Nightmare Battle

Synopsis:   Taking place directly after ‘Childhood Inspiration’, Pete and his lovely girlfriend, Alexia are held hostage on live TV by Marion, The Nightmare King.   Broadcasting the worst, most horrendous filth on TV, nearly everyone is petrified, except for the Rangers, who don’t allow their darkest phobias to have reign over them.   Other robots that see the broadcast feel stirred up to help, since they appreciate the educational content that is being offered, like Tega and others speed themselves to the rescue…

Chapter 1--All Tied Up

Alexia and Pete were not only the captive audience that Marion had.   The rest of the tri-state area and beyond were exposed to the most horrific films and photos in the world.   They weren’t defeated, even if Marion made their situation sound terribly sticky and grim.

‘I don’t get why you two aren’t dour about this whole situation.’, he remarked a little irritated.   It wasn’t enough to truly agitate him; he was growing stronger by the hour by absorbing people’s fear, which there was plenty of.   His typical, handsome appearance began to transform into something hideous, grotesque and terrifying. He looked like a cross between a porcupine, a skeleton and a dragon.   

‘I’m out to cause more havoc.  Don’t go anywhere ! Ha ! I slay me !’, Marion cackled as he wrapped his newly morphed thorn cloak around him to disappear.   Luckily, Pete had a communicator that the Rangers had gifted him on just such a pickle as this.

‘You have a comm ?  Oh thank heaven.’, Alexia breathed in a placid sigh of relief.   Before long, the Rangers would come and new AI would join the fight as well.   Even Puppet Man in his enhanced form as Puppet Blaster was ready, willing and able to rescue his old friend and creator.   

Chapter 2--The Fearmonger Grows Stronger

Marion slunked along the alleyways and corridors, hearing the delightful music of people’s screams and whimpers.   Each elicited more power in his being. He grew taller, bulkier and more powerful.

‘Heh, at this rate, nothing will stop me now !’, he mused to himself.   That is, until he was faced with a rather lively motley crew of super heroes.

‘Is there a Con in town ?  I thought cosplaying was dead !’, he insulted.

‘Leave our friends, neighbors and family out of this !’, Rocky said, becoming hot under the collar.

‘Don’t let this clown get to you, Rocky.  Anger in haste never solves anything.’, Jason said wisely, having learned that lesson the hard way himself many times.

‘Yeah, you’re right, Jase.’, Rocky agreed, taking a few deep breaths to center himself.   

‘So what are you gonna do, form a flash mob ?  Man, that’s so archaic…’, Marion chuckled. A horde of robots was forming a batallion around Marion’s feet.  

‘Cute.  Little ants storming the ant hill ?  What are you going to do, stomp me to death ?’, he mocked.

‘Don’t discount us so soon !’, Tega exclaimed.   It might have been seen as haughty, perhaps, but she held her head upright, her chin sticking out, boldly.  Had she not been so freakishly adorable, it would’ve been considered intimidating and downright intimidating.   He stood there, laughing his tuchus off, not knowing that Tega and her friends could change form easily when united.   It looked similar to the T 1000 shape shifting or the monster Nobuyuki fought in Tenchi Muyo: The Movie.   He didn’t feel very threatened by the globule of androids waiting to attack him.

“You’re going to have to do better than that.  Just because you’re united doesn’t mean I can’t kick you to the ground.’, Marion harrumphed, exerting his might, power and stature over the little guy.   

Just then, a hawk’s cry was heard.

‘I felt there was a fear monger loose, so I came to help.’, Hawkgirl said.   She had the entire Justice League with her and they had teamed up with Marvel super heroes once more.  Just because they normally didn’t fight together didn’t mean that they weren’t friends or didn’t get along.  Quite the contrary. They lived for putting evil back into its place and the Nightmare King was no exception.

Chapter 3--Getting Inside Their Heads

Puppet Blaster had entered the battle, fighting as hard as he could against Marion’s dark magic.   The warlock made an eerie incantation. Suddenly, he saw the studio, completely destroyed. Under the rubble wias Pete.   He seemed still and pale, barely breathing. He shook his head.

‘I was warned about this…’, he thought in many of the discussions Pete had carried on with him.   His eyes are boring right into my phobias. I mustn’t let it get to me’, Puppet cogitated. Everyone was having a bit of fear to face on their own but they were fighting it successfully.   Nightmare King roared, wondering if his visions weren’t terrifying enough. The children were petrified and many of them were his slaves now. He knew as soon as they were drained of their fearfulness, they’d be useless, but it would also kill them.    The Rangers had to put an end to the Nightmare King’s usurping or many innocent lives would be lost that evening.

Chapter 4--The Battlefield of the Mind

Somni had a brilliant scheme.  

‘We fight him on his own turf.  This outer battle is making us go around in circles.’, she observed.

‘That’s brilliant.   We’re still subject to his hypnotizing ways in the subconscious thought.  We’ll need shields…’, Morpheus agreed. They all knew that the mind was an extremely potent weapon.   They wouldn’t have any trouble at all, being as imaginative as they were.

'I'm going to sing all of us to sleep. We'll then travel to the Dream Realm and ensure Marion doesn't cause any more damage.', she said.  Somnibot began singing ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’ and soon everyone had fallen into a deep Delta slumber.  

‘What on Earth is this ?’, Marion thought.  He didn’t recognize the atmosphere of the realm into which he had been launched.   

