Wild Access Spin-Off: The Reign of the Drakkon

by The Bricklayer

Rating: teen
Tags: Spike, Adventure, Shining Armor, Science Fiction, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Profanity, Violence, Crossover, Alternate Universe, Anthro, Drama, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 64494

Equestria is at a temporary period of peace, of course, that's all shattered when a mysterious gentleman thief comes to call, foreshadowing the arrival of a much larger threat to both Ranger and Rider alike...

"You may know me as Tommy Oliver. You may know me as the Green Ranger. But I’m not the man you know. I am a man from a different reality. I conquered my Earth, and became someone infinity more powerful. I am Lord Drakkon. Now I’m coming back to this world to conquer the Power Rangers here and everywhere else, wherever and whenever they’re hiding. And that’s…. just the beginning."

For the most part, excluding Thrax and Retinax's plottings, Equestria is at peace for the second generation of the Wild Force Rangers. Little do they know, a storm is coming on the horizon, and it all starts out with the mysterious arrival of a gentleman thief calling himself a Rider... "Henshin!"/"Legendary Wild Access!"

Wild Access/Passing Through Kamen Rider crossover. Takes place after Part 43: Samurai Takes Knight for Wild Access.

Riders featured: Baron, Decade, Gaim, Lupin, OOO, Genm, and Wizard

Published 2018-04-11 02:10:07 UTC
Last updated 2018-12-07 01:45:17 UTC

Part 1: A Thief in the Night

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.

Part 2: The Calm Before the Storm

Meanwhile, worlds and even realities away, a tyrant plotted. Deep within his citadel, Lord Drakkon sat on his throne -Ironically bearing an eerie resemblance to Lord Zedd’s/Thrax’s that he’d mocked- deep in contemplation. Next to him, by his side was two of his infamous sentries, both resembling twisted and warped versions of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. One was a Red Tyrannosaurus Sentry, which for the most part looked the part of the original Red Ranger, -Mind you, with more body armor- but bore a long flowing white cape and carried a broadsword.

The other was a pink Pterodactyl sentry, who looked more like a heavily armored version of Kimberly’s famous costume with an armored shoulder pauldron on the sentry’s right arm, and wearing a white hooded cloak. In her hands, was a devastating sniper rifle, a more militaristic version of the original Power Bow.

In the shadows, electric pikes at the ready were some more Kurokage Troopers, on loan from Dai-Shocker. Drakkon smirked, they were a definite improvement over Dai-Shocker’s original soldiers, which were basically morons dressed in skeleton costumes shouting battle cries all the time. His thoughts turned to a certain Orange Ranger.

“What a waste. His entire race wiped off the planet, and he’s too much of a coward to take revenge. Five Wild Zords, each based on a beast of legend. Shame, they’re not being used to their fullest potential. Such power, wasted on fools. Just like the rest of them.” Drakkon mused to himself, “They could be gods of their world, and instead they just follow orders from a weak, simpering Princess like little sheep. I’ll let their Shayla live long enough to see her Rangers die screaming and her precious little island in the sky rammed into the ground.”

Lord Drakkon got up off his throne, and walked to another room, a room full of ghastly trophies and spoils of war. In one glass case, Princess Shayla’s necklace alongside the Master Org’s horn. In another, the Blue Senturion’s head. A third housed the Golden Power Staff. A fourth, the morpher of Super Megaforce Silver and his Anchor Key. A fifth case, the Samurai Amulet. He stopped in front of his favorite prize; the cracked helmet of Jason Lee Scott, the red and then the white Ranger… Or at least, that was Zordon’s plan for him in the latter case.

Drakkon chuckled as he inspected his own helmet, his eyes reflected against the crimson visor. Now that White Ranger power belonged to him alone.

“Mulling over your prizes again, milord?” a female voice, somewhat distorted came from behind him. Drakkon smirked, his Ranger Slayer. Wearing the garb of a more powerful Pterodactyl sentry, she carried a more powerful version of the Power Bow that had been mixed with the Sword of Darkness. Absolutely devastating on the battlefield, this weapon could launch destructive energy arrows that homed in on their targets, and the Ranger Slayer had quickly gained a fearsome reputation as she quickly earned her title, killing any Ranger who dared to try and rebel against the new order.

“So, was it acquired?” Drakkon asked, his thoughts turning to the Solar Cell morpher.

“It was,” Reaching to her belt, she held up the device in question. “Somber’s minion came through, though he had an encounter with one of the rangers,” she held it out to him, looking into his eyes. “I’ve had Finster 5 look it over. Those idiots had no idea how to remove it's dark taint.”

“Figures…” Drakkon muttered, inwardly thinking: “Damn that pony! Never trust a Rider to a Ranger’s job, I should have gone and collected it myself! Still…”

“What can you tell me about the ranger he had a run-in with?” Drakkon asked. “Any information on his powers, anything that can tell us if his power set is worth using?”

“This one was mostly gray or graphite as he called himself, used a pistol-like weapon as his morpher,” the Slayer explained, leaning on her bow. “Defintely from the Dino Charge power range via attacks and morpher alone. Wielded a scythe, managed to get Lupin in the side with it.”

“Figures… Riders can never be relied on completely, especially that one…” Drakkon muttered in disgust. “Still, learning more about the capabilities of this particular Dinosaur based power-set, aside from the two we already know of is interesting… I wonder, could Graphite Sentries be added to our army? We already have the Gold Ptera ones after all,” he continued, thinking of that timeline where his doppelganger had managed to stumble across some gems from space and remake them into morphers, even becoming a Ranger himself. He hadn’t been there himself, but he’d heard of it from a member of a group called Time Force Dai-Shocker had captured per his request. “Thrax is a fool letting children humiliate him. He’s a stain on Rita’s name and her legacy.”

“Yes, quite…” Kimberly agreed. Personally, while she was a good Ranger Killer, Drakkon regarded her as nothing more than a lovesick child still worshipping the very ground he walked upon. Good for sex, and an enforcer, but nothing more.

“Tell Finster 5 to prepare the sentry lab,” Drakkon ordered, turning back to the trophy case. “He’ll be getting some new toys to play with soon enough. Order the sentry captains to find suitable test candidates.”.

Kimberly turned on her heel, walking towards a hall of the fortress. Before she disappeared from view, she looked over her shoulder. “Consider it done. Finster’s sure to have a field day with this morpher. Should I tell him how long you expect to be kept waiting?”

“He knows what will happen if he displeases me,” Drakkon replied, a hand going down to his dagger. “He has three days to present to me the first Solaris Knight sentry...”

She gave him a nod and resumed her trek towards the lab. As soon as she was gone from view, Drakkon returned his attention to his trophy case. “I might have to make room in here for some new additions,” he mused to himself, a smirk finding its way to the corner of his mouth.

It didn’t take long for Kimberly to reach Finster’s lab. Two Samurai Sentries flanked the doorway, twin blades at the ready to cut down any unwanted visitors. Almost at once, they saluted upon seeing Kimberly enter the lab.

As always, it was a cluttered mess that was a disharmonious mix of alchemical mixtures and whirring technology. How the beastly creator found anything in the chaos eluded Kimberly, but she never questioned him on it. As long as he delivered results, he could keep his space in whatever manner he wished.

Clearing her throat, Kimberly pulled out the corrupted morpher and held it up, it's ugly red tint resembling blood. “Finster 5, Lord Drakkon has a project for you.”

“Ah, he’s returned from his extradimensional escapades has he?” Finster 5 asked, looking up from his workstation, Alpha Five’s armor grafted to his body. “What would he like this time? Has he finally decided to allow Tiger and Dragon sentries?”

“If you asked him that then I think we’d need a Finster 6,” Kimberly stated, a dark edge creeping into her tone. “No, we’ve gotten our hands on an Mystic Force morpher. Lord Drakkon expects sentries provided with it in three days time.”

“Ah,” Finster smirked devilishly. “That power set. Interesting…”

“You can thank Dai-Shocker for it,” Kimberly said, tossing the morpher casually at his chest. “Something good finally came from this partnership they’ve offered.”

“I’ll have to make sure this is my best work yet,” Retaking his seat, Finster 5 wasted no time in opening the morpher up. “I’ll need test subjects or course, just as before.”

“Believe me, I’ll find some…” Kimberly smirked evilly before turning to the two Samurai Sentries that lay outside the door. “You two, in here on the double!” she barked.

Not even a second passed before the two sentries came into the room and stood at attention before Kimberly. They snapped her a salute with their blades before resuming their positions.

“You won’t need your powers for this,” Finster 5 informed, his hands moving in a flurry as he tinkered with the morpher. “You gentlemen get the honor of testing out the newest set of sentry powers...”

The two sentries said nothing, even as they demorphed. Finster 5 hummed in delight, already putting together another morpher.

Back in the universe of Wild Access, it was just another day in the life for a certain Ranger team. Another day, another Org. This time, it was based off a lawnmower of all things, holding two nasty looking sickles, with the singular cycloptic eye on it’s bottom ‘skirt’ with a deadly looking buzzsaw below that.

“Heh, so pleased Thrax gave me the honor of destroying you, and when he does, he’ll make me a Duke Org!” the Lawnmower Org cackled, sounding like a hyena. Or Doomwing, really.

“Yeah…” Sunset murmured as she knocked a Tenga warrior aside with her elbow. “Sorry to rain on your parade, but I don’t think that’s going to happen…”

The Lawnmower Org cackled, and launched buzzsaw after buzzsaw at the Rangers like shuriken and they rolled out of the way to avoid the spinning blades. Next, the Org fired a beam from his eye, as the five Ranger team reached for their morphers and shouted out “Legendary Wild Access!”

An explosion of fire came from where the Rangers stood, and the Tengas let out crowing laughter as they seemingly saw the Rangers fall.

“Well, that was easier than I thought…” the Lawnmower Org mused, before his eye widen as he saw five forms dash out of the explosion.

“What the…?” the Lawnmower Org asked as the Rangers landed in front of him, and did their role calls.

“Lightning Speed! Ferocious Thunderbird!” Lightning Dust shouted.
“Cunning Wit! Fighting Fox!” Robert proclaimed.
“Great Strength! Monstrous Leviathan!” Vapor exclaimed.
“Shadowed Intent! Vampire Bat!” Sunburst stated.
“Fiery Nobility! Phoenix!” Sunset shouted, before using her horn to throw up a magical projection of the Red Lion Zord letting out a loud and fierce roar. “Guardians of the Earth, united we roar! Power Rangers, Wild Force!”

“Enough with the costume changes, get them already!” the Lawnmower Org snarled, gesturing with his sickles for the Tengas to charge, and so they did.

“Sa… Dohade ni ikuze!” Robert shouted as the Rangers charged to meet the oncoming threat.

Almost at once, Ponyville’s streets erupted into chaos like they had so many times before whenever an Org attacked. Robert stabbed a Tenga in the neck, purple blood staining his Crystal Saber as the Tenga gurgled it’s last breaths before he leaped away to avoid two more Tengas swinging their swords at him. He sat down on a nearby bench, and shot his Kitsune Blaster at them, felling them.

With a cocky smirk under his helmet, Robert spun the weapon in his hands before blowing pretend smoke off of it like a old western gunslinger. “Yep, getting in my hotshot quota for the day…” he mused before letting out a yelp as a Tenga’s sword nearly cleaved him in half had he not rolled off the bench in time, with the blade getting stuck inside the bench itself.

“Having a little trouble there?” he tauntingly asked the Tenga, who was struggling to pull his blade out of the bench. “Here, let me… help.” he commented, before kicking the crow-like soldier forwards and impaling him through the chest on his own blade.

Close by, Sunset was slicing apart some Tenga warriors that had foolishly decided to take her on with her Phoenix Blade, a small short sword type weapon, igniting it with flames and burning the Tengas to crisps as she cut them down.

“Fried crow, anyone?” she joked.

Nearby, Lightning was using her Thunderbird whips like the Marvel comic villain Whiplash and keeping the Tengas far away from her before Sunburst leaped over her and came down on the warriors with his Jungle Fans, both glowing gold with chi energy.

“Nice work!” Lightning complimented, almost fistbumping him, before awkwardly realizing what was still in her hands. “...Er, another time?” she asked sheepishly.

They then both rolled to avoid two slashes sent towards them by the Lawnmower Org. Sunburst put away his Jungle Fans, and slipped the Bison Crystal into his Saber, changing it into a small double bladed axe. He dashed forwards and sliced the Lawnmower Org across the chest, unknowingly ripping up the grass beneath his hooves.

“Stop, stop!” the Lawnmower Org shouted. “You’re tearing up my beautiful lawn!”

Sunburst sighed, and at once immediately began trying to fix the damage apologizing all the while (“I’m so sorry, I’ll try and fix this!) before he blinked upon realizing what he was doing.

“...Wait, why am I apologizing to an Org again?” he asked himself before muttering something under his breath.

“Great, he’s one of those Orgs…” Vapor muttered, shaking her head. Lighting sighed to herself as she facepalmed, before inserting the Giraffe Crystal into her Saber, and firing a beam of pure gold energy at the Org making him stumble back.

“Sis, finish this idiot off!” Lightning called, and Vapor nodded.

“You got it!” she replied, before bringing out both the Deer Clutcher and her own Leviathan Trident. She fired the Deer Clutcher at a nearby lamppost, and then swung around it, using her hooves to rebound off a shop wall and then tossed her trident right at the Org, finishing him off before he fell backwards and exploded.

However, as things always were for them, it never was that easy. As ever, a massive sized version of Rita’s Wand came down from the skies, and enlarged the Org.

“Ooh, don’t have to chop chop chop you up anymore, when I can just rip you to shreds!” the Lawnmower Org growled out.

“...There’s a difference?” Sunset asked, questioning this Org’s logic.

“He’s an Org, since when are they ever intelligent?” Robert deadpanned as the Rangers pulled out five different Animal Crystals.

“Bison!”
“Eagle!”
“Black Bear!”
“Polar Bear!”
“Gorilla!” Robert finished, before smiling under his helmet. “Been waiting to use this one for a long while…”

“Wild Zords, descend!” the Rangers shouted, pointing their Crystal Sabers skywards and the blades let out a flute-like sound as five distinct animals descended on a rainbow bridge of light from high in the skies.

The Gorilla charged into battle, letting out a loud roar, and beat his chest several times before he grabbed ahold of the Lawnmower Org and tossed him, the Zord’s gleaming red eyes staring it down.

The Gorilla then leaped forwards, as his legs folded back up into his body, the toes becoming shoulder mounted lasers and the arms folding inwards as well. A new head popped up, looking like a roman gladiator’s helmet in some ways. The Black Bear and Polar Bear became the right and left arms respectively, while the Eagle and Bison combined to form the legs and waist of the Megazord, before all five Wild Zords converged and attached with hisses of steam.

During all of this, Princess Twilight ran out of her Library and watched what was unfolding in awe. “Wow…” she whispered, always amazed by the sheer magic and technology that had went into creating these Zords. She’d honestly love to meet the person who made them one day.

The Rangers teleported inside, and locked their Sabers into their respective consoles as the Kongazord came to life, and flexed its powerful muscles.

“Alright… Metal to metal!” the Lawnmower Org shouted as he picked himself back up off the ground. He tried to slash at the Megazord, but his sickle blades were simply knocked aside and instead earned himself a powerful left hook to the chest.

“Let’s finish this one up quick okay?” Sunburst asked. “Me and Galaxy had a date planned.”

“Yes, and we wouldn’t want you to be able to not play kissy-face with your fiance…” Lightning teased. Sunburst sputtered out a few words, but was unable to create a coherent sentence of any sort.

“Lay off him Asuka…” Robert teased, using his personal pet name for his rival Ranger before gripping his consoles. “Lasers, fire!” he shouted, ignoring the death glare Lightning sent him as the Kongazord’s shoulder lasers fired at the Lawnmower Org, making him stumble back.

“Keep your distance. Those sickles are a nasty weapon…” Sunset warned her team.

“Agreed,” Sunburst mused, finally able to form sentences again. “Ranged attacks are the best course of action here I believe…”

“Well then… Got just the ticket for that!” Robert commented. “In Ordnung, du Bastard, schmeck das! Bear Blasters, fire!”

The two Bear Brothers’ mouths opened, to reveal twin cannons. They charged up, before firing beams of fire and ice respectively. Hitting dead on, the Org collapsed and went up in a huge fireball as the Kongazord beat its chest once more.

Later, the Rangers were demorphed and helping to clean up the mess they’d inadvertently made during their battle, when Sunset was approached by her fellow Princess.

“Mystic Mother above…” Twilight breathed out. “That was amazing!” she squeed out. “Wish I could have been up there with you guys… But…” she trailed off sadly, and Sunset sighed. She always had a feeling Twilight wished to be a Ranger like the five of them, and this only confirmed it.

“Twilight, your place is with the Elements, you know that, and besides, you’ve been a great asset to us on the field creating new Dino Chargers for Galaxy and co like the Blaze and Squash Chargers.” Sunset replied, giving her friend/sister in all but blood a sympathetic look.

“I know, but I just wish…” Twilight trailed off.

“Hey, who knows?” Vapor piped up, placing her hand on the Princess of Friendship’s shoulder in support. “Maybe your time will come, you never know right?” she asked, trying to stay positive. Twilight smiled weakly at that.

“Yeah…” she sighed wistfully.

Later that night, Sunburst (Navi on his shoulders as always) took the train to Canterlot, knowing at this time of night his fiance was likely running his troops through basic drills and training at the barracks. The stallion was a workaholic really, probably why Sunburst loved him so much. Mystic Mother knew, despite all the crap the teenagers he taught gave him during his science classes, he loved his job.

As the train tracks rattled beneath him -It was a rather soothing sound really, Sunburst could see how some ponies drifted off to sleep via this noise- his thoughts turned to Thrax. He’d been quiet lately, and bar the Lawnmower and Samurai Orgs, he hadn’t caused that much trouble for them really.

“I’d like to say he’s on holiday, but that’s probably far from the case…” Sunburst mused, running a hand through his goatee. “I mean, since when do nutjobs like him ever take a holiday? Chances are, he’s probably planning something massive…”

Suddenly, Sunburst let out a little yelp of fear when a man with a small monkey hand puppet spoke to him through the puppet. Strangely, no-one but Sunburst and Navi seemed to notice this stranger.

“You look like you’ve got something heavy on your mind,” the ‘Monkey’ said. “Need someone to talk to?”

“What the…?” Navi squawked out in shock.

“...Can you drop the puppet act? Kinda freaks me out…” Sunburst muttered, as he clutched his chest and started slowing his breathing.

The man and the puppet shared a look.

“You hear that? He thinks you’re an act!” the man said to his puppet, both looking quite offended.

“Shame on him!” the puppet replied back before glaring back at Navi and Sunburst wagging a finger.

“...You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Navi muttered, doing the robotic parrot equivalent to a facepalm.

“Who are you anyways?” Sunburst inquired.

“Name’s Narutaki. Friend to all Henshin Heroes,” the now named Narutaki said, handing Sunburst a black and purple card. “Here, you’re going to need this. It’ll come in handy, believe you me…”

With that, he walked down the halls and into a door leading to another carriage. Sunburst and Navi shared a look, before chasing after him. But when they entered the next car, Narutaki had vanished, seemingly into thin air as quickly as he’d come.

“What the hell…?” Sunburst trailed off, scratching his head in bewilderment before looking at the card. “Come in handy soon? What does he mean by that?” he thought to himself.

The card itself was rather odd, with barcode patterns all along it and fuschia at the top border. The rest of the card was a mixture of black, white and gray. At the center was a picture of a costumed man Sunburst almost wanted to call a ranger, if not for the more elaborate armor. The costume had large green eyes and was primarily fuschia with black ridges running all along the helmet. The bottom rows of the card read, ‘Kamen Rider Decade’ and ‘Kamen Ride’ respectively.

“Kamen Rider…?” Sunburst whispered softly to himself, sounding out the words. They sounded Japanese, but as he was not expert, he couldn’t tell what they would have meant in English. Definitely sounded like a title of some sort though.

Eventually, the train pulled into a screeching halt at Canterlot Station, the steam whistle blowing sharply twice. Sunburst, still thinking about the strange card and the man who called himself Narutaki, stepped out, and was in for a shock when he saw two members of Luna’s personal guard waiting for him at the station, spears in hand.

“Alright, what’s going on?” He asked curiously.

“There’s been a… incident.” one of the guards said, a unicorn with dark charcoal fur. Sunburst knew some non bat-ponies worked in the Night Guard, but not many as very few were willing to stay up all night and ruin their sleep schedule.

“Incident?” Sunburst asked nervously, raising an eyebrow.

“Break-in at Canterlot Castle itself, someone looking exactly like Prince Blueblood managed to steal something right out from Luna and Celestia’s noses!” the guard exclaimed, as if he could barely believe it himself.

“W-What?” Sunburst stuttered, and surprising even himself, grabbed the guard by the chest plate. “Is… Is my fiance alright?”

“Galaxy?” the guard asked. “He’s… He’s been in better shape, but for the most par-”

As soon as Sunburst heard Galaxy was injured, he broke off into a sprint and ran for the Castle, all kinds of thoughts running through his head. And they all led up to one thing, this was his fault. Galaxy had been hurt Mystic Mother knew how badly all because he wasn’t there to help him!

Eventually, he reached the front gate of Canterlot Castle, and knocked aside the two guards in a shocking show of strength even when they tried to call out: “Halt, you’re not supposed to be in there right now!”

Groaning as he lay on the ground, one of the guards turned to his partner. “...Our jobs really suck don’t they?”

“Yeah, they do,” the other replied. “I’m seriously thinking about asking for a raise…”

Meanwhile, Sunburst continued running, lighting up his horn and searching the castle for Galaxy’s unique magical signature. It was one of those difficult spells, one that took years to master, but lately both Twilight and Sunset had been tutoring him and as Sunburst had found, when he was angry or scared, he could perform some complex spells. Just ask the Bell Org.

“With the stealth and bite of a Vampire Bat, Black Vampire Bat Ranger!"I cried out, with more confidence than I had ever yelled it out before.

“Time to make this bell stop its ringing… permanently.” I snarled to myself before I cried “Dino Morpher Blast!” and sent the Org flying with a powerful blast of black light and a head shaped like my Zord’s own following it, perhaps our two power sets mixing together in some way. Then, I focused all my energy into my horn and sent it skywards and then the clouds boiled, as if someone had flicked on a light switch for them. Rolling thunder, upon the rain. And then a powerful bolt of white hot lightning struck the bell cage, blasting it to smithereens and freeing my fiance, who gave me a look of complete and utter shock.

Eventually, Sunburst rounded a corner, and his eyes widened as he saw medics checking over the unconscious form of his fiance. “Galaxy…” he breathed out.

Author's Note

Okay, so now you get to see the full scope of Lord Drakkon's depraved tyranny, and how far he's gone, if you haven't been reading or keeping up with the BOOM comics. Seriously, I got shudders and was nearly sick at one point during Drakkon's scenes, and I wasn't even writing most of them!

Only thing I added in, well, the only things of significance was Drakkon's trophy room and Kimberly being more than just a servant to Drakkon. Figured a rather twisted version of the main Kimberly and Tommy's relationship was only apt, really.

Now, the rest of the chapter, that was my work (Aside from Thunder and Shago's suggestion to fit in the gag with Narutaki or some other train themed Rider or Ranger joke. If you don't get it, Narutaki generally shows up at the most random of moments crossing into other universes, and in the Gaim/ToQgers crossover, he showed up with a Rainbow Line Pass and a monkey puppet like Ticket.) and so yes this means the Kongazord was my idea. I knew some people clamored for it to appear in the original fic, but I could never quite find a way to fit it in, so here you go... As for how Robert earned the Gorilla Crystal, up to your own imagination really. Now, I don't know when the next chapter will be out, but me, Thunder and Shago promise to try and get it done soon.

As ever, comments, thoughts, and constructive criticism are welcome.

Part 4: Deja Vu

The Animarium:

After Goldar’s defeat, every member of the Rangers seemed to go their separate ways. Sunburst, he’d gone back to Canterlot to support his fiance, while Vapor and Lightning took an early night’s sleep, having to go to Wonderbolts training early in the morning. Probably wasn’t long before they drifted off to dreamland, given that they’d exhausted themselves in that last fight. Kurokage Troopers definitely took more of a beating than your average Tenga or Putrid Robert had noted.

Speaking of him, he had currently asked Princess Shayla to allow Wyatt and company safe harbor as it were on the Animarium, given it’d be rather weird to explain two Twilights, two Spikes or two Applejacks walking about Ponyville. And for Wyatt, Robert knew it was best for his own personal safety right now given the… herd mentality of Ponyville and Canterlot. He knew first hand what it was like for someone to be on the end of their prejudice and fear that Princess Celestia -Or to be more accurate, Solar Flare- had spread.

Of course, he hadn’t told Wyatt any of this, not wanting him to fly off the handle as it were. He’d been furious, going into an almost suicidal rage when he’d heard what happened to humanity, and he was a grown adult. Wyatt was a teenager, and not all of his hormones had settled. (Robert knew Sunset would probably tease him for actually knowing something of intelligence and his brain being filled with more than Power Ranger history and pick-up lines) God knows what Wyatt would do if he ever found out. And as a Rider, he had more power than a Ranger, so there was a chance he could destroy Celestia before she and Solar Flare were separated.

He was hoping his Twilight came up with a plan to split the two apart, and fast. In his pants pocket, he absentmindedly fingered the corrupted Solar Cell Morpher.

“Never thought I’d ever visit this place,” Wyatt commented, as the massive Eagle Zord flew overhead letting out a screech. “That looks a hell of a lot better than the CGI ever made it look.”

“...Right, going to have to get used to the fact that Power Rangers are fiction from where you came from. Weird experience, that. It’d be like the French Mistake from that one movie if we ever visited your world,” Robert muttered. “Can I just ask, how’d a perfectly normal human teenager get himself suckered by convention merchant and end up as Kamen Rider Decade? I mean, you could have at least ended up as Drive… So much better by a landslide.” he teased.

“I liked Decade the most, and that guy was selling for cheap,” Wyatt responded, holding Twilight’s hand. “I’ll be honest though, this isn't the first Ranger world I've been to. We once visited an Equestria that had been conquered by King Mondo.”

“Ever heard the expression, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is?” Robert asked, before his eyes widened at that second bit. “Okay… There’s a scary thought. Read about the remnants of the Machine Empire digging up that Serpentera prototype back at SPD, gives me shudders just thinking about it. It’s like the Enclave from Fallout finding… Oh, I don’t know, the instructions to make the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.”

Wyatt’s Twilight looked curious, but decided it best not to ask.

“Just uh... Don't tell Shayla she wasn't regarded that highly as a Ranger mentor,” Wyatt whispered, glancing around to make sure the princess in question wasn't around.

Robert made a zipping motion with his lips. “Not a word. Doubt she’d get it anyways. Could be worse, could be Toshizo Tanba from Shinkenger. But she kicked my sorry arse once, so that’s something…”

“And she beat up Toxica, mind you one who’d cut off her horn, but all the same…” Jindrax said as he stumbled out of the ferns, only for a branch to hit him the face. Robert let out a little yelp at being caught by surprise, he hadn’t even heard him walking up.

“Jesus Christ, Jindrax…” Robert muttered. “How many times… You’re getting as bad as Zen-Aku!”

“I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you very much.” the somewhat reformed Duke Org and self-proclaimed Master of Blades said with a mock-bow.

Spike snickered, putting his hands in his pockets. “Way to look tough, Robert.”

“What would your first reaction be if you saw someone who was a former villain walking out of the bushes, completely without warning like that be?” Robert replied, his voice coming out as almost a whine. Inwardly, he’d been getting the feeling -Not entirely sure why to be honest- that there was something Wyatt wasn’t telling him about Dai-Shocker. Last he checked, they never had access to technology that allowed someone to Henshin, except for that one time with Kamen Rider Fifteen. And even he considered that movie non-canon given how prickish the Showa Riders were.

“Actually, I do; happens every time I see my big brother,” Spike retorted, a bitter edge to his voice. Robert sucked in a breath and hissed to himself. Right… He forgot about that.

“Well, if it brings you any sympathy, Sombra’s quite dead here, and Shining’s doing quite well ruling over the Empire with his wife. Even a Ranger himself, took up the Magna Defender powers, which suits him quite well. Took down a Samurai based Org recently.” Robert replied, giving Spike a supportive pat on the shoulder. During some point, Jindrax had walked off to god only knew where.

“Let's hope Somber never shows his face here,” Twilight added, pulling Spike into a hug. “I know we’ll bring his empire crumbling down around him.”

Although he didn’t want to voice it, Robert suspected Somber already had. Given last night’s battle with Goldar and the Kurokage Troopers, it was highly likely the two had already allied. Question was, how long till the alliance fell apart? Robert knew Thrax’s type, he reminded him of the late Mesogog. Didn’t like anyone bossing him about, or didn’t like more than one world conqueror around. The civil war between him and Retinax was proof alone of that.

Robert smiled as he heard the familiar clashing of swords. He recognized the sound of one of those blades. “Hey Spike, want to see this universe’s version of your big brother?”

Spike perked up, pulling away from Twilight. “Yeah, I wanna show my Shining how much of dork his other selves are.”

Robert led the two to a clearing, where he found Jindrax and Shining in a sparring match, Jindrax using a larger, sword-based version of his twin knives, and Shining the famed Magna Blade.

Jindrax slashed downwards, only for Shining to leap backwards to avoid the strike and then rush forwards to meet Jindrax’s blade again. Blades met again and again, with both swordsmen matching each other perfectly, it was like a dance almost in some ways. Robert was beginning to think maybe Jindrax’s title wasn’t self-given.

“Come on…” Shining grunted out, beads of sweat trailing down his face. “That that best you got?”

“Nope, I’m still going to kick your ass!” Jindrax retorted.

“Don’t bet on it,” Shining smirked, before he kicked Jindrax in the stomach before knocking his blade out of his hands. Shining then implanted his own sword in the ground.

“Never get cocky or arrogant during a battle, it always leads you to defeat.” Shining instructed.

Somehow, Robert suspected that last comment was directed towards him as well.

“That ain’t bad at all,” Applejack complimented, giving a light clap. “Ah don’t think our Shining Armor can fight with a sword. Heck, Ah don't think G-3 even has a sword.”

“Right, I’ll presume to know who that last one is…” Shining murmured to himself. “So you’re the new arrival right? Shayla, soon as she heard about what happened, told me everything to the best of her ability. Just asking, but I heard you had a Samurai themed motif in your armor. Can I see it?” Shining asked, weapons nerd that he was.

“Don’t see why not.” Applejack secured her Sengoku (Warring in English) driver around her waist, securing the Lockseed. “Course, that’s just Orange.” She activated it, closing her eyes as the transformation occurred. A zipper in the sky opened up, and a massive metal orange floated down towards Applejack, and opened up leaving her in Samurai themed armor, complete with golden head crest and a blade that looked like an orange slice. A second sword, with a small pistol built in was strapped to her hip.

“The Path of Blossoms, to the Stage!” the Driver called out.

“Well?” Applejack asked, resting her blade on her shoulder. “Whatcha think?”

“Stance seems fine, and you look like you know how to hold a blade, though I’m curious how you exactly got your powers, and where you learned to fight with a sword…” Shining mused.

“Oh that's easy, Fuji Pie came up with all this stuff.” Applejack gestured to her armor. “As fer the fightin’, Flash Fire and a guy named Zoro whipped us into shape.”

“Well… least it wasn’t a pony Ryouma Warring…” Robert muttered in distaste, remembering the bastard.

“Zoro was a cool guy, taught us how to use haki.” Spike held his hand up, covering it in a black substance. Robert and Shining looked visibly green.

“Mind… mind not doing that, kinda freaking me out here…” Shining muttered.

“Oh, you’re just a wimp!” Jindrax called. “I find that kinda cool!”

“Helps you hit harder,” Spike explained, returning his hand to normal. “And you can sense people's spirit energy with it. Hurt a lot to get it though.” A shiver went up his spine at the memory.

“Remind me to test it against my Pai Zhau training sometime…” Robert muttered to himself, his hands glowing a warm orangish color as a fine mist surrounded them.

“I wouldn't mind learning this ‘Pai Zhau’,” Twilight said, eyes locked onto Robert’s fist. “Any advantage we can get against Dai-Shocker the better.”

“Fat chance of that happening, as I don’t know enough about it to actually teach the style. And unless the ghosts of my old Masters show up again…” Robert muttered to himself. “But for now, a demonstration of what one can really do with the style… Call to the Beast inside, Free the Kitsune!” Robert shouted, launching a misty orange nine-tailed fox at a dummy styled after Thrax, ripping it to shreds.

“That's almost like my dragon!” Twilight chirped, her eyes lighting up. “I could do so much with that!”

“Don’t make a girl a promise, if you know you can’t keep it.” Robert muttered, and Twilight looked at him.

“These Wild Zords are amazing.” She cast her eyes up, watching a few (The Swallow, and Owl to be exact) soar across the sky. “I have something like that, think they’d mind the company?”

“Can’t see why not, though I’d advise keeping him away from the Kitsune Zord, that thing’s always up for a fight no matter who it is that he challenges,” Robert warned.

Twilight nodded, activating her driver and touching a ring to it. ‘Miracle, please!’ A massive spell circle appeared in the sky, out of which erupted a massive mechanical dragon. It roared, breathing purple fire into the open air.

Robert let out a “Heilige Scheiße…” upon seeing the massive beast feeling slightly jealous (Though not by much, as he remembered what the original WizarDragon was like.) before Shining took him aside out of earshot.

“Should warn you, and I’ve already told Sunset this, but last night Twilight took one of those Drivers that those troopers used from the lock-up in Canterlot that we use to store potentially dangerous items, and took it upon herself to study it, see if it can be replicated for her personal usage.”

“Well, if she succeeds, can’t say we won’t be grateful for the power of a Rider on our side, and not just a temporary alliance with Wyatt and co…”

“Ah, about that,” Shining murmured. “Does he… know?”

“Not yet,” Robert whispered back. “And I intend to keep it that way as long as possible. I’d rather not have him fly off the handle like I did and try to be suicidally stupid like I was…”

“Well, can’t keep a secret forever you know…” Shining replied before walking off. “Anyways, I gotta get back to the Empire. Things to do, and defenses to fortify. Dai-Shocker may strike there for all we know.” he said, before teleporting away in a pink flash of light.

“So...” Spike glanced around, putting his hands behind his head. “What do we do now?”

“Well,” Jindrax said as he drew his knives. “I could spar with you, if you like…”

Spike grinned, cracking his neck. “You sure about that?”

“Let it never be said, I was one to pass up a challenge!” Jindrax replied, with a smirk as he twirled his knives in his hands. Of course, while everyone’s attentions were on them, nobody noticed Twilight teleporting herself off the Animarium…

Down in Ponyville, Twilight found herself wandering the streets of the small Maine situated town. She could see the high hills of Canterlot rising in the distance, and to the south saw the massive Everfree Forest stretching over one hundred miles. One hundred miles of good timberland, and untamed wilderness.

“I wonder if there's a world where ponies actually tamed the Everfree,” she mused, putting her hand on her chin. “I suppose the better question is if I’d ever see one.”

She could see Sunset’s house at the end of the street, styled a bit like the Taj Mahal, with a giant version of her Cutie Mark on top of the building, with a curved ramp leading up to the top floor. Presumably, there were stairs inside the building as well leading up to that floor.

Twilight smiled, it was nice to see a universe where Sunset had done well for herself in Equestria, and not just turned and ran for the human world. She smiled, Sunset, a Alicorn Princess. Twilight felt a surge of pride rush through her. Even if this wasn’t her Sunset, it still made her happy to see a version of her friend/student do well for herself.

“Who’d have thought she’d be a Power Ranger?” Twilight giggled to herself. “Suppose that's not anymore out there than me being a Rider.”

It always amazed her how different universes could be. She shivered, recalling the corrupted monster her counterparts had been in the Mondo universe. A scowl worked its way across her muzzle, her thoughts turning to Midnight.

Whispers filled the streets, as Royal Guards walked on patrol, spears in hand. Twilight presumed that it was because of all the recent monster attacks, but she then heard the whispers. Same as in Canterlot, they went about insulting humankind and how it was a good thing Princess Celestia killed them all off. Twilight’s fists clenched, smoke pouring from her nostrils. How dare they? How dare Celestia call herself a Pinnacle of harmony after killing a whole race. She threw her head back, unleashing a torrent of purple fire.

This of course, caught everyone’s attentions, including Sunset’s, who rushed out of her home muttering “Whoo boy…” under her breath. She should have known this would happen sooner or later, one of the Riders finding out about what Solar Flare did over 3,000 years ago.

Sunset grabbed Twilight by the shoulders, and quickly hissed out: “Calm down, now! You’re making a scene!” as she pointed to the guards, who now had their spears trained on Twilight.

Twilight growled, her eyes contracted into slits. “Calm down?! You want me to be calm?! Please, in Faust's good name, tell me how you want me to be calm?!”

“I… I don’t know, but there’s more to this than you know, more than the public knows,” Sunset explained hurriedly, her voice a whisper. “It’s complicated. Let’s just say you can’t take everything said about Celestia at face value.”

Twilight pulled away, her chest heaving. “I have to talk to Wyatt.” Spreading her wings, she took to the sky quickly vanishing from sight.

Sunset let out a small “Crap!”, before reaching for her Growl Phone and dialing Robert’s number to warn him what was coming his way.

Twilight landed herself on the Animarium, and almost at once went to find Wyatt, brushing past Jindrax, who let out a loud “Hey!” in offence, but when he saw the look on the Princess’s face, he quickly and rather wisely moved aside lest he be burnt to ash.

“Twi?” Wyatt asked, rising to his feet. “What's got you so upset?”

“She killed them, Wyatt!” Twilight growled, seething with rage. “All of them! She wiped humanity off this world like insects!”

