

D.O.G., blushes, and he says: “Thank you, Ace. That means a lot to me, to hear you say that.”

And they both head off into Ace's apartment. Captain Retro turns to Billy and Alphys, and Captain Retro says: “You two see to it that BlackHawk and I are not disturbed. BlackHawk's body may be recovering, but his mind is a different story! I have a feeling that this is why the Dog Guardian wanted me to be around him! I didn't want the others to know about it, because there's nothing they could do to help them, and they'd just worry needlessly. All I know is, he needs the pieces of the Orange Ruby; that are being held in his hand.”

And Billy and Alphys stare at the three shattered pieces of the Orange Ruby, being held in the grip of the unconscious BlackHawk. Billy says: “If my suspicions are correct, he's about to go through something mystical! Something strange, no doubt.”

Captain Retro says: “I wouldn't doubt that you're right. You usually are.”

Alphys says: “Don't worry about it. Billy and I will sleep in shifts tonight, with one of us ALWAYS standing watch! You can count on us!”

And they both head outside, to patrol the perimeter! Captain Retro sighs, and he says: “Very well, then. All right, Clifford. It's time to show me what this ordeal thing is all about! Time for ME, to return to BlackHawk, who is now BACK in the Mental Realm!”

And Captain Retro closes his eyes, and puts himself into a meditative stance! He subconsciously drifts from the physical world, and projects himself into the subconscious state of the mental realm! When he is there, he can hear BlackHawk shouting: “What's going on here?! Where am I?!”

Captain Retro says: “Focus, you MUST focus!!!!”

BlackHawk calms down, and sure enough, the darkness and the swirling dissipates, and slows down, revealing a vast, empty desert, similar to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. BlackHawk opens his eyes, and he says: “I'm all right! And--.” He looks down, and sees he isn't WEARING anything, and he finishes: “Naked, AGAIN!!!!”

Captain Retro says: “What do you expect?! Super Psycho Zero Girl 01 blew herself up, and the explosion destroyed your costume, your clothes, AND shattered your Orange Ruby! It used up the LAST of it's power to keep the explosion from destroying you!”

BlackHawk sighs, and he says: “It wasn't a dream, then. If only I had access to stronger powers, than maybe this whole mess wouldn't have happened!”

A small, condoning voice says: “He's having serious self-doubts about himself!”

A bigger voice says: “His appendage is certainly impressive, though! He could probably father a LOT of Hawkians if he wanted to!”

A wise voice says: “Use some discretion. He is in an unfamiliar place, and doesn't know what's going on right now!”

Captain Retro says: “Show yourselves!”

And out of the mists, step out three familiar figures! The visual representations of the rat, the rabbit, and the eagle guardians! The rat says: “I'm Templeton! I'm sure you've heard of me!”

Captain Retro says: “Very much so! From the time and the dimension that I come from, you were an undersung, but very important part of the story and the 1973 animated film of Charlotte's Web!”

The rabbit says: “I'm Bigwig! A family man to, many!”

Captain Retro says: “I'm not familiar with YOUR published work, but I have seen the 1978 animated movie version of Watership Down. It's still a pretty intense film, in my original time of 2018!”

The eagle says: “And I'm Garudia. Winged lord of the cosmos, second only to Aslan, rest his mighty soul, wherever it has gone to.”

BlackHawk says: “All right. You seem to know who I am. Can you tell me why I'm here?”

Garudia says: “Of course. The Dog Guardian, Clifford has agreed with all of us. The Crimson King has made a critical error, in using Jardis, the White Witch to destroy Aslan, and the time has come to restore the balance to the Cosmos, and the Multi-verse at large!”

Bigwig says: “And that's where you come in!”

BlackHawk asks: “But, why me?”

Templeton says: “Apparently, all the planets and stars or something are in alignment. That means the time is right, for someone of noble heroics, and a heroic blood-line, to step into the picture, and make what is wrong, turn out right; and the best candidate we could find for that position was you; so lucky YOU! You have a chance to fulfill an ancient prophecy passed down by Aslan himself!”

BlackHawk turns to Captain Retro, and BlackHawk asks: “Captain Retro, is this true?!”

Captain Retro closes his eyes, and he says: “I'm afraid I'm not quite sure. I haven't gotten the chance to read ALL of the Akhasic Records that Clifford has available for me. But if my understanding of this whole thing is correct, it refers to a prophecy that was passed, even BEFORE the dawn of what WE would call time! Unfortunately, only Aslan had such knowledge of what the prophecy referred to, and he is in no position to tell anybody his secrets!”

Garudia says: “This is what you need to know. We have prepared a Vision Quest for you, to see if you are worthy of receiving a legendary power. The power of which I speak, has been kept secret by the Guardians, lest it fall into the wrong hands. But now the time has come for a mortal to possess it, in order to bring justice to Doctor Maniac, who has already broken 3.2 sins on the Scale of Scientific sins!”

Bigwig says: “Doctor Maniac has turned his back on his fellow humans, and everything good that science can be used for! He needs to be brought to justice!”

Templeton says: “And once he's gone, maybe you can do us a favor, and get rid of Radiguet and the Crimson King!”

Captain Retro says: “We'll cross that bridge once we come to it!”

Garudia says: “The decision is all up to BlackHawk's to decide! But be warned! Once this Vision Quest properly starts, you can NOT turn back or quit for ANY reason! You will NEED to stay on it, until you have completed all THREE tasks that we have set up for you!”

BlackHawk asks: “Three tasks?”

Bigwig says: “One task, for each piece of the shattered Orange Ruby.”

And the three guardians each hold out a piece of the now dormant, Orange Ruby.

Templeton says: “In order for you to receive this power, we need to have something we can put it in. And seeing as how the Orange Ruby has nothing inside of it anymore, we think it would be the perfect tool to do the job! And if it works, you will get a power that's stronger than anything you've EVER been able to do before!”

Captain Retro asks: “Well, BlackHawk, what do you think?!”

BlackHawk says: “I'll do it! I mean, I kind of NEED to do this anyways! After all, Doctor Maniac and Queen Beryl's forces are significantly stronger than Emperor Diabolica's ever were. We could use something that could give us a better edge over them!”

Captain Retro says: “Very well! But just know something, BlackHawk; I'm only allowed to watch your progress. I cannot be allowed to interfere or give you advice. You go through with this, you'll truly be on your own.”

BlackHawk sighs, and says: “Wouldn't be the FIRST time!”

Captain Retro says: “Still, maybe you should face this looking a little more presentable.”

And Captain Retro takes off his own cape, and wraps it around BlackHawk, like a make-shift loin-cloth! BlackHawk seriously asks: “This?”

Captain Retro says: “Well, it's the best I can do on such short notice! It's better than nothing!”

BlackHawk says: “I'll take it!”

Templeton says: “BlackHawk will take MY test first! After all, if he can't get past ME; he won't have a SHOT of making it past either Bigwig OR Garudia!”

Bigwig says: “Very well. We will see you at the pass.”

And Bigwig and Garudia disappear. Captain Retro says: “You're on your own from here, BlackHawk. I'll see you late--!”

(POOF!!!!) And Captain Retro suddenly vanishes from sight! BlackHawk says: “He disappeared!”

Templeton says: “Well, yes, and no. You see, Captain Retro is still technically in this realm. He's just been cut off from your personal senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and even taste just to be on the safe side! That's why you're on your own for this challenge!” /

Captain Retro can see BlackHawk and Templeton talking, but he can't make OUT what they're saying! Captain Retro says: “I've been cut OFF!!!! It's all up to BlackHawk, now! Good luck!” /

Rocky, Adam, Tommy, Karone, Kira, Woolbur, Kras'hir, Papyrus, and Undyne are still busy working in trying to put Coastal Falls back together. Undyne says: “You know what's funny? I always thought that if any of us ever had to rebuild this city, it would be because of an attack made by the forces of evil; not some stupid nuclear bomb!”

Woolbur says: “Well, I don't think we'll ever have to worry about THAT happening again! Not after the riot act that Captain Retro gave the other Rangers!”

Kras'hir looks at StarHawk, who's just gazing off into outer space, as if looking for something that's beyond her sight. Kras'hir asks: “StarHawk, is anything the matter? You've been awfully quiet tonight.”

StarHawk says: “It's...kind of hard not to be. After all, I woke up today, not having the slightest inkling that everything I thought I knew how life would work for me, would be changed, all because of some evil scheme perpetrated by some evil doctor!”

Woolbur says: “Welcome to the club! You're not the only ranger here who has lost someone they love, to that evil fiend! It really hurt me, to lose my older brother Ramone.”

StarHawk says: “FireHawk, may have had some selfish reasons, for doing what she did, but in the end, she was still my sister. I guess, the reason why I wanted to marry her, was because I was a little selfish myself. You see, family is very important in Hawkian society. I'm sure that's why BlackHawk, was so determined to protect his father at ANY cost, even going so far as to risk his own Ranger powers, to destroy the being that killed my sister. I owe it to him, to make things right with him. Now that I am no longer under a Lesbian hex, I'm sure that I could truly love BlackHawk the way he WANTS to be loved. That is, if BlackHawk will take me back.”

Papyrus says: “Of course, BlackHawk will take you back! He knows that it wasn't your fault that the initial relationship between the two of you got soured!”

StarHawk says: “Nor will it EVER be soured again! All of you need to promise me something! IF; on the hypothetical off-chance that SOMEONE comes along, claiming to look like me, sound like me, and maybe even try to ACT like me, but say that they are into Lesbians, know that it is some kind of imposter, designed by Doctor Maniac or something, who knows absolutely NOTHING about me!”

Karone says: “That's...pretty specific!”

StarHawk says: “After all the trouble the Rangers have gone through, thanks to Doctor Maniac and their various trials with the Chaos Gods, I think it would be a good idea for us to be specific!”

Kira says: “StarHawk, does it hurt you that FireHawk is gone?”

StarHawk says: “A little. It will always hurt that my sister is gone. But my sister wouldn't want me to just mope around and be sad forever. She'd want me to carry on. She would want me to love again. And I will love again. I did not come to Core Earth, to focus on what could have been. Only what can be.”

Rocky says: “That's a pretty good idea, if I know my good ideas!”

Adam says: “Agreed. Let's get back to re-building this city!”

Tommy says: “The sooner we finish, the sooner that everyone else can move back into their proper homes and apartments!” /

On Queen Beryl's ship, Meison is using his magic to electrically blast the remaining Super Psycho Zero Girls! Doctor Maniac says: “Enough, Meison! They've been punished enough!”

Queen Beryl says: “I'm very disappointed with the three of you. I commanded you to destroy the Rangers. You did not. I ordered you to fight, and you FLED!”

Super Psycho Zero Girl 02 says: “We had no choice! Their combined fire-power was too strong! It would have KILLED us!”

Ahminan says: “You should have done what Super Psycho Zero Girl did! Use your powers to take out your attackers, for the GLORY of Queen Metalia!”

Psygorn says: “Exactly! And where was Vipera during all of this?!”

Kunzite says: “Queen Beryl! We're receiving a transmission from Vipera now!”

Benzite says: “Speak of the Blood God! I suppose you've suffered enough for what happened to my girlfriend Nephrite, for now! But don't think this is over! Vipera, to what do we owe this transmission?”

Vipera appears on an electronic screen, and she says: “Greetings. First of all, I would like to personally thank Doctor Maniac for giving me the Super Psycho serum formula, and revitalizing, and enhancing my powers. Even BlackHawk wasn't able to put a scratch on me! Secondly, I would like to thank you for reviving my loyal servants, Drako and Baphomet. Their knowledge and abilities will prove to be most useful to me.”

Mettzler asks: “And why is that?!”

Vipera says: “Simple. I've completed the first of my obligations. I injected the remaining four vials of Super Psycho serum into the Zero Girls like you wanted.”

Farrah Cat says: “The Power Rangers were STILL able to fight them! Perhaps Doctor Maniac's research isn't as all-knowing as he CLAIMS it to be!”

Bionic Gorilla grunts, and says: “Doctor Maniac is SMARTER than all of you put together! He SAVED me from an evil poacher, and repaired me, when my life was in danger, from the injuries the poacher inflicted upon me! I trust him with my life! You would be WISE, to do that to!”

Fara says: “Agreed. At least Super Psycho Zero Girl 01 DID kill that meddling twerp FireHawk! With her gone, Vipera will be able to obtain sole control of the Necrons ALL for herself! Not to mention, that the powers of the Spinosaurus Orange Ranger are now gone, as Super Psycho Zero Girl EXPLODED herself, to bring an END to those out-dated powers!”

Vipera says: “That is an additional reason why I'm calling. With FireHawk gone, it is time for me to fulfill the second part of my bargain with Doctor Maniac. I shall now go off to the worlds that have been infiltrated with Necron robots! I will not return until my troops have successfully captured 200 of them functioning, for your scientific purposes, Doctor Maniac!”

Doctor Maniac says: “Very well! Inform me at once, as soon as you have completed your evil task!”

Vipera says: “Will do, Doctor!” And Vipera's image disappears!

Psygorn asks: “So, what do we do now?”

Doctor Maniac says: “Easy! We have the Power Rangers on the ropes! Naruto, Toby, and Ebony had their morphers fried, when they intercepted the attack meant for the legendary Rangers! They are surely going to get their morphers repaired, but in the mean-time, we use their absence to launch a counter-attack, to take out the OTHER meddling Rangers OUT of the picture, PERMANENTLY!”

Kunzite says: “You're forgetting one crucial detail! When Rangers are backed into a corner, they have a tendency to fight with everything they've got! Not to mention, StarHawk now has the death of her sister, to fuel her ambitions! And with the remaining Super Psycho Zero Girls in their weakened state, they won't be able to put up much of a fight against the remaining Power Rangers!”

Doctor Maniac chuckles sinisterly, and he says: “Oh, thee of little faith. I ALWAYS have a contingency plan for just this sort of occasion! Psygorn, the energy vials you've collected, if you will!”

Psygorn says: “Yes, master! It will be my pleasure!”

And he pulls out three powerful vials of energy, filled with a silver color in them! Doctor Maniac says: “This is the left-over energy, from those who fell in battle! Alma, the Psychic girl. FireHawk, the traitorous Hawkian! Nephrite, the cowardly minion. And Super Psycho Zero Girl 01 herself! I have removed all of their inherent weaknesses, enhanced their initial strengths, and turned them into a formula, to strengthen the fighting strength, of the remaining Super Psycho Zero Girls! With their new strength, the Power Rangers won't be able to just BLAST them, the way they did before!”

Bionic Gorilla says: “I told you, Doctor Maniac would have a plan!”

Mettzler says: “Plans only go so far! Actions, speak louder than words!”

Doctor Maniac says: “Agreed. Super Psycho Zero Girls, would you LIKE the chance to redeem yourselves from suffering a fate WORSE than death?!”

Super Psycho Zero Girl 03 says: “Those Rangers made FOOLS of us before! We won't stand for that!”

Super Psycho Zero Girl 04 says: “This means MORE than mere revenge NOW! This is PERSONAL! To avenge our fallen COMRADE!”

Super Psycho Zero Girl 02 nods, and says: “We will do whatever it TAKES, to bring you victory!”

Doctor Maniac says: “I KNOW you will! It is IN your programming to DO so!”

And he injects them with the colored vials, and not only does the energy repair their shattered armor, it makes it even DENSER, TOUGHER, and SPIKIER than it was originally, making them look even MORE like psychotic monsters than they did before!”

Benzite gasps in fear, and he asks: “Doctor Maniac! What...have...you...done?!”

Doctor Maniac cackles with INSANE glee, and he says: “I have DONE it!!!! I have SUCCEEDED in destroying all TRACES of the Super Psycho Zero Girls' former personalities! There is NOTHING of their humanity left IN them! They are all rage, all combat, all desire, and glory, for bringing victory to ALL of my dreams, and my visions! In other words, they are now 300% MORE AWESOME!!!! Not to mention, I have just broken my 3.3 scientific sin! I made my cybernetics EAT their SOULS!!!! And they are GOING to destroy the Power Rangers, or I will ENSURE, that they are destroyed themselves, if they FAIL me, which, won't HAPPEN if they know what is BEST for them!”

The Super Psycho Zero Girls, stripped of all their personalities, only cackle in glee! Doctor Maniac says: “Go, and do NOT fail me again!”

The Super Psycho Zero Girls warp out of the space-ship! Benzite turns to Kunzite, and Benzite says: “This is getting out of hand! Now he has broken 3.3 whole SINS of scientific sins!”

Kunzite simply nods his head, and says: “Queen Beryl should NOT have aligned herself with this deranged megalomaniac!” /

In Root Core, the Magi-Mother is blessing Naruto's, Toby's, and Ebony's morphers, with holy magic, to purify them, and expel all the influences of the Chaos Gods, out of them. Ebony asks: “So, is this magic of yours really going to work?”

The Magi-Mother says: “Unlike your Inept Mage ways, which is completely your OWN fault for not studying more, my magic always does EXACTLY what it is supposed to do, and nothing else! Repairing your morphers was EASY! But getting rid of the Chaos influences, that's the tricky part!”

Toby says: “Well, how long is THAT going to take?!”

The Magi-Mother says: “By my calculations, ten hours.”

Naruto asks: “Ten HOURS?! You could get a PIZZA delivered, from Neo Chicago, faster than that!”

The Magi-Father walks in, and he says: “Watch your mouth, boy, or I can melt your mind to the point where you will live the rest of your life under the delusion that you are a six-year old girl!”

Naruto asks: “You can DO that?!”

The Magi-Father says: “I'd have Pinkie Pie braid your hair.”

Naruto sighs, and says: “Fine, I get it. True magic is complex and tricky, and takes a while. So that means our morphers won't be ready until the crack of dawn.”

The Magi-Mother says: “Unfortunately, that is the case. So I suggest you go into the old bedrooms used by the Mystic Force Power Rangers. They aren't using them right now, so go ahead and get some rest. The Magi-Father will be keeping watch, to sure nothing bad happens to you.”

And the three Rangers all head off into separate bedrooms. The Magi-Father says: “You didn't tell them, that you know that Doctor Maniac is going to send down the Super Psycho Zero Girls again.”

The Magi-Mother says: “They can't do much of anything without their morphers. We've already lost Alma and FireHawk today. Not to mention, that BlackHawk is temporarily out of commission! I can repair a set of morphers, I can't restore a human life!”

The Magi-Father says: “Then we must leave the rest to that student of yours, Captain Retro. And hope that he knows what he is doing, by giving BlackHawk the Vision Quest test.”

The Magi-Mother says: “BlackHawk WILL be successful! I'm sure of it!” /

Meanwhile, in the mental realm, BlackHawk and Templeton are still in the desert. BlackHawk asks: “So, what's the first test that I have to pass with you?”

Templeton says: “First off, let me explain a little something about myself. You see, a lot of more 'higher-evolved creatures', frown down on me, because I take things that weren't mine to begin with. But in reality, they are missing the point of what I'm doing. The truth of the matter is, I am a scavenger by nature. I have to be! I'm a rat! Nobody is going to feed me, so I have to live by my wits, and eat what I can get, lest I starve to death! But there is one thing I'm proud of; I only take what somebody else, has already disposed of, and therefore, no longer wants. That's why I feast on the scraps and left-overs; that others leave behind. It's my small way of cleaning up the planet.”

BlackHawk says: “Very insightful. And I assume there's a point to this?”

Templeton says: “Naturally. This test, is to see if you can THINK like a rat, in a maze!”

And Templeton snaps his little rat fingers, and suddenly, a giant, life-sized maze springs up in front of BlackHawk and Templeton! Templeton says: “Here is your first test. The test is, to see how good you are with your memory skills, and your ability to locate things that aren't necessarily within your sight. You see, sometimes your sight isn't the most important thing in solving a puzzle. Sometimes, you must rely on your other senses, in order to find what you are looking for.”

BlackHawk says: “I see. And what exactly is it, that I'm going to be looking for in this maze?”

Templeton says: “You need to think like a rat! You are looking for the cheese, at the end of this maze! Oh, and don't get any funny ideas, about trying to fly OVER the maze, or simply trying to blast your way through the walls! The sky is protected by an electric current that will zap you if you try to fly, and the walls are reinforced by Guardian magic! You'll have to solve this maze the old-fashioned way! Through trial and error!”

BlackHawk says: “Is there a catch?”

Templeton says: “Just a couple. There are a few hazards located within this maze. But if you think like a rat, they shouldn't be too hard for you to overcome! Now, based on your average speed and strength in your abilities to take down monsters; I'd say you should be able to solve this maze in one hour!”

BlackHawk says: “I see. And by solving this maze, I receive a piece of my Orange Ruby, correct?”

Templeton says: “IF you survive! I'll see you at the end, if you're lucky!”

And Templeton disappears! BlackHawk says to himself: “Okay! Nobody can help me here! I have to rely on myself! Think like a rat, THINK like a rat! How does a rat even think?!”

BlackHawk concentrates, and reaches an epiphany! BlackHawk says: “Templeton told me not to rely on just my sight! I need to rely on my other senses! If I were a rat, I'd use my sense of smell to find the cheese, and use my sense of hearing to stay alert for any dangers in the maze! All right, I have a plan! Captain Retro, even though I can't see you, I know you can see me! Your training is paying off!”

And BlackHawk charges his way into the maze! /

Captain Retro looks on as BlackHawk enters the maze, and Captain Retro says: “Good luck, BlackHawk! The other Rangers are counting on you!” /

BlackHawk reaches the first fork in the maze, and he stops and sniffs the air for the faint fragrance of cheese. BlackHawk says: “The smell of the cheese seems to be coming from straight ahead, but just to make sure...”

BlackHawk blasts a char mark into the side of the maze wall, indicating which direction he chose first! BlackHawk says: “Better to be safe than sorry! An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure!”

BlackHawk keeps running forward, but using his keen sense of hearing, quickly JUMPS forward, to avoid a GIANT mousetrap that springs up behind him! BlackHawk says: “I see what Templeton meant! There are TRAPS in this maze! No doubt, designed to test someone with rat-like reflexes! I can only imagine, what rodents like Templeton have to go through every day. They might be vermin to some, but even mice and smaller mammals like Templeton have loved ones. I must push forward, no matter the odds. No matter what other tricks await me, I shall continue until the way forward reveals itself to me!”

BlackHawk comes to another fork in the maze, and smells the air again. BlackHawk says: “The smell of the cheese SEEMS to be coming from the right! Still, I shall proceed with caution!”

Than; BlackHawk suddenly tenses up in alarm, as he suddenly senses something else sinister, that he's smelling in the air! BlackHawk turns around, and ducks just in time, to avoid a GIANT cat trying to swipe its CLAWS at BlackHawk! BlackHawk shouts: “I'm no Tweety bird dinner, go away!”

But the cat lunges forward, forcing BlackHawk to shoot electricity at it! BlackHawk says: “Reasoning with this over-grown feline isn't going to work! If I had my Ranger powers, I could deal with this thing properly! But since I'm at a little bit of a disadvantage, I'll have to make a run for it!”

And BlackHawk begins to sprint forward as fast as he can, taking care to make quick char marks on the side of the walls, to indicate where he turned in order to follow the direction of where the smell is coming from! As he's running, he hears an UNPLEASANT sound; the sound of the brick tiles COLLAPSING behind him! BlackHawk asks: “How many traps does this maze have, anyhow?!”

And increasing his jog to an incredible speed, he manages to get AWAY from the section of the collapsing floor, and looks back behind him, as the giant cat meows angrily, as it can't reach BlackHawk now! BlackHawk says: “One thing is for sure; once I get out of this, I'm going to have a new-found appreciation for all the different kinds of trouble that Templeton and his kind must go through just to get food and shelter on a daily basis!”

Thankfully, BlackHawk manages to get through the rest of the maze without incident, and at the end, he FINDS the cheese! Feeling weak and exhausted from all his running, BlackHawk grabs a chunk of cheese, and eats it! Templeton suddenly appears, clapping his tiny hands! Templeton says: “Well done, BlackHawk! You made it through the maze faster than I thought you would! Only fifteen minutes! Then again, I was high-balling my estimate to make it easier for you. I guess I didn't need to do that AFTER all! You really learned how to think like a rat! After all, there's no telling just WHEN you'll be able to get another opportunity to eat again, within this Vision Quest, now is there?!”

BlackHawk says: “I was just trying to stay alive!”

Templeton says: “This was a test of necessity! If you didn't think like a rat and take the cheese, you WOULD have failed! That was the whole point of my little test!”

BlackHawk says: “You call, running away from a giant cat LITTLE?!”

Templeton says: “I just wanted you to see things from a rat's perspective! Anyways, I gave my word. Here's the first piece of your shattered Orange Ruby.”

And Templeton hands one piece back to BlackHawk. Templeton says: “I see that you definitely have a lot of fight still within you! The question is, will it be enough?!”

And Templeton suddenly warps away, and BlackHawk shouts in futility: “Wait! What are you talking about?!” /

Captain Retro looks on, as the maze disappears, along with the desert, and the mental realm swirls as it prepares a new location for BlackHawk. Captain Retro says: “Well done, BlackHawk. So much for the warm-up. Now here is where things will REALLY get challenging!” /

In Coastal Falls, in Abby's temporary apartment, Abby is resting on her bed, but she is having trouble sleeping. Coop knocks on her door, and he asks: “Is everything all right in there?”

Abby sighs, and she says: “Not really. I'm just feeling kind of lonely tonight.”

Coop comes in, and he asks: “Mom, would you tell me what's wrong?”

Abby asks: “You wouldn't have any way of knowing, whether or not BlackHawk's status has improved, would you? I just thought I would hear something by now.”

Coop says: “BlackHawk WILL be back!”

But Abby just looks away out at the night sky, looking unsure. Abby says: “I wish I had the same degree of confidence that YOU seem to possess! I wasn't EXACTLY born with the best sense of self-esteem, lest anyone FORGET that important fact!”

Coop says: “I know something that may make you feel better. Some of BlackHawk's personal favorite music choices!”

Coop rushes out, than brings in an old-fashioned Janet Jackson compact disc. Coop says: “BlackHawk told me, he would always play the hit song, Come Back to Me, whenever he needed to feel better about something. Maybe it will make you feel better, as well.”

Abby says: “Well, it's not like I can think of anything better to do! Might as well give it a shot!”

Coop says: “Anyways, staying up all night won't do you or BlackHawk any good. You'll see him as soon as he's well again.”

Abby sighs, and says: “I know.”

And as Coop exits her bedroom, Abby turns on the C.D., to the appropriate song, and as she sleeps, her mind flashes back to her memories, of all the times that BlackHawk has shared with her, even BEFORE his adventures as a Power Ranger had begun, while the song is playing! /

“Looking through my old drawer, came across the letter you wrote. Said you needed time away. That was so long ago. All my life I've waited, to see your smile again. In my mind I hated; not able to let go. Come back to me. I'm beggin' you please. Come back to me. I want you to come back to me. I'm beggin' you please. Come back to me. Lord knows that I have tried to live my life as one. Friends tell me to hold on. Tough times don't last for long. My abandoned heart, just doesn't understand. My undying love for you, just won't let me wait. Come back to me. I'm beggin' you please. Come back to me. I want you to come back to me. I'm beggin' you please. Come back to me. Please come back to me. I miss you so much. Wherever you are, I love you. All my life I've waited to see your smile again. In my mind I hated; not able to let go. Not able to let go. I don't know what else to say.” /

 

Meanwhile, back in the Command Center, Alpha Eight is nervously pacing around, constantly checking to see if anything is happening on the Viewing Globe! Omnus says: “Please, calm down Alpha! You'll reach you 100,000 mile warranty at this rate!”

Alpha says: “I can't calm down! This just feels so stressful! It's like being a juggler, who's already missed one shoe, and now you're waiting for the other shoe to drop!”

And as if on cue, the alarm in the Command Center blares! Alpha Eight says: “Aye-yai-yai-yai-yai! And speak of the Chaos Gods! There it goes now!”

Omnus looks at the Viewing Globe, and is understandably distraught to see the Super Psycho Zero Girls so horrifyingly mutated, there's no longer any trace of humanity within them! Omnus says: “I always knew it was only a matter of time, before Doctor Maniac would stoop so low, as to break a whole 3.3 sins, on the scale of scientific sins. The cybernetics he gave the Super Psycho Zero Girls, mixed with their mutated powers, have completely eaten their souls! Even if Naruto, Toby, and Ebony already HAD their morphers completely repaired, they might not be a match for the Super Psycho Zero Girls, the way they are now!”

Alpha Eight asks: “What are we going to do?!”

Omnus says: “Remember the code of the Rangers; help will always come to those who both ask and deserve it! There are Rangers out there with spare Ranger powers! We shall call on their aid, to help us out until the other Rangers are able to come!”

