Powers and Marvels

By Michael Weyer

I know, a few other stories about but this was one huge in my head and just had to at least start it out. A major inspiration was the fantastic Justice League/Power Rangers series and using a bit more of the Boom Comics take mixed with the show (meaning a somewhat more competent Zedd and Rita).

Set early season three of MMPR and obviously helps to read other "Infinity Crisis" set-up tales first.

Earth-1993

Six Months Ago

The problem with Putties was the smell.

They never brought it up but the Rangers all knew it. Somehow, these things had a weird combination of clay and some other elements that just got worse when they were smashed apart. True, those goofy sounds got to them but it really was the smell the Rangers hated.

It was sparking up their battle as they fought it out, smashing the creatures apart in battle. Rocky spun one around for Adam to kick while Kimberly did a backflip to avoid another's strike. That left it open for Aisha to crush it with a kick. Tommy took out the last of the bunch as Billy was ready to back him up.

"Nice work!" Tommy called out. He turned to face the strange monster Zed and Rita had forged out of the local park statue. "Now, just take out the poor man's Paul Revere here!"

"Bah!' the creature snarled. "You cannot stop the Lethal Lancer!" He spun his large sword in his hands. "Now I….I…." It stopped, staring down as a darkness swept up from his legs. "Wait…" It got out just before it vanished in a cloud of dust.

The Rangers stared at each other in confusion. "It finally happened," Kimberly stated. "Finster made a monster that destroyed itself."

Before anyone could reply, Kimberly's hands began to disintegrate. "Tommy!" she got out before she suddenly vanished into dust. Billy was reaching for her only to see his own hand start to darken as well and in seconds, he was also gone. Tommy saw his own hands start to fade and let out a gasp before he vanished.

The Rangers were used to screams from the battles in Angel Grove. However, it was rare they heard it after the battle was finished. They could see other people vanishing into dust around the park with those left behind looking horrified.

Rocky, Aisha and Adam just stared in shock before hitting their belts to teleport to the Command Center. The alarms were flashing as Alpha zipped out, his "ayi-yi-yi" talk even more frantic than usual. "Zordon!" Rocky called out. "What just happened?"

"Did Zedd take them?" Adam asked.

Their mentor's countenance was grave. "This is not the work of Lord Zedd. The power that struck also affected this entire world. Perhaps even this entire universe."

"Ayi-yi-yi!" Alpha yelled out as he watched the chaos unfolding on the Viewing Monitor of cities across the planet. "Zordon, we're seeing millions vanishing across the world? Maybe billions!"

"Billions…" Aisha breathed. "How? Why? Who did this?"

"And how do we fix it?" Rocky added.

Zordon's reply was utterly chilling. "I do not know."

He stood amid the piles of dust, staring out into space. He could see the wave across Earth, the billions vanishing. Not just there but across the universe. This could be an opportunity to be sure.

Except that he'd felt the power used to do this. A power beyond anything he could have possibly dreamed. A power that had wiped out Rita, Goldar, Babboo, Squat and Finster with no problem. A power that even Zordon couldn't hope to match.

And for the first time in his long existence, Lord Zedd felt utter fear clutch at his heart.

Today

Kimberly pressed her hands onto the beam and lifted herself up. She balanced herself out, legs nicely askew to hold herself as she walked on her hands. She then threw herself up and into a standing position before backflipping to land on the mat. She let out a long breath, feeling the usual rush of a workout.

She moved to where Billy was punching a bag. In the months since coming back, the normally shy and introspective young man had been more outgoing and athletic. He'd even stopped wearing his glasses. Kimberly could relate. Indeed, when she had spent an entire week going to the mall just once, her parents were sure she had a fever of some kind. However, when one is turned to dust and then returned to life, it creates a new mentality. That was proven by the fact that Tommy Oliver was studying a book rather than working out.

Kimberly wiped her head off as she came over to him. "Dinosaur studies? You know we left those Zords behind a while ago."

"Just working it in between engineering ideas," Tommy said. "We're not going to be Rangers forever."

Kimberly nodded at that. "You feel it, too huh? Like something...changed."

