Rika: Welcome back, y'all!
(notably, Tranza is wearing his earmuffs so he wouldn't listen to the story...for now)
Previously...well, a lot of stupid, stupid shit happened. Cole became Red Conqueror. The Gokaigers arrived...or some alternate universe version of them (...seriously?). The villains get their asses handed to them.
That's about it.
Tranza: <Radiguet...what were you thinking? Leaving me to this madwoman?>
(meanwhile, Radiguet himself is planning his next moves)
Radiguet: I never trusted Tranza, anyway. It seems like a lucky coincidence that Rika had him become her audience.
Now I can focus on crushing the All-Stars, leaving the girl to despair...forcing her to accept her destiny. And then, I—er, we—will rule.
(he looks at the shrine)
Magi, get ready to fight.
(at the shrine, six Magi, all clad in different-colored robes)
Red-Clad Mage: Our master has summoned us.
Yellow-Clad Mage: What's going on?
Blue-Clad Mage: Someone's coming!
Green-Clad Mage: Who?
Pink-Clad Mage: I don't know who they are, but they all look serious...
(the six look at the crystal ball)
Black-Clad Mage: It's the All-Stars! We must not let them pass...everyone, get ready.
(...at the temple...Sean feels a shudder)
Matoi: What is it, Sean?
Sean: ...we're going to get ambushed. Calling it now.
Mako: What are you talking about?
Sean: Well, dear Mako, let me count the ways. There's an eerie feeling in the air, some weird-as-hell fog coming out of the temple doors, and some whispering.
I don't think it's inviting, is what I'm saying.
Mao: Yeah, it does seem rather...I don't know.
Alex: We'll see about that.
(he then runs up to the temple doors)
HEY!! Anyone here?
(everyone groans, with some facepalming...and, as expected, Alex is attacked, with a blast of water knocking him to the ground)
Sean: ...you had to do it, didn't you, Heartman? Still, are you all right?
Alex: Yeah...I'm fine.
(then the six Magi arrive)
Red-Clad Being: Intruders! You don't belong here...
Pink-Clad Being: Leave at once!
Ryota: Guys, get ready!
(everyone has a battle stance...)
(at the base...)
Rika: So let's continue with...
(click!)
Chapter 12: Roasting the Solar Trio
So the Author's Note states that the reason why Rocky is chosen because it's a "tribute" to the next series, Sun Vulcan. Why? Because there, a Red Ranger is replaced by another Red Ranger. And this is why.
- "Some sources state that Ryusuke Kawasaki left because of contractual issues and he was replaced by Takayuki Godai."
Or other sources stated that he wanted to leave acting, so why not do it with Sun Vulcan? He even had the contract with his casting agency expire so he could do exactly that. Interesting what you know.
As for Rocky, well...there's this well-known story of how Austin St. John, Jason's portrayer, left the show, along with Thuy Trang and Walter Jones, over pay disputes. Other sources state there about leaving the show so he could be with his ill mother. So we'll never exactly know what's going on, with all the stuff like this.
Though, myself, if it was really about pay disputes, then why did Austin decide to eventually rejoin in Zeo, Turbo (but only for a bit on that one), and the famous Wild Force teamup "Forever Red"? If you really think about it...it's just straight-up unclear.
After stating that it's also a tribute to the two Red Rangers (Rika facepalms), we begin the chapter proper with the Gokaigers getting used to the Super Sentai world. They talk about how unbelievable it is, and they mention about finding out about the Power Rangers universe. Yes, the one that didn't budge a single fucking year.
They talk a bit more, even adding Cole to the chat, and then we get to the slightly-more-important stuff: namely, selecting the ones who will do the mission in the Sun Vulcan world. And who are the three? Jason, Hoji, and Kouta.
...I just wonder why the hell Hoji is appearing almost everywhere.
Jason is perplexed over the selection of three people, and Jetman!Ryu explains that the era had only three people in it. Which is true. Granted, there was a fourth member (and female!), but that was very short-lived. And yes, they talk a bit, with Jason wondering why they appeared in the Super Sentai world. Naturally, they don't know.
...also, more talk about Bulk and Skull, the "failing at high school and elementary" thing with them (...I'm sorry, what?), and how Skull was an adult when...oh, God. When he saw Kimberly.
...
(Rika headdesks)
That's all I gotta say on this one, folks!
