PlayingMonk
08-02-2006, 05:45 PM
SHADOWED PAST
By:
PrimoPiccolo
(PrimoPiccolo@aol.com)
Note: If you like this fic, be sure to vote for it: http://www.rangerboard.com/showthread.php?t=92044
Late one night, deep inside S.P.D. headquarters, a mysterious figure appears through an active computer screen. He looks around the room, lined with shelves containing every kind of intergalactic criminal imaginable inside their containment cards, some still screaming for their freedom. The intruder continues to the back, and heads through a door marked "MOST HEINOUS OFFENDERS". Once inside, he spots a cylindrical tube in the middle of the room with three containment cards floating freely inside of it. He walks up to it, aims an electronic device resembling a television remote control at it, and zaps one of the cards. The card disappears, and reappears in his hand.
"Excellent." He leaves the room, and exits S.P.D. headquarters the same way he came.
* * *
Inside a complicated laboratory, many machines are beeping and booping. It seems the place was designed from within a cave. The mystery thief places the containment card on a smooth metallic surface with a ray device of some kind positioned directly above it. He walks over to a console and presses a key on the keyboard which activates the ray. A red-tinted laser display coats the card, and ions slowly begin to exit the containment card. Within seconds, many ions collect next to the device, and mass together to take the form of Emperor Gruumm.
GRUUMM: "What? This cannot be! I'm free?"
"And you have me to thank."
GRUUMM: "Huh?" Emperor Gruumm stares into the shadow from which the voice eminated. The figure begins to step into view.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am the master scientist Tomars."
GRUUMM: "Tomars? That name sounds somewhat familiar."
TOMARS: "As it should. I once aided your minion Morgana with my dimension-bending technology."
GRUUMM: "Ah, yes. As I recall, that plan failed!"
TOMARS: "Only due to improper planning. Trust in me, I have exhausted the probability matrix for this elaborate scheme."
GRUUMM: "And what scheme would that be?"
TOMARS: "Emperor, you were once the most feared dictator in the known universe. I want to ensure that you regain all that you have lost." Gruumm hangs his head.
GRUUMM: "Yes, I have lost everything. S.P.D. took it all from me! Doggie Cruger and his blasted S.P.D.!" His eyes glow as he shakes his fist in the air.
TOMARS: "That fueling anger is exactly why I've developed this for you, my liege." He presents Gruumm with an electronic device roughly the size of a VHS cassette. Gruumm takes it in his free hand.
GRUUMM: "What is this?"
TOMARS: "I call it my ethereal tuner. Blast any living body with this, and they will instantly be transported into the nether dimension."
GRUUMM: "With this, I could trap Doggie Cruger the way he trapped me. How brilliant! And what do I owe you for such a gift, Tomars?"
TOMARS: "Your name still strikes fear into the corners of many worlds. By your side, I could achieve the domination a mind like mine has always deserved." Gruumm stares at the technology he now holds.
GRUUMM: "Believe me, Tomars, you will receive all that's coming to you." He aims the device at Tomars, and fires.
TOMARS: "No!" He holds up his hands, as the bluish-white beam teleports him away in a flash.
GRUUMM: "Fool! Emperor Gruumm shares his empire with no one! And now that I know this thing works, it's high time I paid a visit to an old friend."
* * *
The next day, a ceremony is held in Newtech City for the ribbon-cutting of a new facility. Many people sit in chairs lined up in front of a sizable stage with notable S.P.D. officials sitting behind a podium where Commander Cruger is speaking.
CRUGER: "I'd like to thank you all for attending the grand opening of the Anubis Cruger Forensic Library. It is an honor to have my name attached to something that will teach the current generation of rookie S.P.D. officers, as well as inspire future generations to uphold the mantle of law and order throughout the galaxy." A man in the crowd, dressed in a black trenchcoat, stands.
"Is that so? Then perhaps I should give you a housewarming gift!" He transforms into Gruumm. Cruger's eyes widen.
CRUGER: "Gruumm? Impossible!" The crowd scatters in fear.
OFFICER: "S.P.D., move in!" A crowd of C-Squad cadets draw their blasters and converge on Gruumm. The tyrant fires energy from his staff across the area, knocking them off of their feet.
CRUGER: "Isinia, run!" He ushers Isinia off the stage as Gruumm leaps up.
GRUUMM: "Not so fast, Cruger!" He blasts the stage, knocking Cruger onto his back.
ISINIA: "Doggie!"
CRUGER: "Run!"
GRUUMM: "Isn't it touching how she wants to help you? Let's see how well she does that from another dimension!" He aims the handheld device at her.
CRUGER: "No!" He leaps to his feet, and grabs Gruumm's wrist.
GRUUMM: "Let me go, Cruger!" They wrestle with the device ceaselessly, until Gruumm accidentally hits the trigger button, and they both vanish in a flash of light.
ISINIA: "Doggie!"
* * *
The red sky, containing traces of smoke, reigns ominously over the nether dimension. Nothing but rocky plains as far as the eye can see. Within an instant, Cruger and Gruumm appear, their previous tangling making them both fall to the ground in a heap. The transporter goes flying, and crumbles into pieces before their eyes.
GRUUMM: "No! This wasn't supposed to happen!" He rushes over to the pile of parts on the ground.
CRUGER: "What in the world?" He looks around, finding little to nothing. He growls. "Where are we, Gruumm?!"
GRUUMM: "This is the nether dimension. When evil is destroyed, it comes here to rest. It was supposed to be your new home... alone!"
CRUGER: "You would really go so far? Just to punish me for your own misdeeds?!" Gruumm stands.
GRUUMM: "Everything I had is gone now because of you and your precious S.P.D.! Finally, my time had come to repay you for trapping me in that stupid card, and yet again I'm confined to some forsaken place!"
CRUGER: "Are you telling me we have no way out of here?"
GRUUMM: "The device you just disassembled was possibly our only means of escape. We're trapped here now because of you!"
CRUGER: "Me? How dare you!" He clenches his fists and raises them, as he hears Isinia's voice in his head. "Never strike out in anger, Doggie." He takes a seat on the ground. "Well, at least I can take comfort in knowing you'll no longer threaten the Earth."
GRUUMM: "What? You're supposed to be furious with me! Wrought with agony over your lost existence! Yet you sit there, and manage to find contentment? It's not fair!" He screams at the top of his lungs, his eyes glowing bright enough to mask his face.
CRUGER: "Gruumm, calm down now!"
GRUUMM: "No! The time for calm is over! The only thing left is revenge!" He charges toward Cruger at an intense speed. A shadow from the sky flies into his back, stopping his sprint, and dropping him to his knees.
CRUGER: "Hmm? What's the matter with you?" As he approaches his arch enemy, three more shadows swoop in and fill Gruumm's body. Gruumm grabs his stomach, and collapses in pain. "Gruumm!" As Cruger runs over, red lightning escapes Gruumm's body, preventing further approach. The energy eventually sets a scene. "What is all this?"
IMPERIOUS: "Your power will be put to better use to run Ursus. It will make him unbeatable! Goodbye!"