"The world has," Tommy noted. "Hell, even Zedd and Rita have been cutting it down more than they usually did."

"Which means they've got something up their sleeves." Kimberly sipped from a water bottle. "I can't believe I actually miss the near daily attacks."

"Yeah, it's like a huge weight hanging overhead and you're just wondering where and how it hits." Tommy looked up as Bulk and Skull entered, in uniforms, to grab some lunch. "I still can't believe those two got spared."

"According to Rocky, they were actually helping folks out, spending almost the entire time without any rest taking care of people until we were restored. Guess you never can tell."

Aisha and Adam were finishing sparring and heading to join them. "Are we still hitting the mall tonight?" Aisha asked.

"Yeah." Kimberly grinned. "I think they actually miss me."

"Shopping can be good for the spirit."

"Yep, retail therapy."

Adam looked to Billy. "She really sees it like that?'

"It's an acquired taste," Billy replied. "Which she acquired shortly after she was born."

Kimberly was about to give him a smack when their watches all beeped. Glancing about, the group came closer, Tommy hitting his. "Rocky, what is it?"

The voice of their friend echoed. "Guys, I was on a jog, just saw Zedd, Rita and some Putties popping up on the east side by the lake!"

Tommy frowned. "What are they doing?"

"I don't know but I'm betting it's not fishing."

"We're on our way." The Rangers moved to the doorway as Kimberly sighed. "Ruining an overdue mall trip, that is so evil…"

Zedd stared out at the water, his visor gleaming with red. Rita impatiently tapped a foot behind him, her face scowling at her husband and not enjoying the weather in her hot outfit. "Well?" she screeched out. "Are you doing anything or did we just come for the view?"

"Quiet," Zedd snapped. "I can sense it…"

"What? You still haven't said what you're looking for."

"Because I didn't want that moron brother of yours overhearing and causing a mess." Zedd glanced to her. "For the last several months, I have been attempting to locate a trace of the power that swept this universe."

Rita arched an eyebrow. "You want to get back the power that turned me into dust?"

"Don't tempt me," Zedd muttered. "No, I am searching for the source of that power. A power I can use."

"What? To do another Dust Bowl?"

Zedd gave a terrific impression of rolling eyes he didn't possess. "Woman, I have no wish to wipe out the universe. Only to rule it. But if this reality had a power I sensed can spread such an effect, it can be used to help us conquer this measly planet and then the rest of the universe!"

"Fine. And I also get why we don't have that pack of idiots here either. But why here?"

Zedd stared out. "Because the force came from a universe beyond our own. Where there are other powers besides just that one, powers we can seize for ourselves. The barriers between realms are weak at places….And this…is one." He raised his staff to let out a blast of energy. It stuck just before the water, creating a thin slice in the air. Soon, it grew into a portal, brimming with energy and the wind kicking up around them.

"Red Ranger Power!" With a flip, a suited-up Rocky leapt in to stand between Zedd and Rita and the portal. "I don't know what you two are up to but I'm not letting you do it!"

Zedd shook his head at Rita. "What is it about these Red Rangers…"

"I don't know. He's less annoying than the old one but still a problem."

The Putties were moving in as Rocky moved to fight them off. Zedd just sighed. "I have not the time or inclination to waste on these games." He moved to the nearby portal with Rita following him. A blast of colored lights flashed as the other Rangers arrived. They were soon going at it with the Putties as Zedd and Rita continued to head to the portal. Snarling, Rocky knocked a Puttie away and charged after them. "No, you don't!"

Rita spun to fire off a blast from her staff and Rocky leapt up to somersault over it. The momentum carried him over to knock him into Zedd and Rita and send all three flying into the portal.

"Rocky!" Adam yelled out. The Rangers quickly handled the last of the Putties as they raced to the portal. Billy was looking it over as Tommy hit his communicator. "Zordon, do you read?"

"Yes, Tommy. The portal is a connection to another reality, a universe beyond ours."

"The longer it remains open, it can be dangerous," Billy stated.

"But we need to get Rocky back!" Aisha exclaimed.

"We have a connection to you via the Moprhing Grid," Zordon stated. "Thus, you will still have your powers and ability to call upon the Zords."

