[Sentai]

The days which followed were quiet. The school, and most the city outside the walls, were still being rebuilt. The people had come to rely on the Guardian Rangers as more Lizardmen were found wandering the city after the battle. But so far... no more of the Generals. And this worried Melissa. As night fell across the city she was hidden away within their secret refuge. The room had been made to look like the grand meeting hall of her home. The stone walls ended in a large arched ceiling made for giants, lined with tapestries and paintings saved from that fateful day of the attack. Some were even burned and torn. And there she stood at the end of the hall, over looking the falls running against the far wall. Watching the images within the water change. The all out assault of the Elder Gods, the way her team fought bravely to stave them off, the defeat of the Boar General.. None of it made sense.
"I can hear you." Malory stiffened and Melissa only smiled. "The room echoes.. What do you need, Malory?" The young Exalted Blue ranger gave a soft shrug, as though Melissa could see behind her, and held onto one of the high-backed chairs lining the long table in the middle of the room. "We're worried about you... You've been in here since everything got quiet. What's wrong?"
"... I don't like the quiet."
Malory's eyebrows knit. "Why? We won, they left.. why question it?"
Melissa only shook her head. "Because it's to easy. They're biding their time, planning, they'll be back. We caught them off guard the first time."
She pushed off the chair gently, and began walking for their fearless leader. Hands clasped gentle behind her back as she turned to watch the waterfall images with Melissa. "So what do we do..?"
Melissa's turn to knit her brows. "You want to continue being Exalted Guardians?"
Malory looked as though Melissa just slapped her across the cheek. And it took her almost a minute to regain herself enough to actually say anything. "Yes! ... I admit, we're afraid. But what if they come back and start hurting people again? None of us could stand by and just let that happen. And if we're the only ones that can help.. then we want to help."
She couldn't help the smile that grew listening to Malory.. but before she could say a word an alarm was raised through the chamber. The waterfall changing to a live picture of the business district downtown.. And a new general. A Phoenix.. Tall, slender, with large multi-colored wings behind him wearing shimmering white armor. "Call the others!"

People screamed. Running for their lives as the Lizards ransacked the businesses and shops, savagely beating people in the streets like cattle, burning anything that was left. While the Phoenix calmly walked among them, stroking the tuft of beard beneath his beak. "Go, My Lizards... Draw them unto my awaiting grace..."
The Phoenix's answer came as explosions erupted all around him, forcing him to raise an arm to shield his eyes. And when his hand lowered, he saw the five sentai drawn to defend the people from his madness. Each Exalted wearing skintight black one-pieces trimmed in their respective colors. “Malory, Malcolm, defend the innocent. Get them to safety! Jennifer, Dwayne, handle the Lizards! .. Birdie is mine.”
The Phoenix only grinned giving a rough snap of his fingers, before once more stroking along the tuft of his beard. “Ankh is not that easily defeated!” Stretching his wings the team scattered! Blue and Black took for the people. Fending off the Lizards, helping bystanders far from the chaos surrounding them. While Pink and Yellow took for the Lizards massed around them. Leaving Birdie to Melissa.. Clenching her hands tight she took straight for him. Ripping off her buckle along the way, thrusting it forward as she cried out her Henshin!

GUARD THE FUTURE! KONG OF THE FLAMES!

Enveloped by brilliant crimson light, Melissa emerged as Guardian Red and brought her Beast Blade down against Ankh’s shielded chest. The Phoenix stumbled back. Pushed back again and against as Red continued her relentless assault.. But it was all a feint. Without warning he reached up and snatched the blade of her weapon to press his hand against her chest. “Erupt."
Sometimes.. These monsters were just stupid. What did he think was going to happen when he erupted her in flames? Because what happened was the flames were drawn into the sword she held with both hands like a great vacuum. Leaving her completely untouched. "Kong of Flames.. remember?" She drew her sword up but Ankh dodged. Spreading his wings and launching himself back to avoid the strike. But she was overconfident. She never thought could be a second part of his attack.. Another snap of his fingers and her sword became hot. To hot.. "Fu.." The sword erupted, exploding within her hand sending her hurtling backward toward, and through, an already ruined storefront.

Guard the World! Manta Ray of the Oceans!
Guard the People! Oxen of the Lands!
Guard the Spirit! Hawk of the Open Skies!
Guard the Innocent! Wolf of the Wilds!

