Golden Desert of Despair: The Mighty Morphin’ Rangers' Trial! (Patreon)

In a grim turn of events following their clash with King Sphinx, Zack and Kimberly find themselves stranded in a hostile desert realm, tormented by scorching sands and unrelenting sun. Battling demonic creatures and enduring brutal heat, their struggle for survival becomes increasingly desperate.

As they confront the harsh reality of their situation, they face a pivotal question: which path will lead them to salvation?

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Get your sunscreen!

As they continued their journey, the vast desert opened before them, its golden dunes glistening in the scorching heat. Their unexpected entry into this desolate area startled the Black and Pink Rangers, leaving them confused and afraid. The scorching blue sky overhead did not reveal familiar features or indications of civilization. The scorching sun drenched them, reducing their vitality and exposing them to the elements.

"What... what just happened?" Zack was so shocked that he mumbled something under his breath. As he examined their environment, he wiped the golden sand off his black Ranger suit, his hands quivering slightly.

Kimberly shook her head, attempting to dispel the mental haze that had settled over her. "Zack, I'm not sure. One moment we were fighting King Sphinx one second, and then... we're here," she cried out, her voice thick with terror.

In their apathy, their communicators could have connected with either Zordon or their other Rangers. It seemed they were isolated from the outside world, stuck in this barren wasteland with no way to escape.

Zack's brow furrowed as he noticed something glinting in the sand nearby. He kneeled and brushed away the grains to reveal the sharp tip of a stone structure buried beneath the surface. "Hey, Kim, check this out," he called, his voice tinged with excitement despite the gravity of their situation.

Kimberly joined him, her eyes widening as she realized what they had stumbled upon. "It's... it's the tip of a pyramid," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. "But how... why would there be a pyramid here?"

Zack's mind raced with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. "Maybe King Sphinx's magic transported us to some ancient Egyptian desert," he suggested, his words heavy with dread.

Kimberly nodded, her gaze sweeping over the vast sand expanse stretched before them. "But why? What does he want with us?" She wondered aloud, her voice filled with uncertainty.

As they stood there, grappling with the enormity of their predicament, a sense of despair began to settle over them like a suffocating blanket. The weight of their isolation pressed down on them, crushing their spirits and leaving them feeling utterly alone in this hostile wilderness.

"We need to figure out how to get out of here," Zack declared, his voice betraying his resolve. "We cannot allow King Sphinx to come out on top."

Despite the terror eating away at her, Kimberly nodded in accord. They crossed the dunes together, their steps kicking up a sandstorm that followed.

They continued their journey into the desert, but the uneasy sensation of someone watching them intensified. Weird whispers carried an air of evil that made them feel uneasy, and shadows twined around the outer edges of their field of view.

They continued to search for hours, but came up empty-handed. As the sun fell below the horizon, it bathed the area in a crimson light and cast lengthy shadows.

With each passing moment, Zack and Kimberly's hopes dwindled as they trekked wearily across the shifting golden sands, the sun casting long shadows across the desert landscape. In the distance, the buried pyramid's silhouette was a dark symbol of their hopeless attempts to flee.

Zack's shoulders slumped in resignation, their failure pressing down on him like a leaden weight. "We're never going to get out of here, are we?" he said, his voice hollow with despair.

Kimberly nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of escape. "Where can we go?" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with frustration. "We've searched every inch of this desert, and there's no way back."

Once again, they were confronted with the stone apex of the pyramid as they staggered ahead, their thoughts obscured by exhaustion and despair. The realization of reality crushed Zack's heart. "We've been here before," he whispered into his phone.

They had failed miserably, and Kimberly's shoulders drooped in defeat. "We've been going around in circles," she whispered with a heavy heart.

As the sun began to set, they stood silently, the barren landscape opening out before them like an endless, merciless desert. A feeling of despair enveloped them as the stars started to glimmer in the sky, and their aspirations of escaping seemed to be slipping further and further away with each passing second.

