[Sentai]

Power Rangers: Guardian Beasts

Outside what we can perceive in our world, just outside our comprehension, lies a great Kingdom. Sprawling across an endless sea of green pastures, jagged and snow covered mountain peaks, and expansive seas stretching out into the horizon. And rising from the center of all this splendor was Castle Alder. A shimmering white creation that seemed to sparkle. Inside Knights patrolled the walls, good men and women went about their daily routines. All watched over by the Great King himself. Alexander Alder. And his daughter Mellissa.
Mellissa was about now, in fact. Walking down the halls which opened into the gardens, enjoying the smell of flowers and fresh air, as she headed towards the library. Her white dress flowing off behind as she walked. Mellissa was a lovely vision. Somewhere physically in her twenties, with flowing red hair and green eyes. .. And up to mischief this morning.
She had snuck off with one of the forbidden history books, and was making her way into a private room off the Library. One quick look down either side of the hall told her she was safe as she slipped through the cracked opened door. Locking the heavy bolt behind her.
With a candle beside her for light she began reading. Reading of the Old Gods that once ruled the kingdom before her Father forced them into the Great Divide. A canyon so deep it's said to go on forever, from which nothing returns. She continued to read on. Fascinated like a small child as the book retold the Fall. King Alder had almost lost the Kingdom. The entire Kingdom was in ruin, fires burned bright like newborn stars on the countryside, and the people had almost given up all Hope. And that was when her Father called to the sky. Beseeching the Elders to give him the Power to save his Kingdom.
His prayers were answered. Five Great Warriors descended from the skies, clouds parting around them, each of them carrying a different power. Through the Elements of their realm they pushed the Old Gods back. But the Old Gods were not without tricks of their own. Calling upon the oldest, and most dark and twisted, of magicks their soldiers grew to incredible height. Wreaking even more havoc and destruction on the defenseless Kingdom beneath. The Warriors were not going to allow the Kingdom to fall. Each of them escaped the onslaught, fleeing into a different part of Alder. Searching for a power which could help them in this new threat. The Guardian Gods.

Guardian of the Woods and all Nature, Noble Wolf.
Guardian of the Seas and Everything beneath Her Waves, Surging Manta Ray.
Guardian of the Skies and the Wind itself, Great Hawk.
Guardian of the Earth beneath us, Oxen King.
Guardian of the Flames, Volcanic Kong.

The Guardians each agreed to help slay the Old Gods for the sake of the people, the land, the Kingdom of Alder itself. But much like how the Warriors were stronger together, so were the Guardians. When all five came together they created the greatest of the Guardians. Exalted Guardian Megazord. A Great Knight that pulled his sword down from the Clouds themselves and used it's shining blade to strike back against the Old Ones.
But the Old Ones were not so easily defeated. Though their soldiers all lay dead, and they found themselves falling back into the Great Divide, their power extended. Seeping into the Exalted Guardian Megazord and drawing it with them down into that deep abyss. Never to be seen again.

Mellissa had never read that last part of the story before. Usually, just after she reads the names of the Guardian Gods, her father bursts through the door and asks her why she's not in class. Or attending some meeting somewhere 'critically important' to the Kingdom. Knitting her brow, gathering her dress, Mellissa carefully applied pressure against the door.. "By the Exalted.."
Throwing the door open, Mellissa stepped out into a nightmare. The once beautiful castle was under siege! Flames spread through the east quarter, knights of her Father hurried through the halls to reinforce the battlements. Gripping one by the arm she struggled to raise her voice over the sound of battle, crackling fire, and men around her belting orders.
"What has happened? Where is my Father?!" The Knight shook his head, motioning for other Knights to come to his aid. "We are under siege, Milady! By horrors unlike we have seen before! Men! Take the Princess to the Royal Chamber, no one enters! Move!” Before she could protest she was grabbed and escorted off. Rushing through burning halls, and past her Men fighting off.. She knew those horrors.
Mellissa’s eyes widened. Upright standing Lizard men with swords and shields, ones with wings flying high above them, corrupted animals turned into Monster Generals assaulting the thickest fighting. .. “Old Ones...” Her voice came quiet, she could not believe the words herself.. But it was true! They had returned!
Before she could warn her men she found herself pushed into the Royal Throne Chamber. The heavy door barred behind her, leaving her trapped inside. “No.. How can they be real..” Turning her heart sank. Without thinking she took for the throne, her dress bunching around her feet, making the last three feet or so a crawl as she fell onto her knees. Her Father sat on his throne. A sword through his chest, and barely holding on even with the help of their Magi. She frowned. Biting back tears as she stroked his hair and held him close against her body. Blood could be cleaned, this was her Father!
His eyes opened then. Using the last of his strength to grip his daughter’s arm and deliver a final message.. a Final Royal Command. “Find them, my Daughter.. The Old Ones have returned to this world.. And you know what must be done..” Mellissa broke down, refusing to let her Father go even as he did.
“Milady..” The voice came from behind. A voice she knew well.. Malcolm. He was tall even for one of her Knights, and the silver armor they all wore only made him look more so. He was injured, but walking, and offering her his hand. She couldn’t accept.. Not yet. Taking from her Father his pendant she laid him gentle on the floor, kissed his forehead soft, and stood on her own accord. “.. The Exalted, how do I find them Father?”
The Pendant within her hand began to glow brightly. Containing the Royal Seal the small white gem filled the entire room with light. The Hawk, Oxen, Manta, Wolf, and Kong.. In the World outside Mellissa collapsed into the arms of her trusted friend. While within her mind...