FIGHTOE: "No! You tricked me! Imperious, no!" His ghost is funneled into Ursus.
CRUGER: "Who are they? What's happening?" He hears booming footsteps. He looks behind him to see the Solar Streak Megazord. He gasps in disbelief. Ursus sends an array of strange metallic objects toward the Megazord, and knocks it out through the nether dimension, straight to Earth. "I can't believe it! An opening!" Cruger rushes toward the tear, when he's blasted into the air. He lands with a hard thud.
GRUUMM: "You're not going anywhere, Cruger!" Gruumm stands weakly, gripping his chest. "But I have a world to conquer." He grips his eyes as they turn from red to purple. He then teleports straight through the rift.
CRUGER: "Gruumm! Come back!" Cruger struggles to his feet, and manages to escape the nether dimension just as the tear repairs itself. He evades the Megazord battle through the alleyways of the city just as the Manticore Megazord appears to finish off Ursus.
* * *
As Koragg walks away from the Rangers following the exsponging of their alliance, he senses something.
KORAGG: "There's dark magic here. I can feel it!" He walks around a couple of corners to find Gruumm lying still on the sidewalk. He kneels down. "Such a high concentration! And completely unfocused. This is no wizard!" He grabs Gruumm by the scruff of his neck, and lifts him onto his feet. "I'll take him back to the underworld and figure out what to make of this. Uthe Sastos!" A portal appears under them, and transports them.
* * *
Gruumm is thrown to the floor as Koragg enters The Master's chamber.
KORAGG: "Imperious! Does this thing have something to do with you?"
IMPERIOUS: "I have no idea what you're talking about! Who is that?"
KORAGG: "I've no idea. But the dark magic in his body is tremendous!"
IMPERIOUS: "We'll see about that." He gets off his throne and walks over. "Maku Jinwoa!" Dark magic flows from Gruumm into Imperious's fan. Gruumm screams, as Imperious' fan glows. "My! This power... there's so much!" The transfer cancels, with a bolt soaring through Imperious' body.
NECROLAI: "Master Imperious! Are you all right?" She steadies him.
IMPERIOUS: "That magic, there's a rage within it. A familiar one, like that of the Barbarian Beasts!"
KORAGG: "Barbarian Beasts? This pile of bones is hardly one of them, not to mention that the Barbarian Beasts themselves have no magic!"
IMPERIOUS: "I didn't say it had to be them, it's just a feeling that I'm getting. After all, none of us have any idea where he came from."
NECROLAI: "Look, he's waking up!" Gruumm shakes his head groggily, grabs his staff, and stands.
IMPERIOUS: "You! State your name before The Master!"
GRUUMM: "What? Where am I? Who are you?"
IMPERIOUS: "I asked you first!"
GRUUMM: "I am the great Emperor Gruumm! Star systems tremble at the sound of my name!"
IMPERIOUS: "Well, not this one. I've never heard of you."
GRUUMM: "You may want to choose your next words carefully, mummy!" He aims his staff, with his eyes glowing purple again. Koragg draws his sword and taps it on Gruumm's staff.
KORAGG: "There shall be no quarrel in the presence of The Master. If you'd like to prove your superiority, we have other ways."
GRUUMM: "Oh, yeah? And what would you suggest?"
KORAGG: "Use your great magic to destroy the Power Rangers. Then we can talk."
GRUUMM: "I've dealt with S.P.D. before. With my new power, it should be a cake walk."
LEELEE: "And what exactly is S.P.D.?"
GRUUMM: "Is that a joke? They're only the universal police force that destroyed my great empire!"
NECROLAI: "Well, we've never heard of this S.P.D., but the Power Rangers we're dealing with are the Mystic Force."
GRUUMM: "Mystic Force? There are more Power Rangers? And I thought the Dino ones were bad enough..."
IMPERIOUS: "Enough of this! If you can't handle it, then perhaps you don't deserve such a grand empire!"
GRUUMM: "Oh, I will destroy them! Nothing will stop me at this point!" He leaves the room.
KORAGG: "Hmph." Koragg turns to go.
NECROLAI: "Will you be joining him, Koragg?"
KORAGG: "Of course not. He'll fail, he's no true wizard. In the meantime, I have my own plans to prepare." He walks out.
IMPERIOUS: "Well, this is quite an unexpected surprise following the discovery of the Rangers' Legendary power. Perhaps we do have a leg up." He turns, and speaks to himself. "That Fightoe... somehow he must have absorbed the magic I used to sweep him into Ursus, and power his escape through that living skeleton. For my sake, the Rangers had better deal with him. And if not, I have time to take his power for my own, and send him back where he came from!"
* * *
Cruger struggles to walk through the streets of Briarwood, seeking medical attention. With his legs so weak, he's forced to lean on every tree for support.
CRUGER: "This city... its design is different. I don't know... my way around." He walks in front of the Rock Porium, and once leaning on the adjacent tree, he vanishes through the internal portal.
* * *
He appears in the mystical forest, landing on his back. He manages to turn over, and survey his surroundings. "Where am I? How'd I get here?" He gets to his feet. "Though at this point, I suppose nothing should surprise me."
"Hey!"
CRUGER: "Whoa!" He turns around.
PHINEAS: "Sorry, didn't mean to scare ya."
CRUGER: "It's completely my fault, I'm apparently new here. I am Commander Anubis Cruger of S.P.D." He extends his hand.
PHINEAS: "Really? Well, uh, I'm Lord Phineas of P.U. Pleasure to meet ya."
CRUGER: "Do you know of anywhere near here I could get checked up? My last battle was harsh."
PHINEAS: "Uh, sure! I know where you can go, come on!" He motions for Cruger to follow him. The old dog tries to move, but his movements are slow. "Here, uh, let me help ya." He drapes Cruger's arm over his shoulder, and grabs his back to hold him up.
CRUGER: "Thank you." They hobble along to their destination.
* * *
PHINEAS: "So, uh, can I ask ya something?"
CRUGER: "Of course."
PHINEAS: "What, uh, what happened to your other two heads?"
CRUGER: "What?"
PHINEAS: "Well, I've seen a Cerberus before, but never one with only one head. Or one that was blue or walked on two legs, either." Cruger stares blankly.
CRUGER: "I'm not a Cerberus. I hail from the planet Sirius, my entire race has this appearance."
PHINEAS: "Whoa! You mean you're from a distant planet? That's cool. I've never met anyone from another planet before."
CRUGER: "Well, I guess I'm your first." He smirks, as Phineas stops.
PHINEAS: "All right, this is the place!"
CRUGER: "A tree?"
PHINEAS: "Well, not just any tree. Really nice people live inside, I'm sure they'll help ya." He knocks on the dragon's head. "Hey! Yo! Rangers!" He stares at Cruger, then covers his mouth. "Oops. Shouldn't have said that."
CRUGER: "There are Power Rangers in there?"
PHINEAS: "Uh... no?" The dragon's head opens, and Nick and Madison walk out.
NICK: "Phineas, what's going--" He sees Cruger. "Phineas! You know you're not supposed to bring... other things here!"