***

Even though they were both wearing spandex, the Black and Pink Mighty Morphin warriors had to get to their feet quickly as the night turned to a sweltering day. The desert became an inferno of scorching heat as the sun unrelentingly pounded down on them.

"This... this isn't right," Zack gasped, his voice strained with disbelief. "Our suits should be protecting us, but... but I can feel the heat burning through."

Kimberly nodded in agreement, her skin prickling with discomfort beneath her pink Ranger suit. "It's like... like the heat is alive, Zack," she said, her voice trembling with fear. "Like it's reaching out to consume us."

The heat seemed to intensify with each step they took, wrapping around them like a suffocating blanket. The air shimmered with waves of distortion, the horizon bending and warping in the heat haze as if taunting them with illusions of escape.

"We have to make sure we're on the same page, Kim," Zack said, his voice tight with concern. "We can't afford to make any mistakes."

Kimberly nodded, her brow furrowed with worry. "You're right, Zack. We need a plan," she replied, her voice resolute despite the exhaustion that weighed heavily upon her.

They stopped, their helmets creaking as they turned to face each other. The intensity of the desert sun beat down upon them, its relentless heat making it difficult to concentrate.

"We need to use our powers, our unity," Zack said, his voice filled with urgency. "Together, we can overcome anything."

And Kimberly gave a knowing nod. "I see your point, Zack." Her words were delivered with unwavering resolve, as she recalled overcoming seemingly impassable challenges by uniting her team.

Now that they had a strategy, they continued on their way, their boots resonating hollowly on the desert sand. But the constant unease persisted throughout their journey, making it impossible to escape their thoughts.

With the pyramid fading from sight behind them and the blistering heat pressing down on them, Zack and Kimberly slowed their pace, their thoughts racing with relief and tiredness.

"We did it, Kim. We're finally getting out of here," Zack exclaimed, a glimmer of hope lighting up his weary features.

Kimberly nodded wearily, a weak smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I can't believe it... I thought we were trapped for sure," she admitted, her voice strained with fatigue.

Unfortunately, a sickening sensation started to churn in their guts as they indulged in a moment of cautious optimism. Without the pyramid in sight, the horizon loomed endlessly and desolately before of them.

"Zack... do you think we're really free?" Kimberly asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Zack's brow furrowed as he scanned the horizon, his heart sinking as he realized the truth. "I... I don't know, Kim. But... but we have to keep moving. We can't give up now," he said, his voice tinged with determination.

The glimmer of light on the horizon grew brighter with each step they took. Hope surged within them as they drew closer, their hearts pounding with anticipation.

But as they finally broke free from the clutches of their enemies and stepped into the blinding light, their hope turned to despair. The light they had been chasing was not a beacon of freedom but a cruel illusion, leading them back to where they had started.

Zack's heart sank as he realized the truth. "No... no, it can't be," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the howling wind.

Kimberly's eyes widened in horror as she saw before them. "But... but we were just there. We escaped," she stammered, her voice trembling with fear.

But as they stood there, paralyzed with shock and disbelief, they knew that their nightmare was far from over. With a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomachs, they turned to face the pyramid once more, their minds racing with fear and uncertainty.

And then, as if emerging from the depths of their nightmares, King Sphinx appeared before them again, his twisted form casting a long shadow across the desert sands.

"Welcome back, Rangers," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "I must admit, I didn't think you'd make it this far. But fear not, for I have a special welcome waiting for you inside."

Zack tried to endure the ordeal as he glared at the villain before him. "You'll never win, Sphinx. We'll find a way to stop you, no matter what," he vowed, his voice ringing with defiance.

But King Sphinx only laughed, the sound echoing across the desert landscape like the tolling of a funeral bell. "We shall see, Rangers. We shall see," he said, his eyes gleaming with vicious delight.

He waved his hand, and a legion of twisted sand monsters materialized, their eerie shapes rising from the desert floor like ghosts. In the face of the full ferocity of King Sphinx's anger, Zack and Kimberly readied themselves for the onslaught, their minds consumed by fear.

