The sound of boots crunching against stone filled the hillsides of where Goldar had fallen as Thrax entered the area appearing in a swirling cloud of blood red smoke, Wand in hand as always. He smirked. Goldar may have been defeated, but he was expecting that. Sure, he was surprised Goldar was killed on his first day out, but that could be chalked up to the return of the Red Dragon Thunderzord, long thought destroyed by that idiot Rito. Zen-Aku and the Predazord arriving didn’t help much matters either. He thought his plan would work, send the Rangers down to Ponyville and have them deal with Goldar and be killed while Zen-Aku helped fend off the attack on the Crystal Empire.

“I’ve underestimated them, that won’t happen again,” Thrax thought to himself before he let out a snarl. “Damn my mother to the Pits of Tartarus or whatever they call it nowadays, wasn’t expecting her to help again. After all, she’s the only one now with enough power to re-create the fallen Red Dragon.”

Thrax approached what was left of Goldar. He smirked when he saw what remained of the fallen warrior. Sure, there was a hole in his chest and the heart he was given was missing but that wasn’t remotely terrible neither was it an obstacle. Both could be worked around.

“After all, it always helps to have… back-ups,” Thrax mused as he began reciting a spell and both his Org Horn and his wand glowed a violent red. “I didn’t just invoke that fool Darkonda’s name in my ritual for kicks after all. While he was a suicidal idiot, his particular set of powers has its uses.”

With cracking sounds, the damage in Goldar’s armor began repairing itself bit by bit and muscle began reconnecting itself as blood flew through the baboon like warrior’s veins once more. Wing muscles repaired themselves and were re-covered by armor. Soon, it was as if the hole was never there in the first place and soon the griffin chestplate reformed as well regaining its angry purplish orange glow. Goldar’s fingers twitched, then they began to move bit by bit as the fallen warrior came to his feet using one arm to support himself as he stood back up. Goldar let out a snarl as memories came flooding back to him.

“Seems your boss left you to die alone, Goldilocks!”

“Nonsense! He simply gave me the glory of destroying you all myself!” Goldar roared as he charged towards the trio of Zords and swung his sword with the Red Dragon blocking his every blow with its staff.

“Our turn. Pachyderm Crusher!” Sunset shouted and the Animaria Guardian Megazord raised the Elephant Zord above its head, the trunk becoming loose again. It was then brought down in a crushing attack, shattering Goldar’s sword in two.

“I have an idea, Rangers! Restrain him!” Zen-Aku shouted, and both Megazords grabbed ahold of Goldar by an arm. Zen-Aku smirked.

“Predator Wave!” He roared and fired a piercing beam right through Goldar’s chest punching a hole right through it.

“Rangers…” Goldar snarled out. “But… But I remember death. That wave... How…?”

“You’d be surprised what a mix of old magic, a dark gem and the powers of a suicidal idiot can grant you,” Thrax remarked casually, as if seeing a dead warrior with a hole in his chest come back to life and repair his own wounds was nothing new to him. Goldar’s fist tightened in anger.

“They really are impressive, aren’t they?” Thrax mused. Goldar didn’t share that sentiment.

“No, they’re fools for thinking they can really kill me now. After all, if what you say is true then I am really immortal.” Goldar growled out. Thrax “Neglected” to tell him that like Darkonda, his number of lives were not infinite. He didn’t need to know that, best to keep him arrogant and foolish for the time being. After all, if Goldar knew that Thrax revived him with only a finite number of lives or just how much power he had been really given, he would turn on him in an instant and seize control of the throne for himself.

“Yes… Yes you are.” Thrax lied smoothly, his words dripping like smooth syrup. What neither of the two noticed was a figure, one horn jutting out of his bone white forehead and his costume rather colorful, almost like a clown with two daggers strapped to his hip watching them both. His yellow eyes widened, and he scampered off in fear.