Robert watched from behind a tree, and muttered “Oh Fuck…” to himself. He’d got the message from Sunset, but he knew this was going to be ugly all the same if reason wasn’t talked into Twilight.

“Twi, you need to calm down,” Wyatt spoke, stepping closer to her. “We’re not here to deal with that, we’re here because of Dai-Shocker.”

“And that means we’re going to let her get away with it?!” She demanded, wings flaring out. “No way in Tartarus, Wyatt!”

Grabbing her shoulder, Wyatt stared into her eyes. “You need to calm down, okay? The idea of Celestia killing off humanity is insane but you have to calm down!”

“I assume you ran into Sunset-Chan?” Robert asked. “If so, she should have probably explained that there’s more going on here than meets the eye.”

Once again, he fingered where the corrupted Solar Cell Morpher used to be in his pocket.

“There's no excuse!” Twilight hissed, flames escaping between her teeth. “What she did is unforgivable!”

Robert took a few nervous steps back. “Listen, I’ve been there. But going up and attacking Celestia herself, assuming you get past Luna, is crazy! Stupid even, you’d basically be signing your own death warrant!” he told her, thinking back.

"For the record, I'm so sorry for what's happened to your kind." Princess Shayla said softly from behind him and Robert whirled around to face her.

"If you were truly sorry, you'd let me go down to Earth and do what must be done." Robert growled out.

"And if you did that, what would be the result?" Shayla asked him firmly. "Death and the total extinction of humans on Earth?"

"Well, at least I'd die for my beliefs and show that bitch what the human race can do when they really try. Hell, even if she kills me I'd be the one with the last laugh." Robert chuckled darkly. "But I can handle her. She's just an arrogant bitch who needs to be put in her place."

Princess Shayla didn't like the way he was talking. His arrogance and foolhardy courage, it hid another emotion. Despair, a despair deep enough to do something suicidal.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot let you leave." Shayla stated and Robert took a fighting stance.

"Well... If that's the case then I'll have to go right through you if needed." Robert told her and Princess Shayla took out a Crystal Saber of her own, a green crystal inside it with a little bird inside that.

"I've had multiple Orgs try and kidnap me before and in every case succeed, did you really think after four attempts I wouldn't have learnt how to defend myself?" Shayla asked and even as Robert charged at her and threw a right cross, Shayla grabbed ahold of him by the arm and threw him behind her. Robert picked himself off the ground and tried a flying kick but Shayla raised her Saber and blocked the kick before kicking Robert in the stomach and sending him flying backwards into a tree.

“Not as long as I have this!” She displayed one of her rings. “She couldn't stop me if she tried!”

“Want to bet?” Robert asked. “How do you go up against someone who’s a physical goddess?”

“By being a goddess yourself,” Twilight retorted, giving her wings a flap. Then, the Deer Zord appeared from over a small hill, and his antlers glowed with a fine gold mist, before Twilight found herself restrained in magical chains, not unlike Shayla had ordered the Zord to do to Robert not too long ago when he was in this situation. Question was, would it hold Twilight? A human was one thing, but a Rider Alicorn?

Twilight roared, struggling to bring her ring to her belt. “Let go of me!” The WizarDragon watched, hovering in the sky above. Robert looked ready to summon the Red Dragon if needed.

“You are still very much a hatchling, Twilight Sparkle,” it rumbled, peering down at her with dark purple eyes. “It seems you are not as in control of your anger as we thought.”

Robert wiped the sweat off his brow in relief, that was a battle he wanted to avoid to say the least. Then, his phone rang, and he quickly answered it.

“Hello?” he asked. “Wait, Sunset, is that you?” he continued, barely able to hear her voice over the clamor of what sounded like a mob.

“Yeah, it’s me… We sorta have a situation here. Mob’s blaming us for the Org attacks... again.”

“I’ll be right down, don’t you worry!” Robert replied urgently, remembering what happened last time Sunset faced off with an angry and fearful mob, and his breathing started to get heavier and his heart beat a little faster as he started to panic.

“No, don’t. Last thing we need is you coming down here and making things worse and riling them up further. I can handle this!” Sunset told him firmly before hanging up.

“Goddamnit!” Robert swore. “No way in Hell am I letting her deal with that alone, Princess of Empathy or not! Last time this happened, she ended up in trauma and nearly died!”

“I'll go,” Spike spoke up, stepping into view. “I don't know Sunset all that well, but I don't leave my friends hanging.”

“Same, screw what Sunset has to say. No way in the Nine Circles of Hell am I leaving my marefriend to deal with an angry mob!” Robert snarled, sounding almost like a protective mate. He turned to Spike. “I assume you can teleport… somehow? Only way you can leave the island. Sorta miles in the sky and all…”

Spike reached into his pocket, holding up a trio of red medals. “I know what I’m doing, Orange Boy.” Placing them into his driver, he gestured with his head. “You might wanna step back.”

Robert took the suggestion and took a few steps backwards. Spike scanned the medals, taking in a breath.

‘Taka! Kujaku! Condor! Tajadol~’ In a blaze of fire, the belt covered Spike in red and black, phoenix themed armor. Six energy wings sprouted from his back, which he used to take to the sky.

Robert meanwhile, just turned into an orange column of light and teleported down to Ponyville…

Back down in Ponyville, Sunset had found her house barraged by a mob or angry, and fearful ponies who shouted all sorts of things, blaming her and Robert, and Wyatt for bringing Goldar to Canterlot, to the break-in at Canterlot Castle and Galaxy’s injuries and even the recent Org attacks.

It went against all logic, Sunset knew, but she also knew ponies could do stupid things when they were scared. And from firsthand experience at that.

“Hey! Knock it off!” Spike shouted, breathing a bit of fire from behind the crowd as Robert ran up from behind him. “The heck is wrong with you guys?”

“No!” one pony shouted, a stone grey stallion with a white mane bearing a dumbbell for his Cutie Mark on his heavily muscled arms. “I should be asking what the Hell is wrong with you, Dragon, defending her, when her boyfriend has brought nothing but trouble to this town! It was nice and peaceful, before he showed up!”

Sunset snarled a little at that, and her wings briefly burst into flame. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but since when has this town ever been peaceful? Remember Discord, remember Nightmare Moon? They showed up long before Robert came to town, and the Org attacks started before he came as well!”

“So, he’s still a human, and he deserves to die! Princess Celestia told us herself, about what they did, killing and raping any ponies that they came across! And here you are, defending them!” the stallion shouted, with a clamor of agreements joining his words and ponies began shouting “Down with the humans, down with Sunset and Twilight!” Spike’s nostrils snorted flame at this.

“You know who you sound like? A unicorn, complaining that the earth ponies are to blame for a famine. What’s next? Gonna blame a thunderstorm on the pegasi?” Spike demanded, poking the stallion's chest. “You know what hate gets you? A frozen wasteland, just ask Snowfall Frost or the Founders.”

“And another thing!” Sunset shouted, before she morphed, before everypony’s eyes into the Golden Phoenix Ranger. “I’ve been working for weeks on end to defend you, and this is the thanks you give us? I seem to remember, when we took out Goldar the first time, you all were asking us right and left for autographs! So what, you worship us on and off, depending on what day of the week it is?”

“You know, I just have to ask; why the hell are you people worth protecting?” Spike asked, looking between them. “I don’t see any of you rushing to each others defense. You just run and hide, expecting the Rangers to protect you.”

“Citizens of Ponyville,” another voice joined in. Princess Twilight’s. “Today I’m having to say something I never thought I would say since becoming your Princess of Friendship. Why do I bother? Not too long ago, my best friend, Sunset, was sent into the hospital and nearly died because of your racism and bigotry. So again, I ask, why do I even bother? I should just abdicate and probably let the Orgs have you if I were a weaker mare. But I won’t, I’ll just let stew in the knowledge that I believe you’ve lost what made this town great, and what this town was built on. Friendship. When did we lose that? I ask you, when? Standing before you now, I’m ashamed to be a citizen of this town. You disgust me, each and every one of you. I’m glad to see some of my friends aren’t in this mob, like Octavia, and the like, those who would willingly give up their lives to protect Ponyville, but all of you… You disgust me! Please, come back to the Ponyville I knew. The one that taught me friendship, and made me want to protect this town that I so love…” Princess Twilight pleaded, nearly in tears by the end of her speech. A few members of the mob had the decency to be ashamed, but not many.

“We can be better than this,” Sunset added. “I know it, so why aren’t we?”

A few spoke up.

“She’s right!” Octavia shouted in agreement, Vinyl silently nodding from nearby. Her disgusted, piercing glare could be seen through her glasses.

“I may never have liked Twilight, but this is disgusting, shameful even!” Trixie shouted from somewhere nearby.

“Y’all make me sick ta mah stomach!” Big Mac added in. “Now go on, get! Till y’all gain a few licks of sense!”

The mob began to disperse, but even as it did so, Twilight broke down in Sunset’s arms.

“What happened Sunset? What happened to us…?” she sobbed.

Author's Note

Okay, yes, I know the previous chapter was released yesterday, but believe me, when all three of us work, we work fast, especially when we have ideas for how the chapter will go in mind and it's the weekend to boot.

Anyways, really not much to say here, except for the ending bit. This was a scene I've been wanting to get into the story for a while now, Went through multiple variations, like with APKM Twi and Sunset chewing out the mob, with Wyatt and Robert watching, amongst other ideas, but this was the end result. Took a bit, okay a lot of inspiration from this speech that I read on TV Tropes from the Shaming the Mob page for Princess Twilight's breakdown, so credit goes where credit is due.

Citizens of Paris. Today, I am forced to say something I have never had the cause to say ever since becoming Paris’ hero: I’m disappointed in you. Just a minute ago, a woman’slifealmost ended, because she was dreading thisexact reactionfrom you. Tell me, Paris — when did this behavior become acceptable? Standing here before you now, I’m ashamed to be a citizen of Paris myself — ashamed to be your hero! Who in their right mind would want to defend a city that’s so determined to destroy itself from the inside out? When did you lose your heart, Paris? How could you act so thoughtlessly? How could you have become so cruel? This madnesshasto end. The akumatized victims have no more control over their emotions than any other citizen of Paris. To blame them for being taken advantage of is to blame them for daring to be upset, which is ridiculous.No one can control their emotions like that. And before you say something ridiculous, like they had the darkness inside them all along or something,think: how would you feel if it was someone you loved? A relative you adore? Your best friend? …What ifyou’renext? Is this how you want to be saved? Coming back to yourself, confused, scared… surrounded by angry people who have no idea what they’re talking about? I’m trying. I’m doing everything I can. But I’ll say it: I’m scared, too. Scared of what this new enemy means, of the damage he’s causing… and what we’ve become as a result. I’m scared, but I know that this is not right. Things shouldn’t be like this. I’ll always be here to protect Paris… but just because Icando it alone doesn’t mean that Iwantto. The only way I can keep going…is to know that you’re on my side. I need your support. I…I need you. Please, please don’t make me do this alone anymore. Come back. We can be better than this, Paris, and wewillbe. I’m going to get to the bottom of this, and I’m going to stop this second Hawk Moth… but I can only do that if I know that Hawk Moth’s victims willnotbe harassed for something they had no control over. I don’t judge or blame any of the victims, and neither should you. Please, let’s bring back the Paris that I love. The Paris that I’m proud to protect. Let’s be better together, Paris.

Anyways, thoughts, comments, and such are welcomed.

Part 5: Playing with Fire

Canterlot Royal Hospital

Boop. Boop. Boop. That sound was the first thing Galaxy heard when he awoke in his hospital bed. It wasn’t like the first time he’d ever heard this sound or awoke in the hospital's emergency wing bloody beyond belief and at the end of things with a few more battle scars to boast about. But, for whatever reason, when he awoke, he always hated the sound of a heart monitor.

Perhaps it reminded him of things lost, or maybe it was just that irritating of a sound. After all, a beep turning into a flatline, really, was that the last sound you ever wanted to hear as your life came to an end?

Actually, he hated the entire atmosphere of a hospital really. Too clean, too sterile, and the nurses were always much too damn cheery in his opinion. Sure, they were always trying to make you feel better, but that damn false smile when they told you everything was going to be alright even when you just knew there was a ‘but’ coming up that told you everything wasn’t going to be fine always made him sick. Really, things would be much better in his opinion if they just told you outright that you were going to have to be amputated for whatever reason. Least you got the truth outright, instead of ‘em beating around the damn bush about it.

Thankfully for Galaxy, at least this time, nothing of the sort had to be performed. At worse, he had a bandage wrapped around his chest and a few stitches on his right arm from where that Blueblood imposter had gotten in a lucky cut with that golden clad blade of his.

Well, least it wasn’t early morning and the sun wasn’t shining through the curtains. Early evening, the time he liked best, when all of his senses started to awaken themselves, and the time for a hunt was prime. Speaking of senses, his keen sense of hearing was starting to pick up the sounds of an argument. Training his ears towards the sound, Galaxy listened.

He caught wind of what sounded like the words “Fag” and other derogatory terms for ponies like him being tossed about. Galaxy’s eyes narrowed. Effin’ Canterlot Nobles and their backwards ways of thinking. They wouldn’t know progression if it danced up to them completely in the nude and bit them in the ass. And then he heard the one sound he never wanted to hear, the slurs being tossed to Sunburst who was rapidly shouting: “S-Shut up! J-Just shut up!”.

Galaxy’s eyes narrowed even further, when he realized how close to tears his mate sounded. A protective urge filled him, (As nobody, and I repeat nobody made his Sunspot cry on his watch.) and he soon found some of his strength returning. Grabbing ahold of the IV Rack with a hand -Wincing in pain as he did so- he pulled himself out of bed and slowly walked out of his room towards the reception desk, with a look of tranquil fury etched across his muzzle.

That look only became even more furious when he saw his Sunburst, who was currently being shouted at by a stallion, saying he’d wished Galaxy had died mid-operation. Would have served Sunburst’s gay ass right.

“Now, listen,” Galaxy snarled out, and the stallion looked as if he was about to shit himself as he realized who’d overheard his shouting. “Can we talk a little?” he asked, his voice growing quieter. Time to play his with prey a bit before he pounced on them. Rubbing the stallion’s chin with a finger, he smiled seductively.

“Now, you’re a fine young buck, surprised you haven’t been hit on before… Well, maybe you have, just only by the mares. Probably an interesting thing for you, being commented on your lovely appearance by a stallion eh?” Galaxy asked, getting far too close to the doctor for his liking, before his eyes trailed downwards. “Now, nice ass I gotta say. Really yummy. if I wasn’t a married, or soon to be married stallion if I have my way, I’d be shoving my dick right up that one. Ooh, you’d swiftly be changing your mind about me then, lemme tell you. Sunburst sure did, that’s for sure!” He laughed, enjoying the look of shock and rage on the doctor’s face. He also somewhat enjoyed Sunburst’s embarrassed look. That was always a joy to see, his little Sunspot flustered red as a tomato. Galaxy could go on trolling this bigot for hours, if he had the desire. But, of course, all good things had to come to an end, as Galaxy then punched the stallion across the face with a right cross and his furious look returned. He loomed over the doctor, Galaxy’s shadow seemingly covering him, with his bat wings flared outwards, and his eyes practically glowing in the evening’s light.

“Now… I don’t give two rat’s asses in hell if you call me names, or hell if you have any problems with gay marriage. But do me two favors will you?” Galaxy asked, holding up two fingers. “Keep your bigoted views to yourself, and secondly, don’t you ever berate my fiance. Ponies like you, they give ponies like you a really bad name. Now be gone. May not be in the best of shape, but I can still toss your ass out through the nearest window, understand?”

The doctor quickly got the message, and ran out of the room quite quickly. At the speed he sprinted, must have set a new world record, Galaxy mused to himself. He then sniffed the air, and his nose wrinkled as a familiar scent reached it. He soon called after the stallion, still scampering off like a wingless bat out of Hell. “Urination huh? Now that’s a fetish I can get behind, no two ways about it!” he laughed, and smirked as the unicorn couldn’t get out of the room fast enough screaming obscenities that would probably cost him his job at both Sunburst and Galaxy.

“...Assholes,” Galaxy muttered before he flashed a smile at Sunburst. “See, no damn gentleman thief in his fancy dress going to take me out of the ballpark. Going to take a hell of a lot more than some fancy pants to keep this old thestral down.”

Galaxy, almost in an instant, was practically tackled into a hug by a tearful Sunburst.

“Ow… Okay, maybe not somepony in fancy duds, but still, ease up will you? Chest hurts like a bitch…” Galaxy murmured, smiling a little.

“Sorry… it’s just if I had gotten to Canterlot quicker, you wouldn’t be here…” Sunburst sobbed into his shoulder, only to be quickly shoved away and smacked around the head.

“Now, you listen here and you listen well. Not your fault, understand? Never your fault for whatever I get myself into. My fault, and my own damn fault alone, the Bell Org was proof alone of that. Going to have to give you some liquid courage sooner or later, might toughen you up,” Galaxy berated his love. “Hell, you couldn’t have known what kind of trouble I was in understand?” he said sternly, and Sunburst let out a whimper and sniffled as he nodded weakly.

“Now, I’ll still be in care for a few days, so I want you to borrow my Dino Morpher, and kick a bit of ass with it and my Chargers in the meantime understand?” Galaxy asked. “You got that?”

“May… May have already have… Used the Dino Squash Charger on some Tengas when Goldar launched an attack on Canterlot.” Sunburst laughed nervously, and Galaxy cackled.

“That’s my little Sunspot!” he chortled, throwing his head back as he did so. “Gettin’ out ahead of me, knowing exactly what I’d want! ...Shame, no Marelot, or even a good gin. Damn stuff’s restricted round here. If I was in a better state, I’d break into someone’s secret stash…” Galaxy mused, and Sunburst stared at him in shock.

“What?” Galaxy asked.

“Marelot, really?” Sunburst deadpanned, eyebrow raised. Galaxy often wondered who patented that look. Was it Sunburst, Robert or Sunset? They all seemed to use it in equal measure.

“What, I can’t be refined? Seriously, next best thing to AB-negative blood you can get in terms of sheer class!” Galaxy exclaimed, throwing a hand up in the air.

“...You do realize AB-negative is like in only 1 percentage of the population right?” Sunburst asked slowly as he adjusted his glasses, and Galaxy only laughed harder as if this was only making the thing that much funnier to him.

Galaxy then begin to hum under his breath after giving Sunburst a quick kiss and a firm “Stay strong okay, little Sunspot?” as he walked back to his bedroom.

“Well, you've got your diamonds and you've got your pretty clothes
And the chauffeur drives your car
You let everybody know
But don't play with me, cause you're playing with fire

“Your mother she's an heiress, owns a block in Saint John's Wood
And your father'd be there with her
If he only could…” he sung.

The Animarium:

Early afternoon came, and the Twilight from Wyatt’s universe still found herself chained to a tree via the Deer Zord’s magic when she awoke, with the Zord himself keeping a watchful eye on her. Spike had stayed through the night after he’d returned from the little mob incident. He was asleep in a hammock, tail dangling lazily off the side.

“So, calmed down yet?” Twilight’s counterpart asked herself, trying not to think on how unusual this was. Here she was, talking to a younger version of herself with Rider powers, and draconic features with a temper to match.

“Yes,” Twilight responded, taking a deep breath. “I’m calm, very, very calm now.”

“Really, you’re not feeling any murderous urges?” Twilight asked. “Because last time we saw you, we did have to restrain you for a reason,” she stated, eyes narrowed.

Twilight snorted, releasing a puff of smoke. “I let my aggression get the best of me; I wasn’t even part dragon for six months before I got my wings.”

Twilight sighed, and sat herself down on a nearby boulder. “Alright, I believe you, but it’s not me you have to convince, it’s going to have to be your fellow Riders, and Sunset before they even think of letting you off this island. Spoke to Wyatt myself, and he’s not going to let you go anywhere before he believes you’ve calmed yourself down a notch…”

Twilight, even as she said this, flashed back to a few hours before.

It was early morning, the sun was just beginning to rise over the clouds and bathe the forests and lakes of the skybound paradise in its rays.

“Your Twilight… She’s quite rash, not sure I can trust her to help us deal with this ‘Dai-Shocker’ if she can’t even control her own base instincts…” Twilight sighed, as she walked down a forested path with Wyatt, evidently her counterpart’s coltfriend or whatever it would be called for him. “We had to chain her up, and the last time we had to do that to someone to keep them from doing something stupid was with Robert when he learned what happened to humanity. So Wyatt, I have to ask, can she be trusted?”

Wyatt eyed her for a moment before speaking. “Of course she can be trusted, what kind of a question is that? Just put yourself in her shoes for a moment; she has things that she’s still learning to control and a version of one of the most important people in her life did something monstrous.”

“I am putting myself in her shoes, as you put it,” Twilight replied. “But that’s the thing. Her draconic instincts, I’m worried they can’t be controlled. I’ve seen what happened when my Spike went through his growth spurt as it were. I was afraid… so afraid for the longest time it’d happen again, couldn’t trust myself to be around him, couldn’t look him in the eye for weeks, my own son! ” she whispered out in shame before nickering in self-disgust. “Some mother I am…”

It was clear this was still a sore point for her. Wyatt placed his hand on her shoulder. “Look, my Twilight is dealing with things that she wasn’t born with. Our Spike had that growth spurt too but you know; his rider powers come from greed, desire.”

“They…. They really come from simple avarice? How…?”

“Draconic Alchemy,” Wyatt answered. “Spike’s grandfather is the dragon shaman; he made the medals Spike uses from greed and the essence of animals,” Turning her towards him, he gave her a smile. “The way I figure it, you should let him embrace that part of him. Start giving him bits or things to collect. Have him get a job. It’s unhealthy for dragons, at least the ones back home, to not be a little greedy.”

“Well, he does have that obsession for old comics he inherited from my brother…” Twilight giggled a little, before she frowned a little upon thinking of her own counterpart. “But… your Twilight. Just imagine for a moment if you will, those dragon instincts of hers, what if they did overtake her base instincts, could anyone stop her?” Twilight asked fearfully.

“Yeah, Smaug, Spike, Daring, Agito, Kuuga, Maud, AJ, me.” He thought for a moment. “Maybe Trixie? Smaug wouldn’t have given it to Twilight if he didn’t think she could handle it.”

“Yeah, I suppose…” Twilight sighed, opting not to tell Robert about another supposed fictional character existing. He’d probably die of shock really. “In a way, I suppose it’s worse for me,” she commented, and Wyatt looked at her curiously.

“How is it worse?” Wyatt questioned, raising his eyebrow.

“Think about it, I grew up with this version of Princess Celestia, idolizing her like a mother, no a goddess, believing every word she said, no matter how true or untrue it was. I was a suck-up, a poor excuse for a Princess if I couldn’t tell when something was wrong. ...I couldn’t tell Celestia was suffering from a split personality problem, or a Mesogog situation as Robert put it,” Twilight replied sadly, shaking her head in shame once more. “Whoever Mesogog is… Name a ring a bell to you?”

“Yeah, he was a weird dinosaur guy who shared a body with a businessman,” Wyatt explained, nodding his head. “Had some weird plan to bring the dinosaurs back. He wasn’t all the effective at it, honestly.”

“Can’t imagine so…” Twilight laughed. “But if you believe your Twilight can control her base instincts, well…”

Princess Twilight flashed back to the present day, and stared down her counterpart. “Wyatt believes you can keep your cool, and that might be good enough for me, but what about your dragon? He seems to be your teacher, doesn’t he?” she asked curiously.

“Not in the slightest,” Twilight replied, shaking her head. “He’s an incarnation of the first Dragonlord, Bahamut. Still uncertain if he’s manifested due to the ritual or if he’s my subconscious image of him, but we’re keeping the name for him.”

“Now,” Twilight said. “I have to ask, that ring of yours… Where’d you get it, I mean, how you’d earn it? Not any scientific rationale behind my question, not begging you to teach me your secrets, but simple honest to Mystic Mother curiosity.”

Twilight glanced at her hand, a slight smile on her face. “I found the first ones in the Castle of the Two Sisters. They were made by Clover the Clever from Starswirl’s notes. Zecora’s been helping me fashion more of the stones when she has the time.”

“Wow, Clover definitely is living up to her rep once more…” Twilight breathed out in awe.

“I’m pretty sure Clover the Clever was a stallion,” Twilight corrected, giving her double an odd look. Said double ‘hmmed’ to herself.

“Nope, last I checked, history books showed Clover was a mare… Constants and variables I guess…” Twilight trailed off.

Twilight groaned. “Please don’t. That’s not how the multiverse works at all. Trust me, I’ve seen it.”

“Remind me to have a talk with those ponies with the bird and the cage Cutie Marks,” Twilight muttered, getting a headache and rubbing her temples. “They seem pretty sure of themselves on that matter…”

Twilight gave her double a very long stare. “There’s a universe out there where Rainbow Dash is an Earth Pony fashionista who lives in a place called Ponyland. Constants and variables are not a thing.”

“We never tell this Rainbow, or yours about that one, agreed?” Twilight asked her counterpart. “...No, strike that, we tell her, just for the reaction,” she smirked. “And then we tell Rarity.”

Her counterpart returned her smirk. “Wyatt always has a camera so he can take a picture of her reaction for you,” She shifted uncomfortably in her chains. “Now, can I get out of these chains? I’ve been attached to this tree all night and I really have to use the bathroom.”

Twilight groaned, as she could have gone without knowing that, but all the same she looked up to the Deer Zord. The Wild Zord nodded, and released the chains from Twilight’s counterpart as his antlers glowed with a fine golden mist once more.

With a quick thank you, the other Twilight rushed away, waddling with her legs crossed in a frantic search.

“...I could have gone my whole life without seeing that.” Twilight muttered to herself, before teleporting off, she had other matters to attend to. A few hours later, a crowd had gathered in front of the Golden Oaks Library where a microphone and a podium had been set up. Twilight had called everyone to her home for a town meeting. Soon, she emerged, with a determined expression on her face.

Twilight tapped the tip of the microphone, ready to give Ponyville a sound education. After Celestia had opened up her personal library, Twilight had dug into it eager to learn of the planet’s past, and one book in particular she found so shocking, because it struck so close to home nowadays.

“I’d like to tell you a little story Ponyville,” Twilight snarled, her voice as hard as steel catching everyone off guard for the second time in the past few days. “And maybe teach you a lesson. I’ve been reading a human book recently, want to know what it’s called?” she asked in a mock-sweet tone.

“What?” a random pony asked.

“To Kill a Mockingbird.”

“Oh great, you’re reading human books on how to ki-” a pony commented before quickly being cut off.

“Shut up!” A certain showmare’s voice echoed from somewhere in the crowd. “Let her speak! The Great and Powerful Trixie is actually interested in what Twilight has to say for once!”

“The story, as it goes, is about prejudice and the destruction of innocence. The mockingbird, symbolizes things that cause no harm whatsoever. Ironic really, considering what goes on in the book. Actually, two of the book’s leads are associated with the bird. One of them, a human, is put on trial for a horrendous crime, but here’s the thing… he’s completely innocent. Now,” Twilight asked the populace. “Why would a man be put on trial because he’s innocent?”

The crowd murmured amongst themselves, searching for an answer. Flitter was the first to come up with a good one. She shouted: “Because he’s been framed!”

“Yes, and also… because he’s black. Not of the same race as the white-skinned humans. Sound familiar?” Twilight asked. “Because, if it does, good for you! The book goes on, and the character is found guilty solely because of his skin color, and solely because others deem him a lower being!” she shouted. “The other mockingbird, a character deemed at the start to be dangerous, insane and generally untrustworthy, when in fact nobody knows anything at all about him, and he actually saves the life of a little girl!

“For the past few months, I’ve watched sickened, as we’ve treated Robert Williams, and now Wyatt the same way because of the words we now know to be completely false! Wyatt, he helped stop a monster in Canterlot not too long ago, and Robert, he’s stitching away in Carousel Boutique doing nobody any harm in the world at all! We’ve presumed they are nothing but bloodthirsty savages when in fact, they’re generally very nice people unless you treat them as otherwise. I’m amazed neither of them have gone insane by this point, considering how we as a species have been acting towards them. Did you know, last time I met up with some delegates from Saddle Arabia, they were intent on giving Equestria a wide berth just because of what we’ve said about humans for the past 3,000 years!” Twilight continued. “Do you know what that means? Possible alliances with powerful nations, not just Saddle Arabia, damaged, just because of propaganda we’ve been spreading!”

With that, Twilight marched off the stage, head held high as she was greeted with a stunned silence. In the crowd, a white pegasus mare with a pink mane wearing a sleeveless dress that exposed her sun Cutie Mark watched as Twilight retreated into her home, and smiled. Maybe now times would start to change, and there was nothing anyone, not even her dark half could do about it. It would take a long while, yes, but repairs to the human race’s reputation would continue. She started things with her own speech to the nation, and now Twilight had picked up the torch.

The Nexus:

Far below the earth, Thrax mused upon his recent alliance with the beings known as Lord Drakkon and Somber Shield.

“Goldar!” he ordered, and like a dog coming to his master, the armored baboon-like being strode into the room, mind you with much more dignity. “I need your opinion. How… trustworthy do you think our new ‘friends’ are?”

“I wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them,” Goldar replied, stopping in front of the throne. “Neither of them seem like the sharing type; I bet they’re plotting to take this world for themselves.”

“Yes, and there’s only room for one world conqueror on this planet, and it isn’t them,” Thrax growled out. “We’re being played for fools, played like fiddles in their minds I suspect. But I’m no fool. Nobody just offers up power without expecting something in return. If you want something, you have to give something else up first, something of equal value, and in our case, that’s our positions of power. Soon as we become useless to either of them, we’re going to be thrown out like yesterday’s trash,” Thrax mused, never once raising his voice during the entire thing. “Goldar, while I admit those Troopers that we were provided were… useful up to a point as a good test of what he has to offer, I’m not really all that impressed with them beyond that. I think it’s time we make use of those Inves, and soon. Hopefully, they’ll be more valuable in the field. Send some to Twilight’s home, see what they can do. I wonder… Can Princess Twilight, propagator of Friendship, handle creatures from another dimension?” he mused aloud, before chuckling darkly to himself. “Dai-Shocker thinks they’re using us, we’ll use them instead. They’re playing with fire, and I intend to see that they get burned.”

Back on the Animarium, Robert sought out Wyatt. He knew Wyatt wasn’t telling him the full story about Dai-Shocker, every detective sense of his was going into overdrive, screaming out alarm bells. Eventually, he did find Wyatt in the clearing Shining and Jindrax had been using earlier as an impromptu dojo, going through a series of martial arts moves, or katas.

“You want to spill the beans?” Robert asked, from behind the young teen. “I’m not an idiot, I know when someone’s not telling me the full story. I was a Police Officer you know, before all of this. What are you not telling me about Dai-Shocker?” he asked lowly, his eyes narrowing.

Wyatt didn’t stop his movements, his breathing remaining steady. “Trying to catch me off guard and make it easier to catch me in a lie?” the teen asked, not turning around. “Good attempt, but the Shining Armor of my world already used it when grilling me about dating Twilight.”

“Oh, you are good…” Robert smirked, before that faded. “But all the same, I don’t like being played for a fool. There’s still something you’re holding back from me, something you think will scare me if I knew. If any of the Rangers knew.”

“Alright, let me start by asking you a question first,” Wyatt replied, snapping off a quick kick. “Is the name Tommy Oliver familiar to you?”

“Stupid question, of course I know the name. Any Ranger worth his salt does,” Robert commented, before his eyes widened in sharp realization. “Wait, you’re not telling me that…”

“One of the members of Dai-Shocker is a version of Tommy that stayed evil,” Wyatt finished for him. “Calls himself Lord Drakkon, wields a fusion of the White Tiger and Dragonzord powers and conquered his world.”

“Should have guessed as much,” Robert muttered and Wyatt was surprised at how calm he was. Perhaps the shock hadn’t fully set in yet. “There’s always an evil double of someone out there somewhere in the multiverse. Hell, wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an evil version of us out there.”

“Think they follow Star Trek logic and have goatees?” Wyatt asked, turning on his heel to rub his chin for effect. “Because I’m thinking the clean-shaven look is best for me.”

“Cute,” Robert commented. “Trying to deflect, use jokes to keep me from freaking out. Well, guess what, I’ve reached freaking out. Just how dangerous are we talking here, what does Lord Drakkon have at his beck and call?”

“An army of what he calls, Ranger Sentries,” Wyatt started, dropping his act and fixing a serious look at Robert. “Most are based on the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Coins but he has Samurai and Zeo Sentries too. Not to mention a crazy loyal version of Kimberly called the Ranger Slayer.”

“Can’t have Tommy without Kimberly…” Robert muttered. “What else?”

“He killed Jason, Billy, Ninjor, Zordon, and Alpha,” Wyatt added, (Robert looking as if he was about to be physically sick at this point) running a hand through his hair. “And he might have killed the Alien Rangers. I haven’t seen any sentries with their powers, so for all I know, they might have escaped.”

“And you think he’s coming here next?” Robert asked.

“You tell me,” Wyatt questioned. “What was in the Canterlot Vault that Lupin, and by extension, Drakkon would want their hands on?”

“Daggeron's old morpher…” Robert muttered, before he snarled and let out a shout of: “That bastard!” and punched a tree.

“Well, now there’s going to be Solaris Knight sentries,” Wyatt muttered, running his hand through his hair. “And if I know Drakkon, that’s just the start. He’ll come for all the power sets.”

“Well then…” Robert said, morphing into his Orion Mode with a gold flash of light and drawing his sword. “If he comes… Let the battle be joined.”

Wyatt summoned his driver, holding it up with a determined grin. “No complaints here, I’ll back you up.”

Elsewhere on the island, Twilight (From Wyatt’s universe) and Sunset sat down in the main temple to have a talk over a few drinks of Marelot.

“So, interesting differences we share, isn’t it?” Sunset asked. “I have to ask, what’s my counterpart, the one in your universe like?”

Twilight’s eyes widened for a moment and a sip of the wine went down wrong, causing her to cough for a bit. “Our Sunset? She... doesn’t live on our world anymore.”

“Oh, you mean she’s…” Sunset trailed off. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“No, I didn’t mean she died,” Twilight shook her head, taking another sip of her drink. “You were Celestia’s student before me, like here I assume. But, your ambition got out of control. When Celestia wouldn’t give you what you wanted, you broke into the forbidden section of Canterlot Library.” She paused for a moment, looking into her drink. “You were caught and Celestia expelled you.”

“Funny how things work,” Sunset mused, thinking back to her own past and how similar, and how different it was at the same time.

“You ran off after that,” Twilight continued, looking up at the sky. “You went through Starswirl’s mirror and stayed on the other side. No one saw you again until after my coronation. You came back through and stole my crown, wanting to use it’s power. The Element of Magic corrupted you, turned you into a monster.”

“Okay, minus the whole other world thing, I did go through something similar. I did get jealous of Celestia’s power, went a bit mad trying to become an Alicorn, like my counterpart, and in the end, turned into a corrupted form of the Solaris Knight after stealing Celestia’s personal morpher and trying to unseat her from her throne with it,” Sunset replied, shamefully.

“That’s a lot better than our Sunset’s plan to take over Equestria with an army of brainwashed human teenagers.” Twilight replied, giving a little giggle.

“Kinda sad really… I mean, human teenagers? If I was trying to take over Equestria, I’d use something a whole lot better, like zombies or something,” Sunset chuckled a little. “Now, if I may ask you a question?”

Twilight motioned with her hand. “Go right ahead, I don’t think I have anything to hide.”

“Okay, the whole kirin thing. Where’d you get the dragon eyes and fangs?” Sunset asked. “And the, er, temper?”

“Ah,” Twilight nodded, baring her fangs. “Well, I’m not really a kirin, I just have a bit of dragon in me. Spike found his family, not too long ago. As it turns out, his mother was a dragon named Peridot, and his father was an Earth Pony stallion named Star Dust,”

“Go on,” Sunset motioned with her hand. “So where do you tie into all of this?”

“During the dragon migration, Spike found his grandfather, Smaug,” Twilight explained.

Sunset spat out her drink right then and there, in a classic spit take motion. “Wait, Smaug as in: “My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!” That one?” Sunset squeaked.

Twilight gave her an odd look. “No? Smaug is the dragon shaman, he looks like Spike; except one of his eyes is blind.”

“Oh, good…” Sunset said weakly.

“Well, he did burn the nation of Minos to the ground, but that was a few centuries ago. And to be fair, they killed his clan save for his daughter’s egg first.”

“So, I assume some sort of blood adoption ritual took place?” Sunset questioned, regaining her composure.

“Exactly!” Twilight replied with a smile, putting a hand to her chest. “Smaug performed a ritual that tied my family to Spike’s clan. Everyone in the Sparkle family is like this now, even Cadance!”

At that, Sunset finally fainted having had too many shocks in one day.

“Guess she can’t handle her wine,” Twilight noted, taking Sunset’s glass and placing it in front of herself.

Golden Oaks Library:

Later that night, (Princess) Twilight had set herself back to work on the mysterious Sengoku Driver she’d obtained from one of those Kurokage Troopers, or more accurately, stole from the Canterlot Royal Guard’s Lock-Up. This was her latest personal pet project, and one she was determined not to fail. Considering what the Rangers had been facing as of late, a little extra help of the Masked Rider (She’d did a bit of study into Neighponiese, and learned the meaning of Kamen and Henshin) probably would be a boon to them… right? After all, if Sunset’s theories were right, Goldar’s newfound help was only the tip of the iceberg, and she knew Wyatt and company, pleasant as they were couldn’t stay forever. Had their own universe to get back to and defend along with their own lives to live.

Breaking into a Royal Guard building, not something Twilight had ever thought she’d be doing in her lifetime, really. But, here she was, doing just exactly that under cover of darkness. Sure, there was a chance of being caught, and Twilight had never done anything stealthy in her lifetime whatsoever but the benefits outweighed the dangers. She was tired of being shoved to the sidelines whenever a monster attacked Ponyville. Supposed she was taking a leaf out of Rainbow Dash’s book and doing something mind-blowingly stupid, and completely rash.

