Storm Front
Part Four
by Rachel D Dawson

After first period, Alexis leaned against the wall just outside a classroom. After a few seconds, dozens of high school students poured out of the room, carrying sheets of paper in their hands. Alexis continued to scan through the students until she found the one she was looking for.

"Wow, Kim!" said Aisha, glancing over Kim's shoulder at her report, "I guess Mrs. Sandsworth loved your report on Sigmund Freud! You're probably the only person to get an A from that woman."

"Well, I worked my butt off on this paper," Kim replied, "And considering how I did on my Charles Darwin paper, I really needed this grade. But hey, you got an A-! That's a fabulous grade, and your average in this class is higher than mine!"

"Kim! Aisha!" Alexis called, trying to weave her way through the rush of students to reach her friends, "Wait up!"

Both girls stopped and turned around. Aisha grinned happily at the sight of her friend, but Kimberly wore a more serious expression-- something that is rather unusual for the perky teenager. Alexis glanced at both of them, and then held her gaze on Aisha.

"How're ya doing, Lex?" Aisha asked.

"Can't complain," Alexis responded, "Um, do you mind if I talk to Kim for a minute? Its important."

"Too important for me to hear?" Aisha joked, stepping away from her friends, "Well, I'll see you both at lunch! Bye!"

Kimberly waved to Aisha as she disappeared into the crowd. She then turned to Alexis, whose false smile had been replaced by a nearly panicked expression.

"What's wrong?" Kim asked worriedly.

"Kim, I've got a major problem," Alexis sighed in response, "I... I'm really, really confused about my feelings. I've never really been in love before, and so its hard for me to figure out exactly what my heart is trying to tell me."

"Go on," said Kim.

"Okay, here goes-- I'm absolutely, positively sure I'm not in love with Jason. That doesn't mean I never was in love with Jason, but it definitely isn't there now. I think I misunderstood a more mild attraction for something far more serious. I still care alot about him, but I don't think we're... right for each other. I know how they say 'opposites attract', but we're fundamentally different. It won't work."

"Does Jason know how you feel?"

"I... I doubt it. I didn't tell him anything. But wait-- this whole thing gets even worse. Suddenly, I'm having strong feelings for Rocky."

Kimberly shook her head and smiled. "And you're sure this isn't some kind of projection?"

"A what?"

"Its something I learned from Freud's theory. Maybe after you discovered you no longer loved Jason, you projected the feelings you did have for him onto Rocky, because you wanted someone to love. Maybe?"

"I don't know," Alexis said, "its not the same at all. I mean, when I first fell for Jason, I felt so awkward around him I had butterflies in my stomach! And even now, its a little uncomfortable. And he obviously was uncomfortable the other night... Anyway, when I'm with Rocky, its totally different. I feel like I can tell him anything, and there's no discomfort at all. He makes me laugh, and we have fun together. I think we're more suited to each other. I don't know... maybe its my imagination, but... I think he feels similarly for me."

"Really?" said Kim, an eyebrow slowly rising.

"He said he was really glad that I was back," Alexis began, "and at one point, in the car, our eyes met and... it was like I could see his conflicting emotions, and he could see mine. In my case, I'm torn up about what I'm gonna do about my relationship-- if you can even call it that-- with Jason. For Rocky-- and this is assuming he likes me-- its being attracted to a girl who is supposed to be dating a close friend of his. This is such a mess!"

"So how does it feel having two men in love with you?" Kim asked light-heartedly. Alexis scoffed.

"I don't think Jase loves me anymore, if he ever did. I don't know... but it seems to me that both of us distance ourselves from the other, but neither wants to be the one to cut the cord, and officially end 'us'. I guess we're both worried about what the other would think."

"What would Jason think if he found out that you and Rocky were getting close?" Kim asked.

Alexis shrugged. "How could he?"

"I don't know... maybe he could have seen you two this morning?"

Alexis paled considerably. "You mean the kiss, don't you."

Kim nodded. Alexis ran her fingers through her carrot-colored hair nervously. "I don't know what I was thinking," Alexis said finally, "I was just as surprised that I actually kissed him as he was. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the moment... if that makes any sense at all."

"I suppose it does, if you really are attracted to him. Of course, as far as Jason is probably concerned, you two are a couple. He really would have been hurt if he'd seen what happened-- whether or not he was still in love with you."

Alexis looked down into Kimberly's eyes, and nodded. "You're right. I've gotta talk to him about this. The longer we delay, the more likely someone is going to get hurt. And the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt Jason."

"I know that," said Kim.

Suddenly, the bell signalling the beginning of second period sounded. Both girls' eyes widened.

"Uh oh," Kim muttered, "Mrs Appleby is going to kill me!"

"And my Spanish teacher won't be too happy either! See you later, Kim!"

"Good luck, Lex!" called Kim, as both girls raced through the hall to their respective classes.

