The End
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And it ended just as any other day or battle did, with Vypra and the Batlings promising that they would be back and next time, they'd destroy the Rangers. Carter almost yawned at the very thought of it. Geez, couldn't something different happen, just once?
"All right, guys, let's get back to the Aquabase," the Red Ranger headed for their vehicle. He'd never had any idea that being a Ranger was like this: periods of intense activity coupled by mind-numbing boredom. Maybe all wars are like that.
As they drove away, no one noticed the quiet eyes watching from the shadows, nor heard the thoughts that drifted through a centuries old mind. So these are the Lightspeed Rangers. I must say...I am not impressed.
At least so far as the Rangers could tell. What they didn't know was that the same person who had observed them was still watching them from the darkness, using a mind older than the entire staff of Lightspeed put together to come to a decision that would affect the lives of those five young people forever.
It began simply enough. It was at another battle. This one seemed to be more serious than the others, however. There were batlings all over the place, everywhere the Rangers turned there seemed to be more.
"You can't knock one down without ten more popping up!" Joel griped as he and Chad worked back to back against a particularly annoying bunch. The only thing that would be worse would be if Diabolico himself joined the battle!
At least, that was what they thought: until the earth started to shake beneath them, knocking everyone off their feet. "What in the world is going on?" Kelsey grabbed at Carter to steady herself, and succeeded only in bringing them both back to the ground in a messy tangle of arms and legs.
A lightning bolt arced down from the heavens, landing right in the middle of the battlefield. Where it touched down, a strange figure in blue armor revealed itself. "Carter Grayson, Joel Rawlings, Chad Lee, Kelsey Winslow, and Dana Mitchell?" The voice was high-pitched and very annoying, yet somehow filled with an authority they couldn't deny.
"Yes." Carter stepped forward a little. "Who are you and what do you want?"
"I am Ninjor, Guardian of the Temple of Ninja Power." The armored warrior's expressions couldn't be seen, but he did not sound overly thrilled to meet them all. "You will come with me."
Joel shook his head sharply; this was way to much like when he'd been taken by those Lightspeed operatives! "No way, been there, done that!"
"That wasn't a request." Ninjor raised his hand, blue lightning arcing from it to touch each of them. "You have a meeting with the High Council."
Light blinded every watcher on the street, and when it finally cleared, only a few torn up feet of street remained of a battle that had been raging only moments before.
"What's going on?" Dana wondered. This was nothing she'd ever experienced before, and it was scaring her to death. I think I've heard of this Ninjor guy, but he's supposed to be on our side! Why would he kidnap us!
"I wish I knew." Carter sidled a little to the front, wanting to be in the brunt of anything that happened. He was the leader, he was going to be responsible if it killed him! I hope that's not an omen.
A sudden light flared on overhead, and ten figures appeared, seated in the chairs. "Welcome to Eltar." A feminine voice spoke, coming from a white-garbed woman seated in the center, her face covered by a veil. "I am Dimitria, leader of the High Council. We know who you are. Permit me to introduce the others here."
Seated next to her was another woman, with long hair and a dangerous expression in her eyes. "Dulcea of Phaedos, Master Warrior."
On the other side was a young black human male with a jester's grin, dressed all in black that almost blended with his skin tone. "Zachary Taylor of Earth, former Black Morphin Ranger, currently Head of the Morphin' Academy."
"Michael Lawrence Corbett, formerly of Earth, currently of Mirinoi, former Magna Defender." This was a powerfully built young man older than Zack, with strong eyes and a look of one who had gone through death and rebirth.
"Karone Of KO-35 and Mirinoi, formerly Astronema, the Princess of Evil, and former Pink Galaxy Ranger." The blonde in black leather bent her head politely, but seemed just as serious as the rest of them.
The next was something that looked a great deal like a three foot tall child with fur all over them. "Lerigot of Liara, a great wizard and thinker." Lerigot burbled at them in what they thought might be a friendly manner.
"The Blue Senturion, dedicated to the upholding of Intergalactic Law." It was a robot, but one that seemed far more advanced than anything they were used to. It did not look pleased, either.
Neither did the smaller robot next to him. "Alpha 5, formerly the associate of Zordon of Eltar, now serving on the Council."
