The Battle That Ended The Century

[cityship]

People say that war is hell. This looked it.

Buildings and cars and bodies are scattered like broken toys as far as the eye can see, stretching out toward a dirty horizon. Even the clouds seems streaked with mud and blood, and they're taking it out on everyone below with a constant stream of cold, soaking rain.

The sounds of fighting seem to come from all directions, but at this moment, there's no one else in sight.

A breather. The calm before the storm.

[[OOC: This is for everyone who was involved with "The Lurking Fear". Questions go to Milo or Kaylin.]]

Comments

2/2

[morphitudinous]

The light fades, and with it, some odd shadow-strings slink off into the darkness.

Gone is the Nightmare King's vassal. Gone is the ghostly apparition of Billy.

Only a single entity remains: Billy, lying face-down in the dirt as he tries to adjust to being in control of his own body again. He's bruised, bleeding in a few places, and feeling incredibly weak, but...in control. This body can't be used to hurt the others anymore.

That part of the battle is over. Now, another one is just beginning---both outside and inside. It takes more effort than he'd like, but Billy slowly pushes himself onto all fours. When he looks up, his face says everything his voice can't---what have I done? Will they ever forgive me?

[Anyone can start a subthread from here, even though Renne's continuing. Sorta like open posts, they all happen in a general hubbub at once.]

Re: 2/2

[bluebrassmonkey.livejournal.com]

In the lower tenors of his voice, the Anthem continues.

In the rest of his voice, Renne doesn't speak for several minutes. Rather, he controls the searing burn in his legs and begins crawling again; crawling toward the scent and all that is Billy.
His expression remains neutral but as they say, "the eyes never lie". In his case, he's restraining himself from outright pouncing the Human right then and there. Various aches are noted and each one "felt" in his odd emotion-creature way.
Each one is filed off and listed like an inventory.

It all may seem completely detached and dispassionate.

If or when he gets close enough to touch the Human however, it's a different story inside. Somewhere, part of him hisses at the Nightmare King.

Knight to bishop. Pawn forward. Check, Bastard.

[morphitudinous]

Did you know I was once the president of the school chess club? It's an oddly disjointed thought, but the mix of anger, sorrow, guilt, and relief he feels have warped his mental processes somewhat. Yeah, I agree. I don't know what I would've done if I'd hurt you, he thinks, feeling anger at the thought.

Upon feeling Renne's touch, he goes against what might've once been his better judgment and fully reopens their bond, partially cut off in the beginning to protect his friend from harm. Well, that hadn't worked too well.

"I'll keep fighting him," he whispers with his damaged voice. Atonement. It's all he can think about right now.

[bluebrassmonkey.livejournal.com]

Chess?

A pause.

I trust you.

The gates come mutually open and he nearly cries out as the Bond floods forth. It's a thing he returns with an insane gusto even as in the physical world, skinny arms reach out to embrace the Human.
It doesn't seem to matter that he's in the middle of a war zone; the creature simply sits down and begins to rock a little. And if he's allowed, a hand/paw gently pets. Be it his hair or his back, whichever he can reach.
I will be strong for him.

"Bee do goo-d. Is prrraowd. Eee...Yeu taww-k hurrr-ted."

[morphitudinous]

Despite the danger of their current location, Billy can't resist returning the warm embrace he's pulled into. Even if it hurts a little. Oddly enough, he notes that Renne's paws carefully avoid any of his injuries, as if he already knows where not to touch.

Sighing deeply, he carefully squeezes Renne once and transmits his thoughts directly to avoid more vocal strain. He disapproved of my voice. It wasn't threatening enough for an evil puppetmaster such as himself, so he uttered every line in a growl that my vocal cords were never meant to sustain. It's done some damage, but it should fade eventually.

[bluebrassmonkey.livejournal.com]

Pain. Please, this must be remedied.

Worry. There's no anger there, no shame and no pity. Just acceptance and that existence of faith Renne had never had before. Slowly rocking, the creature keeps up his steady movements and the Anthem with part of his own voice.
He'd been on battlefields before and even these places encounter lulls.

It's in such a time that he takes to let the air around him be still. His mind however, his self is hardly so unmoving.

We shall defeat the entity. I do not believe it worthy of being called a Life-Form. One, proud o f thee. One find thee, have pain. Please, how to eliminate pain, One know. Permit, yes?

[morphitudinous]

Only if it won't place a heavy burden on you, Billy adds sternly, but otherwise he relents. As he knows, the imp is stubborn and showing hesitance would lead to a prolonged argument, wasting time. He knows where Renne's coming from. He's been the team healer before, wondering why the others won't just accept the help they need. Now it's his turn.

I can go on if I have to, but I know you intend for me to relent. I'll accept the inevitable to save time, he almost-teases, a line that would've been perfect with the usual energy.

[bluebrassmonkey.livejournal.com]

The only burden is if ever One displease thee, or find thee in pain.