* * *

The mirror maze in the center of the carnival set up in Angel Grove rumbled slightly. Since it is only about noon, very few people are at the carnival, and at first, they didn't notice the tremors. The maze itself is off limits, because a few mirrors were broken when the Power Rangers battled the villain and destroyed the Weather Warp. In the center of the maze, where a few miniscule holes were burned into the concrete ground, the tremors are even stronger. Finally, something smashed through the solid concrete, sending fragments flying through the maze, shattering a number of mirrors. After the dust settled, the thing that penetrated the concrete could be seen clearly. It was a fist. Made of rock.

* * *

Alexis slowly gathers her textbooks together after another slightly boring Calculus class. Usually, Calculus was mildly uninteresting, but this day, Alexis has her mind on other matters. She glanced at the clock at the front of the room as she rose to her feet. It was noon. Time for lunch.

With a sigh, Alexis picked up her bookbag and headed out the door. She was to meet her friends at Ernie's for lunch and conversation. Both Jason and Rocky would be there. It obviously wasn't the time or the place to be honest with either of them, but Alexis had difficulty hiding her feelings. Although she was an expert at ignoring pain and emotional anguish, it was far more difficult to mask her feelings of guilt, confusion, and affection. She slowly stepped out of the main entrance of Angel Grove High, and glanced up at the clear blue sky. There wasn't a cloud there. It was a serene, beautiful day.

I... I can't do it, she thought, walking in the opposite direction of the Juice Bar. She ended up in the bushes near the school, where there were few passersby. She hid her bookbag in the bushes, and pulled out her morpher. She studied it carefully.

"I can't face them now. I need to clear my head. And there's only one way I know to really think things through."

Alexis took another quick look around, to make sure no one was present. She then held her morpher at arm's length, the golden coin glittering in the sunlight.

"Purple Ranger Power!!" she cried. In a flash of violet light, Alexis was transformed into the Purple Power Ranger. The golden wings on her ankles began to flap, and soon, the Purple Ranger was airborn. She soared high into the sky, so that no one could see her with the naked eye.

Flying is the best therapy out there! she thought as she sailed high over Angel Grove, and I really need it!

She soared through the warm air, letting her mind wander on whatever topic it chose. It didn't take long before she began thinking about Jason and Rocky.

I know something's up with Jase. What it is, I don't know... but I know something's wrong. I guess its woman's intuition or something. And I will talk to him about it. But not in front of the others... we need to talk in private, and get all our feelings out into the open. And knowing Jason, it'll be tough to get him to talk openly. But if I'm persistent enough, I know I can get him to open up. Maybe tonight, if he's free, we can take a walk, and just talk. Yeah, that's what I'll do. And once Jason and I are squared away, then I can figure out what I'm feeling for Rocky...

Her train of thought was suddenly interrupted by a terrified scream below. Alexis stared down below her, and saw the heavy tree cover of the center of Angel Grove Park. The screaming persisted and intensified, drawing the Purple Ranger to the ground. She slowly lowered herself, feet first, to the grass. She looked around in the shaded forest, but she didn't see anyone.

"Hello?" she called, "Is someone here?"

"Help me!!" the person screamed from deeper in the forest. Alexis followed the sound, and soon found a young boy, about the age of nine. He was leaning beside a tree trunk, sobbing and trembling.

"Are you okay?" she asked, kneeling beside him, "What happened?"

The boy looked up, and stared at the Purple Ranger curiously. She smiled under her helmet.

"I'm one of the good guys," she assured him, "What's going on?"

"There... there was a monster.. glowing yellow. He... he attacked our field trip group! I... I got lost, and it followed me!"

"Its okay," she said, helping him to his feet, "I don't see any monster. Do you know where he went?"

The boy looked around, surprised. "It was right there!" he said, pointing to the ground about a yard in front of him.

"Well, I'll find him," Alexis said, "But first, I'll make sure you find your classmates."

The young boy nodded, and Alexis held his hand as they walked through the park. But behind them, right where he had pointed only moments ago, a figure passed through the dirt. Alexis heard the rumbling of the ground, and spun around, instinctively pushing the boy protectively behind her as she did. She gasped quietly when the monster took shape. It stood at least eight feet in the air, with a rather large build. But what was most interesting was that each part of its body seemed to be composed of a different material. One arm, from the hand to the shoulder, was made of rock. The other arm was solid ice. Its torso was made of some kind of a crystal emiting white energy, while the head seemed like it was a piece of clear glass on fire. Finally, instead of legs, there was a whirling cyclone around the lower body. And the entire being seemed to glow with yellow electricity.

"That's the monster!" the boy shrieked, shaking with fear yet again. Alexis held the his arm, and watched the monster through narrowed eyes.

"No kidding," she muttered. She then stepped back, bringing the boy with her, as the monster silently approached her. "Listen, Kid, get out of here now!"

The boy wasted no time, and ran as quickly as he could through the park. The monster watched him go, but then turned his attention back to the Purple Ranger. Alexis could've sworn she saw a mocking smile beneath the orange flames surrounding its head.