"Then we're going in," Tommy declared, hefting his sword. "No matter what's on the other side."

Earth-19999

New York City

"You have the worst disguise ever." Johnny Storm couldn't help making that note as he and Ben Grimm walked the streets of Manhattan. Johnny was in a pair of nice jeans and a leather jacket to flaunt his good looks. Ben was wearing a large trench coat and hat that did almost nothing to hide his rocky hide. The Thing glowered at the Human Torch. "I told ya, no need to follow me."

"Come on, I don't mind a good poker night either!"

"Ya don't even know how ta play."

"Okay, fine but meeting that Logan guy should be interesting." Johnny smiled. "Gives Sue more time to figure a way to get Reed out of the lab."

Ben snorted. "Stretcho couldn't be pried away before he could stretch his body around the Baxter Building."

""Never underestimate my sister, Ben."

Before Ben could reply, a flash of light echoed before them. The two jumped as what looked like a tear in the air opened up. Falling out of it was a figure in a nearly solid red uniform with a white diamond pattern across his chest and a large helmet. He held a huge sword in one hand, shaking his head as he tried to get his bearings.

"Whoa," Johnny exclaimed.

Ben frowned. "You okay, bub?"

The figure looked up, taking in his rocky skin. "Monster!" He swung out the sword with Ben barely dodging it. The red-garbed figure moved in to attack, continuing to swing the sword back and forth.

"Flame on!" Johnny intoned as he burst into fire around his special clothing. He fired a burst of flame that surrounded the figure. "Okay, just settle down, pal!"

The figure leapt over the flame, his sword flying out, knocking the hat off of Ben's head. It then struck his skin with Ben gasping as he actually saw some of his "rocks" chipped away.

Rocky was pulling back the sword when a thick strand of a gooey substance struck it. Rocky blinked as the sword seemed to be pulled upward. He looked up to see a pair of figures coming in. One was in a suit of red and gold armor while the other was in a red and blue suit, flipping to land on a nearby car. "Hey, Torch," Spider-Man carefully said. "Friend of yours?"

"Just met," the Torch responded.

Iron Man landed on the ground. "Yeah, never mind the backup, Darcy. Just one guy, we got it handled."

Rocky shook his head, still disoriented. "I don't care how many you are, I'll take you on!"

"Funny," Iron Man flatly said. "Listen, pal, just put down the sword and…"

There was a sudden flash of light and the group turned to see a pack of figures in colored costumes with weapons aimed at them. "Hey!" the one in white spoke up. "Get away from our friend!"

"Oh, great, he's got buddies," the Thing intoned. He stepped forward. "Listen, punks, this is a long day already and-"

"He's attacking!" Kimberly said as she fired off her bow. The Thing grunted as the energy arrow struck and knocked him back. The Torch threw out his hand to let fire erupt which the Rangers dodged.

Spider-Man fired off a strand of webbing that hit Tommy's sword and yanked it into his hand. He found himself staring as the lion head on the handle suddenly spoke up. "I beg your pardon but I don't belong to you!"

"Tony, the sword is talking." Saba suddenly broke away to fly back into Tommy's hand.

"Oh boy." Johnny leapt up to fly high over the buildings around them. He twisted himself around as let out a trail of flame. In seconds, a massive "4" was visible throughout the entire city.

Iron Man winced as Adam slammed his boots into him. Kimberly threw out her Thunder Whip, letting it catch the Thing around his legs. Aisha kicked at him, wincing as she bounced off. "Guy's solid as rock!"

"And as ugly!" Adam intoned.

"Okay, now yer hurtin' my feelings!" the Thing growled as he shrugged his coats off. "No more Mr. Nice Guy, it's clobberin' time!" He raced in to attack with the Rangers dodging his powerful blows.

Tommy was helping Rocky up. "You okay?"

"A little shaken. I lost Zedd and Rita but it looks like they left some guys behind."

"I'm not so sure," Billy stated. "They may be unique to this universe."

"This…what?"