It's the truth, just as anything is here. Holding on, the creature whispers a kind of forewarning -- this little process of his has been known to freak a few people out on more than one occasion. It isn't every day skin rapidly fuses two beings into one, now is it?

Em-path, is Human word. One care for thee. First, two-become-one. Follows, from One, come offer of take-pain-away. Follows, Time shall walk back and return thee whole.

[morphitudinous]

An empath...then you'd take my pain upon yourself, to some extent. He's uncomfortable with the idea. I've hurt enough of my friends today.

Funny, that. He's not concerned about what 'two become one' means at all, just the idea of dishing out more pain.

[bonnypiperlad]

Jamie entered the area slowly, using a large branch that he had scrounged from someone or other's nightmare to support himself. It was a good piece of wood - sturdy and well formed - and he figured should worst come to worst he could use it as a weapon. Right now, however, he welcomed the chance to simply use it as a walking stick. His leg hurt enough that he knew he had done something else to it by crashing into the wall, and while he could move without it, he was much faster with the additional help.

Casting a cautious look around, he frowned. This obviously wasn't the same as Culloden, nor was it even exactly like the World War I recreation that he, the Doctor and Zoe had found themselves a part of not all that long ago. Still, Jamie knew it to be a battlefield, and he adjusted his grip slightly on his branch - readying himself for any fight that would be coming.

He spotted the evil Ranger on the T-Rex, and his frown deepened. Even with help, he was still fairly slow, and a good distance away. So by the time he actually made it over to where the Blue Ranger was, everything was pretty much already over.

He's not at all sure that Billy lying there isn't some sort of trick. It would be like the Nightmare King to make it seem that Billy was helpless and then turn on whoever was foolish enough to help him. Jamie shifts his weight onto his good leg, about to lift the branch he's carrying and bring it crashing down onto his friend's head if necessary...but he hesitates. The weird little blue thing nearby didn't seem frightened. Actually, Jamie had absolutely no idea what it was, or what it was doing, but it wasn't acting like a frightened thing. So rather than use the stick, Jamie tries a tentative-sounding question first.

"Billy?"

[morphitudinous]

Oh, Jamie, Billy will thank you for showing some restraint with the stick. His head's just been thumped, and...yeah, it's not as bad as Jamie's injury (by his own hands), but hardly a walk in the park.

"I'm so sorry, Jamie," he croaks out in what would have been a normal sincere lament if not for the vocal damage left by constant growling. "You're injured and it's all my fault. I jarred your leg, and your head---and I would've shot you if I'd been the slightest unit of strength weaker. I may never be able to atone for that, but I'll die trying."

[bonnypiperlad]

That sounds more like Billy - although it is a little hard to tell with the croaking voice - and the apology seems sincere enough. There's still a little niggling bit of doubt, though, and Jamie's quiet for a moment as he tries to think of some way to figure out once and for all if this is truly his friend. The problem is that he doesn't know how many of Billy's memories the Nightmare King was able to use. Finally, he affects a rather bland expression, and asks a question.

"What did I tell ye about unicorns, when we first met?"

It's something, he thinks, that the Nightmare King wouldn't bother with - not when there would be so many better things that he can twist and use to his own purposes. And Billy would know that Jamie described them as being fierce beasties.

Jamie watches Billy carefully while he waits for a response. Even if the Nightmare King does bother to dredge up the information, the way Billy says it will tell him a lot.

[morphitudinous]

A test, Billy realizes. Of course it would be like the Nightmare King to utilize a situation like this for an advantage. They'll soon be in real danger if Billy can't prove his identity and one of the monsters jumps them, so he hurries to answer.

"I told you that my unicorn Zord was sometimes gently mocked by my teammates for resembling a mythical creature they perceived as a pushover. They had lions, griffins, dragons, tigers, and firebirds, and I had a unicorn. But then you told me that you've met one, and it was quite a powerful creature. Power, unfortunately, that was used against you. Just as mine was today."

...yeah, okay, so maybe giving his usual long answer wasn't the greatest of ideas with all that voice damage. He hopes that was intelligible over the croaks, whispers, and slowness as he rubs at his throat. That hurts too---from where he'd attempted to strangle himself to stop himself from hurting Adam further, he remembers.

[bonnypiperlad]

Fortunately for Billy's throat, that's enough detail to overcome Jamie's suspicions. He visibly relaxes as Billy speaks, although he doesn't do so completely. There's too much danger at the moment for him to do that.

"It's not your fault," he says then. "I was the one who attacked ye to start with when I was already hurt." Which was probably not the best plan, all things considered - but Jamie has a problem thinking these sort of things through. However, he is keenly aware that having a lengthy discussion about the situation right now is a bad, bad idea. If they both make it through this, they can work things out then.

"Look, we can talk about it later. Can ye move? I think we need to find some of the others before that giant slavering beastie heads back this way."

[morphitudinous]

Billy frowns and shakes his head despite the pounding sensation, obviously disagreeing on the identity of the blameworthy party, but he knows Jamie's right. They need to pull together and knock some heads in quickly, and he's not very well equipped to do that without his powers. More planning is required.