“Oh boy… This isn’t good,” Jindrax thought to himself as he ran for his life in pure fear and horror. He’d heard rumors that there was a new Master Org out and about, but he never believed them for himself. However, he’d also heard rumors that there were new Rangers around. Seeing the Megazord battle just confirmed his worries. He hadn’t stuck around long enough to see how it turned out, as he knew how it would end. Megazord beats giant monster, end of story. That’s how it always was over the years. “Can’t believe I’m saying this, but there’s only one place in the world where I’ll have to go now. Can’t believe I have to see HER again. Oh, this is a bad day for Duke Orgs everywhere…”

The Golden Oaks Library:

Sunset threw up in the toilet of Twilight’s bathroom, releasing her stomach contents once again. She felt really sick with herself. She’d just nearly just broken one of the crucial rules set by Zordon himself and given to all Power Teams as guidelines and used her powers to strike out in vengeance. She thought back to her earlier actions just only minutes before.

Sunset snarled and leaped out of her chair as the Phoenix yelled out her name in shock. Sunset’s hands gripped Cloudchaser’s throat tightly.

“You’re… You’re not capable of killing me. You’re… You’re too good a pony for that.” Cloudchaser gasped out, gasping for air as she futilely tried to push Sunset off her.

“Ponies change, I learned that from you,” Sunset snarled. Her horn was glowing a bright angry red and her wings had turned into pure flame, filling the room with hellish light and intense heat.

“Besides, it’s not me that’s killing you. Yeah, here’s an interesting fact for you. Yes, you’re gasping for air, but it isn’t your lungs that are crying out for oxygen. It’s your brain. That’s what’s dying, that bigoted, foolish brain of yours!”

“I’m… I’m a monster…” Sunset whispered aloud to herself as she wandered through the Golden Oak’s hallways and bookshelves aimlessly. “Cloudchaser was right to be afraid of me. I… I don’t know why Princess Shayla picked me to become a Power Ranger, honestly. With my past… My lust for power and love of revenge… After all, why would else I be dumb enough to pick up a Morpher I knew perfectly well was corrupted and use it against my own teacher and adoptive mother?”

“Because you were angry, and too ambitious for your own good.” The Phoenix cooed kindly in her head.

“That supposed to make me feel better?” Sunset snarked.

“I’m just telling the truth. You’re a better pony now, you’ve changed. Shayla knows it, I know it, and you know it.” The Phoenix reprimanded her.

“Have I?” Sunset asked herself aloud. “Have I really changed?”

Then, she felt warm and comforting lavender feathers pull her into a hug and a voice whisper comfortingly in her ear “Yes, yes you have. Celestia wouldn’t have put you as the Princess of Empathy, nor would you have been given the abilities you have now if someone didn’t think you were worthy.”

Twilight gently sat Sunset down in an armchair and gave her a cup of tea to sooth her nerves.

“But… But what I just did back there…” Sunset murmured even as she took a sip of her tea.

“We all have our moments of anger,” Twilight said kindly. “Sure, yours are more… explosive than others but-”

“That’s putting it mildly.” Sunset snarked.

“The point still stands. You’re not perfect, nopony is. I’m living proof of that.” Twilight chuckled wryly. Sunset noticed the change in tone.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

“Well, you know our plan to separate Solar Flare and Celestia?” Twilight asked and Sunset nodded. She remembered alright. Twilight laughed nervously, and Sunset’s eyebrows furrowed. She knew that laugh, it always meant something was wrong. “Well, turns out that there may be a slight, okay, more than a slight problem here. Turns out, the prism crystals I was planning on using to pull apart the two opposing psyches might have been stolen when I was out shopping at the market a few days back. I’ve ordered a few more, but they’re so expensive that I could only order three, and we need four for this to fully work without any… complications.”

“I think I can guess who stole them.” Sunset snarled. Twilight looked directly at her, her gaze boring into her soul.

“Who? Tell me, who?” Twilight asked urgently.

“Solar Flare herself, she’s been getting more active recently.” Sunset said, and Twilight’s eyes widened. Sunset flashbacked to earlier that day on the Animarium.

A few hours before:

“Wait, so Solar Flare’s actually coming out now and being more proactive?” Sunset asked in shock, her eyes wide. She’d dressed herself in proper clothes, namely a black tank top and jeans. Robert nodded, his repaired SPD jacket zipped up and silver police badge pinned to his chest. His Fox Morpher was hidden under his jacket and his SPD one strapped to his belt next to his Crystal Saber.