The next to last was a middle aged man in a white robe. "Lord Zedd, Prince Consort of the M-51 Galaxy, husband to Queen Rita."
"And I believe you've already met Ninjor." Dimitria's voice seemed amused as the last of the council gazed at the Rangers. "And now, to the matter of why you were called here."
"It's about time." Joel muttered. The Council didn't seem to notice, or at least didn't act as if they did. Zack, however, did let his lips twitch just a little.
"The matter is this: your powers are not sanctioned by the Council, therefore, you do not have the right to call yourself Power Rangers." Dimitria stated firmly.
The five looked at one another. "And just who are you to decide this?" Chad asked. They'd been called there, put through this, for something like that?
"We are the High Council." Dulcea said flatly, her voice bearing an accent they didn't recognize. "We alone determine who can be a true Power Ranger and who cannot. You do not have the authorization from us, and thus will not be permitted to call yourselves Power Rangers."
Kelsey glanced at her friends, then up at the glowering faces before them. "And your point would be?"
"Simple. Do what you will, we don't care. But you are not Power Rangers and you will not call yourselves that any longer." Dimitria's words were cold and frosty.
Silence fell as the Lightspeed warriors tried to grasp what was going on. Finally, Carter stepped forward. "Fine. We won't call ourselves Power Rangers then. I don't see that it matters that much, at any rate. All "Power Rangers" is, is just a couple of words. Words don't mean anything. Actions define who a person is, what they are, not what someone calls them or what they call themselves. If you don't want us to use a couple of words that you seem to think you have the right to declare who can be called them and who can't be, then be our guests. What is important is the fact that we defend Mariner Bay, and you don't. I didn't see any of your precious 'Power Rangers' racing to our defense when Diabolico and his crew were let out! We keep Mariner Bay from becoming a memory, all you have done is just sit up here on your fat carcasses and whine about how we're not 'real' Power Rangers! But if being a 'real' Ranger means having to be associated with you, I'd just as soon not be one! All I care about is defending my city. You can take your Council and shove it!"
Lord Zedd leaned forward in the silence that fell. "And do you all feel this way?" his voice was carefully neutral as each of them nodded. "Then there is only one thing that we can do."
Oh, crap, they're going to destroy our powers, I know it, Carter, you screwed up big-time. The Red Ranger threw his shoulders back and prepared to face whatever was going to happen next. He had spoken his heart, and he knew it.
"Very true, Lord Zedd." Dimitria nodded, then glanced at the five. "We are proud to welcome you to the Power Ranger family, and you are hereby entitled from this moment on to call on us for any assistance or advice that you may need." She smiled beneath her veil. "Congratulations."
Dana blinked in confusion. "Um...would someone mind explaining that?"
"Simple." Ninjor chuckled. "We wanted to know if you were truly worthy of being Rangers, or if you were just in it for the publicity." He bent his head towards Joel, who suddenly seemed to be very interested in the tips of his shoes, and blushing. "We already knew you were brave, just taking the job in the first place proved that."
"What we needed to know was if you wanted to protect people more than you wanted to be called Power Rangers." Zack told them. "And it's good to see that the safety of Earth is in good hands still." He smiled. "Though it appears team ages have gone up since my day." He cut his eyes quickly over to Zedd, who only chuckled at apparently what was a private joke of some kind.
Dulcea nodded. "But you passed, and now we are glad to call you fellow Power Rangers, and our friends."
"This meeting is over." Dimitria stood. "Congratulations, Lightspeed Power Rangers. You're one of us now."
Light flashed once again, and the Lightspeed Rangers found themselves back in Mariner Bay. Carter glanced at his comrades. "Um..was that real?" was the only thing he could think to say. No one else seemed to know what to reply, until a voice called from the far side of the street.
"Hey, Joel!" it was Zack! "I almost forgot...don't give up on Fairweather! Trust me, when they run the most...you have the most fun catching them!" He waved a little, then turned to take the hand of a lovely young woman beside him. The Rangers caught only a snatch of the conversation, which none of them understood. "Sorry I'm late, Angela, had to do some work."
"Well, as long as...." The couple turned a corner and was out of sight. Carter looked at his team and smiled.
"Back home?"
"Back home!"
And so they did.
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