The Hellhound's Return

Three chapters left until the end!

The Manticore creaked as it struggled to maintain a firm grip on the closing portal. Kali could hear her friends panting with exertion. If this portal closed then they would be trapped in the Underworld and Hekatoid would be loose in the city with Udonna still as his captive.

They needed to do something.

She needed to do something.

She knew better than anyone what it was like to lose someone you loved, not knowing if the were alive or dead. But Udonna was alive, and many people were waiting for her to come home.

"I can't hold it much longer!" said Maddie, falling against her podium.

"Me too," said Chip.

Kali felt an unfamiliar burn deep inside her body, she felt it rise and spread down her arms and into her fingertips. She clenched her eyes shut and grit her teeth, as a growl rumbled from the back of her throat and she forced the portal open wide.

"Woah," Xander and Vida murmured, each one stealing a glance at Kali.

"How did you do that?" Nick asked.

"It doesn't matter," Kali said, feeling a lot weaker than she had. "Let's just get out of here."

The others nodded and stepped through the portal, and looked around the area for any sign of Hekatoid. They had stepped through into the countryside, and the sea extended into the horizon behind them.

"Where'd he go?" Chip asked.

Hekatoid burst out of the sea and slammed his hammer down onto the Manticore. "Right here!" he laughed. He held up the cage that had Udonna inside, and taunting held her out to the Rangers. "I have Udonna!" he chanted.

Kali shook her head as she forced the Megazord back to its feet. "I hated it when Joe did that to me as a kid, and I still hate it now," she said, forming a fist and punching out. The Megazord copied her actions and smashed its fist into Hekatoid.

"You can't have her!" Hekatoid wailed as the Manticore forced his hand against a ledge, loosening his fingers around the cage.

"Let go!" Chip yelled.

"I won't give her up," Hekatoid yelled. "She's my prize!"

The cage dropped from his hands and the team gasped as it tumbled towards the floor.

"Grab it!" Vida called.

Maddie reached out to grab the cage with the Manticore's free hand but missed as Hekatoid's tongue got there first. The blue ranger recoiled in disgust and Hekatoid tossed the cage into the air.

"No!" Kali yelled, swinging her arm wildly and knocking the cage from Hekatoid's grasp. "Oh shit!" she added, as it arched through the air.

Releasing Hekatoid the Manticore dove for the cage but missed as a blob of black tar surrounded it, causing it to disappear. The Rangers groaned as they, instead, smashed into the side of a mountain.

"I've got her back!" Hekatoid laughed.

"He's working my last nerve," Kali grumbled.

"And I'll also take something else," Hekatoid added, disappearing.

Vida looked around as ripples crashed through the cockpit. "What's happening?" she asked.

"Energy levels are critical!" said Chip.

"We're being ejected!" said Kali. "Everyone hold on!"

As the last of the Manticore's energy fizzled out, the Rangers were thrown from their seats and hit the ground, demorphin' on impact. They panted and slowly got back to their feet, checking on the others and helping them if needed.