The Hellhound's Return

Light Source, Part II

"That's why we're always running off all the time," said Kali. "We were chosen to protect the world from evil."

Toby laughed, nervously. "Uh... no, you tried that one on me before," he said. "Now - now, what's the real truth?"

"That is the real truth!" the team said, simultaneously.

"Okay, uh, well, why don't you prove it to me?" Toby asked. "Let me see you, uh... morph!"

Kali looked down.

"We can't," said Chip. "We had our powers stole by an overweight, sloppy frog."

"Convenient. But the real Power Rangers would figure out a way to get their powers back," said Toby, thinking out loud. "The fate of the world rests in their hands."

Maddie nodded.

"See, the real Power Rangers would realise that the frog was overweight and use their agility," Toby jumped behind a record stand. He popped back up and leaned against it, falling sideways as it moved. "They're in such great shape. If he goes left, well, they'd tumble right. If he came forward, well, they'd flip over the top."

Kali glanced at Xander as he pushed away from the front counter.

"The real Power Rangers are as healthy as they come," Toby continued, spurring the team on with every word.

"You're right, Toby."

"Let's do it," said Maddie, heading for the door.

Kali grinned and hopped down from the counter. "Thanks, Tobs, see you later!" she called, chasing after her friends.

~X~

Reaching the scene, the team found Daggeron and Hekatoid facing off against one another. The knight was unmorphed, and Hekatoid looked pleasantly happy with himself.

"Fall, my babies! Take over this land!" Hekatoid shouted, waving his hands through the air as he looked towards the clouds. His tadpoles, despite Solaris Knight's interference, had grown into full-size frogs and were ready to fall.

"Not on our watch!" said Nick, catching Hekatoid's attention.

Hekatoid held up a jar that glittered vibrantly in the late afternoon sun. "I have your powers," he said. "You can't do anything."

"Don't count on it," said Kali, clenching her hands into fists. She raced forward and jumped over a blob of tar that Hekatoid fired at the team, as the others ducked aside.

"Hey, that's not fair!" Hekatoid wailed, raising his arm to block a black energy ball that Kali threw at him. He may have taken her morphin' abilities, but just like when she'd lost her magic due to the Dark Wish, she still could conjure energy balls.

As Hekatoid recovered from her surprise attack, Kali ducked behind several stone steps and glanced at Daggeron and Jenji as they joined her. "We have to get that jar," she said.

"I can distract him," said Jenji, even though he did sound so enthusiastic.

"No," said Kali, shaking her head. "Stay here." She peered out from behind the wall and met Nick's gaze, glanced at Hekatoid and made an energy ball in her hand.

Nick nodded, catching her train of thought and then withdrew.

"Hey, frog face!" Kali called, racing out from behind the wall and throwing another energy ball at Hekatoid. He howled as it collided with his back.

"How do you still have powers?!" Hekatoid whined. "I stole them from you."

"Trust me, I'm wondering the same thing," said Kali. She jumped backwards as Hekatoid fired a blob of tar at her, and retaliated with an energy ball of her own. The two collided in mid-air causing the energy ball to disappear and the black tar to fizzle out.