Chapter 26 - Tyrants and Tyrannos

The Command Center, a place of power built out in the desert yet made to blend in and not attract notice. It was here that the original Power Rangers met Zordon and became Earth's first Power Rangers. It was here that the Alpha Rangers became the new defenders of Angel Grove and Earth itself. It was here that Tai was summoned to first thing on the morning of his birthday. Billie issued the command in such a way as he was not allowed to refuse. Unfortunately, Kane had been in the study when her communiqué came through and demanded a team trip to the original Power Ranger base of operations.

Telling him no hadn't been much use, he merely told Rena what was going on and she began to harangue both he and Rex about wanting to go there, too. It was finally Lani who suggested that they all go together. After all, it couldn't hurt. Tai made sure to inform Billie that they were all coming so that she could make sure his team got in without the Command Center's defenses eradicating them.

Arriving at the Command Center meant arriving in the Power Chamber, the central hub of the entire building.

"It's like coming home," Rex mused aloud.

Kane, Rena, Daiki, Kiari and Saeko looked around in awe.

"Beez, where's Billie?" Tai asked aloud.

"Dude, who you--Aurgh!" Kane jumped when the hologram of a pretty woman with brown hair, light colored eyes and wearing a white and lavender jumpsuit appeared.

"Billie's waiting for you all in the lab," she answered with a smile. "It is a pleasure to see all of you. Welcome, Samurai Rangers, to the Command Center. I am Beta Z," she greeted.

Daiki pushed his glasses back up his nose. "Computers aren't my area but this is fascinating," he remarked as he studied the hologram.

"I am tactile," Holo-Beta Z told Saeko just as she was about to poke her. Saeko jumped back but didn't even have the decency to look chagrined. She just shrugged.

"Fascinating," Daiki remarked again under his breath.

Tai sighed while the others snickered. "Come on. Let's go see why Billie called me out here," he said and led them out of the Power Chamber. They passed through a corridor with past power suits displayed behind glass.

"Dude," Kane commented. "It's like a museum," he said, "Only not boring," he added.

"What are they?" Kiari asked.

"These are the original power suits of the first team of Power Rangers on Earth. Next we have the Zeo suits, more recently added since the powers are now in stasis. These are the Turbo suits, they were the last ones to use the Command Center before us," Rex explained.

"Where are the suits you guys wore?" Rena asked.

"In a different corridor," Lani answered.

When they finally made it to the lab, it was to see Billie and Danny waiting for them at a lab table with something covered in a cloth. If one could believe it, Billie was as close to beaming as she ever came. "So, what's the big thing?" Tai asked immediately.

Danny barked a laugh. "You sound so suspicious," he remarked.

"You and Glitch have had your heads together, I'd say he's right to be suspicious," Rex remarked. Billie gave him a glare for use of that nickname.

Tai cleared his throat. "I'm still waiting," he said pointedly.

Lani poked him in the side. "Quit being a birthday grouch," she told him. She couldn't help teasing him. She knew he hated his birthday being made into a big deal, which is why someone usually made it into a big deal.

Tai grabbed her hand to keep from being poked again.

"You keep wit' the attitude, we ain't gonna show you," Danny declared with a grin on his face.

"Then I'm just going to leave and neither of you will get to gloat and gush over whatever's under that cloth," Tai said in retaliation. He could tell they were both bursting at the seams to reveal their latest gadget and tell him all about it.

"You're taking all the fun out of it," Billie complained.

"That's just his birthday blues. He's always grouchier than you on his birthday," Rex remarked.

"Hey," Billie grumbled. "Fine," she said and picked up the cloth to reveal a dark reddish colored Disc. It lay on top of an illustration. "We present to you the Tyranno Disc," she said and did an eerily well done impression of a The Price is Right model.

"She did that a bit to well. She practiced," Kane declared, shaking his head. Kiari tried to hide a giggle.

"My money's on Nathan showing her how to do it," Rena remarked.

"What is it?" Saeko asked, ignoring the banter.

Daiki wandered closer to the table to get a better look at the illustration. It showed what appeared to be a new power-up for the Red Ranger. It also illustrated a transformation for his Sword and a new Zord and Megazord configuration. "It's an upgrade," he stated.

Danny nodded. "We decided to try and combine the Origami technology with the Power Coin tech. Holly suggested if we got it done in time for Tai's birthday, it might be the one present he couldn't gripe about. I'll have to let her know she was wrong," he remarked with a grin.

