The Nexus

Thrax, if he wasn’t so afraid of the sheer power that wafted off Solar Flare would have chuckled. He should have known this was going to come along sooner or later really.

“So, lemme guess…” Thrax stated calmly, his voice in its usual tone. Namely, being as quiet as the grave. “You have a problem, and it relates to a certain selection of six multiple colored warriors?”

“Ooh, getting straight to the point. I like that in a man…” Solar Flare cooed as she traced a finger up Thrax’s jawline, sounding almost aroused. Doomwing and Goldar shared identical looks of disgust as they watched the Solar Invictus circle Thrax like a lioness over a kill.

She purred in delight as she felt Thrax’s power. It was nothing compared to her own of course, but it was… acceptable. Who knows, after the Rangers were out of the way perhaps she could start looking for a mate? Just for pleasure of course, she really didn’t care for such things like “Love” unlike that sappy other half of hers. “But I’m here on business, not pleasure which I admit is sort of a shame. However… Maybe both things can be achieved if this… alliance of ours works out. If it does, I have no doubt in my mind we’ll both end up very happy tyrants,” she purred out seductively.

“Who said anything about an alliance?” Thrax remarked, folding his arms across his chest. He wasn’t particularly impressed by Solar Flare’s attempts at flirtation. “Far as I’m concerned, I’m doing just fine on my own, and you’ve got all the power in Equestria right now. You’re literally seated on the throne, the top of a shadow government,”

“Ah, but for how much longer if that damned Princess of Friendship in all of her undermining little ways succeeds in splitting me and Celestia apart?” Solar Flare pointed out, spitting out her other half’s name in disgust. “She may not want to use all of that power she has, but it’s more than enough to defeat me. She’s just far too… frightened of it to even try,” she continued, embers licking at her charcoal black wings. Solar Flare then let out a laugh as she looked at Thrax dead in the eyes, wiping away a tear from her own. “And as for you? Doing just fine on your own? I think not. Every monster or Org you’ve sent down after the Rangers has been defeated, one after the other. And then there’s Retinax, last I checked he broke off from you and you two are currently going head to head in your own private little civil war. Plus, I’ve got some news that may interest you… If you’re willing to hear it, that is.”

Goldar snarled and drew his sword, and in an instant, the blade tip was at Solar Flare’s throat.

“Don’t listen to a word of hers Master, she’s just trying to trick you! Lead you off course from our real goal!” the Griffon/Ape themed warrior snarled, quickly joined by Doomwing who was ready to plunge his sword into Solar Flare’s back.

“Oh, look at your men… They’re like obedient dogs,” Solar Flare laughed, incredibly amused by the two’s bravado. It was a foolish form of loyalty that would end up getting them killed in the end, but loyalty nonetheless. “Ready to fight at your beck and call. I presume you can call them off until I’ve said my piece?”

“Master-” Doomwing started but Thrax held up a hand.

“Settle down, at least for the moment,” Thrax ordered, his voice raising ever-so-slightly. “I must admit, I am… curious as to what Solar Flare means,”

Both Doomwing and Goldar growled but lowered their blades all the same.

“There, that’s better,” Solar Flare cooed mock-sweetly at them. “Now, as I was saying. Retinax, he’s been doing some recent acquisitions that I think may -or may not- interest you depending on if you’re as intelligent as you claim to be. For one thing, he’s got Zen-Aku on his side. Had a spy over in Fillydelphia report the news as soon as she saw it. Like you said, shadow government,”

“He’s getting bold, far too bold for his own good. And stupid, really. Whatever lies he told Zen-Aku, they’ll fall apart at the seams eventually. Zen-Aku… He’s far too loyal to this planet and too bent on redeeming himself for his past transgressions to stay loyal to Retinax completely,” Thrax remarked, a hand on his chin in thought. “Sooner or later, something will draw him back to the Rangers side. Still, that was worth hearing. You may take your leave now,”

But Solar Flare didn’t budge. Thrax growled and turned to both Doomwing and Goldar. “Escort her out, now.”

“Gladly…” Goldar chuckled as he and Doomwing raised their swords. Doomwing’s began glowing an ominous crimson red while Goldar’s began to ignite itself with a flaming light.

“Ah, bup-bup-bup!” Solar Flare interrupted, holding up a finger and wagging it back and forth. It was as if she was speaking to an unruly child. Mind you, that’s all Thrax was to her in Solar Flare’s mind. “Before you “Escort” me out, there’s one last thing. Anyways, escorting me out, which I should point out isn’t a very wise choice anyways as it’ll let me know exactly where you live. I could come knocking again -And I will- right on your doorstep. Retinax… Surely you didn’t notice the new Dinozord out and about destroying one of his latest monsters?”

“I took notice, but I paid it no mind. A failure’s a failure,” Thrax remarked. “I was more amused by his incompetence more than anything else. That Org he found couldn’t even stand up against regular Zords!”

“But you should be worried, surely you recognize that particular Zord right? The Dragozord. Plus I have to ask, surely you are wondering why the Ranger that goes along with it hasn’t shown him or herself right?” Solar Flare inquired, eyebrow raised.

“Again, I’m not worried. I knew about Retinax’s little expedition into the Crystal Empire to retrieve the White Dino Gem. Granted, I didn’t know Zen-Aku was how he got it, but I knew about it all the same,” Thrax replied with a roll of his eyes, beginning to sound incredibly bored out of his mind. “Why are you telling me information I know about already?”

