Canterlot Castle:

What was it they said, the calm always came before the storm? Galaxy suspected, in the days to come that this statement would probably ring quite true with what was coming. It was one of those calm nights, really nothing happening.

Honestly, the thestral mused as he rested himself up against a stone wall, the infamous scythe known as Blood Moon on his back, he considered himself rather bored. Thrax and his flunkies had been quiet, (Too quiet if you asked Galaxy, last incident he heard of was an isolated attack in Shining’s kingdom by a Samurai Themed Org of all things) and for someone like Galaxy who just loved the thrill of the battle, adrenaline pumping and heart racing with the blood flying, he’d been getting… antsy he supposed the term was.

Fingering his energem, resting around his neck via a small piece of string, he groaned quite audibly.

“Mystic Mother above, what I wouldn’t give for an Org attack right about now,” he thought to himself. “Hell, even an Org based around something ludicrous like… drapery for the Creator’s sakes would be preferable to this lull…”

Sadly for him, Galaxy really hadn’t heard of the term “Tempting Fate” and that’s exactly what he was doing.

Far away, miles below the surface of Equestria rested a multitude of caverns long forgotten by the rest of the world, and for one monster, that was just the way he liked it. Sitting on a silver-toned throne, a massive Z engraved into its back was… a being. Half armored warrior, half skeleton, and half muscle, this creature gripped a massive staff with a crescent moon shaped tip and bore a tusk sticking out of one side of his head, and a curved horn jutting out of his skull.

Beside him, holding a massive golden cutlass with sharp edges was his ever-faithful servant Goldar. A far cry from his original appearance, Goldar’s armor had changed considerably since his revival, now spouting a griffon’s head jutting out of his torso plate, and even his midnight blue wings and tail had been given armor. Only part of him that wasn’t armor-plated really, was his face.

“Failure after failure…” Thrax murmured to himself, watching Orgs be defeated again and again by the Rangers. Currently, he was viewing his most recent defeat, in hopes of learning what exactly went wrong this time.

“That’s not going to happen. I have faith in both her and the doctors at the hospital. She’ll be fine. You on the other hand… That’s another story entirely,” the Magna Defender stated calmly. With that, his horn glowed a fine magenta and he tossed the Org skywards before leaping up after him and with the sun as his backdrop glinting off the Crystal Castle he sliced the Org right down the middle with the Magna Blade. The Org plummeted to the ground cracking the stone beneath him but still, he managed to pick himself up.

“That… That the best you got?” the Samurai Org growled. Shining smirked under his helmet as he gripped both of his weapons tightly and leaped forwards.

“Galactic Dragon Slash!” Shining yelled as he spun sideways in midair like a tornado, his Magna Blade glowing a bright sapphire blue and the Dragon Dagger a bright jade green as he slashed them across the Samurai Org’s chest in one powerful final strike. The Org staggered before he fell forwards.

Shining smirked, he was finished. However…

“So, I see some things never change…” Tommy muttered as he watched the Samurai Org grow to giant size no thanks to Thrax’s wand. There was a roaring sound as the Torozord saw the giant and charged onto the battlefield, his green eyes glimmering with anticipation and steam snorting from his nostrils. “I assume you can take it from here?” Tommy asked, turning to Shining who only nodded.

“Magna Defender, transform!” Shining shouted as he faced his partner, his eyes meeting with the Torozord’s own.

Shining was transformed into a giant red armored capeless version of himself as the Torozord emitted a green beam from the gem on his forehead. The Torozord’s green eyes flashed once as it stood up, raising onto its hind legs to a bipedal stance as steam erupted from its nostrils and the now Mega Defender jumped inside. The head opened up, revealing a stoic face with yellow eyes as hands erupted from the bull’s forehooves.

“Defender Torozord, ready!” Shining yelled out as he raised the Defender Axe and an explosion of smoke like a volcano blowing its top erupted from behind the Megazord.

The very ground shook as the two titans marched forwards and a loud, mighty CLANG! was heard as axe met katana. The Defender Torozord sliced the Samurai Org across the chest before a swift retaliation was dealt.