PHINEAS: "I'm sorry! But he's in really bad shape! You've gotta use your magic to... ya know... heal him!" Madison examines Cruger.
MADISON: "He does look really bad, Nick."
CRUGER: "I'm Commander Anubis Cruger of S.P.D., and a fellow Power Ranger."
NICK: "You're a what? A Power Ranger? But you're a... dog!"
PHINEAS: "Yeah. I mean, I may not know a lot about Power Rangers... or anything about them, for that matter, but I always thought they were human."
CRUGER: "Please, I beg of you to help me."
MADISON: "We've got to do something, Nick."
NICK: "Yeah. And we've gotta figure out what this guy is talking about being a Power Ranger. Udonna should know. Stay out here with him, I'll go see what she has to say."
* * *
In no time at all, Cruger is in a cot recuperatin from his injuries.
UDONNA: "You say you're from the year 2025?"
CRUGER: "Yes. I don't know how, but some way I was transported back in time, to this place." Jenji sits in the corner, keeping his distance.
VIDA: "Jenji? Are you all right?"
JENJI: "Of course I'm not all right! Haven't you noticed the giant dog sitting in the middle of the room? No matter the dimension, dogs and cats do not mix!"
VIDA: "Well, this is the nicest dog I've ever met. Don't be so uptight." Jenji slowly lifts himself out of the corner, as he somewhat mutters under his breath.
JENJI: "Hmph... he'd better be housebroken."
CHIP: "Time travel, that is so cool! I always wanted to time travel, see what the future was like. Ooh, what's the future like? Are there dog people all over the world?"
DAGGERON: "Chip, allow our friend to recover in peace."
CRUGER: "It's all right." He sits up. "It's only natural to ask, I have questions myself. How did I come to be here?"
UDONNA: "The nether dimension is quite a strange and mysterious place. Time and space mean nothing there. It's very possible that major events continue to play themselves out there for eternity."
CRUGER: "And Gruumm used it to come here. His power, I've never seen anything like it. It was so... cold, and unrelenting."
DAGGERON: "That's what dark magic feels like. Your friend must have absorbed it from the sould that reside there. I've never seen it happen, but anything can happen when living beings invade that dimension."
CRUGER: "So, how can we find Gruumm now? We have to stop him before he places your city in jeopardy."
UDONNA: "Our crystal ball will alert us to any danger that may present itself. We'll be ready when he attacks."
CLARE: "Uh, Udonna? I think we're ready!" The Rangers gather around the crystal ball, as it displays a dark shadow.
XANDER: "I'd wager that's Gruumm."
NICK: "We'd better go."
DAGGERON: "Udonna, take care of our guest. We'll see what this Emperor Gruumm's capable of."
CRUGER: "Be careful. He was powerful enough before. Now, he could be invincible."
NICK: "We'll handle it." They flip out the Mystic Morphers.
ALL: "Magical Source, Mystic Force!" They transform into the Power Rangers.
* * *
Gruumm attacks citizens in the park, as the Mystic Rangers show up to deal with him.
NICK: "Hold it right there!"
GRUUMM: "Ah, so this is the Mystic Force I've heard about. You don't look any tougher than the other Power Rangers I've faced."
XANDER: "Yeah? Well, see what you think after this!"
DAGGERON: "Rangers, the dark magic coming off of him is great. You'd best change into Legend Mode right away."
NICK: "Right. Let's legend up!"
ALL: "Mystic Force, Legend Warriors!" They transform before Gruumm's eyes.
GRUUMM: "Yes. Now this will be a fight!" He charges toward them.
NICK: "Stay focused, guys!"
CHIP: "Let's trash him!" Gruumm barrels into Nick, knocking him flat. Xander and Chip swat Gruumm on the back with their Mystic Lion Staffs, but he feels nothing. He turns around, grabs their staffs, and slams them into each other before pushing them and their staffs away. The girls both jab their staffs into Gruumm's gut, but a shield of dark magic protects him. He kicks their staffs away, then uses his own to slash them across their chests, knocking them to the ground.
DAGGERON: "Laser Lamp, fire!" Daggeron rubs his lamp four times, and fires. Gruumm holds his staff in the air, as purple lightning commands the laser orbs, and sends them flying back at Daggeron, knocking him onto his chest. Nick comes up from behind and pins Gruumm's arms to his sides with his Lion Staff.
NICK: "Now hold still!" Gruumm takes his staff, and thrusts it backward through his legs and onto Nick's foot. Nick loses his grip, allowing Gruumm to turn quickly and knock him a good fifteen feet back.
XANDER: "Come on, guys! Let's give Gruumm a taste of our element!" They each dial Code 1 on their Lion Staffs, and their magic billows forth. Gruumm's eyes glow purple, and an electrical shield surrounds his body, with the Mystic Force attack passing around him harmlessly.
VIDA: "Whoa! He didn't even feel our attack!"
CHIP: "This guy's too much!" Nick rushes over to his friends.
NICK: "Come on, we've got to use our full power!"
MADISON: "Let's hurry!" The Rangers take stance.
ALL: "Legend Warriors, United Formation!" Golden energy erupts from their staffs, and the beam hits Gruumm full force.
NICK: "We did it! Yeah!" The golden energy takes the shape of a sphere around Gruumm's body, and turns dark. He then pushes the sphere off his body and it turns back into a beam which strikes the Mystic Force down. They power down from Legend Warrior mode as they hit the ground.
XANDER: "How could he be so tough?"
VIDA: "We're in big trouble!"
* * *
Udonna, Clare and Cruger watch the battle on Rootcore's crystal ball.
CRUGER: "Rrrrr! No! Gruumm may be a lot stronger, but he's still using the same moves." He slams his right fist into his left palm. "I could help them. I just wish I had my morpher!"
CLARE: "Did you say 'wish'? Oh, that gives me an idea! Udonna, we've got to get Jenji to grant Commander Cruger's wish!"
UDONNA: "Yes, that's a brilliant idea, Clare! I'll get a message to Daggeron immediately!"
* * *
In the middle of the battle, Nick gets a call on his Mystic Morpher.
NICK: "Udonna?"
UDONNA: "#Nick, I need you to tell Daggeron to teleport Jenji's lamp to us immediately!#"
NICK: "You got it!" He hangs up. "Daggeron, Udonna needs Jenji!"
DAGGERON: "Understood! Jenji, go!"
JENJI: "You don't have to tell me twice!" The lamp bounces off the battlefield, and turns into vapor.
* * *
Jenji's lamp appears on the table next to the crystal ball.
CLARE: "Oh! Here it is!" Clare grabs the lamp, and presents it to Cruger. "Rub this, and Jenji will grant your wish!"
CRUGER: "Very well." He rubs, and Jenji erupts from the lamp.
JENJI: "All right, what does the big dog need? A flea collar? A bowl of kibble?"
CRUGER: "Jenji, I wish for my morpher!"
JENJI: "Oh, that's all? Granted!" He waves his paws, and the Patrol Morpher appears in Cruger's right hand.