"Get that gimpy look off your face. You mean this thing uses the Tyrannosaurus-Rex Power Coin?" Tai asked and picked up the Tyranno Disc.

"A copy of the information. Since Lani is also bonded to the T-Rex Coin, she probably could use it as well," Billie said musingly.

"Ooh, that sounds fun. I don't suppose I could bribe you into letting me try it first?" Lani said and gave Tai a vampish smile.

Tai cracked his first smile of the day. "As fun as that sounds, it's probably best if I try it first," he said.

"Dang. Now I'm kinda ticked I let the Kovarian Council of Elders put the Mystic Coins into safekeeping," Rex complained.

"You have enough toys," Rena said.

Billie shook her head. "I'm not sure if I could do the same thing with your powers and the Ankylosaurus Coin would produce same results," she said. "I can give it a shot if I can get the Mystic Coins back in a timely manner," she mused more to herself than to anyone.

"Now you went and done it," Danny complained. He rolled up the illustration and handed it over to Tai. "Happy Birthday. Now, I gotta get goin'," he said and looked at Beez. He disappeared in a blink of light.

Tai sighed. "Thanks. I'm sure this will come in handy," he said, mustering a bit of grace. Billie nodded. She disappeared in a blink of light as well.

"Good bye Rangers. Don't be strangers," Beez said moments before they were all teleported from the Command Center.

~*~

Sanzu River

Doukoku stood on the deck of the Rokumon Junk. The rivers surged with each passage of his power through his body. shootari scurried up to join him. "My Lord, my Lord!" he said more excited than Doukoku could remember the tentacle-faced fiend ever being.

"What is it, shootari? I tire of your failures," he growled.

shootari had to catch himself on the railing as the ship roiled. "This is not a failure, my Lord. My agent is closing in on Dayuu," he reported.

Doukoku spun  around. "Then bring her to me!" he snarled.

shootari stroked his tentacles. "The Rangers pose a problem," he said uncertainly. Doukoku's moods were volatile these days.

"Then do something about them. Take an Ayakashi and form a plan to distract and defeat them," Doukoku said. As his mood calmed, so too did the roiling of the River. shootari had to find out Doukoku's origins and understand how one being can be so powerful and affect the very river itself.

"I'll handle the Rangers, Lord Doukoku," a new voice called out.

shootari and his lord turned to see a strange Ayakashi with one eye missing. "Azemidoro. You think you can take on the Power Rangers, do you?" Doukoku asked and scoffed at the notion.

"At the very least he'll be a distraction while my agent handles Dayuu," shootari said as he thoughtfully stroked his tentacles.

"Then see to it," Doukoku said. He dismissed them both by turning his back to them.

Aze jumped overboard and disappeared into the River. shootari left Doukoku to his thoughts and knew one last place to look for things that do not want to be found and shuffled off to find something.

~*~

Tai looked at his ragtag group of distracters. Kane was put in charge of keeping him from finding out about the surprise party Lani was organizing at the Youth Center for him. He and Taylor challenged Tai and Daiki to a two-on-two basketball game.

"Are you serious?" he asked, looking at Kane. "This is best you could come up with?" he asked. He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Kane shrugged. "Rex said you suck at basketball. I wanted to see how bad," he said and grinned. "In fact, to make things fair, since we're shorter, Tay and I will each take one of you," he said. "I'll take Daiki and you and Tay team up," he said.

"Can you even play?" Tai asked Daiki.

Daiki nodded. "It was one of the few games Nii-san and I got to play as children. I have not played in many years though," he said and pushed his glasses up his nose.

"Sweet. It's all fair then," Kane declared. "You're dead meat, white bread," he told Tay.

Tay grinned. "We'll see," he said. The four of them went to change and went to Tai's basketball hoop in his backyard.

Kane eyed Taylor suspiciously because he wouldn't stop grinning. "What?" he demanded.

Tay shook his head. "Nothing really. Just a feeling I have," he commented.

Tai grinned as well. "I think it's only fair to warn you," he said grimly.

Kane looked at Daiki who shrugged. He looked back at Tai warily. "Warn me about what?"

Tai dribbled his basketball idly then from a good distance away shot the basketball. It swished into the net. "Rex only says I suck compared to him," he said. Tay burst out laughing as Kane smacked himself in the face. Daiki sighed and mumbled something about not underestimating his Lord.