"Affi---yes," he confirms in that raspy voice, choosing the shorter word for once. He stands, more slowly than usual and slightly clumsy, but manages it all the same. Then, he's moving next to Jamie, looking in all directions for other signs of life. "Check the rubble?"

[bonnypiperlad]

Jamie nods. "Aye." Moving carefully, he's able to avoid jarring his leg further for the moment as he searches. He's hopeful for a moment when he thinks he spots someone crouching, but it's quickly dashed when he reaches the person.

"Dead," he says regretfully. Poor fellow. The man still has his weapons on him, however. There's a moment's hesitation, but Jamie's practicality wins out over any lingering doubts about taking things from the dead. They're going to need whatever they can find. He slings the rifle over his shoulder, and stumps back over to Billy, offering out the man's knife hilt first.

"Here. I found my knife." It's in its usual spot at his waist now. "Ye take this, and we'll see about getting some more weapons, aye?"

[morphitudinous]

I'm sorry, he thinks to the corpse, bowing his head for the millisecond he can spare in respect. Billy nods grimly when Jamie returns, carefully strapping the offered knife next to the now-useless morpher on his belt.

Glancing down at Jamie's leg, then up at the rifle, Billy winces with guilt before voicing his idea. "I'll fight close-range, you shoot?"

He's still looking for a long-range weapon of his own, though. Billy moves through a path left in a pile of rubble, searching high and low for monsters and friends alike. Even monster-infested friends, he thinks bitterly.

[imma-frog.livejournal.com]

Still dressed in his Ninjetti outfit, Adam crouched to Billy's side. Softly, he laid a hand on his friend's back and the other went to the closest arm, holding him steady. "Easy, easy," He murmured, rubbing Billy's back.

[morphitudinous]

Billy lifted his head, trying to suppress a moan of pain as he did so. There was Adam, kneeling by his side as if he still trusted him. Holding on as if he still trusted him.

"You're the one who should take it easy," Billy retaliated, glancing guiltily at a spot on the black cloth that he knew concealed a blaster wound.

[imma-frog.livejournal.com]

"Yes, well, I'm not the one who fought with an entity inside myself," Adam murmured, pushing the other teen to a sitting position. "Besides, this was nothing compared to what you went through, alright? I'll be fine."

[morphitudinous]

"I'm not resting until that's healed," Billy decided stubbornly, crossing his arms. "The doctors won't hear the last of me until I'm sure that you're not in pain because of me anymore."

Jaw set, Billy pushed his feet under him and stood, peeking out at the battlefield and then crouching back down. "Uh...Adam, how do you know I've truly recovered? As I recall, my shadow self repeatedly tried to convince you that I was in control."

[imma-frog.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," Adam replied truthfully. "But that doesn't give me the excuse not to help if I see you in pain. If I judged you every time you fell, thinking 'What if this is the King playing a trick on me?' then at some point, I won't be helping you when you really need it because I'll be too busy doubting you."

He gave a shrug and a shy smile. "It's gotta be the real you at some point, right?"

Example? Now would be nice. He glanced at his shoulder. "It doesn't really hurt at the moment, Billy. I'll be fine once the battle is over."

[morphitudinous]

Adam's frank answer struck Billy hard. That level of loyalty stunned him because he'd never thought about it before. To risk everything, just because you earnestly believe your friend is in there and trying to escape...it took courage.

Billy swallowed hard, squeezing his voice around a suspicious lump in his throat to speak. "I don't know what I ever did to deserve you," he admitted softly.

Then, he finally noticed the attire. "Where did you find that uniform?"

[imma-frog.livejournal.com]

"You're a friend," Adam replied easily. "That's all there is to it."

He looked down at his uniform. "Uh, well, the Morphin Grid and Power Coins got destroyed a while back by this guy named Ivan Ooze. Alpha sent us to this planet called Phaedos to get a new power that most never receive because the journey is treacherous. We met this woman called Dulcea who granted us the power of the Ninjetti which uses our animal spirits as a power. My spirit animal is the Frog." He blushed a bit at this. "A-Anyway, we got the Great Power and so now we use the animal spirits to morph into either this form or to the Ranger uniform."

[morphitudinous]

That satisfied Billy for now. He nodded, and was almost tempted to smile, but curiosity about the future soon snagged his attention.

"Oh, so that's why you called out 'the Frog!' during the battle. I wondered why---I thought you might have been attempting to confuse my shadow self with a secret code." Billy looked down at this, feeling slightly dumbfounded. "Anyway, that's really fascinating. So we all had animal spirits? I wonder if it would be possible to bond with mine."

Ah, science and knowledge. Wonderful distractions from guilt---but they don't last long. Determined, he plucked a rifle from the ground and peered out at the battle again. It largely seemed to consist of trench warfare in a broken urban environment, with World War II-era soldiers sniping at them from every side. "Now that I'm done hurting people, I need to help. If we can keep the non-fighters out of danger and secure the area, we should be fine---though that appears to be a difficult task."