CRUGER: "Amazing! Thank you, Jenji!" Cruger heads down the steps. "S.P.D. Emergency!" His morpher activates, transforming him into the Shadow Ranger.
* * *
Gruumm hovers over the fallen Rangers.
GRUUMM: "The way Imperious described it, I thought I might have something to fear from you Rangers. But my dark magic is strong enough to overcome anything!"
CRUGER: "Let's test that theory, shall we?" Gruumm turns around.
NICK: "Whoa! Who's that?"
CHIP: "Is that the commander?"
VIDA: "He's got his Ranger powers!"
MADISON: "This is amazing!"
XANDER: "Man, what a great suit!"
DAGGERON: "And not a moment too soon!"
GRUUMM: "Cruger?! And with your Shadow Rangers powers, no less. I should have expected the nether dimension couldn't hold you."
CRUGER: "As long as you're around to cause trouble, I'll be there to put a stop to it. Daggeron, heads up!" He throws Daggeron the lamp before proceeding to draw the Shadow Sabre.
GRUUMM: "Well, now I get to use my new powers on my oldest foe. Does it get any better?"
CRUGER: "Oh, it's about to get really good." Cruger charges toward Gruumm. His sabre collides with Gruumm's staff, a purple aura coming off of it. Cruger withdraws and ducks under. He slashes backwards as Gruumm blocks, and torques his body to face the proper direction. The two keep pushing back and forth, neither gaining any ground.
NICK: "Look at that! Even without the power to beat Gruumm, he still knows the guy's moves perfectly! This could be our only chance to beat him!"
CHIP: "But how? With all that dark magic in his body, he doesn't feel anything we throw at him!"
NICK: "That's it! Anything we throw at him! But what if we took his magic and threw it back at him?"
XANDER: "You mean reflect it?"
VIDA: "That might work!"
MADISON: "Let's try it!"
GRUUMM: "Are you feeling the pressure, Cruger? Can you finally see who is the true victor in our endless war?"
CRUGER: "It will end, Gruumm! And justice will prevail!" Cruger withdraws his sword, and leaps to the field behind Gruumm. Gruumm turns and extends his staff to fire.
NICK: "Hey, Gruumm! Reflectus Torgo!" Nick aims his MagiStaff at the ground, which springs a mirror right in front of Gruumm. The dark magic from Gruumm's staff bounces off the mirror, shattering it and incapacitating Gruumm.
DAGGERON: "His staff!" He leaps over and grabs Gruumm's staff. "I hope this works." He aims the staff at Gruumm, and begins to drain the dark magic from his body into the staff. Gruumm screams and twists as the magic floods from his body. The staff begins to shake violently. "I can't... control it!" He drops the staff, and the magic escapes into the air, ultimately taking the shape of a black, bipedal creature with a head and hands made of snakes. As soon as it finishing forming, it grows. Daggeron rejoins the group. "Oh, no, it's the Orochinaga!"
NICK: "What's that?"
DAGGERON: "The legendary combined form of the Barbarian Beasts. I've never seen it in person!"
NICK: "Well, one good legend deserves another! Let's go, guys!"
ALL: "Right!" Gruumm begins to stand.
CRUGER: "Go! I'll deal with Gruumm!"
DAGGERON: "He still has residual dark magic in his body, you'll need help."
CRUGER: "Glad to have it."
The Rangers draw their Mystic Morphers. "Legendary Source, Mystic Force!" They transform, and instantly access their Lion Staff codes to form the Megazord. "Manticore Megazord!" The Orochinaga fires flames every snake head on its body.
ALL: "Legend Striker!" The Manticore Megazord's main weapon appears in its hands. The striker is planted on the ground. "Striker Spin Attack!" The spearhead spins, as the Megazord ignites its own flames, and swarthes the blade. "Fire!" The dueling flames hit each other full force, neither giving an inch.
NICK: "Come on, guys! We've got to give everything we've got!"
ALL: "Manticore Lasers!" The Megazord fires energy from the lion's mouth on its chest, which strike the Orochinaga until it loses focus. The Legend Striker's flames then hit the creature, and destroy it. "Checkmate!"
* * *
Cruger and Daggeron both leap over Gruumm with their legs flailing. They turn to face him.
GRUUMM: "My magic may be gone, but nothing will stop me!"
CRUGER: "That's always been you problem, Gruumm. You don't know when to quit!"
GRUUMM: "And you don't know when to shut up!" He extends his staff and fires red energy. Daggeron rubs the Laser Lamp three times, and fires counter energy to block. While the smoke clears, Cruger jumps onto Daggeron's shoulders and propels himself into the air. While Gruumm looks up, Daggeron fires the Laser Lamp again, hitting him dead on. Cruger then makes contact with a powerful slash. Gruumm rolls a good distance away.
CRUGER: "It's time to finish this!"
DAGGERON: "I'm with you!" He rubs the Laser Lamp seven times. "Jenji Shining Attack!" He fires, Jenji erupting from the lamp.
CRUGER: "S.P.D., Containment Slash!" He waves his sabre in the air, the blade beginning to glow. He holds it up as Jenji passes through it, the golden energy turning white.
JENJI: "Now this feels right!" He gives Gruumm a left and a right, finishing with a winding punch, the S.P.D. logo flashing in the background. Gruumm goes flying, and after the explosion, a containment card appears on the ground. Cruger sheathes the Shadow Sabre, and picks it up.
CRUGER: "Game over." Daggeron walks over. They share a handshake. "Thanks for all the help."
DAGGERON: "It was my honor."
* * *
Imperious stews in the underworld following the defeat.
IMPERIOUS: "Well, what a surprise, Gruumm failed! You can't trust magic in the hands of novices! On the bright side, the magic I managed to siphon from him should serve me well in my plans for The Master."
* * *
Back at Rootcore, Cruger stands before the Mystic Force.
CRUGER: "Without your help, I never would have been able to stop Gruumm, or return to my own time. I am forever in your debt."
NICK: "Hey, you gave us a lot to think about. I'd say we're even."
CHIP: "Yeah, and it's really cool to know that there are Power Rangers in the future!"
XANDER: "Kinda makes this whole thing seem worthwhile, doesn't it?"
VIDA: "I'll say." Jenji rubs his paws together.
JENJI: "So, you ready to return home, Commander?"
CRUGER: "Very ready, Jenji."
JENJI: "Then go ahead, make your wish!"
CRUGER: "I wish to return to my own time."
JENJI: "Granted!" He waves his paws, and in a golden flash, Commander Cruger is gone. Jenji dusts off his paws. "Ah, good riddance to that fleabag."
MADISON: "Aw, Jenji, that's not nice."
JENJI: "I'm sorry. But he's a dog! It's just not kosher!"
* * *
Isinia sits on the tattered stage crying.
ISINIA: "Doggie, where are you?" Cruger places a hand on her shoulder.
CRUGER: "Always in your heart." Isinia whips her head around.
ISINIA: "Doggie! You're okay!" She gives him a big hug.
CRUGER: "Yes, yes, I'm all right."
ISINIA: "What happened to you? Where did you go?"