Alpha Eight says: “All right, then! Let's see if your theory is correct!”

Alpha pushes some buttons, and sure enough, the entire second “Power Rangers Turbo” team, minus Justin, is warped into the Command Center! T.J., asks: “We came as soon as we heard the call! What's the problem?!”

Omnus says: “The Super Psycho Zero Girls are causing more trouble in Coastal Falls! The other Rangers are unable to deal with them at the moment! You must fight them until the Multiverse Force Rangers are able to join you, so they can finish them off, once and for all!”

Carlos says: “Don't worry about anything, we'll take care of them!”

Cassie asks: “But what about Justin? Why isn't he here?”

Omnus says: “Unfortunately, the powers that be have told me; that it is not yet time for Justin to play a part in saving the world yet. But rest assured, when his time comes, it will be for a VERY good cause!”

Ashley says: “Seems fair enough to me! Shift into turbo!” /

And all four of the Rangers get a single, upgraded morphing transformation! They are all standing in a desert, with colored flashes of their respective ranger colors, flashing around them, transforming them into their Power Ranger outfits, while their respective Turbo Zords zoom in behind them! /

T.J., Cassie, Ashley, and Carlos, quickly zoom in to where StarHawk, Sans, Papyrus, and the other Legendary Rangers are working, and they find that the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters have just arrived, and they’re already starting to ZAP everything in sight with their lasers! T.J. says: “Hey, spike-bodies! Why don’t you leave THOSE beings alone, and tangle with somebody on your OWN power level, like US?!”

But the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters act like T.J. said nothing, and they try to AIM at StarHawk! StarHawk says: “Hawkian Force Field!”

And she throws up an ENORMOUS green, electric force field which nullifies the blasts of the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters! StarHawk says: “That was a POOR decision on YOUR part! You mess with a Hawkian, you’re going to be in for a world of PAIN! Shift into Turbo! / Phantom Ranger, Turbo Power!” /

StarHawk morphs into her Ranger form, and she says: “My friends, you better get out of here NOW! We can’t afford any more collateral damage!”

Rocky says: “Take these creeps out, for your sisters’ sake!”

StarHawk says: “You know we will!”

The others run away to a safe space, and StarHawk takes down her force field, and joins the others!

Ashley says: “Glad to see you’re still on our side!”

Cassie asks: “You mean the Phantom Ranger is a GIRL?! MAN, my theory of Jason being the Phantom Ranger was WAY off then!”

Carlos asks: “But why didn’t the Super Psycho Zero Girls respond when T.J., told them to leave our friends alone?”

StarHawk says: “I can sense their auras, and the answer is not pleasant. They have been reinforced with cybernetics; that have eaten their very souls! There’s not a single trace of their original humanity left in them anymore!”

T.J. says: “If we can’t reason with them, then, what can we do?”

StarHawk says: “Only one thing we can do; we have to drive them away from the city, and stall for time, until the other Power Rangers are able to join us!”

Ashley says: “I’m with you there, StarHawk! Turbo blasters, NOW!!!!”

And the Turbo Power Rangers begin blasting at the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters! Even though the blasts aren’t hurting them, the blasts STILL annoy them, and they eventually begin running away from the city, forcing the Turbo Power Rangers to chase after them! Cassie says: “So far, your plan seems to be working, StarHawk!”

Carlos asks: “But how long are we going to need to fight them?!”

StarHawk answers: “However long it takes! The safety of Core Earth depends on us right now!” /

Meanwhile, BlackHawk is still in the mental realm of his Vision Quest. And he now finds himself, in a big, HUGE, red, enclosed castle structure; within a vast, green forest; that looks like it has seen countless battles and struggles over a long history of battles and struggles. BlackHawk hears a distant voice that says: “BlackHawk…MWA, HA, HA, HA!!!!”

BlackHawk says: “Something tells me I’m not in Coastal Falls anymore.”

Bigwig says: “Or Neo Chicago.”

And Bigwig appears right in front of BlackHawk, wearing some ancient, animal armor; that, while well-worn, still looks PRISTINE and protective! BlackHawk says: “Where on Core Earth are we NOW?!”

Bigwig says: “It’s actually more of a ‘When’. But WE are in the ancient animal abbey known as Redwall! Fortress to protect the small and meek animals of Mossflower Forest, founded by Martin the Warrior himself! Does the location sound familiar to you NOW?!”

BlackHawk says: “Yes. I’ve read some of the Redwall novels. I just never realized that they were actually historical documents before!”

Bigwig says: “You have shown that you can think like a rat. Now, we shall see if you can be as quick as a rabbit! You see, many small animals have called Redwall home. Including mice, squirrels, rabbits, and the occasional badger! But even in a protected place like this, there is always the threat of an invasion, from some evil, plotting animal villain, like a fox, or a wolf, or something like that! Your test this time, is a test of stamina, speed, and endurance! You will be tested, to see if you have the qualities of a rabbit! You must vanquish a total of 100 enemy ferrets, weasels, foxes, and wolves, while simultaneously protecting my many rabbit relations, within the walls of Redwall! If you can simultaneously defeat 100 enemy forces, and protect all my relations in one hour, you will receive another piece of your Orange Ruby! But I cannot let you take this test unprotected!”

And Bigwig snaps his fingers, and a brand-new suit of animal armor magically appears over BlackHawk! Bigwig says: “Your test begins, now!”

And as soon as Bigwig disappears, the ferrets, weasels, foxes, and wolves start to charge forward from the Mossflower forest! BlackHawk says: “Now THIS is the sort of challenge I expect from a Vision Quest! It won’t be easy, since I have to keep the citizens of Redwall safe, but if Anubis ‘Doggie’ Cruger can take down 100 of Emperor Grumm’s best foot-soldiers, I can take down 100 of these vicious fiends!”

Captain Retro can see the action from a distance, but an invisible force field is blocking him from being able to get any closer to viewing the action! Captain Retro says: “BlackHawk, I may not be able to help you directly, but I hope that this song that I send your way will help propel you to victory! So take it to the limit, one more time!” /

And sure enough, as BlackHawk begins beating up all the different bad guys and saving all the innocent citizens of Redwall, one of The Eagles’ signature hit songs can be heard playing in the background. /

Randy Meisner sings: “All alone at the end of the evening; when the bright lights have faded to blue. I was thinking 'bout a woman who might have loved me and I never knew. You know I've always been a dreamer. (Spent my life running 'round), and it's so hard to change. (Can't seem to settle down). But the dreams I've seen lately, keep on turning out and burning out, and turning out the same. So put me on a highway, and show me a sign! And take it to the limit one more time! You can spend all your time making money. You can spend all your love making time. If it all fell to pieces tomorrow, would you still be mine? And when you're looking for your freedom, (Nobody seems to care). And you can't find the door. (Can't find it anywhere). When there's nothing to believe in; still you're coming back, you're running back; you're coming back for more! So put me on a highway, and show me a sign! And take it to the limit one more time! Take it to the limit, take it to the limit! Take it to the limit one more time! Take it to the limit, take it to the limit, take it to the limit, one more time! Take it to the limit, take it to the limit, take it to the limit, one more time! Take it to the limit, take it to the limit, take it to the limit, one more time! Take it to the limit, take it to the limit, take it to the limit, one more time! Take it to the limit, take it to the limit, take it to the limit, one more time!” /

And the epic song ends as BlackHawk successfully defeats 100 bad guys, and has managed to keep every single citizen of Redwall safe! Bigwig reappears and he says: “Wow! That was REALLY impressive! You’ve done this BEFORE, haven’t you?!”

BlackHawk says: “Once or twice.”

Bigwig says: “If I had known that you could defeat 100 bad guys THAT easily, I would’ve made you fight 200, in order to make it a REAL challenge! But, a deal is a deal, here is another piece of your Orange Ruby, and you can keep the armor I gave you as a bonus, as a signature of our friendship.”

Bigwig hands over another piece of the Orange Ruby, and it magically reconnects to the piece that BlackHawk already has! Bigwig says: “You’ve passed two tests so far. Now, we’ll see if you can pass your toughest challenge yet!” And Bigwig suddenly disappears!

And BlackHawk says: “Like that LAST test wasn’t tough?” /

Captain Retro says: “Only one test left to go! This is where BlackHawk can TRULY prove himself! Garudia, I know you won’t make it easy on BlackHawk! But if anyone can pass your test, it’s BlackHawk!” /

The Turbo Power Rangers and StarHawk, have driven the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters to the abandoned rock quarry outside of Coastal Falls! T.J. says: “I don’t think we’ll be able to push those monsters any further away from the city! We’ll have to take them out here and now!”

Cassie asks: “But how? They’re so powerful!”

StarHawk says: “Just blast them with everything you’ve got! My friends were able to blast these creeps ONCE! We can do it again! They HAVE a weakness! Everything does!”

Carlos says: “StarHawk is right! We’ve just got to keep fighting until we find their weak spot, than we blast them continuously where it REALLY hurts!”

Ashley says: “I like the sound of that plan!”

StarHawk says: “Then hold nothing back, Turbo Rangers! Fire until you can’t fire anymore!”

And the Turbo Power Rangers continue their desperate attempt to stall for time, even though the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters show no signs of slowing down or weakening! /

At the Command Center, the alarm is blaring again! Alpha Eight says: “Aye-yai-yai-yai-yai! The Turbo Rangers aren’t making any head-way against the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters!”

Omnus says: “We have no choice. We must alert the available Multiverse Force Rangers immediately, and hope that they are enough to turn the tide on Dr. Maniac’s evil creations!”

Alpha Eight nervously says: “Oh, I was AFRAID you would say something like that!”

And Alpha Eight pushes the intercom buttons, to call the available Rangers! /

In Lettuce’s cool, ice-block filled bedroom, he is the first to answer the familiar, (BEEP! BEEP! Ba-BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!), signal, of his communicator! Lettuce answers it, and he asks: “What’s the problem?”

Omnus answers: “The remaining Super Psycho Zero Girls have been transformed into monsters, stripped of any former trace of their humanity! Usagi and Pinkie are being called right now, and they will join you, to help the second team of the Turbo Power Rangers and StarHawk, at the abandoned rock quarry outside of Coastal Falls, to deal with the situation!”

Lettuce says: “We’re on our way! To save the day, or night!” / And Lettuce warps out of his bedroom! /

Lettuce, Usagi, and Pinkie find themselves a safe distance away from the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters, but Pinkie cannot HELP but be repulsed by their horrific make-overs! Pinkie says: “EW! The Super Psycho Zero Girls look even WORSE than they did before! I didn’t even think that was possible!”

Usagi says: “It doesn’t matter what they look like! We’ve got to stop them now, or they’ll wreak havoc on what remains of Coastal Falls!”

Lettuce says: “I agree with you there! It’s MORPHING time!” / Lettuce says: “Power of Jupiter! LIGHTNING!” / Pinkie says: “Power of Venus! AETHER!” / Usagi says: “COSMORPHER! Sailor Moon! White Ranger Power!” /

The three Power Rangers do their signature jump-ins, and T.J., says: “Lettuce, Usagi, and Pinkie! You came in at the right time!”

Cassie says: “We’ve been firing like CRAZY at these guys, but nothing we’ve tried has even made them flinch, or slowed them down!”

Pinkie says: “Than it’s a good thing WE showed up! Plasma Pistol!”

And Pinkie FIRES her weapon at Super Psycho Zero Girl 02, and her left arm is COMPLETELY disintegrated! Pinkie says: “So much for HER! Who’s next on the chopping block?!”

But before anyone else can comment, all of the morphed Rangers are HORRIFIED to see Super Psycho Zero Girl 02’s disintegrated arm, REBUILD itself using the advanced cybernetics that Dr. Maniac INSTALLED into her! Then suddenly, a giant hologram of Dr. Maniac appears in the air, and he cackles and says: “MWA, HA, HA, HA!!!! Did you REALLY think it would be as simple as BLASTING them AGAIN?! The Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters, are remotely connected with my super computer, and if there HAPPENS to be ANY problem WRONG with them, my computer can FIX the problem, and STRENGTHEN them so that the problem doesn’t happen AGAIN! Now, my pretty little monsters, DESTROY those MISERABLE Power BRATS, and turn them into McDonald’s Mulan Szechuan McNugget Sauce!”

Lettuce says: “So much for just being able to BLAST them!”

Usagi says: “We’ll just have to keep on fighting! Try and stay out of their range, but don’t stop ATTACKING! We’ve got to wear them DOWN eventually!”

StarHawk says: “Oh, where’s BlackHawk when you NEED him?!” /

BlackHawk, however, is still in the mental realm of his Vision Quest, and he is now on Bird Island, in the universe of “The Angry Birds Movie”! BlackHawk says: “Okay, this is weird, even by Ranger standards!”

And suddenly, a GOLDEN version of Tommy’s White Ranger Weapon, Saba, appears close to BlackHawk! BlackHawk grabs it, and turns around to face the awesome power of Garudia! BlackHawk says: “I had a feeling I might run into you!”

Garudia says: “You’ve come a long way just to get here. Your powers are quite impressive! You’re no ordinary mortal if you can pass BOTH Templeton’s and Bigwig’s tests! But this is where we separate the true heroes from the jokers!”

BlackHawk says: “I see. And what exactly is my test going to be this time?”

Garudia says: “A test of TRUE strength and power! Only by being able to beat ME in combat, will you be able to be deemed WORTHY of Aslan’s power! The sword you’re holding now, is just a small sample of what Aslan can give you, if you are indeed WORTHY of it!”

BlackHawk says: “You’re REALLY going all out for this test, huh?! Well, in that case, so am I!”

And BlackHawk and Garudia take to the sky, and start SWOOPING at each other, trying to punch, kick, swipe, and hit each other with EVERYTHING they’ve got, causing the birds of Bird Island; Red, Chuck, Bomb, Terrence, and Matilda, to look on in wonder, as they rarely get to see birds fight it out in their natural element! Captain Retro, invisible to the birds, looks on in wonder as well. Captain Retro says: “At long last, I get to see one of the Guardians in actual combat! And if my guess is true, he’s only using a SMALL sample of his true power, and he’s STILL more than a match for BlackHawk! But BlackHawk can’t give up now, he NEVER would! I just know that no matter how difficult the odds, BlackHawk will find SOME way to win!” /

Meanwhile, the alarm in the Command Center is blaring again! Alpha Eight says: “Aye-yai-yai-yai-yai! Even THREE of our Power Rangers fighting isn’t enough to stop the Monsters! They keep regenerating any arm or leg that the Rangers are able to blast off!”

Omnus says: “You call Woolbur Fleeceley, and have him aid the Power Rangers in battle. Meanwhile, I’ll contact the Magi-Mother, to see if the others are ready to join them in combat!”

Alpha Eight says: “I sure hope the Magi-Mother has been firing on all eight cylinders tonight!” /

Sure enough, at Root Core, the Dark Magic that has been infesting the morphers of Naruto, Toby, and Ebony, have all been absorbed into the crystal ball of the Magi-Mother, and the Magi-Mother says: “By the power invested in me, by the forces of Zordon and the Guardians, I hereby BANISH this dark energy BACK into the Chaos Realm, from which it shall NEVER return!!!!”

And the black energy EVAPORATES out of the crystal ball, until there is nothing of it left! The Magi-Mother collapses in exhaustion on a comfy chair, and tired, she says: “It is done!”

And suddenly, in her Crystal Ball, Omnus’ face appears! Omnus says: “Magi-Mother, have the morphers been fixed and expelled of their dark magic?”

The Magi-Mother says: “Yes, Omnus. I just finished extracting and dispelling the last of the dark magic energy from their morphers. Now their powers will flow directly from Root Core, to them.”

Omnus says: “Good. Because the other Rangers are needed to join the others, fighting against the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters at the abandoned rock quarry, NOW!”

The Magi-Mother says: “I understand, Omnus! I’ll send them there right away! Naruto, Toby, Ebony! Wake up, right NOW!!!!”

Toby, dreamily says: “But MOMMY! I don’t want to go to SCHOOL today! I want to stay home and bake COOKIES with you!”

The Magi-Mother says: “Oh, WAKE UP!!!!”

Naruto jolts awake, and he says: “All right! We’re up, we’re UP!”

Ebony says: “This better be important! I was just DREAMING that BlackHawk had told ME, that I was going to be his Hawkian QUEEN!!!!”

Toby says: “Oh, you’re not fit to be Queen of…NAME a PLACE!!!!”

Ebony suggests: “Barstow, California?”

Naruto says: “ESPECIALLY Barstow, California!”

The Magi-Mother says: “This is no time for hurling insults at potential butt-monkey targets! This is the time to take your repaired, and improved morphers into battle! Now that they are free from the influences of the Chaos Realm, you’ll be able to fight much more effectively, AND have more strength available to you! Just be careful; the Super Psycho Zero Girls are super-powerful MONSTERS now, stronger than ANYTHING you have fought before!”

Toby says: “Well, it doesn’t matter HOW strong they are! We have to fight them anyways!”

Ebony says: “No amount of insurmountable odds would EVER stop BlackHawk!”

Naruto says: “And we’re not letting them stop us, EITHER! It’s MORPHING time!” / Naruto says: “Power of Mars! FIRE!” / Toby says: “Power of Mercury! WATER!” / Ebony says: “Power of Earth! AIR!” /

The Turbo Rangers, StarHawk, and the three Multiverse Force Rangers are still DESPERATELY trying to take down the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters! Pinkie says: “This fight isn’t so easy without BlackHawk and the other Rangers!”

Lettuce says: “This fight isn’t so easy, PERIOD!!!!”

Usagi says: “We have to keep FIGHTING! If we don’t, who WILL?!”

A familiar voice says: “I will!”

And everyone looks up, as they see Woolbur Fleeceley, decked out in his S.P.D., uniform gear! StarHawk says: “Woolbur! We could certainly use your help!”

Woolbur says: “And I’m here to give it! S.P.D., EMERGENCY!!!!” / And Woolbur jumps into the power suit of the S.P.D. Green Ranger, in his morphing sequence! /

Woolbur says: “S.P.D. Blaster!”

And he begins firing RAPIDLY at the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters, taking their arms and legs off, blast by blast! T.J., says: “Hurry and attack them! Before their limbs have a chance to grow back!”

Naruto, Toby, and Ebony jump in, and Toby says: We’ll help you out with that! Power Weapons!”

And all of the Power Rangers together, start chopping INTO the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters, like there IS no tomorrow, trying to blast them ALL into oblivion! But as FAST as they blast them, they seemingly reform just as FAST!!!! Woolbur says: “These girls just don’t give up!!!!”

Naruto gets angry, and he says: “Why won’t you just DIE?!!! Firefox BLASTS!!!!”

And Naruto FIRES a bunch of molten fireballs out of his fists, seemingly burning up ALL the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters into a crisp! The Power Rangers FINALLY collapse onto the ground, gasping and panting for breath, but on the top of the mountain-top of the abandoned rock quarry, they gaze at a NEW horror, as they see Three HUNDRED of the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters, lined up to attack them! Lettuce says: “I heard of stacking the odds, but this is a little much even for ME!!!!”

The hologram of Dr. Maniac maniacally says: “MWA, HA, HA, HA!!!! Like I said, my super computer can fix ANY problem WRONG with my Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters, even if the problem IS that there is only ONE of EACH of them! So, I must ask you; if you had such a problem destroying just ONE of each of them, how will you FARE against an army of 300?!”

Carlos says: “Well, I guess we won’t know until we try, will we?!”

Ashley says: “We won’t survive this, will we?”

Cassie says: “Unlikely. Well, it was nice working with all of you!”

Usagi says: “Just KEEP fighting! It’s not over, until we SAY it’s over!” /

Meanwhile, high above Bird Island in BlackHawk’s Vision Quest, BlackHawk is trying as HARD as he can to even put a SCRATCH on Garudia, but nothing that he tries even seems to FAZE Garudia! Garudia says: “Why don’t you just GIVE up the FIGHT?! You know better than ANYONE how powerful I truly am!”

BlackHawk says: “That’s the one thing I can NEVER do!”

Garudia says: “Than I guess I have NO choice!”

And BlackHawk prepares for Garudia’s strongest, but instead, Garudia kneels down, and holds out the final piece of the Orange Ruby. Garudia says: “You passed the test, BlackHawk!”

BlackHawk says: “Than what was all this fighting about?”

Templeton, and Bigwig reappear, and Captain Retro finally reappears to BlackHawk’s view. Templeton says: “You haven’t REALLY been fighting against our tests! You’ve been fighting for your right to live!”

Bigwig says: “And you’ve shown that your stamina, strength, endurance, and inner strength, are more powerful than any Ranger power!”

Captain Retro says: “You’ve proven yourself worthy of Aslan’s strength! Now, the last piece of the Orange Ruby, is yours!”

BlackHawk takes it, and it magically re-connects, to make a FULL Orange Ruby! But, INSTEAD of glowing a glow of Orange, it begins to magically CHANGE, and gets infused with a GOLDEN light of power! A lion ROARS in the distance! BlackHawk asks: “What’s happening?!”

Captain Retro says: “It’s the ancient prophecy Aslan foresaw! The Orange Ruby is changing to fulfill its ultimate potential! It’s becoming the Golden Gem, and its power is connecting you to the Morphing Grid!”

Sure enough, the spirit of a fierce lion FLOWS into the NOW Golden Gem, and BlackHawk TRANSFORMS, into a GOLDEN Ranger, with an orange power vest, and the emblem of the lion on it! And a holster, for the golden version of Saba still in his hands! Garudia says: “You have earned the right, to become a new Power Ranger! The Power of the Sun, and the Leo Lionzord, are now yours to command! And with your new-found connection to the Morphing Grid, these powers can NEVER be overcome by the forces of evil!”

BlackHawk says: “Thank you guys, for everything!”

Bigwig says: “If you should ever need us again, we will ALWAYS be watching!”

BlackHawk says: “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind!”

Captain Retro says: “It’s time for us to go home, BlackHawk! The other Rangers need us!”

BlackHawk says: “Right! Back into action!” And the two of them WARP out of the mental realm! Templeton looks on, and he says: “Good luck, Power Ranger!” /

The other Power Rangers are getting knocked AROUND by the countless copies of the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters! Toby says: “These creeps are TOO strong!”

Pinkie says: “Our power are evaporating FASTER than water through a spaghetti strainer!”

Naruto says: “This CAN’T be how it ends!”

And a big voice says, “NO!!!! This ISN’T how it ends!”

And the Rangers look on top of the mountain-top, and as the SUN is rising, it’s shining a GOLDEN light, on the NEW Golden Ranger, on top of the hill! Lettuce asks: “A new, Gold Ranger?!”

And BlackHawk jumps down, and lands on the ground effortlessly! The hologram of Dr. Maniac evilly says: “Get him! KILL HIM!!!! TURN INTO MULAN SZECHUAN MCNUGGET SAUCE!!!!”

BlackHawk says: “Okay, Saba 2, time to see what you’re TRULY made of!!!!”

And with an INCREDIBLE speed and fury the Power Rangers have NEVER witnessed before, the Gold Ranger EFFORTLESSLY speeds along, and starts HACKING up the Super Psycho Zero Girl Copies one by one, making them LOOK like they’re standing STILL, and EASILY dodging their best blaster attacks! Dr. Maniac’s hologram screams: “Are you BLIND as well as USELESS?! He’s JUST ONE STINKING POWER RANGER!!!!”

BlackHawk says: “Maybe you haven’t heard, but ONE, can make ALL the difference in the world! Solar light STRIKE!!!!”

And using the power of the SUN itself, powerful solar energy POURS onto the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters, and Dr. Maniac screams: “STOP!!!! You’re disintegrating their VERY molecular BEINGS!!!! I can’t bring them back from nothing! STOP!!!!”

But BlackHawk pays no heed, as all the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monster copies EXPLODE into nothingness, except for the ORIGNAL three that have WEARILY grabbed onto each other, but are EXTREMELY exhausted from having to endure BlackHawk’s attack! Dr. Maniac says: “FINE!!!! You can take care of 300, but how about fighting against THREE giant-sized Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters?!”

And Dr. Maniac fires his Bigga Ray at the monsters, and grows them into giant size! BlackHawk says: “Stand back, guys! I’ve got a brand new zord! Let’s see how it works!”

And a familiar, slightly altered tune plays in the background, and sings: “Gold Ranger Lion Power! Gold Ranger Lion Power! Gold Ranger Lion Power! Gold Ranger Lion Power!”

And a giant, Golden Lion Zord, comes running from across the rugged terrain! BlackHawk flies up to the cock-pit entrance, and he says: “All right, Aslan! Let’s see if this zord is as powerful as YOU say it is!”

And BlackHawk jumps inside, where there are a bunch of different spheres of energy, with descriptive symbols on them, hanging in the back of BlackHawk’s zord! BlackHawk says: “Let’s CUT these monsters DOWN to size!”

And the Lion Zord flashes forward with solar light, slashing into the monsters a BUNCH of times, but the monsters are STILL standing! BlackHawk says: “That was just a warm-up! Convert into Warrior mode!”

And the Lion Zord, changes from looking LIKE a lion, to looking like a giant, golden warrior, with the face of a lion on the front of his chest! The lion is holding a giant sphere of blue energy in his mouth, from which the attacks that BlackHawk fires can be fired from! Naruto says: “That’s incredible! Why can’t MY personal zord do that?!”

BlackHawk says: “Let’s show Dr. Maniac what REAL power looks like! Fire up the Solar Sword!!!!”

And BlackHawk grabs out, what at FIRST, looks like an empty holster, but by FOCUSING the power of the sun INTO the holster, it creates a super-charged, physical saber of ENERGY!!!! BlackHawk says: “Solar Sword STRIKE!!!!”

And BlackHawk cuts into the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters once, twice, and THREE times each, and the over-whelming power of the zord is TOO much for them to handle, and they all collapse and EXPLODE on the ground! BlackHawk says: “Dr. Maniac, it’s time you got the message! The Power Rangers are HERE to stay, and you are no match for our combined powers!” /

Meanwhile, Dr. Maniac is positively FURIOUS about this latest out-come, and he’s electrically BLASTING at everything in sight, with his cybernetic arm!!!! Fara says: “Your grace! My great master! Take a moment to cool down and watch your blood and oil pressure!!!!”

Dr. Maniac angrily says: “I thought I TOLD EVERYONE THAT I WANTED THE POWER RANGERS DEAD!!!!”

Mettzler says: “Indeed you did, sire! And we WILL kill them, as soon as we can!”

Dr. Maniac says: “Than why are they not DEAD ALREADY?!!! When I want a Power Ranger DEAD, they become DEAD!!!! AND WHO DO I HAVE TO KILL TO GET SOME MULAN SZECHUAN MCNUGGET SAUCE?! I WANT THE MULAN SZECHUAN MCNUGGET SAUCE!!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?! I WILL NOT REST UNTIL I AM ABLE TO POUR THAT SAUCE ALL OVER THE CARCASSES OF THOSE DEAD POWER RANGERS!!!! I WILL MAKE THOSE POWER RANGERS SUFFER LIKE NEVER BEFORE!!!!”

Meison says: “Kunzite and Benzite, you had BETTER be careful! I don’t think Dr. Maniac will tolerate ANOTHER humiliating loss like the one he had today!”

Kunzite says: “Oh, boy! I sure do believe THAT one!” /

The Rangers run forward to meet the new, Golden Ranger, who was able to do so effortlessly, what they had STRUGGLED to do! Lettuce says: “From one Ranger to another, we must truly thank you!”

Pinkie says: “Yeah, you took down the Super Psycho Zero Girl Monsters so EASILY! You’re amazing!”

Captain Retro flies in, and he says: “Of course he is! He’s BlackHawk!”

Everyone else says: “THAT’S BlackHawk?!!!”

And BlackHawk takes off his power helmet, and reveals himself to the other Power Rangers! StarHawk says: “BlackHawk, it IS you! I am SO glad!”

BlackHawk says: “You’re not too sad about what happened with your sister?!”

StarHawk says: “She placed a Lesbian hex on me, remember?! I just wanted to apologize for the way I handled our relationship before!”

Ebony says: “Just a stinking minute! I had my eyes set on BlackHawk long before YOU ever thought of coming to Core Earth! I call first dibs!”

BlackHawk scoffs, and says: “Not on your LIFE, Ebony! You turned DOWN my opportunity of loving you TWICE!!!! I’m not letting you do it again! You WANT Toby so bad, you can HAVE him!”

Naruto glances at Ebony and Toby smugly, as if to say, “I told you so!” And Ebony and Toby just growl angrily in response!

BlackHawk says: “And StarHawk, I am willing to give you another chance, if you don’t mind sharing me with the anthropomorphic D.O.G.! He has also expressed an interest of loving me.”

