Miniforce: The Return of the Dark Energy (Fanfiction)

Chapter 20 - Before the storm

(A little note: Hey everyone! Please leave a bit more comments if you'd like—anything that comes to mind, especially for the oncoming chapters, it's simply amazing to read them, and they're my major motivation to continue! ^^ Thank you!)

"We'll make it by dawn," Pascal shielded his eyes from the fading rays. "The sun will be setting for them, alright."

The final beams of day glared down at their silhouettes—an army of shadowed specks, invading the fields inch by inch.

"We're traveling by night then," Pio sniggered, receiving a faint nod from his master.

The nocturnal ranger rubbed his pincers with glee. "What perfect timing, such a shame Vamp's missing out."

"He and Abophis should have been on guard," Medusa scoffed. "Serves them right for taking Master's orders so lightly."

Silah hissed in agreement, stroking her intricate scepter. "We'll avenge them, won't we? Their headquarters will soon reunite with their fallen heroes."

"I'd rip through whatever army they have left," Shaku polished his hook with a handkerchief, silver glistening in the dying light. "I can't wait to see what treasures they must—"

"No."

Shaku's voice was instantly stuck in his throat.

Without turning, their master spoke. "This revenge won't be so easy. They have an entire headquarter of forces, that's enough trouble for us."

The Army's grumbles had frozen mid-sentence, all ears as they leaned towards the somber figure.

"Ray alone took out those two, so ready yourselves." The violet ranger cast a steely glance out the corner of his eye. "I did not recruit an army of arrogant imbeciles, now did I?"

Their nods came fast, some obliged by fear, only few with understanding.

"But surely without its main forces, their headquarters would be crumbling apart." Torris dared a questioning protest.

Pascal did not acknowledge his statement, squinting into the distance. Medusa reacted quickly to fill the quiet with a pleasantry.

"Master, how do you happen to locate their main headquarters?" He craned for a glimpse of Pascal's masked expression. "What terrific searching skills."

A 'crunch' came from under Pascal's foot, and the violet ranger stopped short.

"Pakas knew."

His tone betrayed no emotion, yet so low a whisper that his army strained to hear him.

"Who?" Medusa pried.

Pascal kept his stoic silence, bending to inspect the piece of rubble underfoot. The small bit of silvery bronze peaked from the sandy dirt, glinting a soft sheen.

One by one, shining specks lit all around as the legion explored the field, shattered iron catching the last flare of sunlight. Fossils of rusting bronze had crumbled in piles along the horizon, mere pieces of metal still standing as towering pillars.

They were approaching a field of decaying magnificence, a collapsing remain of what seemed to have been menacing headquarters. Cavities in the ground, and ravaged cliffsides explained the mass battle that had taken place.

The hoard had wandered into the midst of an iron carcass, remnants of where the Lizard Army once stood, before their headquarters were destroyed by another. The Miniforce.

And now, as his fellow villains studied the area, crimson sparks slithered up the fists of their master, who knew the story.

"Should be north from here," Pascal tore his eyes from the remains. He drove the bit of metal underground with his boot, burying a bitter reminder.