Streaks of Purple Saga Volume One - Heather Ray (phonics reader .txt) 📗

Her Eagleheart Pulse was becoming impressively strong, but it still didn't compare to the Maelstrom, her joint attack with Erol. Something about fighting with the other Rangers made the Power feel... complete. There was something uncanny... almost perfect in the fusion of energies. That was the true state of the Power, separated only so it could support a number of champions, but always strongest when united.

But then again, in its ultimate form the Power fused into one person.
When Ghedaliah Ascended, he became the Power... or so it seemed. The Ascension included taking all of the Power into oneself

... not the team.

Would she be strongest alone, or would she fare better if she cooperated, and allowed herself to be led once again?

It was so confus-

Suddenly, Kreia's eyes widened to new proportions.

Something inside her heart... her soul

... had without warning froze

.

The feeling was indescribable. Something had frozen, and the chill shot through her body like a crash of lightning.

Only one word came to her mouth, and all other thoughts vanished.

"Erol!"

Chapter Nine

“Where…?” Erol asked, his question coming out of his throat in a gust of breath that was barely audible…if anyone was nearby to hear.

He blinked his eyes several times, hoping desperately that he could clear the fog that filled his vision.

No…the fog didn’t dissipate. So it wasn’t in his head.

He tried to sit up. It was then he first felt the bonds that held his ankles and wrists, forcing him to remain still on what felt like a bed of stone. Erol grimaced, struggling against the bonds.

Then, a faint glint of light appeared at the side of his head. He gazed at the flickering yellow in surprise, and watched as one by one, matching bits of light flashed into existence.

After a few moments, he was surrounded by a ring of light.

“Rita?” he growled through gritted teeth.

He couldn’t recall what had happened. One minute, he was in his cell, staring at the ceiling while, as usual, plotting some way of escaping.

Rita’s appearance that morning had set him on edge…he knew his time was quickly running out.

If he couldn’t save his own life, he surely could find a way of ending

it before he became a threat to the others.

But then he lost consciousness…and awoke in the dark fog.

The lights then began flickering madly, and a warm gust of wind flooded the chamber. Erol blinked to moisten his eyes, and then lifted his head above him, where the wind seemed to originate.

His breath lodged in his throat as he saw a silver blade, the razor edge reflecting faint light and blood red gemstones decorating the hilt.

The sword began to spin like the hand of a compass, leaving a trace of faintly green energy in its wake. It created a circle of darkness, that slowly began to shrink upon itself.

The murky green color began to brighten, filling the chamber with an eerie green light. Erol watched in astonishment as the sword generated so much green energy, it visually began a sphere of light.

Then, the sword stopped spinning. It pointed directly down at him, and slowly descended.

In the darkness, a faint voice could be heard. “Machti nolem hoi, siki-lan justil. Machti nolem hoi, siki-lan justil. Machti nolem hoi, siki-lan justil…”

The strange alien incantation continued to repeat in a breathy voice, lowering in volume with each word. Shortly, the voice was completely gone, but Erol was convinced the chanting continued, only at a volume he could no longer hear.

Sweat beaded on his skin as the sword hovered over his chest, right above his heart. He closed his eyes, holding his breath to brace himself.

Without warning, the sword plunged into his heart.

First, Erol felt the pain associated with a mortal wound. But this felt unlike any other blade wound he’d experienced. It felt like a blunt icicle had been forced into his skin.

Dizzily, he opened his eyes. He couldn’t see the sword, nor any blood that gave testimony to the wound inflicted. His clothing, while tattered from his months of captivity, was not torn above his chest.

But he still felt

the icicle in his heart. And he shivered as the cold, numbing feeling spread. First, his entire torso froze. Then, the feeling crept down his thighs, settling into his very toes. His arms and fingers succumbed to the chill.

Finally, his neck, jaw, and face felt the bite, and froze in place. His mind became completely addled, and his vision blurred completely.

All he could see was a steady, glowing green light.

Erol tried to blink, but the green light remained. He could no longer sense whether his eyes were open or closed.