“Oh come now, Thrax… You’re a smart little world-conqueror aren’t you? What if by some small chance, Retinax does find a way to repower the White Dino Gem and reactivate the White Ranger powers? What then?” Solar Flare asked, and Thrax had to admit he did feel slightly nervous at the way this conversation was going. Slightly. “One more powerful foot soldier to use against you, and this one will have at least one Zord on their side. Possibly two, as if I remember history correctly the Stegozord was never destroyed either. So that means he may very well have a Megazord, or maybe even two on his side as well if Zen-Aku still has his Animal Crystals,” the Solar Invictus added.

Solar Flare knew very well this last part was a lie, as her spy in the Royal Guard had reported seeing the wolf-like Duke Org toss three glowing orbs into the sea. But the more this scared Thrax into having an alliance with her, all the better. “The Predazord destroyed Goldar once, who’s to say it won’t get lucky again? Plus, with the DinoStegazord on his side, he has a formidable fighting force. Add to that Retinax being no slouch in combat himself, and he could very well have a chance at taking your throne for himself.”

Thrax sighed, as much as he didn’t like teaming up with with a genocidal maniac like Solar Flare, she had a point. “Alright, you’ve made your point. We’ll work together, for now. But if you even think about double-crossing me…” he warned. Solar Flare chuckled.

“Oh Thrax…” she said in a tone of mock-sweetness. “You know I’ll double cross you eventually, it’s only a matter of time…” she trailed off, accentuating each word in a “A matter of time” with a small boop on his nose.

With that, she vanished in a plume of fire, leaving only embers in her wake while Thrax only chuckled.

Doomwing let out a small angry hiss to himself, the sound going unnoticed as he gripped his blade tightly. Was this what Thrax was willing to resort to, teaming up with a genocidal maniacal goddess who would rather slaughter them all instead of working with them? Team up with someone who even flat out admitted she’d double cross them eventually?

“I know when it’s time to pick a side, and this isn’t the best choice for me right now… Not anymore,” Doomwing thought to himself, disappearing into the caverns of the Nexus heading for the aboveground. Meanwhile, Goldar turned to Thrax, a look that consisted of a mixture of anger and confusion on his face.

“Master, why are you even teaming up with her? You know she’ll destroy you as soon as her alliance with us ends, once the Rangers are destroyed,” Goldar questioned and Thrax smirked.

“She’s just an arrogant horse who doesn’t know her place. She’s got power, yes, I’ll give her that. Power enough to destroy us both, but let’s be honest here… She’s also incredibly arrogant. She honestly believes nothing can stop her, not even the Power Rangers. Goldar, you and I both know never to underestimate them,” Thrax lectured. “There’s a reason why I’m sending them to the Island of Illusion. They may escape, maybe they won’t. Either way, Solar Flare’s little tantrum won’t go unchecked. I have a suspicion that unless she was truly desperate, she wouldn’t come to us. Someone’s figured out a way to separate her and Celestia I bet… No, in fact, I know it. Solar Flare’s miscalculated on one small factor. Celestia herself,”

“How so?” Goldar asked and Thrax leaned back in his throne as he smirked.

“Think about it. Celestia… Having to be forced to watch as Solar Flare annihilated an entire race right before her eyes. She’s kind, loving. Anything like that, that would anger even the gentlest of souls. And that’s not the only thing. Celestia’s a ruler at heart. One that cares for her subjects, anything that threatens her empire would force her into a fight, her dark half included,” Thrax continued to lecture. “Give Celestia a chance, and she probably would use all of her power to completely destroy Solar Flare. Hell, Celestia’s probably not the only deity angry at Solar Flare. We know the Wild Zords that make up Animus are about, so it’s safe to assume he’s still around in some form to command the rest of the 95 Wild Zords into battle if need be…”

Thrax then got up off his throne. “Now, to put my plans in action. It’s time to see what the Rangers fear the most…” he said in a completely calm tone of voice before he threw back his head and laughed. Goldar soon found himself joining in as crimson red lightning sparked from Thrax’s wand.

Doomwing found himself teleporting into a dark forest deep in the Oregon wilderness, near what used to be Turtle Cove. If he was going to find Zen-Aku, chances are this was where he’d be. In a place that he was familiar with. Plus, if he’d teamed up with Retinax who was incredibly loyal to a fault to the original Master Org, -And Turtle Cove was where he’d fallen- that increased the chances of Doomwing finding the two.

Doomwing’s smirk then faded from his face and he felt a small shiver of fear trail up his spine as he heard the snap of a twig behind him and pawsteps walking through the snow. He then felt a sharp blade pressing up against his back.

“Why have you come?” Zen-Aku asked, his eyes boring into Doomwing. “Speak quickly, and maybe I’ll reconsider killing you,”

“Call it… A m-matter of s-survival,” Doomwing stuttered out nervously, and Zen-Aku threw back his head and laughed.

“Funny way of surviving, stepping into my home. Us wolves… We’re very territorial creatures you know. We hate trespassers,” Zen-Aku growled out. “You have five seconds,”

“Just let me explain. Solar Flare, she’s formed an alliance with Thrax!” Doomwing said quickly, and Zen-Aku’s eyes widened. As much as he hated most, if not all of ponykind for destroying an entire race, -and hated himself for teaming up with somebody who would do the exact same even under the promises of giving him family he could rely on- this couldn’t go ignored. Zen-Aku grabbed Doomwing by the shoulders and teleported him away in a dark purple flash of light.

Doomwing then found himself in the ruins of an ancient temple, the remains of the original Nexus. Stone statues lay in ruins all around him, echoes of a time long since passed.

“Well, isn’t this an interesting surprise,” Retinax laughed as he stepped into view, axe in hand. “One of Thrax’s little merry monsters on my doorstep. Of all the things I expected to see today, this wasn’t one of them,”

He then pointed his axe at Doomwing, the blade crackling with red electricity. “State your business!”

