Betsy brush a strand of her blond hair out of her face, she tighten her grip on the backpack strap that lay over her shoulder and proceeds through the front doors. Betsy hears the bells over the door as they knock about from been hit by the opening door. Then she sees him: Kevin, in his red dogi, as he is training his form of martial arts. Betsy remembered him told her it was called the tiger style, and realized, when he told her, the connection to the tiger on the mural.
Kevin is unnoticed of Betsy�s presence as he�s continuing his training. Kevin slide back his right foot slowly then quickly kicks straight up with his left. He drops it in a blur and speed his right hand, open but in the shape of a claw, straight ahead.
A grin spread across her face, as Betsy twists around her backpack and pull out a Frisbee she was playing with, with some friends. Betsy wait a moment, rethinks it as if she wasn�t sure it�s a good idea then decides to go for it and she launches the Frisbee at Kevin.
Kevin just launches a left clawed punch, when he senses the Frisbee coming at his head. For a quick second, his eyes become cat-like, before they return to their normal round shape. The Frisbee collides at the back of Kevin�s head, make him loses his balance for a moment before recovering and catches the Frisbee before it falls to the ground. He looks at Betsy, who places her hands to the mouth like she just makes a mistake.
�Cute, very cute,� Kevin holds the Frisbee up, like he was showing it to her.
�It slipped,� Betsy says before start laughing, unable to keep a straight face.
Elsewhere, Max is walking toward the Dojo, tying her hair into a ponytail, wearing her yellow dogi, when she notices Li, wearing his blue dogi with his arms crosses as he watches in through the window by the mural opposite the side of the main entrance. Curiosity to what�s so interesting, Max walks up to Li from behind and place her hand on his shoulder, causing Li to nearly jump out of his shoes.
�Hey, Li, what�s up?� Max asks him, and then notices his focus is on Kevin, as if Betsy is not there. �Oh, that�s it.�
�When M?o recruited him, I�d been training for a year,� Li started.
�And I�d a half year,� Max interrupted him.
�Yeah, and it took you that much time to caught up to me,� Li started again. �But he caught up to us in only weeks. It just frustrated me to no ends.�
�Me too, you know that Li,� Max walks closer to the window. �But M?o told both of us. Kevin possesses truly innate skills.�
�Maybe, but it don�t mean I have to like it.�
Li walk away, heading toward the doors with Max staying behind for a moment, watching Kevin talking to Betsy, as he hands the Frisbee back to her.
�Neither does me.�
Far away, on what appear to be a large mountain is a large old, almost Japanese in origin, building. Around the air of the fortress are multi-colored lights, almost like a large rainbow. But then a large cracking purple lightning shoot around the lights, almost if it�s breaking.
Inside the large building is an old room that resembles a temple. Kneeing on the ground is Leogar, clad in black armor with a helmet that was made to resemble a lion. His helmeted head lower down as if his eyes were closed; sneaking up from the corner of the room is a being that can�t be seen from normal eyes.
�Your stealth maneuvers are lacking, Chemilo,� Leogar speaks without moving.
Chemilo becomes visible, revealing her green armor and a helmet, which like Leogar�s resemble a lion, resemble a chameleon�s head. Chemilo crosses her arms, impressive that he was able to sense her, as Leogar gets to his feet.
�It�s time,� Leogar turns to face her.
�Time, Leogar?� Chemilo nods her head to the side; clearly don�t understand what he is talking about.
�I�m sure you sensed it, Chemilo.�
Chemilo lowers her head like Leogar did early, after a quick pause raises it and uncrosses her arms.
