Summoned Skull was running as far as he could. Escaping from Nightmare's fortress hadn't been easy, but if he could somehow get the rangers to notice him, he would be one step closer to asylum! 'Just have to make my presence known. WITHOUT attacking the city! I just hope the rangers can reach me in time...' Summoned Skull stood at the very center of Canterlot. While he hadn't done anything, people still ran in fear because of his appearance. 'Good! Hopefully this gets their attention.' Meanwhile, Inferno was enjoying the weekend until his morpher beeped.
"What's up Gold?"
"A fiend-type monster has appeared at the center of Canterlot! It hasn't attacked yet, but it seems to be waiting for something or someone. You and the other rangers better see what's going on!"
"On it!" Inferno and the other rangers were teleported to where Summoned Skull was. "Anyone got any clues as to why he isn't trashing the place?" Summoned Skull then noticed the rangers and made his way over.
"Are you the Duelist Rangers?"
"Yeah that's us. So why haven't you attacked? You sure look like one of Nightmare's minions.", Burst asked.
"I and my former king wers ripped from our world by her, but I refused to join her. However, my former ruler branded me as a traitor and imprisoned me in her fortress. I escaped, and now I seek asylum." As the group was debating what to do with Summoned Skull, Nightmare was looking at them through her crystal. Terrorking Archfiend was beside her.
"So that's where that fool escaped to. I shall destroy him and the rangers in one swoop.", Terrorking said boastfully.
"And why is Summoned Skull such a threat to you?", Nightmare asked. "I was more than willing to send him back to his world."
"Because he boasts influence among my subjects and has often defied me. And I will not let such defiance go unpunished!" Terrorking Archfiend then teleported down to Summoned Skull's location. "Face judgement traitor!"
"I think not! Lightning Strike!" Summoned Skull sent out a bolt of lightning that struck Terrorking Archfiend! "I think now would be a good time to leave!"
"Right! Gold! Warp us out of here!", Burst said through his morpher. In a flash of light, the group was teleported back to the command center. "So Skull? Care to tell us why exactly you're considered a traitor?"
"Back in my realm, I was a fiend who boasted great power and influence among my people. So much that it rivaled that of our oppressive king. Under his rule the fiends were forced to pay tributes to his rule and if they refused...terrible punishments were exacted. I led a rebellion against him and was branded as a traitor to the Archfiends."
"So that's why you came to us.", Inferno said. "Well Skull, we'll keep you safe here."
"You have my thanks.", Skull said with a small bow. "But Terrorking Archfiend is far from finished. He won't stop until he destroys me." Meanwhile, Terrorking was recovering from the wounds Summoned Skull had inflicted on him.
"Blasted Skull! You can hide for now, but I know just how to draw you out." Terrorking then began his assault on the city! He blasted everything in sight and destroyed as much as he could! "Do you hear me Skull?! I WILL LEVEL THIS WHOLE CITY IF YOU KEEP HIDDEN! YOU CANNOT ESCAPE ME!"
"Rangers! Look at the viewing globe!", Pegasus mentioned. The rangers and Skull saw Terrorking's assault!
"He's crazy!", Ace shouted. "He'll trash the whole city just to get at you!"
"Not if we can do anything about it! Let's go!", Burst said. "It's morphin' time!" The rangers morphed and teleported to Terrorking's location! "Alright you royal pain! Let's see what you've got!" Terrorking sneered.
"Time for an upgrade! I activate these two dark engergies!" Terrorking was soon holding two small orbs and crushed them to released power into him! "Now meet your demise!" The rangers summoned their own weapons and charged at him! But he blocked all of their attacks! "Hah! Weak!" Terrorking knocked them all back with a surge of dark power! "You're willing to fight me on Skull's behalf. How noble. And how very foolish!" Terrorking mercilessly attacked the rangers while they tried to recover! Striking them the second they got to their feet! Inferno charged at Terrorking full force with his sword but was sent flying into a wall!
"Nnngh!", Inferno groaned as he struggled to get back up after falling to the ground. Skull watched in rage as the rangers were being thoroughly beaten.
"Enough. I won't let them be destroyed for my sake!" Skull then teleported to Terrorkings' location. "I'm ending this now Terrorking!"
"So the traitor finally reveals himself. At least you're not a coward Skull! Face me like fiend!" The two fiends charged at each other! Each one taking a swipe with their claws and punches! But because Terrorking had powered up, Skull was soon losing the fight! "Heh. At my base power I'd stand no chance against you. But now, you're finished!" Skull was knocked onto the ground!
"If I'm going down... I might as well take you with me!" Skull charged at Terrorking and grabbed him! "Lightning Strike!" A huge bolt of lightning struck Skull and Terrorking! Skull was the first one to walk out of the smoke, and the rangers went over to him. But as the smoke fully cleared, Terrorking was still standing! "Inferno...take my power...", Skull said weakly. "Consider it a parting gift."
"What're you saying?"
"That last attack I pulled off was a self-destruct move since I called it while I was latched onto Terrorking. It didn't destroy him, but it did get rid of his power up! Take my power! End this fight!"
"Alright." Skull then put his hand on Inferno's morpher and there was a faint glow.
"Farewell...my friend...." Skull then faded away into nothing.
"The fool gave his life for nothing...", Terrorking spat.
"No he didn't!" Inferno's morpher then changed appearance! Inferno then activated its' newest power! Inferno was surrounded by a pillar of flame, and once the flames died down his whole suit was transformed! "This is the power Skull gave me! Archfiend Black Skull Ranger!" Inferno then charged at Terrorking and sent him flying with one punch! "I'm not done yet!" Inferno then summoned a new blaster! "Black Skull Blaster! Fire!" Inferno shot a powerful blast of flame that incinerated Terrorking Archfiend!
"Megamorph!", Nightmare shouted as she cast the spell that revived and grew Terrorking Archfiend!
"Inferno! Let's see what the Megazord can do with this new upgrade!", Burst said.
"Right!" The rangers called their zords and formed the megazord! "Activate Archfiend Black Skull power!" The Megazord's right arm was transformed in a flash of light, and a new weapon was in its place! "The data says its the Black Skull Knuckle! Let's test it out!"
"Just try it fools!" Terrorking boasted. The Megazord charged its fist until flames wrapped around it and charged forth!
"This one's all you Inferno!"
"BLACK SKULL KNUCKLE!", Inferno cried out as the Megazord unleashed a powerful punch that struck down Terrorking down with one punch! "You just got dethroned!" Terrorking exploded from the destructive force of the Black Skull Knuckle! The rangers returned to the command center.
"Nice job guys.", Gold said. "Skull would be proud Inferno."
"I know he would. But I hope you guys don't expect me to whip out my new power up too often!", Inferno said with a small smile. "Because then it'd be too easy."