Zen-Aku bowed at Retinax’s feet, even if it disgusted him by doing so. Doomwing wanted to make a crack about Zen-Aku kissing Retinax’s feet next, but thought the better of it. He wasn’t completely stupid after all. “Master…” the Duke Org stated, visibly shuddering as he spat the word out. If Retinax noticed, he paid it no mind. “Doomwing’s come to us with claims of Solar Flare and Thrax forming an alliance of sorts,”

“Is that so? Well, that is interesting news…” Retinax mused before he turned to Doomwing. “And you’re, to use a human phrase, a rat jumping off a sinking ship correct?”

“I-I suppose that’s one way to put it,” Doomwing stuttered out nervously, in fear of Retinax or Zen-Aku turning their weapons on him. “I’m not going to allow myself to be a part of a group who’s willing to team up with a crazed goddess who’d destroy anybody who displeases her at the drop of a hat,”

“So tell me, why should I let you live? You’re not an Org, and Thrax replacing me with non-Orgs was the main reason I left his side in the first place.” Retinax reminded.

“Yes, but the way I see it, you need soldiers. How’s your search for new Orgs working out for you?” Doomwing asked, and smirked when Retinax growled. “Thought so. Plus, I overheard Solar Flare mention you have this White Dino Gem thing correct? One’s that’s bonded with a Zord? I’m willing to bet you’re trying to create a Power Ranger of your own aren’t you?”

Retinax then swung his axe at Doomwing, who barely blocked it with his blade. “Now, I may not be an Org, but I can sense darkness. I can find you your evil Ranger. ...If you let me of course,”

“The point’s moot, I’ve been unable to find a power source strong enough to revitalize the Gem,” Retinax grumbled and Doomwing smirked. Well, smirked about as much as a rooster themed monster could anyways.

“Allow me to take care of that.” Doomwing laughed before firing a blast of energy from his free hand at the White Dino Gem, sitting on a plinth. With a flash of bright light, the Gem soon morphed into the Drago Morpher…

Ponyville: Sunset Shimmer’s house:

Robert groaned as he tossed the covers off of his makeshift bed, AKA Sunset Shimmer’s living room couch. His phone played its usual wake-up call of Goodbye Stranger before a hand quickly reached out and pressed down on the off button. Robert, now that he’d found himself in a steady relationship with somebody found it best to change the alarm from that orgasmic sound to something more appropriate. He sorta got the feeling that his new marefriend wouldn’t take kindly to hearing the sound of an unknown woman’s orgasm in her home.

Pulling on a black-tank top so he wouldn’t be walking around in just his boxers on a cold morning, he smiled as the scent of eggs cooking reached his nose. While he was by no means married to Sunset yet, far from it actually, it was always nice to wake up to the smell of your loved one cooking. Sadly, Robert knew this wouldn’t last as he was only staying in Sunset’s abode on a temporary basis as Rarity’s Boutique was being fumigated with its proprietor staying with Zephyr's parents for the time being. Still, it didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy good things while they lasted right?

Walking into the kitchen, little chotskies all around him on the walls -Mainly plates and such- he walked up to Sunset who was already dressed in long flannel pants and a sun-yellow sweater and wrapped his arms around her giving her a kiss on the neck.

“...Wish you wouldn’t surprise me like that, I am cooking you know. Could have burned myself,” Sunset remarked. On a nearby countertop sat the morning paper, which read: “Power Rangers March In Parade In Support Of Raising Breast Cancer Awareness!”

“Admit it, you like surprises…” Robert murmured as he kissed her neck again and Sunset sighed. A mix of calming Chillhop and Asian Zen music played in the background, Sunset’s “Morning Music Mix” as Robert had heard Vapor refer to it once or twice. Could have been worse Robert supposed, Sunset could have shared Vapor’s love of country and folk music.

“Yeah, I suppose…” the Princess of Empathy muttered.

“Especially when they’re coming from me?” Robert asked as he massaged her shoulders. Sunset rolled her eyes.

“Go take a shower you moron, you stink,” Sunset remarked in a deadpan tone of voice, and mentally sighed as she realized what she’d set herself up for as Robert walked off.

“You coming with? Always more fun with two!” He laughed flirtatiously with a cocky grin on his face.

“Don’t bet on it…” Sunset replied and Robert couldn’t resist smirking.

“Oh, you’ll come around someday… Not today maybe, but someday,” he said as he shut the bathroom door and a few minutes later Sunset could hear the sound of water running. Sunset looked skywards and sighed. Honestly, she couldn’t really see what was so exciting about sex. It was just a natural bodily function, the urge to mate and that was the end of it. She just really didn’t get why Robert or most other lifeforms for that matter found it so pleasurable.

“Oh god, I’m starting to sound like Twilight aren’t I?” Sunset thought to herself. “All cold and scientific. ...Speaking of that, I got to remind myself to go over to the Golden Oaks and see what progress she’s making on the Crystal of Dualities. ...Well that, and a book on sex. Just to see what all the fuss is about,”

“You know, there’s an easy answer to your sexual problem,” the Phoenix Zord chimed in. “I’d give it to you, but honestly… This is sorta the kind of thing you have to figure out for yourself,”

“I just don’t get it, what’s so exciting about sex?” Sunset replied before she realized who she was talking to “...Actually, why am I even asking you? You’re just mechanical. It’s not like you have the proper organs for such a thing!”

“Well, to be fair you do kinda see me as a second mother…” the Phoenix Zord replied.

“Point…” Sunset sighed. “But what do you mean I have to figure this out for myself, can’t you just give me a little hint or something?”

“Nope,” the Phoenix Zord responded, popping the p. “After all, you yourself said and I quote: “You’re just mechanical. It’s not like you have the proper organs for such a thing!” Did you or did you not say that?”