“Yeah, tried to Gordon Ramsay me not too long ago, and I don’t mean curse me out. I’ve told everypony else, but I couldn’t tell you until now for obvious reasons.” Robert said, trying not to bring up Sunset’s stint in the hospital so soon. It was pretty much the proverbial elephant in the room. He figured she wouldn’t want to be reminded of nearly dying this soon. “Trust me, even seeing her nude wasn’t a comforting thought, given that she’s practically living lava.”

“Yeah, that’s the reason why Robert’s not wearing his trenchcoat,” Lightning put in. “Bet Rarity was pissed when you told her, huh?”

Robert’s silence and him poking his fingers together nervously said it all and Lightning burst out laughing clutching her sides. Sunset shut her up with just a glare, knowing how serious this was. Lightning wiped away her tears and stayed quiet.

“Wonderful…” Sunset muttered her arms crossed across her chest. Sunset noted Robert trying very hard not to stare at her cleavage. “Well, at least he was trying,” Sunset thought to herself at that moment. But she still didn’t understand why ponies looked at her with interest like that nor did she understand why half of Robert’s remarks involved sex in some way. “And where’s Celestia now?”

“Ran for it. She’s gone somewhere cold and frosty, but she wouldn’t tell me where,’ Robert explained. “On the bright side, depending on how you look at things, I got ahold of this.”

Robert then tossed the corrupted Solar Cell Morpher to Sunset, and her eyes widened in abject fear before she tossed it to Sunburst like it was a hot potato. Robert then mentally facepalmed, remembering her history with the morpher. He was beginning to hate those bloody confessionals more and more by the day. Sure, they’d helped everyone bond as a team, but some private things were meant to be kept just that, private. Personally, he hated the fact that Lightning knew he slightly acknowledged her abilities with her whips and as a Ranger in general. She seemingly had grown more arrogant, if that were possible, as a result.

“So, in essence, the only rulers of Equestria are Sunset, Twilight, neither of whom are ready,” Sunburst said nervously, quickly shooting an apologetic look towards Sunset “And Princess Luna, who’s just barely adjusted to being back as it is and now has to rule by herself!”

With that, Sunburst’s hands covered his face as he slumped down in his seat at a nearby stone table. “We’re doomed, we’re doomed. How can things possibly get any worse?” He muttered to himself.

Now:

Sunset sat up in her chair, a smirk on her face. She knew exactly what to do. “Twilight, get in touch with A. K. Yearling. I think she may be able to help us… Track down an ancient crystal? I mean, how hard can it be?”

Neighrazil: Rio de Janeiro, Copacaban: A Week Later

Sunset’s first perception of the seaside city of Rio de Janeiro was that of a party. Ponies, Griffins, Zebras and other species hustled and bustled about all around her as festive music played in the background and danced in the street in colorful costumes. In this sort of mass chaos, Sunset, despite being an Alicorn went unnoticed even in her dress. On a nearby beach, ponies relaxed and sunbathed in their swimwear. Sunset remembered that Neighrazil’s summer was Equestria’s winter. She had to admit, if it were a little cooler this weather would be a nice change, perfect for a vacation. She had to admit, if she wasn’t so caught up with saving the world or wasn’t royalty she would come down here more just to treat herself and possibly learn more about the local culture. Actually, now that she thought about it, Twilight could do well down here as well, poor mare was such a shut-in at times.

“Word of advice though,” The Phoenix Zord chimed in her head. “Don’t come down here during Carnaval do Brasil.”

“Why’s that?” Sunset asked, slightly worried by the Phoenix Zord’s teasing tone. The Queen of the Skies could only chuckle.

“Very sexual, this festival. I flew over here once before you came into contact with my Animal Crystal and let’s just say things were… Wild,” The Phoenix chortled, barely able to contain herself. “Trust me, Twilight or that Royal Guard mate of hers would probably faint from shock if they saw some of the costumes the mares wear around here during that time.”