A horizontal strike from the katana and the Defender Torozord stumbled back sparks flying from the blow. Shining grunted in pain. He seriously envied the main team at this point, actually having cockpits instead of being the Megazord themselves.

“Come on…” He grunted out. “That the best you got?”

Shining sliced again with the Defender Axe and once again metal met metal before Shining tried a different approach and punched the Samurai Org across the jaw with a powerful right hook and he stumbled back. The katana hit the ground with a loud clattering sound.

“Now… Let’s finish this!” Shining shouted before going for the Megazord’s lance. “Defender Torozord, Lightning Spin!”

The Torozord, whirling in place like a tornado with the lance charged with lightning before it blitzed through the Samurai Org with one quick slice. Shining stood triumphantly and raised his lance skywards as the Org fell over with a groan of pain and went up in a fireball that could be seen for miles.

Goldar let out a little growl as he gripped the handle of his cutlass. “Of course that damn Green Ranger would show up when he’s not wanted…” he muttered.

“Yes…” Thrax mused. “Tommy Oliver has a penchant for showing up when everything is going just fine for a monster, and they have the Rangers on the ropes. Hell, if Tommy hadn’t shown up, that so-called Magna Defender would have had his spirit broken.”

“Makes one wonder what things would be like if the shoe was on the other foot, as the humans like to say, and Tommy was evil?” Goldar hmmmed to himself.

“You do realize Goldar,” Thrax lectured. “That both my mother and father tried this, and it failed spectacularly. Tommy always has this spark of goodness inside him. An evil Tommy, there’s no such thing, as much as I wish there is such a thing…”

Remember that tempting fate thing I mentioned before? Well, Thrax just did it as well.

“You’d be surprised what you find out in the void, my good man.” The air before Thrax’s throne shimmered and swayed, the very world itself rippling. A figure stepped out into the room; Shining Armor clad in steel plate mail, the breastplate emblazoned with the symbol of a two-headed eagle. A red cape hung from his shoulders, and his eyes gave off a sickly purple smoke.

“Sombra…” Thrax chuckled. “And here I thought you were ashes in the wind…” he mocked, recognizing the form, or at least the power behind it almost in an instance. He noted, flanking Sombra were two black armored soldiers themed after Japanese Ashigaru soldiers, with golden opaque visors and holding steel pikes.

“So, who’s your new friends?” Thrax chuckled.

“I go by a different name since taking this blowhard’s body,” ‘Sombra’ replied, gesturing to himself. “But you would be correct. The Sombra of this world is dead and buried. I am Somber Shield, the Great Leader of Dai-Shocker.”

“Never heard of them,” Goldar replied. “Have heard the name Somber, though he’s this pony who wrote this long-ass fanfiction about a drinking, gambling mare in a post-apoc wasteland as a… what-if, if you will. Very interested in alternate timelines.”

Thrax stared at him.

“...I get bored.” Goldar admitted.

“Of course you haven’t,” Somber admitted, gesturing to himself and his guards. “We’ve only just set our sights on this world. I don’t usually bother with Ranger worlds, but, one of our members desires it. Which brings me to the reason behind my visit. I’m here to offer you admittance into our ranks, Thrax.”

“Please, I could care less…” Thrax scoffed. “One world and it’s issues are enough to give me my mother’s headache pains. I’ll be happy to accept your help, but only if I get something in return. Complete control of this world, and not be bothered unless absolutely necessary.”

Somber chuckled darkly, giving Thrax a fanged grin. “My dear Thrax. You think so small. Why settle for one world, when you could have so much more? Dai-Shocker will not rest until all worlds are under our control. Nonetheless, you’re more than welcome to keep this place as long as you abide by our rules.”

“I know where ambition and greed can get one, namely six feet under. Ask Dark Spector, the fool. But I’ll play by your rules. What are your… terms?” Thrax asked, gripping his mother’s wand tightly as he rose from his throne.

