Green With Evil Part Three
by Shadow RangerDisclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers. They belong to their respective copyright holders.
Green With Evil Part Three
Goldar swung his sword at the light, and it shattered into fragments that dissolved into the air. Silence returned, broken only by the creature's growl.
"Your master cannot save you," Goldar said coldly. "This is my realm. Here, you belong to me."
Jason's eyes burned with defiance as he dragged himself upright. Every muscle screamed in protest, but he refused to yield. "I don't belong to anyone."
Goldar grinned. "Good. I like my prey when they struggle."
He lunged forward again, and Jason braced for the next strike.
Back in Angel Grove, the others waited. Zack sat behind the wheel of the RADBUG, tapping his fingers impatiently on the dashboard. Kimberly stared out the window, lost in thought, her mind replaying every strange word Tommy had said that morning.
When Jason didn't show, Zack sighed and turned to the others. "He's late. Again."
Trini leaned forward from the back seat, her brow furrowed. "He's never late, Zack. Something's wrong."
Kimberly bit her lip. "You don't think…"
"Let's move," Zack interrupted, starting the engine. "If Jason's in trouble, we're not waiting around to find out."
The RADBUG lifted off the ground, streaking through the air toward the mountains.
None of them knew that Jason was already fighting for his life in another dimension—one forged from Rita's magic, where time twisted and hope faded.
And in that place of darkness, as the sound of steel rang through the crimson air, the Red Ranger refused to fall.
The RADBUG sped across the sky, cutting through the clouds like a comet. The sun had slipped behind the hills, and the light that remained was pale and uneasy, fading into the grey dusk. Inside the craft, the silence was heavier than the whine of its engines.
Zack gripped the steering controls tightly, eyes fixed ahead. Trini sat beside him, monitoring the scanner display that flickered faintly on the dashboard, while Billy and Kimberly watched from the back seats. The usual chatter between them was gone. Every one of them felt the same thing — the absence of their leader.
Kimberly's voice was quiet, almost lost beneath the hum of the RADBUG. "He wouldn't just disappear like this."
Zack's jaw tightened. "No, he wouldn't."
Trini checked the scanner again. "His communicator's still down. I can't get a trace."
Billy leaned forward, tapping at a small control panel he'd built into the seat. "If the Command Center's systems are partially restored, Alpha might be able to boost the signal. But if Jason's outside our dimensional range…" He trailed off, unwilling to say what they were all thinking.
Kimberly turned toward the window, arms wrapped around herself. The landscape below looked small and distant — Angel Grove spread out like a toy city beneath the twilight sky. Normally she loved the sight of it. Tonight, it just made her feel helpless.
The RADBUG descended toward the mountains, its engines humming lower as they neared the clearing that concealed the Command Center. The structure stood like a wounded sentinel against the dark horizon, faint lights flickering through cracks in its surface. It was still standing — barely.
As they landed, the hatch opened with a hiss, and the four Rangers climbed out. A cold wind whipped across the plateau, carrying with it the faint smell of scorched metal. The ground still bore the marks of the last attack — burn patterns, shattered rock, and the lingering hum of unstable energy.
Zack looked up at the battered entrance and sighed. "Home sweet home."
Inside, Alpha was at the main console, his metal fingers tapping anxiously at the controls. Sparks leapt from an open circuit, and he jumped back with a shrill cry. "Ay-yi-yi! These systems are still unstable! I don't know how much longer I can keep them running!"
Billy rushed over, immediately kneeling beside him. "Let me see." He adjusted a few cables, tightening a connector. The lights stabilised slightly, and the main monitor flickered to life, showing static and faint outlines of the Morphin Grid. "That's better," Billy said. "But we're still operating on less than forty percent power."
Trini approached the viewing globe, brushing dust from its surface. The image inside flickered, displaying fragments of energy patterns — static, bursts of light, and then a faint echo of Zordon's frequency.
"Alpha," she said, "try routing all available power through the communications array."
Alpha hesitated. "That could overload the system!"
"Do it anyway," Trini said firmly.
The robot sighed — a sound that was half static, half worry — and obeyed. The lights dimmed briefly, then flared as the power surged. For a moment, nothing happened.
Then Zordon's voice came through, faint and distorted. "Rangers…"
Kimberly gasped. "Zordon!"
The viewing globe shimmered, and for a fleeting moment, his image appeared — fractured, like broken glass held together by light. His voice wavered. "You must… find… the Green Ranger… he is… the key…"
The image flickered violently, the signal breaking apart. Zack stepped forward. "Zordon, Jason's missing! We think—"
"—Green Ranger…" The voice broke again. "…Rita's control… must… break… sword…"
The globe sparked, and Zordon's image shattered into static before fading away. The lights in the Command Center dimmed, leaving only the soft pulse of the central column. The connection was gone.
"Zordon!" Kimberly shouted, but there was no response. The silence that followed was suffocating.