“You’ve been spending time around the Kitsune Zord haven’t you?” Sunset deadpanned. “Only way I can see you picking up his impish nature.”

“Who says I haven’t always had it?” The Phoenix remarked, and from her tone it was impossible to tell if she was joking or not.

Sunset sighed and let her palm slide down her face. She had chosen a traditional flamenco dress as her choice of attire, simply because she wanted to blend in and Rarity had recommended it personally because of its beauty. Sunset had to admit she was right on that front. It was a sparkling red and yellow number with a frilly skirt and short, poofy black sleeves. The train sent all the way down to her legs, and a belt with a red and yellow sun logo accentuated the ensemble. To top it all off, she’d put a rose in her mane.

Daring meanwhile had chosen something less flashy, namely a simple denim jacket and black skirt and added glasses as part of her disguise. She’d pulled her mane back into a ponytail and dyed her mane in a simple brown color. Her Aqua Energem hung on a necklace, ready to be pulled off at a moment’s notice. To put it simply, she looked nothing like her usual appearance, and that was the whole point.

As they passed some market stalls, various locals selling their wares like local fruits such as guavas and passion fruits and the catches of the day Sunset heard a voice yelling “Sabe a melhor parte sobre matar os botos, eles trazem uma maldição sobre nossas mulheres, mas são ótimos para os negócios, sabe que toda a sua espécie vai morrer na sua frente e depois vou fazer uma feijoada com você seu canalha!”

She looked and saw a stallion with a pink dolphin painted on his chest shouting to the world next to a shop called “Safari de lanche” advertising its supreme curry with black beans.

“Daring, translate.” Sunset asked out of simple curiosity, not knowing the local language. Daring winced.

“Caramba...” Daring muttered in a tone of resignation. Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Basically he’s saying he will kill all of his species on this pink boto dolphin and make food with him on the menu. Local crazy really. Ignore him.”

“Sorry, not in this case.” Sunset muttered before she walked up to said local crazy and socked him in the jaw knocking him flat.

“Puesta de sol realmente? Was that really needed?” Daring asked, shaking her head. “You could have just live and let be with that nut.”

“Guardian of the Earth here, kinda my job to protect it’s creatures.” Sunset pointed out.

“...And here I thought we weren’t trying to attract attention.” Daring muttered, noting all the locals staring and whispering at them, some beginning to point at Sunset’s wings and horn. Daring sighed to herself and let out an audible groan.

“So… We’re going to find information on this so called “Cristal da Dualidade” how?” Sunset asked and changing the subject, referring to the Crystal of Duality that Daring had informed her about as soon as the letter had reached her. It was said that this single crystal could reveal a pony’s inner self, or so the legends said. If this was true, Twilight’s plan may only have needed this single crystal.

“Simple, ask this local here in Rio that I know. He’s helped me out on a few expeditions in the Amazons before so he should be able to help me again.” Daring explained, her Dino Morpher attached to her skirt as the two managed to get out of the main crowd and wander down a side street and into an old building with a sign above it reading “Artefatos da Amazônia”. The interior was filled with various items, some quite old looking although Sunset had a sneaking suspicion that they’d been purposely made to look that way. In the corner, a white stallion with a black mane had his back turned to them as he looked at an ornately decorated vase on a shelf. The vase itself was painted with a sea green serpent of some sort, possibly some sort of local legend.

“You gotta be kidding me…” Sunset muttered. “A shop for cheap trinkets? This is where your contact lives?”

“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover Sunny,” Daring said with a wink. “Like I said, this guy’s been helpful before.”

“Daring Do, always a pleasure to have you in my humble little store!” An older stallion said happily as he walked out from the storeroom, presumably hearing the bell ding when the two mares walked in. Sunset noted the white stallion take a glance in their direction, and saw that he wore a pair of sunglasses to hide his eyes.

“Gee, announce it to the world that I’m here, why don’t you?” Daring muttered, her cover sorely blown.

“So, what’s your pleasure?” The stallion asked, showing off a bunch of cheap jewelry and pouring it out all on the table in front of him. Daring sighed.

“Enough of the trying to make a quick buck crap. I want information.” Daring growled.