StarHawk says: “As far as I’m concerned, that would HARDLY be a strange relationship after all WE’VE gone through! Besides, if it means I get to be with you, I am all for it!”

BlackHawk says: “Sounds like a date, then!”

StarHawk says: “You know it does!”

And they both, romantically walk into the sunset. BlackHawk says: “StarHawk, I think this is the beginning of a BEAUTIFUL friendship!”

The End! (For Now!)

[Rebel the Wolfgirl]

 

Reborn: Part I

 

Spoiler

Kras’hir noted, as she downed yet another shot, that this was the first time in thousands of years she had wept. She had screamed, howled, sworn vengeance and bellowed like an animal, but she hadn't cried. The reason for this, she supposed, was that she hadn't had any reason to cry. There had been no one in her life that had died that she had felt grief for. Today, things were different. She had people she cared about, people she would gladly give her life to protect. So, here she was, choking back sobs and drinking hard liquor, trying to numb her pain. Usagi, for her part, had been there by her side, trying to comfort her girlfriend. She had understood why Kras’hir despised Dr. Maniac, he who prided himself on, quote, “violating the scale of scientific sins”. She had asked herself why Beryl had allied herself with him in the first place; the death of the Zero Girls was partly her fault in that regard.

 

Beryl and Ahriman, in their defense, had NOT at all been amused by Dr. Maniac’s recent antics. No, these were not antics, Beryl had reasoned. These were crimes. Crimes committed by a madman whose sanity, while initially quite off, was slowly slipping. For all the “evil” Sailor Moon had accused her of, Beryl was still very much a woman who had moral standards. She was currently talking with Ahriman and her two surviving generals, Kunzite and Zoicite, on the course of action they were to take when it came to the scientist and his underlings.

 

“It is not only the Bloodthirster Kras’hir who was enraged by the recent killings.” Ahriman said. “The Red Angel was angered by it, too. He respected the Zero Girls. He is furious with both you and the doctor and, believe me, having Angron angry at you is...unhealthy.”

 

“Do I blame him for his anger? No, not at all. I admit, much to my displeasure, that I had an indirect part in their deaths due to my association with...him.” Beryl replied, not wishing to mention Maniac by name. “If he wishes to invoke his wrath on me, then Angron is free to. In fact, I will take his punishment with dignity.”

 

“I don't know how much dignity one can retain once their head is removed, put on a spike, and paraded through the Warp.” Ahriman said dryly.

 

“I cannot say the same for our dear doctor. He is petty. Vindictive. Childish.” Beryl said just as dryly. “He wishes to play God.”

 

“What do you suggest we do, your Grace?” Zoicite replied. “You could easily just vaporize him as you did Jaedite.”

 

“Yes, I could.” Beryl said. “But I wish to make him suffer.”

 

“Oh, he will.” Ahriman replied, chuckling. “You can be certain of that…”

 

Blackhawk, meanwhile, was handling his grief in his own way. Namely, shooting. His fingers danced along his guns, fire with one, aim, fire with the other, aim, fire again, aim. On and on he went, firing and reloading, not even noticing as the empty casings he removed from the chambers burned his fingertips. Perhaps Firehawk had been a member of his ka-tet. Perhaps she had not. Who could say, really? If there was one thing he knew, it was that ka, fate, was very fickle. Ka-tet or not, she would join the ghosts in his head, all the same.

 

“Fucking Dr. Maniac…” he muttered. “Damn him...damn him, Queen Beryl, the Gods, ka, the Tower, the Guardians and the King. Damn all of them.”

 

After a few more minutes, he holstered his guns and returned home. The lion-headed katana that had, for lack of a better term, come with his Gold Ranger powers, known as Saba, let off an audible sigh. Blackhawk could never get used to the fact that this new weapon was sentient and fully capable of speech. But at least he had someone to talk to outside of the ghosts in his head.

 

However, that did not mean he liked the damn thing. He sighed after the sword did, before asking, “Do you have something to say?”

 

“Nothing, Blackhawk-sai.” the sword replied. “You seem angrier than usual. Taking it out like this is unhealthy.”

 

“Tell me, then.” Blackhawk spat, lighting a cigarette. “What do you suggest I do?”

 

“Talk to someone, anyone.” Saba replied. “Yes, it’s cliche, but talking helps.”

 

Blackhawk didn't reply. Instead, he entered his home in silence. Inside, the air felt cold, so he walked over to the fireplace that hadn't been touched in years. Normally, he would just turn on the heat, but he felt better doing things the old-fashioned way at that moment.

 

“Spark-a-dark, where's my sire? Will I lay me? Will I stay me? Bless this camp with fire.” He muttered, the old nonsense rhyme Roland used to say as a boy coming into his head as he got a flame going. The words brought him some comfort. His father soon came into the room afterwards, a can of root beer in his hand. It still felt strange seeing his father alive once more, much less dressed in the casual clothings of Core Earth.

 

“Ah, you remembered the old rhyme.” Ace said with a chuckle, but his smile faltered as he saw his son’s expression. “...Believe me, I know it hurts. Do you think I didn’t miss you in the afterlife?”

 

“You were lucky, I suppose.” Blackhawk said. “You weren't at Jericho Hill. I don't think the scars from that day will ever heal.”

 

“They won’t, as you’ve said.” Ace replied, sipping his drink. “But the best thing you can do in times like this is keep Firehawk’s memory alive. At least, for now.”

 

“Is Starhawk still crying?” Blackhawk asked. She had come to stay with them after her sister’s death. Blackhawk had offered, knowing perfectly well she needed to be around someone who knew exactly how she felt.

 

“Yes.” Ace said. “I told her that her sister could very well come back just like I did. Ka is a strange thing, you know.”

 

“I know.” Blackhawk said, before getting up and walking out of the room. He set his guns and sword on the dining room table, then headed down the hallway. After standing at the door of the bedroom where Starhawk was for a moment, he opened it, peeking inside.

 

“Do you mind if I come in?” He asked her, his voice soft.

 

“No, I do not.” Starhawk replied, the blankets wrapped around her body as she sat on the bed, idly fiddling with the guitar she still had. Blackhawk walked over to the bed, sitting down next to her. “My playing has gotten better.” the female Hawkian said as she idly strummed some chords.

 

“It has.” He agreed, smiling a bit. “I knew you'd get the hang of it.”

 

“...I miss her so much, Blackhawk-sai.” Starhawk said, tears forming again.

 

“Starhawk, you're practically family.” He said, taking her hands in his. “There is no need for formality. I am not your superior. I am your friend, and I am here to give you whatever comfort I can.”

 

Starhawk stared at him for several moments, before embracing him. “Thank you.”

 

He set the guitar aside before hugging her back. “It is no trouble at all. I know you'd do the same for me.”

 

Filled with euphoria, Starhawk ended up kissing him in the heat of the moment, only pulling away when she regained her senses. “B-blackhawk...I…”

 

“Shhhh…” he said. “It's okay.”

 

“No, it isn’t!” Starhawk protested. “I’m cheating on Firehawk!”

 

“Starhawk, you are grieving.” He said softly. “And, as I said, I am here to give you whatever comfort I can. So, if kissing me, or anything...well, more than that brings you some measure of comfort, I won't stop you. Know that I am not trying to coerce you into cheating. I am simply saying that I will help you in whatever way you need me to.”

 

Starhawk paused to consider his words, then nodded. “I...I love you, Blackhawk.”

 

He smiled again, before leaning in and kissing her. They ended up making love in her bed. When it was over, Blackhawk held her close, his arms around her waist. Starhawk smiled softly, kissing his neck. This was certainly an unusual way to discover where she, for lack of a better term, leaned.

 

“I hope I helped you feel a bit better.” Blackhawk said.

 

“You did.” Starhawk replied. “By the gods, you did.”

 

“I would hope so, considering how...vocal you were.” He responded, smirking.

 

“You should know as well as I do that we Hawkians are very vocal; our mating calls are known far and wide.” she joked.

 

“Indeed. I'm sure my family appreciated hearing you scream at me to, quote, ‘Fuck me harder with that cock of yours.’”

 

“I’m sure I did.” Starhawk replied. “Would it be unfair to call you ‘my love’ now that we have...done the deed?”

 

“If I am honest, I have been in love with you since not long after we met.” Blackhawk said. “However, you and Firehawk were happy together, so I didn't want to get in the way of that.”

 

“I will promise you, then, that I will try and convince Firehawk to share me between you two, once she returns...if she returns. It won’t be easy, however.”

 

He didn't reply. Instead, he wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes, before pulling her close and simply holding her.

 

“I love you.” she repeated her words from earlier.

 

“I love you, too.” Blackhawk said softly. He realized then that he truly loved her. He hadn't been in love since Margarita’s passing. What he had felt for Ebony and Toby was immature lust and nothing more. It wasn't love. What he had felt for Margarita, and what he now felt for Starhawk, was honest, genuine love. Now it was his turn to have tears well. He sniffled a bit, wiping them away.

 

“Do not cry.” Starhawk assured him. “I’m here.”

 

“I love you.” He said, savoring the words. “I love you, so, so much.”

 

“I know.” she replied with a smile. “I will always love you.”

 

In a nearby penthouse apartment, Lettuce sat with Pinkie on his couch, watching whatever was on TV. They had not been particularly close to Firehawk, but valued her as a friend nonetheless. This had led to a rather...intense argument between Toby and Lettuce, the former having had a dislike for Firehawk. “But you’re my best friend, Lettuce!” the boy had screamed. “How can you act like this towards her?!”

 

“I could ask you the same thing.” Lettuce had replied, his tone unusually cold. “I get it. You didn't like her. But she's dead, Toby. Try to show a little respect.”

 

“A little...SHE FUCKED HER OWN SISTER, AND WAS AN EMISSARY TO AN ENTIRE SPECIES OF KILLER ROBOTS! YOU EXPECT ME TO SYMPATHIZE WITH THAT!?” To some degree, he had a point. Though not a very good one.

 

“Yes.” Lettuce had responded. “I do. Do you know why? Because she sacrificed herself to save us, because she actually proved herself to be a somewhat decent person, and because there are a fair number of very dangerous people who are more than willing to kill you if you disrespect her. Starhawk, for one. Blackhawk, for another.”

 

“...At least she wasn’t fucking a pink talking horse.” Toby muttered under his breath. In an instant, he had found himself face to face with Lettuce, his flipper wrapped around Toby’s throat. If there was one thing that pissed off the small green penguin, it was disrespecting the girl, or mare, rather, he was in love with. “HEY, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!” Toby gurgled out. “WE’RE BEST FRIENDS, REMEMBER?!”

 

“Burn in Hell, Tobias.” Lettuce spat, before letting him go and walking away.

 

That was several days ago, and Lettuce was still rather angry about that. He had long been considering ending his friendship with Toby, and that had been the final straw. Looking at Pinkie, he idly ran his flipper through her mane. “I’m...I’m sorry about what Toby said about you. I was right: he’s not the same guy we met when we became Rangers.”

 

“I know.” She sighed. “I hate to admit it, but you're right. What he said to you was a low blow, but what he said to Blackhawk was even worse. Did I tell you what he said?”

 

“No, you didn’t.” Lettuce replied. “What did he say?”

 

“He said that Blackhawk was probably happy Firehawk died, because now, quote, You can give that sister-screwing freak a good fucking.’”

 

“...Wow.” Lettuce said. An awkward silence passed between them. “...Wanna hear a joke? It’ll lighten the mood.”

 

“Sure.” She replied. “Shoot.”

 

“What did the penguin say to the pony?” Lettuce asked.

 

“I dunno.” Pinkie said. “What did the penguin say to the pony?”

 

Lettuce pulled out a small, thin black case and opened it, revealing a solid gold necklace in the shape of Pinkie’s Element of Harmony and by extension her cutie mark, with diamonds embedded in the balloons. “Will you marry me?

 

She stared at him for a moment, before whispering, “Yes.”

 

This surprised Lettuce. He had expected a rib-crushing hug and a hurricane of rapid-fire kisses. To see Pinkie have a subdued reaction like this was...astonishing. “Are you feeling alright, Pinks?”

 

Once she got over the initial shock of him proposing, he got the rib-crushing hug and flurry of kisses he had expected.

 

Across town, meanwhile, Kras’hir lay in bed with Usagi. They, much like Starhawk and Blackhawk, had just finished making love. “That was very relieving.” Usagi said, lighting a cigarette.

 

“Indeed, it was.” Kras’hir replied, stroking her hair. Usagi checked her phone, having received a text. “Huh. Lettuce just popped the question to Pinkie. I was wondering when he’d do it.”

 

“Now, isn't that funny timing?” Kras’hir replied, retrieving a small box from underneath one of the pillows and placing it in Usagi’s hand. “Open it, my love.”

 

Usagi did, revealing a ring with an inscription and a moon shaped diamond in the center. “Oh...oh my God…”

 

“Oh, my.” Kras’hir said. “I haven't looked at the ring since I forged it several days ago. It looks even better now that I have given it to you. Did you read the inscription?”

 

Usagi shook her head. “Let me guess: One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them…” she joked. Kras’hir snorted.

 

“Read it, and find out.” She replied.

 

Usagi did so. It read, simply: “May we never be parted, my love, in this life or the next.” She burst into tears.

 

“Yes...I’ll marry you!”

 

Kras'hir kissed her. This led to another round of lovemaking. Once they finished, she slid the ring onto Usagi’s finger. She smiled before kissing Kras’hir again.

 

“It seems like a lifetime ago now since we met.” Kras’hir said after she broke the kiss. “So much has happened.”

 

“Indeed. I sometimes miss the simpler days. But then, I wouldn’t have you here with me.”

 

“What did I do to deserve you?” Kras’hir asked softly. “The fact that someone as lovely as you fell in love with someone like me…”

 

“You deserve me, don’t put yourself down like that.” Usagi told her.

 

“Alright.” Kras’hir said. “I'm sorry, Usagi. If I'm honest, I have thoughts like that quite often. I've just never vocalised it before.”

 

“Just like how you vocalise, ‘OH, OH! YES, RIGHT THERE, USAGI!’?” the blonde asked with a chuckle.

 

“At least I wasn't begging for a finger up my ass.” Kras’hir shot back. Usagi blushed fiercely.

 

“B-baka!” she whispered, briefly slipping into Japanese.

 

“Ah, embarrassed, are we?” Kras’hir asked, chuckling.

 

“N-no…”

 

“Uh-huh.”

 

“Nuh uh.”

 

Kras’hir snorted, rolling her eyes playfully.

 

“OK, I admit it. Happy?”

 

“There is no need to be embarrassed. You have your kinks.” Kras’hir said. “Enjoy yourself however you like, Usagi. I won't judge you for it.”

 

“Promise me something, will you?” Usagi asked.

 

“Anything.”

 

“Keep our wedding dresses for when we want to reenact our honeymoon.” Usagi replied, sticking her tongue out.

 

“That, I can do.” Kras’hir said, smirking.

 

“You may kiss the bride, then.”

 

The Daemoness continued smirking as she obliged the request.

 

Meanwhile, Ahriman and Beryl had come up with a plan. One that did not involve gathering energy as the primary goal. Instead, they were going to kill Dr. Maniac, or at the very least attempt to. This plan would start with Ahriman sending a youma to Coastal Falls. This one would be strong enough to keep the Rangers occupied for a time, but not strong enough to win. The beast would be mechanical in nature, and, once it inevitably broke down, Beryl would send Dr. Maniac to Coastal Falls to repair it, knowing perfectly well he would he arrogant enough to go without any objections. This would, in turn, cause him to be in sight of Kras’hir, who would, inevitably, murder him.

 

The youma arrived in Coastal Falls about twenty minutes after their plan was finalised. Naturally, Omnus called the Rangers to the Command Center. “Looks like duty calls.” Usagi said. “You coming with me?” she asked Kras’hir as she got dressed.

 

“Of course.” Kras’hir said, standing up and retrieving her weapons. Usagi teleported to the Command Center, where Alpha was congratulating Lettuce and Pinkie on their engagement, Toby and Ebony were stoned off their asses as usual, and Naruto was muttering under his breath about how he’d been talking to a rather attractive redhead named Ariel Clearwater. Blackhawk was loading and cleaning his guns, whistling a tune as he did so. Starhawk watched him, young and in love.

 

Sans, who had been hanging out with (read: babysitting) Sally, came out of one of the Center’s rooms. “I’ll never understand why he keeps coming here.” Usagi complained.

 

“I'll never understand why nobody's killed him yet.” Kras’hir responded, sharpening her blades in anticipation. “I wonder how long it will take them to notice what's on your hand?”

 

“congrats, kid.” Sans said. “been wonderin’ when you’d get hitched.”

 

“Thank you, Sans.” Usagi said. “At least someone noticed.”

 

Omnus turned to look at her, smiling once he noticed the ring. “Congratulations, you two.” he said.

 

“Ooh, we could have a double wedding!” Lettuce said, giving as much a thumbs up as his non-fingered flipper would allow. Which was to say none at all.

 

“This is nice and all, but there's a youma in the city right now.” Kras’hir said. “Let's go kill it.”

 

“Right.” said Usagi. “Power of the moon! White!”

 

“Power of Mars! Fire!”

 

“Power of Jupiter! Earth!”

 

“Power of Venus! Aether!”

 

“Power of…” Toby began. “Damn it...what was that planet again?”

 

“Planet of darkness.” Kras’hir said, before grabbing his head and smashing it against Ebony’s, knocking them both out cold.

 

“Shift into Turbo!” Starhawk said. “Phantom Ranger!”

 

“Power of the sun.” Blackhawk muttered, the contempt he felt for his new position evident. “Gold.”

 

In no time at all, the six Rangers (seven if one counted Kras’hir) were immediately teleported into the middle of the city, several chisadesu summoned by Beryl to keep up the illusion.

 

Kras’hir, who had whipped herself into a battle frenzy while the Rangers were getting ready, bellowed and began swinging her weapons wildly, cutting chisadesu into ribbons with each strike.

 

“RIP AND TEAR!” She howled. “RIP AND TEAR!”

 

The other Rangers summoned their Power Weapons, save Starhawk and Blackhawk. Deciding that they needed their blaster cannon (partly to strike the youma when it was down, and partly to get it over with in Blackhawk’s case), the Rangers assembled the massive gauntlet-like weapon and fired a straight shot at the youma. It keeled over, and silence fell….until Dr. Maniac arrived, exactly as Beryl and Ahriman had planned.

 

“You…” Kras’hir whispered, trembling with rage.

 

“Yes, me.” Maniac said with a grin, a mad look in his eyes. “Want some schezuan sauce? IT’S MADE FROM POWER RANGERS!” he screeched before attempting to attack Usagi. A bad move on his part. Kras’hir, still eerily calm, blocked his strike, before tossing her weapons aside.

 

“Do not intervene.” She said to the Rangers. “I mean it.”

 

“...OK.” Usagi said, standing down.  Kras’hir turned to face Dr. Maniac again, shaking with anger.

 

“I'm going to kill you.” The Daemoness said, her tone flat, as if she were discussing the weather. “I'm going to beat you until your skull splits, doctor. You'll be begging for death before long.”

 

“...You won’t kill me, daemoness. I am the immortal, the mechanical, THE DESTROYER OF ALL ORGANIC LIFE! I AM DR. MANIAC, ABOVE GOD AND ALL OF HIS PLAYTHINGS!”

 

“The God you refer to is a myth, fool.” Kras’hir said, slowly approaching him. “A story told to the ignorant masses so they don't look too far into the reality of this harsh universe. You may be above the false God the men and women of this world and a thousand others revere, but there are other Gods, doctor. These Gods are very real. You may be smart, but to the Chaos Gods, the smartest man is no more important than the smartest termite. You are nothing, doctor. Nothing more than an insect, one which I intend to stamp out.”

 

“I’LL MAKE YOU INTO FUCKING SAUCE!” Maniac rambled. “ALL OF YOU! FUCKING SAUCE! FUCKING SAUCE! FUCKING SAU-”

 

He was cut off by her fist smashing into his jaw. “That…” Kras’hir growled. “...was for Hedy.”

 

Maniac growled at her, his jaw fractured. “You don’t scare me.” he managed to say. “You do not scare me at all.”

 

Kras’hir punched him again, this time in the throat. “That, you bastard, was for Eva.” Maniac let out a choking gurgle in response. She shoved him to the ground, before getting on top of him. Kras’hir then spent the next ten minutes beating Dr. Maniac to death. She took her time, never raising her voice above a calm whisper as she hit him again and again and again. Eventually, Maniac was left a crippled, beaten mess.

 

“Why don’t you kill him?” Naruto asked. “He deserves it after what he did.”

 

“On that, we can agree.” Kras’hir responded, before retrieving one of her blades and cutting off Dr. Maniac’s head. Beryl watched all of this from her fortress, and grinned.

 

“The doctor is dead.” she said to Ahriman. “And we have Kras’hir to thank for it.”

 

Before Ahriman could respond, Kras’hir spoke. However, she wasn't addressing anyone near her, but rather, Beryl herself: “Can you hear me, Queen Beryl? I know you can. Your lapdog is dead, as I'm sure you already know. His head will make a nice trophy. I'll make sure to place it just right on my armor. After all, I'll need room next to it for yours.”

 

“...I accept full responsibility for my indirect participation in your Zero Girls’ deaths, Bloodletter of Khorne.” Beryl said, her tone sincere. “I will face you as an honorable opponent, no more and no less.”

 

Kras’hir looked at Usagi, clearly not believing a word. Usagi, however, felt this was genuine on Beryl’s part, as hard as it was to swallow. She could tell that Beryl honestly felt nothing but contempt for Dr. Maniac, and that she had planned his demise. It was very clever and well-played, she thought.

 

“Alright, I have three things to say, your Grace…” Kras’hir began. “Firstly, I'm a Bloodthirster, not a Bloodletter. Second, I'm glad you accept responsibility. I'm still going to kill you, but at least it will be honorable. Third, and this is really important, so you may want to listen carefully: Usagi and I are going to fuck when we go home. So unless you want to see us fuck, I suggest you turn your all-seeing eye somewhere else.”

 

Beryl nodded. “In return for killing Dr. Maniac, I would like to offer you all something in return.”

 

“Oh?” Blackhawk asked, crossing his arms. “And what would that be?”

 

“The chance to see Firehawk and the Zero Girls alive again.” Beryl said simply. This received a stunned silence from the other Rangers, Starhawk and Blackhawk especially.

 

“Bullshit. Kras’hir said. “You can't possibly...how…?”

 

“I could easily just ask Ahriman to revive them.” Beryl said. “But where would the effort in that be? So, instead, I will transport you into the Warp in a few days’ time, so that you may prepare for your journey.”

 

“Very well.” Kras’hir said. “Now fuck off.”

 

“...I could say the same in a more literal sense. Farewell.”

 

Blackhawk paced nearby as the conversation ended. The damned blade was talking his ear off. “...Are you sure this is what you want?” Saba asked. “This might not end well, you know.”

 

“I know.” he said. “However, this I what I want. Now, let me make what I don't want clear.”

 

With that, he drew Saba, unzipped, urinated on the blade, and tossed it aside before walking over to Starhawk.

 

“You...you just pissed on the blade.” Starhawk said. “Never before have I met someone so audacious.”

 

“My dear Starhawk, how does my audacity make you feel?” He asked, smirking.

 

“Very, very…” Starhawk said. “...hmmm, how do I put it? Enthused.”

 

“Good.” he said, pulling her into a kiss. She kissed him back, with Naruto, Lettuce, and Usagi’s jaws hanging open.

 

“Are they…” Naruto began.

 

“Yes. Yes they are.” Lettuce confirmed.

 

“...Never thought I’d see Blackhawk act on his feelings.” Usagi said.

 

“I'm happy for them.” Pinkie said. “Really, I am. This seems like it's helping them cope with their grief.”

 

“Legally speaking, this is adultery.” Lettuce replied. “I don’t think Firehawk’s gonna be too pleased, unless polygamy is legal here in Coastal Falls.”

 

“What idiot is going to tell three Hawkians that it's illegal, and try to force them to follow the law?” Kras’hir retorted. “I'd be less worried about the law and more worried about how Firehawk will react.”

 

“...That too.” Lettuce said, before he noticed Pinkie had pulled out a large book seemingly from nowhere. “Please tell me you aren’t looking into the legalities of polygamy.”

 

“Polygamy is perfectly legal.” She said after a moment, the book disappearing as quickly as it appeared.

 

“You learn something new every day.” Lettuce said.

 

“Come on,” Usagi urged. “We need to get back to the Command Center.”

 

“We'll pick up where we left off later.” Blackhawk said to Starhawk.

 

“That’s fine by me.” she replied, the other Rangers teleporting back to the Command Center. Blackhawk followed them. Kras’hir did, too.

 

“I’m guessing you witnessed all of that, Omnus?” Usagi asked.

 

“Yes.” Omnus said. “I witnessed all of it.”

 

“So, we have to go into the Warp to retrieve Firehawk and the Zero Girls.”

 

“Yes.” He said. “I wish there was another way to get them back, but…”

 

“...we have no other choice.” Alpha finished. “I’ll need to rebuild the portal you used last time.”

 

“Alright.” Omnus said.

 

Meanwhile, deep in the Warp, Firehawk drifted. Her soul moved from place to place, realm to realm, never resting. She wanted so badly to escape, but had no idea how. She eventually, after some time, came across four other souls. Namely, those of the Zero Girls.

 

“Hello.” they greeted in unison.

 

“Hello.” She replied. “You four speaking in unison is even more creepy now that you're...well, dead.”

 

“Thank you for the compliment.” they said dryly. “We have a common goal: escape the Warp.”

 

“No shit.” Firehawk responded, her tone just as dry. “I'd hope that is our common goal, considering the alternative is to be trapped here forever.”

 

“Fuck Dr. Maniac. Fuck Vipera. It is because of them that we are all dead.” a voice Firehawk recognized as Eva said.

 

“I'm sorry I had to kill all of you.” Firehawk said honestly. “Truly. If there had been another way to stop you, I would have taken it.”

 

“It is not your fault.” Hedy replied.

 

“It is Maniac’s.” Thea said.

 

“And Vipera’s.” Nena finished.

 

“Indeed.” said a new voice. “And now our dear Necron Prophet is trapped in the Warp.”

 

Firehawk recognized the voice. “Hello, Trazyn.”

 

The Necron collector soon appeared, casually floating along with them. He waved to the Zero Girls.

 

“...Hello.” they said.

 

“Hello!” he said cheerfully. “I am Trazyn the Infinite. Collector, scholar and, occasionally, prankster.”

 

“We’re the Zero Girls.”

 

“What are you doing here, Trazyn?” Firehawk asked.

 

“Imotekh sent me, if you'll believe.” The Necron replied. “He said that the fact you are dead is ‘intolerable’ and sent me to ‘get our Prophet back by any means necessary.’”

 

“I didn't know I was that important.” Firehawk replied.

 

“Oh, you are.” Trazyn said. “Many of his plans have you playing a vital part. So, here I am. I'm going to help you all get out of this wretched place.”

 

“...All of us?” Eva asked.

 

“All of you.” Trazyn confirmed.

 

“Thank you.” Thea said. “That means a lot to us.”

 

“You four are far too interesting to be left adrift in the Warp.” He replied. “It would be cruel of me to let such potential go to waste.”

 

“Just don't add them to your collection.” Firehawk said. Trazyn chuckled.

 

“I make no promises.” he said, drifting away. “I will return. Try to stay sane.”

 

Kras’hir, meanwhile, sat with Sally Anne. She felt a bit better now that they had a chance to bring Firehawk and the Zero Girls back, but the guilt still lingered like a cancer. This feeling was reflected by her expression, which was very sad. “Mommy, what’s wrong?” the toddler asked.

 

“It has been a difficult few days, little one.” She replied. “Bad things have happened, and it's made me very sad.”

 

“Would a ketchup party make you feel better?” she asked, thinking of the only thing she could. “Or some of that funny soda you like drinking?”

 

Kras’hir stared at her. “Funny soda?” She said. Sally nodded, grabbing a bottle of beer from the fridge and handing it to her. Kras’hir opened it, taking a long sip and exhaling once she swallowed.

 

“Thanks.” She said to Sally after a moment.

 

“You’re welcome. ...Are you and Usagi getting married?”

 

“We are.”

 

“Does that make Usagi my other mommy?”

 

“She's been your ‘other mommy’ ever since we adopted you.” Kras’hir said. “Even if you haven't called her that.”

 

She continued sipping her beer, savoring the taste. The alcohol helped her relax. After a few minutes, she got up, disposed of the bottle, and went to find Usagi. Sally went to discipline Karanak for “making chocolate indoors”. She loved the puppy, and took good care of him, Kras’hir noted. It still amused her to no end that Karanak, a gentle, timid dog who wouldn't hurt a fly, shared a name with Khorne’s most ferocious Flesh Hound.