Red emerged from the ruined storefront, watching with pride as her team gathered to defend her. Each one gripping their weapons as she approached. Gingerly laying her hand on Black's shoulder, the large man stepped aside. Allowing their leader through.. "We take him down now, and we take him down hard.. Everyone, combine our weapons!"

Flame Beast Blade!
Land Beast Axe!
Ocean Beast Bow!
Sky Beast Shield!
Wilds Beast Daggers!

Blue held her bow out before her flat, allowing Green to come and connect both daggers close to the ends of the weapon. Black was next. Connecting his Axe beneath creating a cannon barrel and handle. With Yellow splitting his shield in half, laying each end over where the Dagger's connected making another barrel. And finally Red.. Sliding her sword between Axe and Bow locking them into position. Each Sentai gripped the weapon tight and call upon their beasts!

Flame Kong!
Earthen Oxen!
Oceanic Manta Ray!
Forest Wolf!
Skybound Hawk!

Exalted Cannon!

Giving the command together their weapon began to power. Small orbs of luminescent energy formed around the cannon barrel of Axe, while between the sides of Shield crackling ripples of electric energy began moving along the split weapon. Until when both masses reached critical the weapon erupted with amazing energies! Both Axe and Shield firing off massive beams of purest light towards Ankh. But he wouldn’t sit still. Screeching like some injured eagle he brought his wings down around himself, shielding himself with the blast until finally the energy unleash exploded in a massive fireball all around him..
Disconnection their weapons, watching the smoke plume where Ankh once stood, they waited. Wondering and waiting to see if Ankh had survived.. And as the smoke began to clear Ankh spread his wings. The charred appendages could no longer support his weight for flight but had enough he could still land gracefully. Hanging his wings behind him limp. And once more arrogantly stroking a hand along his beak tuft. “Impressive. Was I not quicker you might’ve destroyed me, seems you were under-estimated. Ankh Grow.”
The Sentai watched on. Watching as Ankh spread his injured wings and tore them from his body, unleashing such energy from deep within his body while he screamed out in purest agony! Using the energy unleashed and the pain shuddering through him the Phoenix General grew to an incredible height. Forcing the Sentai to step back and catch their footing as the ground shook beneath them.. “Now you face me at my fullest! Come to your Deaths!” There was only one answer they all could give..

Kong, Master of the Volcano!
Oxen, King of the Earth!
Wolf, Knight of the Wood!
Manta Ray, Queen of the Depths!
Hawk, Lord of the Skies!

“Everyone!” From inside her Kong, Red called to her friends. “We need a new configuration! We need Guardian Hawk Megazord! Your Beasts know what must be done... Combine!”
Each Sentai took their Crystals placing them in the pedestal before them. And as Red promised, their Beasts did know exactly what must be done.
Oxen began changing different then before. Instead of forming a waist and powerful legs it split itself open. The body folding out to form two powerful arms of black and silver while the head detached completely.
Hawk began changing shape. Separating from his wings the legs tucked in against his body, the tail pressing in against his back, while the head locked into position against his chest. With his feet opened on either side. Once finished the new Hawk slid into the opening between Oxen’s arms and locked firm. Creating the Megazord’s new chest.
Wolf followed. Legs folding and disappearing inside the body, the animal’s tail laid flat against her back. While the head lifted, forming a foot and attaching into the waist of the Oxen/Hawk chest. And Kong followed suit. Arms and legs tucking close behind her body the animal inverted, the head turning the right way and becoming a perfect foot beside Wolf where she now connected.
While Manta detached her wings. Leaving the body beneath to slid into position behind the Chest, giving the Megazord a long thin tail. With her head lowering down between the shoulders.. But the transformation wasn’t finished. The wings of Manta fused together and became emblazoned with the emblem of Melissa’s family becoming their shield. The Hawk’s wings attached in against Manta’s body to give the Megazord great and glorious golden wings. Reaching skyward the Megazord called upon his sword. The Zweihander falling from storm clouds gathering above and caught perfectly by the hand of the great Mech. And the final piece.. The Head. Manta’s head split open. The two pieces becoming shoulder armor bearing the symbol of the Guardian Sentai and exposing the Megazord’s new head. The helmet molded like a Hawk, with a face emerging from his opened beak.

Guardian Hawk Megazord!