The universe had become a graveyard of hope. After the fall of Ignis (Original Red Ranger), the remaining warriors of the light retreated into the shadows. Across every star system, the word went out: do not transform. To wear the armor was to sign a death warrant. Malakor (Negative Warlord), now the master of all existence, had a sensory link to the White Stone and every inferior germ created by Ignis (Original Red Ranger). The moment a ranger powered up, the dragon would know.
On Planet Earth, a boy named Rex wandered through a dense forest. He was searching for the legendary mythic germs, driven by stories of the old world. Deep in a grove, he saw a stone floating in the air, humming with a faint red light. The moment Rex touched it, the energy rewrote his cells. He transformed into the Red Ranger. He was filled with joy, punching the air and believing he finally had the power to protect the weak.
He did not know he had just lit a signal fire for a god.
A rift tore open in the middle of the forest. Malakor (Negative Warlord) stepped through, his dragon-like humanoid form casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the sun.
Rex (Red Ranger) shouted with excitement, "Finally, a monster! You bully the weak, but I will bully you now!"
Rex (Red Ranger) charged forward with all his new strength. Malakor (Negative Warlord) did not move. He simply whispered, "Absolute Gravity."
The world turned into lead. Rex (Red Ranger) was slammed into the dirt with such force that the earth shattered beneath him. He was unable to move even a finger. He felt his bones groaning and cracking under the pressure of a thousand atmospheres. He began to lose air, his lungs unable to expand. Just as his heart was about to stop, he de-transformed. Malakor (Negative Warlord) released the pressure.
Rex lay there, breathing heavily, gasping for life. Driven by pure adrenaline, he stood up and transformed back into the Red Ranger.
Malakor (Negative Warlord) looked at him with cold, reptilian eyes. "This is so boring," the master of the Negative Zone said. "No one can challenge me anymore, in this world or the negative world. I will not kill you yet, little ant. Instead, I will give you a reason—a motivation—to kill me."
Malakor (Negative Warlord) began to laugh like a madman. With a flick of his finger, they were both teleported instantly to a small house.
Rex (Red Ranger) saw his family standing in the living room, looking confused and terrified. He tried to rush to them, but his body was locked. He was a statue in his own armor, forced to watch. Malakor (Negative Warlord) opened his mouth and cast a torrent of ancient flames.
The screams were high and jagged. The mother, father, sister, brother, and grandmother of Rex (Red Ranger) were engulfed in a microverse of heat. They burned to death in seconds, their ashes scattering across the floor. Malakor (Negative Warlord) had teleported them all there specifically to execute them in front of the boy.
Rex (Red Ranger) was furious, his mind screaming in agony, but he remained paralyzed.
"Make me regret this if you can," Malakor (Negative Warlord) said. He vanished back to the Negative Zone.
The paralysis lifted. Rex (Red Ranger) fell to his knees as the armor faded. Tears filled his eyes, and he wailed into the empty house. The sorrow eventually turned into a cold, hard stone in his chest. He began to train.
The Fallen Empress
Weeks later, while wandering the ruins of his life, Rex met a girl. It was love at first sight. Her name was Solara. She was quiet and carried a heavy sadness, and they began to talk about how miserable their lives had become. Eventually, they sat together on her bed, the world outside forgotten for a moment.
Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) began to explain her truth. "I used to be a god," she said quietly. "I was part of the Original Six Rangers. I defeated thousands of monsters."
She looked at her hands, which were now shaking. "I have suffered so much, Rex. I died at the hands of Drakkon, only to be brought back by my rival, Ignis (Original Red Ranger). And then he died too. Malakor (Negative Warlord) took my power. I am just a normal human now. I am powerless, helpless, and hopeless against him."
She began to cry. "I used to be immortal. I thought I was a god. Now I am just a girl who will age and die."
Rex reached out and took her hand. "You are not hopeless or powerless. And I love normal girls. Solara (Original Yellow Ranger), even before I knew who you were, I loved you. It was love at first sight."
Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) blushed deeply. "We just met," she whispered.
"I like how you blush. You are so cute," Rex replied. "My mum was right. We need a girl in our life, especially when we are sad."
He hugged her tightly. In the mind of Solara (Original Yellow Ranger), a storm was brewing. She had never experienced love in her thousands of years as a sovereign. She felt like her heart might explode; she felt electricity dancing through her veins. She used to be emotionless, but now she felt alive.
"Since you were once a ranger," Rex said, "can you be my personal trainer?"
Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) looked down, her voice low. "Yes."
The Training of a New Legend
The next morning, Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) arrived for the first session.
"You are looking beautiful today," Rex said with a grin.
Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) blushed again. "Thank you. Now, focus."
They began to spar. It was Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) versus Rex. She moved with the ghost of her old speed. Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) threw a punch; Rex dodged. Rex threw a punch; Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) slipped past it effortlessly.
"It is so obvious you have no fighting style," she noted.
Rex charged with a kick, but Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) dodged and landed a flash kick that sent him flying into a tree.
"Forget love!" Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) shouted, her eyes hardening. "This is training to beat Malakor (Negative Warlord). I must not pity you!"
She charged, landing a barrage of blows and kicks. Rex tried to fight back, but she was too fast. She hit him in the groin, causing him to double over in pain, and then punched him square in the face, knocking out two of his teeth. She kicked him to the floor and began punching him repeatedly.
In a moment of desperation, Rex pulled her close and kissed her.
Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) froze, blushing furiously. Rex used the distraction to sweep her leg and put her into a submission hold. "Don't be distracted during a fight, Solara (Original Yellow Ranger)," he teased.
She growled, twisted her body with expert leverage, and punched him so hard his mind went blank. She stood over him, breathing hard. "I win."
Rex groaned, admitting she was far stronger. He looked up at her. "So, Solara (Original Yellow Ranger), did you like the kiss?"
Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) blushed a deep crimson and ran off into the trees.