Also, we get some scenes of Cole training his body and mind, while Ranru and Billy study. Ryouga and Jan arrive for the sole purpose of getting curb-stomped, and so does Tommy. Much praises were had. None of this are even related to the plot. NEXT—
Oh, wait. Takeru arrives, dressed in karate stuff, and he delivers a "God Fist" attack at him. This...defeats Cole, I guess? Huh? And get this, the reason why he's defeated (???) is because...he was overconfident.
I'm chalking that shit up to an Ass Pull, because it really doesn't make any damn sense.
(Rika rubs her temples...and Tranza, surprisingly, helps her!)
(at the temple, the Magi prepare themselves, too)
Red-Clad Mage: Everyone. (he prepares his psychic powers) Attack.
(the Magi strike, the Blue Magi with her water-based attacks, the Green Magi with his vines, the Yellow Magi with an earthquake, the Pink Magi with Petal Dance, and the Black Magi with his energy-based attacks. They blow the group away)
Matoi: They're too strong...
Brittany: We have strength in numbers!
Jason: Everyone, it's time to use the Hidden Powers!
(everyone but Sean nod, with the final man staring at the red-clad mage)
Sean: <Psychic powers...which Red Ranger has it? No...it can't be...can it?!>
(the actors receive their Hidden Powers, for those who haven't summoned them yet. And then...)
Jason: JUNGLE BEAST, SPIRIT UNLEASHED!
Ryota/Mao: GOKAI CHANGE!
Mobirates: GOOOOOOO~KAIGER!
Alex/Brittany: GO GO SAMURAI!
Matoi: CHAKUSOU!
Mako/Rin: IPPITSU SOUJOU!
(after most of the All-Stars morph/henshin, Sean nods. Revealing the appeared Rescue Morpher, with a hint of a smirk and a calm but chilling voice...)
Sean: Lightspeed. Rescue.
(...he morphs into the Red Lightspeed Ranger. The Magi are surprised...)
Blue Magi: What power!
Red Magi: No matter. Kill them all!
Rin: We'll stop you before you hurt anyone!
(and then they all fight, and yes, it's very evenly matched...)
(meanwhile...)
Rika: ...by the way, Tranza, what's up with the sudden bout of kindness?
Tranza: We're both suffering together. And misery does love company, after all.
Rika: That makes no sense. (drinks)
So, we see the U.A.O.E. RINO thinks that he should resurrect more villains or recruit them, since he's rather...shorthanded on them. And who does he choose for the Sun Vulcan mission?
Trakeena and Tranza! Because it fucking worked the second time!
...seriously...
Flurious, as usual, volunteers, but he's shot down again. RINO suggests to Trakeena and Tranza, henceforth—for this chapter and the next—to be called "TnT" because I'm lazy as crap, to create a Bio Dimensional beetle. How? Fuse it with a heater. I am dead serious. And how will it work? The monster will roast the Sun Vulcan team.
Speaking of Sun Vulcan, we see Jason, Kouta, and Hoji appearing in that world. They talk about how the team had only three members, as if we didn't know. And as they talk about their own teams (okay, Kouta only does), we cut to Rocky.
(Rika laughs)
I'm just thinking of that infamous scene of him saying "This is too fun! :D".
But alas. We don't get that. Instead, we get this.
- Rocky: "I was just on vacation in Japan and woah. This is Japan but some other time or dimension."
...huh. Rocky only taking a vacation there? That's actually interesting. I mean...it could be possible that he picked up the language while being there, by learning it. So...could it be possible that we finally have someone who could be the translator for both the Rangers and Sentai Warriors? Someone who can speak both Japanese and English? Even through the unlikeliest of circumstances?!
- Rocky: "Wait, I'm speaking in Japanese and I sound different. This is not normal anymore."
(Rika's smile falters into a horrid frown, her eyes growing dim. Tranza is also blinking. And then the two do a bold, heartfelt...)
Rika/Tranza: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU—
(in the distance, explosions happen, a volcano erupts, tidal waves collide, and doves fly off a building. Cut back to the lair, with Tranza shaking and Rika enraged)
Rika: Seriously?! You had a good premise! Rocky would have been an unexpected translator, but at least we would have had some hidden depths to him! But you had to do it. No. Not only did you have him speak Japanese, but you had him sound like Ryou in Dairanger!
What the fuck is up with this bullshit?!
(Rika's rage is quelled when she drinks...then she turns to Tranza)
After this...fetch me Radiguet. If he knows pain...he hasn't seen anything yet.