But, she’d seen the power those armored troopers the being known as Goldar had under his command possessed. If she could obtain one of those belts, -or Drivers as she heard them referred to by the Royal Guard, probably due to the similarities of the belts her Rider counterpart and her Spike possessed- then she might just have a chance to defend Equestria from Thrax’s forces at last.

Now, the first and foremost problem, avoiding the guards. Now, she’d kept an eye on their movements around the lock-up’s main vault, and had timed them. Every 30 seconds, which wasn’t a long time- they’d halt in their march, before turning around and marching the other way. If Twilight could slip between these patrols while they weren’t looking into the vault, she could nab the Driver and get out. Of course, Twilight wasn’t completely stupid. She’d looked up a spell just for this situation that would help her along the way.

Twilight mentally counted off the seconds in her head, and when the guards halted, she ran for the vault and quickly dashed inside. Once she was inside, her horn glowed slightly and if a guard were to even peek inside, they’d think they saw something for a brief moment, but continue looking past her.

Of course, the trouble was breaking into one of the cases that held the Drivers and nabbing it without anypony seeing or setting off the alarms. Pulling out a piece of dried bubblegum from her dress pockets (Twilight groaned in disgust at this) she quickly made a magical construct of a knife, and slid it under the case ever so slightly before replacing the knife with the gum. That would keep the button that sounded the alarm from going off, now that there was a weight that matched the glass case on it. Now, that was the tricky part done. Lifting off the glass case, she grabbed the driver, and opened up a small portal to a pocket dimension (Another tricky spell Twilight was proud of herself for learning) and stored the driver in it. With a quick purple flash, she was gone. Before she left however, she smirked a little and commented: “Not as hard as I thought it’d be…”

However, what she hadn’t counted on, and in hindsight, should have thought about, were the teleportation detection spells placed in the room. That was how Shining would later find out about this theft, via magical signature alone. Wasn’t Captain of the Royal Guard for nothing after all.

Back in the present, Twilight continued to work late into the night via candlelight only at her desk. Various unfinished Dino Chargers lay nearby, including a silver one with the face of the Super Megaforce Silver Ranger on it. Nearby lay the Squash, Blaze, and Fusion Chargers. Somehow, these Drivers were connected to someone’s personal signature or their DNA, meaning that once you put on one of these Drivers, only you alone could use it. That could be a problem… That was, if you were anypony other than Twilight. Snipping the connection between this driver she’d obtained and it’s former user was a simple matter. Envisioning the connection between the person and the Driver as a string, she envisioned a pair of scissors in her mind and snipped the string.

“Now…” Twilight thought. “Just gotta put this on myself…”

Attaching the belt to her waist, a yellow band appeared and strapped it to her. Grabbing the Lockseed that came with the belt, themed after a pinecone (Was that even a fruit, Twilight wondered.) of all things, she smiled.

“Now, at last it’s my turn to morph…” Twilight said, before shouting “Henshin!” as she placed the Lockseed into the belt in a perhaps needlessly overdramatic fashion, and sliced it open with the small cutting blade. To her surprise however, nothing happened.

Twilight blinked in confusion for a moment, before she let out a mutter of “No, no, no, no, no, no!” as she realized by severing the connection between the Belt and it’s former user whoever he or she may have been, she broke the Lockseed as well.

Swearing quietly, Twilight tossed the seed away into the darkness, it hitting the floor with a small clattering sound.

Twilight let out a groan as her head hit the desk, and muttered: “Now what do I do…?” to herself as she placed her face in her hands. Behind her, a zipper appeared in midair, and slowly unzipped itself to reveal an entrance to a strange forest.

Twilight heard the sound, and her eyes widened at what she saw. “...The Hell?” she asked, and throwing caution to the wind, stepped into the crack and into the misty forest. Like some otherworldly kudzu vine, maroon fruits covered the trees all around her and strange curled up purple blooms littered the damp, wet ground as strange growls came from all around her and bushes ruffled. All in all, Twilight felt she should not be here. She ran for the exit, only to find it closing up behind her.

“Frak, frak, and more frak…” Twilight muttered, before the researcher, the curious side of her came out to play and she began to think to herself. “Now, if there’s a way in, there has to be a way out. That crack opened at random, so chances are more will open sooner or later at random intervals. Just got to wait things out and when the next crack opens, jump through it back home!”

Twilight whimpered as another growl came from nearby. That was, if she could even survive her time in this forest…

Time passed, although Twilight didn’t know how much time. Could have been hours, could have been days. She did know one thing, however, she was getting hungry and all of those fruits were oftly tempting, dangerous as they looked.

Reaching out for a fruit, and ignoring the growl coming from behind her, she was surprised when it changed its shape into another Lockseed, this one with a banana on it.

Then, the growling increased in volume as several gray, insect-like creatures stepped out of the bushes, fangs bared. Twilight looked at the Lockseed, and then her belt, knowing what she had to do.

“Henshin!” she shouted, slamming the Lockseed into her Sengoku Driver, and slicing it open. To her surprise, she soon found herself covered in silver chainmail, with red detailing. “Lock On! Banana!” the belt seemingly shouted, as a zipper opened up and a metal banana slowly floated down towards Twilight, before opening up and transforming her into a crimson and yellow European knight-like warrior holding a jousting lance. “Come on! Banana Arms: Knight of Spe~ar!” the belt shouted, with the sound of trumpets accompanying it.

Spinning the lance around in her hand, gripping it and getting a good feel for the weapon, Twilight charged into battle against the creatures. Impaling one, she then tossed the dying Inves into one of it’s fellows. More were to come out of the woodworks however, and Twilight knew she had to do something fast.

Slicing down on the cutting blade several times, Twilight -As the belt shouted “Banana Sparkling!”- thrust the lance into the ground, and several energy bananas manifested and skewered the remaining Inves who went up in fireballs.

“Yes, yes, yes!” Twilight cheered, looking decidedly ridiculous as she bounced up and down like a happy filly in her armor. “I finally blew up some monsters!”

Twilight then, on another bout of curiosity, wandered over to another tree and grabbed another fruit off of a vine, seeing what she could grab this time. This Lockseed seemed to be themed after a mango, judging from it’s appearance.

“Hmm, wonder what else this forest has to offer…?” Twilight thought, putting the new seed into a pocket dimension for convenience’s sake and continuing onwards, plucking various fruits off the trees as she went.

Author's Note

Whoa nelly, never imagined the next chapter would be this long, but with so many things needing to be discussed, such as Twilight's draconic features, Wyatt revealing the truth about Drakkon and Twilight shaming Ponyville along with her finally becoming Armored Rider Baroness for the first time, I suppose it had to be a long one.

Next time, the invasion begins! Now, you know the drill by now, comments, thoughts, and critiques are welcomed.

Part 6: Day of the Drakkon

It started off like any other night Sunset supposed, as she locked blades with a Red Tyrannosaurus Sentry, letting out a battle cry as she did so. Well, normal as it got for Ponyville these days.

Kicking the Sentry in the stomach, she then elbowed her/him in the visor, cracking it and making the red-armored warrior stagger back a bit. Nearby, she heard Applejack’s Sengoku Driver call out: “Soiya! Pine Arms! Pulperize and destroy!” and watched as the Rider’s twin swords were replaced by one Hell of a chained frail which she swung around before kicking the frail into a -Ironically enough- Samurai Sentry.

Sunset took a glance skywards, and saw the purple dome that covered the entire town, all the way from the south end that dwelled the Everfree to the north where beyond, lay the mountain passes that hid Canterlot. Sunset silently thanked… Well, to be honest, she didn’t know who to thank but she did it anyways for putting this up. She knew after Ponyville fell, Canterlot would probably be next on the agenda for Dai-Shocker and Thrax’s combined forces.

After Ponyville fell. Those words rang out on her mind, and Sunset gripped her sword tighter. Not if she had anything to say about it. Watching as the Tyrannosaurus sentry whipped out a staff, with a blade on either end, Sunset sighed.

“Just a glutton for punishment aren’t you?” she thought as she charged back into battle...

World of the Coinless, a few hours before…

“So, is the new armor ready?” Kimberly asked, quite impatient. A Pterodactyl and a Mastodon Sentry flanked her, weapons ready. While the Pterodactyl Sentry carried a sniper rifle, the Mastodon carried what looked to be an assault rifle, that fired lasers that could be set to stun, or kill. “I swear, those Samurai Rangers had better have been worth it, for all the trouble and resources we went through to get their Samuraizers…” she grumbled.

Nearby, she’d overheard chatter of the Hyperforce incident, as it’d been called from some of the troops. Kimberly smirked under her helmet, that bitch Scorpina, while foolish, had yielded results by finding Serpentara even if she did plan to go off on her own and destroy the western seaboard and rule her own little patch of land.

Personally, she admitted, those new rangers, while foolish to think they could take Lord Drakkon on, were helpful. They did play a part in recovering the ancient War Zord after all. Mind you, problems were persistent in getting the massive dragon which her Lord intended to be his flagship online. First of all, there was the power, which seemed to run out quite quickly. A lot of it just went into getting Serpentera into the air. If this thing was going to be used, that problem had to be solved, quite quickly.

“I wonder…” the Ranger Slayer thought to herself. “That new Power Set Lupin discovered, the one that seems to run off of those battery-like Dino Chargers, could it be the key to our problems?”

Noting to bring the idea up to Finster Five later, Kimberly -Probably out of sheer boredom and impatience- continued to listen in on the Sentry chatter.

“Hey,” one of the Gold SPD Ranger sentries (Often taking the role of battlefield commanders) asked to one of his fellows. “You heard about Zedd and Rita’s marriage on the Galactic Battlenet?”

The Battlenet was currently Lord Drakkon’s personal news source/Propaganda spouter for the galaxy at large, and every planet had a station to broadcast it from, from Earth, all the way to the fringes of the universe to planets like Mirinoi and Edenoi.

“Yeah, still can’t believe they got hitched,” another SPD sentry responded. “She’s the shrillest person I’ve ever met in my life.”

His friend nodded in sympathy and understanding.

“Oh, you’re telling me…” the other responded as he began rubbing his head in memory, probably a phantom pain “I can still remember the “I’ve got a headache!” screeching she always did. Gave me headaches myself, ironically.”

“Still can’t believe we failed to get both the Power Sets for the RPM and SPD Rangers first time 'round,” another Sentry, a Samurai based one, joined in grumbling under his breath. “Really, Drakkon’s robot duplicate getting smashed to pieces by a teenage doctor, and our forces getting decimated by the second-choice SPD team.”

“Second choice, second best.” the first SPD Sentry added, in an eerie uncanny echo of Cliff, AKA A-Squad Green.

“So, when do we ship out, to that new universe Dai-Shocker discovered?” the Samurai Sentry asked. “Does anyone have any clue? I’m getting bored here…”

“When Drakkon gives the orders, that’s when.” the Ranger Slayer stated, all three Sentries standing at attention and saluting. “It’s only a matter of time…”

As if to answer the question of when that time would be, with a hiss of steam, the doors to Finster Five’s lab opened with a hiss of steam, and out stepped Lord Drakkon, newly armored and with more power than ever. The chest shield was slimmer with a pyramidal look for the shoulder guards. The icon on the chest itself had changed: two branches converging into an arrowhead. At his side was a thin-bladed katana with a white sheath.

The Zeo Sentries, along with a few others, actually showed a rare moment of being completely stunned, and weapons clattered to the floor in shock at the sight of their Lord’s new armor.

“Pick up your weapons,” Drakkon ordered in disgust, stepping over to Kimberly. “Finster Five is already working to make more samurai sentries. I want you to choose who will make up the core of the new Solaris sentries.”

“Sir, Commander Thace is already working on handpicking his best of the best for this, and I’ll be hand-picking some of my own men for the transfers,” one of the Zeo Sentries said, referring to Thace of the Tyrannosaurus corps. “So, I assume your power merge with the Samurai powers was a… success?” he asked carefully.

Drakkon glanced over his shoulder, balling a fist. “You will speak when spoken to, sentry.”

Getting the hint, the Sentry very quickly shut up.

Drakkon stepped forwards, and walked down the halls with his Ranger Slayer and Sentries in tow towards his throne room. Passing by the throne, two Sabertooth Sentries standing at attention, he walked towards the balcony and looked out on over his kingdom.

Burning green lights lit up the courtyard below, where hundreds upon hundreds of his loyal soldiers awaited, and mecha along with airships were being prepared for battle. Drakkon raised his arms as he prepared to address the nation, Kimberly by his side.

“My loyal soldiers, we gather once more to bring the glory of our unity to another world. Another set of rangers pretending to be heroes.” Lowering his arms, he stared out at the assembled army intently. “These pathetic rangers protect a tyrant, who wiped their native humanity from the face of the Earth. We will not let this stand; their wretched society will fall beneath our boots!”

The soldiers raised their various weapons and roared in approval as various airships took to the sky piloted by the Mastodon sentries. Several White Rhino sentries, aside from using their standard mecha, piloted Tuliphopper Lock Vehicles on loan from Dai-Shocker. Finally, Sabertooth sentries took control of hover-tanks.

“Now…” Drakkon said, unsheathing his blade and raising it skywards. “Let the reclamation… begin!” and was greeted with more roars of approval. He then turned to Kimberly. “Ready the Gravezord, if worst comes to worse, we’ll use it to grind these “rangers” beneath our boots. Now, if you excuse me, I have a certain unicorn to contact…”

Drakkon made his way to another chamber, and pressed a button that brought up Somber’s face on a holographic screen.

“All is prepared on my end,” Drakkon stated, physically having to force himself to bow to this… lower being who he dared call Master, gritting his teeth as he did so. There was only one ruler of him aside from Empress Rita, and that was himself. “Are you ready to contact Thrax and tell him to ready his armies for battle?”

“But of course,” Somber said, flashing Drakkon a quick, fang-filled grin. “We are ready on our end as well. But, I have one bit of news I think needs to be shared. A few of the Kurokage Troopers we’ve lent to Thrax have overheard that he suspects us of treachery.”

Drakkon chuckled. “Well, he’s no fool, I’ll give him that. Every tyrant would wisely watch his back. Even if there are no daggers to stab it,” he replied. “Any other concerns?”

“A few of those Rider pests have managed to find their way to the universe of these new Rangers,” Somber added. “Decade is among them of course as are Wizard, OOO, and Gaim. Send your forces accordingly if you wish to retrieve the rest of the power sets you seek.”

Drakkon swore quietly, under his breath but otherwise kept his composure.

“You do suspect how they got to this new universe, correct?” He asked. “I warned you from the beginning, Lupin was never to be trusted, too much of his aunt in him. After all, how else would those so-called “Rangers” gain the ability to summon Decade? Pathetic as he is, he and his Rider allies would provide an annoying nuisance that would delay me and my re-taking of Earth.”

“At the moment, I have no solid proof of betrayal from Lupin,” Somber stated, an irritated look crossing his features. “But, I share your suspicions of him. You are very wrong about how much of his aunt is in him. If he was anything like Daybreaker, he would’ve turned on us far sooner.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of Somber. Though I do not question your choices, he is still Celestia’s nephew, adopted or not. There’s far too much good in him, you would be wise to rid yourself of him.” Drakkon argued.

“A Rider is no easy thing to replace,” Somber said, crossing his arms over his chest. “But, if we catch him having a change of heart about his place in Dai-Shocker, then you can crush him beneath the foot of the Gravezord for all I care.”

Drakkon chuckled at the image of a Blud reduced to paste beneath the Gravezord’s heel. “Ah, there is another thing,” he remarked.

“Do not leave me hanging in suspense,” Somber said, waving at Drakkon to continue. “I am sure you’re itching to test out your new Samurai form,”

Drakkon smirked under his helmet, and pulled out his katana and slashed the air cutting through it with ease. He did this, all just to test the sword’s weight and balance. “Yes, it’s about Twilight. Not the one who calls herself Wizard and has that Drake waiting around on her hand and hoof like a butler, but the one from the Ranger universe.”

“Has something changed with her?” Somber questioned, quirking a brow. “I would think that she’d be beneath your notice.”

“Hardly,” Drakkon replied. “How intelligent do you think she is? How eager to prove herself, how much hero-worship do you think she has in her? Remember, you yourself said your Twilight looked up to Celestia like a mother, the little suck-up. In your own words, is that not a direct quote?”

“Hmm, I see your point,” Somber admitted, tapping his fingers against his arm. “So, what has developed?”

“Nothing yet, but I do have my suspicions,” Drakkon answered, knowing Somber wasn’t known for his patience. “Consider this, if I was that planet’s guard, I would keep the Drivers of the Kurokage Soldiers along with any of their weapons under strict lock and key would I not? But, if I were a student of a certain Princess, I would probably know enough powerful spells to break into wherever the Drivers and weapons are stored, and repurpose one for my own usage. While I don’t have confirmed proof that this has happened yet, it’s something to consider…” he trailed off.

“I will have Genm send out some of her spy drones to keep tabs on that Twilight,” Somber stated, his hand going still on his arm. “If she’s found a way to use the Driver, we’ll know. With luck, she’ll only have a Pinecone Lockseed.”

“And if she finds a way to this “Helheim” you told me about?” Drakkon questioned.

“Then we are to act under the assumption that she has an arsenal of Lockseeds at her disposal. I will have Genm send Finster-5 the data on all the non-Energy Lockseeds that we have on record. That will tell you what all of the possible weapons she could have obtained.”

“A wise choice, my liege,” Drakkon replied, once again physically forcing himself to say this. “I must end this call, I have an invasion to begin, and a world to reclaim. But one more thing, milord, I would suggest you pay another visit to Thrax to both reassure him of your loyalties, and warn him about what may be coming his way.”

With that, he ended the call. Drakkon smirked under his helmet. “Soon,” he thought. “Those Rangers will learn their place, and the tyrant sun will be dethroned.”

Wild Access Universe: Thrax’s Lair:

“Goldar, a progress report?” Thrax asked. “Did you send the Inves to Twilight Sparkle’s place of residence as I requested?”

Goldar walked into the room. “Yes, however… It seems Somber was right, they cannot be controlled. While I did open up a crack to Helheim, no Inves took the bait it seemed and spilled through to the other world. There is something more worrying, however.”

“Really?” Thrax growled lowly, rising off his throne and gripping his staff. “Tell me, what is ‘more worrying”, that plan’s failure, or me?”

“You, milord,” Goldar replied, once again in suck-up mode as Robert probably would have coined it. “However, an unprecedented variable came into play. Twilight Sparkle actually jumped through the crack, believe it or not.”

“If she were a lesser pony, I would say, as the humans call it, a dead duck. However, I highly suspect that’s not the case is it?”

“No, I watched personally, she managed to find herself a Lockseed, and become one of these Riders herself. Themed after a European knight of all things, with a Banana Lockseed at her disposal and managed to slay the Inves that were supposed to be sent after her. I would have stayed longer and see what developed, but I got the feeling something else, far more powerful than me, or even you milord was watching. There’s something about that forest that… unnerves me, as much as I hate to admit it.”

Goldar expected a blow, or even death to come for his cowardice, but nothing of the sort did.

“Yes, Somber Shield really didn’t explain much about this Helheim did he?” Thrax mused, placing a finger under his chin in thought. “I want to have words with him. Shame he’s never around when I need to talk.”

As if in response to the complaint, a distortion appeared and Somber stepped through. The armored tyrant bowed his head to Thrax, a neutral expression on his face. “Greetings, Thrax, how have my gifts been treating you?”

“They’re complete and unadulterated failures. The Kurokage Troopers might as well be cannon fodder with the Riders around, and the Inves cannot be controlled, nor trusted to do anything I desire.” Thrax replied, getting right to the point.

Somber chuckled, unperturbed by the blunt tone Thrax was taking with him. “The Riders were a small snag in our plans, that I will admit. But don’t give up on the Inves just yet. Imagine leading one or more to the heart of Manehattan. The Rangers would be forced to deal with it and you could send Goldar to enact what it is you truly desire.”

“Yes, but the problem is, getting a Inves to do what you want. They’re animals, and the only thing they think about is their next meal. Plus, I’ve already lured the Rangers away with a divide and conquer strategy once, with Goldar in the place of the Inves while I tried to take the Crystal Empire,” Thrax replied. “This, I should add, was an unmitigated disaster. The Rangers were down their leader, and even when Goldar nearly killed them, she returned stronger than ever, and what’s worse, in the Empire, your counterpart managed to fend off my forces with the help of a brand new Ranger!” he continued. “My mother and father, whenever they repeated plans, they were always failures. I do not intend to go down the same path.”

“Very well,” Somber said, waving his hand to Thrax. “I will not tell you how to enact your conquest. Though, with the arrival of the Riders, I will see if one of my generals will offer up her personal vanguards to assist you. Aside from that, we have reason to believe that the Twilight of your world is in possession of Rider tech.”

“I’m not surprised. Seeing her best friend be a hero and beat back my forces day after day?” Thrax mused. “She’d become troubled, and envious. It was only a matter of time before she did something foolish,” he continued before smirking. “Still, Alicorn or not, she’s unlikely to be that skilled in the usage of any Rider technology and I doubt she’s got her hands dirty in a real fight aside from her usage of the Elements of Harmony. And even now, those are gone from what I hear…” Thrax chuckled.

“One can never be too careful when it comes to conquest,” Somber offered, adjusting his gauntlets. “Still, I have offered my report, I will let you get back to your plotting and the Shadowbolts should introduce themselves within the hour.” Snapping his fingers, a distortion appeared in front of him. Just as he was about to step through, he turned his head to Thrax, the air seeming to get cold and heavy. “One thing before I leave; I have been nothing but cordial with you, Thrax. Raise your hand against me, and you will see what becomes of my enemies.” With that, he stepped through the ripple and left without a trace.

Thrax grimaced. “Goldar, ready our forces. We strike within the hour.”

The Animarium:

Meanwhile, the Rangers found themselves eating a home cooked dinner via Spike’s claws and Shayla’s hands under torchlight in the central temple of the Animarium.

“Seriously, you made this?” Vapor asked Spike, eating a cooked fish. Pegasi, unlike most ponies did, in fact, eat meat, given that they were half-bird. “Because man, this is good! Seriously, how have you not gone out on your own and become a chef, or at least one’s apprentice?”

Spike waved her off, though he was clearly soaking up the praise. “Aw, it’s nothing much. I’ve just read a lot of cookbooks and watched my mom in the kitchen. Besides, if I left out on my own, Twi would pudge up from too many trips to Hay Burger.” He puffed his cheeks up and held his hands out to demonstrate.

Sunset chuckled. “Sounds like her, our Twilight can’t cook to save her life! Seriously, she’s a danger to be around in the kitchen. My advice, if she cooks something, just run,” she advised. “Just do that. Her cooking is probably liable to be called hazardous waste one of these days...”

“One of us has to make sure Sombra eats right.” Spike sent a look at Wyatt and Twilight. “These two wouldn’t know how to feed a kid if it was tattooed on each other’s foreheads.”

Sunset’s eyes, along with nearly everyone else’s for that matter, pretty much bugged out of their heads. “Sorry, did you say Sombra, as in I’m obsessed with crystals Sombra and possessed your brother Sombra? How’d that come about?” she asked nervously.

“Spike had the bright idea to mix his UniSaPo medals with the magic the Crystal Heart was giving out,” Wyatt answered, pointing a thumb at the drake. “Instead of whatever the heart was gonna do, it reverted ole Smokey into a colt with no memories aside from his own name. And since dealing with Sombra was part of Twi’s test, she had the bright idea to put him in her care.”

“...Just when you thought things couldn’t get any weirder,” Robert muttered, rubbing his forehead in pain. “Great, you’re pretty much raising the Anti-Christ! Mein Gott…”

Twilight frowned. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call him that. Just because he’s an umbrum doesn’t make him evil.”

Twilight wasn’t the only one to give Robert a piece of her mind, and both Vapor and Sunset smacked him upside the head.

“Sensitivity issues…” the Princess of Empathy warned him.

“Seriously, he’s just a cute little colt,” Vapor put in, her eyes practically sparkling at the thought of playing dress up with the child Sombra. “What harm could he do?”

“Jesus, guy tries to speak his mind around here…” Robert muttered, or grumbled depending on your perspective.

Wyatt grinned, reaching into his pocket. “Cute is right. You wanna see pictures?” Holding up a camera, he shook it for Vapor Trail. The pony in question nearly squeed at the prospect.

“Yes, please!” she shouted, getting up from her chair, and brushing past Sunburst and Lightning knocking them to the ground as she ran over to Wyatt.

Tapping a few buttons, Wyatt held the camera so Vapor could get a good look at a snapshot showing Sombra on his first day of school. The colt was making himself look small and was wearing a red shirt with a black pair of shorts.

“Awwwwww…” somepony cooed, though this came not from Vapor but from Lightning. Everyone stared at her, and the pegasus just gave them a look. “What, I’m a mare too you know. I’m allowed to like cute things!”

“...Gotta be the Wild Pegasus Whiskey I had earlier, has to be getting to me…” Sunburst murmured to himself. No way in Tartarus would Lightning act like this, she was probably the rudest and uncouth mare he’d ever had the displeasure of meeting!

“Mind if I end things tonight with a song, just to soothe us all to sleep?” Vapor asked, going for her guitar.

“I’m not gonna say no to music,” Wyatt said, letting Lightning hold the camera so she could look through it. “I’ve always found it helps digestion.”

“I’d like to turn this into a career and all, but you know, Ranger duties and all…” Vapor whispered sorrowfully, as she went for her instrument. “Anyways, been studying up on older tunes and I found this. A tribute to you, Wyatt.”

“Careful, the last thing he needs is an inflated ego,” Twilight teased, leaning against the man in question. “He’s already hogging most of the space in our room.”

Vapor giggled, before she began to play.

“Looking up upon the stars,
where various sagas are shining
Just like the constellations,
only by connecting them with lines,
does a Legend begin

“Go through the dimensions flickering like auroras
And dive into that straying Parallel world

“On the road, everyone is in the midst of a journey
In order to encounter their true selves
Let’s keep on walking for now, for We’re all travelers
Everything’s spreading out right in front of my eyes

“Just when will the 9 paths ever overlap
The road will probably change
to continue into a new dawn
Bear witness to it, Journey through the Decade

“No matter how hard we gaze
into the scenery taken from beyond the lens
The truth is the thing that is projected into
the eye of our hearts…”

Vapor would have continued, but as if someone had it out for everyone, the fountain practically erupted, and everyone’s eyes widened as they knew what this meant.

“Knew he couldn’t stay still for long…” Sunset muttered. “Give a man power, and watch him play with it!” she remarked, before she heard the distinct sound of the Kitsune Blaster cocking and saw Robert standing up and pointing the weapon at Wyatt’s head.

“Before we go, someone has something to tell us, don’t they?” Robert asked, his voice an eerie calm. If you listened closely, you could detect a mix of anger, and fear in it. Same tone of voice he took with the ponies who put Sunset in the hospital a while back, actually. “Little secret they’ve been neglecting to tell us…”

Before Twilight could light her horn up, Wyatt held his hand up to stop her. “Seriously? Pointing a gun at me? Seems pretty extreme since I willingly told you everything last time we talked.”

“You’d be surprised what I’d do when I’m pissed off enough,” Robert replied, holding his ground. “Sure, you told me, but them?” he asked, gesturing to his fellow Rangers. “You know what’s likely waiting for us when we face Thrax and Dai-Shocker’s forces next, but they don’t!” he said sharply.

“Okay, my point is, they’re your teammates, which means it was your priority and responsibility to tell them, so I have to question why you didn’t when you had all day to do so.”

“I was expecting you to do it, considering it’s your little secret and all. Your little war, not mine. It just happened to spill over into my dimension. Your responsibility, not mine. This is your mess, not mine.” Robert replied, still using that sharp biting tone. “Now, about Drakkon. Will you kindly tell everyone what and who Thrax is allied with?”

“First off, it’s not a secret,” Wyatt shot back, crossing his arms. “Second, whether I was here or not, Drakkon would have come, so don’t lay that blame on me. Third, again, YOUR teammates. You should have gone straight to them and told them, not sit around waiting for me to do it when you already knew!”

“ENOUGH!” Sunset barked, grabbing them both in magical bubbles. “I don’t care whose responsibility it is, spill!”

Rolling his eyes, Wyatt sighed. “Alright, alright, I’ll just explain. I’ll probably do better than Dirty Harry over there anyway.(Robert actually looked pleased at this comparison, before Sunset shot him a glare) Drakkon is a general of Dai-Shocker. But unlike the other generals, his powers aren’t based on Rider tech. He’s a version of Tommy Oliver that stayed evil. Together with Repulsa, he took over the world and killed two of the original rangers along with Zordon. He merged the green and white Ranger powers and used the other power coins to make an army of Ranger Sentries. He’s got a god complex and wants to eliminate all other rangers in the multiverse.”

There was a brief stunned silence, before the volcano erupted.

“And you couldn’t have told us this before!?!” Lightning roared at him. “Seriously, and as much as I hate to agree with Robert, you should have told us this first thing! It would have been useful information to know!”

“Forgive me if telling you slipped my mind considering Sunburst putting a sword to my throat right off the bat, the monster attack right after, and Twilight nearly going into a rampage after learning what happened to humans in this world,” Wyatt said, giving the mare a flat look in his bubble. “It was an eventful first day.”

“What’s done is done,” Sunset said, giving Robert a pointed look as she released him and Wyatt. “Can’t change the past, but we can deal with the present, and right now that’s stopping Thrax, Drakkon and whoever the hell else wants us dead. Now, it’s Morphin’ Time!”

Soon, everyone was on the moonlit streets of Ponyville, clad in either their Ride Wear or Ranger uniforms, and greeted with a hoard of Ranger Sentries, Tengas, Putrids, Kurokage Troopers and Inves led by both Goldar and the Ranger Slayer, who Robert noted had an uncanny resemblance to Psycho Pink. Robert wondered if that was intentional.

“Right, forgot to mention the evil Pink Ranger in my second telling of the story,” Wyatt said, pulling out his blaster as a couple Tenga charged him. He fired a few shots, hitting the bird monsters in the wings and knocking them out of the sky.

“Buh-bye bird brains…” Sunset said, as she too knocked some out of the air with a blast from her horn, before leaping backwards to avoid a swing from the Ranger Slayer.

“Huh, can see why you were left out. Who’d want to speak about you?” Sunset asked as she lunged for a swing, and Kimberly simply side-stepped out of the way to avoid it.

“Aww, I’m flattered…” the Ranger Slayer said, as she went for her Bow of Darkness. “You know me as Kimberly, but I'd prefer you call me your executioner!” Suddenly, the madwoman threw a purple ball of energy up into the air, and next thing anyone knew, Ponyville was covered in a dome of dark sickly purple light. “Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide…” she mocked.

She fired her bow, and Robert and AJ jumped out of the way, with Robert looking towards the farm mare. “Please tell me you’ve got some Energy Lockseeds on you, Jimber Arms looks awfully good ‘bout now…” he remarked, firing a few shots into the Inves hoards, before slashing another across the chest with his Crystal Saber, and kicking it into some Putrids.

“Orion Mode, activate!” Robert then shouted, gaining the classic golden adornments of the Lights of Orion powered Lost Galaxy Rangers, with his Crystal Saber lengthening to a full-on blade. Impaling the sword in the ground, he knocked a few Kurokage Troopers back with a shockwave of light before swinging wide and slashing a Yagi Inves across the chest a few times, as it charged towards him like a bull. “Welcome to my nightmare!” he commented cheekily, in a callback to Goldar’s earlier taunt.

“Ah reckon Ah’ve got what yer after,” AJ said with a smirk, securing a Genesis Core to her driver. Reaching down, she pulled out a clear Lockseed that bore the image of a lemon on the front of it.

With a click, the lock opened. “Lemon Energy.” In one quick motion, AJ put the lock on her belt, clicked it shut and pushed the lever down to slice the lemon open. “Soiya!” The driver called, a lemon and orange appearing in the air from a zipper before mixing. “Mix! Orange Arms: Path of Blossoms, to the Stage! Jimber Lemon! Ha! Ha!” Applejack’s armor got heavier, the front of it being yellow while the rest was black. In her hands was a red bow that due to its size, didn’t appear capable of doling out too much damage.

“Reckon you can handle the Ranger Slayer, pardner?” Robert asked in a really bad southern accent, as he saw a couple of Mastodon Ranger Sentries heading towards them, laser rifles in hand. Letting the claw gauntlet on his hand vanish in a flash of gold light, he went for his Kitsune Blaster. “I’ll back you up as much as I can, but for right now, time for a day at the firing range!” he commented, before leaping backwards as the Sentries fired and the Orange Ranger let off a few shots of his own.

“Looks like I should show off something of my own,” Twilight commented, using her Connect ring to grab a strange item and secure it to her wrist.

“Drago Time: Start up!” the device called out, three multi-colored copies of Twilight appearing from magic circles and carving their way through the Putrids. The original Twilight quickly switched her Connect ring for her Copy, making a duplicate of her gun and firing both at the charging Ranger Sentries.

Sunburst as well, had gotten the same idea to deal with the Sentries and went for his Orion Mode as well, sending out slashes of pure black smoke at some Samurai Sentries as they clashed down a side street under the light of a lamppost, and before they could raise their blades to guard, blood spattered Sunburst’s helmet. Red, human blood.

“No… No, it can’t be…” Sunburst thought. Nobody seemed to take notice of this, not even his fellow Rangers. Sunset had her hands full with Goldar and some Tyrannosaurus Sentries, and Lightning and Vapor found themselves facing a Seiryu and Byakko Inves, respectively. The first was a humanoid Chinese dragon monster, spitting out hot blue blasts of flame, and the second was a jade green tiger monster with razor-sharp claws.

The Seiryu blew a continuous stream of flames, singing the streets and causing the two pegasus mares to keep their distance. Seeming to take advantage of their distraction, the Byakko dashed at Vapor and sliced her across the chest with its claws.

Vapor grimaced out in pain, clutching her bleeding chest but went into Orion Mode and just as the Seiryu breathed another blast of blue flame, she caught the flames with her Sword and tossed them back at the Inves making it stagger back. She let out a scream of pain and fell to the ground, Spike catching her. Lighting let out a snarl from under her blood covered visor, having just dealt with a few Tengas.

“Let me take it from here, okay?” Lightning asked. “Spike, can you handle the tiger? Hot Stuff’s all mine! Nobody does that to my sister, nobody…” she growled out, her metallic wing looking positively menacing in the moonlight. She went into her own Orion Mode with a crack of thunder, and raised her blade.

“I think I can fix this kitty,” Spike answered, removing two of his medals and pulling out two matching yellow ones. “In fact, let’s make this a regular catfight.” Slotting in the medals, he ran his scanner on the trios of medals.

“Lion, Tora, Cheetah!: La-Tah, La-Tah, La-Tora~! Tar~!” Spike’s belt sang, his armor quickly changing. His helmet had a spiky, golden mane with deep blue eyes. His arms remained the same but his chest now depicted a lion and a cheetah in the symbol. His legs had flexible yellow armor with the boots resembling sneakers.

Lightning struck with the fury of a thunderbolt, each time striking the Seiryu Inves with an electrically charged blade. Whenever it breathed out a blast of fire, Lightning either caught and sent back the blaze or dodged it outright, only to strike again. However, one strike swipe from the Seiryu Inves’ arm sent her flying back, and the monster loomed over her, poised to strike. However, a trident was soon jutting from the creature’s stomach, and as it was pulled out, the Seiryu fell forwards and exploded with Vapor standing over the remains clutching her weapon, with her other hand over her bleeding chest.

“L-Lightning, really, how many times? Charging into battle like that…” Vapor coughed out before she fell forwards, dropping her weapon which hit the ground with a clatter. Lightning caught her.

“Easy girl… You get back up to the Animarium, Shayla can take care of you. Got that?” she asked in a soft, warm tone. If anyone had been listening, they’d sworn Lightning had been replaced by a Changeling.

“G-Got it…” Vapor whispered, teleporting out as Lightning frowned.

“Down a Ranger already…” she muttered, and raised her blade to rejoin the fray. She eyed Sunset, who was going sword to sword with Goldar, and raced off to help her friend.

Spike and the Byakko circled one another, both waiting for an opening. The Byakko moved first, charging with its claws outstretched for Spike’s throat. In a burst of speed, the drake ran around the Inves and slashed at the monster’s back. Following up, he jumped at the Inves and hit it with a rapid bicycle kick.

Meanwhile, AJ and the Ranger Slayer took each other on, Sonic Arrow to Bow of Darkness as they leaped across rooftops. AJ drew back her bow, the tip of the weapon glowing with bright energy. Taking careful aim, she fired at where she thought that the Slayer’s feet would be to trip her up. Once she fired, the Ranger Slayer quickly blocked the shot with a swipe of her bladed bow.

“Where are you even aiming, hayseed?” Kimberly taunted, returning fire on Applejack.

“Ah’m just gonna pass on a smart comment,” AJ replied, quickly firing her bow to intercept the slayer’s attack. The two continued to trade shots, their attacks colliding to form a series of small explosions.

A few shots hit the Ranger Slayer in the shoulders, as Robert leaped onto a rooftop holding one of the Mastodon Sentries’ assault rifles. He fired again, and this time Kimberly (No, the Ranger Slayer, he reminded himself. This wasn’t Kimberly Ann Hart, not anymore) jumped to the left and drew back her bow. In almost the same instance, he was hit being sent flying backwards into Applejack as they tumbled onto a rooftop.

“Women, mares, all the same… They always fall for me.” Robert commented in that same cheeky tone.

“Sorry, but Ah ain’t gonna roll in the hay with a stallion that can’t hack a day on the farm,” AJ told him, pushing him off her so she could rise to her hooves.

“Sunset would kill me anyways…” Robert commented, tossing the rifle aside in disgust and pulling out his own personal weapon. “Now, I say we shut this bitch up, agreed?”