Before Billy could reply, the roar of aircraft came over them. A bath-tub shaped ship flew downward, hovering in the air. Stretching from it was Mr. Fantastic with the Invisible Woman behind him. "Hey, Reed!" Johnny said as he backed up. "Join the party!"

"They must be from that inter-dimensional breach I detected!" Reed exclaimed. "Sue, keep them at bay." Nodding, Sue threw out her hands as she concentrated. Aisha was moving forward when she suddenly felt like she'd walked into a wall. "What the…" The other Rangers were just as confused as they felt themselves blocked off.

Billy pressed a hand against the air, feeling something there. "It's some sort of invisible containment field."

"Then let's bring in something that can't be contained!" Tommy stated. The others nodded as they began to call out.

"We need Ninja Zord power now!"

"Red Ape Ninjazord, Power Up!'

"Pink Crane Ninjazord Power Up!'

"Blue Wolf Ninjazord Power Up!"

"Yellow Bear Ninjazord Power Up!"

"Black Frog Ninjazord Power Up!"

"White Falcon Ninjazord Power Up!"

Susan let out a cry as the bubble shattered from the massive blast of energy erupting from within. From seemingly nowhere, a set of massive robotic creatures appeared, leaping and bounding from the buildings to the area while two flew out of the sky. With a jump each Ranger leapt into one, facing the thrown group below.

"So….that's a thing that just happened," Johnny intoned.

Inside his helmet, Tony licked his lips. "Okay, Darcy, remember that emergency call thing? Never mind my never minding, get everyone the hell over here!" He flew ahead even as he spoke. "I mean it, get T'Challa from the UN, hell, send a line to Xavier's!'

"Yes, yes!" Spider-Man called out as he spun about to avoid the snapping jaws of the robot wolf. "Send for everyone! Call the Defenders! Call the Guardians! Hell, call the cast of that Power Pack kids show!"

Tommy was moving his Falcon Zord downward. "Rocky, Aisha, make sure civilians are out of the way," he stated. "I've got the armored guy." He flew downward, firing off some missiles at Tony. He threw himself around to avoid them before other smashed into one of Susan's fields. With a small blur, Susan vanished from sight. "Watch out, one of them turns invisible!" Aisha moved her Zord over to ensure a pack of people watching were out of harm's way. She was surprised at how some folks seemed content to stay and watch, many recording with their phones as if it was a football game.

Kimberly was flying her Crane to back Tommy up when a streak of blue and red flew past her. She turned her head and then jerked back when she saw a blonde-haired woman in a blue uniform floating in mid-air with her arms crossed. Kimberly shrieked as she threw her Zord into a spin to avoid her. To her shock, the woman was right there, keeping pace and giving a look of "pull over."

Aisha was moving her Zord when she saw a blue blur heading toward her. "They've got a speedster!" she called out just as Quicksilver ran about, dodging her strikes. Spider-Man was dodging Billy's own wolf snapping its jaws at him. The Falcon was soon there, flying with Iron Man and War Machine to fire off weapons at the Zords.

"We're taking fire but nothing serious!" Rocky stated. He used his Zord to leap upward, his paws flashing at the flying group who were forced to scatter. He grunted as his Zord was knocked off balance by an invisible force field but managed to right it in time to smack War Machine back with a paw.

Adam was about to send his Zord forward only to have something stopping it. Adam frowned as he looked down to see a six-foot tall, green-skinned woman pushing back on the leg of his Zord. Looking up, She-Hulk sighed. "And in this week's entry in 'sentences I never thought I'd hear myself say'….Please step out of the giant robot frog with your hands up."

Adam saw another figure bounding forward. "Guys, we've got some green goons here and one of them looks pretty nasty!" He pulled a lever to fire off the whipped "tongue" of the Frog Zord out. It wrapped around the Hulk before pulling him into its mouth.

"Oh, are you freaking kidding me?!" She-Hulk gasped out. Adam grunted as he felt his Zord shake. "Damn, this thing is strong! It's pushing my hydraulics!"