"I think I'll need some help with this one," she whispered to herself, automatically raising her wrist to her mouth. But to her surprise, the purple and silver watch wasn't on her wrist.

"Oh no!" she muttered, "Billy still has my communicator! Now what do I do?"

She didn't have a chance to think about it, as a powerful lightning bolt streaked towards her. Alexis barely managed to avoid it by throwing herself to the ground. The lighning bolt slammed into the tree behind her, causing the tree to fall on top of her. Alexis rolled out of the way, but she wasn't fast enough. Her leg was caught beneath the tree. She pulled with all her might, but she couldn't free herself from the enormous maple tree. She glanced up as the monster approached her.

"I'm not going down that easily!" she shouted, holding her hands together. She released a powerful sphere of crackling purple energy,which slammed into the tree beside her. The force of the energy explosion threw her and the monster in opposite directions, and reduced the tree to ash. She shakily rose to her feet, and glared at the monster, who was seemingly unphased by the explosion.

* * *

At the Gym and Juice Bar, Rocky DeSantos and his best friend Adam Park walk over to the table where they always sit. Already present are Jason, Katherine, Tommy, Kimberly, Aisha, Zack, and Billy. Rocky's cheerful smile fell as he glanced around the entire Juice Bar. He then turned to Adam.

"Do you see Alexis anywhere?" he asked.

"No, I don't. But she's probably on her way," Adam replied, sitting down beside Billy. Rocky pulled up an additional chair, and sat on it backwards between Adam and Zack. "So, did you guys order already?" he asked.

"No," said Jason, "we were waiting for you guys."

"And Alexis," said Kim, glancing at the entrance, "I wonder what's keeping her. She said she'd meet us for lunch."

"Do you think she forgot?" asked Zack. Aisha shook her head.

"No, that's Tommy's department," she said light-heartedly. Tommy frowned, and threw a wadded napkin at the Green Ranger. The others all laughed at their antics, but Rocky remained straight-faced.

"Maybe we should contact Alexis," he said in a low voice, "You know, just to check on her."

Rocky turned on his communicator, and glanced around to make sure no one was looking. "Lex, this is Rocky. Do you read?"

He frowned when nothing but static answered him.

"What happened?" asked Zack.

"I didn't give her back her communicator yet!" Billy recalled, "Its in the CAC."

"So if she's in trouble, there's no way she'd be able to contact us," Rocky said quietly.

"Well, the scanners in the CAC detect alien activity," Kat pointed out, "so we'd know if there was any trouble before it happened."

"But no one's in the CAC," Jason said.

"I carry the remote CAC alarm with me at all times," said Billy, "After all, I can't live in the CAC like Zordon and Alpha lived in the Command Center. My communicator makes a distinct whistling sound when the CAC sensors detect alien energy."

"So relax already, guys," said Zack with a grin, "Lex is on her way."

"Hey gang," said Ernie, peeking over behind Zack, "Are you ready to order yet?"

"Give us a few more minutes," said Tommy, "We're waiting on Alexis."

Ernie nodded, and walked away. The group continued to talk about various topics, but Rocky remained silent. Finally, Rocky glanced up at the wall clock in frustration. "Okay, she's twenty minutes late, and lunch only lasts fourty five minutes! Isn't it possible that she's in some kind of trouble that the CAC alarms wouldn't pick up?"

"I suppose anything is possible," said Billy, rising to his feet, "I can run a scan to pick up Alexis' energy signature. Would that make everyone feel better?"

Everyone glanced at Rocky, who blushed slightly. "Yeah. Thanks, Billy."

Billy smiled, and discreetly left the Juice Bar. Jason then turned to Rocky. "Since when have you been so protective of Alexis?" he asked his friend.

"I'm not protective," Rocky argued, "I just have the feeling something's going on, and since we're out of contact with Alexis, there's no other way to make sure. Why? Aren't you the least bit worried?"

"A little," Jason admitted, "Alexis isn't usually late."

After waiting a few minutes, Rocky's communicator sounded. Rocky glanced at his friends, and then turned it on. "Billy?"

^You were right, Rocky,^ Billy's voice said in a serious tone, ^Alexis is morphed, and she's in the park, fighting some kind of monster. The rangers had better get moving.^

"Why didn't the alarms go off?" Tommy asked.

^I'm looking into that as we speak,^ Billy replied, ^You guys had better hurry up. And be careful-- this is no run-of-the-mill monster.^

"Time to go," Jason said, standing up. Kat, Kim, Tommy, Zack, and Aisha followed, "We'll let you two know what's up as soon as possible." he said to Rocky and Adam.

"Heck no," Rocky said, standing up, "I'm going to the CAC to watch the fight. Billy may be able to use my help."

"But you can barely use a calculator!" Aisha joked. She then noticed that Rocky was completely serious. And obviously worried about their missing teammate.

"I'm going," he said finally.

Adam stood up as well. "Me too."

"Then, let's get going," said Tommy, as the entire group of teens hurried from the Juice Bar, over to a quiet corner.