The Rangers were thrust into a life-or-death struggle against crushing challenges as the demonic sand creatures—their bodies a hideous hybrid of lion and human—descended mercilessly on the Black and Pink Mighty Morphin warriors.

A sense of crushing desperation weighed heavily on the souls of Zack and Kimberly amidst the chaos of battle. The relentless golden sand creatures seemed to grow as time passed, further encircling the Rangers with their horrific assaults.

Using his Power Axe to parry blow after blow, Zack's muscles wailed in protest. He yelled out, his voice straining with effort, "Kim, we must break this up!" "We need to withdraw, find a different way out of here!"

Attempting to match Zack's mad dash for safety caused Kimberly's breath to come out in irregular gasps. "Zack, there must be a way out of this," she pleaded, her voice betraying her desperation. "We can't let ourselves be defeated here, not when there's still so much at stake."

However, the unrelenting assault continued unabated despite their best efforts to defend themselves. The unrelenting wrath of their foes was wearing the Black and Pink Mighty Morphin warriors down, and they could feel their power slipping away with every passing second.

Just when they thought there was no way out, a beacon of hope materialized on the horizon. "Zack, look!" In her voice, Kimberly expressed her newfound optimism as she sobbed. "You can find an exit! We must persevere and not give up!"

the Black and Pink Mighty Morphin warriors redoubled their efforts to reach the light, their hearts racing with excitement at the prospect of freedom. Their hope changed to sorrow as they stepped into the dazzling light, finally free from their oppressors' hands.

Feelings of betrayal and hopelessness overwhelmed Zack and Kimberly as they retreated into the oppressive gloom of the pyramid. As a continual monument of their fight against an unseen foe, the aching ache of their wounds screamed in their thoughts.

"We... we were so close," Zack muttered, his voice filled with disbelief and anguish. "I thought... I thought we were finally free."

While trying to comprehend what was happening, Kimberly's breath came out in irregular gasps. "It was all a trap," she grumbled as the storm engulfed her voice. "That light... it led us right back to where we started."

Just as the two Rangers began to make sense of the seemingly endless loops leading them back to the pyramid, a sandstorm suddenly ripped through the desert, engulfing them in a tornado of mayhem. Wild gusts of wind pounded their bodies, causing painful stings and obliterating their sight.

As they cried out amid the violent storm, their hearts broke at the betrayal and hopelessness they had felt at the hands of the once-great beacon of hope.

"We were naive to think we could get away," Zack exclaimed at the diabolical twist of events unfolding before them. "It was all a lie!"

As Kimberly struggled to protect herself from the unrelenting assault, her cries blended with the sound of the storm. "We put our faith in illusions," she exclaimed, her voice trembling from trauma. "We've been betrayed!"

The Rangers' heroic efforts were in vain since the sphinx lions and the sandstorm were both too much for them. They knew that their fight was far from done and that they would have to use all the power and resolve to make it through the challenges ahead when night fell.

The demonic sphinx lions reemerged in the sandstorm, their ferocious roars muffled by the raging winds. They pounced on the Rangers, ripping their weapons apart like they were made of paper, their jaws and fangs incredibly keen.

They were shocked when Kimberly and Zack saw the sphinxes' teeth crush their weapons to dust. "Our weapons!" Astonishment poured into Zack's voice as he yelled out. "They... they're gone!"

As the seriousness of their position hit Kimberly, her heart raced. She yelled out, "We're defenseless!" but the storm made her words hardly audible. "We can't fight them without our weapons!"

However, the sphinx lions charged the Rangers with savage aggression before the latter could even come to terms with their defeat. Their nails sliced through the air with lethal accuracy, causing extensive damage and deep gashes as they fell.

As Zack and Kimberly staggered backward, their bodies aching from the brutal attack, the agony was unbearable. As Zack's voice stretched with pain, he whispered, "We can't... we cannot engage them like this. We must find a way to escape here!"

