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

by standing straight, parting her legs slightly and holding her palms together before her face as if in prayer. The winds picked up around her, faint specks of purple color flashing into existence around her body and extending outwards.

Tommy watched silently, and then mimicked her movements.

Erebus managed to dig himself out of the crater just in time to see the gathering clouds of purple and green energy, sparkling like a million tiny stars and swimming around their sources.

The small specks of energy stopped moving, hanging in a nimbus around their respective creators. Then, as if connected through some joint union of power, both Rangers separated their palms. One hand fell to their sides, but the other, with the animal marking, faced the monster.

Erebus grunted in surprise as the two circular tattoos glowed steadily, each the color of the Ranger. Then, the specks of energy obeyed the silent command, rapidly gathering around the target.

And then, without sound nor speedy movement to deliver warning, all the pockets of energy exploded in a violent eruption of blinding power.

Chapter Nine

"Oh my God," Kimberly gasped, her hands flying to her mouthpiece, "Alexis and Tommy did that

?"

"Incredible," Billy reflected.

The five Rangers stood in silence for a moment, awed at the dazzling display of power that sent the Chaotic demon back to his own realm. When the light faded, a buzz from their communicators confirmed their expectations.

^RANGERS, THERE IS NO LONGER ANY SIGN OF EREBUS,^ Zordon announced, ^YOU'VE ALL DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.^

"How are Tommy and Alexis?" Trini wondered aloud, "Are they okay down there?"

^ALPHA HAS TELEPORTED THEM BACK HERE. THEY HAVE BOTH EXPENDED A GREAT DEAL OF ENERGY, AND WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR MORPHS. THEY SHOULD AWAKEN SOON.^

Kimberly giggled triumphantly. "Then let's welcome them to the team!"

Chapter Ten

Tommy sighed quietly, his eyelids sliding open hesitantly. As he expected, the blinding light of the examination bed assailed his sensitive vision.

"Tommy? How do you feel?"

Even though he wasn't fully aware, a small grin pulled at his lips in reaction to the soft voice that greeted him.

She smiled back, taking his limp hand and cradling it gently. Finally, his eyes opened fully, and blinked several times as his bearings collected.

"Kim," he breathed, "What happened?"

"You did it. You and Alexis finished off Erebus. Zordon doesn't think he's actually dead, but at least he couldn't hold on to Earth anymore. It's... over."

Tommy frowned slightly, noticing the sadness that weighed her last word. He slowly sat up and met her hazel gaze. "And my powers?"

Rather than answer, Kim released his palm. Tommy examined his hand.

The black brand was gone.

He sighed quietly with disappointment.

"Sorry, Bro," Jason offered, hovering over Kim's shoulder, "That attack you guys launched completely decimated your power reserves. Both you and Alexis expelled your Power Coins from your bodies. The coins were so drained they couldn't even maintain their magical bond with you."

Somehow, Tommy found a small smile. "Hey, it's okay," he assured his friends, "At least I got one more good fight in. I knew it was only temporary."

Jason grinned at his best friend's strength.

"So how's Alexis?" Tommy asked, rising to his feet. Kimberly jerked her head toward a second bed, where the young woman lay unconscious. Zack and Trini were watching her vitals on the viewing screens, while Alpha and Billy discussed something within the ring of consoles that made up the hub of the Command Center.

"Her body's not used to wielding this kind of energy," Trini explained, "so it's taking her a bit longer to wake up."

Tommy nodded, his dark scrutiny passing along the entire Command Center. He gazed perplexed at the Transdimension Cylinder, which was suspiciously empty.

"Where's Zordon?"

Chapter Eleven

*Kreia?* he called one last time.

Once again, there was no response.

Heaviness settled into Zordon's overflowing heart as he finally was forced to come to terms with this newest loss.

She was gone again. And this time, there was no coming back.

The ancient wizard sighed, taking in one final glance at the dazzling colors of the Astral Plane.

*Alexis was correct,* he admitted to himself, *Kreia, you expended every last drop of your existence. Now, all that you were has been reduced to scant memories and abilities, locked into the well of knowledge the Eagle Coin taps into. But even that will have to die.*

It was an extremely difficult decision to make. But it had to be done.

He had taken the time to study the Purple Coin after it separated from Alexis' body. He understood the kind of powers Kreia had granted it with her last wisps of existence.

It could only be manifested in the Power Coin's true form... without being distilled by the Morpher.

If Alexis did decide to join the Power Rangers, she needed to use a Morpher. The Morpher greatly changed the abilities the Power Rangers had, primarily diverting a great deal of the attack energies into defense.

He had lost so many of his children over the centuries, but after Rita's incarceration he had ten thousand years of peace to develop technology to alter the Power. Before, Rangers bled in nearly every battle. Now, the energy matrix woven by the Morpher made a nearly impenetrable armor. True, Erebus managed to cut through, but not enough to seriously endanger the Rangers' lives. If Erebus had faced any previous team of Rangers, the attacks that maimed Zack and Trini could very well have been fatal.

If Alexis used the Power Coin in the raw form, not only would she not have the defenses the other Rangers enjoyed, but she'd also have knowledge of the attacks Kreia had developed. What if she were brave enough to try them? Or worst yet... what if Kreia had given her the secret to Ascending?

Zordon's thoughts turned to Ghedaliah. He hadn't witnessed the first Ascension, but the energy it released destroyed Umbriel. Kreia's Ascension was different, as she tapped not into the Morphin' Grid, but the energy pool the Green and Purple Rangers originated from. Still, that energy was devastating, and it cost Kreia her life.

These Rangers will never have to make such sacrifices, he vowed, It may take a bit more time, but they have enough power to stop Lord Zedd and secure peace for this planet. Slowly, they will grow stronger, and when they are ready to take on the next phase of the Power, they will do so... and then they will save the universe. But they will not

risk their lives foolishly.

Zordon gazed once again into the distance. *Kreia,* he called, *you cannot hear me, but I cannot remain silent. I'm sorry I couldn't save you... again. And I dearly thank you for all you did to help the Rangers. You didn't have to help them at all, but you died a true Power Ranger, a jewel of a human being. Your help in this last battle saved us all. But I cannot let the secrets of the Power that you have uncovered be discovered by the children just yet. I'm sorry... but your gift cannot be used now.*

And with that final, solemn apology, Zordon once again vanished from the Astral Plane to return to his dear children... now seven in all.

Chapter Twelve

Before her eyes even opened, she could feel the difference. An eerie emptiness tingled within her mind, and a chill seemed to gather in her palm.

The Power was gone... and so was Kreia.

Alexis gasped, her eyes shuttering open urgently. Confusion filled her mind as she desperately tried to fill in the blanks in her memory. Dazed, she stared at her naked palm.

All that she had experienced through Kreia was gone. All the memories and strategies the Purple Ranger had bestowed upon her had vanished like a vibrant dream faded upon awakening.

"Alexis?" Tommy's voice asked tenuously.

Alexis looked up from her palm, and smiled weakly at the six teens assembled before her.

She knew Tommy, Jason, and Trini were Power Rangers... and she had suspected Kimberly, Billy, and Zack were the other three.

Zack Taylor a Power Ranger... wouldn't Angela get a kick out of that

?

she wondered with amusement. No wonder he had so little time for her...

Jason's hand settled on her shoulder, an easy grin appearing on his lips. She couldn't help but smile in return. "What do you remember?" he asked.

She considered the question. "The last thing I remember was summoning the Maelstrom with Tommy. But then, I was