* * *

The Purple Ranger crashed helplessly into the lake in Angel Grove Park. She surfaced quickly, and struggled to keep herself over the water while collecting her bearings. She had attempted to attack Elementor from above, but apparently the monster's manipulation of the elements surpassed her expectations. A powerful gust of wind, stronger than the greatest wind Chicago ever faced, sent her hurtling through the air, and into the lake clear across the park. With great effort, Alexis swam to the shore of the lake, and fell on the grass, panting heavily. She had expended a great deal of energy, in the form of energy blasts, flying, and fighting, to keep Elementor at bay. But it didn't seem to be phased by any attack she used. She was running out of options.

"Do you surrender?" Elementor grunted in a deep, earth-shaking voice. Alexis rose to her knees, and slowly managed to pull herself to her feet.

"I've only just begun," she panted, clenching her fists. Her mind raced, running through all the abilities at her disposal. She desperately searched for a weapon or attack she hadn't used yet against her opponent. But she quickly discerned that she had used every fighting technique she had mastered, with little success.

I've got to come up with something! Alexis ordered herself, handspringing out of the path of two glowing fireballs Elementor flung at her, Nothing I've done has had any effect. Is there any way I can make him expend his energy? Maybe he has a limited supply!

Alexis planted herself on her feet, her Laser Whip once again forming in her hands. Elementor tossed more fireballs, which Alexis deflected by cracking her whip. Finally, Elementor grinned, and fired a larger fireball, flashing with sparks of electricity. The moment Alexis struck the ball with her whip, the electrical pulse surrounding the fireball passed through the whip and into the Purple Ranger. Alexis screamed in agony, her entire body surrounded by a faint aura of yellow energy. Finally, she dropped her whip, and collapsed onto the grass.

Elementor approached the shaken Power Ranger slowly, intending on finishing her off. But before he reached her, six beams of colored light fell from the sky, taking the form of the Terran and X-Rangers. All six rangers fell into attack poses immediately, with the Red Ranger stepping forward.

"Jay, check on Alexis," he ordered, "Everyone else with me. Hit him with everything you've got!"

"Right!" said the rangers collectively, leaping into action. Jason stepped back from the fight, watching for a moment as the strange elemental creature was buried in a flurry of punches and kicks from all sides. Then, Jason knelt on the ground beside the Purple Ranger, who was stirring.

"Remind me never to do that again," she said quietly, touching her helmet. The Black Ranger helped her sit up, and took her helmet off gently.

"You okay?" he asked. He noticed her skin was rather pale, and her hair was practically standing on end from the electric shock.

"No problem," she responded, trying to rise to her feet, "Just... give me a second... to catch my breath."

"Oh, no you don't!" Jason argued, keeping Alexis from rising to her feet, "You're hurt!"

"Am not!" she muttered, grabbing her helmet, "Besides, you need me!"

"Not yet we don't," Jason said finally, "You're exhausted, and probably hurt. You're going back to the CAC!"

"But--"

"No buts," Jason said in his most commanding voice. Alexis remained silent as Jason turned on his communicator.

"Billy, teleport Alexis in."

^You got it,^ said Billy, as Alexis vanished from the park in a purple carrier wave. Jason rose to his feet, and looked toward the battle. He didn't hesitate to join the other rangers.

* * *

"You're going to be just fine, Lex," said Rocky with a smile, punching a few buttons on the console, "You're just drained."

"That's what I told Jason," she grunted, sitting up on the med-unit cot, "I'm ready for action."

"I don't think so," Rocky said, laying a hand on her shoulder, "I want you to take a rest. Just to be on the safe side."

Alexis sighed, and lay back down on the cot. She glanced at her morpher, sitting on the table beside the med-unit, and closed her eyes. Rocky smiled with satisfaction, and walked over to Billy and Adam, who were both working on a program on the main computer. Rocky glanced up at the dwarfing screen, and his eyebrow rose. There was an image of the monster on the screen, with blurbs of information about each part of his body.

"So what did you figure out?" Rocky asked.

"Well," said Adam, turning to his friend, "the reason why the CAC didn't register Elementor's presence is because he isn't made of evil magical energy."

"Then what is he made of? I'm pretty sure its not sugar and spice, and everything nice."

"That is certain," said Billy, still typing on the keyboard, "but his energy pattern is recognized by the computer. It didn't set off the alarm, because no threat was deduced. He's made of Terran energies."

Rocky gasped. "What?"

"Somehow, this monster's syphoned off a fraction of the elemental powers of the Zeo Crystal. That's why he has mastery over so many elements."

"But... how?"

"Remember when the Terran Rangers destroyed the crystal within the Mirror Maze?" asked Billy, "Well, they destroyed it by forming the Terran Tempest, which is a concentrated burst of all the elemental energies. Now, beneath the elemental energy is a being made of a skeleton of crystal. That's why his torso is white, with a glowing energy. He is made of the same crystal that altered weather, and so the crystal absorbed the Terran Tempest, and somehow transformed into a monster with these abilities."