(Tranza, in fear, nods)
Anyway...as expected, Rocky faces the mooks, the Machinemen, until the Sun Vulcan group, consisting of Ryusuke Ohwashi (the first Vul Eagle), Kinya Samejima (Vul Shark), and Asao Hyou (Vul Panther) fight and save Rocky. Jason's team then spots the Red Ranger, and as expected, talks were had. All of which are shit we already know.
Skipping all this stuff, we get to the Black Magma Fortress, and as usual, the villains there aren't happy that there are intruders. Including Queen Hedrian.
By the way, Queen Hedrian is played by none other than Machiko Soga, the Queen of Tokusatsu Villainy. You may remember her as Witch Bandora in Zyuranger, who then became better known as Rita Repulsa in Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. (Interestingly, she redubbed her own lines as Rita in the Japanese dub.) Her final Toku role before her death was not a villain, but rather a hero, Magiel, Queen of the Sky Saints, in Mahou Sentai Magiranger.
Tranza tells the group that they're here to beat the Sun Vulcan team, and Hedrian immediately recognizes the villains as the ones who stole her diamons. Hell Saturn tells her to shut up or be shut down. And yes, I almost forgot to mention, Sun Vulcan? It's a direct sequel to Denziman.
TnT introduces Heater Beetle to the Black Magma group, and Hell Saturn hopes the plan would work. Yeah...hoo boy.
At the base, we meet the Sun Vulcan team in their civilian forms. Ryuusuke feels that everything's quiet, but the bad guys didn't give up, or so he feels. At least it's a refreshing change from "no sign of (X) anywhere, but we can't be too sure about it".
Then the group notices the temperatures skyrocketing. Ryuusuke thinks it may be the work of Black Magma, but Hoji...somehow finds them...and lets them know about the U.A.O.E. The Sun Vulcan group heads off.
...but then we see Jason's team suffering from the heat wave, and some-freaking-how, Hoji speculates that it may be the work of Black Magma. Bu...wh...how the hell...
(Rika headdesks again)
Jason presses a button, revealing the Time Train, and his team enters it. Meanwhile, the Sun Vulcan guys face off against their enemies, but of course they get curb-stomped! Hell, even Heater Beetle gives them a severe heat wave!
Jason's team arrives, but they're too late. The Sun Vulcan group suffers from heat seizures. Um...ur...
(Rika feels very uncomfortable)
You know what, I'll finish this as quickly as I can.
The group manage to save the Sun Vulcan team and retreat for now. When they head back to the base, Arashiyama sees his team, out of suit, suffering. They have the Sun Vulcan team try to cool down with ice packs and soaked in a tub of water.
As they try to figure out what to do, we cut to an amusement park, where the Denzimen were getting concerned, wondering if they need to fight. Then Cole and Aka Red show up, and after a bit of confusion, the former tells the team to help the Sun Vulcan team. Tatsuya wonders if the guy's crazy, but Aka Red shows up.
The man in red tells the group about the situation, and that if they don't believe him, he'll have them see the evidence. The chapter ends with Akira unsure if they could trust him, but Daigorou realizes that they don't have a choice.
(Rika nods)
Tranza. Now you can fetch Radiguet.
(Tranza bows, and he flees, screaming)
(at the temple, both sides are wearing down, until the Red Mage manages to freeze Sean with his psychic powers)
Red Mage: You and your friends...you honestly thought you would win. Prepare to die.
Rin: Leave him alone! (she and Mako use the Heavenly Fan together to blow the Red Mage away, freeing their friend)
Sean: Thanks! (turns to the Red Mage) It's time.
(he takes out his Rescue Blaster and shoots the Red Mage, defeating him. At that point, the group manages to take out the rest of the Mages in short order. They all sigh in relief, glad they weren't killed)
Brittany: ...that was scary. But...who exactly are they?
Rin: And who do they belong to?
Ryota: I don't know...
(then they heard a soft groan from the Red Mage. Sean carefully steps forward to the fallen enemy, his visor down. Then the Red Mage slowly stands up, his hood falling, and the ex-Red Lightspeed Ranger actor immediately recognizes him...)
Sean: C-Chris?! Is that you?!?
(everyone stares at the surprised man, then back at the Red Mage...what does this all mean?)
Who are the Mages, and why did they work for Radiguet? How will the All-Stars cope with this reveal? And will Radiguet himself suffer the same fate as Tranza?
Emergency Signal; Now, Forward! To the next liveblogging of Super Sentai vs. Power Rangers!!
