The Terran Rangers/Final Fantasy VII by Heather Ray (summer beach reads txt) 📕

Meanwhile, not too far away, the Gold X-Ranger continued her hand to hand battle against the villainess Nirvana. After the arrival of the telepathic Power Ranger, Nirvana was able to discern that her unique perception-distorting ability wouldn't be very advantageous. Kimberly easily saw through the illusory civilians that had kept the Black Ranger occupied, and no holographic energy attacks would phase her.

For once, Nirvana had to fight her own battle.

Not that she wasn't very capable of doing so.

Dodging a ferocious round-house from the Gold Ranger, Nirvana dropped to the ground, positioning her hands flat on the ground. Pushing up with all her might, she swung her strong legs into the air, smashing into Kim's chest with brutal force. Kimberly was momentarily stunned, yet recovered quickly enough to catch Nirvana's foot as she attempted to pummel the downed Ranger with her heel.

"The first rule of any sport is to keep your balance," Kim said, tightening her grip on Nirvana's ankle. Nirvana growled darkly, trying to pull her leg free from Kim's grasp. Yet, she was unable to match the heightened strength of a Power Ranger.

Grinning beneath her helmet, Kimberly twisted the creature's ankle, and thrust her backwards, throwing her through the glass doors of the office building, back into the abandoned parking lot.

Nirvana howled with rage, throwing back her thick ivory hair and fixing Kimberly with a violet stare that would freeze the blood of the craven.

The cold glare had little effect on Kim.

"Brat," Nirvana growled, her eyes glowing, "let's see how long you can fight my hypnotic suggestion."

Kim quivered as the ground beneath her feet seemed to melt and ripple, as if she were suddenly standing on an ocean. Her eyes narrowing beneath her helmet, Kim concentrated her powers, telekinetically lifting her body into the air.

Nirvana discontinued her draining manipulation, and leapt out of the way of a powerful force burst of telekinetic energy. She recovered quickly, and suddenly began bounding back towards the building.

My only chance is to use some of the weak humans against her.

*Not so fast!*

came a resoundingly loud voice in Nirvana's head. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, her legs stopped moving. She cried out in frustration as all the strength in her legs gave out, causing her to fall on her face.

"I just discovered something," Kimberly said smugly, planting herself on the ground near the creature. "You Dreadkin aren't too much unlike humans. The brain structure is very similar, as a matter of fact. Sure, you've got more powers, but the functions of the brain are the same. It just took a bit of effort to accustom my telepathy to it."

Nirvana felt the fury building within herself. Here she was, at the mercy of the puny Gold Ranger! Not only were her abilities useless, but they didn't afford her any skill that could combat the telepathy that kept her on so short a leash.

There was only one thing she could do.

Nirvana stared up at the Gold Ranger, a cold smile on her dark lips. "What are you going to do now?"

Kimberly was startled by the question. No creature had ever asked her that before. "What?"

The smile deepened. "You won't kill me. You can't! You're one of the 'good guys.' You can't kill a helpless being!"

Kim grimaced. "The Power Rangers have destroyed more of Finster's and Zedd's monsters than we can possibly count!"

"True," Nirvana conceded, "but you said it yourself: we Dreadkin are simply too much like humans. You just can't be sure...that I'm just some magical husk given life. How do you know I'm not as alive as you are?"

Kimberly was thunderstruck. What would she do? Could she bring herself to kill this villain? True, she was clearly evil...but isn't killing her shameless murder anyway?

For a brief moment, Kim's thoughts turned to her experience in the Age of Apocalypse, when the monstrous being Dark Beast was murdered by the heroes. It sickened her to think that the only way to uphold justice was to revert to the murder of other living beings. Other humans. Evil monsters weren't alive, so they couldn't really die. But evil people...did she have the right to pass judgement?

Nirvana saw her chance, and once again fixed Kimberly with a mind-numbing assault. This time, she manipulated Kim's sense of touch, placing in Kim's head the pain of thousands of needles digging deep into her skin.

Kimberly screamed in agony, collapsing to the ground. Through tear-filled eyes, she saw Nirvana rise triumphantly.

"Puny human," Nirvana's deep voice rumbled, "so easily confused..."

Weary and disoriented, Kimberly sealed her eyes closed. She forced herself to push past the searing pain in every inch of her body. Sweat beaded on her brow, and her entire body trembled with exertion, but she managed to do it...to block out the illusory pain Nirvana had created.

Then, instinct kicked in.

Kimberly immediately erected a cocoon of telekinetic energy around Nirvana, encasing the villainess within, and preventing her from moving. Nirvana growled under her breath, smashing her fist into the barrier. Moving quickly, so as not to afford any time for Nirvana to prepare a new attack, Kimberly reached for her Thunderbow, and took aim.