"That also explains why it has the powers of Light and Lightning," Adam continued, "Kim and Zack don't have those abilities any longer, but their weapons do. Its the only way to get a concentrated burst of those energies."

"So what do we do about it?" Rocky asked, glancing at the Viewing Globe across the CAC, "It doesn't look like the rangers are doing too well."

"Well, for each element they attack with, Elementor has an element that cancels it out."

"Then they do need my help!" Alexis called from across the room. The three young men turned around, and saw her run across the room, carrying her morpher in her hand.

"Lex, you already fought Elementor," Billy said, "and your abilities proved inefficable."

"True, but maybe we can try my Bomb Attack!" Alexis pressed, "I'm sure one powerful bolt of pure energy will finish Elementor for good!"

"But the last time you used the Bomb, you almost killed yourself!" Rocky recalled. Alexis waved the comment aside.

"That was different. I absorbed both the rangers' powers, and that of the Spectrum Force. I just over-extended myself is all."

"But the Terran Rangers powers are vastly more powerful than the Mighty Morphin rangers," said Billy, "I doubt you would come out of the battle unscathed."

"Then what do I do?" Alexis muttered, folding her arms.

"You wait," said Billy, turning back to the screen, "I'm trying to find a weakness on Elementor. Once we figure out how to attack him, then we'll send you out. If needed."

* * *

After letting the Terran Rangers bury him in physical attacks for awhile, Elementor released the massive energy he had been storing. In a wave of fire strong enough to melt an iceberg, Elementor cut loose, and the force of the attack sent the six rangers crashing to the ground. It also burned numerous trees and bushes to ash, and caused the lake to nearly boil for a fraction of a second.

The Red Ranger quickly rose to his feet, his red uniform pulsing with fire energy. He glanced at his friends, who were all dazed by the attack. He then turned to Elementor, his helmet hiding the fury in his eyes.

"As they say... fight fire with fire!" he declared, holding his fists out at the monster. One powerful streak of fire poured from Tommy's hands as if he were a flamethrower, heading in Elementor's direction. But Elementor raised his ice arm, and opened his palm. A gust of water appeared at his hand, and quickly dowsed Tommy's flames before they could even make contact. Tommy concentrated more, but he couldn't prevent the water from getting closer. Once Tommy expent all his stored energy, his stream of fire dried up. Elementor rumbled, and suddenly the water he was creating turned freezing. Tommy yelped as the ice-cold liquid touched him, forming a block of ice around his entire body. He was frozen solid.

"Tommy!" Kim screamed, scrambling to her feet. A burst of telekinetic energy lifted the Tommy-popsicle off the ground just as a vast chasm appeared right below him. While Kim struggled to keep Tommy in the air, a cyclone of powerful wind wrapped around Elementor, spinning the monster uncontrollably. Kim glanced at Aisha, who held her wind shield at arm's length, with powerful wind manifesting at the center of the spiral design on its surface.

"Jason!" Aisha grunted with exertion, "Fix the chasm!"

"You got it," he answered, turning towards the canyon Elementor just created. He held his arms out to his sides, and slowly brought them together in front of him. As he did, the ground came together as well. Once his arms were touching, the hole closed completely. Kimberly gratefully put Tommy back on the ground.

"How do we get him out?" Zack asked Jason. Jason frowned in thought.

"I don't know," he replied, "Tommy's the one who can melt the ice. Is he even conscious under there?"

Katherine, who was standing aways behind the rest, glanced at the lake. Although it was no longer boiling from Elementor's flame attack, it was indeed steaming slightly. She walked to the shore of the lake, and held her hand in the water.

"Guys!" she called, standing up, "Step back! I want to try something!"

The Gold, Silver, and Black Rangers abided, and Kat held her hand over the water. Then, she waved her hand in the air, and pointed at Tommy. The lake's heated waters obeyed Kat's command, and leapt from the lake, bathing Tommy in hot water. After a few minutes, the ice completely melted, and Tommy collapsed onto the ground. Both Kim and Jason hurried to help their friend to his feet.

"Are you okay?" Kim asked with concern.

"Jussttt fiiine," Tommy replied through chattering teeth.

"Hey guys!" Aisha screamed, the exertion of her cyclone drawing the Green Ranger to her knees, "I could use some help here!"

"You got it!" said the Silver Ranger, running to his teammate's side. He clenched his fists tightly, a faint silvery glow forming around his body. "Let him go!"

Aisha abided, lowering her shield. The cyclone of wind that held Elementor prisoner faded, leaving the monster slightly dizzy. Before he could catch his bearings, Zack held his palms open at arm's length. A powerful wave of magnetic energy struck the monster like an oncoming truck, sending it flying into a patch of trees. As soon as its head touched the trunks, the trees ignited in a wildfire.

"Oops," Zack said, glancing down at Aisha, "You think you can blow out that fire?"

"Wind will spread it!" Aisha argued, as a powerful earthquake caused both rangers to collapse. Zack turned around, and saw all his friends with their stomachs to the ground. "We gotta stop the fire!" Zack hollered over the sounds of the earth moving.