 

Usagi, meanwhile, lay in her bed, relaxing with a book: A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. She enjoyed the breathtaking descriptions of the fictional Mars, as well as the creatures on it...especially the Red Martian females.

 

Kras’hir entered the room a few minutes later, laying down next to her. “Hey.” Usagi said. “How are you?”

 

“I'm doing better.” Kras’hir replied. “The ‘funny soda’ I drank helped me relax.”

 

“Funny soda?”

 

“Beer.” Kras’hir said. “Sally calls it funny soda.”

 

“Ah.” Usagi said before going back to reading. Kras’hir stroked her hair, softly humming. “I like this book so far. Omnus gave it to me.”

 

“I've read it in the past.” Kras’hir said. “I've also been to Mars. It's amazing how little authors used to know about that particular world.”

 

“Yeah.” Usagi said. “Mars is nothing like ‘Barsoom’, I’m guessing?”

 

“The tech-cult known as the Adeptus Mechanicus used to rule Mars.” She replied. “The planet was covered in factories, temples and shrines to various machines. Underneath the surface, an ancient being known as the Void Dragon once slumbered, one of the few remaining C'Tan, the race who made the Necrons what they are.”

 

“So...nothing like Barsoom.”

 

“Right. The Red Planet was shattered when the Imperium collapsed. All that remains of it is an asteroid field.”

 

“...Holy shit.”

 

“Indeed.” Kras’hir responded. “The Void Dragon played a part in that particular event. It rampaged across the system after tearing itself free of the shattered world. Angron himself ended up killing it.”

 

“Damn.” Usagi said. “...Maybe you and I might try and find Barsoom one day. After all, the multiverse does exist.”

 

Kras’hir nodded. Silence fell for a few minutes, before she said, “I still can't believe Blackhawk pissed all over that sword of his.”

 

“Yeah. I honestly wish I’d been given it.”

 

“What were the Guardians thinking when they forced the position of Golden Ranger on him? He clearly doesn't want it.”

 

“You forget: they’re like the Chaos Gods in terms of morality.”

 

“A fair point, but it's not going to stop Blackhawk from rejecting their master plan and continuing on his path as a gunslinger.”

 

“Who said they were trying to make him diverge from that path?”

 

“Who said they weren't?” Kras’hir replied. “Like you said, they are similar to the Ruinous Powers in terms of morality. I've served Khorne for countless millennia, and I still have no idea what His plan is half the time. The Guardians are no different.”

 

“A fair point.” Usagi said. “...I love you.”

 

“As much as I love hearing you say that, why are you saying it now?” Kras’hir asked playfully. “Does hearing me talk about the Chaos Gods make you feel all warm inside?”

 

“Yeah…”

 

“You have some strange kinks and fetishes, my dear.” Kras’hir said. “But it doesn't change the fact that I love you, too.”

 

“Awwwww…” Usagi said. Her family had been overjoyed to hear that Kras’hir had proposed. Ikuko, for her part, had cried tears of joy. Kras’hir had told Angron about her proposal, the Primarch being the closest thing she had to a sibling. He had jokingly asked her if she was going soft on him. Marriage was unusual for Khornates, though not unheard of.

 

Blackhawk, meanwhile, was with Starhawk. He was teaching her how to shoot.

 

“So, the key to shooting straight is to have a firm grip on the gun.” He said, standing close to her and helping her adjust her grip and aim. “You want it to be firm enough that the recoil doesn't knock your aim off, but loose enough that the kick doesn't break your fingers or wrist. I've had that happen before, and believe me, it isn't fun. Make sense?”

 

Starhawk nodded, doing as he instructed. “Like this, yes?”

 

“Yes.” He said. “You've got it.”

 

Starhawk took a deep breath before reciting the Gunslinger’s Creed under her breath: “I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.

 

I aim with my eye.

I do not shoot with my hand; he who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.

I shoot with my mind.

I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father.

I kill with my heart.” She then fired, the bullet hitting its target with deadly accuracy.

‘Holy shit.’ Cort said in Blackhawk’s mind. ‘She shoots as straight as you, and she's never held a gun before. Your species really does have razor-sharp vision, eh?’

 

“Aye, Cort, that we do.” He said softly.

 

“I hope,” interrupted Firehawk’s voice. “That you will take good care of her.”

 

“We both will.” He said. “We're going to bring you back, Firehawk. I don't know if this is really you talking or simply a fragment lodged in my mind, but it's true, all the same. You won't be dead for long.”

 

“I had better not. Otherwise, who will you share Starhawk with?”

 

He snorted, before realizing Starhawk was talking to him. “What?” He said. “Sorry, I drifted off there for a moment.”

 

“I was saying thank you for teaching me how to shoot.” Starhawk said.

 

“You're very welcome.” He said, smiling at her.

 

“I...cannot say it enough, but I love you.”

 

“I love you, too.” Blackhawk replied, hugging her.

 

Starhawk pulled away from the hug before continuing her target practice. Shoot, reload, shoot, reload, shoot, reload. He watched her, admiring how easy she made shooting look. When all her bullets were gone, she tossed the pistol back to Blackhawk with a smirk. “As you say, ‘Top that’.”

 

He snorted, turning around. “Toss one of those bottles into the air, would you?” She did, knowing exactly what he wanted to do. Blackhawk waited until the bottle had been thrown upwards, before casually shooting it without looking. The bullet took off the cap, causing it to clatter to the ground while the bottle itself shattered.

 

“I think I topped that.” He said, smirking.

 

“Indeed you have.” Starhawk said.

 

“Do I get a prize for winning?” Blackhawk asked. “Or is the simple satisfaction of beating you enough?”

 

A pause. “That came out wrong.” Starhawk giggled playfully.

 

“It did. As for a prize…” she kissed him, wrapping her legs around his waist. He kissed her back, gripping her hips and holding her close. Starhawk soon broke the kiss after several minutes with a grin.

 

“As much as I would love to have my way with you right now, we should probably head back. I think we'll be having dinner soon.”

 

He then leaned in, whispering, “I'll be having you for dessert…” Starhawk let him carry her back to the apartment, Coop greeting them at the door.

 

“Uhhh...not gonna ask.” Ace himself was amused.

 

“Looks like my boys got a hen in his roost.”

 

Blackhawk grinned. “She's a crack shot, too. I couldn't be more lucky.”

 

“She is, huh? I oughta put her through gunslinger training. With you as her instructor.”

 

“He'd never be as good as me, Ace.” Cort said, using Blackhawk’s mouth and tongue. Ace’s beak dropped open, his sunglasses falling off.

 

“C-cort…” he said, falling to his knees.

 

“Yar.” Cort said. “It's me, old friend. Where's your lovely wife? I want to say hello.” Ace went to get Abby, who had just finished ordering a pizza.

 

“Hello, Cort. I know you’re speaking through my son.”

 

“Obviously.” Cort said dryly. “What gave it away? The beak?”

 

“...No shit.” Abby replied just as dryly.

 

“Seriously, how were you able to put up such a front for so long?” He asked. “Convincing everyone you were narcissistic, self-obsessed and harmless...it couldn't have been easy, though I know it helped you cope.”

 

“It did...it did, Cort.”

 

“Good.” He said. “Good…”

 

Then, Cuthbert came out. “Hello, you two.” He said cheerfully.

 

“Cuthbert...oh, typical ‘bert.” Abby laughed. “Cheerful even in death.”

 

“I've missed you, Abby.” Cuthbert replied. “I've seen everything Blackhawk has, but I missed being able to talk to you.”

 

“I saw you as my third son, Cuthbert…” she whispered. “Why can’t you come back to life like Ace here…”

 

“It was my time, Abby.” He said. “Jericho Hill...well, it broke Roland and Blackhawk. I don't want to imagine what scars I would have if I came back to life. I'm content where I am. Don't worry about me.”

 

“...I will worry, no matter what.”

 

Blackhawk resurfaced, saying, “There are others who would like to speak to you, but we will save that for another time.”

 

“Alright.” Abby said, drying her tears. “Pizza’s gonna be here in a bit.”

 

Blackhawk nodded, sitting down on the couch. He took out one of his bullets, balancing it on his hand before beginning to roll it along, moving it across his fingers.

 

“Where are you, Roland?” He muttered. “Are you dead? Alive? Did you find the Tower, or are you still chasing it?”

 

His voice did not answer.

 

“Crimson King, gunslinger, Tower, Man in Black.” He said. “Crimson King, gunslinger, Tower, Man in Black. All linked, all bound by ka…”

 

“Son?” Ace asked. “Are you OK?”

 

“I think he’s in a trance.” Abby said.

 

“Dad?” Blackhawk said after a few minutes passed. “What can you tell me about the Man in Black?”

 

“...He goes by many names, most starting with R.F., though I knew him as Marten Broadcloak.”

 

Blackhawk nodded. “Roland is hunting him.”

 

“He is also called Walter O’Dim.”

 

“The Man in Black serves...Him.” Blackhawk said. “The Crimson King. The Lord in Red. He who wishes to destroy the Tower.”

 

“...And yet He cannot.” Ace said. “He is trapped on a balcony in the Tower, unable to move.”

 

“You are right.” Blackhawk replied. “The King cannot destroy the Tower. Not yet. Not while the Guardians still live.”

 

“They work in mysterious ways, Blackhawk. Take what they give you and not waste it.”

 

“I don't need their gifts.” He said. “I don't need their fancy blade. I have my guns. That's enough. It has to be.”

 

The mood had gotten dark, so, during dinner, Blackhawk decided to recount humorous memories of his time in Gilead.

 

“Mom?” He said as they began to eat. “Do you remember the day Cort got really drunk?”

 

“Ohhh yeah.” she said through a mouthful of pizza. “He climbed in through the window and...had a date with the apple pie I had just baked and was setting out to cool.”

 

“I remember that.” Coop said. “...On second thought, I don’t want to.”

 

“Why not?” Starhawk asked. “What’s the big deal in dating an apple pie?”

 

“He certainly enjoyed himself.” Blackhawk said, smirking. “The ‘secret ingredient’ he added was quite...salty.”

 

“Oh.” Starhawk said. “How did your mother react?”

 

“Badly.” Abby answered flatly. “I told Cort if he wanted the pie, he was free to have it. Well, that’s the polite version, anyway.”

 

“I think your exact words were, ‘Take this pie and shove it up your ass, old man.’”

 

“Right, right. I had to bake another pie after that.”

 

“Cort literally shoved the first pie up his ass.” Blackhawk said to Starhawk. “Yes, he was that drunk.”

 

“I just hope he threw it out.” Starhawk replied, her face turning up into a grimace of disgust. “Because it might’ve not been suitable for eating after all that.”

 

Blackhawk laughed. “Yeah, I think you're right.”

 

Starhawk burst into laughter before eating her slice of pizza, which was drenched in barbeque sauce. Blackhawk stared at her for a moment.

 

“You have very strange tastes.” He said.

 

“Thank you, dearest.” she said, which got Ace to laugh.

 

“When’s the wedding?” he joked. Starhawk stared, blinking.

 

“Mr. Little, I had no idea you would ask that so quickly.”

 

“Come now, I’m just joking.”

 

“It will be her second wedding.” Blackhawk said. “In case you didn't already know.”

 

“...Oh, right. Now I feel awkward.”

 

‘Just like when we were kids.” Abby laughed. “Wait, Blackhawk, you’re saying…”

 

“Her first wife was her sister, Firehawk.” Blackhawk said, more for his own benefit. “She died.”

 

Coop coughed awkwardly. “Can we move on from this subject?”

 

“Yes.” Starhawk said. “Please.”

 

“Hmmm...what other stories to tell?” Blackhawk pondered.

 

“Remember the time Cuthbert and I pranked Roland?” Coop suggested.

 

“Ah, yes.” Blackhawk responded. “You dyed his hair bright red, if memory serves.”

 

“Did he take it well?” Starhawk asked.

 

“If him cursing and chasing us down counts as taking it well.” Coop said. “Then yes.”

 

“Cort was certainly amused by the whole thing.” Blackhawk said. “It didn't stop him from beating Cuthbert bloody, but he was amused, all the same.”

 

“I felt bad for Cuthbert getting hit like that. But Mom was gonna punish me anyway.” Coop said.

 

“And did you?” Starhawk asked Abby.

 

“Oh, yes.”

 

“Two weeks passed before he could sit comfortably.” Blackhawk added. Coop instinctively rubbed his rear, wincing.

 

“Don’t remind me.”

 

“I stayed out of the whole affair.” Blackhawk said to Starhawk. “I tried to talk Coop and Cuthbert out of doing it, but they didn't listen.”

 

“...We really should have.” Coop said.

 

“Cheer up, little brother.” Blackhawk said. “At least you didn't have the bright idea to fill a mug with sheep piss and give it to Cort while calling it a new type of ale.”

 

“That’s fucking gross, pardon my French.” Coop said.

 

“You are pardoned.” Abby said. “I don’t believe the younger generations should be punished for salty language...at least, not in excess. Coop’s the sort who rarely swears.”

 

“If you had heard the curses Roland, Alain and I used, you'd reconsider that view.” Blackhawk said.

 

“I might have.” she said with a coy grin.

 

“Oh, that's right. I got my sailor’s vocabulary from you.”

 

“So,” Ace cut in. “Are you seriously considering marriage to Starhawk? That’s a big responsibility.”

 

“Yes.” Blackhawk said. “I've been considering it ever since I met her.”

 

”Ah, love at first sight.” Ace said. “Isn’t it grand?”

 

“Yes.” Blackhawk agreed, taking Starhawk’s hand. “It is.”

 

“Of course I’ll marry you, Blackhawk…” Starhawk whispered.

 

“I'm glad.” he said, kissing her. Ace, Coop, and Abby all d’awwwed at the sight. A few minutes later, Blackhawk got up, taking Starhawk in his arms and heading for one of the bedrooms.

 

Kras’hir, meanwhile, was pacing. She wanted, no, needed, a fight. As tame as she was most of the time, she was still a Khornate, and her God demanded blood. Usagi, noticing this, decided to challenge her to a sparring match. Kras’hir accepted her challenge, and they sparred. They fought for quite a while, becoming injured quite a bit in the process. Usagi eventually yielded. “You have won, O mighty Bloodthirster.” she said. “Do with me as you wish.”

 

Kras’hir grinned. They ended up having very aggressive sex on the floor of that room.

 

In the Command Center, Ebony and Toby had woken up, confused as to when the “battle” was to begin. Alpha had been working on the Warp portal when they’d awoken, Omnus observing his progress. “Oh, hello.” the robot said.

 

“Hey.” Toby said back. “I...gotta get back home. My sister gets kinda antsy when I’m not home.”

 

“Gee, wonder why…” Ebony said. She had seen the way Lucy looked at her brother, and for all her lack of standards, it freaked her out.

 

“You are not going anywhere, Tobias Jones.” Omnus said, his tone cold with an edge of rage. “Neither are you, Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way. I am going to speak, and you two are going to listen. Understand?”

 

“Whatever, Dad.” Ebony said, which received a slap from Toby. Despite her influence on him, Toby still respected Omnus to some degree, and his girlfriend’s insolence would not be tolerated. Ebony, fuming, was about to cast Crucio on him before seeing that her magic was disabled. “Hey, what gives?!”

 

“A little precaution.” Omnus said. “While you were unconscious, I took your wand and cut off your access to magic.”

 

“OH, THAT IS SOME BULLSHIT! FUCK YOU, OLD MAN!” Ebony shouted, before this time recieving a very hard punch from Toby, knocking her to the floor.

 

“Let. Him. Speak.” Toby knew he was in trouble, and he was willing to listen to Omnus’ scolding.

 

“Your teammates have told me what you two have said since the passing of Firehawk and the Zero Girls.” Omnus said. “I know everything. I know that you have both mocked Starhawk for grieving, and made crude jokes about her relationship with her sister. I know you've said that the Zero Girls deserved what they got. I know you've insulted Kras’hir, though not to her face, about her guilt over not being able to save them.”

 

“...I am willing to admit that, Omnus. I am also willing to admit that I’ve been slacking in my Ranger duties as well.” Toby said. “With all due respect, I have been thinking it over and am wanting to apologize for the things I’ve said.” Before Ebony could say anything, Toby put a hand over her screaming, cursing mouth.

 

“While I do not like her screaming at me, I like you getting physical with her even less.” Omnus said. “Ebony, if you wish to speak, be civil. Can you do that?” Toby stopped covering her mouth, and let her speak.

 

“Mehmehmememehemeh…” Ebony mocked under her breath.

 

“That is a ‘no’, Omnus.” Alpha said. “In any case, continue.”

 

“I don't care if you liked Firehawk or the Zero Girls.” Omnus said. “I did not fully trust them myself. But they're dead, and some of your friends are grieving for them. Why are you so insistent on mocking them? It sickens me, to put it bluntly.”

 

“...I completely understand.” Toby said. “If you wish to punish me, then so be it.”

 

“No.” Omnus said. “You don't understand. If you did, you wouldn't have said those cruel things to begin with. This is hardly the first time you two have been assholes to the people around you, and I regret not stepping in sooner.”

 

Toby said nothing, realizing that Omnus made an incredibly good point. On some level, he knew he didn’t understand. Ebony’s toxicity was deeper than he thought.

 

“So, you want a punishment?” Omnus said. “Fine. As of now, you're both no longer Rangers.”

 

“I may not like it, but I am willing to accept it.” Toby said with a hint of bitterness. “All I ask is who my successor will be so I can give them my morpher personally. It’s the least I can do.”

 

“Alright.” Omnus said, before taking out Ebony’s wand. He then snapped it in half, before tossing the two broken pieces on the floor. “There you go, Ebony. You have your wand back. Think of it as a memento, a final lesson on the dangers of arrogance.”

 

Ebony then attempted to attack Omnus, Alpha knocking her out with a taser. “...Thank you.” Toby said dryly.

 

“Now, get out.” Omnus said, before turning back to what he and Alpha had been working on.

 

“Not until you tell me my successor to the Blue Ranger powers.” Toby said.

 

“I will tell you once this venture into the Warp is done, and I have had time to actually decide.” Omnus replied. “Now, once again, get out.”

 

“Alright. Farewell, Omnus. And may the power protect you.” Toby said, dragging Ebony out of the Command Center and not looking back. He at least faced his forced resignation with dignity, Alpha noted.

 

Blackhawk, who was laying in bed with Starhawk, jolted a bit as his phone buzzed. He looked at the screen. “Huh. Omnus kicked Ebony and Toby off the team.”

 

“...Good riddance.” Starhawk grumbled sleepily. “Wonder how they took it.”

 

“Who cares?” Blackhawk said. “I still can't believe I slept with both of them at one point.”

 

“Me neither.” Starhawk said, snuggling into his feathers.

 

Lettuce and Pinkie got the same text later, as did Usagi and Kras’hir. Kras’hir grinned at the news.

 

“Good fucking riddance.” She said.

 

“In all honesty, I don’t blame you.” Usagi said. “Naruto said, ‘Gee, and I thought I was arrogant’.”

 

Kras’hir chuckled. “I don't think any of us will miss them.”

 

“I’m just wondering who Omnus is gonna replace them with.” Usagi said.

 

“A problem for another day.” Kras’hir replied.

 

“Mmm-hmm.” Usagi said.

 

Toby, once he got home, pondered his sudden return to a normal, non-Ranger life. What was he to do now that he was no longer a Ranger?

 

Lucy hurried over to him. “Oh, brother dear, I was worried!”

 

“Why? Are you concerned that I’m not a Power Ranger anymore?” he grumbled.

 

“What?” She asked, surprised.

 

“Yeah, I’m no longer a Power Ranger, sis.” Toby said. “It’s nothing, really.”

 

“If you say so.” Toby nodded, hugging his sister. Ebony herself was...not taking it well, unlike Toby. He was at least keeping a stiff upper lip. She...wasn’t, screaming into her pillows and thrashing about her room. Toby was grateful they lived in separate homes, otherwise his mother would’ve kicked her out long ago.

 

“Love you, Lucy.”

 

“I love you too, brother dear.” Little did Toby realize how well she meant it. She held him close, stroking his hair and humming.

 

Sometime later, the remaining Rangers-Usagi, Naruto, Lettuce, Blackhawk, Pinkie, and Starhawk-as well as Kras’hir, had gathered in the Command Center, standing in front of the same portal they had gone through when they had entered the Warp for the first time.

 

“No speeches, no fancy words this time.” Omnus said. “You go into the Warp, find Firehawk and the Zero Girls, and bring them home.”

 

“Understood.” Usagi said. “We will not let you down, Omnus.”

 

“I know.” he said. “Now go.”

 

The Rangers nodded, and one by one, they all stepped into the Warp.

 

 

Spoiler

NOTES/TRIVIA:

-First part of the "Reborn" arc, which will be the last major arc for season 2 until The Rainbow Crystals (episodes 35-42).

-The title has two meanings: 1) Firehawk will be "reborn" once she is rescued from the Warp, and 2) The team will be "reborn" (at least partly) with a new lineup since Toby and Ebony have been kicked out of the team.

-Speaking of, Toby is trying to redeem for past and current actions, and accepts his forced resignation with dignity.

-Several major changes occur:

As mentioned before, Toby and Ebony are no longer Rangers. Their replacements will come at the end of the arc.

-Dr. Maniac is (temporarily) killed off; don't worry, he'll get better.

-Blackhawk and Starhawk officially become a couple.

-Lettuce proposes to Pinkie.

-Kras'hir proposes to Usagi.

-Beryl's court is now a quartet consisting of herself, Ahriman, Kunzite and Zoicite.

-There are two continuity nods, both to season 1:

-Beryl's Batman Gambit to kill Dr. Maniac for his actions during Vision Quest are not dissimilar to Diabolica's actions during The Red Flaw (not coincidentally, they both kickstart a major arc of the series).

-The portal the Rangers use to enter the Warp is the same one from The Laughter of Thirsting Gods.

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by MLG Vanilluxe

[GreyKnight151]

Okay, normally I don't do this, but I have to rant a bit: Lesbian Hex. Lesbian. Hex. Are you fucking kidding me? Not only does this make the relationship between Starhawk and Firehawk feel hollow, but it carries a slew of unfortunate implications. 

Edited December 22, 2018 by MLG Vanilluxe

[Rebel the Wolfgirl]

Reborn: Part II

(ADMIN NOTICE: Our apologies, but due to this chapter being too long for the server, I had to temporarily place it in the google document below.)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MRTbUNx4Tr9tWJf8M_BVLSEHWEW9N6f5kUsetIPNeVk/edit?usp=sharing

Spoiler

NOTES/TRIVIA:

-Second part of the "Reborn" arc.

-A couple of prior events are retconned/explained:

• Starhawk's "lesbian hex" is explained as her being in denial.
• Alma's "death" in Vision Quest as a piece of her psyche manifested and dying; since "Fear No Evil" she has been warring with the Chaos Gods.
• Vipera's plot to "control" the Necrons is shown to be futile.

-First appearances: "Twitchy"/Malir, a fellow Daemoness and friend of Kras'hir's. Unlike the latter who is overtly Khornate, Malir's origins and exact allegiances are kept more...ambiguous. Her appearance (resembling a human but with large horns) adds to this.

-An earlier plot element from "The Laughter of Thirsting Gods" is recycled: the romance between a Daemoness and a human. In this case, it's Malir and Naruto.

-Starhawk is revealed to be bisexual; Firehawk is as well (though this was already obvious).

-In a self-admitted "Author's Saving Throw" the more..icky aspects of Starhawk and Firehawk's relationship are discussed and acknowledged. In this case, the worst effects of royal inbreeding are shown through the history of a particular ancient dynasty on Hawkia.

-Starhawk is revealed to be pregnant due to her "making love" to Blackhawk.

-A bit more background is given on the first Multiverse Force team.

-Firehawk is revealed to have a beacon chip implanted in her vocal cords. She's also revealed to be a cyborg.

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by MLG Vanilluxe

[Rebel the Wolfgirl]

 

Spoiler

WARNING: This episode contains disturbing scenes that may unease some. Reader discretion is advised.

 

Reborn: Part III

(ADMIN NOTICE: Our apologies, but due to this chapter being too long for the server, I had to temporarily place it in the google document below.)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z_FLh-BkSIpAgaLQp4zWbgIx6hb3pBatrRZcnK88CuI/edit?usp=sharing

 

Spoiler

NOTES/TRIVIA:

-Third and final part of the "Reborn" arc.

-Usagi and Kras'hir get married; despite this, they both enter a polyamorous relationship with Starhawk.

-Usagi also enters a "friends with benefits" relationship with Firehawk, at least occassionally.

-Vipera becomes pregnant by Abaddon; this will become important later on.

-First appearances: Rei, Ami, Makoto, and Minako (supporting characters), The Enchantress/Abbie (recurring character)

-The Enchantress/Abbie is a reincarnation of the character from Warhammer 40,000: Underhive, retroactively bringing that lit into Reneverse canon.

-Malir turns out to be an antagonist.

-Usagi regains her powers as Sailor Moon; this includes a Deadpool-esque healing factor.

-This episode is a long one, and is partly why a new episode hasn't been posted in a while.

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by MLG Vanilluxe

[Rebel the Wolfgirl]

 

Lettuce Manchot, P.I. (Penguin Investigator)

 

(ADMIN NOTICE: Our apologies, but due to this chapter being too long for the server, I had to temporarily place it in the google document below.)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JLfPv2kXynSnI_CQRytBcjHHRdy6dRVAaCwCtJHpUVA/edit?usp=sharing

Edited December 22, 2018 by MLG Vanilluxe

[Rebel the Wolfgirl]

 

Know No Fear

(ADMIN NOTICE: Our apologies, but due to this chapter being too long for the server, I had to temporarily place it in the google document below.)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pJXGeAkXYLYSD4V-ccufMPlCE5CE1GcaB3AVWZiptjM/edit?usp=sharing

 

Spoiler

NOTES/TRIVIA:

-This episode is a psuedo-sequel to "Fear No Evil".

-This episode will also be the last "long" episode, partly out of necessity.

-It's revealed that Blackhawk has a multiple-choice past as a result of Roland's endless quest for the Dark Tower affecting him personally.

-We learn Aquila's backstory, foreshadowing season 3's events. The Man in Black/Randall Flagg appears again, also foreshadowing events that will happen in season 3.

-Ebony and Toby make their final appearances in the series (via being put in And I Must Scream situations). Drako dies (again); he will return in season 3.

-First appearances: Roland, Jake, Susannah, and Carrie.

-Lettuce and Patsy (from Camp Lazlo) now have a friends with benefits relationship.

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by MLG Vanilluxe

[4EverGreen]

To whet your appetites for the next episode of "Power Rangers Multiverse Force" episode, here is a commercial sneak peak of it, just for you! /

The Magi-Mother sighs, and says: “The Dog Guardian, Clifford, has decided that it is time for him, to once again choose a mortal body to act as his avatar, and the candidate he thinks would be the best option for him, would be you!”

Captain Retro is surprised, and he asks: “Me?! Why would he pick me?!”

The Magi-Mother says: “The Guardian's work in mysterious ways, Captain Retro. But I know that he wouldn't have even CONSIDERED you, if you didn't already have something inside of yourself that could handle his type of power and clairvoyance.”

Captain Retro says: “I'm very well aware of Clifford's abilities, and I am willing to allow Clifford to have access to my mind in order to help me. But...it's not that simple, is it?”

The Magi-Mother sighs, and says: “Your insight serves you well, Captain Retro. It most certainly is not! There is a reason, why I put my base of operations here. You see, Briarwood, is one of only many places on Earth, where the forces of the Morphing Grid, the magical realm, and access to the domain of the Guardian's, as well as time, space, and other dimensions themselves, all converge! In the forest around us, is where you will be tested! There are many things in there, not all of them good. If you are to become Clifford's new avatar, you must go in there, and conquer every single one of your fears, before you are deemed worthy to be Clifford's new avatar.”

Captain Retro asks: “How long will the test take?”

The Magi-Mother says: “About four months, if you are successful. And the last month will seem like the LONGEST of them all, as you will be tested by time distortions, and your body is pushed to it's absolute endurance! But if you make it through the test, you will have access to abilities and powers, that used to seem impossible to you before!”

Captain Retro asks: “If this test can help give ME such great powers, why haven't any ACTUAL Power Rangers ever taken this test yet?”

The Magi-Mother seriously says: “Do you remember the movie Men In Black 3? Well, what Agent K said was true. Don't ask questions, you don't want to know the answer to.”

Captain Retro seriously replies: “So it's one of THOSE deals! Very well, then! It certainly wouldn't be the FIRST time I've gone through something difficult, and it probably won't be the last! But there is one thing I WOULD like to know the answer to! What exactly IS in the forest?”