“An oath of loyalty to Dai-Shocker and myself,” Somber replied, watching Thrax closely. “Whatever aid we give you in securing this world, will be expected in return; no questions asked. Beyond that, you’ll simply have to work out who gets what with the one who already wants this world.”

“That I can work with…” Thrax mused, playing the diplomat. “However, I must ask. Surely one as powerful as you has enemies. Who’s to say they won’t come to call? I already have enough trouble from the Rangers of this world, and my former servant Retinax as it is.” he questioned.

“My enemies do not have the ability to freely traverse worlds as I do,” Somber explained, the air shimmering around him for a moment. “There is no guarantee that they will arrive here. And besides, I have the means to tackle both problems.”

“Show me proof of that.” Thrax requested, careful not to sound too demanding, in risk of offending this “Somber” as he could sense his power rivaled his own.

“Gladly,” Somber glanced back, clearing his throat. “Lord Drakkon, if you could join us, please. I believe a demonstration is in order.”

A dark chuckle, sounding rather eerily familiar to Thrax and moreover, Goldar’s ears came from the corner of the room.

“As you wish…” Lord Drakkon answered. Goldar’s eyes widened, that voice, it sounded almost like… He had no time to think on this, however, as a white blur cut through him several times leaving him sprawling to the floor. The blur changed into a figure, covered in what looked to be a fusion of the White Tiger and Green Dragon powers, complete with chest armor, and gold plated helmet, with a blood-red visor to top things all off. In one hand, the Dragon Dagger, and the other was a bastardized version of Saba, with a dragon’s head in place of Saba’s original tiger one.

The helmet faded away in a white flash, and Lord Drakkon turned. Thrax and Goldar’s eyes widened as a long black haired head was revealed, with a face all too familiar to them both. An older Tommy Oliver starred back at them, sporting sickly black veins around his jaw and neck.

“So, you’re Rita’s son?” Lord Drakkon asked, eyeing Thrax critically, a tone of derision present in his voice. “I was expecting something more.”

Thrax only laughed. “Oh, this is priceless. So, one Tommy did turn to the dark side after all. Guess my mother and father were onto something, as stupid as some of their plans were…”

“Funny how you mock them,” Drakkon started, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “How effective have your own plans been? There are still Rangers that oppose you and you sit on a throne below the surface instead of in the light of day for all to see. Face it, you inherited both of their incompetence.”

Thrax growled, but kept his cool. “I have a plan, believe you me. There’s something behind all of this madness, and even if that fails… Well, let’s just say there’s going to be a serpent in Celestia and Luna’s little garden…” Thrax replied, as a low growl echoed from somewhere deep within the caverns.

“Enough!” Somber stamped his hoof, sending a wall of black crystal between the two. “Petty bickering gets us nowhere. I expect the two of you to act with at least some semblance of decorum.”

“So,” Goldar asked as he picked himself up off the ground, coughing up a little bit of blood. “Forgive me for sounding curious, (It was clear he didn’t want another ass-kicking from Drakkon from his tone alone) but what interests you about this world in particular, milord?”

“The Rangers of this world,” Drakkon replied, putting his weapons away. “Their powers will be mine; they'll join me willingly or I'll take their powers from their broken bodies like that fool Jason.”

If Goldar had any reaction to his archrival being killed, he didn’t let it show.

“This world, it’s been supporting several Ranger power sets for a while now simultaneously.” Drakkon continued.

“We’ve noticed.” Goldar deadpanned.

“I want to know how,” Drakkon continued, shooting Goldar a look and letting his hand rest on his saber in a clear threat. Goldar took the hint and silenced himself. “If I can learn from this, my own troops could be upgraded accordingly.”

“So, what kind of power sets are you after?” Thrax inquired.

“All of them,” Drakkon answered, holding up his fist and clenching it. “They’ve wasted and squandered their powers playing the hero, when they could have been gods.”

“Well, well,” Thrax chuckled lowly. “Aren’t you ambitious? Either way, dead or on your side working for evil, they’re no longer my problem…”

Inwardly, he didn’t trust Drakkon, not for a moment. Who was to say he wouldn’t come back and conquer this world for himself? After all, there was only room for one world conqueror in a tyrant’s mind, Thrax knew that perfectly well. To be honest, he wouldn’t be surprised if Drakkon was secretly plotting against Somber behind his back.