“Woa, calma aí cavala, cuidado com esse coice, vocês estão dificultando as coisas você sabe disso né?” The stallion, nicknamed “Rip-Off” Chotsky, sighed.

“I’m an archaeologist, I know when I’m being conned moron,” Daring sighed before her voice turned into a low whisper. “So cut the bull and tell me all I need to know about the “Cristal da Dualidade”.”

Chotsky’s eyes widened in recognition.

“Oh, you wouldn’t want to go after that thing,” He warned his voice low with fear. “Not with the River Serpent guarding its temple.”

“Local legend. Highly doubt such a thing exists,” Daring replied, brushing him off with a wave of her hand. “Besides, it’s probably some big King Cobra or some other creature made out to be a god like the Mokele-mbembe in the Zebra countries. All that thing turned out to be was just some big elephant last I heard.”

Chotsky sighed to himself and shook his head.

“Tá bom, aqui está o mapa. Mas não diga que eu não te avisei…” He remarked and pulled out a map of the Amazon River with a location marked in red. He then cheerily asked “Bits?”

Daring and Sunset face-faulted. Neither of them noticed however, that the sunglasses wearing stallion had conveniently vanished…

As soon as Daring and Sunset walked out off the store, they were greeted by a stallion with a slicked back black mane and brown fur with stubble on his face wearing a white vest. He also had a golden skull ring on his finger. Next to him was a big burly stallion with grey fur and an orange mane. Rough Stuff, or Stuffy for short.

“Dr. Caballeron…” Daring growled out and her fists tightened at seeing her old friend turned treasure thief.

“Ah Daring, always such a pleasure. You know, you really should dye your mane more often. Brown suits you well, Miss Do,” Caballeron said as he tipped his hat, a plain black fedora. “But enough of such pleasantries. Give me the map.”

“Sorry, not going to happen.” Daring remarked as she and Sunset nodded before throwing off their disguises to reveal their regular clothing underneath in classic Sentai style. Daring smirked as she put on her pith helmet.

“Disrobing me just for me, fraulein?” Caballeron mocked. “Sorry, but I’m already married. Anyways, if I can’t be nice about this and just ask for the map, guess I’ll just have to take it.”

He snapped his fingers and from out of the alleyways poured out some of the last remaining Lava Lizards faced by the Operation Overdrive team along with Caballeron’s hench-ponies.

“Like my new friends? They’re just dying to meet you…” Caballeron smirked as the Lava Lizards closed in. Sunset looked skywards and muttered “Mystic Mother above, was he always this corny?”

Daring put a hand on Sunset’s shoulder. “Let me take care of this. Stand back princesa, let me show you how it’s done. Unleash the Power!”

Daring fired her Dino Morpher skywards and let it transform her into the Aqua Ranger and she blocked a sword swing from a Lava Lizard with her own blade before kicking it in the chest. The big and burly henchman rushed forwards but Daring leaped over him and kicked him into a bunch of his fellows squashing them under his weight. A few Lava Lizards swung their swords at the treasure hunter, but Daring leaped onto a wall and rebounded off of it before using her whip to swing over the small street and fire off a few blasts at the reptilian monsters. She then ran along a wall parkour style using her whip as an anchor point and blasted a few more. Daring then leaped off the wall and slid along the ground to avoid a punch. Some more Lava Lizards rushed forwards and breathed fire at Daring, but Sunset shielded her with her magic before she used her Tai Chi abilities to help fend off more hench-ponies.

“So you like fire do you?” Daring quipped. “Getting a little warm here, let’s increase the heat.”

Daring pulled out a Dino Charger with an Allosaurus on it and pressed down on it before inserting it into her Dino Morpher.

“Here’s hoping this new Charger Twilight made just for me and Galaxy works, otherwise I’m going to look like a real idiot.” Daring pleaded mentally. “Dino Blaze Blaster, fire!”

Daring fired her new weapon and a manifestation of her Ankylosaurus Zord’s head appeared before it was quickly joined by an Allosaurus’ and the two circled Daring blasting and biting away at any Lava Lizards in a circle of fire and flame.

