272A/N: Apparently, according to Conner's original lines, this episode was set around Christmas time! My chapter 22 was set after Christmas! I think, for the 33rd episode, December is a ridiculous month for it to be set in. I mean, that's just 5 episodes before the last one which is when they have their prom. 5/6 months pass in the space of 5 episodes? But 33 episodes happen in only 4 months? That's crazy! So yeah, I'm sticking to my timeline. This chapter happens around mid April, just before Easter.
sabina21 & brankel1: Thanks.
hewhoreaps: Hmm, I think that monster was just random like the Tutenhawken one.
Evangella Akriti: Thanks, I wasn't really sure how the idea of the love monster would go down but... it's great to hear that you like it.
guest: I'm not sure if you're the same 'guest' as the next one but thanks for reading!
Guest: He's not their teacher because this is an AU request. He makes his first appearance in chapter 14.
"Conner, I was looking for you," Michael spoke, startling the quartet of teens in the cafe. "What are you guys doing here so late?"
"Dr M, you know I love being a ranger but it can really put you into a crunch when it comes to homework. This paper on primates is taking up all my free time," Ethan complained.
From the table next to him, Kira spoke up, "I know what you mean. I've got a ten page report on reptiles due on Monday."
"Well, I got you guys beat," Conner started, sitting across from Ethan. Everyone looked to him. "I am totally caught up with my homework... but Hayley wants me to take her shopping all weekend."
All four teenagers groaned.
"Well, you know I can't take her," Michael told his son. "I suggest that you all go home and get some rest."
"Yeah, you're right, Dad. I'm gonna hit it," Conner responded, gathering his books and standing up. Ethan and Kira did the same, murmuring their agreement.
"I'm gonna stay here a little while longer. I've got a midterm coming up and I'm way behind," Trent informed them, flicking through his textbook.
"Don't stay up too late," Michael advised before following the others.
In Michael's room, he tossed and turned in the midsts of a nightmare,
The black ranger leapt in front of a creature that looked like a fusion between a chameleon/balsam/medicine prescription.
"Who are you?" Squidrose demanded.
Michael touched the dino emblem on his suit, "The guy who's going to stop you! I am the black ranger!"
"Big deal!" Squidrose snarled before they began to circle each other. "Your poses don't intimidate me. "Squid Missiles!" He chucked pill shaped missiles at the black ranger.
"Brachio staff!" the black ranger called as he jumped into the fight. He repeatedly slashed at the creature who eventually grabbed the staff and turned the tables. He proceeded to slash at Michael with it before he fired more blasts at him.
Outside Michael kept tossing and turning and throwing punches in his sleep,
"I've got your staff!" Squidrose taunted as the black ranger struggled to his feet.
"Nobody takes my weapon and gets away with it!" Michael growled. "Time to take it to the next level! Super dino mode!" He then jumped and somersaulted in the air, kicking the monster in the face, continuing to do so until it finally gave up the staff and exploded. "Don't mess with the man in black," Mike said, catching his staff.
He turned around to see the other rangers running up to him.
"Dad, sorry we're a little late," the red ranger apologized.
"Hey guys, it's all good," his father reassured, giving them a thumbs up.
"Right on," the others stated.
Suddenly, the black rain cloud appeared and so did the monster.
"Don't speak so soon," Squidrose warned.
"Brachiozord!" Michael summoned.
The zords assembled and joined to form the two megazords.
"I got this all wrapped up," Squidrose bragged, sending a plastic sheet at the main megazord which wrapped around it. "Now for the big squeeze."
The megazord began to squeeze megazord, having the same effect on the rangers inside.
"Got a headache?" Squidrose jeered as he held up a massive tablet with a skull and crossbones on it and threw it at the megazord.
Michael panicked from below but calmed down when he saw Tommy and Kim's megazord approach the monster from behind. Within seconds, the monster was destroyed.
Michael's eyes shot open. "I shouldn't have had that calamari for dinner."
"Stupid reptiles," Kira muttered in her sleep, writhing under her bedsheets.