Alpha slumped against the console. "Ay-yi-yi… I can't hold the signal. He's gone again."
Zack exhaled slowly and rubbed his forehead. "Well, that's just great."
Trini turned to face him. "He said something about a sword. The Green Ranger's sword."
Billy nodded. "If that sword is the source of his power, then destroying it might sever Rita's control."
Zack looked from one face to another — Trini's calm determination, Billy's logic, Kimberly's fear barely hidden beneath resolve. Jason would know what to do, he thought. Jason would have a plan. But Jason wasn't there.
He straightened. "Alright. Until we get him back, we do this my way."
Billy and Trini exchanged a glance, then nodded. Kimberly hesitated. "Zack… you really think we can do this without him?"
He looked her squarely in the eye. "We don't have a choice."
Before anyone could reply, the viewing globe flickered again — this time showing not Zordon, but the unmistakable image of the Green Ranger. He stood in a shadowed canyon, swinging his new weapon through the air. The blade glowed an eerie green, leaving streaks of light in its wake.
Kimberly's stomach sank. "That sword… it's exactly like he said."
Zack stepped closer. "He's out there training. Probably waiting for us to show up."
Trini frowned. "Then it's a trap."
"Maybe," Zack said. "But we can't sit here while he tears the city apart. Jason would go. So we go."
He tapped his communicator, but only static answered. Billy adjusted his wrist, shaking his head. "Teleporters are still offline. Probably the energy disruption caused when the Command Center was trashed. We'll have to use the RADBUG."
Zack nodded. "Then let's move."
Kimberly hesitated by the door, glancing back at the darkened energy tube. For a moment, she imagined Jason standing there, giving one of his quiet, confident nods before a fight. But the space remained empty. She swallowed hard and followed the others.
The evening air hit them cold as they climbed into the RADBUG. Zack took the driver's seat again, his expression set. Kimberly watched the city lights in the distance, feeling the weight of every breath. Trini and Billy sat behind her, each lost in thought.
As the craft rose from the ground and streaked into the night sky, a single thought echoed through all of them — unspoken but shared.
They weren't ready for this fight. Not without Jason. But ready or not, the Green Ranger was waiting. And this time, he wouldn't hold back.
Night fell fast over Angel Grove. The air was heavy with tension, the kind that came before a storm. Clouds drifted low across the moon, casting the city in a restless silver haze. Somewhere beyond the skyline, the Green Ranger waited.
The RADBUG descended toward a rocky clearing on the outskirts of town — a wide canyon lined with jagged stone and patches of sparse vegetation. It was quiet, too quiet. No wind, no insects, no distant hum of city life. Just silence.
Zack killed the engine, and the craft settled onto the dirt. He turned to the others. "Alright, everyone. Remember the plan. We find him, keep him distracted, and hit that sword with everything we've got."
Billy nodded. "Assuming that's even the weapon Zordon mentioned."
"It's all we've got," Zack said.
They climbed out into the open air. The canyon walls towered around them, the moonlight turning the sand to silver and the shadows to black. Kimberly scanned the area, uneasy. "It's too quiet."
Trini nodded. "He knows we're here."
The answer came as a low, echoing laugh that rippled through the canyon. The sound bounced off the stone walls, making it impossible to tell where it came from.
"So," the Green Ranger's voice drawled, "you came without your leader. How brave. How foolish."
Zack's eyes narrowed. "Show yourself!"
A flash of green light split the shadows, and he appeared — standing atop a rock outcropping, the Sword of Darkness resting casually across his shoulders. The moonlight glinted off his armour, casting him in an otherworldly glow. When he spoke again, his voice was calm but dripping with contempt.
"Four against one. You think that makes you stronger?"
"We've handled worse," Zack shot back. "And we're not leaving till you're finished."
Tommy tilted his head slightly. "Then let's see how long you last."
He leapt from the rocks, landing effortlessly in front of them. The moment his boots touched the ground, the sword flared to life, its green energy humming through the air like thunder in a storm.
"Now," Zack said through gritted teeth, raising his Morpher. "It's Morphin Time!"
Their voices echoed through the canyon, each call overlapping the next —
"Mastodon!"
"Pterodactyl!"
"Triceratops!"
"Saber-Toothed Tiger!"
The flash of colour lit up the night as the four Rangers appeared in full armour, standing ready in formation. For a heartbeat, they looked invincible — four warriors united against the darkness.
The Green Ranger smiled beneath his helmet. "Cute."
He moved first, faster than any of them expected. His sword cut through the air in a blur, and Zack barely managed to block the blow with his Power Axe. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, forcing him back several steps.
"Whoa!" Zack grunted. "He's stronger than before!"
Billy darted forward with his Power Lance, striking in a flurry of calculated thrusts. Tommy parried every one, the clang of metal ringing through the canyon. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed again and again. Then, with a sudden twist, Tommy disarmed him and kicked him hard in the chest. Billy hit the ground, the wind knocked out of him.
