The Animarium

Vapor emerged from her cavern, a sobered look on her muzzle. Her sins, all of them were there on paper for everypony to read. What would they think of her now, knowing she was involved in the death of the very first member recruited by Princess Shayla and had been lying about her status to the others the whole time. She already knew what their reactions would be: disgust, hatred and she knew they wouldn’t want to be around her anymore.

To be honest, it was more than just friendship she had felt towards Grape. They, along with Lightning Dust and Sky Stinger had been friends since childhood. Tartarus, when neither Sky nor Vapor was around to babysit Lightning, Grape was always there. He and his family lived in a little house in the mountains not too far below Vapor and Sky’s homes, so he could easily make it up the mountain path to visit them and they could play together and just imagine what they’d be when they grew up. Sky, Lightning and Vapor would be Wonderbolts, flying amongst the best while Grape Vine would be singing to the masses, perhaps opening up for the Wonderbolts shows at times. And even from a young age, he was good with the guitar, as Vapor’s fondest memory of him came flashing back to her.

“Ladies and gentlecolts, right from the heart of the Smoky Mountains, Grape Vine!” A young Sky Stinger, a colt with dark blue fur and wings and a lighter blue mane yelled, faking an announcer's voice as best as he could as a younger Grape Vine stepped from the treeline as Sky and his family clapped their hands.

“Seriously, thank you for coming out tonight. Now, it’s an honor to open for the Wonderbolts tonight before they give us a show only they can put on.” Grape said as he took out his guitar and strummed that old familiar tune.

“Well, Ah built me a raft and she's ready for floatin'
Ol' Mississippi, she's callin' mah name
Catfish are jumpin'
That paddle wheel thumpin'”

“Black water keeps rollin' on past just the same
Old black water, keep on rollin’, Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me
Old black water, keep on rollin', Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me
Old black water, keep on rollin', Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me…”

Another memory hit Vapor, one not so fond but it was important to her nonetheless.

There she and Sky Stinger were, flying high in the clouds above while Grape Vine was reading from a book of spells. His horn glowed a purple color and he stepped out onto a cloud, and then hopped onto another. But as young as he was, his magic couldn’t last very long, and soon his hooves gave way and he fell foot by foot as the ground rushed up to greet him. Vapor let out a yell of fear, before she unfurled her growing wings and rocketed down towards Grape Vine as fast as she could her keen eyes trained on his falling form even through the wintry mists but simply wasn’t fast enough. Then Sky Stinger rocketed past her and caught Grape in his arms as Vapor caught up to him and wrapped her arms around him sobbing her heart out into Grape’s neck.

“You… You foolish stallion! You could have been killed! Why…? Why’d you do that?” She whispered through her tears.

“Same reason you two are up there all the time. Ah want to be as free as a bird and feel what you feel when you’re in the sky. That sense of calmness, where nothing could ever get to ya.”

“Grape, you’re an idjit.” Sky told him and Grape only laughed.

“...Yeah, guess Ah am.”

And whenever Lightning needed a lullaby to calm her down, it was either Vapor or Grape singing to her to calm her down and put her to bed and send her into dreamland.

Lightning was currently in the midst of a nightmare, and woke up, sobbing heavily in her bed. Grape and Vapor, who happened to be at Sky Stinger’s house for a sleepover just ran up to her room along with Sky and found her sobbing into her pillow and trembling. As Sky brought her into a hug, Grape began to sing the song personally coined by Princess Luna herself over 1,000 years ago.

“Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed.”

“Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed.” He sung in a soft tone as Sky pulled the covers over his little sister and kissed her forehead goodnight. Sky then gave Grape and Vapor a sad look.

“What’s the matter?” Grape Vine asked.

“It’s… It’s about dad. He’s always off and leaving us, leaving me and mom, Mystic Mother bless her heart, to care for my family. And even when he does stick around, he doesn’t seem to give a damn about Lightning, treating her as the runt. He always thinks I’m the one to break his records, but does he ever consider her?” Sky whispered in disgust towards his father, if he could even call him that.