All thought vanished. Nothing was left…save a glowing green light.

Chapter Ten

"Machti nolem hoi, siki-lan justil. Machti nolem hoi, siki-lan justil..." Rita breathed, watching intently from a magical portal. She could see within her Dark Dimension, but the line of sight was one way. There was no way the boy could discern her presence, though he likely heard her chanting.

She then exhaled, the incantation dying on her lips at an almost inaudible volume. She clasped her hands together, rubbing her palms in excitement.

"It worked!" she breathed, both amazed and enthusiastic. She then leaned forward, and pulled her body into the portal. Moments later, she stepped into her Dark Dimension, and hovered at the side of her entranced prisoner.

His eyes glowed a vibrant green, and his body was completely frozen as if he were a waxen likeness of a human being.
She held out her hand, and in a flash of energy, the Sword of Darkness appeared within her grasp.

"Rise, my Champion," she commanded, holding the sword over his body, "and take your place at my side."

Erol blinked once, and stiffly rose from the platform. Rita stepped back, giving him enough room, and he lowered himself to one knee.

"Now, who are you," she asked, "and whom do you serve?"

"I am the Green Ranger," he answered, his voice toneless, "and I serve you, my Empress."

"And who is your enemy?" she pressed.

His smooth face wrinkled, the green light flashing in his eyes as his body tensed. "The Power Rangers," he spat out hatefully.

"And why is that?"

"They... abandoned me," he reflected, his snarl deepening, "They used and abandoned me. I owe them no loyalty." He then lifted his eyes to her. "Also, they are your enemies, and I am your Champion."

Rita smirked gleefully. It worked! The spell worked! He serves me, the forger of the Sword of Darkness, and the darkness within has blinded him to love and devotion. Now, he is truly mighty

, not crippled by compassion or mercy. The Rangers will quickly fall

.

"Excellent, Green Ranger," she commended, resting the hilt of the sword against his shoulder. "Now, take your weapon, and your destiny."

His hand rose to grasp the sword. He rose to his feet, scrutinizing the majestic blade with a keen eye.

A vicious smirk pulled his lips as he turned away from Rita, and experimentally swung the sword. The blade sang as it sliced through air.

"Marvelous," Erol whispered, truly awed.

Rita smirked proudly. "Of course it is. And here is the rest of your power."

She held out her palm, revealing the golden Dragon Coin. Erol gazed at it thoughtfully, a sense of familiarity rushing through him.

"You remember this?"

He nodded, taking the coin from her and turning it in his fingers. "Yes. I was the Green Ranger, defending Earth against you." His gaze then shifted, and a cold smirk appeared as he looked upon Rita. "But I know better now."

Rita nodded, her hands falling on her hips. "You may stay here and practice with that sword," she decided, "After a few weeks, you will be ready to face the Rangers."

Erol frowned. "I'm strong enough to fight them now."

Rita glared at him, her expression brooking no protest. "Not yet you aren't," she growled, "You will fight the Rangers when I

say so, and not sooner."

Erol quickly bowed at the waist. "My apologies, Empress."

Rita gave him a nod, and then exited through her portal.

"He's still quite stubborn," she mused, as she returned to her private chamber, "His thirst for blood is even greater than I calculated. He wants

to fight. But the evil is so new to him... there is no way to predict his behavior. I can't count on him not to recall his love for the Rangers."

She then smirked. "All in due time."

Chapter Eleven

“With discipline, you can even transcend my

abilities…”

“…that is the ultimate goal of your training…”

“…you must learn to use your whole

strength.”

“When we are united, there is nothing we cannot accomplish…”

“…anger isn’t the key to your whole strength…”

“Allow your intelligence to help you solve the puzzle…”
Some believe the voices heard in dreams are the mind’s way of piercing together sliver of an impossible puzzle. Others believe the voices are attempts at communication, from the gods or passed ancestors. Still another hypothesis is that the unconscious can tap into the minds of loved ones, hearing their concern for them.