Sunset’s groaning said it all. Yeah, the Phoenix Zord had definitely been spending time around the Kitsune Zord, she just knew it.

Later that morning as Sunset and a now fully dressed Robert sat down for breakfast, Sunset voiced a question that had been on her mind ever since she met him and hearing about his self-proclaimed sexual prowess.

“Okay, just how many sexual partners have you had before me?” Sunset stated bluntly, a blush gracing her face. Almost as if it were right on cue, Robert spat out his coffee in classic spit take fashion.

“W-Well, it’s going to be a long list if I’ll be honest,” Robert stuttered out. “What brought this on anyway?”

“Just curious. After all, if at some hypothesized point in time I will be getting into bed with you and “Getting it on” as they say, I just want to know if you’re up to the task,” Sunset stated, taking a sip of her tea blush still on her face.

“...Amazing, she shows either confusion, embarrassment or outright disgust whenever I talk about this, and now she’s asking about my abilities in the bedroom…” Robert muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. “You sure you’re not one of those Changelings I heard a pony mention once?”

“I’m me,” Sunset deadpanned. “Or haven’t you noticed how embarrassed I am to be talking about this, to begin with?”

“Okay… Okay, no need to get snippy about this,” Robert replied quickly, holding up his hands defensively before a flirtatious smirk came to his face and Sunset groaned. She should have known she was going to regret asking this. “So, for the scientific record eh? How many good shags I’ve had? Well, do you want any particular standouts?”

“No…” Sunset stated slowly but of course was ignored.

“Let me put it to you this way, if a great white shark said I was good in bed, that sorta says it all,”

“Wait, wait, wait… Back up,” Sunset quickly butted in. “A great white shark, so you’re into bestiality now as well?”

Robert was quick to correct her, the food now having gone long forgotten.

“Well, she wasn’t an actual great white shark, nor was she a cosplayer… I think. Not really sure, the fin on her back looked real enough. This was back at the Pai Zhau school, where this Japanese girl -Sela, I think her name was- was training in the shark style, appropriately enough,” Robert began. “Anyways, the point of the matter was, she asked me for some personal training in the dog style, and I don’t mean the Kung Fu type, or at least that’s how things ended after a few drinks had been shared. It started out as the Kung Fu style, but-”

“I-I get the point!” Sunset quickly said, her blush now redder than ever. “Forget I asked, okay?”

“Suuuurrrreee…” Robert drawled. “And miss out on a completely good blackmail opportunity? I think not!”

“Asshole…” Sunset muttered.

“But I’m your arsehole.” Robert smiled, leaning across the table and booping Sunset on the nose. She sighed and shook her head fondly. Robert may have been a bit too self-absorbed about half the time, but he had his own… unique charms and she couldn’t deny he could be serious and not just act like a vain idiot when the time came. Just then, as if to disrupt the peace and to prove Sunset’s point both her Growl Phone and Robert’s Fox Amulet went off.

“Well, there goes a perfectly nice morning…” Sunset muttered, and looking back at her breakfast and sighed again as she shook her head. “I’m going to get breakfast finished one of these days, I swear…”

Robert flipped the Fox Amulet open as Sunset answered her Growl Phone, both asking the exact same thing: “Yes Princess?”

“It’s Thrax, he’s been sighted down in the Main Square of Ponyville. He’s already enlarged himself,” Shayla’s voice said in an urgent tone of voice. “Your Wild Zords have been sent and the other Rangers are already on their way, get to them as quickly as you can!”

Sunset and Robert shared a nod before they shouted out “Legendary Wild Access!”

True to Shayla’s warning, Thrax was already on the ground at giant size, firing blasts of red lightning from his wand, blowing rooftops off of homes and sending the pieces skywards.

As soon as everybody was on site, the Animaria Guardian Megazord was formed and the twin katanas were drawn. The gigantic War Axe that was used for the finishing move of the Megazord rested on its back as always.

“So, finally decided to face us alone Thrax?” Lightning snarled from inside the Megazord’s cockpit as Thrax fired a blast of red lightning from his wand hitting the Megazord directly in the chestplate leaving it no time to block. The massive mecha staggered backwards from the force of the blow.

“Yes, well you’ve always been a thorn in my side… I think it’s time I remove that thorn,” Thrax snarled out as he dodged a swing from one of the Megazord’s katanas. “You’ve pricked the side of a mighty beast, and entirely failed to run as the old saying goes,” the Master Org hissed out.

Almost as if in response, the Kitsune’s eyes flashed briefly in rage as the Megazord swung again with the left blade, sword meeting wand as sparks flew and metal ground against metal, sparks flying off the two weapons.

“He really should be talking about me, if you’re asking for my opinion,” the Kitsune Zord growled out in Robert’s head. “I mean, I’m a mighty beast!”

“Can you save your ego for another time, please?” Robert mentally sighed in exasperation as Thrax swung his wand hitting the Megazord in the chest with its tip before zapping the entire mecha full of crimson lightning. Sparks erupted from everywhere in the cockpit including the control consoles as Thrax then enveloped the Megazord in a bubble of magic and tossed it overhead and behind him with a mighty crash as the mecha hit the ground. The sound echoed for miles as the Rangers struggled to get back up off the ground.

Thrax raised his wand to the sky and created powerful storm clouds raining down lightning all around the battlefield.

Meanwhile, in the midst of all this chaos, the Animaria Guardian used one of its katanas as a support and picked itself off the ground. It raised one of the katanas to the sky and caught a flash of lightning before sending it right at Thrax who absorbed the bolt with his wand.