Trini and Kimberly attacked from opposite sides — Trini agile and focused, Kimberly fast and graceful. Trini's Power Daggers flashed as she closed in from behind while Kimberly leapt forward with a flying kick.
Tommy caught Trini's wrist mid-swing, spun, and threw her into Kimberly's path. The two collided and tumbled across the dirt. Before they could recover, he drove the tip of the Sword of Darkness into the ground. The blade pulsed once — and a shockwave of green energy erupted outward, slamming into all four Rangers at once.
The blast threw them apart, scattering them across the canyon. Their armour sparked, their suits dimming from the hit.
Zack pushed himself up, his chest heaving. "Alright, you want a fight? You got one!"
He charged, swinging his Axe in a wide arc. Tommy blocked the strike with the flat of his sword and countered with a swift kick to Zack's midsection. Zack stumbled, but caught himself, twisting into a backflip and slamming his Axe into the ground to steady his landing. He raised it again, firing an energy blast that streaked straight for the Green Ranger.
Tommy raised his sword, deflecting the blast effortlessly. The green energy around his blade intensified, wrapping his arm in fire-like light. With a single upward slash, he sent his own energy wave roaring toward Zack.
It hit like a wrecking ball. Zack's shield flickered and died as he went down hard, rolling across the dirt. Kimberly gasped, reaching for her Power Bow, but before she could draw an arrow, Green Ranger was already on her. His sword met her bow mid-block, and sparks showered the air.
"Stop fighting and let us help you!" Kimberly shouted through gritted teeth. "Whatever Rita's done to you, we can help. This isn't you!"
For the briefest second, he hesitated. The blade wavered, and the glow in his visor flickered faintly. Then the magic surged again, and his next blow shattered her bow in two.
"She made me stronger," he said coldly. "This is me."
Kimberly fell backward, the force of his strike sending her sliding across the sand. Trini caught her arm, pulling her upright as Billy stumbled back into formation beside them. Zack groaned but stood too, gripping his Axe.
The four Rangers regrouped, battered but unbroken. Zack stepped forward, his voice defiant. "You're not winning this, man. Not while we're still standing."
Tommy tilted his head again, and though they couldn't see his face, they could feel the smirk beneath the helmet. "Then let's fix that."
He raised the Sword of Darkness high. Lightning crackled from the clouds above, drawn to the blade. The air turned electric, humming with dark energy.
The Rangers braced for impact as Tommy swung downward. The bolt that followed was blinding — a surge of green power that tore across the canyon floor, splitting rock and sending debris flying. The Rangers scattered, diving for cover.
Zack shouted over the chaos, "Billy, now!"
Billy triggered a small device on his wrist, and a burst of energy shot from it toward the Green Ranger's sword. The blast hit dead-on, sending sparks flying — but when the smoke cleared, the sword was still intact, glowing brighter than ever.
"That was supposed to overload it!" Billy yelled.
"It's feeding off the attack!" Trini cried.
Tommy laughed, his voice echoing through the canyon. "You can't destroy what was forged in darkness!"
Desperate, Zack raised his Morpher again. "Zords, now!"
The ground trembled as four colossal forms rose from the earth — the Mastodon, Triceratops, Pterodactyl, and Saber-Toothed Tiger bursting forth in a blaze of light. The Rangers leapt into their cockpits, their voices uniting through the comms.
"Let's bring him down!"
The Zords charged forward, each firing their weapons in unison. Tommy didn't retreat. He planted his feet, held his sword aloft, and channelled the storm's fury into a single, massive surge of green lightning.
He swung.
The energy struck the combined assault mid-air, exploding in a blinding flash. The shockwave rattled the Zords, forcing the Rangers to shield their eyes. When the light faded, the Green Ranger stood unscathed, his sword humming with renewed energy.
Zack cursed under his breath. "This guy's unreal!"
"Form the Megazord!" Trini shouted.
The Zords merged in a brilliant cascade of light and steel, locking together with the sound of thunder. Within moments, the Megazord towered above the canyon, drawing its Power Sword with a metallic roar.
Tommy looked up, unfazed. "Let's see how long you last this time."
He raised the Sword of Darkness skyward, absorbing the energy of the storm itself. Lightning struck his blade, and with a cry, he hurled the power forward in a blinding arc. The Megazord crossed its Mammoth Shield to block, the blast slamming into it with a deafening boom.
The shield held — barely. Energy scattered in a wave of sparks that lit up the canyon. The Megazord's systems flickered, but its stance held firm.
Zack grinned behind his helmet. "Not so easy when we're ready for you!"
The Megazord raised its Power Sword and swung downward, deflecting the last of the energy back at Tommy. The blast struck him squarely, sending him tumbling across the ground.
He rolled, landing in a crouch. His sword still burned, but the shock had stunned him.
Rita's voice shrieked from above, carried by the wind. "No! My Green Ranger, fall back!"
