Streaks of Purple Saga Volume Two, Heather Ray [story read aloud txt] 📗

Alexis took a moment to wipe away some of the cold sweat that had broken out over her face. It certainly wasn't particularly warm in the Dark Dimension, but the mind-numbing terror that assaulted her senses was more than enough stress to trigger the response.

She exhaled deeply, pushing away from the wall she had examined. Her feet were firmly planted on the ground, despite the snaking mists that had previously attacked her. She was quick to realize that somehow, the smoke was repelled by her. Therefore, she could safely traverse the clouded ground.

She was safe from the smoke, so it seemed... but certainly not from the gold monster. At some point, she was certain he'd come back to finish the job he started.

If she sat still, she was going to die.

Her first instinct was to sit and wait, like a child who wandered away from her parents at a mall. Sit and wait, and someone would find you.

But who would find her? If she waited too long, some bloodthirsty alien surely would.

What of the Power Rangers? The saviors of Angel Grove?

Well, technically, wasn't she

a Power Ranger? She didn't know how to don the armor, or summon the Power. She didn't even know what being a Power Ranger really meant. But if she really were a Power Ranger, then she'd be saving others, not vice versa.

Screw this damsel in distress crap. I'm getting outta here

!

After over an hour of various attempts, Alexis was forced to accept the truth: easier said than done.

"No doors, no loose tiles, no windows," she recounted, sitting back down on the raised slab of stone she at first found herself on. "In fact, the floor is completely seamless... like pure marble or something. And none of the pillars lining the room are loose... they're just as much a part of the room as the ground. Nothing moves

in this damn room."

She sighed, folding her legs beneath her to sit Indian style, and leaning her elbows on her knees. She glanced at the eagle design on her hand.

"Eagle!" she cried, for the fiftieth time since her capture. She recalled from her dreams how Kreia had transformed, but for some reason, the same command didn't work for her.

Alexis grimaced, folding her hands tightly. She absolutely refused

to cry, or to give up.

Nana said I was strong... that's why she gave me the coin. Now I've gotta prove she was right.

*You are

strong, Alexis.*

Her eyes widened to nearly impossible proportions. For some reason, she knew that voice. That voice rang in her dreams, screaming in horror, or whispering softly to the man she loved. That voice even tore through her own throat, calling upon magical power to save Jason's life.

Alexis swallowed fearfully. Kreia.

*You know me.* The mind voice almost amused. *I suppose I've made myself all too comfortable in your body if you can recognize me so easily.*

What's going on, Kreia? What's happening to me? Her eyes darted around the chamber. Where are you, anyway?

*I promise you, Alexis, I will answer your every question... but not at the moment. Now, I must ask you one more favor.*

Alexis bit her lip. From her dreams, she knew what kind of person Kreia was. Trustworthy, compassionate, powerful... if not a bit of a loose cannon. But, she was also the one who got her into her current situation, by manipulating her mind and body.

Could she really trust this mind-voice?

After a short deliberation, Alexis decided her chances were better with Kreia in her corner.

Okay, what do you have to do?

*I must free you, but I can only do it through your body. Just relax, and I will do the rest.*

Alexis shuddered slightly, but conceded. She stretched her body over the stone slab, and closed her eyes.

After nearly twenty minutes, her eyes opened once again... black as the darkest night.

Kreia blinked rapidly, trying to bring the occluded world into focus. A shudder ran down her spine as she noted the deep grooves etched into the high, ashy black ceiling.

A Dark Dimension...

She frowned, her emotions folding the smooth face that wasn't even her own. Slowly, she rose to a sitting position, adjusting herself once again to the Physical Plane.

"So, you aren't dead after all."

A cold smirk played on her lips. This should be fun...

She tried to put on some semblance of fear, and turned to Goldar with wide eyes. "You're back!"

Goldar smirked at her, striding deeper into the chamber. "Obviously. I've been here for ten minutes already, and you have barely breathed. I figured you just scared

yourself to death!"

Kreia frowned thoughtfully. Ten minutes? How did so much time elapse? Unless... I'm getting too weak. It took me a while to channel myself into this body. I had better save Alexis immediately... I can only guess how long I have until my energies fade completely.

She sighed quietly, jumping onto the ground. Goldar frowned slightly at the resignation in her eyes.