“Bastard.” Grape muttered. “That there’s exactly what me and mah family could call somepony who would run out on his own kinfolk and not give a damn about what the rest of his family thinks. Lightning, she doesn’t deserve him. Ah have half a mind to report Wind Rider for child neglect.”

“You know the charges wouldn’t stick. We’d need proof.”

Before Grape Vine could butt in, Vapor continued.

“And even if we got that proof, we all know how rich Wind is. He’d just pay off somepony to keep quiet. Grape, you’ve seen plenty of crime dramas. You know how it goes.”

“Yeah, Ah do…” Grape muttered grimly to himself…

“So, I guess you all hate me now.” Vapor said as the rest of the Rangers looked directly at her. They’d all read each other’s confessions, and they understood each other’s problems. Now they were all looking towards Vapor Trail.

Lightning leaned back, closing her eyes and putting her arms behind her head. “And exactly why would you think that?”

Vapor Trail looked shocked, staring at the pegasus she’d known her whole life. “B-but it’s because of me that-”

Lightning held up her hand, silencing her surrogate sister. “Grape gave his life so that you could live. He even passed his power on to you.”

“But I-”

“I wasn’t done.” Lightning snapped, “No matter how you look at it, Grape thought you were worth all of that, and so did your zord.” She continued, getting up from her seat and walking over to Vapor Trail, pulling her into a hug. “I know you never wanted it, but the fact remains that Grape saved you, the Leviathan chose you. No matter how you look at it, you’re not at fault here, Vapor.”

Vapor stood there, stunned. “But why? Why would he choose me of all ponies? I’m not...”

Sunburst cleared his throat. “That’s just not true, Vapor.” he pushed up his glasses, giving her a smile, “You became a Ranger for a reason. You never would have been able to morph otherwise. I know what it’s like to have no confidence in what you can do. Trust me, you can do this.”

“But the Leviathan never chose me! Grape was the one who should have been here, not me!”

“Is that so?” Sunset interjected, “Tell me one thing. Why can you morph then?” She asked.

“I-I… I don’t know! I don’t know why it works! I don’t know why I’m a Ranger! I shouldn’t have this power at all!”

“And yet you do. Regardless of what you think, the Leviathan chose you to carry Grape Vine’s mantle. Why it did, I won’t know. What I do know is that you deserve to be a Ranger, regardless of how you got your crystal.”

Vapor was trying hard to keep herself together, tears leaking out of her eyes as she tried to keep a stiff upper lip. Sunset let out a breath and smiled, walking over to her and Lightning, wrapping her arms and wings around the both of them. “You carry this power because you deserve it, there is no other reason, Vapor.” She murmured.

Vapor let out a choked sob as she buried her face into Lightning’s chest, crying like a newborn as she let it all out. All the pain, regret, and guilt escaping her all at once.

Robert sat at his seat, shifting awkwardly. “Hey, uh… Listen, I’ve never been really good with empathy and hugging and all that sappy crap and to be honest this is between you lot and not me, so if you excuse me, I’m going to take my leave.” Robert muttered to himself before touching his morpher and teleporting away in an orange flash of light down towards Equestria.

He found himself in the streets of Ponyville, ponies scattering at the sight of him teleporting down from the heavens. Robert simply rolled his eyes and muttered “I need a drink. Wonder if they sell a good bottle of sake anywhere around here? Probably not, but one can only hope.”

As he walked through the streets of Ponyville, his jacket zipped up to protect him from the frosty autumn winds, he took out his phone and put a pair of green earbuds in his ear and just listened to the music of Styx’s Renegade. He let out a soft snort at the irony of his situation, the law wanted him dead, and the hangman, or hangmare coming down from the gallows in this case was Princess Celestia. He didn’t particularly believe in this split personality bull that Sunset was feeding him. Sure, he knew it existed in the case of Anton Mercer/Mesogog, but he needed proof to actually believe it. Suddenly, something unseen, cold and frosty brushed past him and he whirled around to face nothing but empty space behind him.

