AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you want to understand T'Dania Treygan better, read the one-shot entitled Justice (Chapter Thirty-Four) in Tales from the Rebellion. It definitely puts a new spin on things.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

OBSIDIAN
It was getting harder to focus, but he had to. Sid was the only one who could possibly stop the rabid incubus from doing something that would screw everyone over.

Release the girl, Sid thought, projecting the words into Reyzzo's mind. You want to release Maddie. She's Leffy's descendant. You can't use her like this.

That was a blatant lie. She might descend from all of the Chosen lines, but Maddie Sloan didn't have a drop of Eltarian blood inside of her. Convincing Reyzzo it was the truth had been the only idea Sid could come up with on such short notice after the incubus abducted the girl. As Reyzzo kissed her, Sid slipped into his mind and found the one thing that might make him hesitate to harm her.

Leffy... Reyzzo thought. His pain was overwhelming. I can't release her. It's too dangerous for her now...

That was probably true, but if Reyzzo made Maddie follow through with his plans, she'd be in even more danger. The First would be starving when Maddie's blood released him from his prison, and Sid had no doubt Maddie would become his first meal.

The door opened. Lenora walked into the room. Sid was relieved it wasn't one of the others. Lenora could be just as deadly as the rest of them, but Sid had figured out early into his captivity that her need to mother was far stronger than her need to cause harm.

"You're trembling," she said with a frown. She wrapped a blanket around him before touching her palm to his forehead. "You're burning up, Sid. What happened?"

"Percival paid me a visit," Sid replied. "He didn't like what I had to say." He showed her the gash in his side. It was infected.

"You mustn't anger him, my sweet boy," she said soothingly as she began tending to the wound. Sid had admitted to Lenora how horrible his early years had been. She'd practically adopted him upon realizing he'd never had a good mother figure in his life. "You're very sick, Obsidian. I can easily heal your injury, but the infection will require herbs to clear up. I'll return in a bit."

Useless traitor, a familiar voice thought as it approached. It's time to put him in his place again.

Sid trembled harder then. "Don't leave," he whimpered. He wasn't faking his fear. Zaelah had been using him for rituals, including ones he didn't want to admit to. Sid might be a little over a hundred, but he was still a teenager by Eltarian standards, and Zaelah's torture tactics reminded him far too much of his abusive mother.

"What troubles you?" Lenora asked with concern.

"Please, Lenora... Don't leave me. Not right now," he replied softly.

"You need medicine, my sweet boy."

"Soon... Just not yet. Please."

He hated to beg, but he knew Lenora wouldn't allow Zaelah to touch him. He needed her. He gently pushed the thought into her mind that the medicine could wait for a little while.

"Very well. I shall stay for a short time. Rest, Obsidian. All is well," she said soothingly as she stroked his hair gently.

You're a fool, he scolded himself. Just alert your father that the Elites abducted you. He'll come for you. He'll save you.

He wasn't sure he could believe that. He'd grown up certain Trerry knew he was out there, suffering at the hands of his mother, and just didn't care. After meeting him, he realized that wasn't the kind of man his father was, but he couldn't bring himself to reach out to him now.

Sensing Lenora, Zaelah moved on, sparing Sid another unwelcome visit. As Lenora continued stroking his hair soothingly, he slipped into blissful unconsciousness.

CALEB
He was worried sick about Dora and Elliot, so when Sakura helpfully suggested he try to use the Grant family's magic to track his cousin, he decided to give it a shot. Although Caleb had become a true necromancer, he didn't like to wander the Underworld for fun. Still, his cousin needed him.

He reached into the Underworld and began to feel out for Dora. After what felt like forever, he sensed her. Following the energy, Caleb managed to appear in his astral form.

"Caleb? How are you here?" Dora asked. She frowned as she added, "Are you dead again?"

"No, just astral projecting," he replied. "Where are you guys? Are you hurt? Is Elliot okay?"

"We're fine. Elliot's in the sad excuse for a Command Center with Tommi Oliver, who is a girl, by the way. She's kind of the Witch's vessel at the moment. I came back outside because, quite frankly, I needed a break from Fake Zordon and his aggressive negativity."

"Um... I missed a lot, huh?"

"This realm is weird and kind of sucks, although their Krispy Kreme has amazing donuts. By the way, it's 2017."

"You were knocked back in time?"

"Apparently. So, any chance we'll be rescued anytime soon?"

"Sakura suggested I use the Underworld to track you, then lead help here. I'm bringing Maegus. He may or may not bring others."

"We knocked the Witch out after an epic food fight, but we don't know how to get her out of Tommi's body. Jason's ready to go medieval on her ass and bitch slap her out at this point."

"Actually, if she's weak, that might annoy her enough to make her leave."

"Here's hoping. How's my team?"

"Worried sick about you, but safe. Cooper seems a little upset though."

"Cooper, upset? How can you tell?" Dora joked. "It's not like his emo ass runs around smiling on a good day."

"I sense a spirit around him. I think he lost someone, but didn't want to pry."

"I didn't think Cooper had anyone to lose... Look, just hurry up and get here for real. We need to handle the Witch and get back home."