"So, you've given up?" he growled, a bit disappointed. "And I was hoping I'd get a few more screams out of you."

Kreia frowned slightly, shaking her head. "Sorry, Goldar. I don't have time to play."

Goldar shivered, noticing the drop in voice. Before, the girl had a high pitch, but now, it was cold and low.

Just like in the park, when...

Oh no.

Kreia smirked, as if reading his thoughts through the expression on his face. "Well done, Goldar. You're not as slow as we always thought."

Despite the fear pulsing through his entire body, Goldar stood firm, grasping his sword at the hilt.

He would not run. He would not behave so shamefully... Purple Ranger or no.

Kreia responded to his proud stance by letting her arms hang at her sides. She lifted her eyes, staring at the ceiling.

The weave of magic responded. Even within the Dark Dimension, created by Lord Zedd himself and obedient to his every whim, her magical power was impressive. Winds gathered, tossing aside the remaining fog as easily as the sun chased away darkness. Purple bolts of energy crackled from her body, catching the current of the cyclone and wrapping her in a whirling vortex of purple-hued power.

"I never actually had a chance to name this attack," she mused, more to herself than to the terrified Titan who stood before her. She then shrugged her shoulders. "How about... Eagle Storm? Or Thunder Cyclone?"

Her lips stretched into a ferocious smirk, as eyes as cold and black as space fell upon the trembling warrior. "I guess Goldar-Whacker will do."

The energy tornado leapt from her, encasing Goldar in a funnel of dynamic energy. Various shades of purple lasers and bolts struck the warrior from all directions, pummeling him with enough magical power to light the night sky.

By the time the cyclone ebbed, the screams of agony had long since ceased.

Kreia fell to her hands and knees as she released the spell. She struggled to catch her breath, sweat dripping from a forehead not her own.

"I... I must be more conservative," she realized, pushing herself to sit on her legs, "I can't afford using that kind of power."

She remained seated for another ten minutes, slowly regaining control over the host body. The dizziness eventually parted, allowing her clear sight once again.

Her balance restored, Kreia rose to her feet, leaning heavily against the stone platform. Her eyes fell upon Goldar, who lay perfectly still on the marble ground. His armor was covered with tears and dents, and brown blood poured from numerous wounds.

Kreia smirked coldly. "That brings back memories."

His consciousness slowly returned to the Physical Plane. Stars covered his vision as his being adjusted to the Transdimension Cylinder once again.

His non-corporeal eyes cleared, only to blink at the assault of dozens of flashing alarm lights.

"ALPHA, WHAT IS GOING ON?"

The small robot looked up from his work at a console, and hurried anxiously to stand before the wise mentor. "Aye yi yi!" he shrieked in panic, "The Power Rangers are fighting a Chaotic, and losing

!"

Zordon's eyes widened with immeasurable disbelief. "A CHAOTIC? BUT THAT ISN'T POSSIBLE! ONLY THE SHADOW LORD CAN CONTAIN SUCH A BEING!"

The sage frowned at the very thought of his young, inexperienced Rangers facing a horror that extreme. "I SHALL SEE FOR MYSELF."

Alpha nodded, watching as Zordon closed his eyes, and accessed the Command Centers systems through the computers' connection to his Cylinder. He could see the battle through the Viewing Globe, and he shuddered at the familiar sight that tore through the heavy night skies, vomiting streams of black fire at the nearly helpless defenders of Earth.

Zordon was too overwhelmed to speak. Slowly, he regained some composure, and fixed a desperate gaze on Alpha. "IT IS EREBUS."

Alpha was so horrified he nearly overloaded his cognitive systems. He knew the story of the mighty Ninjetti cult of Phaedos, where hundreds of brave warriors from around the galaxy assembled to learn the secrets of true Power. Umbriel had sent the Erebus to Phaedos to follow Zordon, and prevent the young sage and his ally Ninjor from unleashing the Power given him. The entire assembly of Ninjetti failed to destroy the Erebus.

Now, nothing remained of the Ninjetti save the crushed remains of their sacred Temple, and the last Master Warrior, forced to live forever as the sole survivor of a dignified, spiritual nation.

A quiet groan distracted them. Alpha recovered enough to hurry to the medical table, where Tommy was stirring.

His eyes were still closed tightly, wrinkles of stress lining his face. His knuckles were almost white on