"But first we gotta stop this earthquake!" Kat shouted, "I can't focus my powers!"

"Let's see what I can do!" Jason said, holding out his hand, "Earth Sword!!"

The mighty silver blade appeared in his hand. Jason forced himself to his knees, despite the mighty quake, and dug the blade into the ground. The quaking immediately stopped, but Jason's arms were shaking.

"Hurry," he said in a strained voice, "I can't... keep this up much longer!"

Kat nodded, rising to her feet. She ran into the forest, her Ice Daggers appearing at her silent command. She pointed both daggers at different trees, and the blades, vanished, leaving a stream of water gushing from the hilts as if they were hoses. While Kat quenched the flames and Jason held off the earthquake, a small silver sphere fell from the sky, and landed in Elementor's rock hand. He grinned with understanding, and then slammed it onto the ground. In a cloud of gray smoke, the monster grew to enormous proportions. The six rangers regrouped, and stepped back from the towering monster.

"Consider the situation escalated!" said Zack.

"Call the Terrazords!" Tommy ordered, "Red Phoenix... Activate!!"

"Black Rhinocerous... Activate!!" hollered Jason.

"White Cheetah... Activate!!" shouted Zack.

"Yellow Thunderbird... Activate!!" cried Kimberly.

"Blue Alligator... Activate!!" screamed Kat.

"Green Hawk... Activate!!" yelled Aisha.

Suddenly, the ground at the ranger's feet parted, allowing the huge and powerful Rhinoceros to climb out of the dirt. The zord was silver and black, with metallic legs and sharp silver horns. Then, a beam of light streaked from the sky, forming the shape of the Cheetah. The Cheetah was mostly white, but the body was gold with black spots. The fangs shimmered gold, and the eyes were glowing red. A flash of lightning struck in the heavens, forming the Thunderbird high in the sky. The Thunderbird was yellow and gold, with silver lightning bolts decorating the wings. The winds picked up, forming a glowing green cyclone. At the top of the funnel was the graceful Hawk, with forest green frame, silver feathers and claws, and a shiny silver beak. A wave of blue energy appeared from the lake, resembling rippling water. Out of the water climbed the Alligator zord, a massive and sturdy machine with blue frame, silver teeth and legs, and a huge blue tail with sharp silver scales. Finally, a fireball formed in the sky, taking the shape of the Phoenix. The Phoenix was all shades of gold and red, and the golden wings appeared to be on fire.

"Let's do it!!" the six rangers cried, each vanishing from the ground in his/her signature color. They all appeared in the cockpits of their individual zords, and immediately ran the start-up program. The zords screamed to life, and they lined up by the lake,with the ground zords on the shore and the aerial zords hovering overhead.

"Anybody have any ideas?" Kimberly asked.

^I have one,^ said Billy through the communicator, ^As you've noticed, each part of Elementor's anatomy is composed of a different element. Perhaps if you focus your elemental attacks on the area that would me most damaged, you can defeat him.^

"Sounds like a plan!" said Kimberly, "Maybe my Thundernet will hold him for awhile!"

A lightning rod rose from the head of the Thunderbird like an antenna, and it quickly absorbed the electrons in the atmosphere. Then, the lightning streamed at Elementor, surrounding him in a web of lighting.

"Bingo!" Kim shouted.

However, Elementor's body glowed yellow, and he harmlessly passed through the cage of lightning. Kimberly gawked.

"What gives?!" she shrieked.

"I guess lightning energy exudes from Elementor's entire body, not just a specific part," said Jason, "The easiest element to destroy is his arm of ice."

"Piece of cake," said Tommy, "Hyperflame rockets away!"

Two narrow rockets, glowing with red energy, plowed into Elementor-- one striking his shoulder, and the other hitting just above the elbow. Elementor screeched as the protective ice around his arm melted, revealing a narrower arm of crystal.

"My scanners are reading that as the same crystal we destroyed in the Mirror Maze!" Zack said, "Its not very durable. The elements acted like an armor as well as a weapon."

"Let's test that hypothesis," said Jason, the Rhinocerous running across the ground. Elementor made the mistake of trying to block the zord's attack with his crystalline arm. The Rhino's sharp horn tore through the crystal, shattering the fragile material to dust. "Now we're cooking!" said Tommy, "His arm's gone!"

"Instead of destroying each part of its body individually, why don't we just hit a critical part?" suggested Aisha, "Like the head? Its obviously protected by fire."

"I'll try my Deep Freeze Cannon," said Katherine, the Alligator stepping forward, "but I need a distraction!"

"You got it!" Aisha called, the Hawk streaking at the monster. She spun circles around the monster's flaming head, confusing the monster and causing it to spin, swinging at her madly. While it did so, the Alligator's gargantuan mouth opened wide, and a spout appeared between its razorlike teeth.

"Locking..." Kat muttered, "And fire!"