"I will. I promise. You said Zordon's here. Is Alpha?"

"Yeah, but he's different from our Alphas. Still, he's better than Fake Zordon."

"See if Alpha can do what Three did and get a signal out to the universe that the other Alphas can pick up. It might make it easier to find you, but if not, I'll try to use the energy I feel here to guide Maegus."

"That's a good idea. Thanks, Caleb."

He smiled at her before heading back to the Underworld. That was when he encountered a problem. A young spirit ran past him crying. He looked terrified.

"What's wrong?" Caleb asked the boy.

"He's coming... I don't want to play with him!" The boy sobbed.

"Who is he?"

"The mean man who likes to hurt the children. He's been coming after lots of us."

"What's your name?"

"Clint."

"It's going to be okay, Clint. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Clint hid behind him as a dark presence arrived. Caleb forced himself to stay calm as he looked at the powerful spirit standing before him.

"You're Eltarian," he said.

"Yes," the man replied with arrogance and too much pride. "I am Millez, of Eltar, Fourth Son of Aphell Treygan, Grandson of Rinton Treygan."

Oh shit, Caleb thought. Shit, shit, shit! It's just my luck I'd encounter one of Aphell's dead kids... Aphell was only the worst of the absolute worst of the Treygans...

Externally, he remained calm. "Clint, I want you to go to that light area over there, okay?" Caleb asked gently. "It's safe there. That's where the good people are."

Clint looked terrified, but he nodded and ran toward the light. He quickly vanished.

"Brave of you to spare the boy," Millez said with a sadistic grin. "I suppose you'll have to take his place." He looked at Caleb with eyes that were far too interested in him.

"Sorry, but I already have an age-appropriate boyfriend," Caleb replied politely.

Millez stunned Caleb by slamming him against the wall with incredible force. He radiated with power. Caleb tried to take control of him, but he resisted.

"Silly boy... I was a necromancer, too. Your tricks won't work on me. You aren't strong enough yet. You're still just a toddler," Millez taunted him. "You should always use an anchor when wandering the Underworld, Little Boy... Or someone might just sever your tie to your body." He laughed as he grabbed at the energy connecting Caleb's astral self to his body. It took on a physical appearance as he held it, and Caleb could feel him starting to snap it in half.

Just when he was about to desperately call out to the other spirits of the Underworld for help, a powerful force knocked Millez away from him. Caleb was stunned to see a beautiful woman standing between him and the evil spirit.

"I can smell the taint on you, Millez Treygan," she said. "You are unworthy of your name. You are arrogant, corrupt, and have harmed more children than I dare to count. You were unworthy of life and are even more unworthy of an afterlife."

"Why... Why can't I move?" Millez demanded.

"Because, Foolish Child, you are in the presence of a much stronger necromancer. Being dead, you are powerless to resist me. Now... Let me set things right." She touched his forehead. Millez began screaming as his energy rapidly poured out of him. With a sudden explosion, he vanished.

"What did you just do?" Caleb managed to ask in shock.

"I destroyed the part of his spirit which posed a threat to others and absorbed the rest of his life force for myself. I'll cleanse it and harness it eventually. You also have great power within you, my darling. You might be able to do that one day, too." She smiled at him kindly.

"Who are you?" He asked softly.

"Oh yes, how rude of me. My apologies! You are Caleb, correct? I am T'Dania Treygan."

Caleb tensed, ready to be attacked again. Everyone knew who T'Dania was now. He wasn't sure what his best chance was, but he suspected T'Dania appreciated polite conversation as much as Zell did, so he continued speaking.

"I'm confused," he admitted. "You just destroyed your descendant."

"He was a vile waste of energy. My line has produced far too many monsters, Caleb. It's a bit of a passion of mine to eliminate them. Even in death, this one preyed on innocent children. He had to be destroyed." She paused. "Are you alright, darling? Your life line looks a bit weak. Here..." She touched the line which had manifested. It began mending before Caleb's eyes, growing stronger and shining brightly before vanishing from sight again.

"Miss Treygan..." Caleb began.

"T'Dania is fine, my darling boy, however I do appreciate your attempt to be respectful."

"T'Dania, why are you helping me?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"You know who I am, which means you know I'm Chosen. We're enemies."

"Are we?" She smiled at him. "Caleb, I hold no ill will toward the Chosen. You're good children. Even the incubus has learned to be a force of Good since escaping his evil father's influence. I thought he might need to be eliminated when he initially attacked the Power Rangers, but he proved me wrong. Of his own volition, he harms no one except those who deserve it."

"But... We're on opposite sides," Caleb said in confusion.

"You were destined to stop Zell, yes? That practically makes us allies. I despise the Yizaks, and he was especially problematic."

"But we're not standing against Zell anymore. We saved him... We're meant to defeat Jezzeff and the Witch... Your friends."

She laughed. "I admire your candor, especially since you know I could easily kill you. The truth is, Caleb, I rather dislike Jezzeff, and I am only tolerating Evianna for the time being because we share a common goal. I have not even met Jezzeff. He is extremely unworthy."

"But... You're part of the Coalition."