‘You’re in the dream realm.   You can no longer harm anyone in the outside world while you’re here.  You’re playing by my rules now.  Plus, if things get out of hand, I have friends in lofty corridors in the Realm of Nod.’, she said.   Marion had an idea that she was talking about the Sandman. All beings knew better not to mess with Sandman since he was unbelievably powerful.    Albeit he had some unsettled nerves about being in Dream’s territory, it didn’t matter to Marion. One way or another, he’d use his influence to tip the scales in his favor again.  

Chapter 5--Never Underestimate Imagination

Marion’s power were still rather potent even in the land of Nod, but Puppet Blaster’s abilities had improved.   Magic Screen had moves of her own and even Starry Sky called upon his own abilities to throw Marion’s attacks right back at him.   In fact, Nightmare King’s last great attack literally blew up in his face. He began to rage, taking upon a character that looked like a cross between characters from Tokyo Ghoul and Death Note except a whole lot more metal and frightening.   

Somnibot extended her wand and called forth unicorns shooting rainbows out of their horns to subdue Marion.   Marion grumbled a bit, irritated by the light nearly blinding him. The rainbows weakened him but it wasn’t enough to knock him out completely.   Magic Screen used positive imagery and it drove him mad, Starry shot his signature move, finally pinning him.

‘No, I won’t be defeated by you REJECTS !’, he bellowed.   The fabric of his robe began to rip as he did his best to dislodge the shurikens from his clothing.   With a mighty roar, he freed himself and used his rage to knock them down.

‘You might have free reign in your realm but I am not going to allow you victory.’, he screamed.   Puppet Blaster used his cannon to shoot him backward and onto his back.

‘I’m just getting started.’, Nightmare King growled, cracking his knuckles.  This was one battle that wasn’t going to end quickly.

'You think your silly blaster fire can beat me ? Think again !', he roared.

With a whirl of smoke, flame and electricity swirling from his feet into his fingertips, Marion struck Puppet Blaster down, disabling him.

‘I can’t move !’, he exclaimed, petrified.

‘One less loser out of my way.   Who else wants to become inoperational ?’, Marion boasted.   Even though there was one friend down and Pepper had moved him out of the line of fire, everyone fought hard until Somni stopped them in a time freezing spell.

‘This isn’t working !’, she muttered to Morpheus.   

‘I realize that, dear.  Maybe a song would work ?’, he suggested.

‘That’s an insane idea.  All of our physical attacks have done little to no damage.  There’s no harm in trying. Besides, no one on earth is being hurt while the Nightmare King is locked in my realm.’, Somni said, with a wink.   

Chapter 6--Saved by a Song

‘Somni wants us all to sing.  Doesn’t matter if you can carry a tune, just belt it out from the heart !’, Alpha said once he heard the plan to defeat Marion.  Marion guffawed. It was an absurd, ludicrous plot, no better conceived by a neonate ! He couldn’t help but laugh. The sooner he could awaken from Somnibot’s sophoristic spell the better.  He had a whole planet and then a Universe to conquer.  What he didn’t realize at the time was heartfelt music can do anything.  

They sang Hallelujah together, holding hands.   Marion was preparing another barrage of dark magic to plunge them into fear and loathing.    The music was far too poignant and powerful to be outmatched.

‘Stop SINGING !’, he said, clutching his ears and beginning to wail in untold agony.   The music was actually singing his robe, burning him.   The pain wasn’t eternal; after some time he burst into flames and completely combusted.  The wind in the land of Nod completely carried him away, never to be seen again.

‘I think we can safely said that that particular song was our saving grace.’, Skull said, not trying to be punny, it just happened to come out that way.   

Chapter 7--Getting Back to Business

The studio was returned to it’s normal viewing schedule.   Pete and Alexia were untied but everyone had thought they were experiencing a dream.

‘I didn’t think Somni’s spell was going to be so powerful..’, he chortled out loud.   Even Somni was still a bit sleepy from singing such a mesmerizing and haunting melody.   Despite that, Pete was able to gather his audience together and run his first ever live show, which would be about Japan and its technology, particularly robots.    

‘As you know, boys and girls, our friend Puppet Man is a robot.', Pete began.

'But did you guys know that Japan and China are at the forefront in robotics and AI ?', Herman added.

'AI stands for artificial intelligence.', Conky stated. A child raised her hand.

'How will AI affect humanity in the future ?', she asked.

‘That’s what we’re learning, day by day by observing how they interact with us.’, Pete explained.

‘Interact ?  What does that mean ?’, one littler child questioned, curiously.

‘That means how they get along with us.’, Alexia smiled at the inquisitive boy.  ‘Since we’re learning about Japan today, Puppet Man was kind enough to help me and Alexia make ramen.  So take a bowl, pass it down. If you can’t use chopsticks, just eat it with your fork.’, he said. Conky came out with two full trolleys full of the easy-to-cook favorite of college students and art majors everywhere.   

Epilogue

The first episode of Children’s Connection was a sure-fire success and Cap’n Pete had a hit on his hand.  He would be expected to have topics to talk about Monday through Friday. Saturdays and Sundays he would be spending with Alexia and collaborating with her as well as enjoying their time together as a happy, loving, couple.   Everything had turned back to normal, but the Rangers had gained some new allies in the fight, Pete, Alexia and Puppet Man. There would always be more villains to defeat in the future but for the moment, everyone savored some down time and heralding the beginning of summer at long last.  

The End