A stream of liquid poured out of the cannon, and Elementor screamed as he felt the ice cold surround his head. The aura of flames on his head vanished, leaving a sphere of clear crystal.

"Let's finish this fight!" said Tommy, "Form the Terran Megazord!"

The six zords all floated off the ground, and began changing shape.

"Head ready!" yelled Tommy.

"Right arm ready!" said Aisha.

"Left arm ready!" called Kimberly.

"Body ready!" announced Zack.

"Right leg ready!" called Jason.

"Left leg ready!" cried Kat.

"Bring 'em together!" Tommy ordered, and the six zords moved together, locking at the joints to form the Terran Megazord. The Megazord lowered to the ground, nearly reaching the height of Elementor.

Although Elementor was seriously weakened, he wasn't ready to give up yet. With a mighty grunt, Elementor swung his remaining arm at the Megazord, striking the head with its earth arm. The Megazord stumbled back. but ducked the follow-up swing.

"Time for a KO!" called Aisha. The green arm drew back, and struck Elementor's chin full force. The crystal shattered instantly, and the rest of the monster began exploding once the head was destroyed. In a massive burst of rainbow energy, Elementor was reduced to cinders.

"Talk about a glass jaw!" Zack commented.

* * *

Just outside Angel Grove High School, the Power Rangers, accompanied by their friends Rocky and Adam, approach the building. Kimberly glanced down at her watch, and frowned.

"We're nearly ten minutes late," she muttered, "What excuse do we use this time?"

"I forgot my locker combination," Tommy said with a shrug. Zack smiled.

"Tommy, you're the only person in the world who can get away with that one!"

"Adam had to go to the nurse with chest pains again, and I walked him," suggested Rocky. Adam nodded in agreement.

"I have study hall," said Katherine, "so fortunately, being late doesn't matter."

"Maybe I'll have a doctor's appointment," said Aisha, "I can get my dad to write me a note. Mr. Mason will be satisfied if I bring the note tomorrow."

"Its not fair, your dad knowing your a ranger," Zack muttered.

"There are good and bad points," Aisha said with a grin, "Getting excuses for school is a good point, but having him constantly badger me to be careful is definitely bad."

"Oookay," said Kimberly, "I have gym now, so I can Coach Baily that I had to make up a quiz during lunch, and it went overtime."

"That's a good one," said Tommy. As the group of teens headed for the building, Alexis lingered back.

"Its now or never," she muttered to herself, catching up with Jason. She grabbed his arm gently.

"What's up, Lex?" he asked her.

"Um, Jase, could I talk to you for a minute? Or do you need to rush to class?"

All the other rangers turned around, and glanced at the two in surprise. Kimberly shook her head, and opened the front door.

"Come on," she said, "if they need to talk, then they need to talk! Alone."

After their friends entered the building, Jason turned back to Alexis. "About anything in particular?"

Alexis nodded, somewhat uncomfortably. "Yeah. About 'us'."

Jason nodded, taking Alexis by the arm. "Come one," he said, leading her off the stairs. They walked into the Gym and Juice Bar, which was relatively quiet after the rush at lunch hour. They sat down at a small booth along the wall, across from each other. Alexis folded her hands, and lay them on the table. Jason leaned back in his chair, and watched her expectantly. She remained quiet for a moment, as if searching for the right words.

"Jase," she said finally, not looking at him, "We've been friends for awhile now, and over the past year, there've been some... shifts in our relationship. I mean, we were friends back when you were the Red Power Ranger, then we got a bit... closer when we talked over the phone, when I was in Philly and you in Geneva. Then you moved back to Angel Grove, and everything changed. And then I came back, and things've changed again. I... I want you to be completely candid with me, Jason, because no matter what else we were since we met over a year ago, we've always been friends. And friends are honest with each other, no matter what."

"What do you want me to be honest about?" he asked, trying to look her in the eye. But she continued avoiding his inquiring mahogany gaze.

"I want you to be honest with me about your feelings. For me."

This time, Jason cast his gaze to the table between them. Alexis noticed, and watched his reaction with her curious emerald eyes. Jason took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

"Alexis," he started finally, "I really do care about you. Your friendship means alot to me--"

"--but?" Alexis interrupted him, "Jason, like I said, I want you to be completely honest with me. What's a relationship-- either as friends or as something more-- when we can't be honest with each other? I can tell something's wrong. You've been acting strangely around me ever since I got back. Like, the other night, when we were unpacking."

Jason cringed. He hadn't meant to be so rude, but he was so uncomfortable, and guilty, that he couldn't stand it anymore. He just needed to leave.

"I didn't want to hurt you, Lex," he said, meeting her gaze for the first time, "I... I don't know what happened exactly, but I felt... uncomfortable."

"With me," Alexis finished for him. Jason frowned.

"Lex, its not that simple! I mean, we were close friends, but we never... went out or anything. I mean, we never really established what we... meant to each other. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, I do. Actually, I feel the same. We're good friends, but we never really took the next step. And... I don't think we should."

