In the quiet of the morning, Lyra (Yellow Ranger) woke up to find herself draped over Rex (Red Ranger). Her heart hammered against her ribs as she realized she was holding him like a lifeline. She quickly shifted away, her face burning with heat.
"I am so sorry," Lyra (Yellow Ranger) whispered, not meeting his eyes.
Rex (Red Ranger) sat up slowly. "No need to say sorry. But what are you always dreaming about? Every night you start shaking. You breathe so heavily that I have to hold your hand to calm you down. Then you hold me so tight that I have to use a special escape technique just to get out of bed without waking you."
Lyra (Yellow Ranger) blushed with deep embarrassment. "I am so sorry. I did not mean it like that. When Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) was alive, we used to have nightmares and hold each other tight for comfort. I am so sorry. I was once a god, but now I am just an ordinary girl. To be honest, I always dream about the monsters attacking me."
Rex (Red Ranger) looked at her, and for the first time, the coldness in his eyes softened. "Don't worry. Now you have me. Since you were the best friend of Solara (Original Yellow Ranger), I swear to protect you also."
Lyra (Yellow Ranger) looked up, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, but I can protect myself."
A sudden, sharp knock echoed at the front door. Lyra (Yellow Ranger) stood up. "I will answer it. It is probably just a neighbor."
As Lyra (Yellow Ranger) opened the door, she saw ten figures cloaked in dark, suffocating auras. "Hi, Power Rangers? What are you doing here?" she asked, confused by their dark armor.
Before she could finish her sentence, Brutus (Negative Gold Ranger) delivered a massive punch to her stomach. The force sent her flying back across the living room. Lyra (Yellow Ranger) hit the wall and slid to the floor, gasping in agony.
Rex (Red Ranger) reacted instantly. "Power up!" he roared, his red armor snapping into place. He rushed to her side, his aura flaring. "Are you alright?"
Lyra (Yellow Ranger) coughed, clutching her stomach. "I am okay. I am an original ranger, calm down." She forced herself to stand and activated the germ she had found in the ocean. "Yellow Ranger, power up!"
As the yellow light engulfed her, Rex (Red Ranger) stared. For a split second, he didn't see Lyra. He saw the spirit of Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) standing there. Inside his mask, a slight blush crept across his face.
The Battle of the Decagon
The ten Negative Rangers stepped into the house, their presence rotting the floorboards.
"Kill them," Vile (Negative Violet Ranger) hissed, moving with the fluid grace of an assassin.
The fight exploded. Rex (Red Ranger) moved with his legendary speed, but the ten Negative Rangers worked in perfect, dark harmony. Shred (Negative Steel Ranger) swung his arm-blades, forcing Rex (Red Ranger) to parry a thousand strikes a second. Haze (Negative Grey Ranger) turned into thick, toxic smoke, making it impossible for Rex (Red Ranger) to land a solid blow.
Lyra (Yellow Ranger) fought bravely, using her experience as a former sovereign to dodge the heavy swings of Brutus (Negative Gold Ranger). However, Toxin (Negative Green Ranger) was waiting for an opening. He lunged forward, his gauntlets dripping with a glowing, corrosive sludge. He scratched the arm of Lyra (Yellow Ranger), and the poison acted instantly.
Lyra (Yellow Ranger) screamed as the green veins began to spread up her neck. Her transformation flickered and failed. She collapsed, her lungs seizing up.
"No!" Rex (Red Ranger) shouted. He moved faster than light, appearing beside her. He tapped his communicator. "Verdan (Original Green Ranger), come in! I need an emergency teleport! Carry her to the hospital on Planet Siphon now!"
In a flash of blue light, Verdan (Original Green Ranger) appeared, scooped up the dying girl, and teleported away.
Rex (Red Ranger) stood alone in the ruins of the house. He was shaking with a rage that turned the air into plasma. He faced the ten Negative Rangers alone. He fought like a demon, his speed increasing until he was a blur of red lightning. He traded blows with Scythe (Negative Silver Ranger) and kicked Volt (Negative Orange Ranger) through the roof.
But it was ten against one. They were elite psychopaths with germs powered by the Negative Shard. Rex (Red Ranger) struggled as Abyss (Negative Black Ranger) opened a void beneath his feet. Realizing he could not win this specific moment while fueled only by blind anger, Rex (Red Ranger) vanished in a burst of speed, leaving the house behind.
Luna (Negative White Ranger) looked at the empty room. "He fled." "Let him," Vile (Negative Violet Ranger) replied. "We will spare Earth for now. This planet is the only place we are sure to find them. The realm is infinitely vast, so we keep this bait intact."
The Hospital of Siphon
Rex (Red Ranger) arrived at the medical bay on Planet Siphon. It was the most advanced hospital in the universe. He found the room where Lyra (Yellow Ranger) lay. She had been assumed dead upon arrival, but the doctors had barely managed to neutralize the poison of Toxin (Negative Green Ranger).
Verdan (Original Green Ranger) stood by the door. He saw the look in Rex's eyes and nodded silently, leaving the room to give them time alone.
Rex (Red Ranger) sat by the bed and took her hand. "I promised Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) to keep you safe," he whispered, his voice breaking.
Lyra (Yellow Ranger) opened her eyes slowly. Tears began to roll down her cheeks. "I am so sorry, Solara," she sobbed. She looked at Rex and confessed the truth. "I love you, Rex (Red Ranger)."
Rex (Red Ranger) felt the tears falling from his own eyes. He felt a deep guilt, like he was betraying the memory of his first love. But as he looked at Lyra, he knew he loved her too.
Suddenly, the room felt warm. A soft, golden light appeared in the corner. The spirit of Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) manifested, looking at them with a peaceful smile.
"As long as you truly love her, be with her," the spirit of Solara (Original Yellow Ranger) whispered. "I support it, Rex (Red Ranger). Do not forget that I love you, but if this is what makes you happy, do it."
The golden light faded. Rex (Red Ranger) leaned down, and they both shared a kiss of pure, desperate love. They were no longer just survivors; they were fighting for each other.