~*~

Aze slid himself out of the cracks with several Rotten Nanashi. They were a little different than regular Nanashi and stronger. They bred closer to the bottom of the Sanzu River. They had traveled to very boundaries if the Sanzu River's reach. It was outside of Angel Grove the net cast by the Power Rangers. He grinned as he entered a small pediatrics clinic. "Secure the building," he ordered the Nanashi. The Nanashi quickly gathered up screaming staff, parents and sick children.

He approached a nurse and gripped her face as she stared at him fearfully. She swallowed. "Go into Angel Grove. If you see anyone wearing a Watanabe Bushido Studio jacket, tell them what's happening here," he said coldly. "Understand?" he snarled.

She gave a frightened nod. He let her go and she ran out the door. She heard his laughter behind her

~*~

At the Youth Center, Winter and Lammy were helping Rex and Lani decorate and set up for the party. "So, who all did you guys manage to talk into coming?" Winter asked as he  checked over the sound system.

"Everyone," Rex answered without hesitation.

Lammy raised a brow at them. "What do you mean by 'everyone'?" she asked.

Rex grinned. "I mean everyone. I mean Taran and Autumn are coming from Eltar. Mace, Chloe, Zara, Fox, Mel, AJ, Damien, Randi and Cam are coming from Ocean Bluff. Tori and Wood are coming from New Tech City. KiKi and Kyo are coming from--"

"We got it," Lammy said holding up a hand and laughing. "Everyone is coming. Gotcha. You and Zita aren't going to come to blows, are you Lani?" she couldn't help asking.

Lani scoffed. "I think Zita and I came to an understanding last time she was around," she said.

"Does Tai know about this? You know how he feels about birthdays," Winter pointed out.

Rex grinned. "Oh, I'm sure he knows we're planning a party but I can guarantee he has no idea the scale of it. How often do the Alphas get together these days?" he asked.

"I think it would be good to remind him that we defeated and banished two of the most powerful and evil villains in the universe," Lani added.

They were unaware a harried woman was staring in at them. She's remembered that she sometimes saw people with Watanabe Bushido Studio jackets around the Youth Center where her cousin liked to hang out. She almost died in relief when she saw two people wearing them. She ran in. "Oh, thank heavens! I found you!"

"Whoa, ma'am," Rex said and reached out to the woman. "Is everything all right?" he asked.

She shook her head. "He sent me to find you. The people with Watanabe Bushido Studio jackets. He has the clinic under lockdown. The staff and the parents and the children!" she said almost wailing now that she'd found her quarry.

"Calm down and tell us what you're talking about? Is someone holding people hostage?" Lani asked, putting a comforting hand on her arm.

The woman looked around with wide eyes. "A monster!"

~*~

Saeko was hunting. Hunting would probably go a little better if she'd been alone, but Tai didn't want anyone going anywhere alone if they could help it. She would have argued but Daiki had to stick his nose in and agree with his Lord. Though, she had to admit, Kiari was silence itself and Rena also very light on her feet. It was just neither one of them knew how to track.

She found signs of activity in a rocky area not too far from Tai's lands. She held up a hand to stop the others. "These tracks are fresh. She's near," she said in a whisper.

Rena peered at the ground. "How do you know it's even her? It's been ages since Lani and Zita saw her. She could be long gone," she pointed out quietly.

Kiari shook her head. "She is still Gedou and has lived many years as Gedoushu. She is bound by the limits of the Sanzu River," she explained.

"Then how was Juzou able to travel willy-nilly?" Rena asked and put her hands on her hips.

Kiari hesitated before answering because even Saeko was looking at her to answer now. "I believe it is because he only partook of the Waters once and never lived a life as Gedoushu," she said.

Saeko nodded. "That makes sense," she said. "As for why she's still in this area, it's because of us and the protections of Tai's cherry trees. She knows the other creatures would hesitate to come out of hiding so close to us in order to capture her," she explained.

She shushed them and was suddenly alert. Kii and Rena listened closely as well. There was rustling of rocks and a light swish of clothing.

They went for their Swords just as Dayuu in her Gedou form jumped, slashing at them with the short sword from her shamisen. Kii barely had time to block as she was knocked aside. Dayuu spun back on them. "Why do you stalk me Rangers?" she demanded.

Rena went to help Kii to her feet and let Saeko handle this.

For now.

"I have come to collect a debt of honor, Gedou. Shiraishi Ai, fall upon your sword now or meet your death at the end of mine for what you did to Shiba Hiro and his family," Saeko told her pointing her Sword at Dayuu.

Dayuu snarled. "What I did to Shiba Hiro? What about what he did to me? He broke my heart, trampled it like it was nothing! You will fall on my sword, brat!" she declared and lunged forward, slashing manically.