Mellissa found herself standing on the edge of a great cliff. Alder laid out before her but.. twisted, corrupted. Including her Castle in the middle of this Hell.. Burning, destroyed, her people screaming within the walls.. And she fell onto her knees. What was this nightmare she found herself within?!
That was when they came. From the Forest a Great Wolf howled and tore through the minions assaulting his lands, restoring the wood to it’s natural beauty. From the Seas a Majestic Manta Ray swam beneath the waves, destroying the corrupting within her waves making them a gentle blue again. From the plains came a rumble so great she feared of being shook off her perch, the Powerful Oxen charging through battlements and decimating the enemy burning his domain. Returning the plains to the endless fields she remembered as a child. From the skies behind her came a great screech, the Elegant Hawk descending from the skies and ripping through the enemy laid out beneath him. The dark clouds once masking the sun broke, shining light down onto the land. And from beneath her Castle rose the Great Kong. Ripping through the Masters of these Minions, and returning her Castle to the shimmering glory it should always be.
And now they were all before her. “.. This is a Dream..?” The Great Kong gripped the Cliff, and leaned down so close she feared he might swallow her whole. Instead.. it spoke. Within her mind it spoke! She thinks she Dreams.. You are within our Domain! And come seeking Help.. Our Help. And we must ask why? Why should we return to a World that has forgotten us, why should we save this place for you? Tell us now or we take our Power and disappear from the Two Realms forever!
Mellissa frowned. They wanted a reason... A Reason?! “Are my people suffering not enough?! I’ve read the stories of the Exalted, of the Old Gods, my entire life! If you do not help Me they’ll slaughter my people, destroy the land, and then turn to the Other Realm! You must stop them because you are all that can!” If that was not reason enough.. Mellissa was truly without hope.
But Hope came.. Your Reasons are Just. But should you falter, should you ever use Our Power for yourself before Others, we will return to our slumber. And never again will you know of Us.

Alder High School
Three Months After The Fall of Castle Alder

Mallory rushed through the halls. Alarms blaring all around her, warning her about what she already knew. She was late. She didn't even have time to brush her hair after leaving the Pool before rushing off to her next class. Wasn't her fault! She always zoned into another place when she swam. Feeling the water brush across her, through her waist length blonde hair. And her sister hadn't helped anything. She was supposed to warn her when the next class was, but of course she was to busy searching through her phone. Take that phone and throw it in the damn toilet.
Rushing through the door, Mallory skidded to a dead halt when she came face to face with.. Was she the new teacher?! She looked a little young. Maybe it was the red hair reaching her waist, or the fact she looked seventeen. "Hi..."
"Hello. You have to be Miss Mallory, take your seat. Your sister said you were running late. Don't make a habit out of it, please." Motioning her off, Mallory took the suggestion and hurried off into her seat as quickly as she could. And didn't miss the chance to give her baby sister a nice kick in the seat from behind. "Thanks, Jen. I so owe you for that.."
"If we're finished?" The entire class straightened. As much as a high school class does straighten. "Good. My name is Mellissa Alder, but you all may call me Miss Hale. I understand your old teacher came ill, so until she comes back I'll be handling her class. I understand she gave you papers due today. I'll give you until the end of class to finish and check them. Provided we can all behave with a free period? Good, carry on."