Tommy snarled under his breath, glaring up at the towering Megazord. "You've won this round, but it's not over."
He vanished in a burst of green flame, leaving only the echo of his voice in the air.
The Megazord powered down, separating into the individual Zords. The four Rangers reappeared on the ground, bruised, breathless, and exhausted. For a long moment, no one spoke.
Finally, Zack broke the silence. "We're alive. That's something."
Billy looked down at his cracked visor. "Barely. He's stronger now. That sword amplifies his power exponentially."
Trini stared at the scorched spot where Tommy had vanished. "We can't keep fighting him like this. Not without Jason. We broke the rules by escalating and he still almost beat us."
Kimberly lowered her helmet, her voice trembling. "And not while he's still under her control."
They stood together in the quiet aftermath, the night wind whispering through the canyon. Above them, the clouds slowly cleared, revealing the moon once more. Its pale light fell across the battered Rangers — tired, wounded, but still standing.
It wasn't victory. Not yet. But it was survival. And for now, that had to be enough.
Far above the Earth, the Moon Palace quaked.
Rita Repulsa's voice thundered through its corridors, echoing off the jagged stone walls. The torches flared green with her anger. Outside, lightning tore through the black sky, striking the spires of her fortress again and again as if the heavens themselves were afraid.
"You had them!" she shrieked, pacing before her throne. "You had them!"
Her staff slammed against the floor, sending a ripple of energy across the chamber that made Finster and Baboo dive for cover. The Sword of Darkness, resting across the arm of her throne, pulsed with faint green light, reacting to her fury. The Green Ranger himself stood defiantly.
"Yes I had them, until you ordered me to retreat!"
Tommy was seething, angry at himself for allowing them to access their Zords and take the battle to a level he could not match... yet.
Goldar grunted in the background, drawing her attention. The warrior stood tall, wings twitching. His golden armour gleamed in the light of the torches, though even he flinched slightly under her glare. "The Green Ranger fought valiantly, my queen," he rumbled. "He would have destroyed them, had they not formed their Megazord." He turned to the Green Ranger, jabbing with a finger. "You were not prepared to fight against the power of the Zords. Had you continued you would have lost and failed your empress. Remember that before you raise your voice to her."
Rita spun on him, her eyes burning like twin suns. "Valiantly? I don't care if he fights valiantly, only that he wins. I gave him power beyond power! More Power than even I possess He was supposed to crush them, not play with them! "
Finster peeked nervously over a stone console. "Perhaps, my Empress, the strain of the sword is exerting more of an influence than we thought. Until he has fully mastered his connection, it's spirit might influence him...."
Despite its name, the Sword of Darkness was not a unique blade. Long ago there had been one Sword of Darkness. It had been broken and the shards had been reforged into a number of new blades, each named the Sword of Darkness. But, to make each sword as powerful as the original had required a special form of magic; each sword contained the soul of a truly evil warrior. The more powerful, twisted and wicked the captured soul had been, the stronger the blades had become. However, such a method of empowerment came with a risk: the soul contained within the sword remained active, capable of influencing and even possessing the one handling the sword. Dominating the dark being within the sword was a part of the bonding process. The Sword of Darkness that Rita had given to Tommy possessed the soul of a particularly powerful villain, one that had never agreed to being sacrificed to power a sword.
"Silence!" Rita snapped, her voice cracking like a whip. She turned her attention back the the Green Ranger. "Go, do whatever it is that you need to do to master your powers. Meditate if you need to, but I want you in control before you return." Her voice lowered. "If you succeed, I'll let you finish off the Red Ranger."
She raised her staff, and the air shimmered with magic. A green mist filled the room, swirling around the Green Ranger as he was transported to a place where he could train and gain control of the Sword of Darkness before it took control of him.
"I am sure he will be successful." Baboo offered.
Rita was not so optimistic. There was a part of her that understood the hearts of minds of her servants as well as her enemies. She could see that despite the spells, Tommy was not yet hers. "He's still clinging to weakness. Still haunted by his human side. That girl, the pink one… she distracts him."
Goldar's eyes narrowed. "Shall I remove the distraction, my queen?"
Rita considered the thought, her expression softening into a cruel smile. "Not yet. No… not yet. If I destroy her now, he'll turn his anger against me. But soon, when the bond is complete, he won't remember her. And even if he does it won't be in the same way. Yes… the sword will do the rest. Once it finishes binding him to me, Tommy Oliver will be gone forever. There will be only the Green Ranger."
Rita threw back her head and laughed, a sound that rolled across the lunar craters and out into the void. The laughter faded into a whisper as she looked down at the Earth, tiny and blue in the distance.
"Soon, Rangers," she murmured. "Your leader will die, and my champion will destroy you."