CRUGER: "I went to find that the will to win is magic in itself."
By:
PrimoPiccolo
(PrimoPiccolo@aol.com)
Note: If you like this fic, be sure to vote for it: http://www.rangerboard.com/showthread.php?t=92044
Late one night, deep inside S.P.D. headquarters, a mysterious figure appears through an active computer screen. He looks around the room, lined with shelves containing every kind of intergalactic criminal imaginable inside their containment cards, some still screaming for their freedom. The intruder continues to the back, and heads through a door marked "MOST HEINOUS OFFENDERS". Once inside, he spots a cylindrical tube in the middle of the room with three containment cards floating freely inside of it. He walks up to it, aims an electronic device resembling a television remote control at it, and zaps one of the cards. The card disappears, and reappears in his hand.
"Excellent." He leaves the room, and exits S.P.D. headquarters the same way he came.
* * *
Inside a complicated laboratory, many machines are beeping and booping. It seems the place was designed from within a cave. The mystery thief places the containment card on a smooth metallic surface with a ray device of some kind positioned directly above it. He walks over to a console and presses a key on the keyboard which activates the ray. A red-tinted laser display coats the card, and ions slowly begin to exit the containment card. Within seconds, many ions collect next to the device, and mass together to take the form of Emperor Gruumm.
GRUUMM: "What? This cannot be! I'm free?"
"And you have me to thank."
GRUUMM: "Huh?" Emperor Gruumm stares into the shadow from which the voice eminated. The figure begins to step into view.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am the master scientist Tomars."
GRUUMM: "Tomars? That name sounds somewhat familiar."
TOMARS: "As it should. I once aided your minion Morgana with my dimension-bending technology."
GRUUMM: "Ah, yes. As I recall, that plan failed!"
TOMARS: "Only due to improper planning. Trust in me, I have exhausted the probability matrix for this elaborate scheme."
GRUUMM: "And what scheme would that be?"
TOMARS: "Emperor, you were once the most feared dictator in the known universe. I want to ensure that you regain all that you have lost." Gruumm hangs his head.
GRUUMM: "Yes, I have lost everything. S.P.D. took it all from me! Doggie Cruger and his blasted S.P.D.!" His eyes glow as he shakes his fist in the air.
TOMARS: "That fueling anger is exactly why I've developed this for you, my liege." He presents Gruumm with an electronic device roughly the size of a VHS cassette. Gruumm takes it in his free hand.
GRUUMM: "What is this?"
TOMARS: "I call it my ethereal tuner. Blast any living body with this, and they will instantly be transported into the nether dimension."
GRUUMM: "With this, I could trap Doggie Cruger the way he trapped me. How brilliant! And what do I owe you for such a gift, Tomars?"
TOMARS: "Your name still strikes fear into the corners of many worlds. By your side, I could achieve the domination a mind like mine has always deserved." Gruumm stares at the technology he now holds.
GRUUMM: "Believe me, Tomars, you will receive all that's coming to you." He aims the device at Tomars, and fires.
TOMARS: "No!" He holds up his hands, as the bluish-white beam teleports him away in a flash.
GRUUMM: "Fool! Emperor Gruumm shares his empire with no one! And now that I know this thing works, it's high time I paid a visit to an old friend."
* * *
The next day, a ceremony is held in Newtech City for the ribbon-cutting of a new facility. Many people sit in chairs lined up in front of a sizable stage with notable S.P.D. officials sitting behind a podium where Commander Cruger is speaking.
CRUGER: "I'd like to thank you all for attending the grand opening of the Anubis Cruger Forensic Library. It is an honor to have my name attached to something that will teach the current generation of rookie S.P.D. officers, as well as inspire future generations to uphold the mantle of law and order throughout the galaxy." A man in the crowd, dressed in a black trenchcoat, stands.
"Is that so? Then perhaps I should give you a housewarming gift!" He transforms into Gruumm. Cruger's eyes widen.
CRUGER: "Gruumm? Impossible!" The crowd scatters in fear.
OFFICER: "S.P.D., move in!" A crowd of C-Squad cadets draw their blasters and converge on Gruumm. The tyrant fires energy from his staff across the area, knocking them off of their feet.
CRUGER: "Isinia, run!" He ushers Isinia off the stage as Gruumm leaps up.
GRUUMM: "Not so fast, Cruger!" He blasts the stage, knocking Cruger onto his back.
ISINIA: "Doggie!"
CRUGER: "Run!"
GRUUMM: "Isn't it touching how she wants to help you? Let's see how well she does that from another dimension!" He aims the handheld device at her.
CRUGER: "No!" He leaps to his feet, and grabs Gruumm's wrist.
GRUUMM: "Let me go, Cruger!" They wrestle with the device ceaselessly, until Gruumm accidentally hits the trigger button, and they both vanish in a flash of light.
ISINIA: "Doggie!"
* * *
The red sky, containing traces of smoke, reigns ominously over the nether dimension. Nothing but rocky plains as far as the eye can see. Within an instant, Cruger and Gruumm appear, their previous tangling making them both fall to the ground in a heap. The transporter goes flying, and crumbles into pieces before their eyes.
GRUUMM: "No! This wasn't supposed to happen!" He rushes over to the pile of parts on the ground.
CRUGER: "What in the world?" He looks around, finding little to nothing. He growls. "Where are we, Gruumm?!"
GRUUMM: "This is the nether dimension. When evil is destroyed, it comes here to rest. It was supposed to be your new home... alone!"
CRUGER: "You would really go so far? Just to punish me for your own misdeeds?!" Gruumm stands.
GRUUMM: "Everything I had is gone now because of you and your precious S.P.D.! Finally, my time had come to repay you for trapping me in that stupid card, and yet again I'm confined to some forsaken place!"
CRUGER: "Are you telling me we have no way out of here?"
GRUUMM: "The device you just disassembled was possibly our only means of escape. We're trapped here now because of you!"
CRUGER: "Me? How dare you!" He clenches his fists and raises them, as he hears Isinia's voice in his head. "Never strike out in anger, Doggie." He takes a seat on the ground. "Well, at least I can take comfort in knowing you'll no longer threaten the Earth."
GRUUMM: "What? You're supposed to be furious with me! Wrought with agony over your lost existence! Yet you sit there, and manage to find contentment? It's not fair!" He screams at the top of his lungs, his eyes glowing bright enough to mask his face.
CRUGER: "Gruumm, calm down now!"
GRUUMM: "No! The time for calm is over! The only thing left is revenge!" He charges toward Cruger at an intense speed. A shadow from the sky flies into his back, stopping his sprint, and dropping him to his knees.
CRUGER: "Hmm? What's the matter with you?" As he approaches his arch enemy, three more shadows swoop in and fill Gruumm's body. Gruumm grabs his stomach, and collapses in pain. "Gruumm!" As Cruger runs over, red lightning escapes Gruumm's body, preventing further approach. The energy eventually sets a scene. "What is all this?"
IMPERIOUS: "Your power will be put to better use to run Ursus. It will make him unbeatable! Goodbye!"