"Just spit it out, Adam!" Aisha said. "I'll get it!" Adam moved to do so, his Zord opening its mouth and then lunging forward to send the Hulk out. As he flew outward, Aisha's Bear Zord caught it and smashed it hard into the ground. Aisha was smirking only to be stunned when the Hulk pushed back. Growling, the creature leapt upward, smashing a fist so hard into the Zord that the glass cracked. "Hoo boy, they make 'em strong here!"

Billy moved his Zord about, dodging the shots of the armored figures. He frowned as he saw flashes of lightning covering the air. "Wait…the weather patterns aren't at all correct for such a…." That was all he got out before Thor and Thunderstrike appeared, each unleashing lightning from their weapons. Billy and Aisha both yelped as they felt the shocks at their Zords. "Systems overload!"

"I gotcha, Billy!" Tommy threw his Zord downward to fire off another barrage of missiles. The two thunder-wielding Avengers were forced back. Spider-Man was moving to try the same move of wrapping his webbing around the Wolf Zord's legs. He seemed good at first before he saw the Ape throwing a hand down and with a yelp had to flip over it. "Guys, I think they saw that old movie too!"

The Beast was joining the group as they took in the Rangers. "Who are they?"

"Beats me," Iron Man called out over his communicator. "Aside from really big Japanese magna fans."

The Beast studied the way one of the Zords suddenly moved to catch falling debris before it struck passerbys. "Interesting. They do not seem a true threat."

"Hey, they attacked Ben and Johnny!" Iron Man called out.

"In fairness," Spider-Man stated as he dodged a strike of a metallic tail. "If I didn't know who the flaming guy and the giant rock guy were, I'd attack them too."

"Good point."

Tommy was moving the Falcon Zord back up when he sensed something. Turning, he saw a green man with a red face in an odd uniform seeming to phase right through the wall. Tommy moved to dodge the blast from the diamond on the man's forehead which struck the controls. Below, Captain Marvel was underneath the Falcon Zord, slowing its descent downward. Grabbing Tommy, the Vision phased them both right through the ship and to the ground.

Kimberly was moving her Crane to help him when a leaping Hulk knocked it off course. She yelped as it spun around before being caught by a pair of powerful hands joined by some stretching ones. Dazed, Kimberly felt herself yanked out of her seat and then things went red.

Tommy rolled to his feet, Saba in his hand. He found himself facing a man in a blue outfit with a patriotic theme and a round shield in one hand. "Son," he said. "Let's not escalate this."

"We didn't start this!"

"No but we can finish it. I need you to put the talking sword down and surrender."

"We never surrender." Tommy lifted his sword, ready to strike.

"Tommy! Guys! Stand down!" Kimberly's voice echoed through their communicators. "These aren't bad guys!"

Tommy frowned. "Kim, are you sure?"

"Trust me." Wincing on the roof of a building, Kimberly looked up from her place wrapped in the long arms of Mr. Fantastic. The Scarlet Witch was before her, both hands and eyes gleaming with the same red that was fading from Kimberly's own eyes. "I just had a pretty intense talk."

"So….this was probably my fault."

Rocky was doing his best to look sorry behind his mask as the Rangers faced the Avengers and the Fantastic Four in the middle of the street. Police and SHIELD agents had arrived to block the area off although naturally news crews and onlookers were busy getting this meeting of teams. "Sorry but where we come from, giant people with green skin and/or rocky hides are usually monsters."

The Hulk, She-Hulk and the Thing all glared at him. Captain America was stepping forward with a hand raised. "Who are you?"

Tommy took the lead. "We're the Power Rangers. We're guardians of another Earth. Another universe." He saw them nodding. "And you're just accepting that."

"We have experience," Iron Man stated. "This some tour bit?" By this point, the Zords had vanished as mysteriously as they had appeared which had caused slews of questions from Reed and Spider-Man that the Rangers were trying to ignore.

"Not exactly," Tommy said. "We followed two major threats from our world to yours. Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa."

"Rita…Oh, you're just making that up," Johnny said.

"They're dangerous," Tommy went on. "Pure and total evil." He looked to Captain America. "They're loose on your world. We don't know exactly what they're after but we think it's a major source of power they can use for evil."

"What kind of threats are we talking about?" Cap pressed.