"Wow, a real life power ranger!" Croco D'Vile, a monster that resembled a cross between plant and crocodile with a golden telephone on its head, exclaimed. "What's your name, cutie?"
"Pterano power! Purple Ranger!" Kira replied proudly.
"Oh, hold the phones, I think I'm in love," it sang, dancing around and turning away from the purple ranger. "I know I'm supposed to destroy her but I'd rather marry her!" It turned around to face a horrified Kira. "How about it, sweetie?"
"You're disgusting!" she spat, pointing a dainty finger at it. "Someone tell me this is a dream!"
"Kira!" Ethan shouted as he, Tommy and Conner approached her. "What's the matter?"
"Keep that freak away from me," Kira replied, pushing the guys in front of her.
"Time for destruction!" Croco D'Vile declared, having regained its sense of evil duty. "Triptoids!" Said beings appeared and the rangers fought them. Kira blasted through many of them before she pointed it at Croco D'Vile and fired. "Purple Ranger, I've been struck with the laser of love! That must mean you feel the same way too! We come from two different worlds, oh, how romantic! Come here and give me a kiss."
"Later, Gator!" Kira shouted, running towards the guys. Croco D'Vile caught up to her but was stopped by the others.
"Nice try but you can't stand in the way of true love!"
"You need to crawl back into the swamp!" Kira sneered as she stepped in front of the three guys.
"Purple Ranger, say you'll be mine!" Croco D'Vile begged, getting down on one knee. "You're my ultimate dream girl!"
"You're a nightmare!" Kira screamed.
"Take my heart, it's all yours!" Croco D'Vile requested, sending a huge pink heart at Kira which was deflected by Ethan.
"Yeah, that did it!" Kira praised as the monster fell over from the impact. "Man, I'm glad that's over."
"What's going on here?" Conner questioned, scratching his helmet.
"Some kind of dream curse?" Ethan offered.
"Well, I better wake up soon!" Kira replied.
Soon enough, she sat up in her bed, soaked in sweat. "What was that about?" she wondered aloud.
"Tommy, wake up!"
After a dozen attempts to rouse the green ranger out of his sleep, Kim finally succeeded. Tommy's eyes fluttered open and he slowly sat up, breathing heavily. The pink ranger gave him a concerned look.
"I had a weird dream," he said, in response to his girlfriend's questioning expression.
"About a massive chameleon, right?" she asked, indicating that she'd had the same dream. Tommy nodded. "I woke up straight after that but something still had a hold over you."
"Yeah, I had another one about this crocodile perving on Kira," he stated, a disturbed look on his face.
"God, what's happening?" Kim pondered aloud, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "Let's just try to stay awake..."
Unfortunately, that was easier said than done; the pink ranger fell asleep once again and the roles reversed.
"Kim," Tommy started, shaking his head in an attempt to stay awake. "Wake up!"
"Hello rangers," a monkey with drums greeted. "Welcome to Ethan's nightmare. I hope you brought your dancing boots!"
"Alright, what do you want with us?" Michael demanded.
"What are you?" Kira questioned.
"I'm afraid to ask," Conner commented.
"Same here," Kim agreed.
"I'm a rumba monkey," the monster answered, sending a swirling energy blast at the rangers ultimately flooring them.
"Nicely done," a voice called. Rumba Monkey turned to the other side of the shrine, where he heard clapping, and saw Ethan leaning against the fence. "Creative, I'll give you that."
"And you're next, Blue Ranger," Rumba Monkey replied, blasting Ethan at the same time said ranger returned the favour. "I'm out." The monster ran off.
"Come back here!" Ethan ordered as he chased after it.
Ethan turned over onto his stomach.
"Now, where did my little rangers go?" Rumba Monkey asked as he came over a hill to the city.
"Oh, goodie, he found us!" Kira complained.
"Now I know this must be a dream because nothing in reality could be that ugly," Ethan quipped.
"Oh, that's just cold," Rumba Monkey replied as he fired at the rangers who ducked.
"That's twice you messed up," Conner pointed out.