In the Dark Dimension, time meant nothing. The air shimmered red and gold, the ground cracked and burning beneath Jason's feet. Every breath he took felt like swallowing heat. He had lost count of how long he'd been fighting — minutes, hours, maybe days. For a time the attacks had stopped, Goldar had appeared to leave. But the reprieve had been short lived as the golden warrior had returned with a vengeance.
Goldar circled him, wings half-spread, his monstrous form wreathed in the crimson haze. Jason's Morpher still dangled from the warrior's belt, glinting mockingly in the strange light.
"You should stay down, Red Ranger," Goldar sneered. "You're not strong enough to last here."
Jason spat onto the scorched ground. "You've been saying that for hours. I'm still standing."
Goldar chuckled, a deep, guttural sound. "Then you'll die standing. Admirable, but pointless."
He lunged. Jason twisted aside, barely dodging the massive blade that sliced through the air where his head had been a moment before. He countered with a punch to Goldar's side, then a kick to the leg joint — neither did much damage, but they bought him a moment's space.
Goldar's sword came down again, and Jason caught it between his forearms, muscles straining as the force pushed him backward. Sparks flew as the blade scraped across his wrist guards. He twisted, rolling free, and delivered a hard elbow strike to Goldar's chestplate. The clang echoed across the empty landscape.
"Not bad," Goldar growled, grinning. "But you're tiring."
Jason stumbled, panting. He couldn't deny it. His legs ached, his arms felt heavy, and sweat ran freely down his face. But giving up wasn't an option. Not while his friends were still out there fighting. Not while Angel Grove needed them.
He straightened, forcing himself to breathe through the pain. "I'm not done yet."
Goldar raised his sword again, laughing. "Good. I enjoy watching you break."
As the two clashed once more, sparks of energy rippled across the sky above them. Something unseen was shifting — faint, distorted flickers of light that pulsed with rhythm. Jason's eyes caught one of the flashes, and for a brief second, he thought he heard a voice.
"Jason…"
He froze mid-step, eyes darting around. The voice was faint but familiar, carried on a breeze that shouldn't have existed in this hellish place.
"Zordon?" he whispered.
Goldar swung again, forcing him to duck. "Still hearing ghosts, Ranger? Pathetic."
Jason ignored him, focusing on the echo that lingered in the air. It came again, soft and broken. "Jason… the Power… is with you…"
It faded as quickly as it came, leaving only silence and the sound of Goldar's laughter. But it was enough. Enough to remind him that he wasn't alone.
Jason raised his fists again, bloodied but unbowed. "You can keep me here as long as you want," he said. "But I'll never stop fighting."
Goldar's grin widened. "Then I'll make sure you fight until your last breath."
He didn't notice a flash of red as Jason's Power Morpher responded. The two clashed again, the sound of their struggle filling the endless void.
Back on Earth, the Command Center's lights flickered weakly. The systems were still unstable, and the Rangers looked as worn as the walls around them. They stood in a loose circle, each lost in their own thoughts. The battle against the Green Ranger had drained them, and the weight of Jason's absence pressed down like gravity.
Billy was the first to speak. "The data from the fight confirms it — the Sword of Darkness amplifies the Green Ranger's power through direct connection to the Morphin Grid. It's drawing energy the from the Morphin Grid and directing it into his Power Coin."
Trini frowned. "So if we destroy the sword…"
"Then we cut him off from the source and return him to just being a Ranger," Billy finished. "And maybe if that breaks Rita's control."
Zack leaned against the console, his voice low. "'Maybe' isn't good enough. Jason's still out there somewhere, fighting God-knows-what, and we've barely held it together without him."
Kimberly looked up from where she'd been sitting, her expression pale. "We can't give up. Jason wouldn't want us to."
Zack met her gaze and nodded slowly. "Yeah. You're right. But we've got to be smart about it. That sword's the key. If we can't destroy it, we'll never get him back."
Trini turned to Alpha. "Can you track the sword's energy signature?"
Alpha's eyes flickered uncertainly. "I can try, but its power is masked by Rita's magic. It won't be easy."
"Do it," Zack said. "We need a target."
Alpha began scanning, the consoles glowing faintly beneath his fingers. The faint hum of the machinery resonated through the chamber again, fragile but alive.
Zack looked at the others — Billy working in silence, Trini watching the monitors, Kimberly staring at the floor with distant eyes. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of leadership settle onto his shoulders.
Jason's absence left a gap in the room — not just as a leader, but as their centre of gravity. Zack could feel the edges of the team fraying under the strain. He had to hold them together.
"We'll find him," he said quietly. "We'll find Jason, and we'll stop the Green Ranger. Whatever it takes."
The others nodded. There was no cheer, no rallying cry — just quiet determination.
Outside, the night deepened. A thin crescent moon hung above the mountains, its light faint and ghostly. Somewhere, far away, a young man in green stood alone on a rooftop, the Sword of Darkness resting in his hands. Its whisper filled his ears, drowning out his thoughts.
"Serve her. Destroy them. Let go."