"Incorrect. I have allied myself with Eris because we have enemies in common and she's actually rather extraordinary. That said, I am not part of the Coalition. I only deal with my Elite group. It's quite small. They are attached to the Coalition, however, their loyalty is primarily to me."

"Could you clarify which side you're on? I'm still a bit unclear."

"That's quite simple, my darling. I am on the side of justice. That is all you really need to know."

"What brought you down here?"

"I've been looking for someone down here for a long time, but I can never seem to find her." She seemed sad in a way Caleb hadn't expected. From all he'd heard, T'Dania was a sociopath, yet she seemed genuinely emotional now.

"Who is she?" Caleb asked gently. "Maybe I can help."

She smiled sadly. "You truly are a sweet, gentle boy, Caleb. You remind me of my poor Mozzo... I fear the one I seek is a secret I must protect... However, I thank you for your offer. Go now. Return to your body. You have work to do." She touched his back, strengthening him a bit before sending him on his way.

Caleb easily found his way back to his body. He opened his eyes and took several deep breaths to clear his head.

Part of him wanted to tell everyone what had happened, but he knew he needed to help Dora and Elliot first. He dutifully headed toward Maegus, hoping they'd be able to resolve things in 2017 quickly and bring his cousin and Elliot back where they belonged.

KRIS
The Huntress had left him bleeding and weak. She'd run off at a sudden distress call from Jezzeff. She hadn't returned, and Kris was certain a significant amount of time had passed.

When something moved in the shadows, Kris thought he was hallucinating. Then, Denni and Merrick stepped into view. He was positive he was imagining them until he saw the horrified look on Denni's face.

"I'm going to slaughter that bitch!" She declared.

"Denni, Sakura and her friends will only buy us so much time. We need to hurry," Merrick reminded her gently.

"Right. I can slaughter her immortal ass over and over again after we rescue Kris."

"B'Danna... Where is she?" Kris asked weakly.

"She's safe. That crazy T'Dania woman kidnapped her, but she didn't hurt her," Denni replied. "She's back with us now, but Maddie sort of got kidnapped by the rabid incubus. We'll deal with that next..."

"What? Is she okay? Why are you here? She's in more danger than I was!"

"Kris... You were the one in more danger. Amos told us you didn't have much time left. For whatever reason, he believes Maddie is fairly safe at the moment."

"But-"

"Look, I'll fill you in on everything later. Right now, we need to get out of here. I don't know how much time we have."

"What's going on?" Kris asked.

"Sakura and a few of her Soul Reaper friends decided to practice their Bankai skills on Jezzeff. Jezzeff, being a little bitch, called the Huntress for backup, and the Soul Reapers are playing with her, too. They're both immortal, so they can't die, and Sakura figured that means it's okay to fuck with them for a bit without potentially messing up the balance of things," Denni explained. "It gave us a way to get to you safely and rescue you."

Merrick was examining Kris's injuries. "You need a healer," he said. "She did a lot of damage. I fear some of the scars will not heal."

Kris shrugged. "Scars are sexy, right?" He joked. Beneath his humor was incredible pain. A healer could take away some of the physical scars, but he knew he had some emotional ones he'd never admit to that probably wouldn't ever heal. The Huntress hadn't broken his spirit... But she'd started to crack his mind a little bit. Even someone with his training could only withstand so much psychological and physical torture.

"Come on," Denni said, helping him to his feet. He was weak and his legs immediately gave out. He collapsed against her. Denni managed to steady him and keep herself from falling.

Merrick picked Kris up and carried him. If he noticed Kris trembling in his arms, he was polite enough not to mention it. Denni grabbed Merrick's arm before slipping into the shadows. Shortly after, they emerged in the Command Center.

"Ay-yi-yi!" Alpha Twenty-Six cried in alarm at the sight of him. "Bring him here! Zordon, we need you!"

Zordon hurried into the room as Merrick put Kris down on a healing bed. He looked concerned as he began focusing his energy on healing him.

"The damage is extensive, but I fear it could have been worse. I believe the darkness Amos saw was that of the Flames. They probably intended to turn you," Zordon explained. "I will heal what I can. Perhaps I should call on Amello..."

"You can keep me from dying," Kris replied. "That's enough. Amello should save his strength for real emergencies."

"If you are certain..."

"Scars don't bother me. Just do what you can. I'm grateful for your help, Zordon."

The truth was, Kris was exhausted, and he wanted to keep his exposure to others to a minimum. He didn't want anyone touching him. Even Merrick's touch had nearly panicked him. The less healers he was exposed to, the better.

"Stay here and rest tonight," Zordon replied. "The healing bed will assist in furthering your recovery. Twenty-Six will watch over you. If you have need of anything, have him bring me to you. Your team can visit you tomorrow, when you feel better."

"Thank you, Zordon," Kris replied respectfully. He was grateful when Zordon led Merrick and Denni away shortly after. Twenty-Six followed them.

Left alone in a place he knew was safe, Kris tried to process what had happened to him. He began shaking as he tried to meditate to calm himself down. He'd trained extensively. He knew how to control himself.

When Twenty-Six returned and placed a blanket over him, Kris nearly screamed in terror at the sudden touch. He caught himself just in time.

