The Dragon's Rise: Chapter Fourteen

Redemption

The remaining three Dark Warlords – Secmet, Dayus, and Kayl – kneeled before Bandora in her palace. The three villains were eager to return to Earth and strike. They were each eager to claim their place at Bandora's side now that Dragon Ranger had left them.

"You summoned us, mistress," Secmet of Venom said.

"Yes..." Bandora said. "I want you to go down to Earth and find the Dragon Ranger."

"Empress," Kayl said with caution in his voice. "Even if you can turn him again, he might still betray you sometime in the future."

Bandora laughed. "You misunderstand me. I don't want you to bring him to me...I want you to bring me his head."

The warlords smiled.

Tommy breezed through a kata at Bear Lake in Angel Grove North. The lake was surrounded by stone paths, trees and bushes, nestled in between two bustling city blocks of gleaming white skyscrapers.

Kimberly watched from nearby, not sure what to say when she approached him. Tommy stopped in his tracks when he spotted her.

"Hi..." She failed to hide her awkwardness and slowly walked towards him. "Ummm...I'm sorry to just sneak up on you like this."

Tommy nodded, his eyes narrowed. "You don't have to worry. I'm not her slave anymore."

"I know," she said as she walked over to him. "That's why we're worried. We want to help you."

He shook his head. "I've spent the last several months trying to kill you. I won't blame you if you hate me..."

Tommy turned and started to walk away.

"Tommy," Kimberly said as she caught up with him and touched his shoulder. He turned around to face her as she spoke. "Please...you look like you could use a friend."

He shook his head. "You don't know anything about me. Why would you want to be my friend?"

Kimberly shrugged. "We just do...you're a Ranger. We look out for each other."

"I don't want any part of this anymore," Tommy said sternly.

"Okay then. Still. Let us help. We know it must be hard," Kimberly said. She could see the pain on Tommy's face.

"You don't know!" Tommy snapped.

Kimberly took a step back, surprised at his outburst.

"I'm sorry," Tommy said as he lowered his gaze. "I didn't mean to yell..."

She nodded.

"Look," he said. "You want to know what I'm going through? During Bandora's first attack, I watched the love of my life die at Goldar's hands. I wanted to avenge her so bad, but instead, I was actually fighting alongside the people that killed her. Alongside them, Kimberly. And in the process, I've hurt so many people...killed innocents. I don't deserve your trust. I don't deserve your friendship, and I don't deserve to fight with you."

He turned and walked away. Kimberly stared in shock as he left.

Tommy stood on a cliff as tears rolled down his eyes. "So this is what it's come to..."

"Dragon Ranger!" a voice shouted from behind him. Tommy turned to see the three Dark Warlords facing him.

"You've picked a bad time," Tommy said as he rolled his hands into fists. "I'll kill myself before I go back with you."

Venom laughed. "Bandora doesn't want you back. She wants you dead!"

"Web of Deception!" Dayus swung his prongs, which thwipped a web that wrapped around Tommy. Dayus swung Tommy backward, sending the ranger hurling through the air. He crashed behind the Dark Warlords.

The Warlords charged towards Tommy as the teen rose from the ground and slid out of the web. Tommy readied his transformation device.

"Dino Buckler!" Tommy shouted as he snapped the device open. Energy shimmered around him as he transformed into his Ranger form.

"If I'm going down I'm taking you with me!" Dragon Ranger shouted as he armed his Dragon Dagger and charged to attack the three warlords.

Dragon Ranger flying sidekicked Venom in the chest. He snapped his foot around and hook kicked Kayl across the head.

Dayus shot his spears towards the Green Ranger. The blades crashed against Dragon Ranger, sparking against his armor and forcing him back. Dayus and Venom moved in with their swords, dashing forward, and slashing Dragon Ranger across his golden chest shield.

"Snake bite strike!" Venom shouted as he whipped a crimson energy leash forward. The leash exploded against the ground with a violent blast that Dragon Ranger leapt over.

Venom and Dragon Ranger dashed sideways while facing each other.

"You've always been weak," Venom said as he readied his swords to attack.

"You've always been annoying!" Dragon Ranger shouted back. The two opponents pushed off the ground and leapt through the air towards each other. Dragon Ranger slid his dagger beneath Venom's armor and punctured through his heart.

Venom's lifeless body collapsed to the ground as Dragon Ranger landed on his feet nearby. The Green Ranger turned to face the other two warlords. "Who's next?"

Both warlords rushed towards Dragon Ranger with their weapons held at the ready.

Kimberly and the other four rangers sat at Ernie's outdoor café near Angel's Square. The cafe was along a wide city street of eateries and restaurants that stemmed from the hub of Angel Grove North.

"Well?" Jason asked Kimberly.

She shook her head, still shaken up by her encounter with Tommy.

Zack sighed. "Well...we can do fine without him, you know."

"It's not about that, Zack," Jason said. "We need to be there for him. Tommy's a part of this whole mess, whether he likes it or not."

The rangers' communicators toned. The teens rose from their seats and found a corner out of view from anyone nearby. Jason activated his communicator. "We read you Zordon..."

"Rangers," Zordon said, "Tommy is battling the remaining warlords on his own. It would be wise for you to assist him."

Jason nodded. "We're on our way."

Dragon Ranger spinning hook kicked Dayus across the head, causing the villain's helmet to fly off. The warlord fell dead to the ground. Only Kayl was left.

Dragon Ranger and Kayl clashed blades. Kayl moved forward with a series of vicious swings and strikes. Dragon Ranger parried each blow, keeping the warlord at bay. Dragon Ranger moved to his right and slashed the warlord's sword from his hand. Dragon Ranger knocked the feet out from underneath Kayl.

The warlord collapsed to the ground.

Dragon Ranger leaned down and held his dagger to Kayl's throat.

Kayl glared at the Ranger. "Finish me..."

The other Rangers arrived at the outskirts of the battle scene, but they kept their distance.

"No," Dragon Ranger said as he shook his head. "I want you to give a message to Bandora...tell her I'm not going to rest until she's stopped. I'm not going through with this anymore. I'm not letting her hurt anyone else like she's done to me, like she's made me do to others. I'm a Ranger now...and I'll be nothing but trouble for her."

Dragon Ranger turned and walked away. He didn't see Kayl grab his sword and rush to attack from behind.

"Tommy!" Ptera Ranger shouted as Kayl rushed towards the Green Ranger.

Dragon Ranger turned and shouted "Dragon's Fang!" He thrust his hands forward and launched a crackling sphere of green energy that blasted through Kayl's chest. The warlord, bulk of his chest blasted away, fell dead to the ground.

The Rangers ran to Dragon Ranger's side. Tyranno Ranger looked at Dragon Ranger. Words were not necessary. Tyranno Ranger extended his hand. Dragon Ranger took it.

Bandora wrinkled her brow as she watched Dragon Ranger join with the others. She pulled out one of her cards, whispered an incantation, and threw the card towards Earth.

DoraSkeleton shimmered to the scene. The six Rangers snapped into fighting stances, and the monster armed a double-edged sword.