Meanwhile, in Rita Repulsa’s fortress on the moon, the sorceress was in her usual foul mood. “Where are those blasted Power Rangers?” she demanded, stomping around her observatory, her long brown-and-gold robes swishing behind her. She tucked a white lock of hair into her elaborate two-peaked headdress and peered through her telescope at the little corner of Earth known as Angel Grove. “I need to get rid of Zordon’s nasty little pets so that I can finally conquer Earth!”

“Yes, oh mighty sorceress,” agreed Baboo. “That is an excellent plan.”

“But how?” she demanded, taking a swat at the creature that looked like his father was a monkey and his mother was a bat. “I need a new plan. Those disgusting do-gooders keep defeating every monster I throw at them.”

There was the sound of a bell chiming, and a few moments later a second minion, Squatt, came stumbling into the room. He was out of breath and obviously excited. “Your royal . . . most excellent . . . Rita,” he gasped. “I . . . we . . . she . . .” He was wheezing so heavily that he couldn’t get out any words.

“What is it, you blithering buffoon? I don’t have all day,” Rita screeched.

“She’s here,” Squatt managed to say after taking a deep breath. He was so excited that his blue skin was sweating. While dabbing at his enormous goblin chin with a cloth, he continued with, “Your guest, Scorpina, has finally arrived.”

“Well, why didn’t you say something sooner?” Rita demanded. “Don’t just stand there sweating like a toad. Where is she? Lead her in!” she said, giving him a shove. “Get some refreshments.”

Even though Squatt started rushing back toward the door, it was too late for him to properly escort Rita’s guest into the observatory. Scorpina had already shown herself the way.

Scorpina appeared to be her usual, charming self. Her gold scorpion-shell armor was polished to a high shine and clung snugly to her body.

“Darling Rita,” Scorpina said, tilting her head and smiling while she looked out of the corner of her eye. “Would you have me wait in the entrance hall all day?”

“Scorpina, old friend!” Rita exclaimed.

“Not too old I hope,” Scorpina said with a laugh, running a hand over her gold, shell-like helmet.

“No, not old at all,” Baboo hurried to say.

“Neither one of you looks a day over four hundred,” Squatt felt the need to add.

“Shush,” Baboo hissed at his friend, giving him an elbow. “Leave the compliments to me.”

“So, why have you summoned me?” Scorpina asked, strutting across the room to the telescope. “Still trying to get rid of those awful Power Rangers so you can conquer this puny blue planet? What’s it called again?” She took a moment to think it over. “Oh, yes . . . Earth.”

“Can’t I just want to spend some time with my friend?” Rita asked with a hand to her heart, pretending to be hurt.

“You could,” was the lady scorpion’s amused reply, “but I wouldn’t believe you.”

“You hurt my feelings,” Rita insisted. “And here I had Baboo make you such a pretty present.”

Upon hearing this, Scorpina lit up with excitement, a big smile spreading her ruby red lips. “A present? For me?”

Spinning around to glare at Baboo, Rita said, “What are you waiting for? Go get it.”

“Yes, your royal evilness,” Baboo said with a hasty bow, before scampering from the room.

Rita rubbed her forehead, as if trying to fight off a headache. “It’s so hard to get good help these days.”

“So tell me,” Scorpina said while they were waiting, “is Zordon really giving you that much trouble?”

“Zordon,” the sorceress said with disgust. “I’d probably be rid of him already if it weren’t for those horrid, helmet-headed freaks. It’s the Power Rangers. They always ruin all my beautifully wicked plans.”

Just then Baboo hurried back into the room holding a small, wrapped box in his hands. “I have it, Your Majesty,” he called.

“Let me see it!” Squatt squealed, rushing toward his friend.

“No,” said Baboo, holding the box in the air to keep it out of the shorter minion’s reach. “It’s for Scorpina.”

“Oh, come on,” Squatt said, jumping up and down while trying to grab the box. “Just give me a little peek.”

“Get out of the way, you nitwits,” Rita yelled, snatching the box from Baboo. “Stand back. You keep clowning around like that and you’re going to knock somebody over.” Then, sweeping across the room, she approached her friend with the small trinket box extended on the palm of her hand. “This is for you,” she said. “I had Baboo make it especially for you.”