“You gotta be kidding me…” Sunburst muttered to himself, starting to panic and hyperventilate. “What… What does it take to beat this guy?”

“Yeah, where’s Zen-Aku and his Predazord when you need him?” Lightning asked. “This is what we get for trusting an Org to have our backs…”

The Megazord charged Thrax once more, aiming to close with him and remove the range advantage of his wand as it slammed its katanas against the shaft of the wand, twisting one blade, aiming to slide down and take off Thrax's fingers, but Thrax took a leap backward, disengaging before that could happen. Thrax then elbowed the Megazord in the face as it stumbled backwards.

Next thing the Rangers knew, Thrax was firing blast after blast of energy from one of the palms of his hands causing the Megazord to stagger even as lightning continued to rain down all around the two giants.

“Might need to swap out for one of the auxiliary Zords if we’re going to beat this guy with all of this lightning raining down upon us!” Vapor shouted as her console sparked before she was blown backwards by a small explosion with Lightning rushing over and catching her adoptive sister in her arms.

Thrax smirked, seeing the Megazord -Or to be more accurate, its pilots- were just about ready to be finished off, created a giant ball of lightning in his free hand and fired a stream of electricity right at the Megazord. It staggered forwards a bit, before toppling and hitting the ground face first. Meanwhile, the sky swirled and all five Rangers found themselves sucked into the swirling mass of clouds via a cyclone.

“Enjoy your little vacation, Rangers!” Thrax laughed before teleporting away in a flash of fire back to the Nexus…

Unknown Location:

Groaning in pain as her eyes fluttered open, Vapor awoke to the sound of soft waves gently lapping at the shore. From what she could see as she picked herself up off the sand, there was nothing but palm trees, jungle paradise and seemingly never-ending blue skies for miles around.

It looked like paradise, but from what Vapor remembered of their fight with Thrax -No, to be more accurate, their utter ass-kicking- it probably was far from paradise. No, that would be too much good luck for them, wouldn’t it?

“Okay, where are we…?” Vapor murmured to herself as she walked over to Robert, still unconscious, and picked up his Fox Amulet and opened it up. She was hoping to get a map of the area they were in, but the little screen displayed nothing but what was known as white snow AKA static. Vapor cursed quietly to herself as she took another look around the area. Where the Tartarus could they possibly be?
Just as the other Rangers were waking up, thunder cracked in the sky and a figure of Goldar appeared, only visible from the waist up.

“Well, Rangers, enjoying your little trip?” He laughed.

“Goldar!” Lightning snarled, going for her Crystal Saber and pointing it dangerously at him. “If you wanted to talk, come down here like a man and then we can have ourselves a little chat!”

“It’s not him, just a projection,” Sunburst muttered as he walked up. “I’m willing to bet the real Goldar isn’t even here…”

“Correct, Black Ranger!” Goldar laughed. “You’re more intelligent than I gave you credit for! Welcome Power Rangers, to the Island of Illusion! Hope you enjoy your stay here, as you’re never leaving…”

With that, and another crack of thunder he vanished as Robert muttered “Oh Hell…” catching everypony’s attentions.

“What’s wrong? You’ve never looked quite so scared in your life, not even when Sunset was in the hospital,” Vapor asked, noticing the expression of pure fear on Robert’s face. Granted, that was more rage than fear in that situation but Vapor knew Robert knew what she meant.

“The Island of Illusion… It’s an alternate dimension, specifically designed to play on our worst fears, insecurities and perceived greatest failures. We need to get out of here, fast,” Robert explained, letting that statement settle in on the group before he frowned. “Question is… How?”

“Well, way I see it…” Lightning replied, putting up a confident front even if inwardly she was terrified, knowing exactly what this island would conjure up for her. “We got in through a magical hole in the dimensions if I understand things, so there’s got to be a way out right? We just have to find it!”

With that, she set off into the jungle with the other Rangers following close behind, Crystal Sabers drawn…

“Oh no, oh no, oh no…” Twilight whispered as she paced back and forth in her guest bedroom at the Castle. From her window, she’ could only watch in horror as she saw Solar Flare teleport into the gardens and transform back into Celestia before the Solar Princess collapsed into the grass. “It’s happened again, she’s gone and destroyed the Rangers! I know it, I just know it! And it’s all my fault!” Twilight whispered, curling herself up into a fetal position near her bed. “I… I don’t deserve to be a Princess, not with what I’ve just done!”

“You have done nothing of the sort Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said as she teleported into Twilight’s room, laying a hand upon her shoulder. “The Rangers are not destroyed, they are merely… trapped.”

Twilight looked up at the Princess of the Night with teary eyes.

“Really?” She whispered, wanting to believe Luna but finding it impossible to, knowing Solar Flare’s sheer power.

“Yes, they’re in an alternate dimension not that far removed from that of the dream world I preside over. One that plays upon their worse fears and insecurities. I can go rescue them, but you must go rescue Celestia and separate her from that monster of a mare known as Solar Flare,”

“But… But how?” Twilight asked and Luna simply smiled.

“You’ve gotten this far, I know you’ll figure out a way. Tartarus, you already have with the Crystal of Dualities. All you need to do is get Celestia far away from this place and activate it.”

“Yes… Yes, the Crystal!” Twilight suddenly shouted, as she got up off the floor and recomposed herself, brushing the dust off her midnight blue dress, and retying her mane in a bun as she grabbed her golden tiara. An expression of determination came over Twilight, Solar Flare’s reign ended today.

Twilight pushed her bedroom door open with a creaking sound and turned to look back at Luna, mouthing a “Thank you” and running out the door all the while thinking “Stay strong Celestia, I’m coming…”

The Island of Illusion:

Back with the Rangers, they’d ventured further into the vast jungle that made up most of the island, the sweltering sun beating down on them as they used their Crystal Sabers to cut through the underbrush. Right now they were knee high in various fauna and tall grasses, strange animal sounds coming from just out of their line of vision.