�The seal that keeps us between dimensions, it�s breaking!�
�Yes,� Leogar turns away from her, lowers his head and brings up his right fist. �Finally, I can seek the power that I�m destined for.�
�But how sir, the seal�s weakening won�t bring the Grand Masters back,� Chemilo explains to her master. �They�re the only ones who can give you this power. But they were destroyed.�
�I know that, Chemilo!� Leogar�s angry at her na�ve. �But they can be brought back and they will train me. But first I�ll need the H?i �n bracelet.� Leogar turn back to face Chemilo, �You will bring the H?i �n bracelet to me, Chemilo.�
Chemilo quickly falls down to one knee, bowing to Leogar. �I will not fail you, I�ll swear.�
Back at the Dojo, in some hidden room, M?o, draped in a large red dogi with a blue vest and multi-colored scarves, is mediating on a couch. He is seating, quieting, like nothing could brother or disturbed him.
Suddenly, his eyes open wide. �They�re free.�
M?o wastes no time in getting his three students into the backroom, also know as HQ. The room is quite small compare to the larger sized training room out front, inside the room is a blue couch across that it is a large computer console and a large table back against the wall adjoined to the wall with the computer. The only doorways are the one that lead from the front of the building and the other that lead to a small room that serves as a kitchen.
As soon as Kevin, Li, and Max enter, M?o turns to face them, as Jean, his assistance wearing her black suit, gets up from her chair in front of the console.
�Sensei, what�s wrong?� Li concerned for his teacher.
�The moment I feared had arrived,� M?o speaks, with his students on every word. �The School of H?i �n had became free.�
�But I thought you and the other Grand Masters seal them between dimensions or something like that?� Max asks, confused.
�We did, but we always were worry that the seal will weaken, allowing their escape,� M?o lowers his head as he speaks but then picks it back up before continuing. �And that why I decides to train new fighters; Fighters gifted in using their chi to combat the School of H?i �n and stop the despair and chaos that they would spread; The Jungle Fury. You three, part of the School of Li�ng, will stop them.�
�We will, Sensei,� Kevin says, with Li and Max nods their heads in agreement.
�But not without these,� Jean says, holding up a silver suitcase.
Jean noted their confusion, then places the suitcase on the table and opens them revealing three pairs of red and white gauntlets.
�These are your Fury Gauntlets,� Jean picks up a pair and passes them to Max. �They will allow you access your chi more readily.� She gives another pair to Li. �Allow you accesses to weapons I design myself here.� Finally she gives the last pair to Kevin. �And turn you into the Power Rangers Jungle Fury.�
�Power Rangers, awesome,� Kevin looks at his gauntlets. �I want to be a Power Ranger ever since I saw the Ninja Storm Rangers on my family vacation.�
�I thought you want to be a novelist,� Max takes her eyes off her gauntlets for a moment.
�Well, I never thought I would actually become a Power Ranger,� Kevin explains.
Jean notices out of the corner of her eye, the small screen on the computer monitor, which shows security footage of the front room. She roll the cursor over it and click on it, enlarging the screen to half the size of the monitor and see Betsy walking and looking around.
�Heh, she here so much, maybe we should start training her too,� Jean says, making everyone notice the security feed.
�Betsy, I almost forgot,� Kevin rushes through the exit, as his comrades� watches.
�Had he asked her out yet?� M?o asks, surprising his students with his interest.
�Kevin said they�re just friends.� Max says.
�Sure they are,� M?o says, with a smile.
In the Dojo front room, Betsy continues looking around, waiting for Kevin to returns from seeing his teacher, when she notices a rack holding a red nunchaku, a strange looking steel tonfa and similar color, and as strange looking, staff. Kevin enters the room, realizing he�s still holding his gauntlets and that Betsy hadn�t noticed him. He quickly look around and his black backpack by the wall with Betsy�s to the right of his. He places his gauntlets inside his backpack, zips it up, and then walks toward Betsy, who finally notices he had returned.
�Oh, Kevin there you are,� Betsy says, move a strand of hair behind her ear.
�I�m sorry for keeping you waiting,� Kevin says, scratches the top of his head.
�That okay, I was just looking around,� Betsy then notices the time on her watch. �Oh, hum, I wish I can hang out some more, but I got errands I need to do, before my dance class begins.�
�Okay, I catch you later then,�
�Rain check, got it,� Betsy picks up the left backpack and runs out the front doors.
Just as the bells finishes jingling, Li and Max walk up from behind Kevin.