"Thanks, Alpha," he said as casually as he could manage.

"You're welcome, Kris," Twenty-Six replied. "Try to eat and drink some of what I brought for you, and then get some rest. You'll feel better in the morning."

The last thing he wanted to do was eat or drink, but he knew he had to try. His body was weak and needed sustenance. He forced down a couple of bites of food and managed to drink a bit before he curled up beneath the blanket and pretended to fall asleep. He had a feeling sleeping would only bring nightmares, so he had no intention of giving in to it while he was still in the Command Center. Instead, he meditated, focusing on his training and not allowing anything else to enter his thoughts.

I'll be fine, he told himself even though he knew it was a lie.

SCARLET

She'd been having the strangest dreams lately. Scarlet mainly stayed out of the affairs of other realms, but something was wrong in the one that connected back to Eltar. She knew she couldn't ignore it anymore when Felina showed up in a dream.

"Scarlet... Amos has been trying to do something. I don't know what it is, but I know he's not the one meant to accomplish it," Felina informed her. Scarlet and Felina had formed an unexpected friendship, but the two genuinely liked each other, and if she was coming to her, Scarlet knew it was important.

"How can I help?" Scarlet asked.

"I think it's meant to be you... Amos has told me that much."

"How am I supposed to do it when I have no idea what it is?" Scarlet asked with a laugh. "I'm good, Felina, but I'm not that good."

"He told me only that this is a job for Serafine, and Darcy is not yet prepared for something of this nature."

"Am I supposed to guess, or will he tell me himself?"

"He was pretty sure you'd find your way to it if you opened up to Serafine... He believes she already knows what she needs to do."

"Alright. I'll try... How are you, Felina? How's your son?"

"He's wonderful," Felina replied with a rare smile. "And how is your little one?"

"Baby Yoda's great."

"Are you still referring to the Child as that?"

"Considering you kept calling the kid 'the Child,' the nickname sort of stuck," Scarlet replied with a laugh.

Felina shook her head and laughed softly. "Take care of yourself, Scarlet. I hope to see you soon."

"You, too," Scarlet replied.

She awoke almost immediately. After taking a deep breath, she shrugged and said, "Alright, Serafine... Tell me what the hell I'm supposed to do."

It didn't take long for the answer to come to her as she allowed Serafine to touch her mind. Her eyes widened in shock. "Amos, you crazy bastard... Are you serious? Is it even possible?" She asked aloud.

If anyone can do this, it is you, Scarlet. Serafine is the one person I believe is capable of completing this task aside from me, and there is a reason I have had no luck despite employing the help of Elgan and my Little Fish, Amos replied in her mind. Time is running out. This is necessary to prevent complete and utter catastrophe from occurring.

"No pressure, right, Old Man?" She sighed. If it was actually possible, she had to try. The part of her that was Serafine wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't. "Fine," she said. "I'll give it a try."

Knowing this would most likely take most of her strength, she woke up the man she loved. "Donghae... I'm probably going to end up unconscious shortly. Don't panic, I'll be alright. Just ask my brothers to watch over me, and keep Baby Yoda safe."

"For the last time, Scarlet, the baby's name is-" Donghae began to protest, but he paused as he registered the rest of her words. "Wait... Is this dangerous? Are you sure you should be doing whatever this is?"

"It's insane, and yes, it's probably a little bit dangerous... But if I don't do it, everything might fall apart."

"This is about Eltar, isn't it?"

"It is." She kissed him. "I'll be alright. Just do what I said, okay? Give me a couple of days and I'm sure I'll be fine."

"Can I do anything to help?"

"Not this time... This is something only Sera can do."

"I love you."

"I love you, too." She kissed him again. Then, she tapped into every spell Serafine, Kenna, and every other part of her soul knew and went into the room she used as her sacred space so she could attempt to accomplish what was almost definitely an impossible task.

COOPER

He sensed Deker lurking when he woke up and sighed. "Just show yourself, Deker," Cooper said impatiently. "I don't have time today."

"I heard about Mr. Davison," Deker said as he emerged from the darkest corner of Cooper's apartment. "Are you alright, Cooper?"

"I'm fine."

"You're lying."

"And you're annoying, Stalker. What's your point?"

"Cooper, I know what that man meant to you."

"And now he's dead. Story of my life. Go away, Deker. I'm fine."

"You know I worry about you. I always have."

"I can take care of myself. I've been doing it for years."

"I know you're capable of much, Cooper, but sometimes, even the strong need an ally."

"Is that what we are?"

"I've been looking after you since you were a teenager."

"I think you mean you've been stalking me since I was a teenager. I guess it's semantics."

"You hide behind sarcasm, but I know you, Cooper Cates, and I know you are in pain."

"Congratulations! Give yourself a gold star or a new sword to kill assholes with or whatever the fuck it is that makes people like you happy, and get the fuck out of my apartment."

"It's not me you are angry with, Cooper."

"You're right, Deker. It's me I'm angry with. Now go away."

"I think I'll stay for a bit."

"You don't follow instructions well."

"You need me."

"I don't need anyone, Deker."

"You seem to need Patti."

Cooper glared at him. "You're delusional. Shut up."