"Aside from the pure evil bit?" Kimberly stated. "Magic. They specialize in creating monsters they can turn into giants."

"Hence those fancy robots of yours," Iron Man mused. "So you're telling us a pair of super-evil magic-wielding tyrants from another dimension are loose on our world?"

"Oddly, I've heard weirder," Carol mused. She looked the Rangers over. "I'm sorry but…you're telling me on your Earth, the only defense are a bunch of folks who look like rejects from a 1990s Japanese TV show?"

"We make do," Aisha defended.

Reed stroked his face. "If they come from another universe, their energy auras should be easy to track."

Billy nodded. "Indeed. We can give you details on their abilities and thus aid in your search."

"We'll have to adjust our scanners…"

"Can they take the bio-rhythm focus on an inhuman sect?"

"We have experience but altering it for the trans-dimensional difference…"

"Perhaps filtering out the more un-alien aspects…"

"That could work."

Johnny looked to Tommy. "So you got one too…"

Captain America spoke up. "All right. We've got some clean-up to handle but then reconvene at Avengers Tower. We need to find this Zedd and Rita."

"And fast," Tommy pressed. "The longer they're on your world, the more danger there is to both of ours."

Southern China

"Marry an arms lord, my father said. They always have plans, that's where the money is, he said. But no, I just had to marry someone who doesn't even have a skull!"

"Silence, woman!"

"Don't silence me, mister! You have any idea what a headache I have after that trip?"

Zedd growled as he marched through the ancient temple. It was mostly barren, sticking out amid the field of the forest around them. He was doing his best to tune out Rita's screeching as he examined the area. "This…is it."

"This?" Rita looked around. "We went to another reality for some ruins? You could have just taken me to Beirut for that! Or Baghdad! Or some other romantic spot!"

"Silence!" Zedd snapped. "The source of the power…comes from here." He waved a hand about as he could see the flow of it around. "Varied and yet…so strong."

He raised his staff just in time to block the beam of energy fired out from the shadows. Rita raised her own staff as the two stood in place. Stepping from the shadows was a man in a long and lush green robe flowing around her. His face was handsome, marked by a mustache and beard that flowed down his chest and shoulders. However, his eyes were cold as they regarded the two figures before him. Each one of his fingers was adorned by an ornate ring, each shining in a different way with one crackling with energy.

He fixed his gaze upon them carefully. "You are not…of this world," he said in a deep and commanding voice.

"I am Lord Zedd," the red figure declared. "This is my wife, Rita Repulsa. And no, we are not of your world."

The figure seemed calm but clearly ready to strike if he had to. "You wish to conquer it?"

"This mudball?" Rita snorted. "Please, we want a real planet."

Zedd was looking at the man's hands with interest. "Those rings…They were what I sensed before. But also...something else here...ancient and evil..." He looked up to the man. "Do you know what you have there?"

"I do." The man held up a hand and clenched it, the rings flashing together. "And if it is your wish to take them for yourself…It will not end well for you."

"A challenge?" Zedd seemed to grin despite his lack of a mouth. "I can appreciate that."

"Boys, boys," Rita held up her hands. "We really want to do this? Sure, we can fight it out but Zeddy…Do you even know how those things work?" He seemed to pause at that.

The Chinese man smiled. "Only I know their secrets. And you are not the first to attempt to steal them for himself. It ended….poorly." The implication was quite clear.

Zedd glared at him. "It seems we're at an impasse."

"Perhaps…" The figure mused. "Or perhaps we can…make a bargain? You say you do not wish this planet which is good as I do for myself. You two have an obvious power I can use. I have a power you can use."

Zedd slowly backed up, raising his staff. "A partnership?"

"More of a…loose cooperation," the man returned. "Merely to meet our mutual goals and then go our separate ways."

Zedd nodded. "Very well then. And how shall we address you?"

"By the name I am ready to reclaim." The man smiled grimly. "You may call me…the Mandarin."

Yep, it's the real Mandarin coming in. If you want a visual, imagine Hong Kong action legend Donnie Yen in the part.

Obviously a lot more to play with regarding the Rangers and the MCU guys and a few twists coming in so all comments welcomed.