“Robert, Robert, Robert. You’re just getting paranoid. It’s the wind and you know it.” He muttered to himself even if he didn’t quite believe his own words. Then, he saw, peeking out from the corner of a building a slender figure clad in golden Roman gladiator type armor.

“You know, if you’re trying to spy on me, you’re not being very subtle about it!” Robert shouted to the figure and one of the Royal Guards, a mare judging by her figure and notable bust stepped out into view.

“...Wow, guess I really botched that one up didn’t I?” The pure white pegasus mare asked.

“Tell me, does your boss Shining Armor know you’re out and about?” Robert questioned. The mare’s silence and look towards the ground was all Robert needed, and he threw his hands up in the air in frustration.

“Great, so Princess Genocide sends her beefeaters to spy on me! Tell me, how many more of you are there?”

“T-They’re stationed all over the whole town, places where you might go. We were sent to make sure you don’t do anything… untoward.” The mare explained and looked apologetic. “I was only following orders.”

Robert snarled and gave her a nasty glare.

“No, you don’t get to use that excuse on anyone, me of all people especially considering my heritage, fraulein! That’s the same exact excuse the Nazis used before they herded up the Jews and gassed them. Go look it up in a book, oh wait, there’s no record of that, is there? No, Princess Genocide just had to erase all of human history!” Robert growled out and stomped off leaving the guard in tears. Eventually, he found his way to the inn known as the Prancing Pony. Robert chuckled.

“Has anypony here ever read Tolkien I wonder?” He mused before pushing the door open. The inside of the Prancing Pony was, in one word, quaint. The walls were wood paneled and decorated with what looked like traditional pony handicrafts. The lighting was dim, but warm and a large stone fireplace at the far end of the inn bathed the room with warmth from the heat of the roaring flames inside. Ponies sat at tables and on barstools all over the inn’s ground floor, their conversations suddenly going silent at Robert’s entry.

“Wow, normally I generate such a silence after I pull off one of my show stopping moves.” Robert snarked before sitting down at a booth next to a dark blue unicorn mare with short cropped hair.

“So, what are you having?” The mare asked with a smile. Robert eyed her. There was something awfully familiar about her, he just couldn’t put his finger on it. It was like he’d seen her somewhere before, but where?

“Same thing as you I’m guessing, I don’t think sake’s on the menu. Still, I should probably ask your name, just so I know the name of the mare who’s probably trying to poison me.”

The unknown mare winced, and so did Robert, realizing he might have misjudged her.

“...Sorry.”

“No, you’re very right to be suspicious. It would be just like anypony in this town to slip a poison into your drink or food when you’re not looking. Name’s Artemis Starborne.” The mare said, introducing herself and holding out a hand. Robert shook it.

“Anyone ever tell you that sounds like the name of a bad Harry Potter OC?” Robert remarked dryly.

“Hey, I can’t help the name I was born with.” Artemis chuckled, and Robert raised an eyebrow. How the Hell would she know what Harry Potter was? Those books would have been destroyed long ago by Celestia and Commander Hurricane’s forces.

“Your mum and dad must really love the night sky don’t they?” Robert asked and Artemis nodded.

“Yeah, they always looked up to the sky at night and told me that each star is a soul looking down on us, judging our every action and guiding us. Mind you, you can take that as you will, but it’s a nice belief.” Artemis replied.

“True. Rather poetic if you ask me.” Robert replied and they clinked their glasses together and said “Cheers.” before drinking each taking a sip. Just then, Robert felt that same icy wind brush past him and he grimaced. It was like it passed through him this time, like the wind of the frosty blizzards back home.

“Agh… Okay, now I know I’m being stalked. I need to find out who.”

“Something… Something wrong?” Artemis asked in concern as Robert stood up and she put a hand on his shoulder.

“No… Nothing at all. Just got to go to the loo.” Robert said reaching for his Crystal Saber in its sheath before he turned towards a corner of the bar where a Royal Guard lurked and was trying to make himself as unseen as possible. “And there better not be any of you lot spying on me in there as well or somepony’s getting punched in the face!”