As she swatted a mosquito away, Lightning grumbled to herself “Oh yes, an island paradise that just so happens to hide a Jungle right from the depths of Tartarus and will fool with your mine! Real vacation spot, tell all your friends!” sarcastically.

“Odd, you’d think by now the Island would be playing on our fears…” Sunburst pondered.

“Maybe it’s late to the party and didn’t get the memo?” Lightning deadpanned, still keeping up that confident facade. But like any facade, it was soon to fall away as soon as she saw exactly what the Island conjured up for her, even if the others couldn’t.

What she saw exactly was a pale blue pegasus, handsome even in his middle age with grey hair and wrinkles on his face wearing a brown flight jacket.

“D-Dad…?” Lightning whispered. “N-No, you can’t be here…”

“Oh dear... “ Wind Rider said softly, in an almost fatherly tone. Almost. “You know I’ll always be there when you need me most.”

“Puh, yeah that’s a load of bullshit alright!” Lightning snapped. Sunset and Sunburst shared a look of confusion.

“Who’s she talking to?” Sunset asked.

“It’s already started…” Sunburst muttered as Lightning continued having a “Conversation”.

“Seems you need me once again, as a real Wonderbolt would have found their way out of this jungle and saved their friends by now!” Wind Rider sneered.

“No… No,” Lightning whispered, her bravado failing her completely when faced with her father. “I’m… I’m doing the best I can! I promise!”

“Well, that’s not good enough!” Wind Rider roared. “If I’d raised you properly, you wouldn’t have gotten into this mess to start with! You’d have defeated and destroyed Thrax a long time ago!”

Vapor wanted to call out to Lightning, tell her that whatever she was seeing wasn’t real, but she’d found herself facing a problem of her own, her greatest failure personified. Standing in front of her was a purple coated pony, brown hair and wearing glasses. But that wasn’t the most noticeable feature, oh no. That would have been the gaping hole in his chest.

“Well well, look at what the cat dragged in,” Grape Vine remarked in his southern drawl as he shimmered into existence. “I see ya took up mah sword, very sporting of you. Now, Ah’ve been very hospitable about letting ya use mah powers, but Ah’m here to take them back now…”

“No… No, you’re dead! I saw it! You can’t be here!” Vapor stammered out, taking a few steps backwards in fear as she was suddenly shown a vision.

"Let her go, you filth." Grape snarled, all pretenses of joking around replaced by pure seriousness.

"You'd better be keeping an eye on yourself, not on her!" Plug Org laughed, and before he could figure out what he meant, Grape was stabbed through the chest by his own Crystal Saber thanks to Turbine Org and soundly demorphed, blood gushing from his wound. Plug Org laughed and let Vapor go before both Orgs ran off laughing to themselves while Vapor ran over to Grape.

"I... I shouldn't have gotten involved, b-but I-I did and now look what's happened!" Vapor sobbed, but Grape wiped away her tears and handed her his Growl Phone and Animal Crystal, it glowing purple when handed to its new owner.

“But yet here Ah am…” Grape Vine said with a shrug, morphing right into the purple Ranger without the use of a Growl Phone and drawing his Crystal Saber before charging right towards Vapor…

Not too far away, Robert had found his own worst nightmare, his own insecurities coming back to haunt him. In front of him stood Theo, his old Master.

“You failed the Pai Zhau, you failed SPD, Hell you failed everything you set your mind to! Look at you now, trapped in a world that’s no longer your own and still trying to clean up your messes!” Theo lectured. “You were always arrogant and always had your mind on the nearest pretty girl to catch your eye, I don’t know why the Hell I ever accepted someone so unfocused as a student!”

Like Vapor, Robert was shown a vision…

“Okay, who wants to place bets? I’m betting on Casey.” Robert asked and Theo gave him a look.

“Really?” He asked in annoyance.

“Oh come on Theo, lighten up. This should be fun to watch!” Lily exclaimed giddily. “You gotta admit, seeing two Red Rangers fight might be interesting.”

Theo sighed. “Alright, twenty-five bucks and a free Jungle Karma pizza to whoever wins this bet. Whoever loses, has to hand out towels AND wash them for the rest of the month. I’m going for Casey.”

“Place me down for Samurai Girl.” Another student said and Lily nodded. “Same here, women can kick as much ass as men can so that’s why I’m voting in Lauren’s favor.”

“I’ll go along with that.” Camille stated while Jarrod simply rolled his eyes and muttered: “You guys are idiots.”

“That’s… That’s not true… I could focus when I wanted to!” Robert whispered before he rolled out of the way to dodge Theo’s Jaguar Spirit.

“Really? Then prove it!” Theo taunted as he morphed into the Blue Jungle Fury Ranger. Meanwhile, Sunburst had found himself faced with an old demon like the others. In this case, Lightning Dust herself.

She stood there, silently with one wing beside her, a bloody stump in it’s place. Sunburst knew this was his fault. After all, he’d gotten the Mirror Org to cause this, Lightning losing her wing having to get it replaced with that ugly looking mechanical knockoff and ruining her self-worth in the bargain.

Sunburst, now fully recovered, threw one of his Shadow Hatchets at the Org. But before he knew it, the Org’s eyes glowed and Lightning was in his place. A wing fell to the ground as Lightning let out a horrific scream and clutched at the wound to stop the blood flow.

“Lightning!” Vapor shouted as she saw her adopted sister demorph in a flash of light.

Sunburst’s eyes widened under his helmet as he thought “Oh no! What… What did I… How did…?”