The Magi-Mother replies: “Only what you take with you.” /

"How to Save a Life", premiering during the "Spin-Off Festival!" Enough said!

[4EverGreen]

Sorry for the lengthy delay, here's my story, as promised. I'll put it in spoiler so as to avoid the dreaded data limit lengths that tend to plague these stories. /

 (Cold Open):

Words on the screen appear, and they say: Briarwood, Mother's Day, 2014.

The scene opens up on Rita, now more commonly known as the Magi-Mother, putting up the finishing touches on a Mother's Day Celebration for herself, and she sings: “Happy Mother's Day, to me. Happy Mother's Day, to me. Happy Mother's Day, to ME!!!! Happy Mother's Day, TO me!”

And Captain Retro suddenly comes in, and he says: “Um, have I come in at a bad time?”

The Magi-Mother says: “Absolutely not! You're actually right on time! Come, take a seat wherever you want!”

And Captain Retro picks the stump that looks most comfortable to him, and he says: “I sure wish you would get some ACTUAL furniture in this base of yours!”

The Magi-Mother says: “It's on order. It should be here in about 150 years. By that time, Chicago will be known as Neo Chicago!”

Captain Retro says: “Don't give me spoiler alerts, you know I don't like that! How am I supposed to ACT surprised once Star Wars: The Force Awakens comes out, and everyone's going to wonder how come I don't act all aghast when you-know-who gets killed! Everyone KNOWS that you have to WAIT until eighteen years AFTER something has come out before you can actually spoil it!”

The Magi-Mother sighs and says: “I said I was SORRY about that! It's just that once you've learned to see the past, present, and some of the future simultaneously as I have, you sometimes forget that others who might also have that ability, might not want things to be spoiled the way that I do. Anyways, I'm glad you're here to help me celebrate Mother's Day. Training you to be a hero, is probably the closest I'm ever going to BE, in being an actual mother!”

Captain Retro says: “I wouldn't know about that. After all, the future is a LONG time for you. Besides, how long have you and the Magi-Father already been alive? You probably both have at LEAST a thousand years still left in you!”

The Magi-Mother says: “Well, probably. But I didn't invite you here just to help me celebrate Mother's Day, I've actually asked you here, for something very important!

Captain Retro asks: “What's that?”

The Magi-Mother sighs, and says: “The Dog Guardian, Clifford, has decided that it is time for him, to once again choose a mortal body to act as his avatar, and the candidate he thinks would be the best option for him, would be you!”

Captain Retro is surprised, and he asks: “Me?! Why would he pick me?!”

The Magi-Mother says: “The Guardian's work in mysterious ways, Captain Retro. But I know that he wouldn't have even CONSIDERED you, if you didn't already have something inside of yourself that could handle his type of power and clairvoyance.”

Captain Retro says: “I'm very well aware of Clifford's abilities, and I am willing to allow Clifford to have access to my mind in order to help me. But...it's not that simple, is it?”

The Magi-Mother sighs, and says: “Your insight serves you well, Captain Retro. It most certainly is not! There is a reason, why I put my base of operations here. You see, Briarwood, is one of only many places on Earth, where the forces of the Morphing Grid, the magical realm, and access to the domain of the Guardian's, as well as time, space, and other dimensions themselves, all converge! In the forest around us, is where you will be tested! There are many things in there, not all of them good. If you are to become Clifford's new avatar, you must go in there, and conquer every single one of your fears, before you are deemed worthy to be Clifford's new avatar.”

Captain Retro asks: “How long will the test take?”

The Magi-Mother says: “About four months, if you are successful. And the last month will seem like the LONGEST of them all, as you will be tested by time distortions, and your body is pushed to it's absolute endurance! But if you make it through the test, you will have access to abilities and powers, that used to seem impossible to you before!”

Captain Retro asks: “If this test can help give ME such great powers, why haven't any ACTUAL Power Rangers ever taken this test yet?”

The Magi-Mother seriously says: “Do you remember the movie Men In Black 3? Well, what Agent K said was true. Don't ask questions, you don't want to know the answer to.”

Captain Retro seriously replies: “So it's one of THOSE deals! Very well, then! It certainly wouldn't be the FIRST time I've gone through something difficult, and it probably won't be the last! But there is one thing I WOULD like to know the answer to! What exactly IS in the forest?”

The Magi-Mother replies: “Only what you take with you.”

Captain Retro says: “It's one of those 'Secret tests of Character' then. Very well, in that case, I know what I must do.”

And to the Magi-Mother's surprise, Captain Retro disrobes everything EXCEPT his mask, and goes out towards the forest! The Magi-Mother asks: “No weapons?”

Without even looking back, Captain Retro says: “I won't need them.” /

How to Save a Life

Captain Retro narrates, and he says: “Previously, on Power Rangers Multiverse Force; BlackHawk and StarHawk officially got married, and they were surprised when their baby girl Aquilla, was not only born, but also when a future version of her arrived from a bad future! Wanting to prevent it, BlackHawk did something drastic, and decided to temporarily kill himself, in order to prevent Roland and his friends from continuing on their fruitless quest, to stop the Crimson King. Meanwhile, the relationships between Lettuce and Pinkie, as well as Undyne and Alphys, hit a snag when Undyne tried to make Lettuce her 'one exception,' and Lettuce decided to make Patsy Smiles, a 'Friend with Benefits'. If that weren't enough, Ebony and Toby, defectors from the Power Rangers, made enemies with the wrong Psychic Girl, and Ebony was thrust into an eternity of endless punishment, while Toby was locked away in a psychic dimension, to be driven mad by his crushing isolation. In spite of Alma taking care of both them, and Drako, her ambitions have still not been satisfied. And now, she seeks to go on a rampage on Coastal Falls. However, the Power Rangers may soon realize, this is NOT the Alma they know...”

Words appear on the screen again, and they say: “November 2178, one month ago, Dr. Maniac's Lab”.

Dr. Maniac is FURIOUSLY reviewing footage of the previous battle between the Power Rangers, and the mutated versions of the Super Psycho Zero Girls, trying to pinpoint at which point, the entire fight went WRONG for his creations! Dr. Maniac says: “It's INCREDIBLE! I must have reviewed this footage at least a DOZEN times already, and I STILL come up with the same ANSWER! It's all the fault of that new, STUPID Gold Ranger! But how could there be a Ranger that I MISSED?! I know of EVERY single Power Ranger that is already IN existence and STILL living!”

A female voice says: “Perhaps you're thinking about this problem way too hard!”

Dr. Maniac turns around, and he spots two very different looking women, who are both attractive in their own ways! Dr. Maniac says: “Who are you, and how did you get in here?! It's a real problem for you to be in here without the express permission of Queen Beryl!”

The second woman says: “Yeah, about that; I don't know how to break it to you, but Queen Beryl, she is planning to BETRAY you!”

Dr. Maniac says: “That's ABSURD! I am the SMARTEST scientist/doctor that Queen Beryl could POSSIBLY get her hands on! She would have to be practically INSANE to want to get rid of me! I mean, do you know who I actually AM?! I am Dr. Rick Maniac, also knows as Parallel Rick Sanchez 666, also known as the PURE evil Rick! Ever hear of the Council of Rick's? Even THEY do not want to deal with me!”

The first woman says: “Very impressive! But that doesn't matter to Queen Beryl, she IS planning to KILL you!”

Dr. Maniac asks: “And just HOW would you know this, might I ask?”

The second woman says: “We have our sources, and we BOTH don't want to see you get KILLED! We want to put you to some good use, where your work will TRULY be appreciated!”

Dr. Maniac says: “Well, may I ask just WHO wants to have the talents of the great Dr. Maniac?”

The first woman says: “You may. My name is Kaolite!”

The second woman says: “And my name is Villuy!”

Kaolite says: “We come from the same dimension that Queen Beryl does, and we are also quite familiar with the woman named Usagi; AKA Sailor Moon!”

Dr. Maniac says: “Than you will HELP me get RID of her, and her ANNOYING friends the Power Rangers! It's SETTLED! But first, I need to pull a convincing disappearing act, without arousing the suspicion of Queen Beryl OR the Power Rangers! My Mecha-Clones have the ability, to assume the shape of ANY person that I choose! I'll simply program one of my Mecha-Clones to stay behind on Queen Beryl's ship, and assume my shape, my looks, and my personality! It will be absolutely FLAWLESS! And if and/or WHEN Queen Beryl decides to have the Mecha-Clone killed, she will be none the wiser that I am still alive, and NEITHER will the Power Rangers!”

Villuy says: “That is a MOST brilliant idea! I'm VERY into technology myself!”

Kaolite says: “And I used to be in love with another intellectual named Professor Tomme, before we had a...difference of opinion, if you know what I mean!”

Dr. Maniac says: “I can make an educated guess! Very well then, my Mecha-Clone is all set, and we can leave right away! In the mean-time, we must find the REAL Alma, and capture her for MY nefarious purposes!”

Villuy asks: “Who is Alma?”

Dr. Maniac says: “A young, psychic girl! Once I capture her, I can clone her D.N.A., and make an EVIL copy dedicated to do MY bidding! And the Power Rangers will NEVER know that she ISN'T the real Alma, until it is FAR too late!”

Kaolite says: “You ARE quite the genius! Queen Beryl will be SORRY she ever tried to cross YOU!”

Dr. Maniac says: “That IS the General plan! Mecha-Clone, you KNOW what to do!”

And a lone Mecha-Clone shape-shifts into the EXACT likeness of Dr. Maniac, and mimicking Dr. Maniac's voice perfectly, it says: “Understood!”

Dr. Maniac says: “Perfect! Let's go!”

And using a special watch on his person, Dr. Maniac warps himself, Kaolite, and Villuy out of Queen Beryl's spaceship, to parts unknown. /

Words appear on the screen again, and they say: “Now, Present Day, the second to last Tuesday of 2178, Core Earth, Coastal Falls.”

The Power Rangers and Patsy are standing among the wreckage of Alma's rampage. Thankfully for the Power Rangers, Alma has just left to hunt down the president of the company that killed her. Lettuce looks around and says, "Well, at least things can't get any worse."

But almost as suddnely as he says this, a really VICIOUS killer robot, who looks VERY familiar, warps into the city wreckage, along with several much more powerful Imps. Lettuce promptly responds with: "OK, things CAN get worse.”

And Lettuce promptly gets knocked out cold by a powerful right hook by Baphomet, and demorphs as a result! Vipera appears and chuckles: “How do you like my new monster, Rangers? Well, technically, it's not MY monster. It was one of Dr. Maniac's FINEST creations, before SOMEBODY went ahead and KILLED him! Can you imagine?! One moment, you're the SMARTEST scientist in the entire world; the next, you're six feet under, sleeping with the worms! Although, I should thank you in a way. With Dr. Maniac out of the picture, I no longer have to use the Necrons I captured for his purposes! Instead, I decided to infuse their strength and spirits into my army of Imps, who are MUCH more powerful than they ever were under Emperor Diabolica! It's a pity that Lettuce won't be able to see the PRICELESS moment when I personally tear Pinky Pie limb from LIMB!!!!”

Pinky Pie says: “Okay, maybe you've been out of it for a bit, but I'm currently NOT speaking with Lettuce, he betrayed me with Kira, Alphys, and NOW Patsy!”

Patsy looks indignant, and she says: “Hey, you can't talk about me like THAT! Whatever Lettuce did with you is really NOT my problem!”

Baphomet says: “And personally, I don't care either way WHAT Lettuce did! I've been itching to get back at you Rangers for quite some time! Who's the new Gold Ranger, by the way?!”

BlackHawk points at him, and says: “Somebody who's beaten you before!” He removes his helmet, revealing his status as Gold Ranger, and he says: “And somebody who will beat you again!”

Baphomet says: “How fitting! I've come back to life, and you've come back as a new Ranger! And here, I thought I wouldn't have an adversary to test my new powers against! I've gained much strength since the last time we fought!”

BlackHawk puts his helmet back on, and he says: “Even if that's true, so have I.”

He grabs out Saba II, and he say: “I may be more of a gun master than a sword fighter, but I'll use whatever I'm given to get the job done!”

Vipera says: “Unfortunately for you, your battle will not be WITH Baphomet today! You'll be fighting against M.O.D.O.K.! Otherwise known as, Machine Organism Designed ONLY to KILL!!!!”

FireHawk says: “Is this the part where we're supposed to be intimidated?”

Baphomet says: “Why don't we TELL them what happened to their former friends, Ebony and Toby, if they still CARE about them?!”

Usagi gets apprehensive and asks: “What have you DONE to them?!”

Vipera scoffs and says: “Oh, SURE!!!! Blame the sexy, hot, space viper, just because she wants to conquer one MEASLY continent on the planet of Core Earth! EHHH, WRONG!!!!”

StarHawk says: “It wasn't you?”

Vipera says: “Sorry, space angel. But I'm NOT the culprit this time. Alma came in, got all indignant about the way Ebony and Toby were behaving. She blasted CIRCE and Drako DEAD, BANISHED Ebony to a dimension where she will be TORTURED for all eternity, and has locked up Toby in a prison of pure isolation, where he will SLOWLY be driven MAD!!!!”

Naruto shakes his head, and says: “No, that's not possible.”

Captain Retro appears and he says: “I WARNED you!”

Captain Retro looks around, and he SPOTS M.O.D.O.K.! Captain Retro asks: “What is THAT creature doing here?!”

Vipera says: “We busted him out of that S.P.D. Prision where Emperor Grumm is being held! He STILL hasn't forgotten what Doggie Kruger did to his HORNS!”

Captain Retro says: “He shouldn't have tried to CONQUER the Earth! But you need to call off M.O.D.O.K., right now!”

Baphomet laughs, and he says: “Isn't THAT rich?! And who's going to try to MAKE us?!”

Captain Retro sighs, and says: “I know, that you have a very, VERY small BRAIN disproportionate to your muscles, but use one SHRED of intelligence in your entire life, and THINK about it! He is a MACHINE ORGANISM DESIGNED ONLY TO KILL!!!! What happens if he KILLS the Rangers and all the humans, who will there BE left to kill besides YOU two?!!!”

Baphomet gets a nervous anime sweat drop, and he says: “Empress, he HAS a point!”

Vipera groans and says: “Obviously, you will KILL him first BEFORE he can do that!”

Baphomet's sweat drop disappears, and he gets all confidant again! Baphomet says: “Good point! Nice try, CAPTAIN, but we're NOT afraid of HIM!”

Captain Retro sighs and says: “They NEVER listen to reason! Sorry Rangers, but I got to take care of things, right here and--!”

But Captain Retro NEVER gets to finish his thought, because a CREEPY monster tries to ZAP him with a powerful LASER, and Captain Retro BARELY manages to dodge it, even with HIS fast speed!

The monster, reveals himself to be Psygorn! Psygorn looks around, and says: “Well, what a pleasant surprise! I came here looking to kill Undyne and Alphys, and instead, I find M.O.D.O.K.! HE will be MOST pleased!”

Captain Retro's eyes open WIDE in horror, and he says: “HE? Who IS 'He'?!”

Psygorn sarcastically says: “Oh, darn it. I spoiled the surprise! Well, it doesn't matter anyways, because NOBODY around here BESIDES machines, will live LONG enough to CARE! Just KNOW that YOUR days are finally NUMBERED, pitiful Power Rangers!”

Captain Retro's eyes snap out of his powerful gaze, and he says: “Dr. Maniac is STILL ALIVE!!!!”

Vipera stares in disbelief and asks: “WHAT?!!!”

Baphomet says: “ATTACK!!!!”

And the Imps suddenly swarm around the Power Rangers, and start attacking them! Psygorn says: “Now's my chance!”

And with a FLASH-STEP, he ZOOMS over in front of Vipera's FACE, grabbing her arms QUITE forcibly! Psygorn says: “Did you REALLY think that you could go back on your word and not have to pay the price for it?”

Vipera struggles, and she says: “I SWEAR, I didn't KNOW that Dr. Maniac was STILL alive!”

Psygorn says: “As if he would really be STUPID enough to let Queen Beryl kill him! Well, just know that it is NOT Dr. Maniac's wrath you need to worry about, he's got much BIGGER fish to fry, that don't involve YOU!”

Vipera chuckles, and she says: “Have you forgotten my secret weapon, M.O.D.O.K., KILL that DESPICABLE Psygorn!!!!”

M.O.D.O.K., starts charging up his eye lasers, and Psygorn chuckles, and says: “By the time he fires, I will step OUT of the way, and M.O.D.O.K., will disintegrate you SO completely, there WON'T be anything LEFT for you to heal!”

Vipera, with no time to think, says: “M.O.D.O.K., TURN!!!!”

M.O.D.O.K., does what he is told, but his powerful LASERS are now heading for Baphomet!!!! Baphomet says: “They're heading straight TOWARDS me!!!!”

And with all his might, he uses his sword to BOUNCE the lasers off, and unfortunately REDIRECTS him at the Imps, DISINTEGRATING all of them in an instant! Vipera breathes a sigh of relief, and she says: “Lucky, I've got 193 MORE Imps like that back in my spaceship!”

Psygorn says: “What little good that will do ANY of you! Too bad none of you will LIVE to see the glorious wrath of Dr. Maniac, succeed in all it's glory! Because by then, you will all be DEAD!!!!”

Psygorn fires powerful electric energy, and paralyzes even the powerful M.O.D.O.K.! Psygorn says: “But thank you for finding M.O.D.O.K., for me! He will be SO much more useful to Dr. Maniac, than a DEAD Alphys and Undyne! FAREWELL!!!!”

And with a snap of his fingers, Psygorn and M.O.D.O.K., disappear, and Baphomet and Vipera are left dumbfounded, as how to they are without their troops! Patsy says: “Not so confidant without your troops now, are you!”

Vipera says: “You FOOL! I may have lost some Imps today, but YOU will soon lose SO much more!! My only regret is, we won't be able to finish you personally, but that will make conquering Neo Australia-Asia all the more easier for us! Baphomet?!”

Baphomet says: “More Imps coming UP!!!!”

And he raises his sword, and seven more Imps pop in to replace the disintegrated Imps! Vipera says: “Baphomet, you and these Imps play with the Rangers for a while! Just don't get KILLED!”

Baphomet says: “We'll be sure to take the fight out of them!”

Patsy slaps Lettuce in the face, and she says: “Lettuce, speak to me!”

Captain Retro says: “It's no use, Patsy, he's still out, cold! There's only one choice, YOU must take his morpher, and temporarily assume his power!”

Patsy asks: “I can do that?”

Usagi says: “That's right! Undyne assumed Toby's power once, back when he was still one of us!”

Patsy grabs Lettuce's morpher, and she asks: “So, how does it work?”

StarHawk says: “First, you open up the morphing case, say 'It's Morphing Time,' say 'Power of Jupiter, Lightning', and you will transform!”

Pinkie says: “Wait! Are you SURE letting Patsy morph is a good idea?!”

Patsy asks: “Afraid I'll show you up?!”

FireHawk says: “How about the fact that she has LITERALLY no fighting experience?!”

Patsy says: “Oh, yes I DO!!!! I once punched out EVERY single boy in Camp Kidney, just to prove to my father that I could!”

Captain Retro says: “I can vouch for THAT one! Edward STILL hasn't lived that one down!”

Naruto says: “Just do it! We don't have time!”

Captain Retro says: “That may be more true than you know! If Doctor Maniac is involved, things are going to get BAD, and they're going to get BAD fast!”

BlackHawk asks: “And why is that?!”

Captain Retro sighs, and says: “You know how I can see glimpses of the future? I can also travel to the past. It's a technique, called 'Chronomacy'. Basically, it allows me to travel to any time period in the past that I want to, as long as it's a place where I'm needed.”

FireHawk says: “So, what's the big deal about something basic as time travel?”

Captain Retro seriously says: “There's nothing BASIC about time travel! 'Chronomacy' is a very DANGEROUS and very RISKY technique! Back in 2014, the Magi-Mother, sent me on a four month quest to become Clifford's avatar, and during that process, acquire all the powers I possess now! And it took me all of the LAST month to master 'Chronomacy', because there is so much RISK involved! I briefly lost sense of my OWN identity, and traveled to the FAR past, 14,000 years ago!”

BlackHawk asks: “14,000 years ago? Did YOU meet up with Cerebus?”

Captain Retro says: “On at least a couple of occasions, but I can't talk about them here or now, even if I wanted to. The point is, there is a REASON why you don't just see someone using 'Chronomacy' like its some sort of play thing, because it's not! 'Chronomacy' is VERY dangerous! For instance, you cannot travel to a time period where you already ARE, because you risk the chance of running into a past VERSION of yourself; and if your past self met your future/present self, it runs the risk of breaking reality, and NULLIFYING all of existence!”

Pinkie Pie says: “WOW!!!! And I thought DISCORD had some powerful magic tricks!”

Captain Retro says: “But there's a reason why I had to learn 'Chronomacy'. There are certain times, when something has to be changed in the time-stream, like right now. I first suspected that this might come up the MOMENT I saw those memory D.V.D.'s we watched in the Power Chamber! Speaking of, StarHawk, you LIED to me! You promised me you would give me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing BUT the truth! You never told me you were capable of ALTERING your memories, AND had the power of being able to coerce your own SISTER to take YOUR side!”

StarHawk says: “I only did that because I was DESPERATE! You don't know what it's been like to live my life! Planet Hawkia is a real WARRIOR society! They'd never accept US the way we were!”

FireHawk says: “That's why I decided to take the fall, and let StarHawk be the one everyone looked up to. I just never thought that Omnus would ask me to become a Power Ranger.”

“Baaa.” Says a bleating voice, and everyone looks at Woolbur Fleeceley. Woolbur says: “And I most certainly agree!”

BlackHawk says: “Woolbur, you came!”

Woolbur says: “And not a minute to soon! It's time for some morphing to be done!”

Patsy looks at him, and says: “Right! It's MORPHING time!” /

Patsy says: “Power of Jupiter, Lightning!” Woolbur says: “S.P.D. Emergency!” /

And the two green Rangers look at each other. Woolbur says: “I've got to agree, green looks pretty good on YOU, Patsy!”

Patsy says: “Actually, it always has. Green is the uniform color of the Squirrel Scouts!”

Baphomet says: “Well, if you love BEING a Squirrel Scout, than we shall CRUSH you like a Squirrel! Imps, ATTACK!!!!” And Baphomet and the Imps charge towards Patsy and the Power Rangers! And they begin fighting off the strong fighters! StarHawk says: “All right, Captain Retro! We'll take care of this while you do whatever you need to do!”

Captain Retro says: “Actually, you'll need to come with me, and you'll need to use the Phantom Ranger Powers, to!”

StarHawk asks: “Me, but why?”

Captain Retro says: “Three reasons. First off, this is going to be a TWO Ranger job, and I CAN'T do this job by myself, even WITH all my powers! Second, your current Ranger Powers won't WORK back in the past, because they haven't BEEN created yet! When BlackHawk and Naruto traveled into the past, they could do that because the power of the Warp created those powers, and could sustain them regardless of where or WHEN they were! But that won't work for your current powers! That's why you need the Phantom Ranger's power, because it's a power that already EXISTS where we are going.”

StarHawk asks: “And, what's the THIRD reason? You, also said this was a TWO Ranger job, but, I only see one RANGER among us!”

Captain Retro sighs, and says: “The third reason is, if we are successful in going back into the past and changing what NEEDS to be changed, there is a CHANCE we may be able to RETCON Toby and Ebony back into existence. BUT, there would be a catch to that!”

Usagi asks: “Catch, what catch?!”

Captain Retro says: “Retconning things is not an exact science, it's always unpredictable. Just know that by changing something in the past, you create a RIPPLE effect that catches up and affects everything in the future/present time-line. And that ripple effect causes WAVES, and those waves will wash AWAY the old personalities of Ebony and Toby! And if their personalities change; well...”

Naruto says: “Don't be nervous, tell us!”

Captain Retro sighs, and says: “If their personalities change, they will have NEVER been selected to have BEEN Power Rangers in the first place. All their deeds and accomplishments that have been created up to this point will be wiped out and replaced. If we succeed, nobody but me, Sans, OR StarHawk, will EVER remember the former personalities or memories that made up Toby and Ebony, because those personalities will have NEVER existed in the first place!”

BlackHawk says: “With all the bad memories that happened between Toby, Ebony, and myself, NOTHING would make me HAPPIER!”

StarHawk says: “And you still haven't explained what you meant by, two Rangers!”

Captain Retro says: “On August 27th, 2014, my 29th birthday, Clifford accepted me as his avatar. Giving me a new outlook on life, and the ULTIMATE power ANY ranger can be given! It's MORPHING time!!!!” And Captain Retro pulls out a powerful GREEN Morpher, and within the transformation sequence, a flash of every SINGLE Green Ranger and Black Ranger that's ever EXISTED so far, even the ones that the Rangers THEMSELVES don't fully recognize, flash by! /

Captain Retro says: “Master Morpher, Default Mode! Green Lion Thunder Ranger Power!” And Captain Retro transforms into a Green Power Ranger, with a white vest very similar to Tommy's White Ranger Black Vest, and BlackHawk's Gold Ranger Orange Vest, and with powerful flames blazed around the eye visors! /

Everyone looks at Captain Retro's morphed form, and Pinkie asks: “You're a Power Ranger?”

Captain Retro removes his helmet, STILL wearing his mask, and he says: “Part time!”

Patsy says: “That's cool! When do I get my own, little, Master Morpher power thing?”

Captain Retro puts his helmet back on, and he says: “When you grow up! These Master Morphers can only be given by the Guardian's themselves! I have one because Clifford chose me, himself, to be his avatar! These powers are strictly for the forces of good, and can NEVER be used or TRULY duplicated by the forces of evil! And by the way, BlackHawk, I'd REALLY wish you'd use Saba II, more! It's a really cool sword!”

BlackHawk says: “I want a GUN that can shoot things!”

Captain Retro says: “It can shoot lasers! Is THAT gun-like enough for you?!”

BlackHawk asks: “Really?! Saba II, why didn't you TELL me you could shoot lasers?!”

Saba II responds: “First off, you didn't ask! Secondly, I was MAD at you that you took a PEE all over me!”

Captain Retro sternly says: “BlackHawk!”

BlackHawk says: “It's no use being mad at me! We might not even REMEMBER that thing ever happened, because it might not have happened at all in the FIRST place!”

Captain Retro says: “And we don't have time! StarHawk, it's time to de-morph and turn into the Phantom Ranger. At least I know that there are no reports of StarHawk being on Earth in 2028, but we still need the Phantom Ranger to be there, so your past self won't get suspicious!”

StarHawk de-morphs, puts her current morpher away, and she says: “I understand.” She grabs out the Phantom Ruby, and says: “Shift into Turbo!” /

StarHawk says: “Phantom Ranger, Turbo Power!” /

Captain Retro says: “Are you ready?”

StarHawk says: “All set!”

Captain Retro says: “And one last thing; whatever happens, do NOT let M.O.D.O.K., kill ANY innocent civilians. Clifford says that if any of YOU happen to fall in this battle, the Retcon waves will be able to restore you for SURE! But if any innocent civilians die, his powers are limited in that matter! Even the Guardian's themselves aren't all-powerful, and they can't restore everyone if they happen to die, even WITH a Retcon!”

Usagi says: “You can count on us, Captain Retro!”

Captain Retro nods to StarHawk, and says: “Hold on TIGHT! It's about to become a fast and BUMPY ride!”

StarHawk HOLDS Captain Retro's left arm tight, as Captain Retro focuses his hands BACKWARDS from where he is FACING, tilts his HEAD backwards, and says: “Summer of 2028, the Tuesday that Dr. Maniac lost his left arm!”

And a blue void appears in the space time continuum, and Captain Retro and StarHawk propel themselves BACKWARDS in time! But what Captain Retro didn't realize, is that D.O.G., had been WATCHING the whole thing through his binoculars, and his eyes widen, and he asks: “Younger brother, was that YOU?!”

And knowing about the possibility of a retcon, D.O.G., quickly writes on a paper with PERMANENT Ink, “Captain Retro IS my brother!” /

Meanwhile, in a far off section of the universe, Radiguet has accompanied some unusual resistance, with what look like a race of EVIL reptiles, who call themselves the Kroot, headed by none OTHER than the Lord of Change HIMSELF!!! Radiguet says: “So, after all this time, T'zeen'tch has finally decided to send his SECOND in command after me, in an attempt to STOP me from reaching the parallel dimension belonging to the Power Rangers R.P.M.! The Chaos Realm must be REALLY weak and running out of RESOURCES if T'zeen'tch is desperate enough to send out the likes of YOU!”

The Lord of Change says: “Radiguet, this rampage of yours has got to STOP! The Chaos Gods ALL know that you're working with MISERY, that low-level demon who has the NERVE to call himself a Chaos God, just so you can get yourself some more power! What would you do in case you EVER got that much power within your body?!”