AJ removed the Lemon Lockseed from her belt, inserting it into a hole on her bow. “Now Ah’m likin’ the way yer thinkin’, sugarcube.” Energy built around the tip of her bow as she slowly lowered it to line up with Kimberly. “Ah think it’s time to put a rabid dog down.”

“Please, don’t compare her with Old Yeller…” Robert remarked. Meanwhile, he gathered up a very familiar orange mist in his hands before shouting: “Call to the Beast Inside, Free the Kitsune!” and launched a very familiar form at the Ranger Slayer, which ripped and tore into her armor with its claws.

AJ followed suit, unleashing a massive arrow that rocketed towards the injured woman. It made contact, an image of an orange and lemon appearing before an explosion erupted. Before the two could celebrate, the smoke cleared revealing that a distortion had separated Kimberly from them and prevented them from landing the final blow.

A very big distortion at that, and something massive, and monstrous now towered over the two and the rest of Ponyville to boot. Sunset looked up from her fight, and let out a low: “Oh shit…” as she saw what towered above them.

Looking like the world’s most nightmarish idea of a Megazord, the Gravezord lived up to it’s nickname, being made up of parts from all the Thunderzords. The White Tigerzord made up the main body, and legs, but it’s left arms was made of the Red Dragon’s head for a shoulder, and as an arm it’s tail. The right arm however, was made up of the Unicorn Thunderzord, with the Lion Thunderzord’s claws springing out. From the back, were fused the Firebird’s wings, and Tor’s head completed the whole ensemble.

“Oh, now that’s just wrong…” Robert muttered in both a mix of disgust, and rage. Seeing these famous Zords bastardized like this, and thrown together without any respect for the dead just made his blood boil.

“Say hello to the Gravezord, and your destruction…” the Ranger Slayer laughed from inside the cockpit as the sky went blood red, and crackled with lightning. Twin gold eyes gleamed down at them, and it was as if death himself was staring them down judging them for their crimes.

With a snarl, the remaining Rangers called out: “Wild Zords, descend!”

Author's Note

Four Words: Shit just got real.

(Oh, and in case you think we're making the Gravezord up, well... Hasn't made it's offical debut in comics yet, but I'll bet you money it will sooner or later.)

Part 7: The Gravezord

Ponyville:

Sunset looked up at the massive form above her, looming over Ponyville, eyes seemingly lining everyone up for Judgment Day.

She heard a loud screech, and saw flames hit the Gravezord in the chest, and looked behind her, to see two massive wings flapping in the storm clouds, illuminated only by the flashes of lightning. A golden avian head was briefly visible, with two green eyes.

A massive roar was soon to follow, as nine tails twisted and writhed in the smoke of the clouds and the darkness of the night, attached to a massive body with a vulpine head.

Another loud roar cut through the air, and lightning flashed in the skies as the Kitsune Zord flashed his fangs, and breathed out steam from his nostrils as he walked into the valley, ripping up the ground and the forest below. Thunder rumbled in the distance as the Zord’s throat lit up a bright orange, before the massive kaiju-sized creature fired a stream of white-hot flame towards the Gravezord, which only barely raised its sword to block the attack.

Sunset noted that the attack itself passed through the bubble, but when the Kitsune Zord tried to ram the bubble head on, it was soundly rebuffed and only given a headache for his troubles.

“Cute, real cute…” Robert thought as he knocked a Samurai Sentry away with a kick, as the Thunderbird Zord reigned down lightning bolts around the Gravezord. “We can get attacks in, but we can’t get the Zords inside Ponyville, and I doubt we can get out to get inside our Megazord cockpit.”

“Wyatt, any ideas?” Robert shouted to him over the din as the rain began to pour down. Firing a few blasts from his pistol, he took out a few Elementary Inves, hunched over insectoid-like figures. “You’re the genius here, Drakkon wise!”

Wyatt opened his card case and looking through it for a moment. “I’ve got one!” he shouted back, pulling out a card. “You remember the end of Zeo? When Trey made them all grow?”

“I’ve watched enough Ranger history videos back at SPD…” Robert said with a smirk, realizing what Wyatt might have had in mind. “Kiva?”

“What?” Wyatt tilted his head. “How the hell would Kiva help? We’re going old school here man, Showa era.”

“...Swore he was the one who could grow big,” Robert muttered. “Anyways, Showa was before I was even born, most of them! I grew up in the Heisei era! Kuuga to… well, you!”

“It’s fine.” Wyatt shrugged, before he opened his driver, slotting in his newly drawn card.

“Kamen Ride: J!” the Driver shouted as nearby, Sunset engaged a Tyrannosaurus Sentry, blade to staff. Silhouettes converged on Wyatt and his armor shifted, taking on a grasshopper motif. Two shades of green made up the armor with a red jewel resting just above Wyatt’s driver. The helmet had red, circular eyes that were divided by a series of silver ridges that ran up the center of the helmet and two small antennae that sprouted from his brow.

Striking a pose, Wyatt’s body started to stretch out until he was at least as tall as the giant robot. “How’s this for an idea?” Wyatt asked, his voice carrying across the entire town. A hot jet of flame shot past Wyatt, the Kitsune Zord firing off another attack.

“...That’ll work,” Rober commented weakly. “Just try not to get yourself scorched okay? My Zord, he doesn’t really care about things like, say, collateral damage. Habit I’m trying to get him to break.” he warned before he went back into battle, slicing his way through Putrid and Inves alike, Crystal Saber in hand. Nearby, he saw his marefriend kicking arse in all of it’s finery, her sword ablaze with hot flame as she went up against the Sentry she was dueling. Kicking the Sentry in the stomach, she then elbowed her/him in the visor, cracking it and making the red-armored warrior stagger back a bit. Nearby, she heard Applejack’s Sengoku Driver call out: “Soiya! Pine Arms! Pulperize and destroy!” and watched as the Rider’s twin swords were replaced by one Hell of a chained flail which she swung around before kicking the flail into a -Ironically enough- Samurai Sentry.

“Pineapple Squash!” the Driver called out. The Pine Iron covered the Sentry’s helmet, making him completely unable to see what came next, AKA a powerful kick to the side. Applejack recalled the Pine Iron, and activated the Squash function twice more, each time turning the kicked frail into a powerful explosive projectile weapon. Some Inves raced to fill their place, and Applejack smirked as she whipped out another Lockseed.

“Soiya! Watermelon Arms: Wrecking Ball, Big Bang!” the Driver shouted as Applejack sliced open another Lookseed, and was soon covered in what looked to be a massive watermelon. “Yoroi Mode!” the Driver shouted, as it opened up into a massive armored warrior with Applejack sitting squarely inside. The new Arms clutched a massive twin-bladed sword, which Applejack used to cut down the Inves swarm.

“There, that should give ya some breathin’ room, sugahcube!” Applejack shouted towards Sunset, who was distracted for the moment.

You see, Sunset had taken a glance skywards, and saw the purple dome that covered the entire town, all the way from the south end that dwelled the Everfree to the north where beyond, lay the mountain passes that hid Canterlot. Like the Ranger Slayer said, nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide. It was the perfect trap for them, they couldn’t call their Zords, and form the Megazord to take out the Gravezord, which was currently ravaging their town. She knew after Ponyville fell, Canterlot would probably be next on the agenda for Dai-Shocker and Thrax’s combined forces.

“Come on, get yer head back in the game, don’t want to have to do all the fighting mahself ya hear?” Applejack ordered.

After Ponyville fell. Those words rang out on her mind, and Sunset gripped her sword tighter as she shook herself out of her distraction. After Ponyville fell, she repeated to herself. Not if she had anything to say about it. Watching as the Tyrannosaurus sentry whipped out a staff, with a blade on either end, Sunset sighed.

“Just a glutton for punishment aren’t you?” she thought as she charged back into battle. Applejack suddenly let out a yelp of surprise when she saw a Shika Inves, who’d somehow gotten ahold of enough fruits to transform itself into a massive muscle covered creature, equal in size to the Watermelon Arms in Yoroi mode.

“Where the hell did…?” Sunset wondered to herself, as she saw vines covered in crimson red fruit began to cover Ponyville’s structures. “AJ, please tell me what those are, now,” she asked nervously, as the Rider in question grappled with the musclebound Shika Inves.

“Those are the fruit that the Lockseeds come from!” Applejack answered, using her sword to sweep the Ives’s legs out from under it. “Burn them! Anypony that eats ‘em will turn into a monster!”

“Oh, nice to know!” Sunset shouted back, as she saw AJ stab the Shika Inves in the stomach, killing it. A blast of lightning flew by her, and Sunset just barely dodged the attack from Goldar, who pointed his blade at her, and another blast flew. “Now, were it so easy…” she muttered.

Wyatt tested his now stretched limbs, finding his mobility had only taken a minor hit. He grinned beneath his helmet, figuring he had an advantage over the rampaging Megazord. He started walking, making sure he didn’t step on anything besides monsters and Ranger Sentries as he closed the gap between him and the Gravezord. Once he was in reach, he pivoted on one foot and roundhouse kicked the hodgepodge mecha in the back.

It whirled around, the claws on it’s right arm slashing out at Wyatt, striking him across the chest before the bladed left arm was soon to follow up with a blow of its own. All the while, the Thunderbird Zord soared above, trying to get his own hits in with lightning bolts. Sparks flew from Wyatt’s chest as he recoiled from the blow. He regained his footing, stopping just shy of his back crashing into the town hall. He recovered quickly, bobbing and weaving as he let out a barrage of punches at the Gravezord’s body and face.

Inside, the Ranger Slayer swore at Wyatt profusely, staining the air inside the cockpit blue before she zapped Wyatt in the chest making him stagger back with two eye beams from the Gravezord.

“Hey Twi!” Wyatt called out, smoke rising from his chest as he blocked another blow from the Megazord’s blade. “Anytime you wanna use that Miracle ring again is fine by me!”

Meanwhile, Robert, realizing that there was no way in Hell that even with the Wizardragon, Wyatt and Twilight were going to beat that thing, started heading towards the center of the chaos, where Wyatt and the Gravezord were going head-to-head.

“Wyatt, I’ve got an idea, but I need you to clear me a path!” Robert shouted into his commlink, going into Orion Mode, and slicing through Kurokage Troopers with golden slashes of energy, his blade in a flurry. “Remember what Tommy pulled on the original team’s Megazord?”

Wyatt grinned, putting a hand on the side of his helmet. “Oh yeah, I see what you’re getting at. Alright, where do you want your path?”

“Anywhere’s fine by me! Don’t need to destroy the Gravezord, -although I would like that- just sent it into a retreat back to wherever it came from.” Robert commented, sticking his sword through a Byakko Inves’ chest, before slicing upwards not even minding the gore that spattered his helmet. He elbowed another Shika Inves before whirling around and slicing that Inves across the chest. The Gravezord gathered a ball of energy at the tip of its sword arm, before flinging the ball at Wyatt and then striking him across the chest once more as sparks flew.

Hissing in pain, Wyatt ignored the Grazezord for a moment to kick at a street, getting rid of a score of Ranger Sentries and various Inves. “There, how’s that for a path?” He asked, touching the side of his helmet again.

“That’ll do.” Robert commented, before he continued his charge forwards, and sliced any remaining footsoldiers down. However, his rampage was soon to be halted, as next thing he knew, a massive black hovertank piloted by a Sabertooth Sentry, along with two Tuliphoppers commandeered by Zeo sentries blocked his path. The main cannon charged up, with a distinct humming sound, and readied itself to fire.

“Soon, your powers will belong to Lord Drakkon…” the Sabertooth sentry thought to herself.

Meanwhile, Sunset was neck deep in a duel between Golder and the Tyrannosaurus Sentry, who she’d learned was called Commander Thace. Having had the wisdom to go into Orion Mode, in one arm she clutched her Phoenix Blade, and the other her Crystal Sword.

Goldar charged forward, slashing diagonally at Sunset’s chest. Sunset blocked the blow, but was soon kicked in the stomach by Thace, who twirled his staff above his head and scored two more strikes.

“Mystic Mother…” Sunset thought. “Goldar’s bad enough, but this guy?”

Goldar and Thace flanked her, stabbing at her from the front and back. Sunset just barely dodged the strike from the back with a sidestep before leaping upwards to avoid Goldar’s horizontal slash that would have come from the front and let the strike hit Thace across the chest, drawing a bit of blood.

“That… That all you got?” Sunset panted out.

“I think we both know that it isn’t, little pony.” Goldar taunted, clashing blades with Sunset again and getting up in her face. He smirked evilly, and kicked her in the chest, before the griffon mouth built into his torso armor charged up a blast, and fired sending Sunset flying backwards into a building. She crashed through the brick walls rubble flying everywhere, and found herself inside a warehouse. Her helmet filtering through the smoke, she could see the distinctive heat signatures of Goldar and Thace running towards her. Her Crystal Sword lay by her side, thrown from her hands by the force of the blow.

“Alright, now you’re just starting to make me mad…” Sunset growled out, before she went for her commlink. “AJ, a question?”

“Whatcha need, sugahcube?” Applejack asked, the sound of blades clashing being audible somewhere in the background. “Sorry, ya just caught me at a bad time.”

“Figured about as much. But one quick question, but do you have any theories as to where these fruits are coming from?” Sunset asked, as she reengaged Thace and Goldar, holding their weapons back with her blades long enough to take a look around her. Helheim vines covered the inside of the warehouse as well. “If you said they turn people into monsters, and evidently evolve those Inves as well, it would be in everyone’s best interest as to know where the Hell they’re coming from!” she shouted.

“There’s gotta be a crack into Helheim,” Applejack replied, the sounds of battle growing louder. “They open and close at random most of the time.”

“Yeah, but sure are a lot of vines for just one crack…” Sunset mused, before the duel resumed. Blades met, and sparks flew. Thace spun his blade, feinting with it while he moved in and punched Sunset in the chest.

She staggered back, long enough for Thace to score another blow.

“Give it up Little Pony,” Thace mocked as sets of Mastodon and Space Silver Sentries entered the building and trained their weapons on Sunset, her body gaining two little red dots. “Soon, your world, and your powers will belong to Lord Drakkon!”

“You know, you’re just like a record on repeat, you understand that?” Sunset asked, as she unfurled her wings and spun slicing Goldar across the chest with a flame infused strike, before drawing back her fist and punching him in the face. “Drakkon this, Drakkon that.”

“Do not disrespect Lord Drakkon you filthy animal!” Thace boomed, holding one of his hands up. “Mastodon Sentries, open fire!”

“Understood,” one of the Sentries nodded. “Target locked, engage! Set weapons to kill.”

Sunset flung out her hands, and two light green spinning shields made of runes blocked the laser fire and she spun and danced to continue blocking the weapons fire all the firing homing beams at the In Space sentries hovering above her with tracking shots of magic. However, this left Sunset open to attack by both Thace and Goldar, and they struck her across the chest with a powerful twin blade attack.

Sunset staggered back, bleeding a little, and breathing hard, exhausted from all of this fighting.

“Funny how you managed to defeat me in battle first time we met,” Goldar remarked. “You could keep up with everyone of my moves even in midair. I actually thought you were a worthy opponent, actually being on Jason Lee Scott’s level. But I guess I was wrong, if you can’t even handle these poor Ranger knock-offs.”

If Thace was offended by the insult, he didn’t show it. “If you have time to taunt her, you have time to finish the job,” the commander commented, pointing his weapon at Sunset’s throat. “No wonder all you’ve ever known is defeat and your previous masters were taken out by the Z-Wave.”

Goldar let out a small growl as he continued approaching the soon to be defeated Gold Ranger. “I will soon rectify that.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so!” Spike commented, as he burst through a wall in his Tatoba form, and held up three red medals. “I feel like going a little crazy.” Replacing his medals, Spike scanned the new trio.

“Taka, Kujaku, Condor!” The sound of an eagle screech came from the belt and a jingle started to play. “Ta~Ja~Dol~!” Fire consumed Spike’s form, forming into his armor. The wings on his Taka helmet spread out farther and the bird head turned to face forward as if screeching at the enemies before him. The symbol on his chest came together to form a continuous image of a phoenix with wings stretched out to the sky. And the legs had one of the few yellow parts on the ensemble with a spike on the toe and talon at the heel.

Sunset picked herself off the ground, and smirked. “Now Goldilocks, what were you saying about rectifying something?” she taunted, as her wings ignited, and maybe it was because of that, or maybe it was because of the Tajadol combo but the room seemed to be filled with an immense heat and some of the Helheim fruit actually ignited on the spot. “Might want to take those words back, as considering you’re now facing double Phoenixes. Now, to borrow a phrase from my boyfriend… Hade ni ikuze!” she shouted, pointing at Goldar.

“Wait, Robert’s your boyfriend?” Spike asked, gaping beneath his helmet as he fired red blasts from the spinner on his arm.

“Yes, is this so shocking?” Sunset asked as she drew her sword once more and struck at Goldar, blocking his next blow with ease, and managing to do the same twice more before she finally broke through the defenses and struck him across the chest, and then opened her palm, creating another spinning rune shield of green light.

“Just wasn’t expecting to meet another henshin hero that managed to get with a princess,” Spike replied, fiery wings spreading on his back as he took to the air and stretched his leg out towards Goldar, and impacted with enough force to drive him back. “Imagine Wyatt would be completely stunned, given him and Robert butting heads really…” he remarked.

“If you say Robert scored with me, I’m going to kick your ass next,” Sunset told Spike in a warning tone.

“...Noted.” Spike squeaked out.

“You take Thace and his soldiers, Goldenrod’s mine. Sound a fair deal?” Sunset growled out, sounding positively fierce.

“Fine by me,” Spike replied, pulling back from Goldar and hovering high above the battlefield. He brought his arm up, firing his spinner at all the charging Ranger Sentries that tried to get too close to Sunset.

Meanwhile, Goldar and Sunset engaged in a fierce duel, blows being blocked. Sunset slashed Goldar across the chest, again and again, her ‘shield’ actually firing magical energy blasts at the winged armored baboon monster. The onslaught was actually exceedingly far too fierce for Goldar to keep up with, at least in a fair battle, so he brought out that all-seeing eye of his once more, and fired purple blasts of lightning at Sunset, striking her again and again.

“Figures, whenever you’re outmatched, you start fighting dirty,” Sunset muttered, as she staggered to her hooves. “Cute trick, I admit.”

“Still want me to leave him to you?” Spike asked, diving, grabbing Thace and slamming him through a warehouse wall. Thace, it seemed, knew he was outmatched, and teleported out in a green flash of light, presumably back to his own world. He knew he’d probably face his Lord’s wrath later, but it was better than dealing with these two. “Because that lightning looks painful.”

“Yeah, that all-seeing eye reminds me of Oculous of the Ten Terrors from what I remember about him, and his sniper powers. Remember it took a Battlized Ranger to bring him down, and if Goldar has that power…” Sunset swallowed nervously to herself, before she kept up the assault, firing blasts of magic from her horn, which Goldar managed to block with his sword. “So yeah, a bit of help might be nice. I’d owe you a favor, and from what I hear Dragons do love that. And you’re one, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Don’t need an owed favor to want to help,” Spike assured her, diving down at Goldar with his leg outstretched. His leg morphed, his foot becoming a set of razor-sharp talons. He wrapped the talons around Goldar’s chest, knocking the monster down. “Must be my pony half.”

“Not really complaining, but I’m still paying you back,” Sunset replied as she slashed Goldar across the chest once more, her sword igniting and he staggered back from the force of the blow.

“Another time, you two. Another time…” Goldar sighed, before teleporting out in a flash of flame.

“Why does he always do that?” Sunset muttered, shaking her head. “Nevermind, we’ve got some friends of ours who need our help.”

In another part of town, Lightning was fending off some Inves, catching a bolt from her Zord with her saber, and flinging it at the monsters, sending them up in huge fireballs. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something. Sunburst, in an alleyway, curled up in a fetal position.

Running over to him, she shook him by the shoulders. “Come on Sunny, get your head back in the game! We’ve got monsters to drive off!”

“No… they’re not monsters, they’re human,” he whispered, and Lightning sighed. She should have guessed that the Sentries were human, it wasn’t all that surprising really if their commanders were corrupted Power Rangers. She went for her Growl Phone.

“Princess, can you take Sunburst out of here? He’s not in a good way, at all.” Sure enough, Sunburst teleported out in a black flash of light. “Thanks, Princess. How’s Vapor doing? Sure could use an extra hand or two down here, it’s a mess.”

“She’s... “ Shayla replied, struggling to find words. “Well, I don’t know how to put it. She seems to be covered in some sort of vines, coming from this slash in her chest.”

Lightning grimaced, having a very good feeling where that slash came from. “Just do the best you can, okay?”

Lightning gripped her weapon, and charged back into battle.

The Animarium:

Meanwhile, Shayla had lain Vapor on a table, and was inspecting her wounds. She’d pulled up Vapor’s shirt just enough to expose her torso area but not her breasts, and was inspecting the slash in great detail. It was like nothing she’d ever seen before, and being thousands of years old, Shayla had definitely seen quite a lot. The roots of the vine seemed to dig into where the cut was deepest. It was like the vines were feeding off her very life essence and blood. The vines were extremely thick and dark, resisting every attempt she made at cutting them.

“Vapor, can you hear me?” Shayla asked, gently rubbing Vapor’s forehead with a wet rag. All around her, the Animarium’s own plants were being covered in the same otherworldly kudzu as the rest of Ponyville, and Vapor in fact. “How do you feel? I need to know everything, even the smallest clue might help here in curing this.”

“It’s… it’s like, something’s eating away at me, I don’t know how to describe it. Like some force is... “ Vapor began, before letting out a scream of pain, as the vines briefly pulsated a green color. “Like I’m being drained. Not just of my life force, but of my blood, my magic, and my connection to the Morphin’ Grid. Everything!” she shouted. Shayla went for Vapor’s Growl Phone, and dialed a number.

“Applejack, are you there?” Shayla asked fearfully, pacing back and forth in the main temple grounds. “Please, tell me you’re there! Someone, just answer!”

“Princess Shayla?” Applejack asked, clashing metal coming through the background. “How in the hay are ya talkin’ ta me right now? I ain’t got one of those ‘cellphones’ them rangers got.”

“I managed to tap into the Rangers’ internal commlink system, I figured you would need to be connected to it as well given the current situation so I created a magical link between you all. That’s how you’ve been managing to communicate for the duration of the battle,” Shayla explained. “Now, tell me about the vines,” Shayla replied, taking a few deep breaths. Applejack was right, panic would do her nor Vapor any good. “The vines with the red fruits on them.”

“They’re from Helheim an’ the fruits can become Lockseeds if ya got mah kinda driver. But don’t let any o’ the Zords eat one. Ah don’t even wanna think about what sorta Inves would be made outta one o’ them.”

“Okay, noted,” Shayla replied. “But right now, I’m more concerned with the fact that some of them seem to be sprouting from Vapor.”

There was a pause at the other end of the line. “Ah haven’t seen that before. You’ll have t’ask Wyatt about that, he’s seen that Gaim show or whatever he calls it. Ah’d put ‘im on the phone, but he’s sorta caught up fightin’ that Gravezord.”

“I don’t care, if he knows anything about this, I’d like to know. Can you transfer me to him?” Shayla asked calmly.

“Ah can try, but Ah ain’t exactly the best with tech.” Applejack admitted sheepishly. There was another pause, followed by muffled curses as Applejack seemed to fumble with something. Eventually, there was a slight click.

“Wyatt, you there?” Shayla asked.

“Princess Shayla?” Wyatt questioned, his voice coming out in pants. “Is this important? Because I’m currently getting my ass kicked by a giant robot.”

“Yes, the Gravezord. I’m well aware of the situation, and I’ve sent for help that should be arriving soon. Right now though, what can you tell me about these vines sprouting from this slash on Vapor’s midsection?”

“Let me guess, an Inves got a good hit on her?” Wyatt asked.

“From what it seems, yes. Only way to explain the claw marks,” Shayla said, as Vapor let out a blood-curdling scream of pain. “Now, how do I deal with this?” she asked firmly. “Is there a way?”

“Yeah, there’s a way to get rid of them,” Wyatt answered before grunting. “Sorry, just deflected an attack. Anyway, back to the vines.”

“Yes, the vines,” Shayla sighed. “Now, what do I need to do?”

Then, Wyatt’s call dropped, presumably no thanks to the Gravezord. Shayla sighed, before she heard a familiar moan as the Deer Zord’s shadow appeared above her, his antlers beginning to glow golden.

“I failed one of my Rangers once,” Shayla thought to herself, thinking of Grape Vine’s bloodied form. “But I’m not going to make that same mistake twice!”

The vines began to glow the same gold color as the Deer Zord’s antlers as Shayla channeled her natural magic through her personal white and gold Crystal Saber, before they burned away in fire and flame leaving Vapor untouched.

“T-Thank you…” Vapor whispered before collapsing into unconsciousness.

Down below, Wyatt was losing ground against the Gravezord, before out of nowhere, as if being teleported from the sky above, a massive golden hoof collided with the Gravezord’s face, smashing into it with a mecha-sized Rider Kick.

Next thing Wyatt knew, he was looking at a pair of stoic golden eyes inside the head of a bull-horned mecha, known only as the Defender Torozord.

“You rang?” Shining’s voice called, as he brought out a massive gold double bladed halberd axe.

“Oh man, I have never been so happy to see you, Shining Armor,” Wyatt said, using the intervention to collect his breath. “I owe you one.”

“Consider this me making up for the deeds of my counterpart you told me about,” Shining commented as he used the axe to block a strike from the Gravezord’s sword. Down below, Robert swallowed nervously as the cannon onboard the hover tank readied to fire, before massive bananas of energy skewered it, (As something called “Banana Sparkling!”) along with the two Tuliphoppers, and the Ranger Sentries jumped off before their vehicles went up in huge fireballs.

Then, the fully armored form of Twilight Sparkle drove out of a Helheim crack on a Sakura Hurricane bike.

“Twilight? A banana?” Shining asked in confusion, even as he slashed the Gravezord across the chest.

“It’s Baroness,” Twilight said simply even as Kurokage Troopers and Sentries alike surrounded her. “Kamen Rider Baroness.” she corrected herself, her voice going through everyone’s commlinks.

“Huh, didn’t see that coming,” Wyatt commented, as he began digesting the information.

“Ya go, girl!” Applejack hollered, as she cut down some Inves with her Musou Saber.

“Knew you had it in you.” Wizard Twilight said as she used her own sword on some Inves as well.

Sunset, as she flew down to rejoin the fray smiled to herself. “Guess you finally did it Twilight, now you’re one of us. A hero.”

“Alright, Twilight!” Robert shouted as he ran off. “Now, I’d say the tide of battle really has turned.“

“If you think a single combatant will save you, you truly are a fool.” The Ranger Slayer commented even as Shining struck the Gravezord across the chest with his Zord’s axe causing sparks to fly.

“We’ll see,” Twilight remarked. “You’re about to get your sorry ass kicked, maybe not by me, but I promise you, things are about to come to a close for you and your Zord.” Twilight stated, bringing out another Lockseed and swapping it out for the current one in her Driver. “Mango!” it shouted, as Twilight threw up a purple energy bubble to protect herself and her armor switched itself out for a yellow and red armor, less flashy but she now held a massive mace instead of the jousting spear she had before. “Come on,Mango Arms: Fight of Ham~mer!” the Driver sung.

As Twilight went into battle, the Ranger Slayer suddenly found her cockpit invaded by Robert, who aimed his Kitsune Blaster at her. Kimberly went for her Bow of Darkness, but Robert held up a finger and wagged it.

“Uh-uh, I wouldn’t do that. Not unless of course, you want to damage this very nice looking interior…” he mocked. “Now I’d suggest you’d take your leave now.”

Kimberly growled. “Another day, another day!” she snapped, before teleporting her and the Gravezord out, as Robert leaped out of the cockpit onto a rooftop.

“Now there’s irony for you, eh Wyatt?” Robert asked.

“I think you gave her some flashbacks!” Wyatt laughed, his form slowly shrinking as Shining sent the Torozord off and jumped down to meet Robert and the rest of the combined Rider/Ranger forces.

“Well, now all that’s left is to mop up the-” Shining began, before a voice cut him off.

“I underestimated you. I can say that about very few of my enemies.” Several of the sentries bowed, forgetting the battle altogether. A lone figure strode into view, wearing a samurai-inspired suit complete with gold head crest, chest covered by a shield with the dragon symbol, and a helmet sporting a tiger motif. A bone-white katana was strapped to his hip along with the corrupted Solar Cell Morpher as a sort of trophy.

“Wyatt didn’t mention anything about the Samurai powers. But then again, given some of the sentries, I’m not entirely surprised…” Sunset mused. Two heavily armed soldiers flanked Drakkon, wearing what looked to be S.W.A.T gear. Robert swore, guess Finster-5 must have cracked Kat’s code after all. But last he checked, there was never a Gold Ranger amongst the ranks...

“It’s safe to say you've ruined my morning,” Robert muttered, trying to mask his fear with humor, as always.

“You must be the former S.P.D. Green,” Drakkon stated, continuing his walk forward. “I have to thank you. Leaving your that corrupted morpher to be protected by a single Ranger and vastly outmatched guards made it easy for me to seize it,” He motioned with his hands, the S.W.A.T. Sentries stepping in line behind him.

“Technically the fifth SPD Green, if you want to be pessimistic about it,” Robert remarked in a joking manner, before his tone became far more serious. “But considering you put one of my teammates in the hospital, and seem rather intent on disrespecting the Ranger legacy, can we just skip to the part where we kick your worthless arse?”

“What I do is no act of disrespect,” Drakkon replied, slowly drawing his katana. “You waste these powers on petty heroics. The world needs order, a strong hand to lead the ignorant masses. Far better ranger teams have been broken under my heel. You’re no different, child.”

“I agree with Robert, and that’s a rare thing. Can we just skip the villainous monologuing, -as really, that’s what you are despite all your claims to deny it- and just send you packing?” Lightning asked.

Wyatt reverted back to his default form, the other riders gathering to his side. Twilight moved first, firing off a few shots at Drakkon’s face. The dictator moved effortlessly, most of the shots deflecting off his blade. The Sentry army resumed their assault, unleashing everything they had at the group.

Sunset drew back her fist, and aided by the Lights of Orion along with the Earth Pony strength, actually sent some of the Sentries flying skywards.

“AJ,” Robert shouted as he engaged what he would later refer to as sorry knock-offs of the SPD Ranger branch. “I believe it’s time you bust out that Kachidoki Lockseed! ...Please tell me you have it, otherwise I’m just going to look really stupid here asking!” he shouted, as he went for a bit of gunplay with the Sentries, ducking and weaving behind pillars as shots flew.

“Lucky fer you, Ah got it,” Applejack replied, removing the Orange Lockseed from her belt and pulling out another Orange themed Lockseed, only this one was much bulkier and read: 'K. L. S-1'. Giving it a squeeze, the lock opened.

“Lock on!” Music started to play as a zipper opened up above Applejack’s head and the Suika armor disappeared into liquid to leave her in her base form. A massive orange descended from the zipper and rested itself over her head as Sentries opened fire on her all the while, shots bouncing off the orange. Drakkon may have been confident, but the Sentries… Not so much. In a quick motion, she sliced open the Lockseed and caused her driver to call out: “Kachidoki Arms! To the Battlefield! Hip, hip, hurrah!”

The orange unfolded over her to slowly reveal her new armor. It retained the samurai motif, but the battle flags on her back made her look like a great commander coming to join the fray. Her helmet had changed drastically, now a Japanese Kabuto style helmet with two laurel-like antlers standing proudly behind her usual symbol and the mouth portion had silver extensions almost like whiskers. Her shoulder pads were heavy and extended down to her elbow. The chest armor was heavier as well with a symbol depicting koi-like scales at the top and bottom and her normal helmet crest at the center all in gold. The armor extended to a robe-like waist portion that went down to her knees.

Pulling a bulky rifle off her waist she turned to Robert. “How’s that treatin’ ya, sugahcube?”

As Robert took a running leap off a partially destroyed fruit stand and kicked an SPD Sentry in the face, shattering her helmet, he smirked. “That’ll do just fin-Heilige Scheiße!” he suddenly shouted as the other one let off a barrage of shots from an energy rifle.

Applejack took careful aim, scoring a direct hit on the firing Sentry’s helmet. The offending Sentry collapsed, a singe mark on the side of their helmet. “Watch yer language there, sugahcube.”

Robert rolled to the left to avoid a downwards slash from a Samurai Sentry, before leaping behind him, grabbing by the shoulder with a hand as he did so before kicking him towards Lighting who cut him down. “Just raise your flag up high…” he muttered.

“Hey, weren’t Samurai supposed to be these uber-competent, badass warriors who can finish a battle in under a minute?” Lightning remarked, and Robert stared at her. “What, I read!” she snapped back.

“Not if they’re cheap knock-offs,” Sunset snarked, glaring at Drakkon as they clashed blades again and again, sparks flying. “Seriously, why can’t you just be like all the other sickos I’ve heard about-”

Sunset didn’t get to finish as Drakkon punched her in the throat. Taking advantage of her stumble, he grabbed her arm, shoving her to the ground. Digging his foot into her back, he twisted her arm tightening his grip on her wrist as Sunset let out a scream of pain. Sunset managed to wrench herself free, and kick Drakkon in the stomach making him stagger if only a little and knocking the Solar Cell Morpher from his belt which Sunset quickly teleported away. One problem solved, she mused to herself.

“Alright, you were disappointed by samurai, Lightning?” Wyatt asked, pulling a card from his belt. “Then let’s see how you like someone based on a knight.” With a flick of his wrist, the card slipped into his belt.

“Kamen Ride: Blade!” Silhouettes converged on Wyatt as his armor shifted again. He was left standing in mostly grey armor with red lines on his chest that formed a spade shape. Circular red eyes on the helmet took in the battlefield while a single horn curved up at the top. In one quick motion, Wyatt drew a large blade and charged at Drakkon.

Drakkon pulled Sunset to her hooves, shoving her into Wyatt. Drawing his dagger, Drakkon slashed Sunset along her spine while knocking Wyatt’s sword aside.

Lightning ran towards Drakkon, blade raised and slashed him across the chest, but he grabbed the sword, and wrenched it from Lightning’s grip as she let out a scream of pain before punching her in the stomach making her stagger.

Kicking her knee, Drakkon stepped around her, grabbing her remaining natural wing. “Your wings are proof enough of your failure.” Tightening his grip, he was rewarded with her bone crumbling under his strength.

Before he could finish the deed, however, the Mango Punisher slammed into the side of his head, sending Drakkon flying.

“I will not allow you to harm any more of my subjects,” Twilight growled as she got back on the Sakura Hurricane. “Why… why are you doing this?”

Drakkon rose to his feet, his visor gleaming in the moon’s light. “Nature doesn’t need a ‘why’, girl. It simply does.” As Twilight gunned the engine on her bike, Drakkon reached out, and pulled her off it, before throwing her into the side of a building as the bike flipped end over end. It was only her armor that protected Twilight from being killed.

Shining snarled, his horn crackling with energy. “No-one does that to my sister, no-one!” he growled, raising his sword. Shining slashed at Drakkon, meeting his blade before slashing him across the chest with another strike. He quickly changed his sword to it’s shotgun mode for lack of a better term, and blasted Drakkon point blank, with the blast making both of them stagger backward.

Drakkon went for his katana, and Shining switched the Riot Blaster back to its sword mode, before blades met once more. Astoundingly, Shining was actually managing to keep up with Drakkon, blow for blow. But all good things had to come to an end, and Shining was roundhouse kicked in the face back into Spike’s form just as the drake was about to join the battle.

Wyatt picked himself up, helping Sunset to her feet. Growling, he pulled a pair of cards from his belt. Robert quickly joined him, raising his pistol. “You know, I’m beginning to believe you’re so caught up in your own bull that you actually believe it, Drakkon.” the Orange Ranger commented, his voice coming out as a snarl.

“Yeah, I’m real sick of that god complex of yours,” Wyatt agreed, slotting the cards into his belt. “You’re no god, Drakkon. You’re just a mortal man. You can bleed like the rest of us. I think you need to be reminded of that.”

“Attack Ride: Thunder Tackle!” Electricity arced around Wyatt’s body and he charged at the evil Ranger with his shoulder forward.

Robert meanwhile, raised his pistol, and fired. “Kitsune Seibai Blast!” he shouted, before firing a fox head-shaped blast of flaming energy towards Drakkon. Drakkon grabbed Wyatt’s shoulder, letting the electricity arc through him for a moment before pushing the rider into the oncoming blasts.

He then dashed forwards and slashed Robert across the chest several times, drawing blood before headbutting him. Robert rolled along the ground for a few moments, before demorphing. Drakkon chuckled, and pocketed his morpher. Applejack took aim at the evil Ranger, firing rapidly at his head.

Amazingly, Drakkon managed to block these shots as well, before taking out what looked to be small shurikens, and attached one to his sword, and then flung a cyclone at Applejack, ripping and tearing into her armor with the slashing winds.

“What in tarnation was that?!” Applejack shouted, taking her flags off her back to block the rest of the oncoming wind and disperse it. “Ah’ve never heard of’ samurais usin’ shuriken.”

“Hell if I know…” Shining muttered. “Gotta be more of those Ranger powers he stole.”

“Very observant,” Drakkon said, removing the shuriken from his sword. “I suppose they don’t let just anyone be Captain of the Guard here. Though your training leaves something to be desired based on their performance against Lupin.”

Shining growled, as much he wanted to re-engage against Drakkon for that slight, but he knew better than to let his temper get the better of him. “This fight isn’t over Drakkon, not by a long shot.”

“True, you have put up more of a fight than I thought you would,” Drakkon admitted, drawing his dragon dagger. “Your Magna Defender powers will be quite the addition to my collection based on your performance.”

“Sorry, but not today. I’m a Captain of the Guard, so I know when it’s best to engage in a tactical retreat.” Shining replied, as the massive form of the Animarium came down from out of the clouds, and all of the Rangers and Riders except Drakkon were teleported up into it before it returned to the heavens.