"She's good for you, you know. She brings light into your dark world."

"Thanks, Dr. Phil. You can leave now." Something began whistling. "What the hell is that?" Cooper demanded.

"Tea," Deker replied calmly.

"You made tea?"

"I thought it might help. It's good for the nerves."

"I don't even own a tea kettle."

"I came prepared. You're welcome." Deker proceeded to pour water into two coffee mugs. As he let the tea infuse into the water, he said, "Grief is a difficult process, Cooper. It's best not to shut out those who wish to help you through it."

Cooper wanted to throw more nasty retorts at him, but he was too exhausted to continue fighting. When Deker handed him one of the mugs, he drank the tea without further protest. He very much preferred coffee, but he supposed the tea wasn't so bad. It warmed him up, and he couldn't deny it soothed his nerves slightly.

"Thanks," Cooper mumbled so quietly he was pretty sure Deker wouldn't hear him.

"Anytime," Deker replied almost as quietly.

When they were done, Cooper stood up and cleaned up the mugs. He proceeded to continue cleaning, wiping down every surface of the kitchen area. When he finished, he began doing it again.

"Cooper... How many times did you clean the kitchen last night?" Deker asked.

He considered lying, but Deker knew damn well how bad Cooper's OCD got when he was stressed. "Thirteen," he admitted. "But it's still a mess."

Deker looked at him sympathetically. "Put down the towel, Cooper."

"No. It's a mess... I have to-"

"Cooper..." He walked over to him and tried to take the towel away. Cooper shoved him backward with too much force, but Deker had excellent reflexes and slowed his own momentum before he could get hurt. "It's alright, Cooper. Just put the towel down and take a deep breath."

"Thirteen. I have to hit thirteen again, Deker."

"Or what?"

"Or something bad will happen. Just let me do this, damnit."

"Cooper, you know this isn't rational."

"It doesn't matter if I know that. I still have to do it, or the anxiety won't go away. You should know that by now."

"Have you considered speaking with Nikki? The Power Rangers swear she's a skilled therapist."

"You're telling me I need therapy? Look in the mirror, Stalker. I'm fine. I already hit three. I just need to do this ten more times and-"

"And Mr. Davison will still be gone, Cooper," Deker said gently.

"Go to Hell, Deker! Get out!"

"I'm trying to help you."

"You're failing. Leave me alone! I don't need your fucking help, alright? I'm fine! I just need to finish this and everything will be alright!"

Deker sighed. "Very well, Cooper. I'm sorry. If you need me, reach out. I'll be here."

"I won't. Now go."

Deker left the apartment. Cooper went back to cleaning, refusing to focus on anything except the task at hand. If he just finished cleaning, he'd calm down, and everything would be fine.

When he finally finished his thirteenth cleaning session, he took a deep breath. He was still anxious, but it wasn't as bad. Then, he realized the clock read three-twelve PM. He stared at it, watching the seconds tick by until it was three-thirteen. He released the breath he'd been holding and was finally able to function.

Damnit, he thought. The need to keep things in their place and organize and clean was a fairly common issue he had, but it usually didn't get in the way of living his life. When the counting rituals started, he knew he was in trouble. He didn't know why the magic number was thirteen, but his brain got stuck on it sometimes, and when that happened, he had to make sure things fit the pattern or he couldn't relax or function. It was a frequent struggle he faced, but it got much worse when he was stressed or upset. It had started after Dark Specter abducted him and had never really gone away, no matter what he did. If he ignored the impulses, the nagging voice in his head insisting terrible things would happen grew louder until he finally gave in and did whatever irrational thing it wanted. Only then would the anxiety subside.

Only three people knew about Cooper's struggles with OCD. Deker was one of them. Jo was another. She'd witnessed it and understood how bad it could get, and if she saw Cooper heading over the edge, she tried to gently nudge him away from it. The only other person who'd known was his ex-girlfriend, Simone.

"No," Cooper said firmly. "Don't even go there. Not today. You can't handle it."

As far as unhealthy relationships went, Simone and Cooper had probably topped the list. She'd been manipulative, sadistic, and abusive, but Cooper had loved her anyway. They were the same age and Dark Specter liked to pair them together on missions. After all, Simone was his other dark Power Ranger, clad in a purple suit with a pixie for a Zord. Sometimes, the scared, abused girl she truly was showed through and those were the times when Cooper couldn't help but care about her. Most of the time, she hid behind the role she was forced to play, and that was when she was dangerous to him.

"Stop it," he scolded himself. "She's dead. It's over. There's no point in thinking about her anymore."

He made his bed thirteen times before moving on to taking a shower. He spent exactly thirteen minutes and thirteen seconds beneath the scalding hot water. He knew he was losing control, but he couldn't stop it. Mr. Davison was dead. Everything was falling apart. He couldn't breathe...

There was a knock at the door. Expecting Deker, Cooper wrapped a black towel around his waist before walking toward the door and opening it. "I told you to leave, Dek-" He snapped before realizing who stood on the other side.

Patti's eyes fell on his bare chest. She squeaked in surprise, her cheeks burning bright pink as she quickly looked away. "I didn't mean to come at a bad time," she said awkwardly. "I was just... Um... Just coming to check on you..."