Radiguet chuckles, and says: “A better question, would be, what WOULDN'T I do with it?! You see, the problem with you Chaos Gods, is that you're VERY Brilliant, but you're very LAZY!!!! So much destruction and PAIN that could be spread across the entire MULTIVERSE at their fingertips, and they don't lift so much as a FINGER to CAUSE it! Well, I think the Gods MUST be lazy, to send out someone with so much talent as you! Of course, the only reason T'zeen'tch won't see me himself, is because he knows that it is a FIGHT he will LOSE!!!!”

A menacing voice says: “That is where you are WRONG, Radiguet!!!!”

And before Radiguet's UTTER amazement, T'zeen'tch HIMSELF appears in front of Radiguet! Radiguet gleefully chuckles, and he says: “This is MOST splendid! I get to kill the KROOT, and gain the powers of the Chaos God of Scheming, all in the SAME day!”

T'zeen'tch says: “You won't be gaining MY powers, and you WON'T gain the powers of the Chaos Gods! Not now, not EVER!!!! We KNOW you're the one responsible for CAUSING our powers to weaken and FADE in the first place! Your pathetic attempt at becoming an omnipotent maniac is at it's end!”

Radiguet says: “Omnipotent? Yes. Maniac? HARDLY!!!! I know you might not THINK it, but I'm actually QUITE sane, compared to that Dr. MANIAC, causing havoc on Core Earth! In fact, my sources tell me that he has decided to FLAGRANTLY disobey MY orders to only kill ONE Power Ranger, and is trying to kill them ALL! He might even try to go after me! Quite frankly, I always KNEW one day, his inner ambitions would get the better of him. Still, he IS quite foolish to go up against ME! Surely, you would agree that with YOUR power in MY hands, I would be able to GRIND him into cosmic DUST!!!!”

T'zeen'tch says: “You STILL don't get it! There's NO scenario you're playing that allows you to come out on TOP! Maybe you absorb all the Chaos Gods, maybe you kill the Crimson King, maybe you even thwart Horus and the Emperor THEMSELVES, but you will NEVER get the better of the Power Rangers! Because if they CAN'T save Core Earth, they're most certainly going to AVENGE it, and they will take you down WITH them!”

Radiguet says: “I'm sure they will try. But then again, I wouldn't expect someone like you, FAR detached from the matters of mere MORTALS, to understand the BEAUTY of my plan! You see, this whole universe is wicked and UGLY! By ridding the universe of all it's ugliness, I will transform it into a DELIGHTFUL place, one where only I can rest on the throne of the God Emperor himself! No Chaos Gods, no Crimson King, no Horus or Power Rangers to muddy things up! The final word in judgment shall be me, and I alone, shall decide who lives and DIES!!!! All shall look up to me and admire me, and all shall TREMBLE in FEAR!!!!”

T'zeen'tch says: “Too bad you'll NEVER get a chance to pull it off, because I'm stopping you right here and--!”

(BOOM!!!!) But T'zeen'tch NEVER gets to finish his thought, because at that moment, a powerful RIPPLE affect across the cosmos, REACHES them, and begins to DEPOWER T'zeen'tch GREATLY!!!! T'zeen'tch cries in pain and asks: “WHAT'S happening to me?!”

Radiguet says: “This is most unanticipated, and fortunate for me! Seems like Dr. Maniac's antics might have proven more USEFUL to me than I thought! He's driven Captain Retro to go back into the past, to set right what once went wrong, as he's so fond of saying. Too bad he doesn't realize, that by opening the void between time and space, it also affects the Chaos Realm, de-powering you, and leaving you VERY susceptible to getting trapped inside a WAYSTONE!!!!”

T'zeen'tch asks: “A Waystone? You mean like the kind those Elves use to keep their souls intact?”

Radiguet says: “You've done your homework! And also, because I need a way to access your powers, and yet keep your LOUSY personality and voice, from driving me INSANE like it did my alternate reality counterpart! My Glove of POWER will fit ME like a GLOVE!!!!”

And Radiguet dons on his left hand, a powerful, crimson BLOOD red glove, with five holes on the knuckles, where FIVE Waystones can sit! Radiguet says: “As you can see, there's one for EACH of you, and for HORUS, once he inevitably decides to betray me! And when he does, with YOUR powers, there is no way I will lose THAT fight!”

T'zeen'tch growls and says: “You'll NEVER get away with this!”

Radiguet says: “Watch me! But first, allow me to demonstrate what my power is already like! Kroot, have a taste of my DEATH BALL!!!!”

And Radiguet once again powers up an insanely HUGE, powerful crimson red ball of energy and death, and The Lord of Change says: “He can power up a Death Ball as WELL?!!!”

Radiguet says: “You mean T'zeen'tch can do those as well?”

The Lord of Change says: “Yeah, but YOURS is bigger.”

Radiguet says: “I KNEW IT!!!!”

And Radiguet throws his Death Ball, and kills ALL but two of the Kroot! Radiguet says: “And now it's time for YOU, T'zeen'tch!”

T'zeen'tch says: “Go ahead! If Captain Retro really HAS gone into the past, he will just undo whatever it is you're doing NOW!”

Radiguet says: “I've already PREPARED for THAT possibility! Take a look at my RIGHT hand!”

And on his right hand, on his longest finger, is a crimson red ring! T'zeen'tch asks: “Where did you GET THAT?!!! That's a TIME Ring! Only Chaos Gods and GUARDIAN'S are allowed to wear those!”

Radiguet says: “This was made by Misery, and entrusted to me as part of our PLAN! And by wearing this Time Ring, it will PROTECT me from ANY changes that Captain Retro tries to make in the past! Pity it won't protect YOU, but you've got an appointment with MY Power Glove!!!! Soul Transfer Attack, change, NOW!!!!”

And with a powerful gust of wind, Radiguet entwines and ENTRAPS the now vulnerable T'zeen'tch, and he screams: “No, no, NO!!!!”

And T'zeen'tch is SUCKED into the tiny sphere of the Waystone! Radiguet says: “Welcome to the collection, T'zeen'tch!!!!” And he puts the square over the knuckle of his primary finger! Radiguet says: “As for you, Lord of Change, I COULD make a test of my power on you, but I'm ALREADY behind schedule in destroying the dimension belonging to the Power Rangers R.P.M., and I won't TOLERATE anymore delays! But just TRY to stay out of my way! I'll come BACK for you, soon enough!”

And in a blaze of flames, Radiguet warps into his ship, and continues onwards towards the dimension belonging to the Power Rangers R.P.M.! The Lord of Change asks: “What are the consequences, of Radiguet successfully absorbing T'zeen'tch?” /

Captain Retro and StarHawk warp backwards through the time-stream, until they safely land in the morning of the summer Tuesday, in the year 2028, in Captain Retro's pocket dimension, the day Dr. Maniac is fated to lose his arm. StarHawk says: “Wow! That was quite the ride!”

Captain Retro smells the air, and he says, “StarHawk, I sense something is wrong!”

StarHawk says: “Did we not go far enough?”

Captain Retro says: “No. We're at the right day. I just have the terrible feeling Radiguet might have used our little time jump to his advantage! Remember the time ripples, and time waves, that I told you about earlier?”

StarHawk says: “Kind of. Why?”

Captain Retro says: “Well, another reason why I avoid time travel, is that it tends to produce waves and ripples SO big, they actually DISRUPT the Chaos Realm, making the Chaos Gods VULNERABLE! I think Radiguet just absorbed the scheming God!”

StarHawk asks: “You mean the God Drako used to worship?”

Captain Retro says: “Well, not entirely. Radiguet stored him in a Waystone, so as not to be corrupted or influenced by his personality, or mind. Even if we succeed here, I don't think we'll be able to retcon THAT!”

StarHawk asks: “Do you think he will go after the others?”

Captain Retro says: “Not yet, at any rate. His goal right now, is going after the Power Rangers R.P.M. Dimension. In the meantime, if the Chaos Gods want to come to him, that's fine, as far as HE'S concerned! Trouble is, I don't know when or WHERE that's going to be! I can't predict the outcome of a Chaos God, so their futures are entirely up in the air! Anyways, we can't be concerned about Radiguet now! We have to first find M.O.D.O.K., in THIS time, and de-power him so the Rangers will stand a fighting chance in the future. Next, we have to save Ramone Fleeceley!”

StarHawk asks: “Can we actually DO that?!”

Captain Retro says: “It's what we were sent here to do. 'Set right what once went wrong', as Clifford is so fond of saying.”

StarHawk asks: “But how are we going to do THAT?! Woolbur didn't alter HIS memories, and we all HEARD the sickening crunch of the garbage compactor crushing down on the ground!”

Captain Retro says: “True. But we didn't get to see WHAT was being crunched! And with THAT being the case, we can pull off a switch!”

StarHawk says: “A switch? You mean an exchange! But, with what?!”

Captain Retro thinks about it, and says: “The Mecha-clones! Dr. Maniac used one to fake HIS own death, we can use the same tactic against him, and FAKE Ramone Fleeceley's death!”

StarHawk says: “And then we can show Ramone Fleeceley to Woolbur!”

Captain Retro says: “But not at THIS time, that's too dangerous! We have to create a 'Stable Time Loop', and the only way to do that, is to WAIT until we're BACK in the year 2178, to show Ramone Fleeceley to Woolbur! I know that sounds harsh, but it's the only way to be safe! We can't take any chances of the Stable Time Loop falling apart!”

StarHawk says: “Well, Woolbur's already waited THIS long to find out what truly happened to his brother, I suppose a little longer isn't going to make much of a difference! So, what's our plan of action?”

Captain Retro says: “We infiltrate Dr. Maniac's base of operations, capture two Mecha-Clones, and use them to get into where M.O.D.O.K., is being held, and to swap out for Ramone Fleeceley, AND Prince Maniac!”

StarHawk says: “OR, we COULD just grab the FIRST two Mecha-Clones we FIND, and do all that other stuff you just mentioned!”

Captain Retro says: “Come on! It can't be THAT simple!” (Gilligan Cut) Captain Retro and StarHawk are escorting two Mecha-Clones into M.O.D.O.K.'s prison cell in New Tech City, and StarHawk says: “It's THAT simple!”

Captain Retro says: “Well, guess you can teach an old...well, roughly middle-aged Eltarian Dog new tricks! I guess I tend to over-complicate things a little bit!”

They reach a door, and StarHawk reads the sign on the door: “Warning: Extremely dangerous criminal M.O.D.O.K., inside! Keep out, Authorized Personnel ONLY!”

Captain Retro says: “Well, I say we're about as authorized as it gets, being Power Rangers!”

StarHawk says: “Phantom Key!” And she produces a magical skeleton key out of thin air! StarHawk says: “Opens up any lock in the known Multiverse, EVEN the Chamber of Secrets!”

Captain Retro says: “Ebony would be jealous if she were here right now!”

They go into M.O.D.O.K.'s prison cell. Even though M.O.D.O.K., is wearing a Hannibal Lecter mask, and is currently off-line, he is still being wrapped up in heavy chains! Captain Retro says: “All right, I got us in here, now use your knowledge of machinery and wiring to de-power him!”

StarHawk says: “Right! I knew all that training with Dimitria would come in handy!”

And she starts ripping out a bunch of wires, coils, and gears, and the energy level of M.O.D.O.K., goes DRASTICALLY down! Captain Retro says: “All right, now the other Power Rangers will have a fighting chance in the future!”

StarHawk says: “But this was only our first stop, right?”

Captain Retro says: “Yep! So much for the EASY part! Now it's time for the main event!” /

Meanwhile, back in 2178, Dr. Maniac, Kaolite, and Villuy, are searching for the young Alma, and they find her just mindlessly staring out towards something, but looking at nothing, while in a playground park. Dr. Maniac chuckles, and he says: “THERE she is! The most POWERFUL girl in the world! That girl is going to help me get revenge! Sweet, SWEET revenge! It's amazing how even the Power Rangers had trouble with HER!”

Than Dr. Maniac's wireless transmitter rings, and he says: “That must be Psygorn calling now!”

Dr. Maniac answers, and he says: “Give me good news!”

Psygorn nervously says: “Well, I've got good news, and bad news!”

Dr. Maniac asks: “Well, what's the GOOD news?!”

Psygorn says: “The good news is, I found your M.O.D.O.K., creation for you! The bad news is, someone has TAMPERED with your creation in between the TIME he was captured, and NOW! The power he used while with Vipera, was basically all he had left IN him! He's powerless without a source of power to power him!”

Dr. Maniac says: “CRUD!!!! Now we HAVE to capture Alma!”

Kaolite asks: “Are you SURE we can do it?”

Dr. Maniac says: “She's just a KID!!!! We can handle her REAL diplomatic like!”

Villuy says: “Well, you WOULD be the expert on that!”

Dr. Maniac says: “We'll use a pincer movement to ambush her. On my mark, 1, 2...”

Alma's eyes open up and she says: “THREE!!!!”

And in her young girl form, Alma suddenly sprouts what can ONLY be described as Eldritch Energy tentacles, flies up in the air, and grabs ALL three of them, and starts pounding them down on the GROUND!!!! After doing this for several times, Alma darkly says: “I am disappointed in you, Dr. Maniac, VERY disappointed! The pincer movement ambush was the FIRST trick I learned! It didn't work when the Power Rangers tried it, did you REALLY think you would have a much better job trying it on me? I have seen things that no girl should EVER see! I have experienced things that no girl should ever experience! As a girl, I was in so much pain, I actually DIED!!!! How do you think you could POSSIBLY catch a ghost made of psychic energy like ME, and treat me like a normal flesh and blood human?!”

Kaolite asks: “Did you actually KNOW about this all along?!”

Villuy says: “Exactly! How could you NOT know she was DEAD to begin with?!”

Dr. Maniac says: “I am a mad SCIENTIST!!!! Not a Paranormal Investigator!”

Alma begins choking them with her Eldritch Energy tentacles, and she says: “Dr. Maniac, you are a sad, poor, pitiful, idiotic excuse of a man, who has FAR too much PRIDE in himself, and all the so-called inventions he creates! But you know what? As much as I hate to admit it, there IS one thing we have in common: we both hate living creatures. But at least I HAVE people that I don't WANT dead, and that I personally care about: Omnus and the Power Rangers! Especially Usagi! I can't help but have feelings for her, and I don't understand what those feelings are!”

Dr. Maniac gets a PARTICULARY insidious look on his face, and he boldly says: “Than JOIN me! Together, we can RULE the galaxy as—ACK!!!!”

But Alma cuts him off by tightening her grip around his neck! Alma says: “I cannot BELIEVE how much you SUCK!!!! And how predictable you are, when it comes to spouting off cliches. Do you honestly think that I haven't HEARD this spiel before?! It really amazes me how similar you are to my own PUKE of a father; Harlan Wade! You know, he ALSO wasn't above exploiting a young girl to achieve his OWN goals, than discard me once he was DONE with me! However, you forget TWO things, Doctor!”

Dr. Maniac, gasping for air against the tentacle Alma is using against him, asks: “What?!”

Alma smiles in a UN-settling matter, and says: “One, I already went through that. It ended up killing me. And two...not only am I already dead, I am, for all intents and purposes, a powerful goddess that could kill you with a snap of a finger!”

Dr. Maniac, Kaolite, and Villuy get thrown back SEVERAL feet, and Alma stares at all of them! She than turns into a teenager, and she says: “I could very well send all of you into my Almaverse, where you'd be at my mercy forever. But, that's not fun enough. So, I will be watching, waiting for the moment to strike, making you wish you could die and be at peace with yourselves. Heed this warning; do NOT harm the Power Rangers or anyone associated with them. Otherwise...” And then Alma demonstrates what she's capable of, by making a nearby rat catch a bird, and forces the rat to VIOLENTLY dismember the bird, before TURNING SAID RAT INSIDE OUT!

Alma then leaves Kaolite, Villuy, and ESPECIALLY Dr. Maniac, terrified, and unable to move! And for added black humor, she walks away, happily singing, “I Saw Her Standing There” by The Beatles! Once Alma is safely out of sight and can no longer hear them, Kaolite asks: “Well, THAT didn't work! Now what do we do?”

Dr. Maniac says: “CRUD! Time for 'Plan B'.”

Villuy asks: “You HAVE a Plan B?!”

Dr. Maniac says: “I am the PURELY Evil Rick! I ALWAYS have a Plan B! We capture JUSTIN to power up M.O.D.O.K., and have him KILL Alma SO badly, there will be NOTHING left of her to HAUNT me!”

Kaolite asks: “And what if THAT plan should fall through, as well?”

Dr. Maniac scoffs, and says: “BAH!!!! Let her try and come! She won't get past MY defenses, especially not with PSYGORN to stop her! Besides, I'll be FULLY mechanized by then! After all, how can you POSSIBLY haunt someone if they're technically no longer ALIVE?! Oh, you better watch OUT, Alma! M.O.D.O.K., will come for you soon, and make YOUR afterlife SUFFER like your TRUE life never COULD!!!! And then M.O.D.O.K., will be coming for you, TOO, RADIGUET!!!! I thank you for giving ME the opportunity to get revenge against the Rangers, but I will NOT follow your plans, just because YOU feel entitled to have THIS planet! Revenge will be MINE, and MINE ALONE!!!! Let's go get that Power BRAT!”

And all three of them warp to find out where Justin currently is! /

Meanwhile, back in the year 2028, Captain Retro and StarHawk, with their two captured Mecha-Clones, rush to the outside of the scientific factory in New Tech City, where Woolbur Fleeceley is being held. Captain Retro says: “We made it!”

And they hear the unmistakeable CLICK sound, of Justin STOMPING his foot down, which opens the hidden trap door, that deposits the S.P.D. Power Rangers into the Garbage Disposal Unit. They hear Dr. Maniac's voice speak again, and Captain Retro MOCKS it, because he's already HEARD it before! Captain Retro sarcastically speaks with Dr. Maniac, and says: “'MWA, HA, HA!' Filler, filler, mindless filler, sacrifice for the rest of the Power Rangers, farewell, 'MWA, HA, HA!'”

StarHawk asks: “Do we move now?”

Captain Retro says: “We can only allow Ramone Fleeceley to see us! We're rescuing HIM!”

They hear Ramone Fleeceley say: “It's a pressure mechanism! It may be a way out!”

Captain Retro says: “It's almost time! Quick! Hide behind the garbage bin!”

They do so, and they have to hear Woolbur say: “You can't MEAN that, Ramone! Don't DO this!”

StarHawk says: “I HATE this part!”

Captain Retro says: “Quiet! We're about to rewrite an ending that fits, instead of a Hollywood Horror, as Nickleback once sang!”

They hear Woolbur defiantly say: “NO!!!! I won't LET you! There MUST be another way!”

Captain Retro says: “Wait for it!”

They watch Bridge, Sydney, Z, Justin, and Woolbur all rush out of the looming garbage disposal trap, and Captain Retro whispers: “GO!!!!”

They rush inside with the Mecha-Clone, and StarHawk HOLDS open the door, just to be on the safe side! Ramone asks: “Who are you?”

Captain Retro says: “No time to explain! Mecha-Clone, change into Ramone Fleeceley and stand on that switch!”

The Mecha-Clone does as it's told, and Captain Retro grabs Ramone Fleeceley, and says: “Let's get out of here!”

They quickly rush outside, and hide back behind the garbage bin, and they hear the sickening CRUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, again, but Captain Retro and StarHawk knows what it IS that got crushed, now, but they STILL have to hear Woolbur scream: “NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ramone FLEECELEY!!!!”

Ramone asks: “Why can't I...?”

Captain Retro says: “Long story, time travel, stable time loop, explain more later! Wait here, and don't move until we come back for you! That's an order!”

Knowing that Ramone won't disobey an order, Ramone whispers: “Understood.”

And they hear Dr. Maniac say: “MWA, HA, HA!!!! I TOLD you I WOULD kill ONE of you before you had ten ADVENTURES against me! It's what I DID to the ORIGINAL Power Rangers Bionic Force Yellow Ranger, you green fleeced TWERP!”

And Captain Retro says: “I LOVE this part!”

Woolbur angrily says: “I HAVE a NAME!!!! I'm WOOLBUR FLEECELEY!!!! YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!!!! PREPARE TO DIE!!!!”

And brandishing an INSANELY sharp cutlass sword out of his wool, before anyone can BLINK, Woolbur RUSHES to the MAD doctor, and SICKENINGLY SLICES Dr. Maniac's LEFT flesh arm CLEAR off!!!! Dr. Maniac screams in pain, and yells: “AUGH!!!! That was a PERFECTLY GOOD ARM!!!! That doesn't grow BACK, you JERK!!!!”

StarHawk asks: “How are we going to switch Prince Maniac?”

Captain Retro says: “That's all up to me! I'm going to have to time it carefully! I'm only going to get ONE shot at this, to make sure Psygorn doesn't get to shoot Prince Maniac, but a Mecha-Clone of Prince Maniac!”

StarHawk says: “Speaking of, are we going to be safe from Psygorn? He's pretty fast!”

Captain Retro says: “I have the best aura detection on Core Earth! And since I have YET to meet anybody else on Core Earth better than me, I can comfortably, say that sentence...comfortably!”

They hear Dr. Maniac loudly scream: ““I don't care WHAT my son WANTS!!!! He is going to be a respected, smart, intelligent, extremely crafty scientist LIKE his FATHER, and he is GOING to LIKE it, whether he wants to or NOT!!!! GOT IT?!!!”

StarHawk says: “UGH!!!! What a TERRIBLE excuse for a father!”

Captain Retro says: “I wouldn't wish such a fate on my WORST enemy, who currently happens to BE Dr. Maniac! Oh, wait! I remember the part that's coming up, we don't have to just sit through it!”

StarHawk says: “No way! We're at the part where Prince Maniac sings that rocking hit song by the musician Prince, and the Rangers KICKED the BUTTS of the Mecha-Clones!”

Captain Retro uses his Chrono-mancy powers to fast-forward through the action, and he says: “NO!!!! This is STUPID!!!! See? Good, good, dumb, dumb, good, good, stupid.” And he stops as soon as Prince Maniac's unique shaped guitar is destroyed!

Captain Retro says: “All right, keep quiet! I need to focus for THIS one!”

Captain Retro blocks out EVERYTHING, and solely focuses himself on the sneaking presence of Psygorn, and Prince Maniac's energy! Captain Retro whispers: “Mecha-Clone, change into Prince Maniac, right now!”

The Mecha-Clone does as its told, Captain Retro WAITS for the judgment to clear, and Captain Retro says: “Got to move, in three, two...”

Captain Retro SEES Psygorn preparing to roar his fire, and says: “NOW!!!!”

And with an AMAZING display of SPEED, making it look like TIME is standing still, Captain Retro GRABS the REAL Prince Maniac, leaves the Mecha-Clone behind, the fire completely CHARS the Mecha-Clone, leaving it unrecognizable as one, as Captain Retro rushes to rejoin StarHawk and Ramone Fleeceley behind the garbage bin! And as soon as he does, the time flow returns to normal! Ramone Fleeceley whispers: “Why did you SAVE him?!”

Captain Retro says: “Because he's innocent!”

And Prince Maniac, looking in HORROR at what Psygorn did to the Mecha-Clone, and FRAMING the Power Rangers for killing Prince Maniac, Prince Maniac whispers: “How could he lie to my father?”

Captain Retro says: “He's a sadistic psychopath, Prince Maniac...or should I say, Prince Sanchez? Your father changed his last name and your last name when you were born. You were NEVER meant to be a scientist, but there's nothing more we can do here, now! Everyone grab hold on to me, and don't let go! It's time to go forward!”

They do so, and Captain Retro says: “Return to the second to the last Tuesday of 2178!”

Captain Retro opens up the void in the time-stream again, and this time, they propel forward, leaving the year 2028, as they hear Woolbur angrily say: “Dr. MANIAC!!!! If it's the LAST thing I do, I'LL; GET YOU FOR THIS!!!!” /

Meanwhile, back in 2178, the Rangers FINALLY beat the stronger Imps, and BlackHawk asks: “Is THAT all you got?!”

Baphomet says: “You may have beaten the Imps, but you WON'T defeat M.O.D.O.K.! Too bad I can't stick around to see it! FAREWELL!!!!”

Pinkie Pie sniffs the air, and she says: “Call it my Pinkie sense, but I actually have a feeling that Baphomet was probably NOT lying to us like he USUALLY does!”

FireHawk's senses tense up, and she says: “DUCK!!!!”

And she quickly RUSHES, and forcibly pushes Pinkie's head down, causing M.O.D.O.K.'s laser to BARELY miss them both by inches! Dr. Maniac's hologram is broadcast in the air, and he says: “He's meaner, he's TOUGHER, and all around more POWERFUL, meet the new, and improved, M.O.D.O.K.! Isn't it MARVELOUS?! He is a Machine Organism Designed ONLY to KILL!!!! Which means, you are all NEXT on his KILLING list! M.O.D.O.K., DESTROY those MISERABLE Power Brats, and turn them into Mulan Szechuan McNugget Sauce! It's been too long since I've had a good TASTE of it!”

M.O.D.O.K., prepares to fire, and Alma says: “STOP!!!!”

M.O.D.O.K. FIRES his eye lasers, but Alma psychically BLOCKS it with powerful psychic energy! Naruto asks: “Alma, why are you HELPING us?! I thought you HATED us!”

Alma says: “I thought so to, but, something seems to have changed. It's like, there's this part of me that feels like I DID something to SOMEONE, but now I can't remember what it is.”

Usagi asks: “Do you think this means that Captain Retro and StarHawk were--?”

But Usagi NEVER gets to finish her thought, because the time wave, ripple effect catches up to them, and it wipes CLEAN all their memories of the past Toby and Ebony, and just then, a void opens up, and a seemingly NICER Toby and Ebony, drop OUT of it! Toby rubs his head, and he asks: “Where am I?”

Ebony asks: “What happened?”

Toby looks at Ebony, and he says: “Wow! You look GREAT!”

And Ebony hides behind a tree! Toby says: “Sorry, Ebony! I didn't mean to come on so strong!”

Ebony nervously asks: “How do you know my name?”

Toby is puzzled, and he says: “I don't know. It's like, somehow, I've always known. But, maybe if you want, I can be your friend, if you want.”

Ebony says: “A...friend. I would really like to have one of those.”

BlackHawk looks at them, and asks: “Who are THOSE two?”

And then a SECOND void opens up, and Captain Retro and StarHawk pop back out of it, with Ramone Fleeceley and Prince Maniac! Woolbur is SHOCKED, and he asks: “Ramone, you're ALIVE?!”

Psygorn rushes to the scene, and he screams: “Prince Maniac, is ALIVE?!!!”

All the Rangers ask: “Those two, are ALIVE?!!!”

Ramone Fleeceley says: “We're alive!”

Psygorn says: “IMPOSSIBLE!!!!”

And Captain Retro rushes BEHIND him, and he says: “Maybe you haven't heard, but the Power Rangers make it a habit of DOING the Impossible, on a daily BASIS!!!!”

And with a SINGLE, Powerful punch, Captain Retro KNOCKS Psygorn several yards BACKWARDS, and SNAPS the tree that Ebony was hiding behind, in HALF!!!! Psygorn wearily gets up and says: “I do not understand this, but I don't have the time to deal with you right now! You'll pay for this! M.O.D.O.K., KILL THEM ALL!!!!”

And Psygorn warps away! M.O.D.O.K., TRIES to turn up the power, but Alma manages to keep even with him! StarHawk asks: “What should we do? Should we help?”

Captain Retro says: “This is Alma's battle! This is a fight she needs to handle on her own!”

(Beep! Beep! Ba-Beep! Beep! Beep!) Captain Retro says: “Come in, Omnus!”

Omnus says: “Captain Retro, our reports indicate that Justin has gone missing from his current home in New Tech City! Reports indicate that a crazed scientist and two females, broke into his apartment, and LITERALLY kidnapped him!”

Captain Retro uses his aura detecting skills, and he says: “And I know WHERE he is, and how Alma can SAVE him, and stop M.O.D.O.K.! ALMA!!!!”

Alma is struggling, and she says: “WHAT?!!!”

Captain Retro says: “M.O.D.O.K., is being powered by JUSTIN!!!! He's just a LITTLE kid, like YOU! He needs YOUR HELP!!!!”

Alma's eyes glow CRIMSON RED, and she says: “Doctor MANIAC, you sick CREEP FREAK!!!!”

And Alma proceeds to go full power (on MAJOR reality warping levels), and manages to free Justin! Justin's head is spinning, and he asks: “Where am I?”

Captain Retro says: “No time to explain! Rangers, channel your auras together, and fire an energy blast at M.O.D.O.K., as your brand new finishing attack!”

Usagi says: “Right!”