FIGHTOE: "No! You tricked me! Imperious, no!" His ghost is funneled into Ursus.
CRUGER: "Who are they? What's happening?" He hears booming footsteps. He looks behind him to see the Solar Streak Megazord. He gasps in disbelief. Ursus sends an array of strange metallic objects toward the Megazord, and knocks it out through the nether dimension, straight to Earth. "I can't believe it! An opening!" Cruger rushes toward the tear, when he's blasted into the air. He lands with a hard thud.
GRUUMM: "You're not going anywhere, Cruger!" Gruumm stands weakly, gripping his chest. "But I have a world to conquer." He grips his eyes as they turn from red to purple. He then teleports straight through the rift.
CRUGER: "Gruumm! Come back!" Cruger struggles to his feet, and manages to escape the nether dimension just as the tear repairs itself. He evades the Megazord battle through the alleyways of the city just as the Manticore Megazord appears to finish off Ursus.
* * *
As Koragg walks away from the Rangers following the exsponging of their alliance, he senses something.
KORAGG: "There's dark magic here. I can feel it!" He walks around a couple of corners to find Gruumm lying still on the sidewalk. He kneels down. "Such a high concentration! And completely unfocused. This is no wizard!" He grabs Gruumm by the scruff of his neck, and lifts him onto his feet. "I'll take him back to the underworld and figure out what to make of this. Uthe Sastos!" A portal appears under them, and transports them.
* * *
Gruumm is thrown to the floor as Koragg enters The Master's chamber.
KORAGG: "Imperious! Does this thing have something to do with you?"
IMPERIOUS: "I have no idea what you're talking about! Who is that?"
KORAGG: "I've no idea. But the dark magic in his body is tremendous!"
IMPERIOUS: "We'll see about that." He gets off his throne and walks over. "Maku Jinwoa!" Dark magic flows from Gruumm into Imperious's fan. Gruumm screams, as Imperious' fan glows. "My! This power... there's so much!" The transfer cancels, with a bolt soaring through Imperious' body.
NECROLAI: "Master Imperious! Are you all right?" She steadies him.
IMPERIOUS: "That magic, there's a rage within it. A familiar one, like that of the Barbarian Beasts!"
KORAGG: "Barbarian Beasts? This pile of bones is hardly one of them, not to mention that the Barbarian Beasts themselves have no magic!"
IMPERIOUS: "I didn't say it had to be them, it's just a feeling that I'm getting. After all, none of us have any idea where he came from."
NECROLAI: "Look, he's waking up!" Gruumm shakes his head groggily, grabs his staff, and stands.
IMPERIOUS: "You! State your name before The Master!"
GRUUMM: "What? Where am I? Who are you?"
IMPERIOUS: "I asked you first!"
GRUUMM: "I am the great Emperor Gruumm! Star systems tremble at the sound of my name!"
IMPERIOUS: "Well, not this one. I've never heard of you."
GRUUMM: "You may want to choose your next words carefully, mummy!" He aims his staff, with his eyes glowing purple again. Koragg draws his sword and taps it on Gruumm's staff.
KORAGG: "There shall be no quarrel in the presence of The Master. If you'd like to prove your superiority, we have other ways."
GRUUMM: "Oh, yeah? And what would you suggest?"
KORAGG: "Use your great magic to destroy the Power Rangers. Then we can talk."
GRUUMM: "I've dealt with S.P.D. before. With my new power, it should be a cake walk."
LEELEE: "And what exactly is S.P.D.?"
GRUUMM: "Is that a joke? They're only the universal police force that destroyed my great empire!"
NECROLAI: "Well, we've never heard of this S.P.D., but the Power Rangers we're dealing with are the Mystic Force."
GRUUMM: "Mystic Force? There are more Power Rangers? And I thought the Dino ones were bad enough..."
IMPERIOUS: "Enough of this! If you can't handle it, then perhaps you don't deserve such a grand empire!"
GRUUMM: "Oh, I will destroy them! Nothing will stop me at this point!" He leaves the room.
KORAGG: "Hmph." Koragg turns to go.
NECROLAI: "Will you be joining him, Koragg?"
KORAGG: "Of course not. He'll fail, he's no true wizard. In the meantime, I have my own plans to prepare." He walks out.
IMPERIOUS: "Well, this is quite an unexpected surprise following the discovery of the Rangers' Legendary power. Perhaps we do have a leg up." He turns, and speaks to himself. "That Fightoe... somehow he must have absorbed the magic I used to sweep him into Ursus, and power his escape through that living skeleton. For my sake, the Rangers had better deal with him. And if not, I have time to take his power for my own, and send him back where he came from!"
* * *
Cruger struggles to walk through the streets of Briarwood, seeking medical attention. With his legs so weak, he's forced to lean on every tree for support.
CRUGER: "This city... its design is different. I don't know... my way around." He walks in front of the Rock Porium, and once leaning on the adjacent tree, he vanishes through the internal portal.
* * *
He appears in the mystical forest, landing on his back. He manages to turn over, and survey his surroundings. "Where am I? How'd I get here?" He gets to his feet. "Though at this point, I suppose nothing should surprise me."
"Hey!"
CRUGER: "Whoa!" He turns around.
PHINEAS: "Sorry, didn't mean to scare ya."
CRUGER: "It's completely my fault, I'm apparently new here. I am Commander Anubis Cruger of S.P.D." He extends his hand.
PHINEAS: "Really? Well, uh, I'm Lord Phineas of P.U. Pleasure to meet ya."
CRUGER: "Do you know of anywhere near here I could get checked up? My last battle was harsh."
PHINEAS: "Uh, sure! I know where you can go, come on!" He motions for Cruger to follow him. The old dog tries to move, but his movements are slow. "Here, uh, let me help ya." He drapes Cruger's arm over his shoulder, and grabs his back to hold him up.
CRUGER: "Thank you." They hobble along to their destination.
* * *
PHINEAS: "So, uh, can I ask ya something?"
CRUGER: "Of course."
PHINEAS: "What, uh, what happened to your other two heads?"
CRUGER: "What?"
PHINEAS: "Well, I've seen a Cerberus before, but never one with only one head. Or one that was blue or walked on two legs, either." Cruger stares blankly.
CRUGER: "I'm not a Cerberus. I hail from the planet Sirius, my entire race has this appearance."
PHINEAS: "Whoa! You mean you're from a distant planet? That's cool. I've never met anyone from another planet before."
CRUGER: "Well, I guess I'm your first." He smirks, as Phineas stops.
PHINEAS: "All right, this is the place!"
CRUGER: "A tree?"
PHINEAS: "Well, not just any tree. Really nice people live inside, I'm sure they'll help ya." He knocks on the dragon's head. "Hey! Yo! Rangers!" He stares at Cruger, then covers his mouth. "Oops. Shouldn't have said that."
CRUGER: "There are Power Rangers in there?"
PHINEAS: "Uh... no?" The dragon's head opens, and Nick and Madison walk out.
NICK: "Phineas, what's going--" He sees Cruger. "Phineas! You know you're not supposed to bring... other things here!"
