A New Ally
By Crusader Vega
By Crusader Vega
Scene opens at the beach. Our four teens are playing volleyball while Keith watches from his seat. Jerry spikes the ball and the other side is unable to return it. Jerry and the others walk over to where Keith is seated and each take seats around an ice chest.
Keith: That's a nice move, Jerry.
Jerry: Thanks.
Matthew: What's to eat? I'm hungry!
Keith: There should be some hotdogs in the chest. I also brought some chips if you want.
Eugene: All right! Let's dig in!
As the other three eat the food, Keith gets up from the sheet to walk along the beach. He walks a little ways out before he realizes he is being followed. He turns to see, to his relief, that the follower is Theresa.
Keith: Please don't scare me like that!
Theresa: Sorry, I just wanted to see what you were doing.
Keith: I was just going to look at the ocean.
Theresa: I don't blame you. It's lovely.
Keith: I know. Watch. See the waves beating against the shore?
Theresa: Yeah.
Keith: It almost seems like a message to me. No matter how hard they push against the shore, the land can never be conquered.
Theresa: Maybe. Here.
Theresa reaches into one of the pockets of her skirt and pulls out a small, brown shell which, with its many broken parts, is uncannily shaped like a six pointed star.
Theresa: I found this in the sand and thought you might like it.
Keith: Thanks. I also have something for you.
Keith pulls out a shell from his back pocket which is attached to a cord, forming a necklace. He places it in Theresa's open hand.
Theresa: Oh, Keith, it's beautiful. Thank you.
Keith: I'm glad you like it.
Theresa: I'm going to get something to eat.
Keith: Okay. I'll be there in a few minutes.
Theresa joins the others on the sheet as Keith continues staring at the ocean. He stares expressionlessly at the surf which occasionally splashes onto his shoes. He takes a glance at the strange shell in his hand before bringing that hand underneath to his chest.
Keith: It's an interesting shell, Theresa, but it only makes things worse. Without my powers, I feel so vulnerable.
From the corner of his eyes, it appears that tears are forming. Keith takes one last look at the shell, but unbeknownst to him, he is being watched. Underneath the wooden dock leading to the beach, is a shadowy figure. It is completely hidden in the shadows, except for a hand which appears slightly transparent in the sunlight.
Figure: I know exactly how he must feel. When will the suffering end? This has got to be them. Why else would he talk as one? Do not be afraid, Brown Ranger, your day is coming.
In Zedd's great hall, Lord Zedd observes the beach party, especially the former Brown Ranger, from his ocular extension.
Zedd: Oh, no! It's too easy! Our timing couldn't be more perfect! Now, what would make a good monster?
Zedd's ocular extension activates, this time focusing somewhere in Africa. The animal known as the lion appears in the beam.
Zedd: The king of beasts. I'm about to make him supreme!
Zedd holds his staff outward, striking the beast with the thunderbolts released. The lion is enlarged into a super beast with a black mane and really big claws.
Zedd: Brilliant, if I do say so myself! No time to waste. Grow Mangy, grow!
Zedd throws a small orb to the earth. This orb hits the ground close to the lion's feet and releases fiery hot smoke like that of a furnace. The creature inhales the smoke which causes him to grow to an enormous 60 feet. Mangy makes his way to the Cape Hatteras beach front to begin his raid. The five teens watch as the people around them scatter in every direction.
Theresa: Looks like Zedd's up to his old tricks again.
Matthew: The beach is clear.
Jerry: It's morphin time!
Theresa: Velociraptor!
Matthew: Iguanadon!
Eugene: Styracosaurus!
Jerry: Allosaurus!
The metamorphosis is instantaneous when they raise their morphers to the sky.
Orange: Let's not waste any time, guys!
All: We need Stormzord power, now!
White: Velociraptor, Pegasus Stormzord power!
Theresa's dinozord is struck by a white bolt of lightning which turns into a winged horse mecha.
Sky Blue: Iguanadon, Stallion Stormzord power!
A blue bolt hits the Iguanadon and transforms it into a galloping horse.
Aquamarine: Styracosuar, Hydra Stormzord power!
Eugene's dinozord is transformed into a machine representing the eight headed serpent of myth.
Orange: Allosaurus, Fiery Salamander Storm zord power!
From a volcano far away, the orange bolt strikes the Allosaur, transforming it into a amphibious creature with a burning soul. The four beasts run side by side toward the rangers' position.
Aquamarine: Wait! We can't form the Mega Stormzord without the Phoenix zord!
White: Then I guess we'll just have to see what we can do individually.
The four jump up to their zords, each landing in his or her respective cockpit. Fiery Salamander goes though its metamorphosis from beast to humanoid battle mode. As the zords descend on Zedd's creation, Keith watches from the beach. He still feels a deep sense of loss for his old powers as he looks once moreÏat the small shell held in his hand.
Keith: It's no use. Without the Mega Stormzord, they're toast! There has to be a way. There must be, or all is lost.
The zords have begun to fight the beast. Pegasus zord launches several feather-shaped charges from its wings. Stallion lets out a loud, supersonic whinny which shakes the ground beneath monster. Hydra's many heads breath fire at the creature and Fiery Salamander delivers a charged kick to it. These attacks are strong, but not strong enough to destroy the lion. Tired of the hostile activities, Mangy lets out a thundering roar which sends the stormzords flying away from it.
Orange: All systems are offline!
White: We have to pull back!
In a flash, the zords vanish and the four are teleported to the Command Center. Keith is still watching rom the beach when he hears a disturbance in the bushes behind him.
Keith: Who's there?
Keith is answered by several seconds of silence.