The Rangers channel their energies, into a single, bright ball of energy, and they say: “Super Cosmic Strike ATTACK!!!!”

And they fire it at M.O.D.O.K., and it is SO utterly destroyed, there isn't even anything LEFT for the Bigga Ray to restore! Captain Retro says: “Dr. Maniac, don't EVER underestimate the power of Alma EVER again, or I'll make SURE you regret it!” /

Back in Dr. Maniac's new science lair, Dr. Maniac is severely punishing Psygorn! Farrah Cat asks: “Were you QUITE finished?!”

Dr. Maniac says: “I am disappointed in you, Psygorn. I ordered you to KILL Ramone Fleeceley, you did NOT! I ordered you to KILL the other Power Rangers, and instead, you TRIED to kill my SON!!!!”

Psygorn CHOKES on the lightning that Dr. Maniac is emitting, and Psygorn struggles, as he says: “I ONLY tried to KILL him, because he was planning to BETRAY you! I didn't mean it, PERSONALLY!!!!”

Bionic Gorilla says: “As much as I HATE him, I sense he speaks the truth! Besides, we will NEED him for an upcoming battle!”

Dr. Maniac stops shooting lightning, and he says: “True! With M.O.D.O.K., out of the picture! We're going to have to accelerate our plans! It won't be long before Alma tries to unleash her revenge upon me! So, we'll just have to take the fight somewhere far AWAY from Core Earth! Somewhere that Alma CAN'T interfere, and we'll EVEN take Radiguet DOWN at the same time!”

Meison asks: “If you don't mind me asking, HOW are we going to do THAT?!”

Dr. Maniac says: “It's time to resort to the BIG guns! We STEAL Alphys most PRIZED possession! The robot named, Mettaton!”

Mettzler says: “I heard he went 2 for 5 against BlackHawk himself!”

Fara says: “Usually, you have to pay EXTRA for that!”

Dr. Maniac says: “It's settled then! Kaolite, Villuy, it's time to PROVE yourselves! STEAL Mettaton for me, and we shall go to the outlaw planet of Oynx! We'll find out where Radiguet is heading, no matter WHERE it is! Now, GO!!!!”

Kaolite and Villuy say: “With PLEASURE!!!!”

And they warp away! /

Meanwhile, Woolbur is busy hugging Ramone, having not seen him in so long! Woolbur says: “Ramone, I thought I lost you! I thought I would never see you again!”

Ramone says: “I didn't think I would see YOU again, until Captain Retro and StarHawk saved me!”

Prince Maniac says: “I can't believe Psygorn tried to kill me! I LITERALLY have the WORST father in HISTORY!!!!”

Justin says: “Well, at least ONE of the worst! At least YOUR father was actually around! My father is SO unreliable, he almost NEVER had the time to hang out with me!”

Alma says: “Well, I'm not really good at sharing these...feelings of empathy, as you Rangers seem to call them. But, if you'd like, maybe I could be friends with you, if you'd like.”

Justin says: “Friends. Yeah, I think I could do with some friends!”

Usagi says: “Friends sure are wonderful!”

And everyone proceeds to laugh, until it's cut off by another (Beep! Beep! Ba-Beep! Beep! Beep!) Naruto says: “Omnus?”

And a female voice urgently says: “No! It's Alphys! Two warrior female scientists are here! Undyne is trying to fight them off, but they're trying to take away—AIEEE!!!!”

And the message gets CUT off!!!! Pinkie says: “Alphys!!!!”

Captain Retro says: “He's enacting his plan EARLY!!!!”

BlackHawk says: “Plan? WHAT plan?!!!”

Captain Retro says: “The plan to attack Radiguet, and Dr. Maniac is going to use METTATON, in order to ACHIEVE his twisted ends!”

FireHawk says: “Man, it's just been one crazy fight, after another!”

Than a familiar creepy voice says: “And it's about to get CRAZIER!!!!”

Lettuce FINALLY wakes up, and he says: “Radiguet, what are YOU doing talking to us?! This is a PRIVATE communication channel!”

Radiguet says: “That would be TELLING, wouldn't it? Besides, why don't you ask PATSY about your morpher?”

Lettuce says: “My morpher?” And he notices his morpher is missing!

Lettuce asks: “Patsy, did you take my morpher?!”

Patsy says: “I can't believe I almost forgot! I just had to borrow it for a bit! I'll explain it later!”

Lettuce gets his morpher back, and Captain Retro says: “I wish I could stay, Patsy. You're a pretty good girl, but we've got business to take care of! We'll be back, later!”

And the Rangers and Captain Retro warp back to the Power Chamber! Toby and Ebony manage to see the streaks of the Power Rangers pass them, and Toby says: “Man, I sure wish WE could do that!”

Ebony says: “You know, I think that might be more trouble than it's worth.”

Toby says: “Well, you're probably right.” /

The Rangers and Captain Retro arrive back at the Power Chamber, and Alpha 8 says: “Captain Retro! I assume your mission to set right what once went wrong went smoothly?”

Captain Retro says: “Yes. The Stable Time Loop has been created, and shall remain for all time. Unfortunately, Radiguet managed to CONTACT us through the communicators!”

And Radiguet's voice says: “AND through the Viewing Globe!”

And the Rangers are all SHOCKED to see Radiguet's face on the Viewing Globe! StarHawk asks: “How are you DOING this?!”

Radiguet says: “Isn't it OBVIOUS? I got the power of T'zeen'tch in my Glove of Power! Defeating him was EASY!!!!”

Naruto asks: “What do you WANT from us?!”

Radiguet asks: “Now WHY must you treat EVERYTHING I say and/or do, like it's SOME sort of gigantic conspiracy? Do you think I'm doing this for FUN?”

Captain Retro asks: “Aren't you?”

Radiguet says: “Now, that's hardly fair. You think your powers are special? I have special powers TO, you know! And, even though the power of a Chaos God is a VERY precious commodity, it doesn't provide me protection! You see, I happen to KNOW of your problem! Dr. Maniac has grown increasingly insane and unstable, even for MY tastes! He was ONLY supposed to kill ONE of the Rangers, and instead, he's tried to target ALL of you! He has continually, and maniacally, failed to follow and obey my DIRECT orders! I cannot TOLERATE someone who is a danger to HIMSELF, and to everyone else AROUND him! Therefore, I am giving you DIRECT permission to, 'Shoot the Dangerous Minion', as you are so fond of saying! You'll be doing yourself a big favor!”

Usagi asks: “How do we know this isn't playing directly into your plans?!”

Radiguet says: “Well, that's simple. You DON'T! But then again, I KNOW you Rangers WON'T allow the likes of Dr. Maniac to run about, KILLING innocent civilians! You NEED to finish him off, regardless of whether or not I want you to do it or not! Anyways, he will be headed to the Planet Oynx, FIRST! You WILL find him, and stop him there! DON'T make me change my course, and have to take care of him MYSELF! I promise you, that you won't like it! But mark my words, we WILL meet again, personally, someday! Oh, and say 'Hi', to Drako for me! I think the Retcon brought HIM back to life, as well! And now, he has the powers of M.O.D.O.K., at HIS disposal! He'll be a 'Hyper Competent Sidekick', to Vipera, now! Farewell!” And Radiguet's face disappears!

BlackHawk says: “Drako is back, with M.O.D.O.K.'s powers? Man, this IS getting crazy!”

Lettuce says: “I don't think we should do this! It's playing RIGHT into Radiguet's plans!”

Captain Retro sighs, and says: “Probably. But unfortunately, 'The Villain Has a Point'. Dr. Maniac, will just continue to resort to more, and MORE insane methods of trying to kill us, and every innocent human in his path! Regardless of what Radiguet wants, we HAVE to finish Dr. Maniac once and for all. As Power Rangers, there is no alternative path but to move forward!” /

To Be Continued, Next Episode!

I hope you enjoyed reading it, as much as I did writing it!

[4EverGreen]

This isn't supposed to be in Davy Jones' Locker yet, this is still an ongoing story that Renegade gave me permission to finish! Please move it back to the main literature/spin-off page as soon as possible. Please and thank you in advance! Enough said!

[4EverGreen]

Sorry again for the long delay, but here's the newest episode. I'll put it in spoiler in order to avoid the dreaded data lengths that plague these stories!

 

(Warning: Walls of Text Ahead)

(Cold Open):

The show opens up on the Diabolic Spaceship in Outer Space. Inside the Space Ship, Vipera and Baphomet are lamenting their LATEST loss, the fall of fourteen of their Necron/Imp Fighters, as well as M.O.D.O.K.! Baphomet says: “This is almost too much to bear! First, we lose Drako and Circe. Now, we've lost M.O.D.O.K., as well as 14 of our best fighters!”

Vipera says: “Not to mention, that Dr. Maniac is alive and well! He might come after us for STEALING the 200 Necrons he wanted! He is ruthless and insane! There's no telling WHAT kind of monsters he might have attack us, as long as we stick around Core Earth! As much as it pains me to say this, we might have to put our plans for conquering Neo-Austrailiasia as well as the rest of Core Earth on hold, as long as Dr. Maniac remains alive!”

Kraky moans, and says: “Ooh, I wish Drako was STILL alive!”

But at that precise moment, the retcon ripples REACH the Diabolic Spaceship, and they affect Drako's casket, and the body INSIDE of it! And the casket starts to shake VIOLENTLY!!!! Kraky says: “Could it be?!”

Baphomet asks: “But how?!”

A deep voice says: “Let...me...OUT!!!!”

And in a blinding flash of red light, Drako's casket BURSTS open, and Drako is suddenly standing alive and well, only NOW looking a whole lot STRONGER, and more fiercer! Vipera says: “Drako, you're ALIVE! Were you alive all this time?!”

Drako, in a deeper voice than before, says: “No, my Empress! I WAS quite dead...again! But, from what I can assess, it seems that fate and T'Zeen'tch has offered me another chance to prove myself! I seem to be MUCH stronger than I was before!”

Kraky says: “That flash of red light, that was one of M.O.D.O.K.'s powers!”

Drako says: “It makes sense now. The being called M.O.D.O.K., existed in the past, back when Dr. Maniac was a threat to the S.P.D. Power Rangers. Someone must have gone back in time and de-powered him in the past. However, it seems that M.O.D.O.K.'s powers, couldn't just GO away, they had to be transferred to somewhere else in the present. And it seems like T'Zeen'tch arranged it, so that M.O.D.O.K.'s power, and life-force, found its way into my body, so that I may now serve my Empress better! Speaking of, do you know what T'Zeen'tch is up to right now?”

Vipera says: “From what I can assess, I'm afraid that Radiguet does not SHARE your fondness for T'Zeen'tch, or ANY of the Main Chaos Gods for that matter! We just intercepted a message that Radiguet sent to the POWER Rangers! The only way Radiguet could contact them, with the Magi-Mother's Force Field still in place, is by absorbing the powers of T'Zeen'tch! He has the powers of a Chaos God!”

Drako says: “So, it seems that T'Zeen'tch's last act, before being absorbed, was to set one final plan in motion. He ensured that I would be revived with M.O.D.O.K.'s powers, in order to protect you from Radiguet's eventual return, and anyone else who might threaten you!”

Kraky says: “Speaking of, it's a good thing you're revived now, with Dr. Maniac still around!”

Drako chuckles dryly, and he says: “I had a feeling that Dr. Maniac might have been faking the dead! Now, we know for sure! Still, I don't think we're his primary concern. At least, not for the time-being. Dr. Maniac has ALWAYS been gunning for the Power Rangers first! Dr. Maniac won't rest UNTIL he's finished all the Power Rangers off! He wants revenge, and he won't stop until he gets it!”

Baphomet says: “So, what do we do in the mean-time?”

Drako says: “Unfortunately, I have no way of currently knowing how Dr. Maniac's newest plan is going to turn out. We're just going to have to wait and see. All I know is, it would actually be BETTER for us, if the Power Rangers were to finish off Dr. Maniac once and for all! We'd have a better chance of taking over Core Earth, with Dr. Maniac out of the way! And the only thing we have to worry about, is the Power Rangers and Queen Beryl!”

Vipera says: “Do you think we should keep on eye on Dr. Maniac?”

Drako thinks about it, and says: “As a matter of fact, I think that would be a VERY good idea! Track Dr. Maniac and find out WHERE he is trying to run to! We'll monitor the next battle the Power Rangers have to fight against him. And if we absolutely HAVE to, we will swoop in and turn the tide in favor of the Power Rangers!”

Kraky says: “Are you suggesting, we pull an Enemy Mine with the Power Rangers?!”

Drako says: “It wouldn't be the first time that I have PULLED such a tactic! I did it when the Power Rangers fought General Crush, lest you FORGET that important fact! Besides, it's called 'Pragmatic Villainy!' And if we help the Power Rangers now, they might be willing to trust us more somewhere down the road. And that trust will be advantageous to us, if we want to deceive them, and draw them into a sinister trap, where YOU can do what you PLEASE with them, your Empress!”

Vipera smirks, and she says: “How unexpectedly fortunate for me! My Evil Genius dies a wimp, and RETURNS to life, as a Hyper-Competent Sidekick! I have a feeling that luck is finally going to turn on our side, for once! Yes, we shall monitor Dr. Maniac's movements, and find him WHEREVER he ends up running to! Won't Dr. Maniac be surprised, that instead of running FROM him, we end up running TO him, and be the ones who help finish him off ONCE and for all?! Troops, place the Diabolic on stand-by, and prepare to move out at a moment's notice! Dr. Maniac's days are numbered!” /

State of Shock: Part I

Captain Retro narrates, and he says: “Previously, on Power Rangers Multiverse Force; with the threat of M.O.D.O.K., and Dr. Maniac a very real possibility, I, along with StarHawk, were forced to undertake a very dangerous journey back into the past, in order to remove M.O.D.O.K.'s powers, as well as save the lives of two innocents. Unfortunately, Radiguet used the opportunity to defeat one of the Chaos Gods, and absorb his powers as a result. Thankfully, StarHawk and I were able to accomplish what we needed to do in the past, set up a stable time-loop, and were even able to retcon Toby and Ebony back to life as a result, not that the other Rangers have any memory of what they were like before. Now, that the other Rangers are aware of Radiguet's new powers, as well as what Dr. Maniac is planning next, we now all must prepare for what we must do next, and gird ourselves, for the fight that will help put an end to Dr. Maniac's evil schemes, once, and for all!”

Words appear on the screen, and they say: “Now, Present Day, the second to last Tuesday of 2178, Core Earth, Coastal Falls.”

The Power Rangers and Captain Retro are standing inside the Command Center, checking the power level of all their powers, knowing the situation that they will soon have to face, will require them to be at full strength. Queen Hedrian comes in, and she says: “I never thought it would come to this! Having to actually HELP the Power Rangers against Dr. Maniac! If he's captured Mettaton, there is no telling WHAT Dr. Maniac could DO with an invention like that!”

BlackHawk says: “I agree. Mettaton wasn't EXACTLY an easy fight! He went two for five against me when I was in the Underworld. Fortunately, with all of you with me, and now being much stronger, it SHOULD be easier this time!”

Lettuce says: “Provided Dr. Maniac doesn't MAKE any modifications to him before we FIND him on the Planet Onyx!” (Beep! Beep! Ba-Beep! Beep! Beep!)

Usagi answers it, and she asks: “Undyne, is that you?!”

Undyne wearily says: “Yes, but, activate the Viewing Globe, and see Alphys' lab.”

Alpha Eight moans nervously, and he says: “Ooh, I have a BAD feeling about this!”

Alpha Eight turns the Viewing Globe on, and sure enough, the Rangers are HORRIFIED at how TRASHED Alphys' lab looks right now! Pinkie says: “Oh, no! Everything is BROKEN! SMASHED! RUINED!”

Undyne wearily says: “That's not the worst part! Dr. Maniac and those warrior females; they captured Mettaton, AND now have Alphys as a hostage!”

Omnus seriously says: “Undyne, Dr. Maniac has gone TOO far this time! He must be STOPPED once and for all! Woolbur Fleeceley?!”

Woolbur turns around, and asks: “Yes?”

Omnus says: “It's time. Call in the Legendary Rangers!”

Woolbur takes out his S.P.D. Morpher, and punches in code: “1-9-9-3!”

And to the astonishment of everyone in the Command Center, seven streaks of light come down into the Command Center! One of blue, one of white, one of green, one of red, one of pink, one of yellow, and one of black! The lights dissipate, and BILLY, TOMMY, ADAM, ANDROS, KARONE, KIRA, and ANUBIS 'Doggie' Kruger appear in the Command Center! Naruto says: “Wow! It's all the Legendary Rangers we've met! You're going to help us on this mission?!”

Tommy says: “Of course we are! You don't think you're going to defeat Dr. Maniac without some of the BEST to help you out, do you?!”

StarHawk says: “Glad to have you along! We could use ALL the help we can get!”

Captain Retro says: “Speaking of help, Woolbur Fleeceley, you and the rest of the S.P.D. Power Rangers, need to stay behind on Core Earth, while the rest of us go on our mission to track down Dr. Maniac on Planet Onyx! We can't afford to leave Core Earth defenseless!”

Woolbur Fleeceley says: “Agreed! Commander Kruger, seeing as how my brother is still alive, should I give back this Morpher now?”

Anubis says: “There's no need to. I just got word that Justin has decided to resign his position of Blue S.P.D. Ranger, and go back to just being the Blue Turbo Ranger. The Morpher has now been given to your older brother Ramone Fleeceley. So, you are now the TRUE Green S.P.D. Ranger, Woolbur!”

Woolbur says: “Thank you, Commander. That means a lot to me!”

FireHawk says: “Just one question, how are we going to GET to Planet Onyx?! We can't just WARP there, that place is CRAWLING with low-life villains and scum! And I ought to know, I USED to associate with some of them!”

Karone says: “You wouldn't be the first, sorry to burst your bubble!”

Andros says: “I have already taken care of that! Follow me, everybody!”

The Rangers walk into the Zord bay, where they happen to SEE an amazing sight! The Original Dino Megazord, the Tigerzord, the Zeo Megazord, the Lost Galaxy Megazord, the Dino Thunder Megazord, and the S.P.D. Megazord! Adam says: “WOAH!!!! Billy, you've really OUTDONE yourself!”

Billy says: “This is the project that I've been working on with Coop, trying to bring some of the old Megazords back online! Sorry it took me so long; there were an awful lot of parts to go through for some of them, and they only work if you have every piece! I've managed to modify them to work with Capsule technology, to make transporting all the Zords a real breeze!”

And Billy pushes a button, that seals all of the Zords in easy to carry Capsules, similar to “DragonBall Z” technology! Billy puts the Capsules into a carrying case, into his left pocket, and Kira says: “Thank you, Billy, we really appreciate it!”

Andros says: “And it's time to reveal the space-ship that can get us there; the Astro Mega Ship Mark II!”

Alpha Seven comes out of the Mega Ship, and with a familiar voice says: “Oh, it's SO good to see you again, Tommy and Andros! It's been quite a while, hasn't it?”

Usagi says: “Well, we know that you're usually quite busy monitoring the safety of KO-35 and that section of the Universe! We don't want to keep you from your job!”

Captain Retro says: “And it's time for us to do our job! The time has come, to call upon our powers, once again!”

Billy says: “It's been a while, but, it's MORPHING TIME!!!!” /

Billy gets an upgraded morph, similar to Adam's from “Once a Ranger”, and he's standing in a desert, where the original Triceratops Zord comes wheeling in! Billy morphs, and he says: “Triceratops, Mighty Morphing Ranger Power!” / Tommy says: “It's MORPHING TIME!!!!” And Tommy also gets a similar upgraded morph, and he's standing in the middle of a rocky canyon, where the Tigerzord comes rushing in! Tommy morphs, and he says: “Tigerzord, Mighty Morphing Ranger Power!” / Adam says: “It's MORPHING TIME!!!!” And he gets a different, upgraded morph! Adam is standing in front of a mountain, and the Green, Bull Zeo Zord comes charging RIGHT through it! Adam morphs, and he says: “Zeo Ranger Four, Green!” / Andros says: “Let's Rocket!” Andros JUMPS on top of the Astro Mega Ship, which is RUSHING through the air, and Andros morphs! Andros says: “Red Astro Power Ranger!” / Karone says: “Go, Galactic!” Karone holds up the Quasar Saber, and surrounded by Pink flames, feels the power flow into her, as the Pink Wildcat Zord forms from the flames! Karone says: “Lost Galaxy Pink Wildcat Ranger Power!” / Kira says: “Dino Thunder, power up!” Kira doesn't get an upgraded morph, but she still goes through her usual routine, and says: “Ptera power, Yellow Ranger!”/ Doggie Kruger says: “S.P.D., Emergency!” And he also performs his usual morph! Doggie says: “S.P.D. Shadow Ranger!” /

Usagi says: “It's our turn, Multiverse Power Rangers, it's Morphing Time!” / Pinkie says: “Power of Venus! Aether!!!!” / FireHawk says: “Power of Earth! Air!!!!” / StarHawk says: “Power of Mercury! Water!!!!” / Lettuce says: “Power of Jupiter! Lightning!!!!” / Naruto says: “Power of Mars! Fire!!!!” / Usagi says: “Cosmorpher! Sailor Moon! White Ranger Power!!!!” / BlackHawk says: “Power of the Sun! Gold!!!!” / The Rangers all finish morphing, and Tommy says: “All right, everyone, it's time to get on board, find Dr. Maniac, and stop him!”

They all walk towards the Astro Mega Ship, when Sans and D.O.G., suddenly come rushing in! Sans says: “Wait! I just heard the news! Is it true that Dr. Maniac kidnapped Alphys and Mettaton?”

BlackHawk sighs, and although Sans can't see it, behind his helmet, BlackHawk is fighting to hold back tears, as he says: “Yes, Sans! I'm afraid its true.”

Than suddenly, Sans' eyes begin glowing in a violent red that BlackHawk has NEVER seen before (having avoided a True Genocide Route), and Sans' voice suddenly deepens, as he says: “Does Dr. Maniac REALLY want to HAVE a BAD time?! Because he's NOT going to like what happens NEXT!!!!”

Captain Retro walks up to Sans, and places his right hand on his left shoulder, seeming to distill some of his anger. Captain Retro says: “I know you're mad about what Dr. Maniac has done. That man...no, not anymore. That MONSTER has crossed the LAST line! I was holding out some small hope that he COULD be redeemed, but once you've gone THAT far, there's almost NO coming back from that! We're going to deal with him and STOP him! And we'll rescue Alphys!”

Sans asks: “And Mettaton? What about him?”

FireHawk says: “There's no telling what kind of modifications Dr. Maniac has already done to him! We'll do what we can, but I won't make any promises we can't keep!”

Sans says: “Than...you need to let me come WITH you! I've lived more lifetimes and time-lines than most beings, and I have always felt like I needed to hold back. Being stuck in the underground, my reality was reset so many times, I lost the will to care, and felt like I had no power to make a difference. But with Alphys kidnapped, I simply CAN'T stand by, not this time! I HAVE to care! I WILL save Alphys, and make Dr. Maniac, PERISH by my own hands! Even if it costs ME everything!”

StarHawk asks: “Captain Retro, what do YOU think about this?”

Captain Retro says: “We better take him with us. If Sans REALLY wants to do something, than there's almost no possibility of stopping him! But what I want to really know is, what are YOU doing here, D.O.G.?”

D.O.G., says: “On a piece of a paper, it appears that I have written a note. I wanted to remember something important!”

D.O.G., hands the piece of paper to Captain Retro, and Captain Retro reads it aloud, saying: “Captain Retro IS my brother!”

D.O.G., asks: “Well, is it TRUE?”

Captain Retro sighs, and says: “I'm sorry, but I wasn't ALLOWED to tell you or any member of my family, due to my connection to the Dog Guardian. You had to figure it out for yourself. Clifford was worried that you would be jealous to know I was chosen, and you, weren't.”

D.O.G., says: “I'm not jealous. You've always been the stronger one, and you have been through more than I could possibly know.”

Captain Retro says: “I wish we could play catch-up, but right now; there isn't any time! There is one small gift I want to entrust, though. Krash'ir, I think you can handle these!”

Captain Retro opens a box, and reveals five morphers, that look a LOT like the Magna Defender's morphing device! Omnus says: “The Legendary Thunder Morphers! I thought those were lost in the great battle 10,000 years ago!”

Captain Retro says: “The Magi-Mother actually found them while going on a spiritual walk-about in Neo-Austrailiasia. She told me I would know when the time was right to reveal them! Krash'ir, if you need to, find four others to give a morpher to. I trust your judgment.”

Krash'ir says: “I want to come with you.”

Usagi says: “I know you do, but one of us HAS to stay on Core Earth and take care of Sally Anne and protect her. And with the power of a Thunder Morpher, you would be able to do the job a lot better! What color do YOU want to be?!”

Krash'ir thinks about it, and says: “Blue. It just...feels right to me, somehow!”

Naruto says: “Very well, then! You'll take care of things on the home front, we'll go after Dr. Maniac and stop him, by any means NECESSARY!”

Lettuce says: “We'll be back in time for Christmas!”

D.O.G., says: “I sure hope so!”

The Rangers, Captain Retro, and Sans; all board the Astro Mega Ship. D.E.C.A., says: “Welcome, Andros. Please state your desired destination.”

Andros says: “The Planet Onyx! Intercept and stop Dr. Maniac! It's personal, this time!”

D.E.C.A., says: “Command confirmed! Calculating trajectory for any hazards. Route clear, setting speed for 4,000 times the speed of light! Counting down. Five, four, three, two, one, ignition!”

And the Astro Mega Ship blasts off, out of the atmosphere of Core Earth, and as soon as it enters into deep space, blasts off in a BLINDING flash, barreling towards Planet Onyx at nearly unimaginable speeds! D.O.G., says: “Wow! That WAS fast! We didn't even get a chance to say, 'Good luck'!” /

Meanwhile, off in the distance, the Diabolic has been hiding behind Core Earth's Moon, and sees the Rangers blast off. Drako says: “They've made their move! It's time to go!”

Vipera says: “And leave Core Earth in the hands of Queen Beryl?”

Baphomet says: “The Rangers have probably already made arrangements! Queen Beryl won't make much progress, IF any, knowing how resourceful the Rangers are!”

Kraky says: “I'm quite inclined to agree!”

Vipera says: “Very well! The Diabolic shall FOLLOW the Rangers, and ensure that Dr. Maniac does NOT escape their wrath!”

The Diabolic fires a laser, and creates a wormhole big enough for the Diabolic to go through, and enters it to quickly reach the planet of Onyx! /

Meanwhile, in Queen Beryl's palace, Kunzite and Zolzite are watching something, that while very old to humans, is VERY new to them, as they hear the theme song of “I Love Lucy” play on their TV! Queen Beryl shouts: “Will you turn down that INFERNAL racket?! You're interrupting my 23 hours of BEAUTY sleep!”

Abaddon says: “You might want to shoot for 24.”

Queen Beryl shouts: “WHAT?!!!”

Abaddon sheepishly says: “Nothing!”

Kunzite says: “This is what Dr. Maniac WAS talking about! He was just a little off on his calculations on when this TV program would finally get to us!”

On the TV screen, the character, Ricky Ricardo says: “Hey, Lucy, I'm HOME!!!!”

Zolzite says: “It makes a lot more sense now, hearing the ORIGINAL source material!”

Queen Beryl says: “I think it stinks! It's not even in COLOR for crying out loud! Isn't there anything ELSE good on?!”

Abaddon says: “With access to only THREE Earth channels playing programs from the 1950's? Good luck with THAT!”

Queen Beryl then sees Lucy on-screen, dressed as Carmen Miranda, and wearing a fruity hat. Queen Beryl says: “Hold the phone, pause it right there!”

And Abaddon magically pauses the action in place! Queen Beryl says: “That gives me a REALLY great idea!”

Kunzite says: “Are we going to FORCE Core Earth to watch only outdated, politically incorrect TV programs from the 1950's?”

Queen Beryl says: “Even better! We're going to turn that FRUITY hat that Lucy is wearing, into a diabolical Youkai! Kunzite, you may do the honors!”

Zolzite says: “But Kunzite got to make the LAST Youkai! It's MY turn to make a Youkai!”

Abaddon says: “Tell you what, we'll split the difference. Why don't you BOTH make the Youkai this time? That way, it will be TWICE as strong!”

Kunzite says: “Fine with me. As long as it generates the energy needed to revive Queen Metalia, that's all I care about.”

Queen Beryl says: “Than make it happen!”

Kunzite and Zolzite simultaneously say: “From our magic, we now seek, bring to us a FRUIT Freak!”

They zap the TV, copy the Fruity Hat that Lucy is wearing, bring it OUT of the TV screen, and then transform it into a feminine monster made up of a bunch of different fruits! The only problem is, it's in black and white! Queen Beryl yells: “That monster looks nothing LIKE Core Earth fruit, you IDIOTS!”