Cooper grabbed his black bathrobe from the hook it was hanging on and wrapped it around himself. "Sorry, Patti," he said. "I thought you were Deker. I should know better. That fucker never bothers knocking. Anyway, I'm covered. Come in," he said.

She cautiously looked back at him before following him inside. "I just wanted to see if you were feeling any better," she said.

"Not really," he admitted. "But I'm alright."

"I brought chocolate," she said, quickly presenting a box of sweets.

"I don't usually indulge, but... Thanks. Chocolate sounds great right now," Cooper replied.

She smiled sweetly before opening the box and offering it to him. He selected one and ate it, taking comfort in the taste. There wasn't really any chocolate on Onyx, and Dark Specter never let him indulge in things like that when he was on missions, so it was rare he got to enjoy sweets.

"Do you mind if I hang out with you for a little while? I figured you might like some company," she said.

He was tempted to tell her to go away, but he'd lost count of how many times he'd chewed the piece of chocolate. That meant he wasn't focusing on the rituals, and he was calming down. Patti's presence always seemed to help for some reason.

"Sure, Patti," he replied. "I'd like that."

STONE

He wasn't entirely surprised when the Witch approached him. "Hi, Stoney-Bologna!" She cried in a delighted voice.

"What do you want, Witch?" Stone demanded.

"Time's up! Do you want to know the secret or not?"

He did. More than anything, Stone wanted to know the truth about his parents. Still, he refused to tell her that.

She laughed. "I knew you were interested!" She said.

"I never said-" Stone protested.

"You didn't have to, Stoney. I can read it on you. So, here's what I'll do... I'll tell you, and then you'll agree to work with me."

"That is never going to happen, Witch."

"Really? Are you sure? Let's find out!" She cast some sort of spell. Stone was startled as he saw two babies he recognized in a vision. Talon was a newborn, and Stone was only about a year old. A woman tearfully kissed them goodbye before creating tulpas to watch over them. She and the man she clearly loved ran for their lives. Stone watched in horror as they were slaughtered by Rinton Treygan.

The vision shattered. "Who were they?" Stone demanded. "Why did Rinton Treygan murder them? I don't understand."

Emotions he hadn't expected overwhelmed him. He knew in his heart the Witch had shown him the truth. His parents hadn't been the horrible monsters he'd killed. Something had corrupted the tulpas his mother created and turned them evil. His real parents had been killed when he was still a baby.

"Your father's name was Luxton. He wasn't anyone overly significant, but his family was one of good enough standing that your mother's relationship wasn't a disgrace. Her name was Alina... She was the third child and first daughter of Rinton Treygan," the Witch said, pausing to let that sink in as she cackled.

"Treygan... No. That's not possible," Stone said firmly as horror filled his heart.

"Oh, it's true, Stoney-Bologna. See, Alina sensed your magic and knew how powerful it was. She also knew her father would do anything to possess it, so she took you and your father and fled into the mountains. When Rinton finally found her, she knew the only chance you and your brother had was if she abandoned you with the tulpas. Of course, she didn't know someone would find them and take control of them. She thought you were safe. She loved you, Stoney. You and poor little Talon. He was barely a few days old when they were slaughtered."

"No... I'm not a Treygan."

"No matter how many times you deny it, it's still going to be the truth. The Treygans balance the Yizaks, Stoney. It's always been that way. You know the power you and your brother shared was the balance to Zell and Elgan's. Why do you think that was?" She cackled again. "That's right, Stoney! And that means Aphell was your uncle! Isn't it ironic?"

He wanted to deny it, but he knew she was right. He felt the storm brewing inside of him as he became overwhelmed. Of all the things he'd imagined, it had never occurred to him that he and Talon were long-lost Treygans.

The woman who approached them smiled. "It's alright, my darling," she said soothingly. "You have great power within you, Stone. Stop fighting it."

"Who are you?" He demanded.

"I'm your great-great-grandmother, T'Dania. Embrace your magic, Stone. Stop letting it control you! You are the one who controls it."

"T'Dania Treygan..." He whispered in horror. His magic was fighting against him, demanding to be unleashed.

"That's it, Stoney! Feel that dark power within you," the Witch taunted him. "You are a Treygan. Darkness has always been your destiny!"

"No... I can't..."

"Sure you can. It's easier than fighting, Stoney. You were born for this path."

"No..." He was losing his will to fight, but he struggled to hold on. "No. I am not my darkness... I'm... I'm not..."

He sounded like a child, pointlessly denying what was clearly the truth. He felt like one, too, terrified and lost. Everything he'd ever believed about himself was a lie. He was related to Aphell and Rinton, two of the biggest monsters Eltar had ever seen.

Give in, his power seemed to urge. You know this is who you are. You have always been a monster. You murdered Zutan brutally and you enjoyed it. You are darkness and destruction. Stop denying what you know is the truth!

A box appeared in T'Dania's hands. "This is a powerful family heirloom, Stone," she explained. "I assume you can feel its energy and understand the dark magic it holds."