Kiari and Rena gaped. "She's gone off her rocker. She totally, one-hundred percent freaking nuts," Rena declared as they watched the fight unfold.

"Saeko-san! Morph!" Kii called out as Saeko barely blocked a blow that could have taken out her left arm.

Saeko snarled and rolled away from Dayuu and flipped out her Morpher in Pen-mode.

Their three Morphers beeped. Rena gasped and opened hers. "Rena here," she said.

"There's an emergency, meet in the Studio's office," Lani ordered.

Rena and Kii shared a look and glanced at Saeko and Dayuu.

"Running away, Ranger?" Dayuu demanded with a smirk in her voice.

Saeko gave a cold smile. "Worry not, Dayuu. You will die by my hand. I don't use others to do my dirty work," she said and used her Morpher to teleport. Rena and Kii teleported as well, leaving Dayuu alone in her fury.

~*~

Nadine Crenshaw looked disbelievingly at the ragtag group of people that gathered around her in the office of the Watanabe Bushido Studio. Three sweaty guys, three girls who look like they've been tromping through mud. Only the two she ran into at the Youth Center looked competent.

At least that was until the tallest man spoke. "You brought her here?" he asked Rex and Lani with a raised brow. "If it were anyone else but you two," he said and turned to her. "Why are you looking for us?" he asked her.

Her eyes widened and she knew whatever the monster had planned was not going to succeed with this man. She told him about the monster at the clinic. "I don't know why I was sent to find you. Isn't this a situation Power Rangers usually handle?" she asked.

"I think I know why the Ayakashi let this one go. She's not very bright, is she?" Saeko commented.

"You just volunteered to watch over her," Tai told her. Her only response was a mutinous glance rather than argue.

Nadine's eyes threatened to pop right out of her head. "You mean you guys? No way," she breathed.

"Yeah, I know right? We look so incompetent," Kane declared dryly. "So what's the plan O Tono-sama?" he asked Tai.

"They're obviously plotting something. This is more than simply rampaging to raise the Waters of the Sanzu River," Daiki commented.

"Maybe it's a trap," Kiari suggested.

"I think that's a given," Rena said and crossed her arms over her chest and got in Nadine's personal space. "How do we know she's told us the whole story?" she asked. Nadine leaned away.

"Down puppy," Rex told her. "I don't think she's lying but I don't think the Ayakashi would share all his plans," he pointed out.

Rena sniffed. "I guess you're right," she conceded and stepped back.

Lani tapped her lip lightly. "Then there's only one thing to do," she declared.

~*~

The clinic was quiet. A little too quiet. Considering the fact that they drove in a van the whole way and now they were all just standing around looking, Nadine was dubious. "Are you people putting me on about being Power Rangers?" she demanded. Nothing thus far had reassured her.

Tai glanced back her. He flipped out his Morpher. Lani, Daiki, Kiari and Kane did the same. "Samurai Sword Clash!"

Nadine goggled as they morphed right before her eyes and walked toward the building.

Rex put a hand over his face and shook his head. "And he gripes at other people for showing off," he complained. Rena snickered. Saeko crossed her arms over her chest and didn't remark.

~*~

Inside the clinic was dark. The Samurai Rangers drew their Swords as a precautionary measure. Samurai Red cocked his head as they looked around the waiting room. "They must have everyone somewhere," he said.

Suddenly, a horrendous odor wafts over them. Green tried to cover the air vents on his helmet. "Good googly-moogly," he gagged.

Rotten Nanashi began to surround them. "My eyes are burning," Pink exclaimed. The other gagged as well.

"Push it aside! Concentrate on the fight!" Red said, drawing his Sword as the rank Nanashi began to attack them. The others nodded and drew their Swords as well. Though he had to admit the smell was atrocious, it was just all the more reason to defeat them as quickly as possible. He pulled out his Hidden Disc and slid it on to his hilt. He sent it spinning. "Giant Flaming Blade!" His blade appeared in a whoosh of flame.

He propped it against his shoulder as the Rotten Nanashi hesitated. Something wasn't right here. He didn't have time to think about too hard as the Nanashi found their courage and all attacked him at once. He began cutting down as if wielding a giant machete. The nagging thought of something being wrong lingered.

Samurai Pink thought she might hurl at the stench emanating from the Nanashi. "What are they?" she said as she pulled out her Hidden Disc. She slid on the hilt of her Sword and spun it. "Heaven Fan!" she summoned her fan. "Maybe this'll help," she said and spun around, creating a pink funnel of air, that caught up Nanashi and flung them away.