"Think again, Dino Dork." Rumba Monkey retorted, getting really angry. "Now I'm really steamed!" It launched itself at the black ranger who pushed him back with immaculate ease.
"Put them together!" Ethan commanded. The rangers formed the z rex blaster along with the brachio staff. "Ready? Fire!"
The blast destroyed Rumba Monkey but it returned in skyscraper form. It started dancing and playing the maracas which caused an earthquake.
"That music, we gotta stop it," Conner spoke.
"Zord time!" Ethan announced. The rangers once again formed the two megazords.
"It takes two to tango," Rumba Monkey said, running towards them before it attacked them both with multiple energy blasts.
"I would like to wake up now," Ethan stated. The megazords and the rangers fell to the ground below.
"You guys alright?" Michael asked.
"I think so," Conner answered.
"Looks like he's taking a seat," Michael informed.
"Let's go," Conner ordered. The rangers reformed their megazords again. "Take two. Tyranno drill!"
"You have survived but I doubt your friends will. Rumba Monkey has left the building," Rumba Monkey said before exploding.
Conner thrashed and squirmed under the covers, haunted by his disturbing nightmare.
"I hate Easter."
"What are we chasing?" Ethan asked as the rangers rode their raptor riders.
"I have no idea," Conner answered.
"What the... Easter is forever destroyed for me," Kim commented as she spotted a freak wearing an Easter egg costume standing in front of them. Each of the rangers took turns attacking from their raptor riders,
"Hop on guys," Conner told the others who complied and formed the z rex.
"I brought my own little helpers: triptoids," the monster stated, hiding behind its footsoldiers. "You can't hit us all."
"He's right," Conner surmised.
"We'll waste our power," Kira added.
"Any suggestions?" Conner implored.
Kira sat in front of her dresser, playing with her hairbrush, when she heard Ethan's voice speak.
"Kira, are you there?"
"Yeah, I'm up, I just had the strangest dream," Kira answered.
"Me too. And I don't think it was a regular dream; it was like one of Mesogog's warped ideas," Ethan said.
"We better contact the others," Kira suggested. "Kira to Trent." Her voice was a little hesitant due to the fact that things were awkward between them ever since the party. Something had happened, she was sure, but she didn't know what it was. And from Trent's behaviour, he felt the same.
"Yeah, what's up?" Trent asked tiredly, bringing Kira back to reality.
"Is everything okay there?" she asked, a little concerned.
"Yeah; still studying."
"Whatever you do don't fall asleep," Kira cautioned.
"Easy for you to say," Trent replied. "I wish I was studying all those times instead of drawing..."
Kira laughed, remembering all the drawings, especially the ones of herself. "Okay, just keep studying. I'll, uhh, talk to you later."
"Yeah."
"Conner's not answering, I think he's in trouble," Ethan told Kira after attempting to call Conner.
"I think we should check in with Doctor M," Kira suggested. "Kim and Tommy told me they've already been in our dreams."
"Doctor M, something freaky is going on tonight," Ethan said.
"Don't tell me. Bad dreams?" Michael guessed.
"All five of us, and Conner's not coming out of his."
"Maybe he needs some help."
"How about it, Kira?" Ethan spoke.
"You got it," Kira replied. They focused, sending their energy to Conner to help him fight and destroy the monster in his dreams.
"Man, I'm dragging this morning," Ethan whined as he and the other rangers, minus Trent, walked into the cafe.
"It's not like any of us got any sleep last night," Kira replied.
"I, for one, am looking for a nice long weekend where I can just chill," Conner stated.
"I think we all earned it," Michael concurred. They all exchanged looks of confusion when they heard snoring.
"What's that?" Kira enquired, her mind racing. She could've sworn she'd heard that very same snore before but she just couldn't place it. Shaking her head, Kira, along with the others, walked over to where she could hear the snoring coming from.
"Well at least one of us got some sleep," Michael commented.
A/N: Sorry for any mistakes, I'm really sleep deprived. I've been revising for my exams non-stop and will be doing so until they're over (June). So updates might be slow. Sorry again!
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