The air was thin and bit like a thousand needles as Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) led Rex (Red Ranger) across the jagged peaks of the frozen wasteland. Before they entered the heart of the storm, they stopped. Rex (Red Ranger) looked at her, and without a word, they shared a deep, desperate kiss. It was a promise made in the face of death.
They reached a wide, icy plateau where Astrax (Original Blue Ranger) stood in the center of a swirling blizzard. He was not wearing his armor, but the cold did not seem to touch him. Rex (Red Ranger) stepped forward, shivering despite his resolve.
"Hi," Rex (Red Ranger) said. "I heard you are the Original Blue Ranger. I really want you to train me so I can improve."
Astrax (Original Blue Ranger) continued his movements, ignoring the boy entirely.
"I am talking to you!" Rex (Red Ranger) shouted. "I need to get stronger!"
Astrax (Original Blue Ranger) finally stopped and looked at him with eyes as cold as the ice beneath them. "Just shut up and leave. Train by yourself. Why are you even here to begin with? By the look of you, Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) looks more fit than you are."
"What did I do? Why are you being so rude?" Rex (Red Ranger) asked, his face flushing with anger.
"We are in the middle of a war we have no chance of winning," Astrax (Original Blue Ranger) spat. "And I still see losers like you trying to train just to end up dead. Give me your germ. You aren't even worth having it. I would do a far better job with that power than you ever could."
Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) stepped between them. "It is enough, Astrax (Original Blue Ranger). Rex (Red Ranger) might look weak and fragile, but he is strong. I trained him myself."
Astrax (Original Blue Ranger) let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Wait. Don't tell me. Is he your student or your lover?"
Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) blushed a deep crimson. "He is my student, obviously!"
"You are blushing," Astrax (Original Blue Ranger) noted with disgust. "So he is your boyfriend. In the middle of a war, you have time to find love? You were once a divine warrior, but now all I see is a university girl playing lovebirds with a boy. Take him and leave."
Rex (Red Ranger) snapped. "Enough! You think you are so strong? Then fight me!"
Rex (Red Ranger) transformed into the Red Ranger and charged. He threw a flurry of punches, but Astrax (Original Blue Ranger) moved like a shadow, dodging every strike without effort. Suddenly, Astrax (Original Blue Ranger) countered. He delivered a brutal combination of punches to the ribs and chest of Rex (Red Ranger), totally embarrassing the boy. He finished by grabbing Rex (Red Ranger) by the throat and lifting him off the ground.
"How can such a weakling think of defeating Malakor (Negative Warlord)?" Astrax (Original Blue Ranger) hissed as he choked the life out of him. "I am sure Ignis (Original Red Ranger) would be ashamed of you."
Rex (Red Ranger) struggled to breathe, his vision blurring. Suddenly, Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) charged and landed a powerful kick to the side of the head of Astrax (Original Blue Ranger), saving Rex (Red Ranger). "Enough! I won't just watch and let you kill him!"
The Shadows Arrive
As they turned to leave the wasteland, the air itself curdled. Dagon (Negative Commander) and Malakor (Negative Warlord) appeared directly in front of them. Rex (Red Ranger) and Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) felt a wave of absolute fear wash over them.
"I want to kill all rangers and replace them," Malakor (Negative Warlord) announced, his voice echoing like thunder. "I tried giving monsters power ranger germs, but it does not work. The DNA is not the same between positive and negative beings. But I can create my own monsters. Dagon (Negative Commander) is my creation, formed from the Negative Shard. Since I fused the shard and the White Stone, I can create endless powerful monsters. To stop them, you must kill me."
Rex (Red Ranger) and Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) held hands tightly. They looked at each other and kissed one last time, ignoring the gods standing before them.
"Kissing mid-battle?" Malakor (Negative Warlord) mocked. "So your love is this strong?" He turned his gaze to Dagon (Negative Commander). "Why is Rex (Red Ranger) even still alive?"
"I must have mistaken him for another red ranger, my lord," Dagon (Negative Commander) replied, bowing his head.
Malakor (Negative Warlord) laughed. "That is so sad. He had a family. I once loved a Pink Ranger, but now I am pure evil. I do not care for such things."
Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) pulled away from the kiss and looked at the tyrant. "Fine. I have given him my final kiss. Kill us already."
"No, no, no," Malakor (Negative Warlord) said, a cruel smile forming on his face. "Me and Dagon (Negative Commander) will not fight you. He will." He pointed at Astrax (Original Blue Ranger).
Astrax (Original Blue Ranger) pulled out a dark, corrupted device. "The truth is, everything is under Malakor (Negative Warlord)," he said solemnly. "There is no hope. When he met me with the offer, I fought back and lost. All my training was for nothing. The rule is simple: join or be erased. If the legendary Ignis (Original Red Ranger) lost, who are we to win? Survival is all that matters."
Astrax (Original Blue Ranger) activated the device. "Negative Blue Ranger, power up!"
He transformed into the Negative Blue Ranger, his armor a jagged, midnight blue lined with black veins. Malakor (Negative Warlord) explained, "Since I cannot turn monsters into rangers, I used the power of the White Stone to create my own ranger germs. I have my own team now."
"Exactly," Malakor (Negative Warlord) commanded. "Now, kill Rex (Red Ranger)."
Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) tried to charge, but Malakor (Negative Warlord) used his telekinesis to freeze her in place. She was a statue, forced to watch the man she loved face a god.
"If he wins, I leave and never disturb the two of you again," Malakor (Negative Warlord) promised. "But I am sure he is a failure, and he will fail."
Malakor (Negative Warlord), Dagon (Negative Commander), and the frozen Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) watched as the battle began: Rex (Red Ranger) versus Astrax (Negative Blue Ranger).