"It helped a bit. These things are definitely ripe," Green remarked. He pulled his Hidden Disc out of his belt. He slid it on the hilt of his Sword and spun it. "Wood Spear!" The spear form and the blade sprang out of the top. He began to jab and swat at Rotten Nanashi.

Yellow felt fair faint from the odor. She was determined to ignore it. She pulled her Hidden Disc from her belt and slid it on the hilt of her Sword. She spun the Disc. "Land Slicer!" She tossed the giant shuriken and it whizzed around, knocking away Nanashi.

Blue had an idea. It worked for the festering disease of an Ayakashi, it should work for these Rotten Nanashi. He pulled his Hidden Disc from his belt and slid on the hilt of his Sword. He spun it. "Water Arrow!" His sword transformed into the bow. He began launching arrows to give himself a moment of peace. He pulled out the Swordfish Disc and placed it on the bow. He shot an arrow at the ceiling.

Clean, pure water rained down on them. Though not exactly destroyed, the Rotten Nanashi couldn't stand to be touched by the water and therefore, retreated.

There was a moment when the Rangers stood motionless. Something definitely was not right. "Kii, Kane, find the people. Lani, Daiki, with me," he said and began running back outside.

~*~

Rex paced around thoughtfully while Rena leaned against the Bushidomobile. Nadine was in the van trying not to have a panic attack. Saeko watched them all from her perch atop the van. She jumped to her feet. Rena and Rex glanced up at her. She didn't even get a chance to speak as an energy attack knocked her completely off the van. Rex and Rena around, only to be knocked off their feet as well.

Nadine screamed when the monster appeared in her window. He just laughed as he and the unconscious Rangers disappeared.

Nadine was still screaming when the three morphed Rangers appeared. "What happened?" Red demanded as he opened the door of the van.

Pink put a hand on his arm. "We know what happened," she said quietly.

Red nodded. "Get her to stop screaming," he said went back inside to help Green and Yellow. He'd actually expected a trickier trap than merely being ambushed by stinky Nanashi. Luckily, he knew that they couldn't have been taken to the Sanzu River, so the Ayakashi was traceable. Besides, he'd taken Rex, Rena and Saeko. He actually felt kind of sorry for him.

~*~

Dayuu was just putting out her campfire when she realized she was no longer alone. Nanashi appeared out of the cracks around her. She changed shapes and drew her short sword from her shamisen. The Nanashi didn't move. They were waiting for orders from someone. She suddenly whirled around. A grinning Ayakashi with long white appeared behind her. "Akumaro!" she spat, recognizing him. "I should have known it was you that noodle-faced little frog would send to track me," she declared with a snarl in her voice.

Akumaro made a point of studying his fingernails. "Who else? Next to Lord Doukoku I am the most powerful Gedoushu in the Sanzu River," he said breezily. "Our Lord is anxious to see you."

Still holding her sword at the ready, Dayuu looked around. "You'll have to go through those Power Rangers to get me," she pointed out.

Akumaro looked at her for a long moment. He threw his head back and laughed. He suddenly sprinted forward, knocking her sword from her hand and grabbing her by the face. "You underestimate shootari. He cowers before the power of Lord Doukoku as do we all, but he is brilliantly scheming. The Power Rangers are busy elsewhere. The only protection you have is useless now," he said as he lifted her feet off the ground.

She struggled, grasping and clawing at his arm. "No! I will not go back," she denied as panic swirled around in her mind.

"I beg to differ," he said and threw her into the mass of Nanashi. "Take her below and wait for me," he ordered.

Dayuu screamed as she was taken into the cracks with the Nanashi. Akumaro smiled to himself. He slowly began to shift forms. He took the form of a rather good looking young Japanese man, with long black hair, clubbed back. He wore a dark suit and dark gray shirt with a metallic silver tie. He had shiny black shoes and silver cufflinks on his shirt. Something was missing, he mused as he brushed a lock of escaped hair from his face. "Ah, I know," he said and a pair of expensive looking shades appeared in his hands. He used them to cover his oddly colored eyes, which were gray.

He nodded to himself, smirking. He could see the advantages of using such a form to go unnoticed in the Human World. "And to think, I was never even human once," he said as he disappeared into the cracks. He would deliver Dayuu when he was ready. He decided to check on Azemidoro and watch the Power rangers destroy him.