For a heartbeat, Tommy's grip faltered. He looked up at the stars, something flickering behind his eyes — memory, regret, humanity. Then the sword's glow pulsed stronger, and the light vanished.
Below him, Angel Grove slept, unaware of the storm still gathering.
And the shadow, tightening its grip on all of them, crept closer with every passing hour.
The moon hung high over the jagged towers of the Moon Palace, bathing the stone halls in a pale, cold light. The storm had passed, but the air still trembled with power — the kind that lingered after one of Rita Repulsa's rages.
Her minions kept their distance. Even Goldar, ever loyal, stood a few paces behind her as she gazed into her enchanted globe. Within it, the image of Jason Lee Scott flickered — a lone figure surrounded by fire and shadow, still fighting, still refusing to fall.
Rita's lips curved into a grim smile. "Still alive," she murmured. "Stubborn little human."
Finster approached nervously, his voice shaking. "My Empress, if the Red Ranger endures much longer, the others may attempt a rescue. The dimensional barrier won't hold if they—"
Rita's staff struck the ground, silencing him. "They'll never find him. And soon, they'll never need to."
She turned from the globe and gestured sharply toward the shadows at the far end of the chamber. "Bring me the Green Ranger."
From the darkness, Tommy stepped forward, his armour gleaming under the moonlight. The Sword of Darkness hung from his belt, pulsing faintly like a living heart. His movements were precise, but his eyes — hidden behind the visor — carried a flicker of something unsettled.
"You summoned me, my Empress," he said.
Rita smiled — slow, predatory. "Yes, my warrior. You've served me well, but your last battle disappointed me. You hesitated. You let them live."
Tommy stiffened. "They will fall. I will destroy them all."
Her grin widened. "Oh, I know you will. I can see that your training has paid off, so I will give you an opportunity to prove that you are worthy. You'll finish what Goldar began. The Red Ranger still draws breath, trapped in my Dark Dimension. End him, and the others will crumble without their leader."
Tommy bowed his head slightly, his voice calm. "As you command."
Rita approached him, holding out her hand expectantly. Tommy handed over the Sword of Darkness and for a time nothing was said as Rita studied the blade. The runes carved along its edge flared with green fire as she pressed the blade lightly against his shoulder. "Remember, my Green Ranger — your power comes from me. You have completed the bond with the sword, but that bond also binds you to my will. You live and fight because I allow it. You are my warrior, my champion... my tool."
He nodded, though his fists tightened ever so slightly. "I serve you, my Empress."
"Good," Rita hissed, withdrawing the blade. "Then go. Strike swiftly. Break the Red Ranger's spirit before you break his body."
A surge of emerald energy engulfed Tommy, and in an instant, he was gone.
The Dark Dimension burned.
Jason stumbled through the haze, every muscle screaming in protest. The ground beneath him was cracked and glowing, the air hot enough to sting his lungs. He had fought Goldar until his arms felt like lead, and though the monster had finally retreated into the shadows, Jason knew he was far from safe.
He dropped to one knee, breathing hard. His vision blurred, but he refused to close his eyes. Not here. Not in this place.
"Come on, Jason," he muttered to himself. "Stay awake. Think. There's always a way out."
But even as he said it, he couldn't see one. His Morpher was gone, his strength fading, and his connection to the team — to Zordon — felt faint, like a voice through static.
He pressed a hand against his ribs and winced. Every breath was shallow. "If this is the end," he whispered, "I'm going down fighting."
A flash of green light burst through the crimson haze, and Jason's head snapped up. A figure stepped through the rippling air — tall, armoured, and surrounded by an aura that made the very ground tremble.
The Green Ranger.
Jason's heart sank. "You've got to be kidding me."
Tommy's voice echoed across the chamber, cold and calm. "The Empress sends her regards, Red Ranger."
He drew the Sword of Darkness, the blade humming with energy. The light it cast danced over the scarred walls, painting them in green fire.
Jason forced himself to his feet, fists clenched. "You. You're the one who hit the Command Center. You're the one who—"
Tommy tilted his head slightly. "You're wasting your breath. She doesn't want you talking — she wants you gone."
"She's using you!" Jason shouted. "You don't even realise it, do you? You're fighting for her — for Rita! She's twisted your mind!"
Tommy's stance didn't falter, but there was the slightest flicker in his visor — a hesitation, a pause just long enough for Jason to notice.
Then the glow of the Sword flared brighter, and his voice hardened. "Rita showed me the truth. You're weak, Jason. And I'm going to prove it."
He lunged.
The first strike came fast — a blur of green and black. Jason dodged, barely, feeling the wind of the blade as it passed inches from his chest. The second blow caught him across the arm, searing through fabric and skin. He gritted his teeth and countered with a punch to Tommy's side, the impact jolting through his knuckles.
Tommy spun, blocked, and drove his knee into Jason's stomach. The hit sent him staggering back. Sparks danced across the air as the Sword of Darkness crackled with power.