PHINEAS: "I'm sorry! But he's in really bad shape! You've gotta use your magic to... ya know... heal him!" Madison examines Cruger.
MADISON: "He does look really bad, Nick."
CRUGER: "I'm Commander Anubis Cruger of S.P.D., and a fellow Power Ranger."
NICK: "You're a what? A Power Ranger? But you're a... dog!"
PHINEAS: "Yeah. I mean, I may not know a lot about Power Rangers... or anything about them, for that matter, but I always thought they were human."
CRUGER: "Please, I beg of you to help me."
MADISON: "We've got to do something, Nick."
NICK: "Yeah. And we've gotta figure out what this guy is talking about being a Power Ranger. Udonna should know. Stay out here with him, I'll go see what she has to say."
* * *
In no time at all, Cruger is in a cot recuperatin from his injuries.
UDONNA: "You say you're from the year 2025?"
CRUGER: "Yes. I don't know how, but some way I was transported back in time, to this place." Jenji sits in the corner, keeping his distance.
VIDA: "Jenji? Are you all right?"
JENJI: "Of course I'm not all right! Haven't you noticed the giant dog sitting in the middle of the room? No matter the dimension, dogs and cats do not mix!"
VIDA: "Well, this is the nicest dog I've ever met. Don't be so uptight." Jenji slowly lifts himself out of the corner, as he somewhat mutters under his breath.
JENJI: "Hmph... he'd better be housebroken."
CHIP: "Time travel, that is so cool! I always wanted to time travel, see what the future was like. Ooh, what's the future like? Are there dog people all over the world?"
DAGGERON: "Chip, allow our friend to recover in peace."
CRUGER: "It's all right." He sits up. "It's only natural to ask, I have questions myself. How did I come to be here?"
UDONNA: "The nether dimension is quite a strange and mysterious place. Time and space mean nothing there. It's very possible that major events continue to play themselves out there for eternity."
CRUGER: "And Gruumm used it to come here. His power, I've never seen anything like it. It was so... cold, and unrelenting."
DAGGERON: "That's what dark magic feels like. Your friend must have absorbed it from the sould that reside there. I've never seen it happen, but anything can happen when living beings invade that dimension."
CRUGER: "So, how can we find Gruumm now? We have to stop him before he places your city in jeopardy."
UDONNA: "Our crystal ball will alert us to any danger that may present itself. We'll be ready when he attacks."
CLARE: "Uh, Udonna? I think we're ready!" The Rangers gather around the crystal ball, as it displays a dark shadow.
XANDER: "I'd wager that's Gruumm."
NICK: "We'd better go."
DAGGERON: "Udonna, take care of our guest. We'll see what this Emperor Gruumm's capable of."
CRUGER: "Be careful. He was powerful enough before. Now, he could be invincible."
NICK: "We'll handle it." They flip out the Mystic Morphers.
ALL: "Magical Source, Mystic Force!" They transform into the Power Rangers.
* * *
Gruumm attacks citizens in the park, as the Mystic Rangers show up to deal with him.
NICK: "Hold it right there!"
GRUUMM: "Ah, so this is the Mystic Force I've heard about. You don't look any tougher than the other Power Rangers I've faced."
XANDER: "Yeah? Well, see what you think after this!"
DAGGERON: "Rangers, the dark magic coming off of him is great. You'd best change into Legend Mode right away."
NICK: "Right. Let's legend up!"
ALL: "Mystic Force, Legend Warriors!" They transform before Gruumm's eyes.
GRUUMM: "Yes. Now this will be a fight!" He charges toward them.
NICK: "Stay focused, guys!"
CHIP: "Let's trash him!" Gruumm barrels into Nick, knocking him flat. Xander and Chip swat Gruumm on the back with their Mystic Lion Staffs, but he feels nothing. He turns around, grabs their staffs, and slams them into each other before pushing them and their staffs away. The girls both jab their staffs into Gruumm's gut, but a shield of dark magic protects him. He kicks their staffs away, then uses his own to slash them across their chests, knocking them to the ground.
DAGGERON: "Laser Lamp, fire!" Daggeron rubs his lamp four times, and fires. Gruumm holds his staff in the air, as purple lightning commands the laser orbs, and sends them flying back at Daggeron, knocking him onto his chest. Nick comes up from behind and pins Gruumm's arms to his sides with his Lion Staff.
NICK: "Now hold still!" Gruumm takes his staff, and thrusts it backward through his legs and onto Nick's foot. Nick loses his grip, allowing Gruumm to turn quickly and knock him a good fifteen feet back.
XANDER: "Come on, guys! Let's give Gruumm a taste of our element!" They each dial Code 1 on their Lion Staffs, and their magic billows forth. Gruumm's eyes glow purple, and an electrical shield surrounds his body, with the Mystic Force attack passing around him harmlessly.
VIDA: "Whoa! He didn't even feel our attack!"
CHIP: "This guy's too much!" Nick rushes over to his friends.
NICK: "Come on, we've got to use our full power!"
MADISON: "Let's hurry!" The Rangers take stance.
ALL: "Legend Warriors, United Formation!" Golden energy erupts from their staffs, and the beam hits Gruumm full force.
NICK: "We did it! Yeah!" The golden energy takes the shape of a sphere around Gruumm's body, and turns dark. He then pushes the sphere off his body and it turns back into a beam which strikes the Mystic Force down. They power down from Legend Warrior mode as they hit the ground.
XANDER: "How could he be so tough?"
VIDA: "We're in big trouble!"
* * *
Udonna, Clare and Cruger watch the battle on Rootcore's crystal ball.
CRUGER: "Rrrrr! No! Gruumm may be a lot stronger, but he's still using the same moves." He slams his right fist into his left palm. "I could help them. I just wish I had my morpher!"
CLARE: "Did you say 'wish'? Oh, that gives me an idea! Udonna, we've got to get Jenji to grant Commander Cruger's wish!"
UDONNA: "Yes, that's a brilliant idea, Clare! I'll get a message to Daggeron immediately!"
* * *
In the middle of the battle, Nick gets a call on his Mystic Morpher.
NICK: "Udonna?"
UDONNA: "#Nick, I need you to tell Daggeron to teleport Jenji's lamp to us immediately!#"
NICK: "You got it!" He hangs up. "Daggeron, Udonna needs Jenji!"
DAGGERON: "Understood! Jenji, go!"
JENJI: "You don't have to tell me twice!" The lamp bounces off the battlefield, and turns into vapor.
* * *
Jenji's lamp appears on the table next to the crystal ball.
CLARE: "Oh! Here it is!" Clare grabs the lamp, and presents it to Cruger. "Rub this, and Jenji will grant your wish!"
CRUGER: "Very well." He rubs, and Jenji erupts from the lamp.
JENJI: "All right, what does the big dog need? A flea collar? A bowl of kibble?"
CRUGER: "Jenji, I wish for my morpher!"
JENJI: "Oh, that's all? Granted!" He waves his paws, and the Patrol Morpher appears in Cruger's right hand.