~*~

Rex, Rena and Saeko were tied to a pole in what looked like the middle of nowhere. "We're never going to hear the end of this. A sneak attack. Wait til I get my hands on that Ayakashi," Rena grumbled.

Rex rolled his eyes. "He's not as smart as he thinks," he remarked as he pulled a pocketknife from his pants of pocket. "He was so worried about out Morphers and Zords, he didn't think to check to see if we had anything else," he declared and began to work on the rope with the knife as well as he could with his arms tightly bound.

They couldn't precisely see each other, but Saeko could guess what he was doing. Though a good many of a disgustingly scented Rotten Nanashi milled around, none of them were paying them any attention. "The glamorous life of a Power Ranger," she remarked idly.

Aze turned toward them. "Be quiet over there!" he snarled at them. "I hate bait that doesn't know when to be quiet," he said.

Only Saeko could see him. "I think you'll find your catch bigger than you can handle," she stated. Aze lifted his foot to kick her but a sharp blue burst of energy knocked him back. Dragonzord flew back to Samurai Blue.

Aze found himself surrounded on all sides by Samurai Rangers. He scoffed "You Rangers don't stand a chance," he declared. "Attack!" he ordered his Rotten Nanashi. The Nanashi surged toward the Rangers.

The Nanashi setting themselves upon Samurai Green fell on top of themselves when he was suddenly sucked down into the ground. He burst out by the pole and slashed through the ropes. A Hidden Sword was a lot more effective than a pocket knife.

"As much as I hate being upstaged, I hate being captured and used as bait more," Rex said clenched his fists. A metallic substance covered his skin and he ran at the Ayakashi. Aze turned on some instinct. It was too late. Rex tucked and rammed into the Ayakashi at full momentum. They both went down, but Rex was a trained gymnast. He grabbed the three Morphers the Ayakashi held hostage and rolled away, turned a flip or two until he could right himself. He tossed his fellow hostages they're Morphers.

Meanwhile, the other Rangers were being swarmed by Rotten Nanashi. Blue realized that the Nanashi were too widespread for them all to be affected by the purified waters of the Swordfish. That was okay though. He had faith in the other Rangers. He had a new technique he'd been practicing that he felt now was a good time to try. He pulled his Hidden Disc from his belt and gave it a spin. "Dance of the Parting Sea!" he said and slashed upwards. A wall of blue water rose up then split apart crashing over the Nanashi.

After morphing, Samurai Gold surveyed her situation. She drew her Sword and smirked slightly. "Bet you boys thought I was just a one trick pony. Bad news. I'm not," she said. She spun her Sword in her hand. She slid two fingers along the blade and lightning began to crackle. She began to run, appearing to stop only long enough to slash at the occasional Ayakashi. She stopped completely at the place where she began. The Nanashi were momentarily confused. "Welcome to the Wolf's Den," she said and slid her fingers along the blade in the opposite direction than she had before. Lines of charged particles lit up, crackling with energy a split second before exploding blindingly.

Samurai Green had already transformed his Sword into the Sword Spear but damn it all, it wasn't quite effective enough to suit him. He flipped it up into the air. He took advantage of the Nanashi's confusion to Ninja Streak through them. He caught the Spear and it reverted to his Sword. He spun his Hidden Disc. "Furious Dancing Vines!" he slashed forward. Thorny vines burst forth and began whipping, snatching and striking at the Nanashi.

Samurai Yellow quickly found herself surrounded. This entire situation was just plain wrong. She pulled her Hidden Disc from her belt and slid it on to her Sword. She spun the Disc. "Dance of the Howling Monkeys!" The wind picked up and began to howl as she spun again, liked a top. Razor sharp pebbles spun with her as she moved through the line of Nanashi in her way.

Samurai Silver had rolled away from the Ayakashi to handle the Nanashi that detoured to attack him. After morphing, he drew his Swords and began to dance through the Rotten Nanashi. Perhaps they were getting tired of him showing off because he suddenly found himself surrounded by them and they all rammed into him at once. He sparked and went to his knees. Shaking his head, "Oh, so we wanna play rough do we?" he said with a snarl.

He put his two Swords together and pulled his Hidden Disc from his belt. He slid the Disc on the hilts and sent the Disc spinning. "Dancing Bat Wings!" He slashed in a circular motion. Silver and black energy whirled about and created hundred of spinning bat wing shaped metal slivers.

Samurai Pink pulled her Disc from her belt and slid it on the hilt of her Sword. She spun the Disc. "Heaven's Gale Dance!" She slashed her sword. Gale force pink winds literally blew her enemies away. She sniffed. "Didn't feel like playing around anymore," she declared.