“Before we go any further,” Somber interrupted, stepping closer to Thrax. “A gift...” Somber reached out, offering what looked like a zipper. “Your monsters are rather lacking, wouldn’t you agree? You need something more, something these rangers have never faced.”

“They’re idiots over half the time, and uncoordinated. So yes, they’re lacking,” Thrax agreed. “But I fail to see how a zipper of all things would help.”

“This zipper leads to a world called Helheim,” Somber explained. “A race known as the Inves call it home. They are far more powerful than anything you could call. It's also home to the Helheim tree, the fruit of which can be turned into quite the power source.”

“This… I must see for myself.” Thrax replied, pulling down on the zipper to open up a portal to this ‘Helheim’ and what was revealed was a totally alien forest, covered in mist and strange plant life. Something darted through the treeline quickly enough to be seen only briefly, blood-red and seemingly covered in armor, holding a sword like implement.

“Just keep in mind, the Inves are beasts, they cannot be given orders or controlled reliably. They do make for excellent juggernauts however; especially if you lure them with Helheim fruit.” Somber stood next to Thrax, his horn glowing slightly. A fruit on one of the nearby trees started to glow as well and was plucked from the branch to hang in the air. Curiously, it resembled a lock in some manners. “I’m sure you can find some use for them.”

“Believe me…” Thrax chuckled darkly as he held the dark red fruit in his hand, ignoring every impulse to eat it. “I can find a use for it…”

“We’ve talked enough,” Drakkon spoke up, cutting off Thrax’s response. “I know the Orange Ranger has an SPD Morpher, even if it is damaged. Taking it will show our power.”

“It’s kept under lock and key at Canterlot Castle, though I’m sure that’s no problem to you…” Thrax trailed off.

“Dai-Shocker has spies everywhere,” Somber explained giving a nod. “Instead of playing our hand, I believe giving them a hint of our power would do much better. Blud,” he called, summoning another ripple.

A version of Blueblood stepped through the ripple, immaculately dressed in a tuxedo with a white flower in his lapel making him resemble the infamous French gentleman thief Arsène Lupin. With a bow, he asked, “You called, Great Leader?”

“The object we discussed, you are to retrieve it,” Somber ordered, looking down at Blud. “If you should alert the Rangers to your presence, do what you must.”

Blud gave Somber a smile and bowed once more. “Great Leader, I will be like a breeze in the night; they will not even know the morpher is missing.” Taking his leave, he vanished into thin air with a tip of his hat.

Somber stared after him, his gaze hardening. “Drakkon, I.want your Ranger Slayer to watch him. I believe Blud is tiring of his employment with us. I see no reason we shouldn't prepare his severance package...”

Drakkon nodded. “Understood, milord.”

Back at Canterlot Castle, Galaxy continued his nightly patrols, his purple and blue armor shimmering in the moonlight coming through the grand windows in the hallways, the blood-stained steel of his scythe shining and glintering as well.

Taking out a packet of blood donated to him by a local blood bank, he opened it with his fangs and drank it dry. Wiping away what was left from his mouth with a napkin, his ears suddenly twitched as he heard something. Yellow eyes narrowing, he grabbed hold of his scythe and dashed down the hallways to where he knew Daggeron's old morpher was kept under lock and key.

His eyes widened at what he saw next. Prince Blueblood stepped out of the vault, a trio of bat-pony guards motionless on the ground.

“Mind explaining what you’re doing?” Galaxy asked, a growl in his tone.

“I thought I heard something,” Blueblood replied, turning to Galaxy with wide eyes. “When I arrived to investigate, I found the guards passed out and the vault open. They must have been trying to steal what’s inside, and the defenses got them, the fools.”