Jason ducked under another swing, grabbed a loose length of chain from the ground, and wrapped it around his forearm like a shield. He caught the next blow on it, sparks flying as steel met steel.
"You don't have to do this!" Jason shouted over the clash. "Fight it! Whatever she's done to you, you can break free!"
Tommy's voice was colder than the metal between them. "I don't want to be free."
He slammed the hilt of his sword into Jason's chest, knocking him flat onto the cracked ground. The Sword of Darkness flared to life, its glow spreading across the walls. Rita's voice echoed faintly in the distance, carried on the heat.
"Finish him, my Green Ranger. Make me proud."
Jason rolled onto his side, blood trickling from his lip. His hand brushed the dirt — and something small, metallic. He glanced down. Goldar's arrogance had left a prize behind: a power cell, pulsing faintly with residual Morphin energy.
It wasn't much, but it was something.
He snatched it up, clutching it in his palm as Tommy raised the sword high above him.
Jason's voice was raw but steady. "You can kill me, but it won't make you stronger. It'll just make you hers."
Tommy hesitated. The sword trembled. For a single heartbeat, the spell faltered.
Jason saw it — the crack in the armour, the flicker of light behind the visor. He pressed harder. "You're better than this, Tommy! I know you are!"
Tommy staggered back, shaking his head as if trying to clear it. "Stop… talking…"
"Then listen!" Jason shouted. "She's using your anger — your pride! But that's not who you are!"
Tommy's breathing grew ragged. The sword pulsed faster, feeding on his confusion. The whispers in his mind grew louder, drowning out Jason's words.
"Destroy him," Rita's voice hissed inside his head. "Prove your loyalty."
Tommy's grip tightened on the hilt. The green light flared again, burning away whatever doubt had flickered.
He swung down.
The blade met the ground with a burst of light — but Jason had rolled aside at the last moment. The strike cracked the floor open, sending energy spilling into the air. Jason scrambled to his feet, slamming the stolen power cell into a broken console embedded in the wall. Sparks flew, and a small energy field shimmered around him — not enough to escape, but enough to slow the next attack.
Tommy turned toward him, sword ready, eyes glowing like emerald fire behind his visor.
Jason met his gaze squarely. "If you want me dead, you'll have to earn it."
The two clashed again, sparks and lightning filling the air as the Dark Dimension roared to life around them.
Back in the Command Center, alarms flared. The Viewing Globe flickered to life, showing flashes of light and chaos. Alpha rushed to the controls, his voice sharp. "Ay-yi-yi! I'm detecting a massive energy spike in Rita's dimension! Two life signatures — one Red, one Green!"
The others rushed to his side.
"Jason," Kimberly whispered.
Zack clenched his fists. "And the Green Ranger."
Trini's expression hardened. "Then it's started."
Billy adjusted the controls. "We can't teleport in, but we might be able to lock onto the signal and open a temporary window. If Jason can survive long enough—"
Zack nodded grimly. "Then we're getting him back."
The Command Center lights pulsed brighter as Alpha began rerouting power. The power core thrummed with energy, echoing faintly through the floor.
Far away, in the heart of the Dark Dimension, the battle raged on — two warriors bound by destiny, both paying the price for power neither truly understood.
And as sparks lit the crimson air, Rita Repulsa smiled from her throne, watching it all unfold.
"My Empress will reward me for this," Tommy said, his voice steady, emotionless.
Jason gritted his teeth. "She doesn't fight her own battles, huh?"
Tommy tilted his head slightly. "Why would she, when she has me?"
Jason's eyes hardened. "She's using you. You don't even see it."
A flicker of irritation crossed Tommy's stance. "You talk too much, Red Ranger."
Then he moved — fast. The Sword of Darkness came down in a blur of green light. Jason dodged, rolled, and countered with a quick strike to the chestplate, but the hit barely slowed his opponent. Tommy swung again, and the sword's edge cracked the ground where Jason had been a split second earlier.
Jason sprang back to his feet, breathing heavily. He could feel the difference — this just another monster. This one was faster, stronger, and fuelled by something unnatural.
Tommy pressed the attack, each blow harder than the last. Sparks burst as sword met gauntlet, the energy flaring brighter with every impact. Jason ducked, blocked, and twisted away, but the relentless rhythm drove him backward toward a wall of molten stone.
"Face it," Tommy said, voice sharp and cutting. "You're out of your league."
Jason deflected another strike, but the force sent him sprawling. He hit the ground hard, pain shooting through his side. Tommy stood over him, the sword raised high.
"You don't deserve your power," he said. "Zordon made a mistake choosing you."
Jason glared up at him. "And Rita made one choosing you."
Tommy hesitated just long enough for Jason to roll aside as the sword came down. The blade slammed into the ground, sending a burst of energy through the stone. Jason kicked upward, striking Tommy's chest, and used the moment to dive for cover behind a jagged outcrop.