“Showy enough for you Sunset?” Daring joked, having heard of her team’s motto thanks to Twilight.

“Not my motto, that’s Robert’s.” Sunset corrected as she grabbed a hench-pony in a headlock before knocking him out with a punch to the head before she began blocking Caballeron’s own punches as they came.

“Give me the map Princess!” Caballeron snarled. He tried fondling her to throw her off guard, but only earned a kick to the balls for his troubles.

“Hands off, bastard.” Sunset snapped as Daring took down the last of the Lava Lizards with a few blasts from her Dino Morpher.

“Come on, we need to get moving!” Daring shouted as she pulled Sunset along by the hand, taking a quick look back at Caballeron. He was clutching his balls in pain but managed to shout out: “After them, after the brujas!”

Daring turned to Sunset as they ran down the street pushing ponies out of their way. “Nice job, guess you’re not such a layabout after all,” She complimented. “Shame though, wish I had done that to that perverted bastard first. Always wanted to, but never got the chance.”

“You may get that chance yet…” Sunset trailed off.

The Amazon: Cortica River

A boat floated down the Amazon River, steam belching out its smokestack as the paddlewheel churned up the waters. Sunset, sweat trailing down her face from the sheer heat stood on the ship’s bow and smacked away a bug.

“Mystic Mother above… If I had known that there was this many bugs, I would have asked Sunburst to take my place,” Sunset muttered to herself. “He’s more of a bugs and slime kinda guy. I much prefer history over science.”

Daring laughed.

“Better get used to it princesa, going to be plenty of those little buggers the further we go,” She remarked as she studied the map. “Should be up this next bend if that idiot Chotsky is right.”

“Thought you said he’d been a great help to you a few times before?” Sunset asked. Daring snorted.

“True enough, but there’s the fact that he’s also conned me out of a few artifacts and let Caballeron get to them first.” Daring snarled. Just then, something very large passed under the boat leaving a wake behind and the sensors in the cabin picked it up.

“You feel that?” Sunset asked as the boat rocked and shook. Daring nodded and gripped her Dino Morpher just in case.

“Both of ya, better come take a look at this!” The captain shouted and both Sunset and Daring came running. They checked the sensors, and their eyes widened. The sensors onboard the boat had detected something very large and very fast just swim by them.

“What the Tartarus…?” Sunset whispered as she tapped the screen to make sure it wasn’t glitching out on them.

“Dios mío....” Daring whispered as she crossed herself. “Maybe that idiot was right. Maybe there is really a river guardian.”

“Please tell me you’re joking,” Sunset muttered before she turned to the captain. “What can you tell us about this river guardian of yours?”

“Well… It’s not my place, and it’s just a silly old superstition anyways.” The captain said nervously.

“Well, spit it out! We don’t have all day!” Daring snapped, growing impatient.

“Boitatá,” The captain commented simply. “The locals believe he’s this giant fire serpent who guards the rivers and oceans of the world. Has a very nasty temper.”

“Fire serpent, and yet he lives in the water. Seems a bit contradictory, doesn’t it?” Sunset muttered. “Yet I control a giant metal Phoenix who lives on a island in the sky and aliens exist, so I have no room to talk about weirdness do I?” She thought to herself in amusement.

Then, the boat turned around a bend and a gigantic temple was revealed. It was a step pyramid, as was to be expected in this part of the world. At each corner rested a pillar, with a carved snake crawling around each. Atop it rested a giant statue of Nightmare Moon and Solar Flare dueling for the fate of the world. Darkness and Light, Yin and Yang. Sunset gaped in awe, here was a temple in almost perfect condition and it had remained this way, undisturbed for untold centuries!

“Okay, now I’m loving this trip again,” Sunset whispered as the boat pulled to a halt and the captain kicked a gangplank down to the shoreline. As Sunset and Daring stepped off it, the gangplank was pulled back up, and the boat started up again and it seemed the captain didn’t want to stay around any longer than he had to.

“Wow… Wonder what he’s so scared about?” Sunset asked to no one in particular as she walked forwards, gazing at each and every thing in interest. She could hear Daring cursing at the captain behind her quite… fervently.