"You're dangerous," Kimberly decided aloud. "You won't rest until you've littered the ground with the blood of the innocent. I think I'll take my chances."

Nirvana's eyes widened as she saw a rather bright, powerful bolt of lightning form as Kim drew back the string.

"It's been awhile since I've trashed one of Zedd's creeps with my Power Bow," the Gold Ranger reflected, tightening her grasp on the bow. To Nirvana's horror, the lightning bolt increased in intensity, creating an aura of bright yellow power that surrounded the petite Ranger entirely, making her almost too bright to gaze upon.

"Yes, the monsters have gotten stronger," Kim continued, dropping the shield from Nirvana, "but so have I..."

Nirvana was too stunned to move as the massive energy cascade sliced in her direction, electrifying the very air it streaked through.

In one fatal moment, the power crashed full force into the Dreadkin, searing her with the heat of the heart of a star.

In milliseconds, she was reduced to the magic dust of the clay Finster used to spawn her. Kim released the nervous breath she was holding, once ensured that she hadn't committed an irreparable sin.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness crashed into the exhausted Gold Ranger. Swaying slightly, Kim balanced herself on her Thunderbow, taking a quick survey of the surrounding area. Although the citizens were still mostly unconscious, they seemed unhurt.

Satisfied, yet still fighting for lucidity, the Gold Ranger vanished in a carrier wave of gold light.

Jason threw himself to the grass once again, just barely dodging the tracking missile that was Blaze's Black Flame. The burning focus of intense heat energy sailed only inches from his black helmet, and the proximity let the heat penetrate the protective armor of the Black Terran Ranger.

Jason's eyes narrowed behind his helmet, as his attention returned to the huge ball of fire that was already turning around to strike again. While he was otherwise occupied, the crimson-haired Dreadkin's ruby eyes flashed, creating a stream of black fire headed in Jason's direction.

Unable to move in time, the fire crashed into his back, burning his flesh through the sturdy black armor and golden shield that protected him. With a painful yelp, Jason fell to the ground, digging up grass beneath him.

"You're not doing much better than your little friend," Blaze laughed, brushing off her multi-toned catsuit. "Actually, I think she's a lot quicker than you."

Jason groaned, trying to focus his mind again. Unfortunately, he didn't get the chance, as the powerful Black Flame finally hit it's target, pummeling Jason further into the ground and singing his armor.

For a few moments, the Black Ranger lay motionless at the bottom of a six-foot deep hole in the ground of Angel Grove Park. Every inch of his body was screaming to him in pain, making it nearly impossible for him to form a coherent thought.

I've...got...to...focus...

he yelled at himself. Use...my...Terra...powers...

His arms trembling because of the effort it took to move them, Jason lay his palms open on the singed dirt beneath him. A faint glow penetrated the ground from his palms, and the earth shook.

Blaze stumbled at the minor earthquake, and grimaced when the Black Ranger was raised from the heart of the earth, on a pillar of stone and soil. He was still clearly disoriented, but he had managed to pull his flighty consciousness together for a clear assault.

For a moment, Blaze chastised herself for not finishing him off quicker.

"Earth Sword!" Jason cried, holding up his right hand. A large sword with sharp silver blade appeared in a flash of black light. Jason leapt down from his perch, pointing his sword at the villainess.

She laughed. "You can barely stand up, Boy. You think you're getting close enough to me to use that?"

Jason didn't answer, although a faint energy built on the length of the sword. Blaze frowned at Jason's failure to reply, and her hands began sparking again with heat energy. "I think I've got enough in me for one more really good Black Flame. Say hello to your ancestors for me."

Jason felt the wind pick up as Blaze concentrated her powers. Gritting his teeth with determination, he fought against the wind currents and held his sword high in the air. It flashed with an intense display of black light, causing the ground to quake yet again. Then, he twisted the blade downwards, and thrust it into the ground, burying it almost to the hilt.

He removed his left hand from the hilt, while his right was still tightly grasping his Terra weapon. Then, with a cold grin hidden behind his mask, Jason raised his arm halfway, and tensed his fingers.

Blaze cried out in shock as an earthen hand erupted from the ground beneath her, holding her in its grassy palm. She completely lost balance, falling onto her back as she was lifted further into the air.

Then, Jason began enclosing his fingers, forming a fist.

Blaze shrieked as the soil fingers began to squeeze. Hard.

"You may be able to evaporate all the water thrown at you," Jason muttered, his gaze turning to the lake only a few yards away, "but I don't think you can escape the bed of wet soil beneath the water."

Then, he thrust his hand towards the lake, causing the earthen hand to do the same.