“Rest on your wounds Rangers, because Shining, you’re quite correct, this battle is far from over,” Drakkon thought. He smirked, now to give his ultimatum to the nation.

Author's Note

Oh lordy, what to say about this chapter? I guess, first off me, Thunder, and Shago just aim to keep on giving you wham chapter after wham chapter I think. I'm hoping that the next chapter, at the very least, doesn't end on a cliffhanger. Secondly, yes, I did change the cover art to Drakkon's Samurai Armor, given it's the main armor he wears in this story.

I don't know about you, but I'm actually comparing Drakkon to the Arkham Knight a little. Has a grudge against someone, has a high-powered suit of armor, supposedly superior to the main hero(s) in every way, and has a massive army willing to wage war against anyone who stands in his way.

Now, what we were aiming to do for the Drakkon fight, was not just make him scary and live up to his reputation, but make him give a similar beatdown to the one that the White Ranger gave the Rangers in the main Wild Access storyline, or at least something close to it if that makes any sense. Also, for the record, Robert giving the Ranger Slayer flashbacks to the original Green with Evil saga, totally my idea. As ever, comments, thoughts, and constructive critiques are welcomed.

Part 8: Aftermath

The Animarium:

Now normally, the Animarium was calm and peaceful. Today was not that sort of day. Wyatt had found a place to be alone, cursing up a storm while punching a tree. His fist had been numb even before he began the fruitless gesture and his knuckles oozed blood.

“Dammit!” he hissed, pausing to lean against the tree he had been assaulting. “How can I be so weak?! Why did that idiot Starswirl let the K-Touch end up in Tartarus!? I’d have wiped the floor with him if I had that damn thing!”

“You know, in my experience,” Twilight commented. This universe’s Twilight, I might add. “If something’s locked away in a pit like Tartarus, there’s probably a reason.”

“The reason is that Starswirl didn’t know what he had and used it to seal away some monster called Tirek,” Wyatt spat, not turning to face Twilight.

“I assume I’ll be running into this ‘Tirek’ eventually?” Twilight asked, guessing from the fact that if Wyatt was a universe-traveler, he might have seen a few things that could predict her future.

“Probably,” Wyatt answered, stepping away from the tree and staring at his bleeding hand. “Ancient evils seem to have a bad habit of returning to Equestria.”

“Yeah, that they do…” Twilight laughed a little.

Spike sat on a stump, watching as Wyatt tended to his knuckles. “I wish Kuuga had come along, he’d punch Drakkon into next year. That guy’s the strongest person I’ve ever met.”

“Didn’t stop Drakkon from killing the universe’s most legendary Ranger,” Twilight commented. “Or have you forgotten?”

Wyatt snorted, finishing up the bandaging. “Kuuga’s the strongest Rider in existence, full stop. In his Ultimate form, his rider kick is powerful enough to destroy a planet, and he’s got two higher forms above that,”

“Well, guess what,” Twilight replied irritably, whether it was from lack of sleep or Wyatt’s self-blaming, it was hard to tell. “Kuuga’s not here, so we’re going to have to work with what we have.”

“You don’t think I know that?” Wyatt asked, finally turning to glare at Twilight. “I may not be a MENSA candidate like you, Twilight, but I’m not an idiot. Or are you just talking down to me because you were raised to think lowly of us humans?”

That did it alright, Twilight hated to be reminded of those years when she was just Celestia’s lowly little stooge and suck-up, believing every word she said even when common logic said it should be false. Placing her Lockseed in her belt, she flicked it up as it sang: “Come on: Banana Arms!”

Soon, she stood in her armor, lance at the ready and horn crackling with energy. “Care to repeat that?”

Wyatt summoned his driver, placing it to his waist. “Do you think I’m going to be intimidated by a newbie Rider who’s only had their belt for what? A day or two at the most?” He quickly donned his armor, resting his sword on his shoulder. “Do you even have formal combat training outside of magic?”

“Will you two knock it off!?” Spike rose up from his seat, stabbing his sword into the ground. “How does this help us at all? Please, one of you explain how fighting each other is a good thing.”

Twilight ignored him. “Fine, Wyatt, you want to take all of your frustrations out on me and my past with Princess Celestia? Go ahead, I’m leaving myself wide open!” she snapped.

Wyatt snorted, putting his sword away. “No, I was more than happy to take my frustrations out on myself. Spike’s right, fighting amongst ourselves won’t do anything.” He turned and walked away, keeping his armor on.

Twilight growled, and closed her Lockseed back up, as the armor vanished in a yellow liquid-like substance. He was right, and she knew it.

“Look at me,” Twilight whispered as she took off her Driver. “Wyatt’s right, I’m probably worthless as a Rider anyhow. He’s right, I don’t have any formal combat training aside from what I picked up in Helheim, and even that’s hardly what you’d call fighting…” she muttered to herself as she sat down on a rock, stifling back a sob. She really wanted to be a hero, she really did, but she just didn’t know how.

Spike sighed, taking a seat next to her. “Look, you think I was any good when I got my belt? When I found my grandpa I was just a kid.” Thinking for a moment, he continued. “I mean, I guess I’m still a kid but you know what I’m getting at. The only reason I even know what I’m doing is because Flash Fire beat me into the dirt and knocked me into shape. I dunno if she’s around in this world, or even if she’s in the guard, but you should look for her, get her to train you and the Rangers.” He tapped his claws on his lap. “Wyatt was the same way. He relied on what little he knew before getting her help. I think, if you really want to be a hero, then it isn’t about flashy powers, it’s about going out to help others when no one else will.”

“I have heard her name, Flash Fire’s I mean, mentioned once or twice,” Twilight admitted before she got up off the rock. “And you know what, you’re right. When Nightmare Moon arrived, it was only me and my friends who were willing to stand against her, and it was the same when Discord returned. Being a hero… it’s never been about fighting. It’s just about going out and standing up against evil when no-one else will, cheesy as that sounds. I’ve watched Sunset and company battle against the Orgs for nearly a year now, and I… I guess I was so desperate to join them in their fight and lend a hand, I wasn’t really thinking when I grabbed, well, this.” she continued, gesturing to the Driver in her hands.

Spike chuckled, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Seems you and my Twilight share something in common: whenever you set your sights on something, you obsess over it and lose sight of everything else.”

“I want to pose to you a hypothetical theory, Spike,” Twilight replied, wiping away some of her tears.

“Go ahead, I’ll lend an ear to your hypothetical,” he replied, putting on his best smile.

“Imagine if you will, if you ever made friends with someone society tells you that you shouldn’t, like say… a Changeling or whatever. What if you tried to prove he or she’s not like the rest of his kind, and I ignored your theories?”

Spike put his hands behind his head, looking up at the sky. “I wouldn’t ever give up, on changing your mind or being their friend,” Turning back to her, he gave her a fanged smile. “I’m sorta proof of that kinda thing actually, more than just being a dragon raised by ponies. I don’t look it but, I’m half pony.”

“Coulda fooled me,” Twilight laughed. “But continuing on from my hypothetical theory. What if I was so ignorant and so biased and bigoted, I’d alienate Equestria and my friends, and every one of its allies just to find and track you and your friend down. You said it yourself, I’m obsessed to a fault, I lose sight of my original goals whenever I set my mind to something. Think about it, it could happen, right? In all of your universe hopping with Wyatt and company, have you seen something like that?”

Spike scratched his cheek, looking up to the sky. “Well, we have come across a psychopathic Pinkie Pie. But, the multiverse is infinite, so of course, we’re going to run into evil versions of our friends.” Turning back to her he smiled.

“It’s just… Spike, my Spike, he’s so accepting of everyone, I can see it happen, him making friends with a Changeling or whatever. And then,” Twilight continued, taking a deep shuddering breath. “There’s something else...”

“If you’re anything like my Twilight or Ponyville, I don’t see that happening,” Spike assured, waving her off. “Sure, you lose sight of the forest from the trees every now and then, but you always learn your lesson. Just look at what happened with Zecora,”

“Yeah, I suppose,” Twilight muttered. “But all the same…” she whispered. Hearing the word ‘forest’, it made Twilight shudder, and Spike noticed.

“Sorry, Helheim must’ve shaken you up pretty bad,” he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “What’d you see?”

“What, that’s not the right term,” Twilight replied, her voice barely a whisper. “More like who.”

“Was it one of those Overlord Inves that Wyatt’s mentioned?” Spike questioned, leaning forward in his seat.

“No, it wasn’t. At least, I don’t think he was. He called himself Kaito Kumon. I think he was a ghost, or some sort of remnant. Apparently, he bore this belt’s powers before me,” Twilight replied, clutching her Lockseed tightly. “He… He told me a story, about himself. Apparently, he was so obsessed with power, and stomping out those who bore it and trod on the weak, he lost sight of himself, and in the end… He became just like those who he tried to destroy. I’m worried, I have the same problems as he does, losing sight of myself, that I’ve been worried ever since I saw him that I might, just one day become exactly like him.” Twilight replied, running a hand down her shoulder, for just a moment seeing a small green cut with small vines crawling out of it.

“Twilight, that won’t happen to you,” Spike assured, grinning. “And do you want to know why? Unlike this Kaito guy, you’ve got friends that won’t let you self-destruct. If my counterpart here is anything close to the upstanding drake that I am, there’s no way in Tartarus he’d stand by and let that happen.” He puffed himself up and put a claw to his chest.

Twilight snorted at the spectacle. “Yeah, that’s just exactly something my Spike would do, right down to the pose. He’d probably do it for Rarity to impress her, I imagine. Never mind that fact that she’s married, to Zephyr Breeze of all ponies!” she laughed.

Spike blinked owlishly, quirking a brow at Twilight. “Zephyr Breeze? You mean Fluttershy’s little brother that even she doesn’t have the patience to stand for prolonged periods of time?”

“I know, surprised us all. But hairdresser/fashionista, they somehow make it work, and have turned Carousel Boutique into quite the money-spinner. Apparently, if I’ve heard correct, Zephyr and Robert seem to be best friends, and Zephyr helped Sunburst once when he had confidence issues.”

Spike had only been half paying attention, his eyes down at the ground while his fingers were laced into a pyramid of sorts. “Note to self: keep Zephyr and Rarity from meeting,” he muttered, a puff of smoke escaping his nostrils.

Twilight actually laughed at that.

Elsewhere, while Shayla bandaged everyone’s wounds, Sunset pondered to herself.

“He could have killed us, but why didn’t he?” she thought to herself aloud. “Had us by the ropes, but he didn’t kill us. He just let us go, when he easily could have teleported up with us and killed us all.”

Applejack was sitting on a log, staring intently at her Kachidoki Lockseed. “Ah’m sorry, y'all. Ah shoulda’ used mah finisher with this thing when Ah had the chance. Woulda tanned his hide fer sure!”

“Not your fault AJ,” Vapor replied, coming up over to her and patting her on the shoulder seemingly looking no worse for wear despite her little near-death experience from the Helheim vines. Fact was, the wound seemingly had vanished leaving only the trace of a scar to show it was ever there. “From what I heard, he had you guys good. Between him and the Gravezord, you guys must have been worn out!”

“Wyatt did most of the work with the Gravezord,” Wizard Twilight said, her arms crossed over her chest. “Bahamut and I kept getting pelted by Kurokage troopers in their hover vehicles.”

“Dandeliners.” Robert corrected out of sheer force of habit.

“Hey, what am I, chopped liver?” Shining asked. “Had I and the Torozord not come in at the last moment, you’d be dead!”

“You’re right,” Wizard Twilight admitted, nodding her head at him. “Thank you for that.”

“Thank Princess Shayla,” Shining replied. “It was her idea to call me, and get me teleported past that bubble’s walls. Still not sure how she pulled it off, by the way…”

“Now’s as good a time as any ta ’explain,” Applejack said, standing up and turning to the Princess.

Suddenly, the bushes ruffled, and as everyone went for their weapons, Toxica stepped out of the ferns with staff in hand.

“Jeez Toxica, mind giving us a warning next time eh?” Robert asked, his heart beating faster in his chest then should have been normal.

“Sorry,” Toxica replied. “But anyways, explanations. I… I may have helped just a little, using some of my own magic,” she continued, seemingly struggling to get the words out, as if the idea of helping Rangers was physically painful to her. “That help?”

“Well thank ya, Toxica,” AJ said, tipping her hat. “We’d be pushin’ up daisies right now if ya hadn’t stepped in.”

Toxica huffed and crossed her arms. “Well don’t expect it to happen again. The only reason I did it, was that so Drakkon or whatever he calls himself couldn’t come here next!”

“So you also provided a countermeasure to keep him off the Animarium?” Wizard Twilight inquired, excited to hear about the spell. “Brilliant move.”

Toxica looked increasingly nervous at that. She mumbled something to herself. Sunset groaned, and facepalmed. “You didn’t, did you?” she asked.

“W-Well, I-I didn’t have time!” Toxica protested. “I was so busy worried about getting Shining all the way from the Empire to here, that I taxed most of my magic doing that! I barely had enough left to keep myself standing!”

“Oh, für die Liebe Gottes…” Robert muttered as Shining drew his sword, with everyone else drawing their Crystal Sabers or signature weapons. Robert’s eyes went to the left, as well as Sunburst’s as they felt a new presence arrive on the Animarium.

“Hiding like cowards? I thought you were heroes?” Drakkon stepped into view, an object in each hand. “Or perhaps you never had the backbone, to begin with.”

Drawing his left hand back, he tossed one of the objects at the group's feet.

Upon closer inspection, the object elicited a collective gasp from the Rangers, along with Toxica and a certain Princess. Shayla’s necklace lay at their feet, broken and caked with blood.

“Where… Where did you get that?” Sunset growled out, her wings sparking with little embers even though she had a sickening feeling she already knew.

“It’s been a long time since I set foot on this island,” Drakkon glanced around, taking in the environment around him. “A far more competent team of Rangers called this their home,” Pressing a button on the remaining object, he tossed it into the air. It hovered, lighting up. “Why don’t you see how futile your resistance is?”

In stunned silence, the group watched as Drakkon’s little recording played itself out.

The Animarium was burning, it’s once majestic forest lighting the night sky like a torch. Drakkon’s gunships rained hellfire upon the floating island, while the Black Dragon and Gravezord ripped their way through the Wild Zords. Many had already fallen, their lifeless bodies littering the battlefield. Somewhere else on the island, two giant tank-like vehicles themed after a rhino and stag beetle respectively lay in burning hulks, as a pair of Rangers tried to escape from the ruins, wearing crimson and navy garb before being swiftly cut down by two Sabertooth Sentries.

On the ground, Drakkon himself led his forces into the heart of the Animarium. Like the predictable children they were, this world’s Power Rangers were ready for him; grim determination etched on their features.

Drakkon paused, signaling his strike team to wait. “I give you this one chance; join me or die.”

“We’d never join up with someone like you!” the Red Ranger shouted, holding up his Lion Blaster in it’s Gatling Mode.

Drakkon merely drew his dagger, striding forward. “A pity.” With a gesture, his forces commenced their assault, unleashing a barrage of weapons fire. With a burst of speed, Drakkon knocked the Red Ranger aside, slashing him across the back.

Continuing his attack, Drakkon blocked a strike from the Blue Ranger’s Fighting Fins, knocking one of them out of his grasp.

“Max!” Danny shouted out as he saw Drakkon thrust his dagger through Max’s visor.

Drawing his dagger back, Drakkon watched impassively as the body dropped to the ground. Glancing over his shoulder, his own red visor seemed to mock Danny; Drakkon’s uncaring helmet burning into his mind.

Suddenly, Drakkon was enveloped by a green ray of light as the Lunar Wolf Ranger lined up his Animal Crystals, and launched them forwards like pool balls.

“You shall not touch the Animarium, not as long as I live.” Merrick growled as his Animal Crystals rocketed towards Drakkon.

Drakkon raised his hand, catching the crystals in his free hand. “These are connected to your Zords aren’t they?” Locking eyes with Merrick, Drakkon clutched his hand; filling the air with the sounds of breaking glass. He opened his hand, allowing the remains to fall into the dirt. He smirked, as Merrick demorphed in a flash of silver light and a mourning howl filled the air as the Wolf Zord let out one last cry.

Merrick closed his eyes, and whispered: “I’m sorry, my friends.” and let what happened next come, facing his death with all the dignity he was allowed.

“Pathetic.” Closing the distance, Drakkon backhanded Merrick into a tree, the former Ranger going limp on contact. He didn’t have much time to contemplate Merrick’s weakness, spotting Danny charging at him, axe raised. One slash from the Dragon Dagger, and Danny fell limp.

“Merrick! Danny!” Shayla shouted, barely holding back a sob. Drakkon turned to her, his cold gaze locking on her trembling form.

“I gave them a choice, they choose death,” Drakkon replied. “The silver one, you loved him didn’t you? I can see it in your eyes. He would have done well under me.”

Before Drakkon could even blink, he was slashed across the chest by a yellow, and then a red blur before being knocked backwards into a stone idol by a blast of pure sound. Three forms appeared atop the temple, each with a different insignia on their chest. One, a hawk. Another, a lion, and finally the third bore a dolphin’s fin.

“Ah, you’re the ones that escaped the schools,” Straightening himself, Drakkon offered the newcomers a hand. “Perhaps you’re not as foolish as these Rangers. Join me and you can be far more than you ever dreamed of.”

“Get real!” the Red Ranger replied holding up a hawk themed weapon with a gold turbine, a sword strapped to his back like the others. “You’re just a poser in a fancy suit.”

Drakkon lowered his hand, focusing his attention on the Red Ranger. “A curious choice of words. Do you need a reminder of who brought this world under control? Perhaps I’ve let public education slip since then?”

“Under control?” the Blue Ranger asked, scoffing. “You call bringing this entire planet into a police state under control? Eliminating all free will, and thoughts except your own? Go to hell.”

“Perhaps I was mistaken.” Drakkon sighed.

Dropping the conversation, Drakkon brought his dagger to his mouth, playing a tune. Green lightning erupted forth, crashing into the trio of rangers. They tried to hold the bolts back with their ninjatō, but it was all for naught really. The blast knocked them back, opening them up for the Sentries to deal with.

Mastodon Sentries raised their guns, and fired blast after blast into the three Ninja Rangers.

“What a waste,” Drakkon commented, watching for a few moments before turning his attention to the remaining Wild Force Rangers. “Anyone else care to be… impudent?” Alyssa laid on the ground, an arrow sticking out of her throat. Cole had collapsed into the fountain, a Tyrannosaurus Sentry pulling his blade from his back. Curiously, he seemed almost mournful.

“I’m sorry…” Skull whispered to himself.

Taylor, the last of the Rangers raised her sword. “When I joined the Air Force, it was all to find this place, and then I found it.”

“Is there a point to this needless banter?” Drakkon asked.

“I will not let you harm it any further.” she replied.

Drakkon walked closer to her, not paying her threat any mind. “You say that as if you have a choice in the matter. I offered you amnesty, and instead you’ve signed your death warrant,” Stopping in front of her, Drakkon stared her down. “You can however, still recieve that mercy.”

“Screw your mercy,” Taylor growled, swinging her sword. “This is for Cole, for Danny, for Max and everyone else you’ve killed!”

Despite her conviction, Drakkon easily batted her sword out of the way and stabbed her in the stomach with his Dragon Dagger.

With the Rangers gone, Drakkon turned to Shayla, the woman reduced to a sobbing mess. “Why..?” she asked, looking up at him. “Power Rangers are supposed to protect the world, not destroy it. They were the guardians of the Earth and you killed them all.”

“You lack vision,” Drakkon told her, easing Taylor to the ground as she bled to death. “I am protecting the Earth. Under my rule, no one will go to war over resources or anything else,” Flicking the blood off his dagger, he stepped over to Shayla. Lifting her chin, he allowed his helmet to dissipate. “I am the only guardian this world needs, everything else is superfluous.”

Glancing away, he motioned a pair of sentries over. “Take her into custody!” Movement caught his eye, causing him to thrust his dagger in Shayla’s direction. Returning his gaze to her, he found her with a saber raised above her head, and his dagger sticking out of her chest. “A pity, Princess.”

With that, the recording ended leaving the Rangers to stare in wide-eyed horror. “A pity, you could have been as great as they were. You fall quite short of my expectations. You need a troop of Riders to back you up,” Drakkon remarked in a dismissive tone. “All of Equestria’s just seen this, not just you, and now they know my power. And know just how weak their Rangers are.”

Sparks suddenly appeared at Drakkon’s back, causing him to turn around and find nothing there.

“Still using cheap tricks, Decade?” Drakkon asked.

Shots rang out and caught Drakkon in the side, causing him to turn and have his Sentries open fire. Their shots uncovered nothing and harmlessly crashed into nearby trees only destroying Helheim fruits. “Cheap tricks? Sure, they might be cheap, but it’s better than charging blindly at a suped-up and megalomaniacal Tommy Oliver,” Wyatt’s voice called out, Drakkon unable to discern its direction. “I didn’t learn from the Carter Grayson School of Fighting.”

“Show yourself!” Drakkon snarled.

“So that’s it…” Shining thought. “He’s not unbeatable, just get him angered like any other enemy, and he starts making mistakes.”

“If I showed myself, all you’d do is roundhouse kick me to the face,” Wyatt shot back, taking a few potshots at Drakkon’s chest. “And I gotta tell ya, I’d rather you didn’t ruin my moneymaker.”

A massive shadow then towered over Drakkon, and he looked up to see the Phoenix Zord hovering overhead, her beak opened wide and about to fire off a blast of flame.

“I’d suggest you leave now,” Sunset commented.

“You should listen to the Princess, Tommy,” Wyatt agreed, still not showing himself. “I doubt even you could take an island full of Zords by yourself. Not with your Megazord in the shop like it is.”

“I still have Ponyville, and I could easily have my Sentries hunt down, and kill everyone inside that little town. Everyone and everything precious to you. Rest on your laurels, but you have 48 hours before I return and claim your world.” Drakkon stated.

With that, he and his Sentries teleported out in flashes of green light. Once they were gone, there was a rustling in the bushes and Wyatt stepped out with his belt around his waist but no armor. His shoulders sagged and he let out a sigh of relief. “Holy crap, that was easily the most terrifying moment of my life.”

“I’m with you there…” Sunset shuddered. “But, it did show us something.”

“Yeah, Drakkon’s not unstoppable,” Shining remarked. “Anyone notice how he reacted when Wyatt went invisible? He actually got scared. He likes his foes where he can see them. He doesn’t expect a full-on assault from the shadows.”

“I sorta noticed that,” Wyatt said, rubbing the back of his head. “Though I was a little preoccupied with not stepping on anything that would give away my position. If his Sentries had hit me, the Invisible card would’ve given out.”

“So it isn’t a complete win-win, we’d still have to get him alone, and I doubt that’s going to be easy. If I know someone like Drakkon, and I do generally,” Shining replied thinking of Nightmare Moon. “He’s not going to take this defeat lying down. He’ll be back, and he will probably hold up his promise. We need a little extra something before he returns.”

“Hey, anyone seen Sunburst?” Vapor asked.

“He’s… well, I did see him when we got on here,” Sunset replied. “He’s in a bad way. Follow me.” Sunset replied, gesturing to Shining.

“Okay, while I head off with her, someone work something out okay?” Shining asked, following Sunset to a little area off the main temple, where he found Sunburst curled up in a fetal position. Kneeling down, Shining demorphed and rested a hand on his fellow Ranger’s shoulder.

“You alright?”

“Do I look alright?” Sunburst asked, his blood-spattered helmet by his side. “Those Ranger Sentries… they’re not robots or anything like that. They’re-”

“Human?” Shining finished. “Yeah, I sorta figured. Drakkon doesn’t seem to think highly of monsters or Riders. It makes sense that he’d use humans for his Sentries.”

“Yeah… It’s just, I’ve grown so used to fighting actual monsters for so long that when I killed that Samurai Sentry…” Sunburst trailed off.

“I get it, fighting an indoctrinated person is different than something like a monster,” Shining offered, patting Sunburst’s shoulder. “But they were still threatening Ponyville, and if you hadn’t fought back, that Samurai Sentry would’ve had no qualms with killing you.”

“How… How do you do it? Rationalize something like that?” Sunburst asked.

“I was Captain of the Guard way before I was the Magna Defender,” Shining answered. “Part of the training is learning to understand the weight of taking a life. It should never be easy, but it does become something you can get yourself to do.”

“But you still feel sick to your stomach when you do it right? I’ve heard about you beating back the Changelings on the edges of Equestria, partially what caused Chrysalis to attack from what I heard.”

“Yeah, it still causes the stomach to turn,” Shining admitted, looking up. “I think I’d head right to a shrink if I didn’t feel something after making tough calls like that.”

“Yeah…” Sunburst murmured. “Now, how do we save Ponyville?”

Shining smiled. “I’ve got a few ideas in mind.”

Author's Note

Okay, so a few things. Yes, that little ramble of Twilight's is a reference to Grief is the Price We Pay by Scyphi. You can read it here. Had to sneak that in, along with Twilight meeting Kaito Kumon aka the original Kamen Rider Baron offscreen.

Yes, I admit killing off both the Ninja Storm and Wild Force Rangers of Drakkon's world was cruel, but it had to be done. It was Shago's idea really, to not just show to you Drakkon's quite serious, but to give his ultimatum in the most brutal way we could think of.

Finally, the conversation between Galaxy and Shining. A huge thanks to Thunder for helping me out on that bit, and writing Shining's lines. Next time, the Rangers and Riders make a play, and Spike gets a gift. As ever, comments, thoughts, and critique for all of our hard work are welcomed.

Part 9: Roll for Initiative

The Animarium:

“Okay, so what have we got?” Shining asked over lunch later that day, all of the Rider/Ranger alliance surrounding him like a war council of generals. “What do we have so far, in information about Drakkon, how he thinks, how he fights, the lot?”

“Fighting style is an unspecified sixth-degree black belt in karate,” Wyatt answered, crossing his arms over his chest. He thinks like a classic megalomaniac with a need to control and subjugate. Likes to use psychological warfare and he denounces heroes.”

“Does he do the classic breaking you speeches that all the other megalomaniacs like Ebony Maw and the lot do?” Robert asked. “Because I’d really love to tell him to shut his arse for once. Seriously, the guy, he’s a walking cliche. It’d be funny if he wasn’t so shit your pants terrifying,” he remarked.

“Well we know he isn’t perfect,” the Twilight of Wyatt’s universe remarked drumming her fingers on the table in front of her. “Guerilla tactics and enemies he can’t see seem to catch him off guard and make him sloppy.”

“Hmm, so we need to surprise him,” the Twilight of this world mused. “Trouble is, I’m not sure that’s the best idea. Me and Toxica, we scanned that Orb hovering over Ponyville. Full of magical energy. If it drops…” she sucked in a breath. “Endgame,”

Wyatt glanced around the table, his eyes lingering on the Rangers. After a moment, his eyes lit up and he turned to Robert. “I’ve got an idea so crazy that it might just work. Hey Robert, do you know the plan that the Space Rangers used against the Psychos?”

“Oh, I know where this is going, and I like it. We’ve already reached the Godzilla Threshold as it were, so this might just have to do,” Robert smirked. “Hell, done this once before for an all-pink change though mind you, that was for entirely different reasons so we know it can be done,”

“Excellent,” Wyatt said, rubbing his hands together. “As for the dome,” he turned to Toxica and Shayla. “Can you two force in a few Zords past that dome to keep it from falling on the town within forty-eight hours?”

“Can’t make any promises, but we’ll see what we can do,” Shayla replied before Baroness Twilight spoke up.

“I’m sorry, little lost here. What’s this plan against the Psychos you mentioned Wyatt?” she asked in confusion. “I need a cast list here, and a bit of background information,”

“Long story short, the Psychos were created to doggedly attack the Space Ranger that correlated to their color. They outmatched the team in speed, strength, and durability when fought one on one so they had to retreat a few times. In the end, they found a way to make themselves all look like Blue Rangers and played a few mind games with the Psychos, even throwing in a fake ‘Psycho Silver’ for good measure. My plan is to take my invisibility strategy and modify it. Instead, Wizard, myself and OOO will make copies of ourselves while the Rangers put on matching green suits and we’ll use hit and run tactics on Drakkon using our superior knowledge of Ponyville to our advantage. Since Gaim and Baroness can’t make copies, they’ll make sure to keep the Sentries off our asses. With a little help from Lockseed controlled Inves,” Wyatt explained.

“No, too risky,” Shining put in. “The Inves, from what I saw, don’t exactly bow to any Master. Plus, there’s another problem,” he pointed out.

“If an Inves is summoned by a Lockseed, they follow orders unless it leaves your grasp,” Wyatt assured. “But what’s your other problem?”

“Sentries,” Shining stated, walking over to the fountain and waving his hand. “See this? They’ve got everyone in Ponyville holed up in their homes, and if Drakkon even so much as gives the order, well I suppose I don’t need to say what’ll happen do I?” he asked. “We need to get the citizens out first, then engage Drakkon. Ponyville’s about to become a war zone, I don’t want any more casualties than there’s already been,”

“Hmm, I do have something that might be able to help with evacuation,” Wyatt said, summoning his card case. “But Drakkon might have something to counter Kabuto’s speed so we should think about how we can get into Ponyville and get the civvies out without engaging him,”

“I say we create one Hell of a distraction, keep Drakkon’s attention elsewhere, eh?” Sunset asked. “His eyes wander elsewhere with whatever chaos we cause, and we get everyone out in the meantime,”

“Alright, but what could we possibly do that would distract him?” Spike questioned, scratching the side of his head while he stared into the fountain. He watched, and let out a snarl as Drakkon kicked Rarity back inside her home.

“Also, I have to question,” Shining replied. “Drakkon’s liable to upgrade himself and his suit again isn’t he?”

“Probably,” Spike stood up, stretching his limbs out,. “We’re not the only people he’s at war with, remember?”

“The guy is obsessed with stealing Ranger Powers,” Wyatt added, nodded a scowl on his face as he watched the scene unfold. “It’s best to expect anything and everything in his arsenal,”

“Okay, so we assume he’s got every Ranger power known to man right now. Worst case scenario right?” Shining asked, and Wyatt nodded. “So, high time we start thinking about upgrading our own roster of abilities,”

“Way ahead of you there,” Robert commented, holding up a very familiar morpher. “Nicked this off one of his SPD Sentries. Gotta give him props, looks better than ever,”

“No, I don’t think that’ll be enough, welcome as that is,” Shining sighed. “We need something… more. Upgrade the Riders, as it were,” he remarked.

Wyatt opened his card case, looking through it for a moment. “Well, I have something new in my arsenal. Being Decade does have its one perk.” He held the new cards out, displaying one with Robert’s Orange Ranger form and another that showed the words, ‘Final Form Ride’.

“How did…?” Robert wondered aloud before sighing. “You know what, I’m not even going to question that. Never question Decade, sorta a rule with him,” he muttered before an idea came to his mind and he smirked devilishly like a little fox in a henhouse. “Actually, Spike, your Medals, based off of animals right?”

Spike took one out, tossing it into the air. “Yeah, Grandpa made them from greed and the essence of animals. The purple set is made from the void while the pink set was created from harmony,”

“Okay, so emotions and animals. But, I think you get where I’m going here right?” Robert asked, gesturing to the massive form of the Thunderbird Zord flying high above them, leaving trails of lightning in his wake.

Spike’s eyes lit up for a moment. “I like the idea,” Spike nodded at Twilight. “Grandpa and my dad gave Maud their notes on making medals. We’d have to get them from her,”

Twilight slipped another ring on, activating her belt. “She’s never said no to sharing it before. I don’t see why she wouldn’t share now,” Reaching into a small magic circle, she pulled out a laptop. “Now all we need is some Magicite.”

“Not sure that exists in our universe…” Sunset murmured.

Twilight stared at her for a moment. “How does magicite, one of the cornerstones of magical studies and artifact creation not exist here? Hell, the Alicorn Amulet has a magicite chunk in it!”

“Do I look like an expert on Multiverse Theory to you?” Sunset asked sarcastically. “Here I still subscribe to the old Constants and Variables bit!”,

Sighing, Twilight pinched her brow and shook her head. “As I’ve already said, Sunset, that is not a thing. Need I remind you of Ponyland?”

Sunset stifled a chuckle at that, but sighed. “I concede your point, you still have a picture of that Rainbow to show to ours, and then Rarity when this is all over?”

“What do you think?” Wyatt smirked, holding up his camera. “We actually met Senator Armstrong there. Stuff got nuts.”

“Getting off track here, can we bloody make these new Medals or not?” Robert asked.

“Maybe,” Twilight said, pushing the thoughts of the multiverse out of her head. Turning to Sunset she asked, “Do you know what the Alicorn Amulet is made of?”

“Never quite got the chance to study it, before we locked it away so no-one unsavory could get their claws on it, like Thrax or the like,” Baroness Twilight replied.

AJ raised her eyebrow. “Ya didn’t destroy it? When we got that dang thing off Trixie, we had Spike break it with his stinger.”

“Okay, I admit, that one’s probably going to come back to bite me…” Baroness Twilight sighed.

“Not today it isn’t,” Wyatt said, looking between the two princesses. “Do you two know where the Amulet is locked up so we can grab it and figure out what it’s made of?”

“Princess Celestia said it was in the public’s best interest that nobody knew,” Sunset put in.

Groaning, Wyatt dragged a hand down his face. “So the only one who knows for sure is the crazy sun tyrant of this universe. Gee, why can’t I just pop in for a visit and ask nicely?” He asked sarcastically. Taking a deep breath, he let the thought go as his Twilight rubbed his shoulders. “Right. Spike’s probably the only one who's gonna get anything out of this. I doubt you guys can give anything to Twilight or AJ,”

“Well, you could just clone my Lockseeds…” Twilight commented, holding up her Banana, Sakura, Mango Lockseeds and another one that looked like an apple. “...You can do that right?”

AJ chuckled. “Ah already got those Lockseeds, sugahcube. Ah should be the one offerin’ mine to ya,”

“Didn’t hurt to ask,” Twilight commented, with a sheepish smile. “Besides, Ninjas, Samurais, and Knights? Something seems wrong about that combo,”

“Not really,” Wyatt chimed in. “All of them have been romanticized past the point of recognition of what they originally were and both samurai and knights served the function of being sworn servants to a lord and or king. Hell, Samurai literally translates to, ‘one who serves’.”

“Great, another egghead around here. As if Sunburst and Twi weren’t bad enough!” Lightning muttered, before Vapor smacked her around the back of the head for being rude.

“Just for that, you don’t get to see more Sombra pictures if we survive this battle,” Wyatt teased, waving his camera in Lightning’s face. She fumed a little.

“Annnnnnyyyyways,” Sunset sighed, “I think I have a solution to our Alicorn Amulet problem. I’ll just go ask Princess Luna herself, she’s bound to know where it is, or at least what it’s made of,”

“Oh boy,” Vapor muttered. “The Missus and the Ex in the same room together. Awkward…”

“I don’t follow,” Spike said, quirking a brow at Vapor. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What she means is,” Lightning commented, barely suppressing a laugh as Robert suddenly began looking at the floor, “Is that Robert banged Luna, and then soon after, hooked up with Sunset!”

Spike blinked, scratching his cheek. “That just seems like those trashy romance novels Mom used to read,”

Robert slid into the floor, a rather comical dark cloud over his head. “...Great, embarrass me further why don’t you?” he muttered.

Twilight cleared her throat, holding up the laptop. “So, who's going to be making these medals? I’m not all that great at alchemy, and I’d rather not crack the Animarium in half or something,”

“Soon as we know what the Amulet is made of,” Shayla replied. “I’ll contribute some of my own magic, channel it through the Morphin’ Grid and we should have something,”

Spike clicked his tongue, tossing the medal again. “None of my medals use a grid. The driver just draws their power for me. Otherwise, I’d get all corrupted like everyone else who uses them. Still, Zord powered Medals? Should pack one Tartarus of a kick!” he smirked, before he was smacked upside the head by AJ for his language.

“Well, whatever the case, you’ll have your medals soon enough. Spike, you’re with me,” Sunset replied. “We’re going to see Princess Luna.”

“Is this so you don’t have to be alone in a room with her?” Spike asked, walking over to Sunset’s side.

“Ye-No!” Sunset stammered out as everyone else snickered. “Just come on…” she sighed, before they both teleported out in gold-toned flashes of light.

“Okay, guess that means the rest of us,” Vapor remarked. “We get to go green. Should be an interesting experience, to say the least,”

Channeling energy through the Morphin’ Grid, the remaining Rangers soon found their costumes changing to a very different shade. The Dragon Dagger shimmered as the energy interacted with it, altering the effect as it altered Shining’s armor turning it green. The chest plating gained more of a golden tint and looked even more armored than before if that was possible, and the bullhorns atop the helmet became more like a buffalo’s, with an upturned curve in the back of the helmet resembling that of the one on the Dragonzord’s head. Finally, the green (now red) orb in the middle of Shining’s chest armor displayed a very familiar three clawed emblem.

“That’s certainly one hell of a look Shining,” Wyatt commented. “Can’t say I don’t approve of the look. Maybe it’ll get under Drakkon’s skin?”

“Oh, I suspect it will,” Shining smirked. “Sadly, it’s probably only temporary, but I’ll take whatever I can get for this,” he remarked.

Baroness Twilight, as everyone else inspected their new costumes, took Wyatt aside for a moment.

“Can… Can I ask you something?” she asked nervously, pressing her fingers together as she did so. “It’s, it’s well about before really,”

Wyatt nodded, putting his hands in his pockets. “Sure, what’d you want to say?”

“Back… Back after we arrived on the Animarium after Drakkon handed our flanks to us on a silver platter as they say, and we nearly came to blows. I… I let my temper get the best of me, and I’m-” she stuttered out, before being swiftly cut off.

“Sorry?” Wyatt smiled, holding his hand out. “Forget about it, it’s all good.”