“Yeah, funny thing about that... “ Galaxy chuckled. “I know for a fact that Blueblood’s in Manehatten right now, on a honeymoon with his fiancee and he doesn’t know teleporting spells for the life of him. If you’re going to pose as someone, do a better background check first eh, you prost?”

Then Blueblood chuckled, giving a good-natured smile. “I can't be expected to give my normal level of quality on such short notice. A fellow professional such as yourself understands.”

“Yeah, ‘bout that… Only thing I understand is that I see a thief and a liar…” Galaxy retorted.

“Gentlecolt thief,” Blueblood corrected, reaching into his shirt and producing what looked like a golden sword hilt. “Now, seeing as we both seem like honorable gentlecolts, let's get properly dressed before we get started.”

“Agreed. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours...” Galaxy nodded, catching onto the implied statement in Blueblood’s words with a cheeky -Almost flirtatious- smile and taking out what looked to be a small black and yellow pistol, with green reptilian eyes. He inserted a small battery-like device into the barrel, and spun the chamber shouting “Unleash the Power!”

A manifestation of a pachycephalosaurus’ head fired from the gun and bit down on Blueblood knocking him back before it turned around and bit down on Galaxy, morphing him into a mostly gray warrior, with blue arms and a gold sash and a pure black visor.

“Pachycephalosaurus: Power Ranger Graphite!” Galaxy shouted, drawing his scythe, the aptly named Blood Moon. “Let’s dance.”

“Good show my good stallion, a bit showy but I like a little pizazz,” Pushing down on a grey button on the front of his weapon, Blueblood grinned. “Henshin.” Sweeping his arm out, the sound of shattering glass split the air, the hall filling up with holographic jewels. The jewels hung in the air for a moment before converging on Blueblood, some of them racing by Galaxy’s head. A bright light filled the hall and obscured Blueblood from view.

“Lupin!’ the device cried as the jewels took form around Blueblood’s body. Once they solidified, the stallion was left standing in odd armor of his own. The majority of his ensemble was a red bodysuit. A long black cape hung from his shoulders, reaching to his knees. A gold belt went across his waist diagonally with a purple jewel resting at its center. He had similar golden chest piece with a purple, yellow, blue and green jewel arranged into a rhombus shape. The outfit was completed by a helmet with a top hat with a golden brim that went down to frame the sides of the helmet and a red visor that stared coldly at Galaxy.

“Yeesh, and I thought Robert was a show-off…” the thestral thought to himself.

“You find yourself facing, Kamen Rider Lupin, gentlecolt thief extraordinaire,” Blueblood informed, leveling his weapon at Galaxy. “En Guarde!”

“If that’s the way you want it…” Galaxy muttered as he drew his Dino Saber and put another Dino Charger -One emblazoned with an Allosaurus- into a slot on it and the sword ignited into flame, with Blood Moon in his other hand.

“A neat trick,” Blueblood complimented, producing a small golden car from his belt. It was no bigger than a toy, sporting a blade from the back. Sliding it onto the top of his weapon, he flipped the blade up, causing it to grow into a dagger blade. “Have at you!”

Dashing forward, Lupin swiped at Galaxy’s chest, ducking his head to avoid a sweep from the rangers weapons.

Galaxy was prepared for this, and threw Blood Moon like a boomerang, it swinging back around to slice through Lupin’s armor, nicking him in the side and drawing blood. Galaxy jumped over the scythe and it impaled itself into a wall before he sent a flaming slash at Lupin. The warrior’s armor caught fire, and in his distraction, Galaxy dealt out a couple more damaging slashes from his Dino Saber.

“Sharp blade,” Lupin commented, tapping the button on his weapon, getting a cry of 'break’. Drawing his fist back, he thrust it forward, using his dagger as a pair of brass knuckles.

Galaxy reacted fast, and drew his own fist back shouting, “Royal Dino Punch!” and meeting the punch head on with his own fist. The earth shook from the meeting of fists, and the sheer power exchanged, ending with Galaxy being thrown back.

“You know, no one's pierced my armor before,” Lupin commented, touching his wounded side. “Quite the accomplishment.”