�M?o wants us goes to Crestwood Woods,� Max tells Kevin. �Something we need to get.�
�Right,� Kevin picks up the backpack and runs out the front doors, behind Li and Max.
In the heart of the Crestwood Woods, Kevin, Li, and Max, with their backpacks swung over their shoulders, walk through the woods, looking around.
�So exactly what are we looking for?� Kevin asks his friends.
�You would know, if you weren�t so busy with your girlfriend,� Li tell him.
�What�s your problem,� Kevin asks him, with all three stop walking.
�You, not taking this serious,� Li tells him.
�What you�re talking about? I�m taking this serious!� Kevin yells at him.
�Can you two cool it with the macho match,� Max telling her friends. �Beside, we�re here.�
Max points ahead, at a large rock on top of a hill.
�The Power Rangers� first mission: go to a rock,� Kevin says, confused.
�There something inside it, M?o want us to take it to the Dojo, so we can protect it from the School of H?i �n,� Max tells him.
Suddenly all three of the Rangers� eyes change to resemble cats�.
�You sensed it?� Kevin asks them.
�Yeah, sure do,� Li confirms.
�We got company,� Max says, as the three take fighting stances.
Creatures wearing strange clothes including a head bang with a single eye on the center jump out from behind the trees, watching the three rangers closely.
�What are those?� Kevin wonders out loud.
�They�re Kombaters,� Li answers.
�And how you know that?� Kevin asks.
�Well, you would know too, if you hadn�t left the HQ so early,� Li brought it up again.
�Whatever, let�s just ranger up,� Kevin says.
�Right,� the other two agree.
Li and Max drop their backpacks after putting on their Fury Gauntlets and outreach their arms, but Kevin is still searching through his backpack for his.
�Ready,� Li and Max says in unison then notice Kevin isn�t ready.
�Kind of holding us up here, Kevin,� Li informs him.
�Give me a minute,� Kevin says, pulling out a pink folder, still looking inside the backpack. �I could�ve sworn I put it in here.�
Max then notice the folder, �Hum, Kevin, why do you have a pink folder with a unicorn on it?�
Kevin then notices the folder and looks back into the backpack, �What? This not mine backpack, it Betsy�s.�
�Betsy?� Li says in surprise.
�Kevin,� M?o�s voice is heard from the Li�s gauntlet.
�Sensei,� Kevin says, facing Li�s gauntlet, with Li hold it up.
�The Fury Gauntlets send out a signal that Kombaters can sense, but the signal is blocked if the chi user is near it. Which is why you must always wear them,� M?o explains.
�You never told us that,� Li says.
�It slipped my mind,� M?o says with a laugh.
�Hum, guys we should hurry this up,� Max says, noticed that the Kombaters are just watching them, like they�re confused.
�I need to find Betsy,� Kevin says.
�Kevin, I tracked down Betsy,� Jean tells him over the communication device on Li�s gauntlet. �She�s on Saban Street and heading toward Levy Road.�
�Right, on my way,� Kevin runs away.
�Guess it just us,� Li says.
Then Li and Max turn to face the Kombaters, whom had started heading toward them.
�Must have gotten bored of watching us talking,� Max says.
�Let�s bring them some excitement,� Li says with Max nod in agreement.
Li and Max outreach their arms again, then punch their left fist into their right palm and crack their knuckles.
�Fury Strike!� Lie and Max yell and outreach their right arm like they�re punching.
A blue jaguar shoots out Li�s fist, runs off then shoots back at Li like an energy blast. Li�s body starts glowing blue, as a Blue Ranger suit appears on him, starting from his feet and then up till it reaches his neck. A blue jaguar�s head appears over Li�s as it growls then glows brighter and morphs into a helmet. Blue Ranger takes a fighting stance with the image of a blue jaguar growling behind him.