With her terrified and desperate eyes, Kimberly nodded in accord. Her call to retreat resounded through the deluge of the storm. "We can't let them defeat us here."

As the menacing sphinx lions closed in, the Mighty Morphin warriors shared a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. They knew activating the Metallic Armor Mode was their only hope, but they also understood its risks.

***

"Are you sure about this, Kim?" Zack asked, his tone showing that he was nervous. We have no idea what happens when we activate Metallic Armor Mode. It could drain us of all our power!"

Even though she seemed doubtful, Kimberly nodded nonetheless. "I understand, Zack," she responded with a calm manner. "Unfortunately, we are stuck with this. This is our very final option, and we need the armor more than ever."

The Rangers joined hands in a show of unity, concentrating squarely on the challenge. A potential force welling up within them, ready to burst forth, was palpable.

Their unified cries echoed through the desert, blaring, "Metallic Armor Mode, activate!"

In an awe-inspiring display of strength and power, their shattered suits morphed into shimmering fragments in an intense burst of light, whirling about them. As time went on, a shimmering light engulfed their bodies, causing them to sparkle with an ethereal splendor.

With their transformation complete, Zack and Kimberly stood ready to face their enemies, their minds clear and their resolve unwavering. They knew that the Metallic Armor Mode had consequences, but at that moment, they were willing to risk everything to defeat the sphinx lions and escape the desert.

Zack and Kimberly felt a surge of power coursing through their bodies as the dazzling transformation into Metallic Armor Mode engulfed them. The shimmering armor encased them in a protective shield, readying them for the brutal battle ahead.

"Black Metallic Armor Ranger, ready to rock!" Zack declared, his voice echoing with newfound strength and determination.

"Pink Metallic Armor Ranger, let's do this!" Kimberly added, her tone filled with unwavering resolve.

With their roll call echoing across the desolate landscape, the Rangers charged into battle against the brutal sphinx lions. Despite the overwhelming odds, they fought with all their might, their glittering armor deflecting the ferocious attacks of their enemies.

Despite their injuries, the two Rangers kept their Metallic Armor Mode on while they stood in the wake of the battle, celebrating their triumph against the sphinxes and the sandstorm's eventual subsidence. Unfortunately, they quickly learned their abilities had been sapped, rendering them defenseless against the intense desert heat.

To dull the excruciating agony that was shooting through his body, Zack bit his lip. As he screamed out in pain, "I can't... I can't move," his voice was clearly stressed. "The heat... it's too much!"

Zack and Kimberly felt as though the golden sand was cooking them to death under the relentless brightness of the desert sun. Their frantic, terrified cries resounded across the barren wasteland, conveying their profound anguish and hopelessness.

Zack yelled out in excruciating pain. "It feels like we're being roasted alive in our own suits!"

As Kimberly fought against the intolerable heat, she gasped for air. "The protective armor... it's not enough," she exclaimed, her voice quivering with embarrassment. "We're burning up beneath these suits!"

Underneath their sparkly, skintight heroic Ranger uniforms, their skins turned scarlet because of the intense desert heat. As they lay there, defeated and helpless, their bodies aching from agony and fatigue, every instant seemed like an eternity.

With no way out of the merciless desert, Zack and Kimberly had no choice but to suffer under the continuous assault of nature, their thoughts consumed by the unbroken bombardment. They found comfort in one another's shared vulnerability as they desperately held on to one another during that crisis.

The Glittery Rangers' already dire situation turned for the worse as the hot sand beneath them turned into wicked quicksand, engulfing them farther into its hellish depths. The heat appeared to rise with every step they took downward, descending into an underground fire pit.

Zack and Kimberly struggled against the brutal pull of the quicksand, their glittery suits offering no protection against the suffocating grip of the sand. The heat grew more unbearable with each sinking moment, enveloping them in a fiery embrace that felt trapped in hell's depths.

"We're being crushed!" Zack's panicked voice echoed through the desolate landscape as the quicksand tightened its grip around them. "I can't breathe!"