"I covered for you, didn't I?" Did she have to grin when she said that? Mallory just shook her head, keeping her voice soft as her raven haired sister. Alder seemed like the kind of woman to make good on threats and she didn't need detention keeping her from Swim Practice. "By the skin of your butt, Jen. But thanks.. I think. So what's her deal?"
Was it getting dark? Both girls turned towards the window, they're eyes becoming wide as they saw the dark clouds rolling across the horizon quicker than anything they'd seen before. Followed by a rumble. Not from thunder, this rumble was sustained and much deeper. "Everyone down, now!"
Students scattered, hurrying towards the door as the first flaming boulder hurtled towards their school. Mallory was already up, heading for the door when something made her turn.. "Jennifer!" Her sister turned and saw exactly what Mallory did. There were two students beside the window, watching the Boulder. And through stupidity or fear neither of them were moving. But the sisters were. Mallory tackled the one on the right, Jennifer took the left, and both covered them with their bodies as the Boulder tore through the roof overhead. "Run you idiots!"
The two students took off, Mallory helped her sister stand, and they followed.. only to be stopped by Mellissa. She watched the two carefully as though she were considering something. Which seemed stupid considering what was happening! They were under attack.. Okay, that made no sense either but their teacher didn't need to add to it! "If you want to help, Come with Me."

Both girls followed. What choice did they have? Nothing else about this made any sense. Pushing through students running for whatever safe haven they could find, Alder took them through the double doors at the end of the class hall. Mallory had thought they always stayed locked..?" Both girls paused once through and.. just looked around. They weren't in the school anymore that was for damn sure.
The room was expansive. They couldn't see the walls, just endless dark beyond the circle that was lit around them. Around them and a strange look alter. It was a simple column with what looked like statues on the surface. There was a Hawk, a Manta Ray, a Wolf, an Ox, and a Gorilla...? Odd arrangement of animals..
Another student was pushed out into the light. It looked like.. "Dwayne?" Star Quarterback for the High School Team. Good guy, except for the ego. But that came along with being King of the School they guessed. "Uh... Mal and Jen, right? You guys know what the heck's happenin'? Cause.. I remember pushin' some kid out of the wall of some rubble? Then I was pushed in here."
Jennifer shook her head. "Nope. Miss Alder was leading us down the hall, and here we are. Didn't know someplace like this was even in our school." Mellissa stepped slowly from the darkness, dressed in something familiar to her. The white flowing dress from her home as another man joined her side. This one in sparkling armor, with the design of a Stag on the chest. “That is because we are not in your school anymore. We are in.. a Space Between. There is your realm, the Realm of Earth. And our Realm, the Realm of Alder. Where my family once ruled.. until the Dark Ones rose. The same Dark Ones now rampaging through your school. The three of you have proven yourselves to be Heroes. Each of you were the only ones through the entire school who risked yourselves to save another, and there are so many more yet to be saved. What if you could have power? Power enough to save everyone you love and defeat those now wreaking havoc through your world? Will you use it to defend and never for personal gain?”
The three of them just looked at one another. Nothing of this made sense. But.. One by one, led by Mallory, they each stepped forward. Even Mister Quarterback. Nervously running his hand along the back of his short cropped black hair. “We don’t got much choice. Them things are hurting people, and if we’re all that can stop them..”
Malcolm stepped forward, his armor plates clanging against each other as he handed each of them a strange looking buckle. The buckle was silver with crimson highlights, surrounding a small sphere in the center. Mallory looked over, and it looked like each one of them had a different animal. Dwayne's sphere was green and inside was the Wolf, Jennifer's looked yellow with the design of the Hawk, and hers was blue with the Manta Ray. There.. was writing around the edges of the Sphere. Solid black with solid crimson lettering. Mystic Guardian along the upper edge, and along the bottom "Power Rangers?" Jennifer almost didn't believe it.
"Yes." Mellissa stepped forward and showed them hers, as Malcolm showed her his. His was purple with the Oxen inside the sphere. And inside Mellissa's, the powerful Kong. "Power Rangers. With these we can save your friends.. we can save the world. Are you all ready?" Each one looked at the others, and they nodded softly in turn. "Then do as I do.."

Mellissa held her buckle tight with both hands, thrusting it forward and yelling loud as she could!

Guard the Future, Kong of the Flames!
Guard the People, Oxen of the Land!
Guard the Spirit, Hawk of the Open Skies!
Guard the Innocent, Wolf of the Wilds!
Guard the World, Manta Ray of the Oceans!