He was drawn to it. The darkness called to him, demanding he touch it. He knew if he gave in, he would become unstoppable. He would never need to worry about feeling pain again, because no one would be able to defeat him and take what mattered away from him anymore.

He reached toward the box. A storm began to fill the sky. Darkness surrounded them. His power surged and he knew he wouldn't be able to fight it this time. Without anyone to balance him, nothing could pull him back from the edge now.

"That's it, Stoney... Come here... Take my hand and everything will be fine," the Witch promised him.

Her darkness called to him. He moved closer to her before reaching toward her outstretched hand, unable to stop himself even though his mind was screaming at him to fight.

Suddenly, someone jumped into his path and knocked the Witch away from him with incredible force. She cried out in surprise and a bit of pain before she looked up at her attacker. Her eyes widened in shock and her jaw dropped.

"Impossible..." She whispered, shaking her head as if that would make the image go away. When it clearly didn't, she screamed, "How?!"

"Sera's really good at what she does," a voice Stone knew entirely too well replied in Eltarian.

The shock of hearing that voice made Stone turn around. He stared in disbelief at the last thing he'd ever expected to see.

"Talon?" He whispered.

"Hello, Brother," Talon replied cheerfully. "Did you miss me?"

"I... I don't understand."

"A part of Sera did it. It seems you need some help balancing yourself out, so the Universe decided to fix the problem."

"You're... You're alive?"

"I'm alive," Talon confirmed.

That was when Stone collapsed.

TALON

"Oh dear... That's problematic," Talon mumbled. "Ah, well... Never mind. I'm certain he'll be fine. Now, where was I? Right. Back off, Witch. My brother is not your puppet."

"You can't be here! Zell killed you! He killed you dead! You're dead, Talon of Eltar!" The Witch shouted.

"Let's see... I am. He did. Can you kill someone anything other than dead? Regardless, it seems I miraculously got better, Witch of Eltar." He smirked at her with his typical confident nature.

The woman with the Witch smiled as she watched their exchange. "Hello, my darling," she greeted him.

"Isn't my darling a bit intimate? We just met," Talon replied lightly.

She actually laughed. "You're certainly an interesting one. Talon, I am T'Dania Treygan... Your great-great-grandmother."

"I just went from having no parents to having a great-great-grandmother and a whole family of assholes. What a productive day. If you'll excuse me..."

"Wait a moment, darling." She touched him, and Talon was expecting an attack. Instead, an incredible amount of knowledge suddenly slammed into his mind. "What is this?" He asked in a language he had never spoken before.

"English. You're probably going to need it. I imagine you'll be spending a lot of time on Earth going forward. Translation spells are much simpler than taking the time to study a language, although I personally prefer to do both."

"Well, this has been fun and all, but I need to kick the Witch's ass now. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all, darling. There's just the small matter of the family heirloom Stone was reaching for."

Talon sensed the powerful magic within the box. He also sensed what it would do to his brother. "I won't let you turn him evil," he said firmly. "A box won't change that."

"Only a Treygan can activate it, my darling... A worthy Treygan. Anyone else will either turn evil or be driven mad."

He considered her words. Then, he understood what he needed to do. There was only one way to save his brother from the Witch's plot. He didn't hesitate, because hesitating wasn't his style. He dove toward the box and grabbed it before the Witch could do something desperate like toss it at Stone's head. It opened up and the power began to flow through him.

It was overwhelming at first. He couldn't move, but he could still see and hear everything going on around them.

The Witch looked genuinely panicked then. "We have to go!" She shouted.

"Why would we do that?" T'Dania asked.

"You don't understand what just happened, T'Dania! Talon was powerful before. We can't defeat him right now. We're not prepared for this. We must flee!"

"On the contrary, Evianna."

"That is not my name!" The Witch said sharply.

"Legally, it is. Regardless, this was always as I intended."

The Witch stared at her. "What?" She demanded. "It was supposed to be Stone!"

"This power requires an exceptionally strong mind to control it. Stone has incredible power within him, but he fears it. He isn't strong enough to hold this power. It would turn him evil and drive him mad. It would have destroyed him, and Stone is not one of my descendants I intend to destroy. I knew if you pushed him too far and he was about to turn, the universe would bring back his balance. The power's owner was always meant to be Talon. His mind is incredibly strong. He cannot be controlled or influenced by the wrong forces. He is truly worthy."

"But... But... You're on my side!" The Witch screamed.

"Oh no, Evianna. I am most certainly not."

The Witch stared at her with her jaw comically dropped for a moment. "What do you mean? I have done so much for your family, T'Dania! I took care of them! I made them stronger!"

"You destroyed them!" T'Dania snapped. "Rizdan was doomed the moment his father got him alone for a year without my influence, but Rinton... My grandson still had a slight chance. He was dark, but Rygano helped him make the right choices... He could have chosen not to become a monster until you tainted him. Your darkness infected his entire line, and it created so many monsters... But I'm slowly handling that. So, you see, you and I may want some of the same people dead, Evianna, but we are not on the same side. I am on my own side, and this version of events suits me better than yours."

"That's... Not... My... Name!" The Witch screamed again. She tried to attack T'Dania with a spell, which T'Dania easily deflected because the Witch was clearly not thinking rationally.