Kimberly's heart pounded in her chest as she fought against the suffocating embrace of the golden quicksand. "It's like being pulled into a furnace!" she cried out, her words choked with fear and desperation. "We're going to be buried alive!"

As time passed, they felt the quicksand was drawing them further and further into its dark depths. The suffocating golden sand ensnared them first at the knees, then at the stomach, and eventually at the chest.

The searing heat escalated, engulfing them in a blazing misery that seemed to pierce their very spirits while their bodies writhed in pain. During that devastating time, the Mighty Morphin warriors held onto one another, finding solace in knowing that disaster was on the horizon.

Because there was nowhere to go and the quicksand was too hot to bear, all they could do was wait for a miracle to save them from their burning grave.

The glittery Metallic Armor Rangers' desperation reached an all-time high as they continued to sink into the hot quicksand. As if summoned from the depths of darkness, King Sphinx materialized at that very moment, his ominous figure casting a shadow over them as he extended a hand of assistance.

Speaking with a malicious glint in his eyes, King Sphinx said, "You poor Rangers," as his voice resounded through the overwhelming heat. "If you can solve my riddle, I will give you the key to escaping this hot quicksand. One by one."

Without hiding their hesitation, the two Power Rangers shared a cautious look. Sphinx, we don't trust you, Zack shouted, his voice hoarse from agony. "Your games always come with a price."

However, their drive started to falter as the grasp of the quicksand became tighter, drawing them further into its blazing depths. The excruciating pain increased by the second, and they were on the verge of gobbling themselves up.

The Mighty Morphin Black Mastodon Ranger's voice strained as he grumbled, "We'll give it a go." "Just... just give us the riddles."

"Fine," The Pink Pterodactyl Ranger gasped, her voice quivering with agony. "I'll play your game with you. We need to get out of here, please.

With a wicked smile, King Sphinx began to pose his riddles, each one more cryptic and perplexing than the last. The Glittery Rangers struggled to respond, their minds clouded with pain and desperation. They realized that their cunning opponent now controlled their fate.

The first riddle King Sphinx presented was, "I am taken from a mine and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost every person." What am I?"

Zack furrowed his brow, his thoughts racing as he tried deciphering the enigmatic puzzle. "Uhh... a diamond?" he ventured, uncertainty lacing his voice.

Kimberly shook her head, her expression grim. "No, that's not it," she murmured, her voice tinged with frustration.

King Sphinx's smirk widened as he revealed the answer. "A pencil," he declared triumphantly. "But let's see if you can handle the next one."

"The one who creates it also sells it," came next in the second riddle. "Nobody ever uses it after buying it. No one ever suspects they're utilizing it. What on earth is it?"

With his brow furrowing deeper in concentration, Zack scratched his head. His doubts intensified as he hesitantly speculated, "Uh... a mirror?"

Inside her sweat-soaked helmet, Kimberly battled her brain for a response, her lips curled into a pout. The word "I don't think so" came from her lips as she responded, clearly uncertain.

King Sphinx gave a menacing grin, confirming the correct response. "A coffin," he said with a grimace. "But let's see if you can handle one more."

"What has keys that open no locks, space but no room, and you can enter but not go in?" was King Sphinx's last riddle. "What on earth is it?"

Zack and Kimberly’s minds racing to decipher the cryptic words. But as the seconds ticked by, they knew they had met their match. "Please," Zack begged, his voice trembling with desperation. "Give us more time."

But King Sphinx's laughter echoed through the desert, cruelly mocking their plight. "Time is a luxury you cannot afford," he taunted, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "Now, prepare to meet your fate."

"NO! PLEASE, WE DON'T WANT TO DIE LIKE THIS!" Their cries of anguish resounded through the desert as they pleaded, their voices betraying their feelings of helplessness and horror. As the scorching quicksand engulfed the Rangers, their cries drowned in the hellish desert, and King Sphinx let out a final, victorious laugh.