Robert’s eyes widened as well and he yelled into his comm “Princess, get Lightning out of here and to the nearest hospital! Now!”

Lightning scowled. While the rational part of her brain was telling her that the music played was entirely at random, she couldn’t help but think some part of the universe was mocking her… disability. She knew it, she’d never be a Wonderbolt again. Seems her dad was right all along, she’d never amount to anything in the end after all.

“You bucking happy dad? Huh, are you bucking happy you bastard? There, I screwed up and look what bucking happened!” Lightning began to rant to her father, despite knowing very well he couldn’t hear her.. “Lost a wing, and now Sky Stinger’s the only member of this whole bucking family who’ll live up to your damned legacy!”

Lightning snarled. He couldn’t even be bothered to even send her a sympathy card, for crying out loud! Just some small notice that he cared! But no, if her “Father” cared one jot about her, he would have shown it a long time ago.
“Yeah, that’s dear old dad for ya, not giving a damn about somepony unless they benefit him directly, and I never really was a benefit to him. I was just one more child to look after, one more mouth to feed. More money to come out of his pocketbook, that’s all I was to him. All I ever will be,” She thought as she suddenly found herself gazing to where her wing once was. But to her surprise, the space wasn’t as empty as she thought it would be. Instead, there was a metal appendage, a crude copy of a wing with very sharp metal feathers and adorned with glowing runes gleaming with magic.

“Great, so I’m a freak now. Wonderful,” Lightning thought sarcastically. “Should have just left the damn thing off and let me bleed to death,”

Sunset found herself by a lake, mist steaming off the waters obscuring her vision. From somewhere within the gloom, a voice called out to her.

“Gold huh?” a voice cackled. It was similar, but not exactly like Sunset’s own. More arrogant, more prideful. “Well, it always suited you, that’s for sure. Look at you, one of the most arrogant mares on Equus,”

“No… It can’t be…” Sunset muttered to herself.

“Oh, but it is,” the voice answered as an armored figure -Red and gold in coloration, with demonic bat wings erupting from her back- stepped out of the mist. “See you finally earned your wings. Congrats on that, guess you finally found what you’ve been searching for,” the dark Solaris Knight/Sunset taunted before she sighed. “Shame though, you could have been so much more if you’d just accepted my power…”

“Then I’m sorry for what I’ve got to do. I’m sorry PRINCESS, but your reign is at an end.” I snarled and produced a red and gold trimmed item not unlike a conductor’s ticket puncher, but with numbers like a phone on it as well. Celestia’s eyes widened.

“Sunset, don’t!” She cried, but it was too late. My path was already set in stone.

“Magical Source, Mystic Force!” I yelled and punched a ticket and threw it and it enlarged itself and covered me with my body gaining crimson and golden armor and bat wings sprouted out of my back.

I fired a blast of flame from my horn at Celestia who threw up a golden shield around herself before leaping forwards and drawing a navy blue and gold trimmed sword which she swung at me and I blocked its blow with a blade of fire before kicking my own teacher backwards into her throne. Royal Guards, led by Steel Sentry rushed into the room, but I put up a wall of fire between me and them.

“Sorry boys, but this battle is between me and her. You’re not invited to this private party.” I smugly remarked, my head turned towards them...

“No,” Sunset said defiantly. “I wasn’t ready to become a Princess, not then. And the way I earned my wings back then, it wasn’t the way I should have earned them. It was out of sheer irrational greed, that’s all there was to it. I knew that Solar Cell Morpher was corrupted, and yet I took it,”

“Did you know it was corrupted? Or was it something else that made you take it and you’re just finding a way to excuse your own actions? Face it Sunny, I know you. After all, I am you.” Sunset’s past self asked, with her current self finding herself at a loss for words...

Meanwhile, back with Twilight, she’d taken the Crystal of Dualities to Celestia, who was only now regaining consciousness. But once she saw the Crystal, her facial features contorted into an abject rage and with a flash of flame morphed into the form of Solar Flare, and ignited a broadsword made solely of flame. The sword’s name: Daybreaker.

“Just for that Sparkle… Just for even daring to even think of using that damned Crystal… You’re going to die,” Solar Flare snarled, no trace of Celestia in her.

Solar Flare roared in rage and flew forwards, shrubbery and trees catching flame all around her as she rocketed towards Twilight, who stood firm as her horn charged up.

“No, it’s you who’s dying today Solar Flare. Not me. Now… Do me a favor and give me Celestia back!” Twilight shouted in defiance and blasted the Crystal with a beam of magic, and then what happened next nobody could have predicted. Six beams, each a color of the universe’s first Rangers shot up into the sky and then slammed into Solar Flare one by one. Red, green, blue, yellow, pink and finally a navy blue beam hit her with tremendous force one right after the other before there was a bright flash of light and a high pitched scream of rage and pain as one being separated into two.

As the flash cleared, there stood both Celestia and Solar Flare.

“No… No!” Solar Flare screeched out as she felt her power divide by half, with the other half of her powers going to Celestia, who could only smile.

“Thank you, Twilight… Thank you for freeing me…” She whispered, looking at Twilight’s unconscious form. She’d been blasted back into a tree by the sheer power of the Crystal’s usage. She then turned to Solar Flare, drawing her shortsword, nicknamed “Feather Edge”.

Celestia’s gigantic white wings unfurled themselves to their full expanse, the combination of them and her pure white dress along with her golden crown making her look almost angelic in the sunlight. By contrast, Solar Flare, dripping pure hot magma from her charcoal black body and her burnt orange battle armor with pillars of flames erupting behind her looked like something right out of the darkest pits of Hell itself.