Keith: I know there's something there. Show yourself or I will come in there and throw you out!
Surprisingly, a voice answers him.
Voice: Do not be alarmed. I am a friend. I have also seen the battle between the Stormzords and the new monster.
Keith: Then you know about the Power Rangers.
Voice: Yes. I also know that you were once one of them. It is fortunate that I have met you, Brown Ranger. There is one thing that can help the rangers.
Keith: Then why don't you tell them?
Voice: I cannot. Only you can do it. I will give a little power to teleport to the Command Center. Tell Zordon to give you the Dream Key. He will tell you what to do.
Keith: But wait…..!
Voice: Karai!
The bushes collapse and shift as the shadowy figure raises his arms. This causes strange goldenrod surges to form around Keith. They gather themselves into Keith's chest and he is sent skyward in his familiar brown glow. When he lands in the Command Center, everyone eyes him curiously.
Theresa: Keith?
Jerry: How did you get here?
Keith: I'm not entirely sure. Someone sent me here.
Zordon: Alpha, scan the beach for anomolous currents.
Alpha: Aiyiyi! There are traces of grid-waves there!
Zordon: I may know what has happened.
Keith: The person, or thing, that sent me here told me to ask for the Dream Key.
Zordon: Of course.
Jerry: Zordon?
Zordon: There is an old legend in the galaxy about a world dimensions away from here. This world is known as Fantasia. It is supposed to be the realm of dreams and fantasies.
Matthew: Yeah, so?
Zordon: It is no legend. When Alpha and I arrived on this planet, we were entrusted with the Dream Key, an object to send messages and signals to and from the realm of Fantasia. Although the real purpose of the Key is unknown, it has the ability to summon a fearsome beast. High in the skies of Fantasia, is a vast Cloud Kingdom. In this kingdom are statues of great warriors, along with its inhabitants. One of these statues is a strong zord resembling Gigas, the mythical Rain Dragon from the south.
Eugene: So, all we need to do is use the key to summon the zord?
Zordon: None of you four can do so at present.
Keith: Is that where I come in?
Zordon: Only a normal human can harness the powers of the Dream Key. After Keith calls for the Dragon, the Key can then be used by rangers.
Keith: I guess I should consider this my last duty as a ranger. I am ready.
Alpha: The rest of you should return to your zords. They should be rejuvenated by now.
Theresa: Well, we know what to do then. Back to action!
The four costumed rangers each teleport away, leaving Keith standing in front of the Viewing Globe.
Zordon: Keith, there does not appear to be any risk to your safety when you use the Key, but please exercise caution.
Keith: I'll try my best, Zordon.
Alpha: Transmitting frames now.
Alpha presses a few of the buttons on the panel, which causes a golden strand of energy to form the ethereal object mentioned before.
Zordon: Good luck, Keith.
Keith: Here goes nothing.
Keith raises the Key above his head, causing a golden light to shine from it.
Keith: I summon the Rain Dragon Gigas from the Cloud Kingdom of Fantasia. Come to our aid, now!
Far away, beyond the limits of time and space, a great castle is seen floating in mid air above a vast land. A golden beam of light penetrates the world's sky and flies into the castle toward its destination. The beam hits a great statue on the castle's roof. The statue's eyes luminesce, the glow a fiery red as the beastÏis awakened. A roar is heard throughout the land, but not the roar of a predator. It is the gentle roar of a creature from human fantasy. The giant raises its head and takes flight. It soars through the heavens of that world, until passing through a wall of light, and into our own world.
The other Stormzords are once more descending on the lion's position.
Orange: Will you take a look at that thing?
Sky Blue: Keith did it!
White: I knew he wouldn't let us down!
Jerry's communicator activates.
Zordon: Rangers, Gigas is a powerful ally. Use him to form the Mega Rainstormzord.
Orange: You don't have to tell us twice!
White: We're back in business!
All: Mega Rainstormzord, now!
The mighty dragon flies toward the other zords, who are busy forming the Mega Stormzord. Gigas's armor surrounds the Mega Stormzord, adding to it and giving it two long, fantastic blades.
Mangy: This doesn't look good!
Orange: Nope. Definitely not good, for you that is!
All: Mega Rainstormzord, Blade Discharge!
The huge mech swings its blades, gathering the surrounding energy. It brings the blades together to release a blazing ball of elemental energy. The ball collides with the monster, destroying it on impact.
In the great hall on the moon, Lord Zedd views the scene with a look of dismay.
Zedd: They have the Rain Dragon of Fantasia. Impossible! We were so close! This can't be happening! It can't end this way!
Back in the Command Center, the other rangers teleport from their zords to see Keith holding the Dream Key.
Zordon: You have all done well, rangers. Keith, we cannot thank you enough.
Keith: Hey, I'm just doing my duty. It never hurts to help.
Theresa: Zordon, isn't there anything we can do to make Keith a ranger again?
Zordon: Not at present, Theresa. I can however sense that one day in the future, you will all be united again.
Alpha: In the meantime, take good care of the Dream Key. If it falls into the wrong hands, both our world and Fantasia will be in great danger!
Zordon: Alpha speaks the truth. Now that the Dream Key has been used for good, it should stay with us. Keith, you must give the Key to one of the rangers.
Matthew: Why can't he keep it?
Zordon: The Dream Key would not do a normal person much good once it has been used. I trust Keith, but I'm sure he would feel it wise to entrust it to one of us.
Keith: I agree, Zordon. Just to be on the safe side.
Eugene: Keith, no one's forcing you.
Jerry: Are you sure you want to give up your dreams?
Keith: No. Only one person can have my dreams.
Keith reaches over the Viewing Globe, and hands the key to Theresa.
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