The Green Ranger turned slowly, the reflection of the lava glowing across his visor. "You can't hide from me."
Jason called back, voice steady but strained. "You sound just like her."
Tommy's response was a short, harsh laugh. "Good."
He raised the Sword of Darkness. The runes along its edge flared to life, and a surge of green lightning erupted from the blade. The energy carved a path through the rock, splitting Jason's cover apart in a cloud of dust. Jason stumbled clear, coughing, then charged — fists first, deflecting the next blow with sheer force and desperation.
The two collided in a blur of movement — Jason ducking low, landing a solid punch to the side of Tommy's helmet, then a kick to his chest. Tommy recovered instantly, spinning with inhuman speed and driving the hilt of his sword into Jason's ribs. Jason gasped, the air rushing from his lungs, and fell to one knee.
Tommy stood over him again, the point of the sword at his chest. "You should have stayed down."
Jason spat dust, meeting the dark visor squarely. "Not in my nature."
Tommy shoved him backward and lifted the sword high. "Then die on your feet."
Jason rolled aside just as the blade struck. Sparks and flame erupted from the impact, the explosion throwing both fighters apart. Jason hit the ground hard and didn't rise immediately. His body screamed in protest — bruised, battered, and drained. The Morpher was still missing, and every moment he spent here felt heavier than the last.
"Funny, Goldar said almost the same thing."
Tommy advanced, slow and sure, his shadow stretching long in the flickering light. The Sword of Darkness crackled in his grip, its edge shimmering like liquid.
"This ends now," he said.
Jason forced himself up, barely standing, sweat streaking his face. "You talk too much for someone who hides behind a spell."
Tommy lunged again, but Jason was ready. He ducked, caught his arm mid-swing, and drove his knee into Tommy's chestplate with all his strength. The Green Ranger stumbled, just slightly — enough for Jason to twist the sword from his grip.
The weapon clattered to the ground, its glow dimming. Jason didn't hesitate; he kicked it away across the stone floor. "Looks like you're not so tough without your magic toy."
Tommy snarled — the sound distorted by his helmet. He surged forward, slamming into Jason with his full weight. The two crashed into the ground, rolling, fists flying. The fight devolved into raw, desperate combat — no tactics, no distance, just strength against strength.
Tommy's blows landed faster; Jason's landed harder. The ground cracked beneath them. Sparks burst from Tommy's armour as Jason managed to land a solid hit across his helmet.
But fatigue betrayed him. Jason's next punch came slower, his guard slipping. Tommy caught his arm and threw him across the chamber. Jason slammed into the ground, dazed.
Tommy retrieved the Sword of Darkness, its glow surging back to full brightness as his hand touched the hilt. "You should have stayed down when you had the chance," he said.
Jason tried to rise — and failed. He braced on one arm, his vision swimming.
Tommy raised the sword, the energy gathering along its edge. "Say goodbye, Red Ranger."
Before he could strike, a gust of heat and shadow swept through the chamber. The air rippled, and Goldar appeared behind him in a burst of light and smoke. His wings spread wide, his voice booming through the cavern.
"Enough, Green Ranger! The honour of killing him belongs to me!"
"No!" Tommy turned sharply. "He's mine to destroy! Rita promised me."
Goldar bared his fangs in a cruel grin. "You need to remember your place. You might have been allowed the honour of serving Rita, but you will obey your superiors. And that means me! The final blow is mine!"
Jason was left kneeling, gasping for air as Goldar loomed over him, sword raised, Jason's Power Morpher dangling from his hip, taunting the Red Ranger.
"You've fought well for a human," Goldar said, unsheathing his massive blade. "But now you die — as a defeated leader should."
"No!" Green Ranger growled. "He is mine! You will not steal this!"
He lashed out with the Sword of Darkness, blocking Goldar before he could land the killing blow. A stiff kick knocked Goldar aside as Green Ranger concentrating on ending the life of the Red Ranger. Gold let out a growl of fury and struck at the Green Ranger's back, throwing him off balance and causing the sword to miss.
Jason watched as they fought. The Green Ranger was a brutal fighter and Goldar seemed to struggle to hold his own. The Sword of Darkness glowed brighter with each strike, its power increasing the ferocity of his blows. At one point the Sword of Darkness slipped past Goldar's guard. The blow was deflected downward, but sliced through the chain holding the Power Morpher. By this time the Sword of Darkness was glowing with dark green energy, shooting sparks of energy into the room.
"You will pay for this insolence!" Goldar boomed, but he had the sense to teleport to safety just as Green Ranger turned back to Jason.
Jason had seen the Power Morpher fall and had rolled to grab it. His hand snatched it up as he avoided a sword point. On his back he tried to call on his power, only for the Green Ranger's boot to slam into his wrist.
"And now this ends," Green Ranger promised. "Empress Rita, this victory is for you!"
The sword descended and Jason was certain that it was over; he was about to die.
End of Part