“Bueno, ¡aquí le bastardo antes de sobrevolar a usted y le geld!” Daring yelled out before she crossed her arms and huffed. “Cowardly fool, isn’t this just wonderful? Stuck out here and left to die like rats on a sinking ship.”

Sunset ignored her companion and slowly trudged forwards, her boots sloshing in the muddy ground as they entered the temple, darkness meeting them almost at once. Sunset lit up her horn and a bright green glow filled the area, illuminating it. Pictographs were revealed, each depicting either Solar Flare or Nightmare Moon ruling the land and slaughtering dissidents in increasingly brutal and gory fashion.

“Geez… There’s some nightmare fuel to keep you up at night…” Sunset joked weakly as Daring’s eyes kept an eye out for predators who might live in the temple as she pointed her Dino Morpher in various directions. Suddenly, something moved and Daring fired into a darkened corridor nearly missing Sunset’s head. Rats scampered out of the corridor and Daring blushed red in embarrassment. Sunset used a hand to push the Dino Morpher down.

“Careful where you point that thing, you trying to take my head off or something?” Sunset snapped as she walked forwards. Suddenly, something clicked, and Daring quickly pulled Sunset back as a sculpted face launched darts at a wall.

“Can’t be too careful.” Daring commented and Sunset scanned the darts and she winced. “Cyanide darts. Nasty.”

“Any other surprises I should be worried about, Daring?” Sunset asked carefully.

“Oh, you know, just the usual. Falling axes, spears, lava pits, crushing walls, crocodiles from the ceiling. Nothing fancy.” Daring commented offhandedly, listing off these booby traps with her fingers as if this was nothing new to her.

“...Glad I asked.” Sunset muttered as the two continued walking forwards. Eventually they reached a room with a multicolored crystal in the middle of it, light from the ceiling hole above it illuminating it and casting a dance of colors all over the room.

“Must be it,” Daring commented as she walked forwards, carefully stepping to avoid any press pads that would set off any traps and walked up to the crystal. She thought over swapping it for something before shaking her head and muttering “Aw, screw it. We know how this’ll go anyways.” before she grabbed it.

Sure enough, the temple began to rumble and Daring leaped out of the way as two flamethrowers in the wall launched jets of flame where she stood just a moment before.

“Move it or lose it!” Daring shouted as the two ran for the entrance only to be greeted by Caballeron, Lava Lizards and some of his men, led by the white stallion in sun-glasses. Daring growled and slapped herself in the face in disgust. Cheap Sunglasses, she should have recognized him in Chotsky’s shop!

“So that’s how he caught on. Should have known…” Sunset thought to herself.

“Ah Daring, so glad you could lead us to the prize. You always were a gullible sort,” Caballeron mocked as the Lizards closed in. “Now, if you let us we can take that off your hands. Don’t worry, we might even let you stay in the jungle. Who knows, maybe you’ll become an artifact like that crystal.”

Then there was a loud roaring sound as a gigantic, towering sea serpent emerged from the river, sea green in color and water dripping off it’s scales. It roared in fury. Boitatá was angry that his temple had been disturbed, and he was intent on letting everyone around know it.

“Okay, so not a King Cobra…” Daring muttered to herself.

“Oh, seems like you have bigger problems to deal with,” Caballeron remarked casually. “Now, hand me the crystal and I promise it’ll get to a good home. That was your intent, yes?”

“Oh shut up…” Daring muttered before she and Sunset morphed in aqua and gold flashes of light. “Sunset, you take care of Boitatá, I’ll handle Caballeron and his new friends.”

“Right,” Sunset nodded before she pointed her Crystal Saber skywards and shouted “Phoenix Zord, descend!”

To give Sunset some help, Daring shouted “Summon Ankylo Zord!” and threw her Ankylo Charger. Erupting from the jungle as the Phoenix flew down from the skies was an aqua and yellow colored Ankylosaurus Zord with a hammer for a tail. It roared at the sight of its first challenge. Boitatá roared back, accepting the challenge.