“But you were right about one thing, I am pretty much Celestia’s little pet, never mind the fact that she’s got a split personality or not,” Twilight mumbled.

Wyatt rolled his eyes, patting Twilight’s head. “Like I said, forget about it. I said some pretty bad things to, so, I’m sorry as well. Just forget all about it, eh?”

“Alright, I’ll try,” Twilight smiled. “Besides, bigger things to worry about than interpersonal relationships,”

“Yeah,” Wyatt replied. “Like Drakkon. But he’ll soon be dealt with if we have anything to say about it.

Twilight smirked as she thought to herself. “Watch out Drakkon. Here comes the Rangers, and believe me, we’re quite ready for you…”

Far down below, Goldar wasn’t exactly in what you’d call the best of moods. Right now, he had the feeling, if Drakkon succeeded in taking over this world, one of two things would happen. One, he would end up being pushed to the side, or two, Drakkon would kill Thrax and him, and place a puppet ruler on the throne.

“Something needs to be done about this,” Goldar growled. “And soon.”

He thought back, to a time when the Rangers and both Lord Zedd and Empress Rita were off-world and he was off in France of all places, with a massive Warzord forged from the fallen Thunderzords, and the remains of his own personal Zord Cyclopsis. Somehow, and he still had yet to figure it out to this day, a certain Pink Ranger had managed to repower herself, and form a whole new team to stand against him.

Ironically, when his second in command at the time -Something that wouldn’t have looked out of place from the human movie ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’- wanted to strike out on his own, and take the world for himself, he formed a temporary alliance with Kimberly and her team. Goldar let out a long low sigh.

“As much as I hate for history to repeat itself, well… if it means getting Drakkon out of my hair, then I’ll team up with the Rangers if need be.” he thought, as rocks began to gather around him, and massive golems began to form…

Ponyville had never looked quite so eerie, Robert mused to himself. “Like a bloody ghost town, where’s a tumbleweed when you need one?” he thought to himself, as he and Wyatt hid behind a building, and watched the Sentries patrol the streets.

“I’d… I’d crack a joke usually right about now,” Robert whispered. “But I’m too freaked out to even think of a good enough one,” he commented before he pressed Wyatt flat against a wall to avoid the search beams of a hover tank. “Okay, now I’m just getting flashbacks to Arkham Knight and those damned Cobra drones. Huh, guess I do have a joke or two left in me after all,”

“Now is not the time to mention Batman,” Wyatt grumbled, watching the tank as it passed by them. “Boy, never thought I’d be saying that,” he added under his breath. Robert’s breath then caught in his throat as he heard a familiar scream.

“Rarity!” he shouted, and broke off into a sprint, running down the alleyway and past corners, leaping over small obstructions as needed or clambering over fences till he reached Carousel Boutique and saw a Mastodon and a Sabertooth Sentry pointing their weapons at Rarity and Zephyr.

“Maybe give yourself up nicely, and we’ll make this quick,” the Sabertooth sentry chuckled under her breath, before the window smashed in and a few bullets impacted the Sentry’s back.

“SPD EMERGENCY!” Robert shouted, letting the SPD SWAT uniform replace his own.

“I do so hate thugs like you,” Lupin brushed the glass off his armor, leveling his gunner at the Sentries. “Gives the rest of us a rather bad name.”

“Lupin, you worm!” the Sabertooth Sentry shouted, before a rifle cocked.

Robert leveled his Delta Enforcer at the Mastodon Sentry. “You know, I was content to live and let live, maybe leave you lot with just a few broken bones. But now, you’re just striving to piss me off,” he growled out protectively. “See, me, Rarity and Zephyr here have a history. They took me in, when no-one else could give a damn about me. Gave me a place to work, and I’ll owe them for that. So now you come in here, and not expect me to react? How foolish you are…”

Wyatt ran up in his Decade armor, pausing as he took in the scene. “Lupin, why are you here? Isn’t pointing your weapon at a Dai-Shocker underling something Somber wouldn’t approve of?” Pulling his card case off his belt, he unfolded it into his blaster and leveled it at Lupin’s helmet.

“Dai-Shocker and I no longer share the same interests,” Lupin replied, not bothered by Wyatt’s blaster. “Sadly for me, I’ve come down with a bit of the conscience. Not a very useful thing in my line of work I assure you.”

“Aww, I’m almost moved to tears, Lupy,” Wyatt replied, sarcasm oozing out of his every word. “If I had my world’s smallest violin handy, I might play you a sad song.”

“Can you two can it already?” Robert snapped, still holding his rifle level to the Sentries. “Got bigger fish to worry about right now!”

“Fine,” Wyatt asked, inserting the Blast card into his belt and firing rapidly at the Sentries’ chests. “I can put aside how much I hate Lupin for now.”

Robert leaped to the left to avoid a swing from the Sabertooth’s sword, knocking over a store mannequin in the process, before he rolled to the right to avoid some shots from the Mastodon Sentry, as he fired back. The Sentry leaped to the left to avoid the shots, as Robert shot a dress to ribbons. He winced, ooh that was an expensive one, if the diamonds and peacock feathers scattering to the floor were any indication.

“So sorry, I promise I’ll make it up to you Rarity, I’ll work overtime when this is all said and done!” Robert shouted, in a pleading please forgive me and spare my life manner. “Hell, I’ll even work with styling hair with Zeph if need be to pay for the damages!” he knocked the Mastodon Sentry in the head with the butt of his gun, before kneeing him in the stomach, before grabbing ahold of the Sentry and tossing him to Wyatt with a shout of: “Faiz, now!”

“Can do!” Wyatt pulled out a pair of cards from his belt, inserting one into its slot as Lupin went sword to sword with the Sabertooth Sentry.

“Kamen Ride: Faiz!” The familiar silhouettes converged on Wyatt as his armor changed. Black became the main color of the form, with all the unarmored portions taking on the dark hue. The armor itself was silver with red trim -Tron Lines, really- running all along the body and connecting the chest piece to the gauntlets, greaves, and helmet. The helmet was dominated by two massive, yellow eyes that were separated by a red stripe that led up to two small, red antenna. Without missing a beat, he inserted the second card into his belt.

“Attack Ride: Auto Vajin!” A moment passed before a grey robot that was a head taller than Wyatt appeared next to him. Its head resembled a motorcycle helmet while its eyes were a black visor. On its chest was a symbol resembling Wyatt’s new helmet with its shoulders being comprised of motorcycle handles. In its left hand was a large wheel with a trio of gun barrels at its center. Wyatt pulled out a saber from the robot’s right shoulder and leaped into the air to slash at the Mastodon Sentry while the robot opened fire on him to keep him from touching the ground.

“And now for you,” Lupin remarked, as he approached the Sabertooth Sentry. “Funny, from what I heard of these Sentries, one thinks they’d put up more of a fight.” He leveled his gunner at their helmet, holding his hand out. “Your morpher, now. I’d hate to have to harm a lady after all.”

Of course, this request went over as about as well as could be expected, and the Sabertooth Sentry charged towards him as Lupin suppressed a sigh. Before he could raise his gun, however, a blast from Rarity knocked the Sentry out. Said Sentry sound found herself in a confinement card.

“Well, couldn’t let you have all the fun, now could I Blueblood?” Rarity asked teasingly.

“The name’s just Blud, but a lady’s help never goes unappreciated,” Lupin replied, motioning as much of a tip of his hat that his helmet would allow. His hand disappeared into his cape and he produced a rose which he tossed to the mare. “There, a token of my gratitude. Unfortunately, no rose I’ve grown could match your own beauty,”

“...He’ll never change,” Rarity muttered as Zephyr went red. “Just when I was going to reevaluate my opinion of him,”

“As much fun as this little bout was,” Lupin remarked. “I’ve got other things to attend to and so do you,” he said, before vanishing with a flourish of his cape.

“Much as I hate to admit it,” Robert grumbled, storing the Sentry’s confinement card away and de-morphing back to his regular costume. “He’s right, still plenty more of this town to save, so let’s get to it.”

Elsewhere in Ponyville, Lightning and Twilight had taken to the skies and were raining hell down on the Sentries which flocked the streets, clearing paths for everyone else. Then, Lightning’s eyes widened under her helmet as she saw flames rising from a certain part of Ponyville.

“That’s Spoon Manor!” Lightning shouted, before she tucked in her wings and rocketed off towards the direction of her adoptive sister. Twilight went into her comms, and called her Wizard counterpart.

“Other me, Lightning’s heading towards Silver Spoon’s manor, might need the help. I can contain these Sentries down here, but Lightning… Worried she might do something stupid,” Baroness informed, as she went into Mango Arms and dropped down into the chaos Mango Punisher in hand.

“Alright, I’ll head over to the Spoon Manor, I’m about a block away so I should get there before her Wonderbolt or not. I’ll be sure to keep her from doing anything stupid,” her counterpart answered over the comms, the sounds of her Driver switching to Water Dragon form clear as day in the background.

“Now that’s settled…” Twilight muttered before she was knocked backwards by a blast of purple-toned magic.

While she was on the ground, she heard the words, “Dangerous Zombie!” while a black grid appeared on the ground for a brief moment. “Gashato! Buckle up! Danger Danger, Genocide, Death the Crisis! Dangerous Zombie!”

“Another worthless version of me it seems,” a distorted version of Twilight’s voice spoke. “Far too many of those if you ask me.”

“Oh great…” Twilight muttered to herself as she took in the newcomer’s appearance. She was easily the strangest Rider yet, given that her helmet seemed to bear broken goggles and had spiked ‘hair’. “Should have seen this one coming a mile away. What is it with bad guys and white?”

The rest of her counterpart’s armor was just as strange, styled to look like a skeleton with an odd piston sticking out of the right shoulder and a red window with her form’s silhouette being struck by lightning on the left breast of the breastplate. The front of the helmet resembled a respirator with four slits making up the mouth portion and an eerie glowing blue eye.

“Rarity would have a field day with you, I think,” Baroness Twilight remarked. “I mean, Mystic Mother above, that costume!”

“Coming from the woman wearing a fruit on her head,” her counterpart retorted, removing her purple driver from her waist, proceeding to attach it to her wrist. The instant she did, it began to rev like a chainsaw. “You should be honored, meeting the superior version of yourself.”

“You’re so arrogant, I’m going to actually enjoy this,” Twilight muttered, shaking her head as she switched out Lockseeds. “Ranbu! Defend your Position! Knight of Shi~eld!”

A zipper opened above Twilight, and a crimson red metal apple came down atop Twilight’s head and opened up. Red Liquid splashed around her as her new armor was revealed. A red crown had formed around her head with room made for her horn and two spikes rising up from the side that looked suspiciously like apple slices. Red dominated the ensemble with yellow trim that resembled the inside of an apple running along the breastplate in a swirling pattern. Her shoulder pads, and chest armor also resembled apple slices, aptly enough. In her hands, replacing the mace that was the Mango Punisher, was a simple shield with the hilt of a sword sticking out from it.

Twilight drew her blade, and leveled it at Gemn. “Care to dance?”

Holding up her weapon, her counterpart started to circle around Twilight slowly like a predator poised to pounce. “You can’t even hold your sword right, you actually think you can fight me, when those idiots with Decade couldn’t stop me?”

“Lady, two things you need to know. One, there’s no sense in not trying as I will defend my Kingdom, and two… You need a lesson or two taught to you, I’m afraid. If I have to take Celestia’s position in this scenario of Ogres and Oubliettes, so be it.” Twilight growled.

Her counterpart laughed, an annoyingly smug sound that grated on Twilight’s ears. “Alright, Princess, let me put it to you this way: you’re a level one Bard and I’m the Tarasque. Got it?”

“Hmm, let’s see if I can knock you off your throne then,” Baroness remarked, clashing blades with Gemn. Sparks flew as swords met, and Gemn leaped upwards as Twilight swung low to knock her off her feet, before kicking the Armored Rider in the face making her stagger back.

“See, you need to get good!” Gemn laughed before stabbing at Twilight, who leaped backwards just in time and decided on just bashing her counterpart with her shield. “I mean, these are elementary level moves. Here I was hoping to get some good data off of you,”

Twilight’s hand went down to her belt, bringing down the lever twice on her Lockseed. “Ringo Au Lait!”

A group of flaming orange apples formed in midair, and Twilight kicked the bushel towards her counterpart like it was a grenade, blasting Gemn backwards. “You were saying something about me being level one?”

Gemn giggled, brushing the blast off like it was nothing. “My point stands, Twilight,” Lurching like a zombie, her giggles increased. “Midnight is far better than Twilight, as you’ll come to understand.”

“So you gave yourself a supervillain name, how quaint,” Baroness sniffed as she threw her shield like a boomerang knocking ‘Midnight’ in the head and as it flew back to Twilight’s hand, the Armored Rider dealt out purple flame infused series of slashes from her sword. “Am I supposed to be impressed with any of that nonsense?” she asked, before Twilight grimaced. She was starting to sound like any one of those nobles she so hated.

Midnight used her weapon to knock away the slashes, letting them explode around her and leave smoldering embers around her. Twilight then flicked her belt once, and tossed a flaming apple towards Gemn like a cherry bomb knocking the white rider back before slashing her across the chest, with a burst of speed as Twilight closed in on her advantage. “You’re slow, too slow. I thought you were supposed to be a higher level than me,” Baroness admonished before she sighed. Yep, definitely like a Canterlot Noble now. “You were saying something about data? Because I don’t think you’ll be getting it from me anytime soon.”

Genm grinned sending chills down her counterpart’s spine, grabbing Twilight’s wrist. “You moronic pegacorn, you really think it’s that easy to kill me? I’m immortal,” Twisting Twilight’s arm making her scream out in pain and making her drop her shield, she glared down at her. “Hit me with everything you got, you’re just wasting your time.”

“Oh shut up!” Baroness shouted, headbutting her counterpart, freeing her from Gemn’s grip. They locked blades once more, before Twilight smirked under her helmet, and dropped her sword into her other hand and slashed Gemn across the chest in what should have been the final blow.

Genm stumbled back, her chestplate smoking. “Aw, did I upset the princess? Do you need your precious Celestia to take care of the mean old bully?”

“That’s right,” Twilight smiled, letting Gemn have the briefest moment of satisfaction. “You really are just a playground bully.”

With that, she thrust her sword forwards through Gemn’s chest. After she drew it back, Gemn staggered backwards, purple smoke gushing from her wound. A moment later, it sealed up like nothing happened.

“What the…?” Twilight gaped.

“I told you, I’m immortal,” Genm replied, cracking her neck. “But please, continue. It’s more than a little amusing.”

“So what if you’re immortal?” Shining’s voice asked, as he leaped into the fray and hit Gemn in the head with a kick any Rider would have been proud of. “Just means my baby sis needs a little help. Plus, always wanted a real-life game of Ogres and Oubliettes,” he quipped.

“Oh look, the little knight in shining armor,” Genm tucked into a roll, getting back to her feet. “Don’t make me laugh. The two of you are insects compared to my brilliance.”

“Twi, were you always this bad when you were a little filly?” Shining asked.

“Nope, this one has me beat by a landslide,” his sister replied. “In arrogance that is.”

Genm wasted no time, backhanding Shining Armor through a wall. “You’re nothing like me, simpleton.” Closing the distance, she wrapped her hands around Twilight’s neck, lifting her off the ground. “Do you see a horn on my head, princess? Do you see a muzzle or hooves? I made everything I have with nothing but my hands and my mind. That’s why I’m better than you, troglodyte.”

Twilight smirked, and Genm blinked wondering exactly why. Then, she found out as Shining rushed up from behind, and slashed her across the back and as Twilight dropped to the street below, she slashed Gemn across the chest.

“Time to finish this farce.” Twilight sighed, as Shining changed his Magna Blade to its blaster form. Twilight placed her hand on the Riot Blaster, and infused it with pure magical power, before Shining pulled the trigger.

A flaming dragon’s head erupted from the weapon, and hit Genm with enough sheer power and force to shatter her armor. Genm tumbled away, her armor evaporating in a purple cloud, revealing her true form. A purple skinned, human teenager pulled herself off the ground, her eyes bloodshot and her hair a frizzy mess.

“Game over, ‘Midnight’.” Twilight remarked.

Midnight removed her glasses, furiously cleaning the lenses. “This means nothing, you pink aisle reject. You’re just a slightly more intelligent form of equine, nothing more.” Returning her glasses to her face, Midnight disappeared in a distortion with her proverbial tail between her legs.

Author's Note

Okay, a few notes about this chapter. One, me, Shago and Thunder debated to no end about Shining's temporary upgrade, as I wanted morphing grid energy channeled through the Dragon Dagger and morphing Shining into the original Green Ranger, but both said it was too contrived and in the end, I conceded their point.

Also, learned a fair bit about Ex-Aid in this chapter, with the Gemn fight, and how the original bearer of the powers worked. Seriously, he died from the silliest things, dangerous as he was. Running gag, really. Also, Gemn's armor is not destroyed, she's just been demorphed for lack of a better word. Also, I do like how all three of us managed to, in a sense, redeem not only Baron but Kamen Rider Mars as well with Twilight using variations of their armors.

Also, on the Goldar thing. That did happen, but like Drakkon it's a BOOM comic exclusive event, chronicaled in the Pink Miniseries. Well worth a read if you're a Kimberly fan.

Finally, originally this theme shown below was supposed to be in the chapter but for obvious reasons got swapped out for the SPD one.

As ever, comments, thoughts, and critique are welcomed.

Part 10: Warzone

Author's Note

Okay, got quite a few apologies to make. First off, a personal one to Badninja for misleading you. Apparently, the events here are taking place months ahead of the ones in Thunder and Shago's story, given Twilight has only recently gone Wizard.

Also, the next apology is... admitting I sorta goofed. Twilight's fight with Gemn/Midnight. Her entire first few days as Baronness actually. This sorta comes into me not actually planning this ahead of time for Twilight to gain the Banana/Mango/Ringo Arms, but her fighting as well as she did, even with a few magical short-cuts? Absolutely no way she should have been, realistically, take down Midnight like that. Riders aren't like Rangers in that they seem to gain instant knowledge of how to use their powers.

Also, finally, sorry for taking as long as we did to come up with this, life happened and for me at least, got my mind distracted with other projects like "To the Stars" and watching White Collar. But, here you go. Hope it was worth the wait.

Part 10: Warzone

Spoon Manor:

Lightning’s breath caught itself in her throat as she once again, found herself inside a burning Spoon Manor. Using her wings to shield herself from the flame, she knocked aside various men in black, skeleton themed luchador outfits.

“Twilight, who are these guys?” Lightning asked as she used an axe-kick on one of the thugs before knocking a machine pistol out of another’s hand. “Guessing they work for Dai-Shocker, right? Taking a wild guess here.”

“Describe them,” Twilight noted as she touched down in the manor’s courtyard. “Are they screaming at the top of their lungs like idiots, and dressed like Mexican wrestlers?”

“Yeah… That’d be them alright…” Lightning muttered, as she punched one of the aforementioned screaming men in the face.

“Dai-Shocker Combatmen.” Twilight stated, blasting a group backwards with a jet of water. “Be careful, they can turn into missiles.”

Lightning blinked, both at the sheer idea of that as it seemed frankly rather impossible really and the sheer incompetence of what was supposed to be an all-conquering legion’s personal footsoldiers. Then again, Tengas and Putrids were a thing, so she had no room to talk.

“Lemme guess, Somber’s personal henchmen? If so, he really needs to fire them all, and get better soldiers than these creeps. I mean, for a multiversal conqueror, one would think he’d have enough sense to recruit soldiers who are even worse than Robert at announcing their presence! If they start screaming Leeroy Jenkins anytime soon, I wouldn’t be surprised.” Lightning continued to grumble. She let out a yelp as one of the Combatmen did indeed turn into a missile, and launched himself at Lightning, who barely rolled out of the way to avoid it, and a wall came crashing down behind her.

“Can I just ask, Twilight?” Lightning continued to mutter. “A dragon, and water? Seems like an oxymoron really. Dragons are always the ones burning things to the ground, not putting out the fires.”

“Just like any creature, dragons adapt. I know a world where a dragons color determines what they can breathe. Believe it or not, there were even ice dragons.” Twilight shifted her sword into its gun form, firing at a few combatmen. “You really need to open your mind to possibilities, Lightning.”

“This is just too easy, all I’m saying.” Lightning shrugged as she knocked several of the soldiers aside. “I mean, it’s like Somber’s on the ragged edge of what he can throw at us by now.”

“He’s not,” Wizard Twilight replied, glancing back at Lightning. “This just means he’s putting the bare minimum of effort into this; not that he’s running out of people.”

“Great, now I feel insulted if he doesn’t really give a damn about who we are. I mean, come on, give me a real challenge!” Lightning snapped.

“Is overconfidence a thing amongst Lightning Dusts wherever you go, or is it just contained to ours?” Baroness Twilight asked her counterpart in a flat tone, as she ran through the streets, striking down Combatmen with her sword. “I’ll be joining you shortly, you two. ...Or maybe not.” she muttered as several Samurai Sentries stepped in front of her and the Rider switched out Lockseeds.

“Mango Arms: Fight of Ham~mer!” the Warring Driver exclaimed as Twilight raised her mace.

“No, it seems to be a running thing, I’ve noticed,” Wizard Twilight deadpanned. “Just be careful Lightning, Dai-Shocker has a tendency to surprise.”

“Bah, whatever. I can handle them, surprises or not!” Lightning scoffed.

Of course, there was that thing called tempting fate. Lightning, as she threw open a door, allowed herself to scan the burning room for any signs of life. A cough, a scream, anything. A red cape blindsided her, and she found herself face to face with another Tyrannosaurus Sentry, using a whip-sword instead of the usual double-bladed staff.

“Cute, real cute… Where the hell do they drudge these guys up? I mean, just where?” Lightning muttered to herself as the Sentry’s sword wrapped itself around her own blade.

Letting her sword drop from one hand into another, she slashed the Sentry across the chest and kicked him into a bookcase. She briefly glanced outside a window to the streets below, and saw Baroness Twilight flick the little knife on her belt three times.

“Mango Sparkling!” it shouted, as Twilight swung her Mango Punisher around, and sent a rather solid looking projection of its head at the Sentries, sending them flying.

“Okay then Wizard,” Lightning asked, keeping the questions coming as she knocked open another door, hoping to find Silver in this next room, which seemed to be devoted solely to art if the wall-to-wall paintings were any indicator. The constant questions and inquiries, they served to keep her mind from worrying about Silver, keep it occupied. “If there’s water dragons in some far-off world somewhere ignoring every aspect of myth that I was taught, do other myths throw their rules completely out the window with other creatures? I mean, do things like snow phoenixes exist?”

“It’s an infinite multiverse, Lightning. Anything and everything is possible.”

“Don’t tell that to Sunburst,” Lightning informed. “He’d have a fit trying to comprehend that, anything and everything is possible. I love him and all, but sometimes he gets… Oh, what’s the phrase I’m looking for here?” she mused.

“Obsessed?” Wizard asked, pausing to catch her breath. “It got a bit worse for me, after the ritual. Helps keep my dragon side in check.”

“Could be worse, I suppose,” Lightning mused as she kicked another door in, panting and sweating only to throw her metal wing in front of her as machine gun bullets pounded off of it from a Mastodon Sentry’s rifle. “Could be Galaxy, the poor guy literally lives on blood. Don’t know if you’ve met him yet, but he’s a thestral. Vampire basically. Needs a gallon of blood a day just to even survive. Most of it comes from blood banks, but sometimes…” Lightning trailed off as she slide-kicked the Sentry out a window, glass shattering and some of it cutting into Lightning’s fur. “Well, you get the idea I think.”

“We know them as Strigoi, they don’t need blood back home though. Just be lucky he’s not a Fangire.”

“Dare I ask?” Lightning commented as she dodged an energy blast from a Megaforce Green Sentry, before tapping her gauntlet and bringing up a keypad. Her fingers lit up the keys as she sent the data to the rest of the Rangers, informing them of this new type of Sentry.

“Stain glass vampires, feed directly on life force.” Wizard slashed a Sabertooth sentry, knocking the sentry out of their morphed form. Another Mastodon Sentry leaped in from behind, but Baroness finally broke through the front gates and Rider Kicked him out of his Ranger form.

“See, told you I didn’t want to know! You shouldn’t have told me, and yet you did!” Lightning answered nervously as she slashed the SPD Sentry blocking her path across the chest several times with her sword before continuing onwards. Inside her helmet, she saw the two Twilights finally meet on a small screen.

“If you want to run away then just leave this battle, then just do so. After all, don’t they say it’s not easy to make your ideals come true?” Wizard commented, as she watched her counterpart drag the astoundingly heavy Mango Punisher behind her across the courtyard only to be swarmed with Combatmen. Wizard then switched her weapon back to its blade mode and began helping her armored counterpart cut down the soldiers. However, it was noted that Baroness seemed to have trouble lifting her mace, and was starting to show signs of weariness.

“Hardly, my sister in all but blood’s in there, and I’m not turning and running away just because of some lame-ass fakers and lucha libre wannabes!” Lightning snarled as she rounded another corner only to be blown backwards by an explosion and a wall of flame blocking her path.

“Good, that’s exactly what I like to hear,” Wizard commented. “You know, I’m actually beginning to see why you were chosen as a Ranger. Silver, she should be proud to have a sister like you. You… you know something, behind all that arrogance, you actually remind me of my brother in some ways. Before he got… well, you know.” Wizard grimaced.

“Turned? Yeah,” Lightning replied. “No shame in crying a little about that. Mystic Mother knows if it was Vapor who got put under Somber’s spell, I’d be pissed. Don’t worry, someday, I’m sure you’ll get your big brother back, m’kay?”

“T-Thanks... “ Wizard Twilight smiled. “Just for that, I’ll let Wyatt let you see some more pictures of kid Sombra, long as you swear not to tell anyone about this little breakdown okay?”

As she ran, Lightning smiled. “Cross my heart, hope to fly and stick a cupcake in my eye. That work?”

Wizard’s grunt was all the confirmation the Aqua Ranger needed. Lightning then swore, as she began to hear the beams holding the floor above her began to creak, and crack from the pressure. “...Don’t have much time left, this building’s about to come down. Twilight, and I don’t care which one of you answers, any time you can buy me? Or at least tell me how this place starting burning in the first place?”

Wizard Twilight activated her Connect ring, retrieving her Dragon Timer. “I can give you a few minutes, make use of them.” She switched to flame dragon, activating the watch. “Move!” She danced through the area, striking the timer after a few beats. A blue magic circle opened, depositing another Wizard, in water dragon form beside her.

“Okay, that’s… impressive.” Baroness admitted. She watched as another gate opened, summoning a green colored dragon Wizard. “Wind?” Baroness guessed, before she felt movement to the side, and swung her Mango Punisher around in a burst of strength just in time to meet a combatman in the face. Bone crunched as the weapon met his skull.

“Hurricane,” the new Wizard replied, firing her sword/gun. “Hurricane Dragon.”

Baroness swung her mace wildly, it was clear she didn’t really know how to use the weapon. And this sadly, coupled with how already exhausted she was, allowed a sentry to slip past her defenses. A shot from a Mastodon Sentry’s rifle hit her in the leg, grazing her but Twilight let out a yelp of pain all the while, as a small spatter of blood hit a piece of wrought iron fencing that surrounded the courtyard.

Twilight fell the ground, clutching her leg in pain as the Mango Punisher vanished from existence and her armor was soon to follow, leaving her in just the basic chainmail or Ride Wear as it was known.

Wizard Twilight swore under her breath even as the final gate opened to reveal a yellow-toned version of herself, -embodying the Land- she was afraid this was going to happen. Twilight, this one, was still too inexperienced to be let out in battle. She barely knew how to handle her weapons as it was. It was a miracle she’d lasted this long.

“Get out of here, now!” the yellow Wizard commanded, fighting off a few more combatmen.

“My leg…” Twilight murmured before letting out a scream of pain. “It hurts!”

“I got this one!” Vapor yelled out, as she swooped down in a burst of purple energy and grabbed Twilight and flew off with her, and just in time too. It hadn’t escaped anyone’s notice that a red dot was starting to appear on the Princess’ chest. A shot rang out from somewhere across the rooftops as a Pterodactyl Sentry fired their sniper rifle.

“T-Thanks Vapor…” Twilight whispered, as the Purple Ranger shook her head and chuckled.

“Ya know, you always were a stubborn one. Not sayin’ that’s always a bad thing, but really between you, Sunset, Lightning, and Robert? Gawd, surprised we’re all still sane!” she sighed to herself before her eyes narrowed as she eyed the backside of the manor and saw several black armored figures with flamethrowers in hand setting the building alight. “Lightning, I've got your answer as to what’s going on. Kurokage troopers, ‘round back. They’re the source of this. Already seen them set several other buildings alight, just to try and drive the ponies inside them out into the opening, or cause distractions for us.” she explained, as she sat Twilight down on a nearby rooftop and gave her a look telling her to just stay there, and out of trouble for the time being.

Lightning’s eyes narrowed as she used her wings to shield herself from the wall of flames in front of her, and shoulder charged through a door, busting it down. She was in Silver’s bedroom, but where was…?

“L-Lightning! Help!” Silver’s voice coughed out, and Lightning let out a furious nicker and stamped her hoof as she saw a Sabertooth Sentry holding a dagger to Silver’s throat.

“Let my sister go!” Lightning hissed out, wings flared.

“Give me your morpher, and then maybe we’ll talk,” the Sabertooth Sentry chuckled. Lightning’s fists clenched, she knew if she even made one move, the Sentry would have no qualms about slitting Silver’s throat. “Now, demorph and toss it to me… slowly.”

“Lightning… J-Just do as he says okay?” Silver asked. “Please!”

“No, I swore an oath to protect you, along with everyone else in this town. No, this planet when I got ahold of my powers. If I just let one scumbag knock-off push me around like he thinks he owns this place, then what sort of sister am I?” Lightning asked.

“A failure of one, I’d say,” the Sentry smirked under his helmet. “There’s nothing you can do! Nothing!”

Lightning looked away, not wanting for Silver to see her expression of shame as she gave in, and demorphed before tossing her Growl Phone to the Sentry. “There!” Lightning snapped, fighting back tears. “You’ve got what you want, now let my sister go!”

“Now, did I say that?” the Sentry asked, with a sneer before he raised his blade. Before he could bring it down however, Wizard smashed through the window and kicked him in the back sending Silver stumbling forwards into Lightning’s grasp, with the dagger falling to the floor.

“I don’t take kindly to anyone threatening children.” Touching a ring to her belt, Wizard conjured a spell circle. Chains exploded outward, ensnaring the sentry. “You just hang around for a while.”

“L-Let go of me!” the Sabertooth Sentry barked.

Wizard ignored him, turning to Silver. “You okay, Silver? He didn’t hurt you did he?”

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine…” Silver whispered before she shuddered in fear, snuggling into Lightning’s grip. “T-Thank you, Miss…?”

“It’s just Wizard,” Twilight with a smile. “Just a passing through Kamen Rider.”

“Thank you Wizard.” Silver smiled, before the building shook. Lightning grabbed her morpher and shot Twilight a thankful look, any past issues forgotten and then a nod.

“We need to get out of here, now!” Lightning shouted, before grabbing Silver by the arm and looking at her. “You trust me?”

“A-Always, I-I guess…” Silver whispered, rather unsure.

“Let’s go then, kid!” Lightning shouted, before taking flight out the smashed window with Silver nestled tightly in her arms with Twilight soon to follow. Lightning smirked as she looked at Wizard Twilight.

“You sure that boyfriend of yours won’t mind if you borrow his catchphrase?” she asked, in a slightly teasing tone.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Now, get Silver to safety,” she ordered, before Twilight looked down at the Kurokage Troopers and the burning manor. Cracking her knuckles, she went into Water Dragon mode and flared her wings. “I’ve got some things to take care of…”

The World of the Coinless:

“Well…” Drakkon thought to himself. “Guess that kid’s better than I thought he was. He actually caught me off-guard,” the fallen Ranger mused to himself before letting out a low growl. Even with all of his power-ups including those he’d ‘borrowed’ from other sources, he was getting nowhere with this world. They were actually putting up more of a fight than he thought they would, even sending the Gravezord back to his world. Granted, they’d only lasted this long with the help of Wyatt and company. He suspected, if he took on this world and Wyatt hadn’t interfered, the Rangers would be crushed under his heel and their morphers would be his.

It was only a simple matter of luck (wasn’t it?) that those Rangers managed to get the tools to summon Decade to their world. Drakkon frowned to himself. No, not luck. There were too many coincidences lining up like this for it to be anything but a rat somewhere. And Drakkon suspected just who that rat might be.

“I warned Somber that Blud couldn’t be trusted,” Drakkon mused to himself. “And I was right wasn’t I? He screwed up grabbing the Solar Cell morpher from the beginning, there was no way he should have lost to that thestral. Unless…” he realized with widened eyes. “He lost on purpose, didn’t he? And then gave up Decade’s business card to him.”

“You know, if you keep talking to yourself like that,” the Ranger Slayer laughed. “People just might start thinking you’re crazy after all.”

Drakkon’s head turned to look at her. He grimaced under the safety of his helmet, keeping the former Pink Ranger on retainer for as long as he did, the joys of it were starting to wear thin. “You shouldn’t talk, not after the failure you showed. Consider yourself lucky I’m even giving you a second chance, and not looking into another Ranger Slayer, Hart.” Drakkon hissed.

“Getting the Magna Defender’s Torozord past the dome was unforeseen,” Kimberly argued, walking up to the side of Drakkon’s throne and setting her helmet aside for the moment. “As was that Decade brat being able to grow to the size of a Megazord. Somber neglected to mention that annoying little trick.”

“Yes, I think there’s a lot of things about Decade our dear leader neglected to mention…” Drakkon growled, clenching his fist before bringing out Zeo Ranger Five’s crystal. ”I think it’s time for another little upgrade.”

“Sir, I should warn you that you’re treading a dangerous line as it is,” the Ranger Slayer said, a hint of concern in her voice. “You’ve already had too many power transfers, they’re killing you bit by bit with each one made.”

“Is that concern I detect in your voice, Hart?” Drakkon asked, whirling on the Slayer and slapping her across the face. “You don’t even get the right to speak, not now!”

“Not concern,” Kimberly answered ignoring the stinging pain from the slap, knowing full well she was treading a dangerous line. “But just being practical. What would happen to your world if it lost its leader? The empire you built up, your enemies would take any opportunity they could get to take it for themselves should it show any signs of crumbling.”

“The same thing that would happen if I let this pathetic world get the better of me,” Drakkon retorted, clenching his hand around the crystal. “But with the power of the Zeo Crystal, I can ensure that no one can ever best me again. Even Somber in time would kneel before me.”

Kimberly shook her head as her ‘lord’ made his way towards Finster-Five’s lab. “To the devil with him, if he wants to kill himself than so be it. I think it’s time I take my leave…” she mused before grabbing her helmet and placing it back on her head with a soft hissing sound. She began to stride towards another hallway, before she heard the sounds of rifles cocking before two Tyrannosaurus Sentries blocked her path with their staves.

“Ms. Hart, I’m sorry but you cannot be allowed to leave this fortress,” a Mastodon Sentry spoke, and the next thing she knew was hearing the sound of a gun going off and then… darkness.

Canterlot Castle:

Spike grumbled as his claws hit the marble floors of the Castle. “Ugh, why does teleporting always have to be murder on the stomach?” He asked no one in particular, adjusting his shirt with his claws.

“Trust me,” Sunset smiled before chuckling. “Been there, done that. My first teleport, hardly any fun either. You get used to it though.”

“It’s fine.” Spike cracked his knuckles, gazing around. “Alright, let’s get this over with, ya?”

“Quite, I’m in no mood to spend time around my boyfriend’s ex for any longer than I need to be or let my Rangers go up against Drakkon without our help for much longer,” Sunset agreed, taking a few steps forwards. “Now, unless I miss my guess, Princess Luna should be in her room right around this time, just getting ready for bed after she lowers the moon. Not a morning pony, I should warn you.”

“You do realize I know the Luna in my world, right?” Spike questioned with a chuckle, following right at the alicorn’s side. “I’m well aware that the Princess of the Night is nocturnal.”

“Right…” Sunset laughed nervously. “I keep forgetting that you know what Luna’s like for the most part. But then again, for all I know, you could have come from a world where Luna and Celestia switched roles and she was trapped in the Sun for 1,000 years.”

“Her name’s Daybreaker,” Spike replied, moving down a hallway. “I don’t know where Somber found her, but that’s what she calls herself.”

“Lovely prospect…” Sunset deadpanned, not really shocked by anything this Spike had to say anymore. “And here I thought it was going to be Nightmare Star or something stupid like that. Anyways…” she sucked in a breath and knocked on Luna’s bedroom door with more than a hint of nervousness. “Auntie Luna? You awake?”

There was a muffled grumble coming from the other side of the door. “In a minute…” Luna murmured. “Please allow me to make myself decent at the very most!”

Eventually, the door opened and Luna stepped out of her room in a negligee, with a bathrobe wrapped partially around her. Spike tried very hard to avert his gaze, and to his credit, he mostly succeeded.

“...That’s what she calls decent?” Sunset murmured to herself.

The Princess of the Night rubbed her tired eyes, and glared at Sunset crossing her arms at her. “Ms. Shimmer, though I would generally welcome the company, I must ask what is the meaning of you and young Spike waking me up at this hour?”

“We had something that we wanted to ask you,” Spike started, noting how Sunset was starting to clam up. “This might sound strange, but what is the Alicorn Amulet made out of?”

“Why do you ask? I cannot just divulge information on such a dangerous artifact without very good reason,” Luna grumbled, fighting back a yawn. Her horn lit up with a light blue color as she levitated a cup of coffee towards her. Never mind that it was empty, she was too tired to notice anyways.

“We’re trying to make something of our own,” Spike answered, opening his coin case and pulling out his Taka medal. “These specifically. It’s so we can help protect Ponyville.”