A yellow cheetah shoots out Max�s fist, runs off then shoots back at Max like an energy blast. Max�s body starts glowing yellow, as a Yellow Ranger suit appears on her, starting from her feet and then up till it reaches her neck. A yellow cheetah�s head appears over Max�s as it growls then glows brighter and morphs into a helmet. Yellow Ranger takes a fighting stance with the image of a yellow cheetah growling behind her.
�We did it, awesome,� Blue Ranger says, looking at his self.
�Amazing, now let�s kick some H?i �n butt,� Yellow Ranger commands.
A Kombater launches a cop at Blue Ranger; he blocks it and punches the attacker in the stomach. He side kicks another attacker and then back flips to avoid one Kombater that swipes at him with a large spear. Blue Ranger blocks two arm swipes from two different attackers with both arms and pushes away the arms and split kicks them away. He catches a spear when a Kombater comes at him with it. Blue Ranger is forcing it down without problem as the Kombater tries to keeps it back up. Finally he lets go, causing the spear to hits the Kombater in the head with it. Blue Ranger roundhouse kicks it, knocking it to the ground.
Yellow Ranger back flips over a Kombater wielding a spear, grabs the spear and presses it against its owner�s chest. Another Kombater launches a kick at her, but she twist around causing her �prisoner� getting hits. She side kicks the attacker away, twists around her �prisoner� and kicks it in the chest, sending the Kombater flying. She parries a punch threw at her, grabs the arm and twists it, kicks a second attacker then throws the Kombater. Yellow Ranger jump kicks a coming Kombater, knocking it down and sending herself flying backward. The moment she lands she knocks down two Kombater with the back of her arms.
Unaware to any of the fighters, on the hill by the large rock stands an invisible Chemilo. She looks down at them before becoming visible.
�Pathetic,� Chemilo turns her attention to the large rock.
Suddenly, the top part of her helmet opens a large silver tongue-like weapon shoots out and hits the rock, causing an explosion of rocks and dust.
Blue Ranger looks up at the hill, but just sees the large rock and a dust cloud emerging from the rock. Before he could make any idea of it, a Kombater launches a kick, but he blocks it and counters with a back kick.
Chemilo turns visible again, returns her attention to the large rock and sees a three ring bracelet.
�There you are,� Chemilo picks it up. �Leogar will be pleases.�
Chemilo then leaves, leaving the Blue Ranger to finishes off the remaining Kombater with a roundhouse kick. Once the last of them explode in purple fire, Yellow Ranger looks up at the large rock and jumps up at it. She looks down at it, notices the small crater in the side.
�Whatever was here is gone now,� Yellow Ranger says to her comrade.
�Well, then let�s return to the Dojo, Kevin should be backs there by now,� Blue Ranger tells her.
�Right,� Yellow Ranger agrees and the two run off.
Deep in Crestwood City, Betsy is walking down a sidewalk, moves to her left or right to avoids bumping into people. At the same time, keep �her� backpack over her shoulder. She comes to an alleyway, deciding a shortcut wouldn�t hurt, starts down the alleyway. She is completely oblivious to the Kombaters that are following her from the shadows.
After a couple more turns, Betsy looks around, taking in her surroundings.
�Okay, maybe a shortcut was a bad idea,� Betsy realizes she�s lost. �Maybe I can retrace my steps.�
The moment Betsy turns around, she sees them: three Kombaters creeping toward.
�Hum, m-may I help you?� Betsy says, with an airy of fear in her voice.
From behind a fence on her right, two Kombaters are approaching her.
�I really need to go now, so,� Betsy slowly backward from the three Kombaters in front of her. �Bye.�
Betsy starts running down the alleyway with the three Kombaters start chasing her and the two from behind the fence, jump over it and join them. Betsy hurries down several alleyways, breathing heavy, as she getting tires but know she can�t stop; when she bumps into Kevin.
�Kevin!� Betsy becomes relives seeing someone so friendly. �I�m been chased��
�I know,� Kevin interrupts her, and then take her hand. �Quick, follow me.�
Kevin starts pulling Betsy down the alleyways, as the Kombaters start to catch up with them. Kevin quickly notices they are passing a trashcan, so he stops, pulls it over onto its side and kicks it toward their chasers, causing several Kombaters to trip over it.