Zolzite says: “You want it in COLOR?! Sheesh, you're SO picky!”

Zolzite zaps the monster again, and fixes its coloring problem, so the monster is now displaying its fruits in wonderful, glorious Technicolor. Fruit Freak says: “I am Fruit Freak! I'm going to turn the Power Rangers and anything they try to protect into a delicious, but very PUREED, fruit smoothie!”

Queen Beryl says: “We know who YOU are, THEY created you! And you can start by going down to Core Earth now, seek the one called Usagi, and give HER a blending she won't soon forget!”

Abaddon says: “Begging your majesty's pardon, but it seems like Usagi and the other Power Rangers, are not ON Core Earth right now!”

Queen Beryl says: “Come on! They HAVE to BE there! Where ELSE would they be?!”

Abaddon says: “According to my scanners, they are on the Astro Mega Ship, and heading for the Planet Onyx at 4,000 times the speed of light! Of course, they wouldn't go THERE unless they had a good reason to! It looks like you'll have to put your plans for Usagi on hold!”

Queen Beryl says: Forget Usagi! We'll continue as planned! With no Power Rangers to get in the way, Fruit Freak can gather energy uninhibited! Fruit Freak, you KNOW your task! Now, carry it out!”

Fruit Freak says: “At once, your majesty!” And Fruit Freak warps to Core Earth!

Queen Beryl says: “With no Power Rangers to get in the way THIS time, it's only a question of 'When' Queen Metalia will be revived, and not 'If'! I just LOVE it when I'm nasty!” /

Of course, the instant that Fruit Freak touches down on Core Earth, in Brazil of ALL places, the alarms in the Command Center go off! Alpha 8 says: “Ay-yi-yi-yi-yi! This is JUST what we DIDN'T need at this moment!”

Omnus says: “Calm down, Alpha 8. Krash'ir has the Thunder Morphers. She WILL find four candidates to give them to.”

Queen Hedrian says: “Do you really think so?”

Omnus says: “Of course. Usagi has kept Krash'ir informed of all the important souls that the Power Rangers have saved. I know she will make the right call!” /

Meanwhile, at Krash'ir's apartment, Krash'ir is sharpening her blade, when the communicator she is wearing, goes off! Beep! Beep! Ba-beep! Beep! Beep! Sally Anne asks: “What's that sound, mommy?”

Krash'ir says: “It means there might be trouble somewhere, sweetie. Mommy MAY have to hire a sitter for you, soon!” She pushes the communicator, and says: “Talk to me, Omnus, what have we got?”

Omnus says: “Krash'ir, Queen Beryl has unleashed a new Youkai called Fruit Freak, and it has landed in Brazil. We know your appetite, but ONE cannot do this job alone! I trust you have four good candidates in mind?”

Krash'ir says: “Of course, but I can't leave Sally Anne unattended.”

Omnus says: “I've already taken the liberty of contacting Papyrus! He should be there--.”

Papyrus knocks on the door and loudly says: “DID SOMEBODY CALL FOR A SITTER?!”

Omnus says: “That was faster than I thought he would be!”

Krash'ir opens the door, and she says: “Thank you Papyrus, for coming over on short notice!”

Papyrus walks in, and he says: “If Sans can do it, how HARD can it be for me?!”

Krash'ir says: “Sally's formula is in the fridge, make sure she gets a nap every three hours, or she will get cranky, and don't let her NEAR the room where I keep the guns, the weapons, the knives, and that one picture where I think I'm making a WEIRD face in it! Well...weirder than I usually do! Sally, listen to EVERYTHING that Uncle Papyrus says, and STAY out of trouble! I'll be back before dark, Mommy has business to take care of!”

And Krash'ir warps out of her apartment! Papyrus pulls out a Blu-Ray, and says: “Who wants to watch The Little Mermaid?!” And Sally Anne SQUEES with delight! /

Krash'ir warps to Camp Kidney first, and she says: “This is a good place to start! I can get TWO candidates here if I'm lucky! But they might be intimidated by how I look! I better MORPH into something a less overwhelming! Now, if I remember the archives correctly, the morph went something like this! It's MORPHING time!” /

Krash'ir is standing inside what looks like a computer grid, and a very impressive (by 1993 standards) computer graphic image of the Blue Kirin Thunderzord appears behind her, and she morphs into the Blue Thunderzord Power Ranger! Krash'ir says: “Blue Kirin Thunderzord power!” /

Krash'ir looks at the finished result, and she says: “I could get USED to this!”

She then sees Samson and Patsy walking towards the cafeteria, and she says: “Samson, Patsy! I need to talk to you!”

Samson asks: “You're a Power Ranger? I've never seen one that looks like YOU before. Although you DO remind me of that Tigerzord, White Ranger!”

Krash'ir says: “I don't have much time to explain! There's a dangerous monster attacking Brazil, and the regular Power Rangers are already dealing with a previous engagement!”

Patsy asks: “A previous engagement? What does THAT mean?”

Krash'ir says: “I'll fill you in later. I KNOW it's asking for a lot, but you two are PERFECT candidates to become Thunder Rangers!”

Patsy's eyes light up, and she asks: “You mean, I get my OWN Master Morpher?!”

Krash'ir says: “Well, it's a Thunder Morpher, but you've got the general idea!”

Samson says: “I've trained my body six years for an opportunity like this! Of course I'll take it!”

Krash'ir says: “That's the spirit! Now, pick any color you'd like! Pink Flloyd reference!”

Samson says: “Red!”

Patsy asks: “Why do YOU get to be red?!”

Samson says: “Well, I AM already wearing a red loin-cloth!”

Patsy says: “LUCKY! And I suppose, that BECAUSE I have pink hair, that somehow would make ME, the Pink Ranger!”

Samson says: “Well, SOMEBODY has to be! Besides, Pink Rangers almost ALWAYS have a skirt on them, or so I've noticed!”

Patsy groans, and says: “Fine, I'll take the Pink morpher! Better than NOTHING!”

Krash'ir says: “Perfect! Take these communicators!”

And she tosses them both a wrist communicator, and Krash'ir activates hers, and she says: “Omnus! I've got the Red and Pink Thunder Rangers! Tell them they're morphing call and warp them to Brazil immediately! Someone has GOT to keep the Fruit Freak at bay until I find the other candidates!”

Omnus says: “Of course! Samson and Patsy, the time has come! Samson, your morphing call is the Red Dragon Thunderzord! Patsy, your morphing call is the Pink Phoenix Thunderzord!”

Patsy's eyes light up again, and she says: “Pink Phoenix, huh? Suddenly, the Pink Ranger sounds like a pretty AWESOME power!”

Samson says: “That's the spirit! It's morphing time!” /

Samson gets a similar morph to Krash'ir's, only, a 1993 styled computer generated model of the Red Dragon Thunderzord appears behind him, and he morphs into the Red Dragon Thunder Ranger! Samson says: “Red Dragon Thunderzord power!” /

Patsy also gets a similar morph, and for her, a 1993 styled computer generated model of the Pink Phoenix Thunderzord appears behind her, and she morphs into the Pink Phoenix Thunder Ranger! Patsy says: “Pink Phoenix Thunderzord power!” /

After they finish morphing, they are both astonished by the results! Samson says: “Wow! These suits are pretty fancy!”

Krash'ir says: “You can admire your suits later! Right now, Brazil needs you!”

Patsy says: “Right! I already HAVE a little experience of being a Ranger, I'll show Samson the ropes until you're able to help us...by the way, we haven't even gotten your NAME yet!”

Krash'ir is taken aback, and although she doesn't show it through her visor, she IS a little nervous! Krash'ir says: “My name is...Krash'ir. I'm a friend of the regular Rangers!”

Samson wonders aloud: “What kind of parents...no. It's not important. If you're friends with the regular Rangers, that's good enough for us! Omnus, take us to Brazil!”

And Omnus warps the two of them to Brazil! Krash'ir says: “That's two down, and two more to go! And I know just where to FIND those two!” /

Samson and Patsy land in Brazil! Patsy says: “So THIS is what Lazlo's home country looks like! I always WANTED to take a visit here PERSONALLY!”

Samson says: “We don't have time to see the sights, look!”

And in the direction that Samson is pointing, he sees the Fruit Freak monster, zapping a bunch of running people, and turning them into a FRUIT of whatever color their shirt happens to be! Samson says: “Honestly, I feel like that's only the SECOND weirdest thing I've ever seen in my life!”

Patsy says: “I defer to your OWN personal experience! We've got to STOP that Fruit Freak before he eats those fruits, or else we'll NEVER be able to turn those people back to normal! Do you mind if I take the lead?”

Samson says: “I heard that Kimberly once led a make-shift team of Power Rangers to fight against a monster that Goldar had created, and Jen was the TECHNICAL leader of the Time Force Power Rangers, so it's certainly NOT unheard of. So by all means, go right ahead!”

Patsy says: “Right! Hey, Fruit Freak! Didn't your mother ever teach you to wash your orange hand/banana fingers BEFORE handling unwashed fruit?”

Fruit Freak asks: “Who dares to talk to—AHH!!!!”

Samson strikes a pose, and answers: We do! Red Dragon Thunder Ranger!”

Patsy strikes a pose, and she says: “Pink Phoenix Thunder Ranger!”

They simultaneously say: “We are the Mighty Morphing Thunder Rangers!” And a red colored, and a pink colored explosion unexpectedly appear behind them simultaneously! /

Abaddon is monitoring the action and says: “WHAT?! MORE new Rangers! I've never even SEEN these Power Rangers before...that I KNOW of!”

Queen Beryl says: “That dirty, STINKING Omnus! He always has to meddle in my plans! Well, if he wants a fight, he's going to get it! Fruit Freak is NOT to be taken lightly!” / Krash'ir warps to the Little's rebuilt, refurbished mansion, and she says: “Here's stop number 2! I just hope that Ace and Abby are WILLING to let Coop and D.O.G., see action!”

She rings the doorbell, and Coop answers it! He asks: “Krash'ir! Is that YOU?!”

Krash'ir asks: “How did YOU know I was Krash'ir?!”

Coop slyly answers: “Because you just TOLD me!”

Krash'ir face-palms her helmet, and she says: “I've REALLY got to learn to STOP falling for that! Is D.O.G., here?”

Coop says: “Yes, he just got back. But what do you need D.O.G., for?”

Krash'ir says: “Actually, I need both him AND you for what I'm about to ask for!”

Abby runs to the door and she asks: “Now who in the world would interrupt my Netflix viewing of Grace and Frankie?! A Power Ranger?! Well, this IS an unexpected, yet somehow, not really a surprising event, considering everything WE'VE been through!”

D.O.G., runs to the door, and he says: “Ooh! We have a guest! Should I whip up some treats?!”

Krash'ir says: “Sorry, D.O.G., but I don't have time for treats! Abby, I need to ask you and Ace for a favor!”

Ace comes to the door, and he says: “Whatever you need, we're happy to help!”

Krash'ir says: “Perfect! I need Coop and D.O.G., for their help and assistance! I need them to become Thunder Power Rangers!”

D.O.G., asks: “You want ME, to become a Power Ranger?!”

Abby stomps her foot down and says: “NO! Absolutely NOT! I already FRET every single time BlackHawk goes out on a mission, and that's even KNOWING that death is only a slap on the WRIST for him! I mean, D.O.G., is FINE! He's been around since the 1970's! But Coop is out of the question!”

Coop says: “MOM!!!! I'm already twelve! And I've been through so MUCH already! Besides, have you already FORGOTTEN the kind of power that I currently have?!”

Ace says: “I've actually been WONDERING that myself!”

Coop says: “Shadow Chicken Aura, ACTIVATE!!!!”

And Coop manifests a BIG, muscular, heroic chicken Aura, that EASILY fills up the entire room of that Mansion! Abby's beak is agape, and she says: “WOAH!!!! I sure am glad we DIDN'T put a fancy chandelier anywhere in our mansion THIS time!”

Coop says: “Shadow Chicken Aura, De-Activate!”

And the Aura dissipates! Coop says: “Mom, I know it's going to be dangerous! But I've already been through so much worse! Remember the Night Master and Eradicus? I can clearly handle myself! Besides, I'll have D.O.G., to protect me! And Krash'ir won't let anything bad happen to me! I'm not like Justin, I won't try to rush into any situation that I can't handle, and I won't get in the way or make matters worse, not even unwittingly! Omnus NEEDS our help! What would Ace do?!”

Ace says: “Well, he's certainly got more power than Robert Palmer and the Power Station, that's for sure! And he's certainly got a better head on his shoulders than a good number of others who have called themselves Rangers over the years. I KNOW he won't let us down!”

Abby groans, and she says: “I'm just sick and TIRED of feeling so HELPLESS compared to you guys! I guess you're MORE like your brother than I thought you were. Now, let's see if all those academic trophies that you won are worth their weight in paper!”

Coop says: “Are you giving me your blessing?”

Abby says: “Not happily, but I'll do it. I feel better knowing you chose Coop and D.O.G., over far LESS qualified candidates that you could have picked!”

Krash'ir says: “Rest assured, Abby, I'll keep these two safe no MATTER the cost to MY personal health and safety!”

Abby says: “Thank you, I feel SO much better!”

Krash'ir says: “I only have two Morpher colors here. Green and yellow. I'm not sure which one you want.”

D.O.G., says: “I don't mind being a Yellow Ranger.”

Coop says: “Are you SURE?! Isn't the Yellow Ranger usually a female?”

Krash'ir says: “Often? Yes; but it's not a STRICT rule! The Yellow Ranger power is more gender neutral than the other Ranger Powers, so it's more flexible on which gender can be that power. That's why a LOT of Yellow Rangers DON'T have skirts, it ALLOWS for that flexibility!”

Coop says: “I always WONDERED about that! Well mom, I guess that means you got to go shopping for me!”

Abby asks: “Shopping? What for?”

Coop says: “For new GREEN clothes! I noticed a severe LACK of GREEN in my wardrobe!”

Ace says: “Yep! He's like his brother, all right!”

Abby says: “Maybe so, but he's definitely a little bit brighter, for the wear! Also, NONE of you are to EVER tell BlackHawk that I ever SAID that to any of you, EVER!”

Krash'ir says: “Forgetting! And you two, take these communicators!”

She tosses them two wrist communicators, and D.O.G., says: “WOW! I've always DREAMED about having one of these things! Now that dream has come true!”

Krash'ir activates her communicator, and she says: “Omnus, I've got the other two Power Rangers! How are the others holding up?”

Omnus says: “They are doing fine, but they need your help in order to finish off Fruit Freak! Coop, your morphing call is the Green Lion Thunderzord power! D.O.G., your morphing call is the Yellow Korin Thunderzord Power!”

Coop says: “Got it! I always WANTED to say this! It's MORPHING time!” /

Coop gets a morph similar to the one Krash'ir has, and for him, he gets a 1993 computer graphic styled image of the Green Lion Thunderzord behind him. He morphs into the Green Lion Thunderzord Ranger, grows to FULL adult height, and he says: “Green Lion Thunderzord power!” /

D.O.G., gets a morph similar to Coop's, and for him, he gets a 1993 computer graphic styled image of the Yellow Korin Thunderzord behind him. He morphs into the Yellow Korin Thunderzord Ranger, and he says: “Yellow Korin Thunderzord power!” /

Ace looks at Coop's finished result, and he says: “WOAH! And I thought that MY growth spurt was surprisingly big and fast!”

Coop says: “Don't worry! I may be big, but I'm STILL the same Coop on the inside!”

Abby says: “Don't go changing TOO much, except into a Power Ranger to beat up whatever bad guys or girls you NEED to beat up!”

Krash'ir says: “Rest assured, I will keep these two safe! Omnus, warp us to Brazil!”

And the three of them warp out of the mansion! Abby says: “First BlackHawk, than D.O.G., now Coop is a Power Ranger as well. How did WE get to be the ONLY two in this residence without ANY Ranger Powers whatsoever?”

Ace says: “It's not the morpher that counts. It's the spirit, attitude, and skill that's more important than anything. I know that Coop and D.O.G., will make us proud.”

Abby says: “You're right. I know they'll be okay.” /

Radiguet is viewing the city of Corinth in the “Power Rangers R.P.M.” dimension, eagerly eying his next conquest! Gray the Robot says: “THIS is the dimension you want to conquer SO badly?! Seems like a waste of time to me. There are HARDLY enough people remaining in this dimension to even WARRANT you calling it a trophy!”

Radiguet rolls his eyes and says: “As I've told you SO many times, it's not the amount of people that are important, it's anyone who happens to be a BLASTED Power Ranger themselves! Despite Venjix's best efforts, the Power Rangers have somehow managed to thrive here as well. I will do what Venjix couldn't and FINISH them off myself!”

Tranza walks in, and he says: “Sire, our scanners indicate that Dr. Maniac has fled to the Planet Onyx, just as you anticipated! The Power Rangers are on the Astro Mega Ship Mark II, closing in behind him as we speak!”

Radiguet gets a slasher smile and says: “Excellent! And while we're busy SLAUGHTERING all those SICK sexual DEVIANTS who worship that DISGUSTING Sla'neesh HERE, it will SURELY attract his attention! Then, I will capture HIM in a Way Stone like I did T'zeen'tch, than, Khorne will be no match for me, once I FINISH with this dimension HERE!!!!”

A Valley Girl voice says: “Oh, poo! Must you always sound SO predictable?!”

Radiguet turns around and he says: “WHAT?!!!”

Everyone turns around, and STARES at the beautiful, blonde-haired woman, dressed up in traditional Greek clothing, wearing Greek sandals, and carrying a Golden Apple!

The woman says: “Come, now! Is that any way to react to a former flame?”

Radiguet says: “Eris! How did YOU get on my ship?! It's not even in YOUR dimension at the moment, or haven't you NOTICED?!”

Eris says: “In case you have forgotten, I just HAPPEN to be the Goddess of Discord. And as such, my powers allow me to warp to anywhere I want to be. Even if that place HAPPENS to be a place where YOU don't want me to be!”

Radiguet says: “My more pressing question is, why have YOU decided to come here?! If you think I'm going to take you BACK after the LIE that YOU pulled on me, you're WRONG! You said you were FERTILE, and YOU turned out to be BARREN! NEVER able to have kids! I only MARRY women who CAN, HAVE, and WILL produce a suitable HEIR to my family lineage whenever I WANT her to! And who DON'T talk BACK to ME unless SPOKEN to!”

Eris scoffs, and she says: “Oh, PLEASE! The only reason MARIA is STILL with you, is because you're BRAINWASHING her into WANTING to be with you! And WHY are you STILL imitating, Him, from The Powerpuff Girls? We all KNOW that's NOT your REAL voice!”

Radiguet reveals a hidden voice box hiding under his shirt, he removes it, and suddenly starts talking JUST like Adam Driver! Radiguet says: “Is that what you want to hear? To hear me with my real voice? Well, wish granted! Of course, it hardly matters what I sound like! Either way, I strike fear into the hearts of millions!”

Eris says: “Not to me, you don't! And I actually LOVED you the way you were BEFORE! Back before your father, Egos Satan started to manipulate you and turn into the psychopathic MONSTER that you are now!”

Radiguet says: “Well, my mother, Empress Jooza, ALSO tried to kill me, in case you forgot!”

Eris says: “Your Freudian Excuse is NO excuse for your OWN personal actions, Radiguet! And someday, your actions WILL be taken into account by the Guardians, and I can assure you, they will NOT be as merciful to you, as I'm being now!”

Radiguet says: “Aslan is gone, thanks to the White Witch. And the other Guardians don't concern me. Besides, it's not THEM that I'm after. My goal is the remaining Chaos Gods, offing the Crimson King, and making the Space Emperor's powers my own. Than, EVERYONE will worship me like the God I TRULY will have become! And don't worry, once I'm old and I've had my fun, among the beings that I decide are WORTH sparing, I'll give ALL of them super-powers, so that EVERYONE can be super! And when EVERYONE'S super, NO ONE will BE! See how THAT works?”

Eris says: “Sorry to throw a KINK into your plans, but I happen to KNOW how the Chaos Gods work, being the Goddess of Discord herself! And as such, I happen to know that they are NOT just going to LET you proceed with YOUR plans the way you EXPECT them to! Which is why both Khorne and Sla'neesh outvoted Nurgle, to select me to carry out their plans!”

Radiguet asks: “And what plans are those? Invading that Eldritch Location called Endsville AGAIN? Where the Grim Reaper is FORCED to be best friends with a bratty, creepy girl, and a boy with the I.Q., of a ravioli? Sounds REALLY scary, Eris!”

Eris scoffs: “Been there, done that! Since you don't think the team of Power Rangers HERE, are much of a threat to you, I thought I'd provide you with a little more sport. Using MY Golden Apple of Discord, I shall bring back to life, ALL the teams of Power Rangers who EVER inhabited the Power Rangers R.P.M. Dimension!”

And she throws the Golden Apple down on the ground of the ship, and sure enough, the scanners on Radiguet's ship, start to go CRAZY, as it indicated the life-forms of HUNDREDS of former Power Rangers, being brought back to life at the PEAK of their powers, ready to defend the city of Corinth! Eris says: “You're welcome! Now, do me a favor and have FUN with them! Oh, and just remember one thing! Don't get mad at me. Everything I do, I do it because I love and cherish people, in my own unique way. And if you should ever remember the man you used to be, just remember, I'm only a hop, skip, and a jump away, metaphorically speaking. Later, lover!”

And before any of them can do anything, Eris disappears through a magic wormhole, and warps away to points unknown! Tranza says: “She called you her LOVER! Who IS this Eris, anyways? And why do you happen to HATE her so much, BESIDES the reason you just mentioned?”

Radiguet asked: “WHY do I hate Eris so much? She's the embodiment of all GOOD, benevolent chaos. I'm the embodiment of all EVIL, malevolent chaos. DO THE MATH!!!! Well, Eris. You're certainly more crafty and manipulative than I gave you credit for. It's a PITY you had to upset me! There are only TWO types of beings in the Multiverse; those who WORSHIP me, and those who UPSET me. And you DON'T want to be a being that UPSETS me. Because...well, let's just say I can't guarantee the long-term health of anyone who upsets me.”

Tranza asks: “Do you want ME to go down to Corinth and handle the revived Power Rangers?”

Radiguet says: “I don't think that will be necessary. I'll just send down a few thousand of my personal Hell Fighters for them to remember me by. I know a good number of them have had to fight the Cogs in the past. But my Hell Fighters? They're like the Cogs on STEROIDS! And they DON'T take any prisoners! Hell Fighters, raise HELL!!!!”

The Hell Fighters say: “Sir, yes, sir!”

And they all warp down to Corinth! Radiguet says: “Well played, Sla'neesh. You've managed to DELAY the inevitable, ALL the worse for you! Instead of taking care of you SOONER, I'll take care of you LATER! I'll be ALL the stronger for it by then! Soon, Sla'neesh, I will personally make you PAY for all the HORRIBLE HELL YOU PUT ME THROUGH, I'll make you pay for it in SPADES!!!!” / /

D.E.C.A.'s alert system blares, and she says: “Planet Onyx detected! Exiting 4,000 times light speed now! Onyx is in range, and ready for you to warp.”

They exit out of the blazing warp speed, and see the wild, rocky planet of Onyx, proportionally below them, relative to their position in space. Andros says: “This is it, you guys! There's no turning back from this point here!”

Captain Retro says: “Don't worry. We wouldn't have come THIS far if we were just going to back out here and now! We WON'T let you down!”

Tommy says: “Right, then! Time for action!”

And the fourteen Rangers, Sans, and Captain Retro, warp down to Planet Onyx! Alpha 7 says: “Good luck, Rangers! May the power of Zordon protect you!” /

They land on Onyx, and they are all SHOCKED to see a giant fortress FILLED with technological weapons, radar systems, and sheer defenses that haven't been seen since 1985! Pinkie Pie asks: “What the HECK is THAT?!”

Lettuce says: “That's Dr. Maniac's fortress, rebuilt from the ground up!”

FireHawk says: “I guess if you invest your money WELL for about 200 years, you can BUY something pretty...UGLY, that IS!”

They hear a familiar cackling, and a giant, holographic image of Dr. Maniac appears in front of his fortress! Dr. Maniac says: “MWA, HA, HA, HA!!!! I KNEW you would come after me, like the predictable PEONS that you are! I've got Alphys hostage, if you DARE to try and SAVE her! You'll see my fortress, has EIGHT different entrances! But WHICH entrance is the RIGHT entrance that leads to MY inner lair?! Well, they ALL do, but EACH entrance and pathway has TERRIFYING traps and some of MY personal favorite MONSTERS, who I've REVIVED just for this occasion! What kind of traps and monsters you might ask? Well, that would be TELLING, wouldn't it?! Oh, and DON'T think you can just use ONE entrance and be DONE with it! You'll need the passwords you will obtain from ALL eight paths, in order to enter into my Inner Lair, and Lettuce, you CAN'T hammer your way through THAT door!”

Lettuce says: “Darn it!”

Dr. Maniac says: “Besides, if you WERE to leave any ONE of my monsters alive, they might very well get very ROUGH on Alphys or anyone ELSE you Rangers care about and protect! Fare well, though I know you won't! MWA, HA, HA!!!!”

Sans angrily says: “That MONSTER!!!!”

And Sans runs into the doorway marked number 4, and Captain Retro flies after him, and Captain Retro says: “Wait, Sans! You don't know what's in there!”

StarHawk asks: “Now what are we going to do?”

Billy says: “It looks like Dr. Maniac's fortress is too strong to blast apart. Besides, we can't risk hurting Alphys. We're simply going to have to fight our way through. Everybody partner up! Nobody faces a monster alone!”

Tommy says: “Agreed! Usagi, you come with me!”

Usagi says: “The honor is all mine!

Anubis 'Doggie' Kruger says: “FireHawk, you come with me!”

FireHawk says: “Yes, sir!

Andros says: “Naruto, you're with me!”

Naruto says: “Awesome!”

Lettuce says: “Pinkie, will you fight with me?”

Pinkie snarks back, and asks: “Don't you want to fight with your REAL girlfriend, Kira?!”

Lettuce says: “Come ON, Pinkie! I already apologized a hundred times about that STUPID shrine to Kira! To clarify, the SHRINE was stupid, not Kira; I mean...you know what I mean!”

Pinkie says: “I'm GOING with Karone! I'd trust the woman FORMERLY known as Astronema, more than I CURRENTLY trust YOU!”

Lettuce says: “Than tell me! What do I have to do to get your trust back BESIDES destroying that STUPID Shrine, which I already did?!”

Pinkie says: “If you want my trust, than you'll EARN it! Otherwise, I WON'T be giving you the time of DAY!!!!”

Adam pats Lettuce on the shoulder, and he says: “It's okay, Lettuce, you can come with me.”

Lettuce asks: “Have you EVER had any relationship troubles like this?”

Adam says: “Not with Tanya, I haven't. But then again, it's NOT like she HAD any actual competition in MY books! You want MY advice? You need to prove that your SELFLESS and willing to put Pinkie's OWN needs above your own, IF you truly DO care as much for her as you SAY that you do!”

Lettuce says: “Selfless, bold, and caring? I can do that!”

Adam says: “Than you're already half-way there! The rest is up to you!”

Billy says: “StarHawk, do you want to partner up with me?”

StarHawk asks: “May I, BlackHawk?”

BlackHawk says: “I think it would be a good learning experience, so go ahead.”

StarHawk says: “Thanks, BlackHawk!

Kira says: “I guess that means you're partnering up with me, BlackHawk!”

Pinkie asks: “Are YOU two going to get up to anything?”

BlackHawk says: “First of all, she's NOT my type! And secondly, she's NOT even my same species! I don't know WHY, but for some reason, I just don't think a Hawkian/human relationship would work for me, or for her.”

StarHawk says: “If you can trust me, than I know I can trust you!”

Adam points, and he says: “See, right there? BlackHawk and StarHawk have the right idea.”

Andros says: “All right, Rangers, let's move!”

Billy and StarHawk run into the doorway, with the number one; Tommy and Usagi run into the doorway with the number two; Adam and Lettuce run into the doorway with the number three; Andros and Naruto run into the doorway with the number five; Karone and Pinkie run into the doorway with the number six; Kira and BlackHawk run into the doorway with the number seven; and Anubis and FireHawk run into the doorway with the number eight. As soon as all of the Rangers enter the fortress, the doors slam shut behind them! Naruto says: “Well, looks like we won't be leaving through the front door!”

Andros says: “Definitely not if Dr. Maniac can help it! From here on out, we'll all have to rely on each other to see this through!”

Naruto says: “I know we are ALL up to this task at hand!” /

To Be Continued...

I hope you enjoyed reading it, as much as I did writing it!