“Yes… I see,” Luna mused. “But you must understand, what I’m about to say cannot leave this room.” she continued, pulling both Sunset and Spike inside and shutting the door. “Obviously, I cannot trust anyone outside the room, not even my own guards. Walls have ears you know. If this were any other case, I’d wipe your memories of even asking me what the Amulet is even made of without a second thought. But, given the circumstances, I’m willing to tell you. It’s made out of a rare crystal, magicite. I presume you need some of the same substance to create more medals, young Spike?”

“That’s correct,” Spike answered, returning his medal to its case. “It won’t take a lot. Do you know where we can find some?”

Luna simply smiled, and opened her dresser to reveal a collection of rare jewelry, twinking with an eerie glow in the moonlight. “Should this suffice to your needs? I believe over half of this is made from the crystal substance you desire. I’ve no need for it anyways as it is.”

Sunset smiled. “Perfect…” she whispered before turning to Spike. “So, how do we turn those, into medals? Melting them down with your dragon breath I presume is a start?”

“Yup, but the most important part is the ritual,” Spike replied, grabbing a couple handfuls of the trinkets and thanking Luna. “We can do everything at the Animarium.”

“Yes, but it’ll have to be quick. I don’t think Lord Drakkon is going to give us a lot of time. I presume you can hold your stomach contents this time?”

“...I’ll try, but after seeing Princess Luna dressed like that, it’s not a guarantee,” Spike mumbled, and he swore he heard Luna snigger behind him. He didn’t really get the chance to confirm that, as both he and Sunset then teleported out in a gold flash of light.

Back in Ponyville, Shining found himself dealing with a team-up of both Samurai Sentries and Megaforce Green Sentries in a courtyard somewhere near Ponyville’s marketplace. Shining blocked a blow from one of the Samurai Sentries’ arm blades before ducking to avoid a swing from another. He then leaped out of the way to avoid a massive fist from one of the Megaforce Sentries’ mech suits.

A small compartment on one of the mech suits opened up to reveal what looked to be a Gatling gun, and Shining threw up a pink bubble of energy to deflect the blasts before switching his Magna Blade to its rifle mode and lined up his shot. In a burst of energy, he shattered the Gatling gun, but was forced to leap backwards from a powerful right hook from the mecha suit’s massive fist.

Shining’s sword glowed with a blue aura of energy, and he swung sending a slash towards the mecha suit, but to his surprise, the Samurai Sentries leaped in front of the slash taking it.

“What the fu-” Shining whispered, before he was sent flying backwards into one of the stalls by a massive energy burst from the Megaforce Sentry’s mecha. His helmet had been shattered by the sheer force of the blast, and was now lying in pieces all around him amongst the rubble of the stall.

The Zeo Sentry smirked as his fingers raised, and were about to come down on the cannon’s trigger button, before a burst of gunfire made him throw up his mech’s energy shield.

“Ah got yer back, Sugahcube!” Applejack shouted, as she -in Kachidoki Arms- let loose with the DJ gun. She scratched the record on the side, a tune playing from the gun. Flipping a switch on the side, the tune stopped for a moment before she scratched the record again and the tune came out slower and in a lower pitch. Pointing her weapon at the mech and opened fire.

The mech staggered back from the sheer onslaught but definitely wasn’t out of the fight just yet. The shoulder cannon charged up another shot and fired a large blast of green energy right at AJ. The farm mare’s eyes widened beneath her helmet, dropping to her stomach and feeling the heat coming off the blast as it narrowly avoided her.

Shining sprinted towards the mecha and took a running leap off a partially destroyed wagon before charging his sword full of blue energy and swinging downwards slicing one of the mecha’s arms clean off, before charging his sword again and whirling around to cut off one of the mecha’s legs. It stumbled forwards before collapsing to the ground in a hulk, dust being stirred up by the impact.

“...Well, that was particularly unpleasant.” AJ muttered.

“I wouldn’t rest yet,” Shining barked as he switched his sword back to its shotgun mode. “We’ve got incoming!”

Sure enough, Kurokage Troopers on their hoverbikes were swarming in right and left. Shining shot one out of the air sending his bike careening into a shop window with the Magna Defender being forced to hit the dirt as a blast of fire went directly over his head, nearly singeing him. AJ then once again went for scratching the small record-like device on the side of her weapon, letting loose with small bursts of weapons fire.

“Like flies!” Applejack muttered, as the Kurokage Troopers swarmed all around her on their Dandeliners. “All these fellas got goin’ fer them is numbers,” she remarked to Shining, glancing at him while taking down a cluster of troopers with a few well placed shots. “All bark and no bite.”

Shining managed to kick a Kurokage Trooper off his bike before shooting the controls sending this bike into a stall. “Yeah, I’ve noticed!” he shouted in return, after leaping off the bike and firing more energy blasts at the soldiers. “Still, a little breathing room might be nice. Think you can get us th-Urk!” Shining began to ask, before he was suddenly kicked in the stomach by a Samurai Sentry.

Shining tumbled onto the ground and just barely managed to switch his weapon back to its sword mode to defend against of flurry of strikes from the Sentry. Applejack nodded.

“Ah’ve got an idea, don’t you worry.” she smirked, reaching for the flags resting on the back of her armor. Jumping down from her spot on the roof, Applejack thrust her flags down in a pincer hold to catch the Sentry’s sword. She then sent him flying with a pure wave of fiery orange energy. Shining teleported above the Sentry, and then axe-kicked him back down to terra firma.

“So, anything else you can do with those flags of yours?” Shining asked, as more Sentries closed in. He smiled to himself. “Because apparently, we’re worth a lot of attention.”

“Ah think Ah got one or two more tricks up mah sleeves,” Applejack replied, resting her flags on her shoulders. “What about you? Ya got any moves from yer guard training t’show off?”

“Trust me,” Shining smirked. “Plenty.”

With that, he engaged in a series of rapid teleports through the squadron of Sentries, cutting them down in pink flashes of light and blue-toned swings of his blade and borrowed Dragon Dagger. He sent one Sabertooth Sentry flying towards Applejack with a shout of: “Here, catch!”

“No thanks,” Applejack replied, swinging one of her flags like a baseball bat and sending the Sentry flying towards Shining Armor. “Here, have her back!”

Shining struck and sliced the Sentry across the chest with a swing from his sword. “Yeah… I’m not really interested. I’m already happily married and all.”

“Ah ain’t found a stallion Ah’m willin’ ta put up with,” AJ responded, giving a good hearty laugh, shooting down Silver Space sentries on jetpacks with her DJ gun in cannonblast mode. “Ain’t a whole lot of em in Ponyville what can work the farm.”

“Or keep up with you?” Shining teased. “Cause I don’t know, because between you and Rainbow… Eh, I don’t know.” he trailed off. “Ponies do love to talk, especially after the Running of the Leaves a few years back from what I heard.”

“Rainbow and Ah are just good friends. Ponies just like ta run their gums. They should worry ‘bout themselves, not who I’m interested in beddin’.” Applejack groaned out. A Samurai Sentry lunged at her with his arm blades aimed for her stomach. In one quick motion, she pivoted around him and thrust the pole of her flag into the base of his spine.

“Well, could be worse I suppose,” Shining mused as he cut down another sentry. “I mean, Rainbow and Lightning for example. From half of what I’ve heard, they’re either arguing with each other, dancing around their feelings or look like they’re about to have passionate sex with each other from what Cadence tells me. Exact words. I mean, I knew sometimes ponies with common interests and similar personalities mix well, but that’s just ridiculous. If Cadence has her way, and she generally does, she’s just going to shove them in a dark room together and lock the door.”

Chuckling, Applejack grabbed her Musou Saber off her belt and inserted it into her DJ gun. It announced: “1, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, 100,000,000, 1,000,000,000,000, Muryodaisu: Kachidoki Charge!”

“Sounds like ya just admitted ta Caddy wearin’ the pants in yer relationship,” she teased, swinging her blade and sending out a wave of energy that cleaved through several sentries.

“She’s the Princess of Love, what’d you expect to happen?” Shining asked, giving Applejack a flat look, before backhanding a sentry who was sneaking up from behind.

“Bet she’d like her stallion ta take charge and treat her to a rough roll in the hay,” Applejack answered, clashing with a Samurai Sentry before kicking him off.

“I can neither confirm nor deny that happening so far,” Shining replied stiffly, though his blush said volumes even as he struck down another Sentry with his borrowed dragon dagger, before blowing into it, sending streaks of green lightning through the final members of the squadron. Shining smirked, spun the dagger in his hands like it was a six-shooter before holstering it.

“So, have ta ask,” AJ remarked. “Ah'm curious, Ah admit. Where'd you get ahold of the Dragon Dagger? Ah mean, I highly doubt you just grabbed Drakkon's...”

“Long and the short of it?” Shining asked, and Applejack nodded. “Well, dealt with a Samurai themed monster recently back in the Empire, who put Cadence in the hospital and knocked some of my fighting spirit from me. Took the ghost of Tommy Oliver himself, not the Drakkon one but the original, to get me back into fighting shape. Left me with his Dagger as a reward, said I'd earned it.”

"Naw, seriously, pull the other one!” Applejack scoffed, not believing him for a minute.

"Hey, that's what happened...” Shining shrugged. Applejack raised an eyebrow under her helmet but decided it was best not to question things any further. Not that she had a chance to anyways, considering what happened next.

“Hey, you two done?” Sunburst’s voice crackled through Shining’s comms. “We’ve got a situation that just came up. Meet me at Town Hall, quick as you can.”

AJ took a breath, twirling her flags. “If ya need to go, git. I got these varmints.”

“Hey, is AJ there?” Sunburst asked, and the sound of blades clashing could be heard through the comms. “Could have sworn I heard her voice.”

“Yeah, she’s here,” Shining confirmed. “What’s the sitrep?”

“Good, because we need some Rider muscle. Sentries and combatmen, from what Lightning telling me they’re called, boxed in a bunch of ponies including the Mayor inside the Town Hall, and planted a bomb. Got the place surrounded both inside and out.” Sunburst explained.

Shining relayed the situation to Applejack.

“Right then, let’s get moving,” Applejack nodded. “As for them…” she trailed off, looking directly at the last wave of Ranger Sentries. Before she could even raise her blade though, a powerful beam of energy cut through them as Goldar teleported in. He raised his sword, and various pieces of rubble, the street and whatever else could be found began to form into what looked like giant golems.

“What the…?” Shining gaped. Applejack's jaw -under her helmet- stood slack as well. Goldar chuckled to himself, quite amused by the whole thing. It wasn't every day you got both the Element of Honesty and the Prince of the Crystal Empire stunned. He'd have to treasure this moment.

“Make no mistake, Shining Armor. The only reason I’m helping you and the Rangers is to get a shot at Tommy and Kimberly. Sure, they may have granted themselves some fancy titles, but they’re still Tommy Oliver and Kimberly Ann Hart no matter the color, universe or name. If this were any other situation, you’d be dead already, but as of right now…” Goldar trailed off as he sliced through a Sentry’s chest, blood spraying everywhere. “Consider us allies of convenience.”

Part 11: Kiwami Escalation

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Part 12: King of Beasts

Author's Note

Okay, so here we are, the final battle with Drakkon. Now, I said final battle but doesn't mean the story's over yet. (If it was, I'd mark it with the words complete) Stay tuned till the end, still got one more chapter to go through.

Part 12: We Need a Hero

World of the Coinless:

Kimberly groaned out in pain as her eyes slowly fluttered open, and she returned to the waking world. Trying to move, she couldn’t get very far as she noted she was shackled to the wall via green chains made out of pure hard-light.

Last thing she remembered, truly remembered was launching an attack on Drakkon’s citadel. Foolish, she admitted to herself but at the time she wanted to send a message. That not even the Tyrant Emperor was invincible.

Like she said, foolish. Little by little, the memories came back to her. A battle, waged against Zordon’s old Rangers, before the Green Ranger ever came into existence. Piloting the Gravezord in downtown Angel Grove against her old team, only to be sent back when the damage to the mockery of a Megazord became too much. She remembered other atrocities as well, killing a brothered pair of dark blue and crimson Rangers themed after beetles. She remembered fighting against a Ranger team she had no knowledge of, who had been coupled with what looked to be a Samurai warrior.

“Sunset would kill me anyways…” the orange one commented, tossing the rifle aside in disgust and pulling out his own personal weapon. “Now, I say we shut this bitch up, agreed?”

The Samurai, AJ she was called. removed what looked to be a padlock from , inserting it into a hole on her bow. “Now Ah’m likin’ the way yer thinkin’, sugarcube.” Energy began to build around the tip of her bow as she aimed it at Kimberly. “Ah think it’s time to put a rabid dog down.”

“Please, don’t compare her with Old Yeller…” the Orange Ranger sighed, before gathering a mist in his hands and shouting: “Call to the Beast Inside, Free the Kitsune!”

Another battle with the Gravezord, she remembered. And an invasion that to be quite frank, was rather humorously ironic. She’d went for her Bow of Darkness, but Robert as she remembered he was called held up a finger and wagged it impishly.

“Uh-uh, I wouldn’t do that. Not unless of course, you want to damage this very nice looking interior…” he mocked. “Now I’d suggest you’d take your leave now.”

“Another day, another day!”

Last thing she remembered from her jumble of recent memories, was her ‘lord’ talking about grafting another powerset to himself and she deciding she’d finally had enough of his suicidal insanity. Not that she was turning good, she just didn’t want to be here when he got himself killed via sheer power overload. Then, a laser blast and everything went dark.

Honestly, for the first time in what seemed like forever she actually felt like herself again. She supposed that blast must have jogged free whatever mind manipulation device Finster-5 had used on her to make her Drakkon’s obedient dog. She shuddered, she’d had sex with the man for crying out loud, and even worse she remembered actually… enjoying it.

She had to get out of here, now.

Drakkon came in, dressed in all new armor that looked to be made of technology, and covered in lines that reminded her of that old movie Tron. The katana was gone, replaced by a more sharper, deadlier looking sword. Shame really, the katana actually wasn’t a bad fashion choice.

“So, glad you’re awake…” Drakkon sneered, flanked by a woman in black leather. Short cropped, blond hair.

“What, so you’re into BSDM now?” Kimberly spat in Drakkon’s face. “Because really, looks like that woman is good for nothing else except whoring herself out.”

“See you still haven’t lost your spark, Kimberly. Can’t call you the Ranger Slayer anymore, now can I? You’ve been failing to actually do that as of late,” Drakkon remarked. “So, I’ll be taking this.” he said, holding up her Power Morpher. The woman, she noted, was already holding the Bow of Darkness.

“Go to Hell, hope that next power kick kills you,” Kimberly sneered. Drakkon laughed.

“Guess you really have turned. Maybe back to your old self, or maybe you’ve just decided to go rogue and carve out a little slice of power for yourself like Scorpina did. Either way, I don’t care. Not like you’ll be leaving this room anyways. Goodbye… Kimberly Ann Hart.” Drakkon smirked as two Tyrannosaurus Sentries closed in, staves crackling with lightning.

Wild Access Universe: Now:

Shining, as he went sword to sword with Drakkon, smirked. “It’s over Drakkon. Ranger Sentries, dealt with. Kurokage Troopers? Armor wrecked. Combatmen? Just a joke. A bad one, I might add! It’s just you and the rebound girl!”

He stepped back to avoid a lunging swing from the tyrant, before blowing into his Dragon Dagger making small bolts of electricity erupt from it and strike the fallen Ranger.

“You could have been great, you know that right?” Shining asked, their battle having progressed into an old train yard. “You could have been something,” he said in disappointment, shaking his head and blocking another blow. Shining’s tone hardened, into one of disgust. “Instead, look how far you’ve fallen.”

“I could say the same to you,” Drakkon responded, grabbing a rusted train wheel and tossing it at Shining’s head with the unicorn only barely rolling out of the way to avoid being decapitated. “You waste your time, protecting those you should be ruling. What a waste. You have no chance.”

"Isn't the smallest chance of victory enough of a reason for us, as in the Rangers of this or any other world for that matter to keep on fighting?” Shining asked. “World’s always going to need a Power Ranger or two. Sadly, you don’t count. You lost your title long ago,” he remarked, giving Drakkon a swift right cross across the jaw making him stagger. “Sound familiar Tommy Oliver?” Shining asked as he advanced. “It should. Jason Lee Scott said that. Or something close to it.”

Drakkon recovered, kicking Shining in the chest. “I don’t care to hear the words of a man I killed. Anything he had to say lost any meaning when he fell to my blade.”

A blast of flame sent Drakkon staggering backwards, only to be kicked in the face by a bright red boot.

“You’re a stubborn one aren’t you? Didn’t you hear Shining? It’s over, you’ve lost. Just you and your Ranger Slayer left. I don’t see any Inves or members of Dai-Shocker coming to back you up,” Sunset remarked. “Face it, you’re alone.”

Drakkon grabbed Sunset by the throat, and flung her into the side of an old passenger car, smirking under his helmet. Shining and Wyatt tried to run up to stop Drakkon, who was reaching for Sunset’s morpher, but Drakkon used his free hand to pull out a pistol and make the two duck for cover.

“I never needed their help. Now that morpher of yours, very interesting. I don’t have one of those yet…” he remarked, reaching for it, before Sunset kicked him in the one place no man ever wanted to be kicked.

As Drakkon staggered backwards in pain, Sunset smirked. “Guess you’re no god. Just another man really… How much are you over-compensating for with that stolen power of yours?” she asked, hovering above him.

Drakkon roared in rage, and lunged at Sunset with his sword, but his blade was met by Spike and Shining’s own weapons before they both drew back their fists and punched him in the jaw. From behind them, they heard three shouts of “Lights of Orion, Activate!” and Shining motioned for Spike to dodge as three slashes of golden energy came towards Drakkon. One from Sunburst, one from Vapor and one from Lightning which sent Drakkon flying back into the side of a coal car, smashing it open and dumping the contents all over him, covering him in dust and soot.

“You know,” Spike remarked in an amused tone, a talon moving to his chin. “I actually think he looks better like that!”

Sunset sliced the ground with her Crystal Saber, and sent a series of explosions erupting from the ground towards Drakkon, igniting the coal and enveloping Drakkon in a massive fireball.

Drakkon roared in rage and emerged from the flames like a devil out of Tartarus eyes alight with anger, and drew his blade as the air began to smell distinctly of ozone.

Shining’s eyes widened, realizing in part what was to come next as he saw Drakkon’s blade glow green, and shouted: “Get clear!” but it was far too late.

The next thing Vapor, Sunset, Sunburst or Lightning knew they found themselves swept up in a whirling black cyclone and hit repeatedly with jagged bolts of green lightning before they were sent flying, scattered all over the train yard and demorphed.

“You… you dare doubt my power?” Drakkon panted.

“Guess… guess it’s just down to us.” Spike remarked, looking at both Wyatt and Shining, who shared a nod. They were exhausted, worn out. But so was Drakkon. It was just a question of who could outlast who now in a straight up duel to the death.

Shining had noted Drakkon possessed very little strategic abilities, this was probably due to his own sense of self-superiority due to his collection of fused Ranger powers. He didn’t really have much of a combat style as such, just pure overwhelming power. Shining had also noted Drakkon really didn’t possess much in the way of defense either, probably pouring all of the Ranger powers he’d fused and mashed together into pure offensive capability to overpower his foes.

He also noted, or at least speculated thanks to all of this supposed god-like power, Drakkon possessed some sort of inferiority complex. He was willing to bet, if Drakkon were ever to be stripped of his powers, he would be in such a state of shock he wouldn’t do anything. This, Shijing suspected, was due to Darkkon having relied on them for so long, to the point that he’d begun deluding himself into believing he’d reached the pinnacle of evolution. Mind you, Shining didn’t really need to speculate on this much, as his hypothesis was pretty much all but confirmed by Drakkon’s actions, lashing out at anyone who ‘doubted’ him.

Mind you, Drakkon did seem to like to play mind games from what Shining had seen so far, and get inside his opponent’s heads, so that was a problem that needed to be rectified. Namely, by not listening to a word out of the tyrant’s mouth.

“Look at you little Drake,” Drakkon smirked as he blocked kicks from Spike with his sword or his elbows. “You’re always playing servant to a higher power in your world, a pony. You should have taken over long ago, put her in her place! But no, you’re just a weak little wyrm…” he taunted, and Spike briefly faltered, before being roundhouse kicked in the face by Drakkon. “Deep down inside, you know the truth. You like it, you like being enslaved, you like being put in your place!” Drakkon taunted.

“Spike!” Shining barked out as an order, going into full Captain of the Guard mode. “Block him out, don’t listen to a word he has to say!”

“Twilight is my family!” Spike snarled, swiping at Drakkon’s chest. Twin red claws blazing with fire had extended out from his gloves, ripping and tearing into Drakkon’s armor. “What the buck would you know anyway? When was the last time you ever thought about family!?”

Wings, like the ones on the soles of Hermes himself, sprouted from Spike’s boots and blasted Drakkon back with powerful gusts of wind.

“Family, now there’s something interesting,” Drakkon mused as he turned his attentions to Shining, tossing a few green energy shuriken at the unicorn which he barely dodged. “Now, look at you. You’ve always been constantly overshadowed by your older sister, personal protege of the Princess of the Sun, and a Princess now herself. Oh, you could lay exclusive claim to being the armored warrior in the family, but now…? Now that she’s Kamen Rider Baroness, you don’t have that. Oh, and let’s not forget the wedding.” Drakkon remarked, and smirked as he saw Shining’s eyes widen under his helmet. “Oh, I know about that, no thanks to your counterpart. You threw your sister out of your life, on the biggest day of yours! Threw her under the bus, and ignored her suspicions even when in the end, they turned out to be right! God knows what that Chrysalis bitch did to you, made you her personal boy-toy maybe? Took your virginity, which you were probably saving for Cadence?”

Shining faltered, allowing Drakkon to headbutt him.

“Ignoring your own advice Shiny, letting me get to you…” Drakkon smirked. He took pleasure in this, one of the warriors who’d been managing to fight him sword to sword ever since he arrived to this world, finally about to be laid low.

“You shut up.” Shining snarled, taking great pleasure in socking Drakkon across the jaw once more. “You want to lecture someone? Then it’s only fair I do it in return. Dude, in the past several years, I’ve had my mind warped by some bug-bitch and had my mind and soul twisted by the Lord of Chaos himself and reduced to just a farce of my former self, had my horn corrupted by King Sombra and felt his dark taint, and yeah I threw Twilight out of my life, but again… mind warped. And for the record, long lost my virginity to Cadence before the wedding, so shut it. Each time, each time I’ve stumbled, always came out the stronger for it. Can’t gain something, without giving something up in return. Hard lesson, but one I’ve had to learn!” Shining shouted, running towards Drakkon, and slashing him across the chest with his blade glowing a bright blue. “Next to King Sombra, to Discord, to Chrysalis, you’re nothing but a guy in a mask, and cheap spandex.”

Drakkon sent a green slash of energy towards Shining, who reflected it with some sort of mirror spell, with Wyatt kicking the energy slash back at Drakkon.

“Not spandex,” Wyatt joked lightly.

“...Ruined a perfectly good insult and speech I had going there.” Shining mumbled.

Pulling a card out of his case, Wyatt slipped it into his belt. “You know, can’t ever have enough green.” With a grin, he closed the driver, activating another transformation. A very… unexpected one.

”Displaced ride: Chris! Psycho Green!”

“...Well, didn’t see that one coming.” Shining muttered, having heard of the infamous Ranger Hunters from a Ranger history lecture or two. Of course, a surprised smile soon gave way to a smirk as he watched Wyatt run alongside the side of a passenger car to avoid more energy shurikens thrown at him, before slashing at Drakkon with a small little knife.

“Hey man, don’t leave me out of this!” Shining shouted before running towards Drakkon, and leaping off his shoulder armor. Next, he began creating a pink hard-light manifestation of a warhammer in mid-air and hitting Drakkon in the back with it sending him flying towards the two Riders who slashed Drakkon across the chest with their respective weapons.

“Let’s finish this…” Shining stated with a grin, as he landed next to Wyatt. However, what happened next nobody could have predicted. A crack to Helheim opened behind them, and Drakkon noticed before anybody could react and grabbed both heroes, and pulled them into it.

“Shining! Wyatt!” Spike shouted in fear as he saw the pair fall through the crack to worlds unknown.

Nearby, Robert, Wizard Twilight, Goldar and AJ in Jimber Cherry Arms went up against the Ranger Slayer, completely unaware of what just happened.

“Gotta say, not really impressed with who Drakkon chose as Kim’s replacement.” Robert remarked as he leaped backwards to avoid a strike from the Bow of Darkness, noting the similarities between it and Tommy’s old sword. It begged the question, if Kim had been using a reforged Sword, what had it done to her mind? Mind you, the point was moot now that a version of Katherine Hillard was using it. “I mean, really? Really? I know there are certain things that are a constant between universes (He ignored Twilight’s outraged screech) but this is getting ridiculous.”

Leaping to the side to avoid a volley of arrows, Robert shouted out: “Get scorched!” and fired a barrage of energy pistol shots at the Ranger Slayer.

He was running on pure adrenaline now, and he knew it. Signs of exhaustion were beginning to kick in for everyone involved, their movements were beginning to slow and if he was right, vision was beginning to become hazy. Nobody had slept in days. This hazed vision, kept Robert from fully seeing the next volley coming that sent him flying backwards into Goldar’s arms.

“Normally, never even dream of saving a Ranger. Hell, I’d just let you go splat if this was any other situation. But right now, considering we may just have to team up if I want to take down a Pink Ranger…” Goldar trailed off, setting him down atop a train car and flying towards Kat and grabbing her, before tossing her into a collection of old and rusted oil barrels.

“Riders, either one of you!” Goldar barked. “Engage the fake!”

He refused to acknowledge this Pink Ranger as the real deal, as the one he knew, the Kim or Katherine from his universe, they’d actually be giving him a good fight. Honestly, Goldar didn’t know why he was bothering.

AJ drew back her bow and inserted her Orange Lockseed just as Dark Kat began to recover and draw back her own to launch another salvo. “Hold yer dang horses, ya gawdy house cat.” A line of Cherry and Orange slices manifested in front of her as the bow was drawn back even further. She let the arrow fire, diving out of the way as Katherine unleashed returning fire.

Twin cherries made of energy manifested, and swung around the Ranger Slayer, exploding on collision making her stagger back before Goldar grabbed her again, tossing her to Twilight who went into Water Dragon mode and smacked her into the ground with a tail creating a small crater.

It was easy to see Katherine was struggling to get off the ground, and to make sure she didn’t, Twilight pinned her with a boot to the stomach as Robert walked up and held up his SPD Morpher.

“Ya don’t deserve this…” Applejack said, as she ripped the morpher off of Kat’s belt, demorphing her in a flash of pink light as Robert’s SPD morpher opened, the Orange Ranger sighing to himself sadly.

“Count up your crimes…” he muttered. “Now, Katherine Hillard of the Coinless World, you are charged with terrorism, attempted murder, destruction of property, and assault of an officer.”

It didn’t take long for the guilty verdict to roll in, and soon the former Slayer was nothing but a thin card on the ground, screaming at the four silently and trying to break through to the world in front of her. Robert sighed, there’d been enough death today, no need to add any more to his kill count.

Shining, as he fell into the crack rolled down a hill and looked upwards, finding himself in an eerie forest. This had to have been Helheim, and to be frank it was exactly as alien as his little sister had described it to him. Strange fog, vines covering trees and odd purple and orange blooms? Yep, wasn’t hard to mistake the place for anywhere else.

Picking up his sword, the Magna Defender found himself alone. Strange shadows darted through the treeline, and odd chitters came from all around. Sweating under his helmet, he called out: “Wyatt, you there?”

No answer came, and on pure instinct Shining grasped his sword hilt and stepped forwards, boots squelching under his feet as he walked through the muddy ground.

“Great, last thing I want. Be alone in an alien forest and I know Drakkon’s around here somewhere, quite possibly waiting to strike from the shadows,” he thought to himself. Shining brushed that thought away as soon as it came. “No, ‘Lord’ Drakkon wouldn’t do that. He’s far from what you’d call… subtle really. If he was going to attack, I’d know it by now. Hell, I’d be feeling it for Mystic Mother’s sakes!”

Shining, walking forwards and daring not to take off his helmet as for all he knew the air around him was toxic to his own lungs, changed his Magna Blade to its Riot Blaster form and cocked the weapon with an audible humming sound.

Once more, he called: “Wyatt, you there? Anyone?” he yelled out, quite nervous by this point.

The air around him shimmered as he walked into an empty clearing, full of tall grasses. Shining whirled around, and aimed his weapon at the shimmer in the air which reformed into a Japanese man, about say twenty or so with short brown hair. The man wore a long black coat with red detailings and gold buttons.

“So another pony has wandered where they shouldn’t and entered into the forbidden forest,” the young man said, his tone pompous and his hands were deep in his coat pockets. “So tell me, pony, why have you come here?”

“I’m assuming you’re Kaito Kumon, correct?” Shining asked. “AKA the original Armored Rider Baron?”

Kaito let out a brief chuckle, waving his hand and the vines at the edge of the clearing seeming to move with his hand. “You westerners are always too damn familiar. Since you’ve just met me you should address me as Kumon. But, yes, I was Baron. Not that names matter to the-”

“Dead? Yes, I gathered that Kumon. The translucent shimmering effect kinda gave it away,” Shining stated, in a dry tone before his eyes narrowed. “Not going to address you by your first name anyhow, not after the scare you gave my little sister.”

“So the last pony to wander in here was your sister. Tell me, how has she been handling her new power? Is she tempted to seek greater and greater strength so she can fulfill her goals?”

“By that, I assume you mean crush the weak under her heel? I did a bit of asking around on you, you know Kumon. Asked a friend of mine all about you and your agenda,” Shining returned, thinking back to a conversation he’d had shortly after helping Sunburst regain his fighting strength.

“So, Kaito Kumon,” Shining asked Wyatt. “Who was he? Seemed to spook my sister quite badly. And as you’re the Rider expert around here, thought you could… enlighten me.”

“Yeah, I can see that. Kaito was sort of an icy guy,” Wyatt replied, nodding as he looked up in thought. “Tragic figure too. His dad was a real estate guy that lost everything when Yggdrasil came and bought Zawame City for their plans involving Helheim. Ended up taking away the lesson that the strong could walk all over the weak. But he did have a code of honor. He hated Mitchi because of his underhanded tactics as the series of Gaim went on. He believed in fighting fair.”

“Reminds me of Koragg, in some ways, I guess…” Shining mused aloud, thinking of that armored warrior he’d been told about by his fellow Rangers. “Have to respect someone with a code of honor. Still, I’m guessing there’s a but coming up somewhere along the line hmm?”

“Yeah, Baron wound up getting infected by one of the Inves,” Wyatt explained, meeting Shining’s gaze. “He tried to hide it but when he was backed into a corner by Ryoma Warring who’d destroyed his Genesis Driver with a kill switch, he ate a Helheim fruit. Instead of becoming a mindless monster, he became an Overlord himself and the original Gaim killed him in the final confrontation for the forbidden fruit.”

“Geez, regular Telenovela right there,” Shining muttered. “Somehow though, and this is just a sneaking suspicion here, but I have a feeling Kaito’s the type to actively seek out power right? Wherever he could find it, just to please his deluded ideals.”

“Yeah, if I had to sum up Kaito in one phrase it would be: the path to hell is paved with good intentions. In the end, his goal with the fruit was to create a world where the weak would no longer fear the strong. His last words to Kouta as he cried over his dying rival were, ‘you are truly strong.’ Kaito was never evil, he just had been put on the wrong path.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Suppose I’ll never know unless I meet the man.”

How funny those words were, Shining mused, as he stood face to face with Kumon himself.

“For the record Kumon,” Shining stated. “My sister has no intention of crushing the weak under her hoof. Unlike you. All you did, was try and find excuses to justify your actions. You wanted to wipe away the old world, kill everyone who you deemed as an obstacle. Even your own best friend if need be,” he stated. “Hardly the actions of a hero.”

Kumon snorted, thumping a fist to his chest. “Even when Zack attempted to kill me and Minato I did not strike him down. He had become truly strong and followed his own ideals. Hell, even when someone tried to take the name of Baron for themselves, and mock the name with their own ideals he stayed strong. Do not think you can know me just from a short talk with some friend of yours.”

“Fair enough I suppose, though I must ask, is this your Hell? Or is your Heaven, guarding the forest that so many fought over so jealously, including yourself?” Shining asked.

“Neither,” Kumon stated plainly, looking out at the forest. “I merely sealed my fate and tied my spirit to this forest the moment I decided to eat the Helheim fruit. Like Persephone, you can never truly leave once you eat the forbidden fruit of the ‘underworld’.”

Shining winced, despite what he thought of Kum-No, Kaito, even he had to admit he didn’t deserve that. Trapped in this place until presumably the end of time.

The sounds of swords clashing reached Shining’s ears and he heard Wyatt and Drakkon’s voices coming from somewhere nearby.

“Hmph, I see some things never change. I see you, as in Riders are still fighting the same battle for dominance. Circumstances may have changed but the end game is still the same, the weak trying to oppress the strong. Shining Armor, is it?” Kaito asked, and Shining nodded. “Well, never lose sight of your ideals. You’re a strong warrior, that much I can tell if only because you had the nerve to stand up to me and not back down. But this Drakkon character? He’s a farce, someone trying to hide his own weakness with power stolen from others. The only ounce of respect I can muster for him is that he fights his enemies face to face,” Kaito approached Shining and put a fist on the stallion’s chest. Retracting his fist, Kaito created a ghostly Banana Lockseed that looked, in all respects, to be exactly like Kaito’s own but lacked the code. “Take it, you’ll need the strength. Otherwise, Drakkon’s just going to crush you like a green fruit.”

“Sorry, but I’m not accepting power from a tyrant. That’s what you are, not a Baron but a tyrant.” Shining stated.

Kaito smirked and pocketed the Lockseed. “Keep to your ideals, Shining Armor. Figured you wouldn’t accept my gift, but didn’t hurt to try I suppose. Now go, your friend needs you.”

As Shining ran off, he missed Kaito smiling a little and whispering: “He reminds me of you… Kazuraba.” before he faded away.

Once Shining caught up with Drakkon and Wyatt, he found the two head to head in a sword duel with Wyatt borrowing the powers of Kamen Rider Ryuki. The undersuit was mostly red with silver forming the actual armor. Red eyes peered out from behind silver slits that reminded Shining of old Equestrian knight armor. At the top of the helmet was a crest shaped in the style of an eastern dragon. It seemed rather plain compared to some of the other forms Wyatt had taken, Shining thought, but he couldn’t argue with the results he was seeing.

“Where are you aiming?” Wyatt asked, jumping into the reflective surface of the stream they were in before Drakkon’s slash could connect with him. Ironically, this same stream was the very same where Kouta and Takatora had their first duel oh so long ago, with the irony not being lost on Wyatt.

“Well, this brings back memories, really…” Wyatt mused. “Two fighters beating each other to a pulp to defend their ideals? Only difference, Drakkon’s ideals, from any point of view are completely insane. I guess, to quote Takatora himself, he’s evil. Just evil without purpose or reason.”

The slash generated, as before, a whirling black storm cloud that ripped up the forest around them, sending trees flying with lightning bolts scorching the ground around them. “Wow, what a pretty light show. Do you perform for birthday parties?”

“Stay still!” Drakkon roared before sending scorching bolts of green lightning into the water. Wyatt leapt out and switched forms, inserting a different card into his driver.

“Form Ride: Kiva Dogga!” Twisting his body, Wyatt slammed his newfound hammer into Drakkon’s back. Drakkon roared out in pain, and whirled around to slash at Wyatt only to be met with Shining’s blade.

“You want to fight someone sword to sword?” Shining asked, as the two weapons ground together creating sparks. “Fight me instead. Honestly, I can’t call you a Ranger. You don’t deserve the title. You lost the rights to it long ago!” Shining continued, slashing Drakkon across the chest, before dodging a swing from the tyrant’s sword by teleporting to the left of the fallen Green Ranger and socking him across the jaw. As Drakkon staggered backwards, he quickly regained his footing and sent several dark green slashes of energy towards Shining.

Shining held back the slashes, or at least tried to, but was sent flying backwards into a cliff wall.

“You don’t get it, do you? You two, you’re hopeless to stand against me now. You may have had a small chance before, but now? With all the powers I’ve gathered? The power of the Zeo Crystal? You are nothing!” Drakkon shouted, grabbing Shining by the neck, and then slamming him into the river. Drakkon smirked under his helmet as he pointed his blade at Shining’s neck. “You could have been gods. Instead, you chose to just waste and squander your powers. Throw them all away!”

Wyatt swung his hammer into Drakkon’s wrist, forcing him to release Shining Armor. “Will you just stop with all the god talk?!” He boomed, following up with an upward swing of his weapon. “It’s like that’s the only word you know! Are you really so insecure about your mortality that you have to keep saying it? Heroes aren’t something you can just write off, Tommy! They can inspire people even more than the most powerful deity!” He capped off his statement by feinting with his hammer before punching Drakkon in the jaw.

Drakkon staggered back, but smirked. “Oh, don’t think I’ve heard things about you. Somber saw it fit to inform me of who you are. Decade. Destroyer of Worlds. That’s who you’re fighting with, Armor! The one who is supposed to rend the universes he walks into, rend them into ruin!” he roared. “Come on Wyatt, I know you can feel it. That… Well, you might say violent emotion.” he remarked, specifically playing on Wyatt’s deep-seated fears and insecurities.

“That’s not who I am,” Wyatt growled, clenching his right fist as tightly as possible. “You wouldn’t want to see Violent Emotion, Drakkon. It would kill you even with your Zeo powers. This power might’ve been meant for conquering. But that’s not how I use it!”