Solar Flare roared in rage and ignited her sword as she flew towards Celestia, fully intent on ending her existence. Blade met blade, and both combatants were blown backwards before they ignited their horns as they took to the skies. Celestia fired a gold beam of energy, Solar Flare a pure angry red.

“Look at you Celestia, you and your ponies are so large in power capital, why not just use all of that and conquer everything in this land?” Solar Flare asked as the magic beams met in midair and struggled for dominance briefly before canceling each other out. Solar Flare then fired a blast of pure flame from her mouth, and Celestia created a golden energy shield to block it. “You’ve got the power, so why not use it?”

“Because I’m not you,” Celestia said calmly as she flew past Solar Flare at blinding speed and sliced her across the chest. “You’re nothing but rage and hate personified. I gave birth to you, yes, when that one human had his way with me and I let my anger get the better of me, wanting revenge… But you know something?”

“What, that you’re a weak excuse for an Alicorn?” Solar Flare taunted, the wound in her chest healing almost at once, magma replacing what had been lost.

“No, I moved on. To be honest, for all that crap the humans may have committed over the years, we’re no different, you and I,” Celestia admitted sadly, a tear slipping from her eyes. A smirk came to Solar Flare’s face as she flapped her wings. She had her, but that smirk was soon to fade. “Solar Flare… I honestly feel pity for you even after all you’ve done. We’re no different than the humans themselves. We feel the same emotions: rage, hate, and all of that. But we can love and protect as well, protect those who can’t do the same for themselves. Isn’t that our responsibility as their “Betters”?” Celestia asked kindly, before switching to a sarcastic tone when she said the word “Betters”. “We’re not better than they are, nobody’s better than anybody else. We don’t decide who lives or who dies. That doesn’t make us gods, just monsters.”

“Shut up! I said shut up!” Solar Flare screeched in a harpy-like fashion, but still, Celestia continued to speak. Even as Celestia spoke, the two clashed swords again, blade meeting blade, embers flying off Daybreaker as its flames met the cold steel of Feather Edge.

“You were born in rage and fire, and forged me into the ruler I am today. Yes, that meant at times I had to give into a lust for battle and on occasion, exercise my powers, but without that, the nation may have fallen into turmoil from any number of threats like Discord or King Sombra. But all the while, I never went too far… Not like you did. I still had that capacity to care, while you… You had none of that. For that reason, and that reason alone I feel nothing but pity for you. Now, you might remember me saying this time and time again, but I really hate chess. It's a useful mental exercise. And through the years, many thinkers have been fascinated by it. But I don't enjoy playing. Do you know why?” Celestia questioned as she flew around to evade a downward strike from Solar Flare and sliced her dark half in the side with a swing from Feather Edge in a rare moment of catching her off guard.

But like before, broiling magma replaced what had been lost. “Because it was a game that was born during a brutal age when life counted for little and everyone believed that some people were worth more than others. Kings and pawns. I don't think that any being is worth more than another being. Life isn’t a game, not to me,” she explained to her counterpart as she met blades with Solar Flare again.

“Real beings aren't pieces. And you can't assign more value to some of them than to others. Not to me. Not to anyone. Ponies, my Little Ponies nor anybody else are not a thing that you can sacrifice. The lesson that I’m trying to teach is that anypony who looks on the world as if it was a game of chess, deserves to lose. And that’s what’s going to happen to you.” the Princess of the Sun stated firmly.

Next, she became a blur of pure white energy and next thing Solar Flare knew Celestia axe kicked her in the shoulder sending her plummeting towards the ground. Solar Flare regained her senses at the very last moment and teleported away from Celestia before in several flashes of orange light she slashed at Celestia again and again in blurs of motion.

“Don’t you get it yet Celly?” Solar Flare mocked. “For all your talk about defeating me and your moral high ground, you’re still too afraid to just use all of your full power all just because of little things like “Civilian casualties” and the like.”

Solar Flare smirked, even as she created a sphere of miniature suns around Celestia which bombarded her with solar blast after solar blast. Finally, the bombardment ended, with the Princess of the Sun barely keeping herself aloft.

Celestia, even as she groaned in pain admitted that her dark half was right for once. She had plenty of power, this just wasn’t the place to use it. Not with this many ponies around.

“Well then…” Celestia remarked, a smirk coming to her face as pure white feathers fell from her wings and to the ground below. “Let’s take this elsewhere, somewhere a bit safer shall we?”

With that, she rocketed at Solar Flare in a blur of motion and opened up a portal lined with golden glowing runes and shoved her dark half into it before following in after her...

Author's Notes:

Okay, first off, apologies for the wait. Schoolwork's a pain in the ass, that's all I'm going to say. Secondly, I really had to think hard about how this chapter had to go, as I've been building up to this moment for a while now so I wanted to make sure everything was just right. Hopefully, unlike the last time I wrote a chapter of this length, you'll be able to keep up with what's going on. As for the new theme, (And sorry if I had to use Topic as I know it doesn't work for everyone, I couldn't embed a Youtube Video directly and skip past Pellek's intro so I had to use this version) I thought because I've been using Wild Force's theme for a while now, I thought it was time to change things up seeing as how we've reached the halfway point in the story. Now, one last thing, if anyone can guess exactly Sunset is so confused on why sex is so pleasurable, you get a virtual cookie. (Just PM me your answer, as I want to keep it a secret for now for character arc reasons) I'd offer you up the identity of the new White Dino Thunder Ranger, but I think the answer is obvious if you're willing to do a bit of reading. ...Actually, if Sunset and Robert's relationship takes up too much of the story, please tell me. I do want to give equal focus to every character.

(Also, again give thanks to Eagle Paladin of Shadows for the Megazord VS Thrax fight scene and the ending battle)