Robert found his way to the bathroom and turned on the faucet and splashed water in his face. In the mirror, a figure was revealed, one wearing a pure black cloak and a kitsune noh mask on his/her/it’s face.

“Who are you!?!” Robert shouted as he whirled around and drew his Crystal Saber, pointing it directly at his stalker.

The figure said nothing before fading away.

“Wunderbar.” Robert muttered before resheathing his saber. But the next thing he knew, something grabbed him from behind and he found himself transported away...

Elsewhere in Ponyville…

Meanwhile, the Turbine Org had returned and was already causing his signature brand of havoc by sending spiraling blasts of gale force winds at any building within his sights, tearing them apart with gale force winds while cackling madly. Anywhere the buildings landed, they were obliterated in an instant.

“Run, little ponies! Run! Oh, it’s so good to be back in the game!” He laughed before sending some ponies flying with a blast of wind from his turbines. Then a voice came from behind him.

“Hold it right there Turbine Org! Your days of destruction are over!” Vapor shouted as she and the other three Rangers ran up. If Turbine Org could have smiled, he would have.

“Ah, it’s the Purple Ranger. Come to get destroyed like your predecessor?” He cackled, but to his surprise Vapor didn’t even flinch.

“I’m not afraid of you anymore. To me, you’re just another Org about to get on the wrong end of my trident.” She snarled before holding up her Growl Phone up to her ear before shouting out that phrase she’d read in Robert and Lightning’s confessional.

“It’s Morphin’ Time!” She shouted out, taking the lead. This Org was hers and hers alone.

“Legendary Wild Access! Ha!”

(Morphing Sequences)

With a flash of flame, Sunset was transported to the inside of a volcano and stood on the middle of a rock as she was transformed and she gained a gold and red form-fitting costume with diagonal tooth marks across her chest and her Cutie Mark on her right breast with a phoenix's head themed helmet forming around her head accompanied by a loud screeching sound.

Standing on a rocky desert plateau as storm clouds rumbled and lightning flashed in the background, Lightning gained an aqua colored costume with the same diagonal tooth marks across her chest and her Cutie Mark of a yellow lightning bolt with stars appeared on her right breast as a helmet similar in design to Sunset's appeared on her head, with the sound similar to that of a falcon's call.

On a beach, a tidal wave washed over Vapor Trail and she gained a purple costume similar in design to the others with her Cutie Mark of a comet on her left breast as well with the tooth marks on the opposite side of her chest and a sperm whale themed helmet formed over her head with the noise of a deep sea beast's hum.

In a dark barely moonlit orchard of apple trees, clouds of black smoke surrounded Sunburst and he gained a black costume with his Cutie Mark of an orange sun with bursting yellow rays on his left breast just like Vapor Trail's costume, and also like Vapor's the tooth marks appeared on the right side of his chest with a bat themed helmet much like the Jungle Fury Bat Spirit Ranger's appearing around his head along with a loud bat screech sound.

(Morphing Sequences End Here)

"With the strength of the Leviathan, Purple Leviathan Ranger!" Vapor shouted.

“Seems like unfair odds. Tell you what, if you can beat my men, you can take me on personally Vapor.” Turbine Org remarked before he snapped his fingers. “Tengas! Putrids! Take care of this filth!”

As the Tengas and Putrids appeared, Vapor just charged right through them, her white gloved hand gripped tightly on her Leviathan Trident not caring in the slightest about the small fry. She had bigger fish to deal with. She held it in a backwards grip and knocked Turbine Org backwards with the butt of her trident and then stabbed him in the chest multiple times before slamming the prongs of her weapon down on the ground sending a huge tidal wave towards the Org who had haunted her nightmares for months.

“Now, looks like you’re all washed up.” Vapor snorted. In the background, the rest of the Rangers were handling the minions quite well. Lightning lashed at some Putrids with her whips and then grabbed a Tenga’s head and twisted it sideways with a sickening crack of bone. Nearby, Sunset had stabbed one Tenga through the chest with her Phoenix Blade and put her Crystal Saber through another’s eye while Sunburst used his Shadow Hatchets to block a Putrid’s staff-zooka before kicking it backwards with a white clad boot. Next, Lightning inserted her Giraffe Crystal into her Saber and fired a beam of yellow energy like a spear impaling several Putrids and Tengas.