“Then it pleases me to be the first…” Galaxy drawled, getting another Dino Charger ready. This one, it had an Archelon on it.

Tapping the button again, Lupin fired a few shots at Galaxy. “But of course. Though, I will pay you back for such a slight.”

“Man, can you just shut up for a moment?” Galaxy asked, firing his newly charged Dino Morpher -With the new Dino Charger inside it- at Lupin, increasing gravity around the Rider, making him sink into the floor. “Dino Squash Charger, never used it before… But I have to admit, I like the effects.” the Graphite Ranger chuckled.

“I imagine you do,” Lupin grunted, pushing himself back up. “I wonder though, does in work in 2-D?” Throwing his hand out, Lupin worked his magic. A film strip floated around Galaxy, growing to his size before drawing him into it.

“Cute, real cute…” Galaxy complimented in a sarcastic tone. “But…” he continued, slashing forwards with his flaming sword, he soon broke through the strip and back into the real world before wrenching Blood Moon out of the wall. “Nu destul de drăguț.”

Lupin had already moved down the hall, firing off another round of shots at Galaxy. “Can you keep up, Johnny Law?”

“Oh, is that a challenge?” Galaxy asked in a flirtatious tone, before extending his wings and rocketing after Lupin down the hallway, and as he reached him, knocked him to the floor with a kick and a certain morpher clattered to the floor. Galaxy’s eyes widened at the sight of it.

“So that’s what you were after, you bastard copili…” Galaxy snarled. “Sorry to rain on your parade, but you’re not having it.” he growled out, tossing his Dino Saber right at where Blueblood’s heart would be.

With a quick motion of his arm, Blueblood swatted the saber away and caused it to embed itself into one of the pillars in the hallway. “Anger is not a useful tool in a fight; it makes you sloppy.”

“Oh, you’ve yet to see me angry,” Galaxy replied, in an eerily calm tone of voice. Almost as if he was enjoying himself. “And before you comment about me fighting dirty, in a fight for your life… No such thing as that. I really don’t subscribe to those bastarzi who are all about ‘honor’ and the like. I was appointed to my position for one reason and one reason only. To defend this kingdom, no matter the cost....” he continued, gripping Blood Moon tightly.

Lupin didn't waste a moment, firing several shots into Galaxy, catching him mid-sentence. “Don't talk when your opponent has a weapon.” Jumping up, Lupin switched his weapon to break mode, catching Galaxy with an uppercut. Galaxy caught the blow with his scythe blade, and then spun around, ripping into more of Lupin’s armor with a red-tinged slash making the Rider stagger.

“I’d suggest you cut your losses and run.” Galaxy commented simply as several members of the Night Guard ran down the hall to join their Captain, swords in hand.

“Sorry, but I don’t leave without my prize,” Lupin replied, pressing the button on the front of his weapon once more. “I've been going easy on you, Strix. But if you want me to throw honor to the wind, I can do that too.”

‘Gunner!’ the weapon called out, energy arcing around it. With a slow raise of his arm, Lupin aimed his weapon at Galaxy’s chest. After a moment, Lupin fired a massive blast that rocketed towards Galaxy.

Galaxy fell to the floor, a gray flash of energy enveloping him as he demorphed. As he slipped into unconsciousness, he let out a mutter of “La dracu..” and watched as Lupin picked up the Solar Cell morpher.

“A fine prize,” Lupin taunted, holding his side. “And hard won as well. Nothing feels better, really.” A chuckle filled with mirth escaped Lupin as he snapped his fingers and a distortion passed over him and he vanished without a trace. Save for a black and pink card that floated silently to the ground...

Author's Note

I'll be perfectly honest, wasn't confident going into this collab as my history with collabs has never been good, with authors usually dropping out fairly quickly along with the fact that there's a certain author (No-one name names please!) who hangs about Displaced stories, but the idea Shagohad proposed, and the ones he kept on bringing up tempted me. So, I said, "Screw it," and threw caution to the wind, and this is what me, him and Thunder came up with. Hope you enjoy, and we'd all love comments, thoughts, and constructive critique.