CRUGER: "Amazing! Thank you, Jenji!" Cruger heads down the steps. "S.P.D. Emergency!" His morpher activates, transforming him into the Shadow Ranger.
* * *
Gruumm hovers over the fallen Rangers.
GRUUMM: "The way Imperious described it, I thought I might have something to fear from you Rangers. But my dark magic is strong enough to overcome anything!"
CRUGER: "Let's test that theory, shall we?" Gruumm turns around.
NICK: "Whoa! Who's that?"
CHIP: "Is that the commander?"
VIDA: "He's got his Ranger powers!"
MADISON: "This is amazing!"
XANDER: "Man, what a great suit!"
DAGGERON: "And not a moment too soon!"
GRUUMM: "Cruger?! And with your Shadow Rangers powers, no less. I should have expected the nether dimension couldn't hold you."
CRUGER: "As long as you're around to cause trouble, I'll be there to put a stop to it. Daggeron, heads up!" He throws Daggeron the lamp before proceeding to draw the Shadow Sabre.
GRUUMM: "Well, now I get to use my new powers on my oldest foe. Does it get any better?"
CRUGER: "Oh, it's about to get really good." Cruger charges toward Gruumm. His sabre collides with Gruumm's staff, a purple aura coming off of it. Cruger withdraws and ducks under. He slashes backwards as Gruumm blocks, and torques his body to face the proper direction. The two keep pushing back and forth, neither gaining any ground.
NICK: "Look at that! Even without the power to beat Gruumm, he still knows the guy's moves perfectly! This could be our only chance to beat him!"
CHIP: "But how? With all that dark magic in his body, he doesn't feel anything we throw at him!"
NICK: "That's it! Anything we throw at him! But what if we took his magic and threw it back at him?"
XANDER: "You mean reflect it?"
VIDA: "That might work!"
MADISON: "Let's try it!"
GRUUMM: "Are you feeling the pressure, Cruger? Can you finally see who is the true victor in our endless war?"
CRUGER: "It will end, Gruumm! And justice will prevail!" Cruger withdraws his sword, and leaps to the field behind Gruumm. Gruumm turns and extends his staff to fire.
NICK: "Hey, Gruumm! Reflectus Torgo!" Nick aims his MagiStaff at the ground, which springs a mirror right in front of Gruumm. The dark magic from Gruumm's staff bounces off the mirror, shattering it and incapacitating Gruumm.
DAGGERON: "His staff!" He leaps over and grabs Gruumm's staff. "I hope this works." He aims the staff at Gruumm, and begins to drain the dark magic from his body into the staff. Gruumm screams and twists as the magic floods from his body. The staff begins to shake violently. "I can't... control it!" He drops the staff, and the magic escapes into the air, ultimately taking the shape of a black, bipedal creature with a head and hands made of snakes. As soon as it finishing forming, it grows. Daggeron rejoins the group. "Oh, no, it's the Orochinaga!"
NICK: "What's that?"
DAGGERON: "The legendary combined form of the Barbarian Beasts. I've never seen it in person!"
NICK: "Well, one good legend deserves another! Let's go, guys!"
ALL: "Right!" Gruumm begins to stand.
CRUGER: "Go! I'll deal with Gruumm!"
DAGGERON: "He still has residual dark magic in his body, you'll need help."
CRUGER: "Glad to have it."
The Rangers draw their Mystic Morphers. "Legendary Source, Mystic Force!" They transform, and instantly access their Lion Staff codes to form the Megazord. "Manticore Megazord!" The Orochinaga fires flames every snake head on its body.
ALL: "Legend Striker!" The Manticore Megazord's main weapon appears in its hands. The striker is planted on the ground. "Striker Spin Attack!" The spearhead spins, as the Megazord ignites its own flames, and swarthes the blade. "Fire!" The dueling flames hit each other full force, neither giving an inch.
NICK: "Come on, guys! We've got to give everything we've got!"
ALL: "Manticore Lasers!" The Megazord fires energy from the lion's mouth on its chest, which strike the Orochinaga until it loses focus. The Legend Striker's flames then hit the creature, and destroy it. "Checkmate!"
* * *
Cruger and Daggeron both leap over Gruumm with their legs flailing. They turn to face him.
GRUUMM: "My magic may be gone, but nothing will stop me!"
CRUGER: "That's always been you problem, Gruumm. You don't know when to quit!"
GRUUMM: "And you don't know when to shut up!" He extends his staff and fires red energy. Daggeron rubs the Laser Lamp three times, and fires counter energy to block. While the smoke clears, Cruger jumps onto Daggeron's shoulders and propels himself into the air. While Gruumm looks up, Daggeron fires the Laser Lamp again, hitting him dead on. Cruger then makes contact with a powerful slash. Gruumm rolls a good distance away.
CRUGER: "It's time to finish this!"
DAGGERON: "I'm with you!" He rubs the Laser Lamp seven times. "Jenji Shining Attack!" He fires, Jenji erupting from the lamp.
CRUGER: "S.P.D., Containment Slash!" He waves his sabre in the air, the blade beginning to glow. He holds it up as Jenji passes through it, the golden energy turning white.
JENJI: "Now this feels right!" He gives Gruumm a left and a right, finishing with a winding punch, the S.P.D. logo flashing in the background. Gruumm goes flying, and after the explosion, a containment card appears on the ground. Cruger sheathes the Shadow Sabre, and picks it up.
CRUGER: "Game over." Daggeron walks over. They share a handshake. "Thanks for all the help."
DAGGERON: "It was my honor."
* * *
Imperious stews in the underworld following the defeat.
IMPERIOUS: "Well, what a surprise, Gruumm failed! You can't trust magic in the hands of novices! On the bright side, the magic I managed to siphon from him should serve me well in my plans for The Master."
* * *
Back at Rootcore, Cruger stands before the Mystic Force.
CRUGER: "Without your help, I never would have been able to stop Gruumm, or return to my own time. I am forever in your debt."
NICK: "Hey, you gave us a lot to think about. I'd say we're even."
CHIP: "Yeah, and it's really cool to know that there are Power Rangers in the future!"
XANDER: "Kinda makes this whole thing seem worthwhile, doesn't it?"
VIDA: "I'll say." Jenji rubs his paws together.
JENJI: "So, you ready to return home, Commander?"
CRUGER: "Very ready, Jenji."
JENJI: "Then go ahead, make your wish!"
CRUGER: "I wish to return to my own time."
JENJI: "Granted!" He waves his paws, and in a golden flash, Commander Cruger is gone. Jenji dusts off his paws. "Ah, good riddance to that fleabag."
MADISON: "Aw, Jenji, that's not nice."
JENJI: "I'm sorry. But he's a dog! It's just not kosher!"
* * *
Isinia sits on the tattered stage crying.
ISINIA: "Doggie, where are you?" Cruger places a hand on her shoulder.
CRUGER: "Always in your heart." Isinia whips her head around.
ISINIA: "Doggie! You're okay!" She gives him a big hug.
CRUGER: "Yes, yes, I'm all right."
ISINIA: "What happened to you? Where did you go?"
CRUGER: "I went to find that the will to win is magic in itself."