Talon was starting to be able to focus again as the new power settled. He shifted form into a dragon as T'Dania and the Witch battled against each other.

"What's the matter, Evianna? I thought you liked shocking plot twists in your little game?" T'Dania said with a laugh.

"Stop calling me that!" The Witch screamed. She began to create a gigantic ball of fire.

Talon jumped between them, absorbing the spell without any harm coming to his dragon form. He didn't know if he could trust T'Dania, but he did know that of the two of them, hers was the side to choose for the moment. He looked at the Witch and breathed some fire in her direction.

The Witch screamed in frustration. "You will regret this, T'Dania Treygan!" She shouted. Then, she fled before Talon could set her on fire.

T'Dania smiled at him before gently stroking his head. "Thank you, my darling. I'm relatively fireproof, but I do appreciate your assistance," she said. "Now... I must be going. Take some time to adjust to returning to the world of the living, and to this new power. It's quite strong. It takes a bit of time to get used to. Be with your brother, Talon. He needs you now. The time is coming when you must both be at your full strength. I shall see you again eventually." With that, she left.

Talon curled up beside Stone, still in his dragon form. It was easier to handle the overwhelming power as a dragon. He figured he'd get used to it eventually, but for now, this was for the best.

It took a while for Stone to come around. When he did, he slowly sat up. Talon put his head in his lap. Stone automatically began to stroke him soothingly, although Talon was pretty sure he was doing it reassure himself he wasn't imagining things. When Stone finally seemed calmer and Talon could breathe without the power overwhelming him completely, he pulled away and shifted back into his human form.

"It's okay, Stone," Talon said gently, still speaking in English. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere this time."

Stone wrapped his arms around him. He started to cry, and Talon let him, deciding not to tease him for it because he knew how deep his brother's grief ran. He held him and let him get it out. Another storm was brewing, but there was no lightning or thunder. It simply began to rain very hard as if the sky was weeping along with Stone.

"Talon... Brother, I... I'm..." Stone began as he slowly stopped crying.

"If you finish that sentence with 'sorry,' I'm going to set you on fire," Talon informed him.

Stone shook his head. "It is you," he said with a sad smile.

"As if any imposter could pull all of this off," Talon replied with a cocky grin.

"I... I missed you, Brother."

Talon softened. "I missed you, too."

"What happened to the Witch and T'Dania?"

"Oh, Great-Great-Grandmother basically told the Witch to fuck off... Oooh! T'Dania gave me the fun words, too! I like her already!"

"You and that absolutely foul mouth..." Stone said, shaking his head.

"What about it?" Talon asked innocently.

"I missed that, too," he admitted. "It was such a core part of your personality."

Suddenly, three people came running toward them. "Stone, we saw the storm... Are you al-?" Vagris began to ask, but the question died on his lips as he spotted Talon.

"Fuck me sideways, I'm hallucinating..." Rhanna mumbled. "That's what I get for not sleeping while I search for my kid."

Talon laughed. "That's a hell of a way to greet an old friend, Rhan," he replied.

"Talon?" Vagris asked in confusion. "Is it... Is it really you?"

"Hi, Vagris. Nice to see you... And-"

Talon was silenced as the wind was knocked out of him. Plurri rushed at him and hugged him so tightly, he nearly hit the ground from the force of it. He hugged him back before groaning out, "Can't breathe, Plur..."

Plurri finally released him. "I can't believe this..." He whispered.

"Believe it, Bitches," Talon replied with a grin. "I'm back and I can curse in English, too, now."

Rhanna proceeded to hit him in his arm very hard. "Ouch! Jeez, Rhan, how'd I piss you off already?" He asked as he rubbed the injury.

"That's for investigating Zell on your own like a fucking idiot when you had the rest of us to help you," Rhanna informed him. Then, she hugged him. "Mind telling us how the fuck you're here?"

"Sera," Talon replied with a smile.

"Of course it was Sera," Plurri said. "The two of you never believed in the word impossible. If anyone could pull this off, it was her."

Vagris seemed to finally recover from his shock. He wrapped his arms around Talon and said, "Welcome back."

"Thanks. So, why don't you guys fill me in on what I've missed?" Talon asked.

"That might take a while," Vagris replied.

"I've got some time. We'll go to Stone's place in the mountains. No one will be able to detect me there. I think I should lay low for a little while until I get used to the whole being alive bit." He didn't mention the extra power. He had a feeling he should keep that to himself for the time being.

"Yes," Stone said with a nod. "It's the safest place for you for now. Follow me."

"Stone... I know the way," Talon reminded him. "I grew up there, remember?"

"I'd feel better if you stayed between all of us. I want to make sure you're safe."

"If you start coddling me, I'm going to-"

"Set him on fire," Plurri and Rhanna said in unison as they laughed.

"Exactly. See? Not much has changed," Talon replied cheerfully. He led the way to Stone's home confidently. Whatever came next, he'd be ready for it, but first, he and Stone both needed to get used to the fact that he was alive again.

Thanks, Sera, he thought. I owe you one.

He had a feeling things were about to get very interesting.