�Nice one,� Betsy quickly congrats him.
�Thanks,� Kevin grabs Betsy�s hand again and the two start running away again.
The two eventually find themselves in an old vacant lot which is empty except for an old bus and couple discarded tires and pipes. The two friends stop for a moment by the bus to catch a breath, when a lone Kombater jump at them. Kevin�s eyes quickly becomes cat-like and he blocks the attack with his right arm, keeping his left in front of Betsy to protect her, twisting around his right arm and delivers a counter by shooting an empty palm at the Kombater�s chest, knocking it down.
Betsy notices the change in Kevin�s eyes and quickly become confuses, �Kevin, your eyes?�
�Later,� Kevin pulls Betsy again, as more Kombaters approaches.
The two friends find themselves running into a fence, with even more Kombaters slowly approaching.
�Wait, the backpack,� Kevin remembers at the same time confusing Betsy.
�What?�
�Quick,� Kevin pulls the backpack away from her, searching through inside it for his Fury Gauntlets, pulls them out, drops the backpack to the ground and puts them on.
Kevin turns around to faces the Kombaters, and outreaches his arms.
�Kevin, what are you doing?� Betsy asks him.
�Just wait,� Kevin smiles then crack his knuckles. �Fury Strike!� Kevin shoots out his right arm.
A red tiger shoots out Kevin�s fist, runs off then shoots back at Kevin like an energy blast. Kevin�s body starts glowing red, as a Red Ranger suit appears on him, starting from his feet and then up till it reaches his neck. A red tiger�s head appears over Kevin�s as it growls then glows brighter and morphs into a helmet. Red Ranger takes a fighting stance with the image of a red tiger growling behind him.
�Kevin?� Betsy is completely confuses.
�Just wait right there,� Kevin says to her. �This shouldn�t take long.�
Red Ranger rushes to his enemies; he parries the first enemy, flips the Kombater onto its back. He�s roundhouse kicks the next opponent then catches a fist in his right palm, side kicks a Kombater to his left. He knocks away the other one�s arm with his left arm and kicks it squarely on the chest. Red Ranger jumps high in the air, performing a flip midair, when landed becomes encircled by Kombaters. He picks up one of the tires, uses it to blocks and deflects two attacks, twisting around and tosses it at the same time, knocking down two of the Kombaters.
Red Ranger jumps backward and lands on top of the bus. Two Kombaters follow him, one on each side. Red Ranger blocks a kick from one and back kicks the other. He back flips twice and roundhouse kicks the Kombater, knocking it off the bus. He faces the other one, runs toward it and jump kicks it. Both of them fly off the bus, the Kombater lands on its back while Red Ranger lands on his feet and quickly gets into a fighting stance. Then all the fallen Kombaters burst into purple fire.
Betsy walks toward Red Ranger, who proceeds to crack his knuckles.
�Power Down,� Red Ranger, in a flash of light, morphs back into Kevin.
�Kevin, what�s going on here,� Betsy asks.
�Well, this now really the best place to discuss it,� Kevin tells her. �Let�s return to the Dojo.�
The two then start hurry off to the Dojo.
Back at the H?i �n Mountain, inside the main room, Chemilo presents the H?i �n bracelet to Leogar.
�Here, you go, sir,� Chemilo, on one knee, hands the bracelet to Leogar.
�Finally,� Leogar takes the bracelet, barely acknowledges Chemilo. He places the bracelet onto his right wrist. �Now talk to me, Grand Masters of the School of H?i �n.�
�Who is it that speaks to me, with such a bold voice?� says a menacing voice, coming from the bracelet.
�I�m Leogar, the current leader of the School of H?i �n,� Leogar says. �I�d contact you to seek my destined power.�
�The School of H?i �n always feed on fear and despair of the weak,� says the voice.
�Fear and despair is what you want, fear and despair is what you get,� Leogar says, then raises his voice. �Mantitras!�
A creature, resembling a Kombater except for a large red suit and more human like face with the statue of a praying mantis on his forehead, walks through the doorway as the large doors open in front of him.