Samurai White reached into her belt and pulled out her Hidden Disc. She slipped it onto her Sword's hilt and spun it. Flames began dancing around her blade. "Dancing Phoenix!" She swung her blade. A vaguely bird-shaped blast of fire sprang forth to envelope the encroaching Nanashi. She nearly fell over at the smell. It blasted her in the face. The other Rangers around her groaned and coughed and gagged.

"Who're you workin' for over there?" Green demanded as he fell over backwards and coughed some more. The sentiments were echoed by nearly everyone else. She just shrugged innocently.

Samurai Red ignored them all, and somehow even managed to ignore the smell of burnt rot. There was a near legion of the odiferous creatures between him and the Ayakashi who was dancing around behind them and taunting him. Every now and then he'd give off a bout of maniacal laughter.

Red shook his head and reached into his Belt to bring his Tyranno Disc. He slid it onto his Sword hilt and sent it spinning. "Samurai Sword Clash! Tyranno Power!" flames so hot some of them were blue leapt to life around his blade and he slashed in a full circle. Flames engulfed both him and the surrounding Nanashi. Flames so pure and powerful not even a stench was left behind.

When the flames died down, it revealed him and his new blade, which was jagged with a fierce dinosaur head on the end. It was red and lined in electric blue. His power suit was once again plated with his power-up but he wore a power shield of sorts over his chest. It was red with white shoulder guards and a criss-cross of blue over his chest, mirroring his usual power suit design. He propped the Tyranno-Sword against his shoulder.

Aze stumbled back. "What? What was that?" he demanded. "Don't just stand around! Get him!" he ordered his Nanashi. The Nanashi surged forward.

Samurai Red moved into action, swinging his Tyranno-Sword. It stretched, curved and growled hitting the Nanashi when and wear they least expected as if it had a mind of its own. It wove through the entire contingent, hitting each one before springing back to its normal shape. Red turned his back on them as they exploded.

Leaving Aze all alone.

He pulled his weapon and charged forward. Red rushed forward himself. He jumped, slashing down with the Tyranno-Sword. Aze crackled but didn't give up. Red swirled out of the way and exchanged a few blows. He rolled away and stood with his back to the Ayakashi. Aze tried to take advantage of that but the Tyranno-Sword stretched again, and curved around to slash the Ayakashi several times.

One hit sent the Ayakashi flying into the air. Red whirled around and sent the blade slashing the Ayakashi mid-air. The Ayakashi landed, exploding as the Tyranno-Sword returned to its stationary form.

"I have so -got- to try that out," Pink declared.

"Best birthday present EVER!" Gold stated loudly as she watched.

Aze laughed again as he grew into his second life. "It won't end there, Rangers!" he crowed.

"Zord time!" Red said and flipped out his Origami Zord. The others did the same. They drew the Large Characters over them. They grew to full size and their pilots appeared in their cockpits.

Samurai Gold typed the Large Character into her Morpher. When it shimmered in the air, Wolf Origami Zord jumped through it. Not only did it grow to full size, but it transformed into a vaguely feminine shaped Megazord. She appeared in its cockpit.

Samurai Red drew the Combine Character and activated it. The five core Zords came together to Form the Origami Megazord. The Batzord attached itself as wings. "United Under Providence!  Origami Megazord!"

Samurai White She then drew two Characters. Unite and Wolf. "Samurai Armament!" The Eaglezord broke apart and joined with the Wolf Megazord, forming wings, a helmet and a laser gun.

"United under Providence. Wolfwing Megazord!".

"Let's finish this!" Gold declared. Samurai White nodded in agreement. "Eagle Blaster! Fire!" They took careful aim and fired. Aze dodged around it. He jumped and landed behind the Wolfwing Megazord and wrapped an arm around the throat section and holding his weapon over the chest. "Hey, dammit!" Gold growled.

Aze laughed. "If you try to get me, Rangers, you'll hit them, too," he pointed out gleefully.

"Oh, come on!" Green grouched.

"Another hostage? Isn't that kind of redundant?" Silver demanded and was admittedly worried for his sister.

Red shook his head. "Tyranno-zord!" he spun the Disc on his Tyranno-Sword again. The Tyranno appeared outside of the Megazord as a full-sized Zord. It had wheels and wheeled its way around Aze and stretched itself and curve around behind the Ayakashi to bite him in the rear. White used the distraction to break away from the Ayakashi.