The giant sea serpent lunged forwards and it’s jaws clamped down on one of the Phoenix’s wings and the Zord screeched out in pain. Suddenly, Boitatá was hit in the chest or whatever passed for one on a serpent by the Ankylo Zord’s hammer tail. Boitatá roared out in pain from the powerful blow that would shatter a normal T-Rex’s bones. The Phoenix Zord used this opportunity to fly free and rocket upwards into the sky. Watery plumes erupted from the Cortica River and tried to dim the flaming wings of the Zord but she flew ever higher.

Finally, she came back down in an arc and unleashed a blast of flame from her mouth. Boitatá responded in turn with one of his own and the two beams canceled each other out. Boitatá then blasted the Phoenix Zord again hitting it in the wing and sending it spiraling down into the trees below ripping them up like toothpicks.

Meanwhile, Daring clashed swords with two Lava Lizards before she kicked one in the chest and blasted another with her Dino Morpher. Cheap Sunglasses threw a punch but Daring moved to the side and kicked him in the ribs. Caballeron punched her in the face and she staggered back.

Daring switched to her whip and lashed out, grabbing her arch-foe by the arm and pulling him forwards before delivering a punch to the face of her own. Nearby, Sunset was using her suit’s claws to deal out damage to the Lava Lizards.

Right about then, the Phoenix Zord let out a screech as it’s talons gripped the muddy ground and it’s piercing green eyes opened back up. Her wings flapped as it regained the power of flight and took back to the skies and flapped her wings over and over launching fireball after fireball at Boitatá, who roared out in pain from each hit. He lashed out with his tail, it becoming a whip of flame and grabbed the Phoenix by her wings but the Ankylo Zord hit Boitatá in the chest again. The Phoenix Zord then dive bombed Boitatá and hit him in the face again and again with her flaming wings. Boitatá then headbutted the Zord only to get a face full of flames for his trouble.

Daring turned to Sunset as they both punched two of Caballeron’s hench-ponies in the face. “I’ve got an idea! Princess Twilight thought ahead and she knew a situation like this might happen!”

“What, an angry river god?” Sunset deadpanned as she kicked Caballeron in the face. “That was for earlier, you pervert!”

“No, a situation where we might need to combine powers!” Daring shouted back as she decapitated the last of the Lava Lizards Caballeron had brought with him. With that, she pulled out a special golden Dino Charger with the symbol of the Power Rangers on it, a lightning bolt and pressed down on it. The Ankylo Zord’s eyes glowed and it’s tail detached and flew towards the Phoenix Zord who caught it in her beak. The Zord smirked before it took a powerful swing with her new weapon and hit Boitatá in the side of his head. There was the sound of metal hitting scale before the giant beast slumped to the ground with a powerful crash, defeated at last.

“Shayla, get us out of here!” Sunset shouted into her Growl Phone and both Daring and Sunset (Along with the Crystal) were teleported out in pillars of light. As for Caballeron, he roared in anger to the heavens.

“DAMN YOU DARING DOOOOOOOO!”

Author's Notes:

Yes, Sunset and Daring just took down a God. That just happened. Okay, here we go. I know a tribute adventure to one of the less well received PR seasons isn't what you were expecting, but I like to think even this series could get the justice it deserved if done right. Anyways, we get Goldar back, as expected, and we finally learn where Daring and Galaxy have been getting their Dino Chargers. Plus, an appearance from Jindrax! (And yes, that means Toxica will eventually appear as well, can't leave her out can we?) Finally, a huge thank you to my good friend CaioCola for helping me give a good representation of Brazil and it's language amongst other things and providing the monster of the week. Artist impression can be seen below.

Next time, another tribute chapter that can be summed up in two words: Lightspeed, Rescue!

Edit: Changed the ending so Boitata is unconscious instead of dead, via suggestions of two of my Discord friends, given that he's a very beloved guardian in Brazil. Also, thanks to Magic Step for suggesting Tough Stuff's name. Can't believe crediting her slipped my mind the first time around.

Second edit: Removed three tracks and replaced them with one piece that I think flows seamlessly through till the Kyoryu Red Carnival mode theme.