Jason blinked in surprise. Alexis suddenly felt sick.

"Why?" Jason asked.

"Because I care for you, but I don't think I... love you."

Alexis turned away from Jason, and squeezed her eyes shut. It was even more difficult to tell him than she had thought.

She didn't open her eyes until she felt a gentle touch on her hands. She turned around, and looked at Jason quizzically. He held her hands in his, and he had a small smile in his face. Alexis was startled.

"Alexis," he said, "I... I feel the same. You'll always be special to me, but I don't think it would work out."

Alexis smiled, and her eyes glassed with relief. She hastily wiped them with the back of her hand. "How long have you felt this way?"

"Ever since..." Jason suddenly blushed slightly, "ever since I discovered I had strong feelings for Kat."

Alexis blinked. "Kat?" she said in surprise, "I can't believe I didn't notice it! Do you know how she feels?"

Jason shook his head, relaxing now that they had reached an agreement without hurting anyone's feelings substantially. "No, I don't. Not yet, at least."

"Well, I'm sure you'll be happy together," Alexis said with a warm smile, "and I'm sure she cares about you. Who wouldn't?"

Jason chuckled at the compliment. "So," he said with a devilish glint in his eyes, "what's the story with you and Rocky?"

Now it was Alexis' turn to blush. "Rocky?"

"Yeah," said Jason, "He was worried sick when you didn't show up for lunch today. It usually takes alot to make Rocky serious for a split-second! He really cares about you."

Alexis couldn't help but smile. "Do you think so?"

"I do," he said, standing up from the table. He offered Alexis his hand. "Friends?"

Alexis shook her head, and rose to her feet. She pushed his hand aside, and wrapped her arms around his neck in a warm hug. "Need you even ask?"

Jason glanced up at the clock against the wall. "If we hurry, we can make it back to school before the next class starts."

* * *

Alexis and Jason walked into the bristling halls of Angel Grove High. Sixth period had just ended, and the students had four minutes until seventh period started.

"Well, I've gotta go to my locker," Alexis said, waving at Jason, "See you!"

Jason grinned, and then turned in the other direction. Alexis quickly wove her way through the crowd, and made it to her locker. To her surprise, she saw someone leaning against it. He perked up when he saw her.

"What're you doing here, Rocky?" she asked him, her head tilted slightly to the side. Rocky moved out of her way as she opened her locker. He shoved his hands in his pockets, and bit his lower lip.

"So, how'd it go?"

"How'd what go?" she asked, searching through the mess of her locker.

"Your conversation with Jason," he said quietly. Alexis closed her locker and looked Rocky directly in the eye. He fidgetted slightly. "I know its none of my business--"

"Don't be silly," Alexis interrupted, a grin creeping onto her lips. She slid her arm in Rocky's, much to the latter's surprise. "Actually, what we talked about did have something to do with you."

Rocky grinned. "I hope you only had nice things to say."

"Only the best. Care to walk a girl to Physics?"

"I am at your service, Milady," Rocky answered, as the two walked down the hallway, arms linked. As they walked down the hall, they passed Jason. Rocky suddenly felt nervous as the larger young man approached.

"I only have one thing to say to you, Rockwell DeSantos," Jason said seriously. Rocky blinked.

"What?"

Jason's expression softened into a satisfied grin. "Take care of her."

Rocky blushed as Jason squeezed his shoulder. "You got it, Jase."

Jason waved as he watched the pair continue down the hallway to the Physics classroom. Then, he continued to his own locker. As he searched for his copy of "Portrait of the Artist", the bell rang, signalling the beginning of seventh period. The hallway was empty when Jason slammed his locker shut. But as he turned the corner, his eyes widened when he saw Kat Hillard standing just outside his English classroom.

"Hey," he said to her. She looked up at him and smiled weakly.

"Hi."

"What're you doing here?" he whispered, "Don't you have class?"

"Well, yeah," she admitted, "but I wanted to talk to you immediately."

"Really?" he said, a small grin forming on his face. Kat could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.

"Well, I saw Alexis with Rocky when I left the library, and I... well, I guess I... wanted to see how you're doing."

"I'm fine," Jason said, "Lex and Rocky make a great couple. I'm glad they found each other."

"What about you, though?" Kat pressed, "Breaking up is hard to do."

"Yeah," Jason admitted, "but it wasn't as hard as you'd think. Alexis and I both decided we weren't right for each other. That's all."

"Well, that's good," Kat said, relieved, "Not that you broke up, but that it was mutual, I mean."

Jason grinned. "Well, I'd better get to class."

"Me too," Kat said, taking Jason's hand and squeezing it gently. "Take care of yourself."

"I will," said Jason. He watched as Kat walked down the hallway to her class. "Kat?"

She turned around. "Yes, Jason."

"Um... I have some tickets to the Lakers game this weekend," he said, running his hands through his ebony hair, "So, uh, if you don't have plans, would you like to come?"

Kat smiled, a sparkle in her crystal blue eyes. "Its a date."

Rule

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