“Besides Drakkon,” Shining joined in as he struck the tyrant across the chest with his blade. “You’re one to talk about violent emotions. Wyatt, he mentioned his power was meant for conquering. But thing is, your power, you’ve twisted something that was meant to protect others, into exactly that!” he stated, head butting the fallen Ranger, making him stagger as Wyatt swung his hammer into Drakkon’s chest, sending the former Green Ranger flying backwards.

“Form Ride: Kiva Basshaa!” Wyatt’s Driver shouted as he shifted forms once more. This form, a deep aquamarine green in color, and resembled a bat in some ways. In one of his hands, Wyatt now clutched a pistol of some sort.

“Wyatt, keep him distracted. Drakkon… He’s good at swordplay, time to see how good.” Shining told Wyatt over their private comm channel. “You, you wouldn’t be able to withstand a straight line fight with him. I might just be able to do that. You keep him off balance okay?”

Wyatt nodded, before Shining charged towards Drakkon completely ignoring the bolts of lightning sent his way, and blades met. “You’re getting predictable Drakkon. Throw a lightning bolt here, throw one there!” Shining stated. “Here, let me change things up a bit eh?”

Shining slashed downwards, his blade glowing blue and sliced Drakkon across the chest once more in a vertical manner before spinning around with the Dragon Dagger in his other hand and sliced Drakkon across the chest horizontally in a green slash of energy. Drakkon, with a kick, knocked the Dagger out of Shining’s hands before engaging Shining in another blade lock, sparks flying. Shining’s solution to this was simple, drop the blade into his other hand and slice Drakkon across the chest.

“Hey, Tommy!” Wyatt called out, gliding along the top of the river as he fired compressed water from his pistol at Drakkon’s back sending him staggering forwards to meet Shining’s blade once more. “Why aren’t you shouting out your trademark, ‘Sic hiyahs’? Did Disney give you the note to drop them?”

“Shut up, just shut up! I am not that man, and I never will be!” Drakkon bellowed.

“Damn got that right,” Shining smirked as he socked the man across the jaw shattering his helmet completely, revealing his face in all of it’s ugly black veined glory. Seems Wyatt had been right, absorbing all of that Ranger power was slowly killing him and every new powerset he absorbed, just sped up the process.

“Oh wow, Tommy, that does not look good,” Wyatt commented, his feet hovering on top of the water’s surface. “Might want to see a doctor about that. Ya know, there’s no shame in using makeup to cover that up. Won’t make you less manly.”

Drakkon roared in rage, and charged at the two, kicking up dirt beneath his boots. Shining flipped his sword to its Riot Blaster mode and shot him right in the chest before Wyatt followed up with another stream of compressed water.

Wyatt and Shining shared a nod, knowing exactly how to put an end to this creature (He could hardly be called a man anymore) for good. As Wyatt resumed his base form, Shining took a running jump off a rock and aimed a hoof right at Drakkon, the hoof glowing pink with magic.

“Final Attack Ride: D-D-D-Decade!” Wyatt’s Driver shouted, a series of ten grey cards appearing in front of him. Jumping into the air, the cards angled themselves and made a clear path from Wyatt, right to Drakkon. The two kicks hit him at exactly the same time, before Drakkon stumbled backwards and then fell backwards, exploding into a green fireball as all of his stolen powers found themselves going back to their original owners. His morpher, somehow surviving this, flew into Wyatt’s grip, and he pocketed it knowing his Twilight would want a look at it.

And little by little, the morphin’ grid began to piece itself back together as universes away one very relieved Kimberly Ann Hart found her boyfriend waking up in her arms much to the surprise of a certain Pink Time Force Ranger. In Jen’s time, she would later get her own reunion but that was another story.

“I… I…” Shining murmured. “Not entirely sure what to say about doing that. Sure, he was a monster, but he was like us once. A hero. And we just…” he whispered before correcting himself. “No, he was never a hero, he was just a monster. And he needed to be put down.”

“Shining,” Wyatt started, his armor fading off of him while he stared at the dying embers of the fireball. “It’s okay to lament the man he could’ve been while knowing that what he was needed to be stopped. The real Tommy Oliver was a hero, that will never change.”

“Agreed. Not sure what’ll happen now, in his world. I mean, Drakkon ruled over it for Mystic Mother knows how long, and now? It’s probably going to fall into chaos now that he’s dead. I can honestly only pity those who have to clean up the mess, and establish some new form of government really. Hopefully, a less tyrannical one.”

“Yeah, who knows? Maybe Drakkon didn’t kill all of the Rangers of his world and they can make things right?”

“Kimberly does seem to be missing from his roster, if the fact that Drakkon replaced her with that Kat woman is any indication. If anyone can help, I’d suspect it’d be her. She knows enough of that world’s politics, and if she’s still alive, I bet she can start piecing things back together little by little.”

“If she’s just missing,” Wyatt noted, turning back towards Shining. “But, I hope you’re right. The world he conquered deserves some peace now.”

“Yeah, that’s saying something…” Shining muttered, before noting the look on his friend’s face. “Something wrong, Wyatt?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Wyatt rubbed the side of his head while cracking a weak smile. “Just wrapping my head around killing a childhood hero. Even if it isn’t the version of him that I knew.”

“Yeah, not entirely sure I can understand that, given that he was never fiction to us, but uh…” Shining murmured, putting his hand on Wyatt’s shoulder. “You’re a good kid Wyatt, been put through so much that someone your age really shouldn’t be. Amazed you’ve been able to stay as stable as you are, really…” he continued.

Wyatt sniffled, his smile growing at the stallion. “You’ve been so nice to me this whole time. Can I trade you out for the Shiny of my universe? He hates me.”

“Wish I could go with you, and knock some sense back into your Shining, your wife-to-be’s big brother, but sadly, I have my own universe to protect. I’m sure, one day though, you’ll see your big brother again eh?” Shining stated. “I’ve got faith in you, and him.”

Wyatt coughed, turning his head away. “Uh… wife-to-be might not be quite the right word there. N-not that I don’t think we can reach that stage, I just haven’t popped the question. I don’t even have a ring yet…” He trailed off into an unintelligible string of muttering. Shining just chuckled.

“You remind me of myself, you know that? A complete and utter dork, if anything I think Twilight will pop the question first!” he laughed, punching Wyatt in the shoulder lightly. “Actually, you know something? You got a card from Robert right? A little trinket to remember this universe by, hmm?”

“I got a few cards from Robert actually,” Wyatt replied, snapping out of his odd trance. Summoning his card case, he showed them off to the stallion. “Original Decade got cards from Shinkenger so it makes sense that I’d get some Ranger cards here.”

“So, why don’t I give you one of my own? Just to borrow my powers if needed, hopefully to knock some sense back into your Shining?” Shining asked. “Trust me, nothing wrong with another world having another Magna Defender in my mind.”

“Uh, how do you think we could do that?” Wyatt asked, shaking his card case. “I don’t exactly control when the cards appear. Not that I wouldn’t like to.”

“Call it Ranger’s Intuition.” Shining smiled, as another set of cards appeared in Wyatt’s case bearing the likeness of the Magna Defender along with the rest of the Wild Force Rangers he’d met.

Wyatt let out a whistle, letting the card case fade from existence. “I’m not gonna argue with Ranger’s Intuition,” Smiling, he held a fist out to Shining. “Thanks for the cards. Hope you don’t make me a stranger after I go home. I’d be more than happy to help you guys fight off more baddies.”

“Believe me, if we need you, we’ll call.” Shining smiled before he saw another crack open. “Well, there’s our ‘ride’ home if you get my drift. Suppose we’d better take it.”

“Agreed,” Wyatt said before they both leaped through the crack.

Once they returned, they found the others, now accompanied by the Royal Guard gathering up the remaining Sentries and Troopers, stripping them of their Drivers and Morphers and cuffing them. Goldar, he’d just vanished. His job here was done.

Twilight, the Princess one was directing various other members of the Royal Guard, all unicorns to start burning down the Helheim vines creeping up the sides of various buildings, while medics tended to the wounded civilians. It was going to be a mess, cleaning all this up and rebuilding what Drakkon had torn down, but Ponyville would manage. It always seemed to, the now Armored Rider Baroness mused.

“What… what took you guys so long?” Shining gasped out, panting in exhaustion as he demorphed. “I’d have thought Celestia would have sent you lot earlier on.”

“Maybe Luna did?” Wyatt asked, canceling his transformation. “I mean, your governing system is kinda fucked at the moment.”

“...That’s putting it one way.” Shining chuckled lightly and winced as AJ smacked Wyatt over the head.

“Language, sugahcube!” she shouted.

“...Oh good, it’s not just me who gets the Captain America treatment from her.” Robert muttered. He noted his Twilight pocketing a Kurokage Soldier’s driver, but said nothing of it.

“Where’s the Ranger Slayer?” Wyatt had to ask. Robert, demorphing allowing everyone to see the bags under his eyes simply held up the confinement card, and showed Kat beating on it screaming to be let out.

“Better question, where’s Drakkon? Don’t see him with you lot…” the Orange Ranger trailed off.

“He ain’t coming back,” Wyatt commented, a stern look crossing his face. “Not all that different than putting a monster down.”

Robert took a deep sigh. “I suppose… in the end, was for the best really.”

“How do you do it, day after day, fighting these types?” Baroness Twilight asked AJ, who’d tossed a few Lockseeds to her, including a Dragonfruits Energy one.

AJ rubbed her neck. “If Ah don’t do it, that’s one less person fightin’ ta keep everyone safe. Ya just gotta buck up and do it.”

“Fair enough, but what’s with giving me the new Lockseeds, including that Energy one?” Twilight inquired.

“Fer a later emergency, Celestia forbid one comes up,” AJ replied simply.

Nearby, a half-asleep Vapor was somehow managing a strum out a tune on her guitar as she sat upon the ruins of someone’s home.

“Once the light bends,
A new sky
Beckons to me
As if to awaken me

“I don't need maps to get by
In these places I suddenly find myself in
I find my way around
By trying to go one way, then the other

“And each of these worlds (How many cards in the world)
Demand that I not pass through it (No hesitation in my mind)
Without a fight…”

“She always does that, after any major victory,” Lightning remarked. “You get used to it.”

She walked over to her sister, and took the guitar away. “Rest girl, you’ve had a long week…” she whispered, and Vapor pretty much collapsed in her arms, chest rising and falling slowly as she finally got the gift of sleep.

“Small victories,” Lightning whispered. “Small victories…” she repeated before resting herself up against a pillar and drifting off to dreamland.

Part 13: We Need a Hero

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Part 14: Finale

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Part 3: Of Riders and Rangers

Canterlot Royal Hospital

Sunburst, even as he helped the good doctors and nurses of the Royal Hospital rush Galaxy into the hospital on a gurney, (Absentmindedly, he wondered why everything in Canterlot had to have Royal in the name? Princess narcissism perhaps?) his thoughts raced. Once again, he’d gotten his fiance in a heaping mess of trouble, and just like last time, Galaxy needed a Hell of a lot of luck to make it out of this one.

Sunburst had nearly been sick looking at Galaxy once his armor had been removed. He knew it had to be bad, as his torso plating had nearly been crushed, and in some parts smashed wide open. But once he saw the real extent of the damage, numerous gunshot wounds, Sunburst had grown truly terrified for Galaxy’s safety.

”Come on, come on!” Sunburst said to Galaxy, holding his hand. “You’ve been in much worse scrapes than this, you said so yourself! You survived the friggin’ Badlands, so a gunner won’t kill you!”

Inwardly, Sunburst didn’t even know if he himself believed that.

A nurse eventually came up to him.

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to go now. We need privacy to work,” she said to him softly

“But he’s my fiance, Mystic Mother dammit! I should be by his side!” Sunburst argued, his voice reaching such a height that others began to stare at him. Sunburst, for once, didn’t give a damn if all eyes were on him. “I put him in this situation, so I should at least be by his side during this entire process!”

“I’m sorry, but it’s in the hospital’s rules. Unless you’re a trained medical practitioner, you can’t be in the operating room,” she told him calmly.

“La dracu, târfă!” Sunburst swore at her in Romanian, (Something Galaxy had begun to teach him lately) dropping all pretenses of politeness, just for a second in his anger, fury, and self-disgust. He was just lucky that the nurse didn’t understand a word of it, even if she probably got the general gist of what he said.

Sunburst then punched a wall, cracking it slightly.

“I’m sorry, I truly am,” the nurse continued. “But I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Sunburst muttered something under his breath, but sighed. He knew in his head -Even if he didn’t like it- the nurse was right. They needed a calm environment in which to work, and his anger wasn’t helping matters any.

“A-Alright…” Sunburst whispered, a small tear slipping from his eyes. “I’ll go. Just… Just save him, alright?” he asked.

“I promise, we’ll do the best we can,” the nurse replied, before handing Sunburst Galaxy’s Dino Morpher, Dino Comm and Chargers. “These were on him when the Royal Guard found him, suppose you’d best keep an eye or two on them for the time being.

“Y-Yeah, probably best,” Sunburst muttered as he watched Galaxy get wheeled into an operating room. “I’ll… I’ll just leave you be, and let you get to work in the meantime…”

One of Sunburst’s fists clenched as he thought to himself: “I swear, I’ll find who did this… I promise you that. He’s going to pay dearly…”

The rational part of his mind was telling him anger and revenge wouldn’t solve anything, but right now Sunburst wasn’t particularly interested in listening to it. He pulled out the card from before, studying it again and thinking back…

The man and the puppet shared a look.

“You hear that? He thinks you’re an act!” the man said to his puppet, both looking quite offended.

“Shame on him!” the puppet replied back before glaring back at Navi and Sunburst wagging a finger.

“...You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Navi muttered, doing the robotic parrot equivalent to a facepalm.

“Who are you anyways?” Sunburst inquired.

“Name’s Narutaki. Friend to all Henshin Heroes,” the now named Narutaki said, handing Sunburst a black and purple card. “Here, you’re going to need this. It’ll come in handy, believe you me…”

With that, he walked down the halls and into a door leading to another carriage. Sunburst and Navi shared a look, before chasing after him. But when they entered the next car, Narutaki had vanished, seemingly into thin air as quickly as he’d come.

“What the hell…?” Sunburst trailed off, scratching his head in bewilderment before looking at the card. “Come in handy soon? What does he mean by that?” he thought to himself.

Suddenly, he heard the distinct crackling sound of the Rangers’ teleportation system and saw four columns of light landing outside a hospital window.

He rushed outside, Dino Morpher strapped to his waist to greet his fellow Rangers.

“Heard something happened here, but couldn’t get the full details from anyone...” Sunset said as she walked up, wearing a long orange winter coat with a hood and white linings. Everyone else wore similar attire, ranging from Robert’s black and dark gray button-up vest, to Vapor’s usual brown fur long coat with white linings. Sunset then saw the look on Sunburst’s face and she let out a small “Oh...”

Pulling him into a hug, she asked: “What happened? Go on, it’s okay. You can tell us…”

To her surprise, Sunburst shoved her away. “What do you think happened? Galaxy got hurt, maybe even fatally, and I wasn’t here to stop it from happening all because of that damn Org Thrax sent us! Wouldn’t be surprised if the two events were connected, just to keep us away from Canterlot Castle for Mystic Mother’s sakes!” he snapped.

“I doubt that’s true…” Vapor mused to herself, a hand on her chin.

“Of course it’s true! Why wouldn’t it be!?!” Sunburst snapped, and Robert and Lightning actually flinched, and took a few steps back, never having seen this side of Sunburst before. They’d heard about it of course, but never seen it for themselves.

Vapor kept her calm. “I really don’t think Thrax would send an Org to distract us while he took out just one Ranger. I mean, think it about it, it’d be a waste of perfectly good resources. Why just one Ranger, when he could distract Galaxy, and take us out?”

“Not… helping…” Sunburst said through gritted teeth.

“I’m just saying, I’m trying to be logical here. It’s not really a good use of your resources to send one Org to distract all of us, and then send someone else -Goldar maybe- to deal with one Ranger, even one close to a member of the team. Actually, taking out Shining would be more practical, given he’s the Prince of the Crystal Empire and all.”

“Vapor’s right,” Sunset agreed. “Something larger’s at play here, and besides, we don’t even have proof Thrax was behind any of this.”

Suddenly, Sunburst remembered something, and muttered to himself quietly what the guard had told him earlier. “Break-in at Canterlot Castle itself, someone looking exactly like Prince Blueblood managed to steal something right out from Luna and Celestia’s noses…” he repeated, catching Sunset’s ears.

“Wait, did you say a Blueblood Imposter?”

“Yeah, that’s what one of Galaxy’s troops told me at least.”

“Knew it,” Vapor smiled, as she snapped her fingers. “Knew it wasn’t an Org!” she exclaimed, pleased at being right, before Lightning smacked her around the back of the head.

“Sensitivity, please?” she asked, while thinking. “And usually I’m the insensitive one… Sheesh, Silver must be getting to me, or maybe it’s Sunset’s miss goody two hoovesness rubbin’ off on me. I don’t know, and I don’t really care honestly…”

Vapor sucked in a breath, and let out a little hiss remembering what had just happened. “Ooh, right… Sorry, Sunny.” she said.

“Hey, what’s this?” Robert asked, taking out the card from Sunburst’s grasp and reading it. “Kamen Rider Decade? Didn’t know you collected Kamen Rider trading cards. No accounting for taste though, I honestly prefer Gaim and Drive…”

“What’s Kamen Rider mean anyways? I’m not an expert on Neighponiese…” Sunburst admitted with a flush, rubbing the back of his head.

“Well, it’s an old franchise, dating back to the seventies starting with the original TV show starring Hiroshi Fujioka playing Kamen Rider Ichigō as he’s called nowadays. Kamen means Masked, in Japanese. And the Rider part comes from the fact that they often drove high-powered motorbikes. Remember the Megaforce Rangers I told you about once?”

“Yeah… vaguely…” Sunburst murmured, not really caring -Like most of the team- for Robert’s Ranger history lessons.

“Well, Decade had a similar power, being able to turn into any past Rider he wished with little cards like that one. Went from universe to universe, fixing any issues in them he came across, and setting things right battling the forces of Dai-Shocker, a group of past villains who’d banded together.” Robert explained.

“Yeah…” Sunburst replied. “Here’s the thing, I’m not so sure this is just a trading card as you put it. Some sort of strange human with a hand puppet gave it to me, called himself Narutaki…” he trailed off in thought.

At that, Robert fell backwards into a dead faint.

“...What’d I say?” Sunburst asked before going for the card and looking at it more carefully, and as he lit up his horn, there seemed to be some sort of magic in it, like an encoded message. Muttering a spell under his breath, a holographic figure appeared above the card. This was Decade, Sunburst presumed.

“Okay, now how do I get you to play your message…?” Sunburst wondered aloud.

“I am the passing through Kamen Rider. If you ever need a helping hand, just hold this card up, and call for Decade.” a male voice said in Sunburst’s mind. Steeling himself, and taking a leap of faith, he held up the card.

“Okay, maybe now we’ll be getting some answers as to what’s going on here…” Sunburst muttered before shouting “DECADE!”

Decade’s World:

Wyatt couldn’t recall the last time he had experienced such a peaceful day. Lately, it felt like he had to experience at least one explosion a day. And if it wasn’t monsters then it was the antics of the girls or the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

However, none of that mattered at the moment. Applejack had invited Twilight, Spike and him out to a picnic with her family and he was going to enjoy it to the fullest.

“Hey, Spike! You got the potato salad, ya?” Wyatt called into the kitchen. Despite the assurance from AJ that they didn’t need to bring anything, the trio had decided to bring a few things anyway. Like homemade salsa that he had elected to make himself.

“Yeah! The potato salad’s almost done chilling!” Spike answered, the sound of clattering pans accompanying him. “Did you grab the blanket and the frisbee?”

“Yeah, I got it!” Wyatt patted the small bag at his side. “Can’t take a dog to a picnic without a frisbee!” Moving over to the stairs, he put his hand to his mouth. “Hey, Twi! You almost ready? We’re gonna be late for getting there early.”

“I’m ready~!” Twilight called back, walking to the top of the stairs. She had elected to wear a pink sundress that matched the streak in her mane and had her mane pulled into a bun. “Well, how do I look?” She asked, putting a hand to her hip and cocking it slightly.

“Like a million bucks.” Wyatt whistled, picking her a thumbs up. “Need me to do any last minute preening?” Giving her a cheeky grin, he wriggled his fingers in her direction. “I got the magic hands you know.”

With a roll of her eyes, Twilight walked down and batted him upside the head with one of the feathery appendages. “No thank you, my wings are in perfect condition.” Fluffing her wings, she levitated over her bag. “Just let me double check everything...”

“Didn’t you already double check it?” Spike strode out of the kitchen, a wrapped up bowl in his hands. “That your third or fourth check, Twi.” Smirking, he winked at Wyatt. “I can see it now, you all frizzy maned, quintuple checking a diaper bag for a simple day in the park.”

Twilight pouted for a moment before giggling. “And I can see Uncle Spike having to change some of those diapers,” she shot back, grabbing a checklist from her bag. “Okay... check... check...” Twilight blocked out the world, her eyes running over every line on the list.

After a minute or two, Wyatt decided to snap her out of it by lightly squeezing the base of her wing between his forefinger and thumb. “Alright!” he cheered. “Time for a picnic!”

“You mean in an hour,” Spike reminded, making his way to the door. “It’s time to wait for the picnic!” Opening the door, he nearly walked into Applejack. “Oh! Hey, AJ, here to tell help us wait for the picnic?”

“Figured y'all would be gettin’ ready early,” Applejack replied, looking back at Twilight with a smirk. “Ya know, Twi, it’s just a picnic. Ya don’t hafta get there all early like. Not like y’all are goin’ fishin’ or somethin’.”

“Is everyone going to make fun of me today?” Twilight pouted, looking between the others. “I mean really, can’t a mare like being prepared?”

“Relax, sugahcube.” Stepping inside, Applejack put her hands up. “Ah just thought Ah’d come and spend some extra time with ya. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that, is there?”

“No, I’d like to spend more time with you.” Twilight sighed, giving Applejack a small smile. “Alright, boys, we have to get going if we’re going to get there on time.” Putting her list away, Twilight picked up her bag. “Lead the way AJ!”

With a good natured chuckle, Applejack stepped back outside, leading the three through town. Too busy wrapped up in conversation, they didn’t notice as the world started to warp around them.

Wild Access Universe:

The air around Sunburst began to shimmer, and warp as four figures began to appear in front of him. While they weren’t fully formed yet, a few features could be made out. One, an alicorn judging by the wings and the long horn protruding like a lance from the skull, another seemed to be draconic in nature with wings to boot. A third was a pony wearing a stetson (Could have been Applejack, but quite a few ponies in her clan wore cowcolt hats, like Braeburn for example) and the final was… different and decidedly non-pony or draconic in nature. It was the feet that tipped Sunburst off, whatever this figure was, he or she was a human.

Sunburst went for his morpher, just in case he’d accidentally summoned someone hostile to his world even though the rational part of his brain said, judging from the message, he’d probably summoned this Decade character. But stranger things had been known to happen, something could have gone wrong and he may have summoned someone else instead.

He glanced towards Sunset, and saw she was lighting up her horn as well, it glowing a greenish color. She was probably having the same thoughts as well.

“Yeah, Bloom keeps talkin’ about Hearthswarming with the Pie’s. Ah’m just glad she stopped ramblin’ on bout’ Fuji,” the leading figure spoke, solidifying into Applejack. “Ah reckon’ she might start up again when we go to the rock farm though.”

Sunset’s eyes widened. “Applejack?” she whispered, the new arrivals seemingly not noticing they’d traveled to a new universe entirely.

“Considering Maud, I can only imagine what the rest of the Pie family is like.” A taller version of Spike appeared next, wearing a pair of jeans and a black shirt. “I bet they all speak all stoic like.”

Slowly, Sunburst put his morpher away, getting the feeling he could trust these four, or at least the lookalikes of his friends. The human however, the jury was still out on that.

The final two figures solidified into Twilight, though she had eyes just like Spike, and a teenage human male. The human sported short brown hair, clad in a pink and black shirt and black pants.

“I don’t think we’re in Ponyville anymore...” Twilight spoke, glancing around. She dropped her bag, slipping a ring onto her left hand. “I think someone summoned Wyatt.”

Sunset coughed, alerting them to their presence. “Um, Twilight, that you? You look a little… different.” she commented delicately, noting the eyes and the fangs.

Twilight turned her gaze to Sunset, staring at her for a moment. “Alicorn Sunset. I wasn’t expecting to see that today.”

“And we didn’t fall out of the portal this time,” the young man spoke, rubbing the side of his head. “Gotta say, I like that more than the last couple worlds.”

By this point, ponies all around them were starting to stare and point, even whisper amongst themselves, some comments rather rude like “Human ape…” and the like. Sunset sighed, it seemed some things never changed.

The rude comments didn’t escape Twilight’s notice and her pupils seemed to contract for a split second. “If anypony has something to say about my boyfriend, please, don’t hold anything back,” she said in a calm tone, adjusting the ring on her finger.

Spike frowned, nudging her in the side. “Hey, aggression, remember?”

“Best you just ignore them, I’ve gotten used to them…” Sunset sighed to herself, a trace of sadness in it. “Know I shouldn’t, but… It’s a fact of life if you’re a human in this Equestria…” she murmured, before a thought struck her. “Wait, boyfriend? So, you actually got the courage to ask someone out?”

Sunset chuckled a little, remembering how it took months for her Twilight to even get asked out on a date by this world’s Flash Sentry. Often too nervous, and caught up in her books for her own good. She loved her like a sister, but the mare seriously needed to get out more.

“All it took was Somber almost corrupting Wyatt,” Spike explained, gesturing to the new human. “So...” he shifted, holding up his bowl. “Anyone want potato salad?”

At that, everyone face-faulted.

“Maybe they’re more salsa verde people?” the now identified Wyatt asked, holding up a container from his bag. “It’s homemade.”

After Sunburst had picked himself up off the ground, he stepped towards the four new arrivals to his universe. “So, which one of you’s Decade?”

“That’d be me,” Wyatt answered, returning the container to his bag and holding his hand out to Sunburst. “Wyatt Matthews, at your service.”

“Good, because right now my fiance is in the hospital, no thanks to a Blueblood Imposter’s work, and I’m pissed, and I want answers,” Sunburst growled out, surprising even himself as he rushed towards Wyatt, and held his Crystal Saber to his throat.

“Okay.” Wyatt peered down at the dagger, then up at Sunburst. “First off, that was Blueblood, just not the one you know. (Sunset muttered: “I probably could have told you that…” behind Sunburst) He calls himself Blud and he works for a group known as Dai-Shocker.”

Sunburst sighed, and removed the dagger from Wyatt’s neck, trying to process all this new information at once. “Wait, you’re telling me, besides Decade being a real thing, Dai-Shocker’s real as well?”

“Yeah, Dai-Shocker’s real,” Wyatt assured, rubbing at his neck. “Lead by a horrifying mix of Shining Armor and King Sombra; Somber Shield. They’re after a complete multiversal conquest.”

“Great, next thing you’re going to tell us,” Robert said in disbelief, having finally recovered, “Is that the rest of the Riders, all the way back to the very first are real as well, as well as the Badan army!” he drawled out. “I’m sorry, but this... Well, it’s rather highly unbelievable, and this is coming from a guy who has to fight monsters on an almost daily basis, and control a giant mecha that the creator of Naruto would probably be laughing his head off at!”

“It’s the basic multiverse theory,” PTKR Twilight responded, glancing at Robert. “Every possibility exists somewhere out there.”

“And for every action we make,” Sunburst added, this being his realm of study. “There’s an equal and opposite reaction. Butterfly effect, chaos theory, whatever you want to call it. Want me to demonstrate with a glass of water?” he drawled out, somewhat sarcastically.

“Mein Gott…” Robert muttered, as he sat down on a nearby bench, rubbing his head, Sunburst getting sarcastic being the last straw for him right now. “Nur so viel verrückter Scheiß kann ich an einem Tag machen…”

“All Ah wanted ta do today was have a simple picnic with friends and family,” Applejack sighed, putting her hand over her face. “Now we gotta deal with more of Dai-Shocker’s nonsense. Faust help me Ah if don't get my hands on Blud.”

“Well, I’m not Blud, but maybe I can substitute…” a familiar voice said, and everyone whirled around to see Goldar, backed by a legion of Kurokage Troopers, with some Tengas and Putrids thrown in for good measure. “Rangers, always a pleasure.”

“Wish I could say the same…” Sunset replied as she went for her morpher, the others doing the same.

“Welcome to my nightmare!” Goldar laughed.

“Sorry, we’ll pass on that…” Robert snarked. “It’s Morphin’ Time! Legendary Wild Access, hah!”

(Begin Morphing Sequences)
Sunset rocketed upwards into the sky flying through several spell seals in the process each time gaining a piece of her costume in the process before finally her helmet formed over her head with the screech of a bird before she rocketed downwards and landed on the ground with a mighty thud.

“Gold Ranger, ready!”

Standing on a rocky desert plateau as storm clouds rumbled and lightning flashed in the background, Lightning gained an aqua colored costume with the same diagonal tooth marks across her chest as Sunset’s. Her Cutie Mark of a yellow lightning bolt with stars appeared on her right breast. A helmet similar in design to Sunset's appeared on her head, with the sound similar to that of a falcon's call.

“Aqua Ranger, ready!”

On a beach, a tidal wave washed over Vapor Trail and she gained a purple costume similar in design to the others with her Cutie Mark of a comet on her left breast as well. The tooth marks on the opposite side of her chest appeared and a sperm whale themed helmet formed over her head with the noise of a deep sea beast's hum.

“Purple Ranger, ready!”

A flash of pure blue flames enveloped Robert as he stood in one of the red gate lined pathways that led up to Inari’s sacred shrine on Mt. Inari. He was given an orange form-fitting costume with tooth marks going diagonally across the left side of his chest and a golden fox’s head on his right breast. Then, a cape flamed into existence and a misty orange nine-tailed fox bit down on Robert’s head and formed his helmet.

“Orange Ranger, ready!”

In a dark barely moonlit orchard of apple trees, clouds of black smoke surrounded Sunburst and he gained a black costume with his Cutie Mark of an orange sun with bursting yellow rays on his left breast just like Vapor Trail's costume, and also like Vapor's the tooth marks appeared on the right side of his chest with a bat-themed helmet much like the Jungle Fury Bat Spirit Ranger's appearing around his head along with a loud bat screech sound.

“Black Ranger, ready!”
(End Morphing Sequences)

“Hade ni ikuze!” Robert shouted. In only a few seconds, the transformation sequence was all over. We’d just slowed down time long enough for you to see what happened.

“Is that a flying monkey?” Spike asked, placing the bowl on the ground. “Pretty tame by monster standards.”

“Listen to your elders kid,’ Robert commented. “Goldar… he never goes down without a fight.”

Taking out a blue and black rectangle he placed it against his waist. It flashed, conjuring up a belt. “Let’s go with... BuraKaWani.” Retrieving three coins from a case, he slotted them into the belt. Tilting the belt, he passed a circular object over it. “Henshin!”

“Cobra! Kame! Wani!” His belt shouted, several holographic coins appearing in front of him. The coins stacked on top of each other and wrapped around him. Spike glowed for a moment before his armor was revealed. An orange cobra was wrapped around his head and resembled a turban while the eyes were purple. The chest had a circular portion displaying stylized images of a cobra, turtle, and alligator. Both of his arms had large, orange gauntlets that resembled turtle shells. The legs appeared to be the most plain, orange armor running down the front of his legs with teeth designs around the hamstrings.

“OOO huh?” Goldar chuckled. “Interesting. Thrax did warn me that despite Somber’s musings, someone would try and interfere with his plans. Though I do admit I never expected a little drakeling wyrm like you to be the one to be stupid enough to try…”

“You say that now,” Spike replied, getting into a stance. “Why don’t you see for yourself, gilded chicken?”

“Cute, really cute.” Goldar chuckled, before raising his sword, and bringing down dark purple lightning bolts all around the group, causing them to scatter.

Spike ran to the front, bringing his arms together and creating an orange energy shield. “You won’t think I’m cute, trust me.”

He was forced to use this energy shield (As really, who’d stand there and let their foes transform?) when Goldar fired a large beam of energy from his griffon-themed torso plating. Spike slid backwards, ripping up the cobblestone streets a little, but the shield held.

“Save the trash talk for sparring,” Twilight admonished, flashing a ring in the shape of a hand on her left hand. With a quick motion, she tapped it to a matching belt buckle on her waist.

“Driver on, please!” her belt said, growing larger and silver. She flipped a switch on it, causing it to chant out, “Shabadoobie, touch to henshin~!” After a moment, she pressed another ring onto the belt buckle. “Flame, Dragon!” A red magic circle appeared behind her and a dragon made of flames came flying out. It flew around the battlefield for a moment, crashing into several Tengas before washing over Twilight. “Burn, burn, burn burn!” the belt shouted, the flames growing brighter.

“Always a problem I had with the later Drivers…” Robert muttered as he went blade to pike with a Kurokage Trooper, sparks flying as metal clashed. “Never knew when to shut up… Well, least it’s not the Ghost Driver...” Robert muttered, before he then kicked the Trooper backwards and sliced it across the chest with a chi infused Crystal Saber.

“Seriously, takes a bit too long to transform as well, I note…” Sunset commented as she leaped forwards and sliced a Putrid right down the middle, causing it to go up in a pyre of flame.

Lightning and Vapor tagged teamed some Kurokage Troopers, slicing through them with the Giraffe Cutter and the Levitation Trident respectively, before kicking them down into a nearby construction site. The Deer Clutcher fired, and Vapor swung from a crane arm and kicked another trooper in the face. Lightning meanwhile, pulled two pikes away from two other troopers, and with a smirk asked: “Missing something?”

Once the flames died down, Twilight was left standing in her own armor. Silver and red dominated the outfit, with silver brackets dividing the red crystal-like substance of her helmet into eye, forehead and mouth portions. On either side of her own horn were silver antlers made of the same materials as the brackets. Her shoulder armor was silver with circular red jewels at the center.

“I’m sorry, did you not want help fighting the monsters?” Slipping another ring onto her finger, she turned the hand on her belt to the opposite side. Using another ring, she created a free-floating spell circle. “Because we don’t have to if you don’t want to.” Reaching into the spell circle, she pulled out a sword.

Goldar laughed as he went blade to blade with Twilight. “Oh, infighting amongst the team… Classic.” he chuckled, as an eye appeared above him, and fired bolts of energy at each and every member of the heroes hitting dead on target no matter where they were. Twilight staggered back from the shot, before Goldar sliced her across the chest several times with a flurry of his blade.

Nearby, Sunburst had pulled out the Navi Blaster, and was ducking behind a corner as Putrids fired their bazookas at him, before with a few quick shots, he took care of them and then went for his Bison Axe, tossing it and impaling another Putrid in the head. Grimacing at the blood on his axe, his sighed and switched it back to his Crystal Saber. He then pulled out Galaxy’s Dino Morpher, and fired it at several Tengas, Squash Charger inside the Morpher, increasing the gravity around the Tengas, before they sunk deep into the earth.

“Okay, that stung,” Spike grumbled, shaking himself off. “Hey, Turkey! Heads up!” Rushing forward, Spike delivered a spin kick to Goldar’s side. An orange crocodile head appeared around his leg, chomping down on the monster before disappearing. Spike alternated legs, each strike resulting in another chomp. Goldar staggered back, before he unleashed another blast from his torso plate, and this time Spike didn’t have time to block it and was sent flying back.

He smacked into a wall, (With Lightning using the Kurokage Trooper’s own pikes against them nearby) leaving an imprint. “Okay, that’s getting annoying.” Rising back to his feet, any wounds Goldar had inflicted were already closing up.

Suddenly, a hoard of kunai struck Goldar as AJ, now in Ichigo Arms, (“Swooshing Spark!” her Sengoku Driver had called.) used her Kunai Burst Attack.

“Hey, AJ,” Sunset teased as she sliced apart some Tenga warriors. “I thought you hated strawberries!”

“Does it matter?” Applejack asked, stabbing a Tenga with a kunai. “Aint’t like Ah’m eatin’ it.”

“Wyatt, join the fun!” Robert called as he fired several blasts into some Kurokage Troopers with his Kitsune Blaster, before running towards Goldar, and inserting his Crystal Saber into a special slot on the gun. “Wrapping things up won’t be complete unless Decade gets in on things!”

Wyatt summoned up his driver, attaching it to his waist. “How can I say no to that?” Calling forth his card case, he pulled out his Decade card. “Can’t let you guys have all the fun!” Opening his driver, he slid the card in and closed it again.

‘Kamen Ride: Decade!’ Several silhouettes appeared around Wyatt, converge on him to create his armor before he joined in on the madness.

“Kyuubi Seibai Blast! Now, time to count up your sins!” Robert shouted, pressing the trigger, and unleashing a flaming fox head which bit down on Goldar.

Wyatt pulled out another card, slotting it into his belt. “I think he’s got at least ten to count up,” he joked, pushing in the handles of his belt buckle.

“Final Attack Ride: D-D-Decade!” his driver shouted, ten ethereal, grey cards appearing in front of him. He jumped into the air, the cards following his movements and creating a path straight to Goldar. Getting into a jump kick pose, Wyatt passed through the cards, his body disappearing in a blur of motion until he slammed into the flying monkey’s chest.

Goldar staggered forwards, sparking slightly, before he fell backwards and exploded.

“So….” Spike asked as he changed back from his Rider form. “Potato Salad?”

Again, everyone face-faulted.

Author's Note

Okay, so now the heroic riders have been thrown into the mix, and now things are really going to get crazy. Anyways, on this chapter, wasn't really a fan of all the Rider outfits being described to the very last detail, as let's face it most of us reading this story already know what they look like right?

Also, thought about having "Just Live More" AKA Gaim's opening theme play during the battle, but I'm saving it for later, and besides doesn't really work here as well as the situation I'm saving it for.

Anyways, comments, thoughts, and critique are welcomed.