Meanwhile, Vapor continued her fight with the Turbine Org. He tried to push her back with a gust of wind, but she just flew over and upwards behind him and stabbed him through the chest, much like how he’d done to Grape Vine.

As Vapor pulled her trident out of the Org, Thrax’s Wand descended from the sky and fired a beam of scarlet energy at Turbine’s fallen form. With a great rush of wind and a sickening cackle, the Turbine Org stood back up, now as tall as a titan.

“Guess who’s back?” He laughed and stomped his foot sending all four Rangers tumbling to the ground.

“Alright then, time to show you the true ancient powers of the seas! I call upon the King of the Seas! Leviathan Zord, Descend!” Vapor yelled, and her Saber emitted its signature song and when the Zord heard it, it’s eyes opened wide and when it felt what Vapor was feeling, and rose up out of the waters of Manehatten’s East River much to the shock of the citizens who had never seen such a sight in their life and it rocketed towards the town of Ponyville, it’s flippers and gigantic tail swimming through the air and cutting through it as if were simply going through the waters of the oceans in which it normally dwelled. As soon as it saw the truly gigantic Turbine Org, it’s eyes narrowed. This was the one who had killed his Master. No, that wasn't the right word for it. Friend was more accurate. He felt it. He felt what Vapor wanted and agreed it was time to put this Org down for good. It had overstayed it’s welcome for far too long.

Vapor leaped on top of the Zord just as it head-butted the Turbine Org sending it staggering back. She pointed her Crystal Saber at the Org and the Leviathan Zord’s mouth opened and charged up a purple beam of energy. And just for a moment, Vapor thought she felt Grape’s presence nearby and his hand on her shoulder. And then, she could have sworn she heard his voice.

“Kick his ass.” The voice said and Vapor nodded.

“MEGA ROAR!” Vapor shouted, and both she and her Zord fired twin purple beams of energy at the Turbine Org sending him flying back into a mountain splitting it in half before Vapor put her Saber on top of the central spike of the Trident and threw it with a shout of “Leviathan’s Rage!” The trident grew to gargantuan size as an energy projection of the Leviathan appeared in front of it and bit down on the Turbine Org before the trident impaled him, resulting in a massive explosion that tore the Org apart with an unholy scream of vengeance. Vapor smiled as she took off her helmet.

“Finally… Grape, I hope you’re watching from wherever you are, because your death is finally avenged.”

Back in Ponyville, two Orgs stood at the site of the Turbine Org’s destruction. One was covered in what looked to be swords with the blades even covering all but one of his yellow toned eyes. The other Org, was themed after a clock, with his clock hands making up a mustache and his single eye resembling a monocle and holding a sword that resembled a longcase clock.

“They think they’ve seen devastation? Well… They clearly haven’t met us yet…” The first Org chuckled ominously.

(To Be Continued...)

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your trident and your sword, they comfort me." -Vapor Trail

Author's Notes:

Okay, so in this chapter Vapor finally overcomes her fears and with everything laid bare, gets a great weight lifted off her shoulders and destroys the Org who killed one of her best friends. Also, we get more of Lightning's backstory and elaborate more on her Inferiority Superiority Complex and just what life was like for her growing up. (Take note how Shining seems to be the only mentally sound Ranger in the bunch) In the meantime, Robert learns Solar is having guards spy on him and meets with a "Mysterious Pony" and befriends her before he gets wise to his stalker before being transported away to parts unknown. Huge thanks to the Villain in Glasses for the scene with the rest of the Rangers telling Vapor that Grape's death was not her fault, as simply put, I couldn't figure out a way to write that scene.

Next time: Double Trouble in the form of the Clock and Sword Orgs, and Robert finally meets his Zord and unleashes it's power in a epic throwdown before at last... "Guardian of Animaria Megazord!"