�You bellow?� Mantitras says, as he enters.
�Mantitras, now the dimensional seal is weaken, you are free to wreak destruction upon the city and feeds on the despair of the people there,� Leogar commanded.
�Yes, Leogar, I love to reek,� Mantitras says, with Chemilo shakes her head in disappointment. �Hum, you know what I mean. Anyway I�m off.�
�You say it,� Chemilo says under her breath, as Mantitras is leaving.
At the Dojo, Kevin and Betsy hurry inside and she follows him down the hallway to the left when they reach a dead-end with a broken grandfather clock. Betsy is clearly confuses as she watches Kevin position both of the clock�s hands to twelve, the grandfather clock slowly swing forward revealing the HQ. Betsy brings it all in as amazement, with Li, Max, M?o, and Jean already in.
�Good, you�re guys okay,� Kevin says.
�Hum, Kevin, Betsy is behind you,� Max acting likes she thinks Kevin isn�t aware of the obvious.
�I know,� Kevin says, in a dull way.
�You do know what a secret is, right?� Li asks him in a sarcastic voice.
�I had no choice, I were forced to morphed in front of her to protects the both of us,� Kevin tries to explain to them.
�Its okay, Kevin,� M?o tells him. �And what is done can�t be undone.�
�Hum, I don�t mean to interrupt, but can someone please explain to me, what�s going on,� Betsy says.
�Respectful, I like that,� M?o smiles his approval. �Allow me that honor, Ms. I�m M?o, one of the Grand Masters of the School of Li�ng. The School of Li�ng or the school of light, trains in various forms of martial arts to fights those who would prey on the good. Such evil came from the School of H?i �n, or the school of darkness, a school of monsters whom also trains in various forms of martial arts but to incises fear and despair, which they feed to become stronger.
�Nineteen years ago, I and the other Grand Masters of Li�ng defeated the Grand Masters of H?i �n, we then proceeds to seal the rest of the school between dimensions. But the seal had grown weak, allowing the martial artist from H?i �n to break through into this world again. This would include the Kombaters that attacked you. They were simply minions to the more powerful martial artists.�
�But why they attacked me?� Betsy asks him.
M?o looks to Kevin to answer that question, but he doesn�t realize he was the one to answers her till after a short pause.
�Oh, hum, because you had my Fury Gauntlets, we switched backpacks,� Kevin holds up his left arm to shows it to her. �But now I�m wearing them, we�re safe.�
�That not entirely true,� Jean says, who been glue to the monitor the whole time. �It seems the School of H?i �n began their first major attack on the city.�
Everyone face the monitor and see a screen showing people running in terror from approaching Kombaters.
�It�s Ranger time,� Li says.
The three Rangers hurry to the exit.
�Rangers,� M?o stops his students in their tracks simply with his voice. �Be careful.�
�Yes, Sensei,� the three says in unison and bow together before running through the exit.
M?o looks toward Betsy. �You�re okay?�
�Oh, hum, yes, I�m just taking it all in stride,� Betsy tells him.
M?o places his hand on her shoulder, and points toward the couch. �Takes a seat, I get you some tea. That will help you out.�
�Okay,� Betsy heads toward the sofa, M?o walks toward the kitchen.
In the heart of Crestwood City, Kombaters are running and jumping through the city with people running away in terror. One Kombater arm swipe a light pose, break it off and cause the pose to fall on top of a car, sending sparks flying. Another Kombater stop a car by punching the front of the car, the man inside open the door and fall out, screaming, another Kombater land on top of the car, scaring the man even more. A woman screams as two Kombaters chase her down a street, she falls over and screams more as the Kombaters are approaching her.
All this is watches by Mantitras, who stands on top of a set of stairs. Purple energy starts emerging from Mantitras� body with his arms open wide.
�Yes, more despair, more fear, the more I feeds the more powerful I becomes,� Mantitras starts laughing.
To Be Continued.