The Tyrannozord broke apart and attached itself to the Megazord, forming a Sword and a helmet. "United under providence. Tyranno Megazord!" The six Rangers in the Megazord drew their Swords. "Tyranno Slash!" They slashed down in a straight vertical line.

"Eagle Blaster!"

Aze was hit by both attacks. He stumbled back, arcing electricity. He exploded, never to laugh maniacally again.

"That's brings this chapter to a close. Now, we'd better to my surprise party before we're too late," Red stated. Pink sighed and punched him in the shoulder.

~*~

Akumaro watched from a safe distance. He smirked and disappeared into the cracks to deliver his prize to Lord Doukoku.

~*~
Sanzu River

shootari was doing research. He found something promising. A reference and little more to the brother of an ancient lord that had gone mad in his lust for power. This brother turned to evil and drank the essence of evil itself. He razed the land everywhere he went and when his brother finally caught up with him, he tried to Seal him in the Underworld.

He wondered if that could possibly be a reference to Doukoku. No one knows where he came from, only that he was there one day as if he had always been and was powerful enough to rule them all. Too powerful. shootari had to find a way to get him out of Sanzu River before he tore apart the very fabric of its existence.

A commotion startled him. Akumaro in his true form led a precession of Nanashi below decks. "What's the meaning of this? The Lord is trying to rest," he snapped at them.

Akumaro tilted his head benignly. "I think the Lord will want to be awake for this," he said easily.

"I'm already awake!" Doukoku roared as he came out of his cabin.

Akumaro bowed and moved out of the way and gestured to the Nanashi. Some parted to reveal the struggling Dayuu in the middle of them.

"Dayuu!" Doukoku said. "Bring her," he said and strode back into his cabin. Akumaro gestured for the Nanashi to do as instructed. They tossed her inside. The door closed behind her with a slam and all was eerily quiet.

Akumaro shivered. "I would hate to be her," he declared.

shootari nodded then brushed the matter of Dayuu from his mind. "Come see this, Akumaro," he said. Dismissing the Nanashi, Akumaro went to see what shootari wished to speak with him about.

~*~

The Youth Center was nearly filled to capacity. Though Tai was expecting this party, he had to admit, he was genuinely surprised by his guests. Hell, a portion of them no longer even lived on Earth. Despite himself, his spirits had lifted. As he mingled amongst his old friends and chatted, catching with them, life after being a Power Ranger, he actually found himself smiling.

Eventually, he made his way back around to Lani. "How the hell did you get everyone here?" he demanded and kissed her cheek.

"Well, it was a group effort really. I made calls; Rex made calls, Lammy made calls. I've been planning this for months," she declared with a smirk.

Tai chuckled. "Of course you have," he said and pulled her into his arms and hugged her close. A whistle rent the air.

"Hey! Time to blow out the candles, birthday boy!" Mason Hart shouted at him as Lammy and Winter brought in the hugest sheet cake he'd ever seen. Thirty-six Rangers decorated the cake in icing. The twenty-eight Alpha Rangers and the Eight Samurai Rangers.

He looked at the pretty red-head beaming beside Winter. "Let me guess, this an Autumn exclusive?" he asked.

"Who else would bother?" Autumn Baker now Goldsmith answered.

The tall blond guy next to her snapped his fingers and the candles on the cake lit up. "Just blow them out already," Taran Goldsmith ordered. Taran was the undisputed leader of his siblings, not even Titus would argue that. He was also the White Wizard of Eltar, despite not being Eltarin in the least.

Tai reached out and took Lani's hand. "I think I'll need some help," he said. She nodded and they blew out his candles together. Everyone cheered and clapped. Then they all began vying for a piece of cake. Everyone wanted their own faces.

Tai and Lani took their pieces and got out of way. He smiled down at her. "Before we get to the gift giving portion of the evening, I have something for you," he said.

Lani raised her brows. "It's your birthday. I don't need anything," she stated, shaking her head.

Tai smiled and reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. "Then, since it's my birthday, you can't say no," he said, setting his cake aside and opening the box, revealing the ring to her.

Lani was so shocked the paper plate holding her cake fell out of numb hands. "Tai. I--yes! A million times yes!" she shouted and launched herself into his arms. Grinning like a buffoon, he caught her against him and hugged her tightly as her feet dangled off the floor.

"He did it! It's official. Leader Boy's getting married!" Rex shouted to the crowd over the music. Everyone cheered and whistled and clapped. The sound was deafening but neither Tai nor Lani heard it at all.

~*The End Act 26*~           

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