CHAPTER SEVEN
DIDI
By the time she skipped back to the room the Power Rangers had been in, everyone was gone. Didi spotted Reyzzo, unconscious and still losing blood. If he weren't an incubus with immortality spells on him, he'd have already perished.

"Rey-Rey!" She cried in concern. She knelt beside her friend and ally. Realizing how weak he was, Didi began trying to stop the bleeding. When that wasn't enough, she gently kissed his forehead and poured some of her magic into him.

Reyzzo groaned and opened his eyes. "Rey-Rey, are you alright?" She asked.

"Didi..." Reyzzo mumbled.

"It's okay. I'll get someone here so you can heal properly."

Reyzzo grabbed her and pulled her down on top of him. He kissed her.

Didi pulled away. "Rey-Rey... No," she said a little nervously. "I'll get you help."

"Come on, Didi," he said weakly. "Let's have some fun."

"I said no, Reyzzo," she said firmly.

He flipped her onto her back and pinned her so quickly she didn't register he'd even moved for a second. "I need it, Didi," he said as he pinned her wrists above her head so roughly it hurt.

"Get it somewhere else. I'm not your toy!" Didi replied.

"I can change that." He kissed her neck and Didi felt his power trying to seduce her. It was working, but her fear overpowered his magic.

"Stop it! I mean it!" Didi shouted. He tore at her shirt, ripping it open and exposing her bra.

Panic overwhelmed her. Suddenly, the dark crystal's power burst from within her, plunging them into complete darkness. Reyzzo was caught by surprise and shifted slightly. Didi took the opportunity to knee him in the groin, which made him scream in rage and release her wrists.

Didi ran from the room before Reyzzo could get his bearings. She ran right into her mother.

"What troubles you, Traezzunee?" Her mother asked.

"Reyzzo attacked me!" Didi blurted out. She was trembling, her bra was still exposed, and her wrists were bruising from where Reyzzo had held them.

"What do you mean?" Her mother examined her for a moment, then said, "I see. He was injured. He needed to feed."

"But I told him no... I offered to find him someone else."

"He needed help quickly, Traezzunee. You shouldn't have denied him."

"But... I don't want to do that, Mommy."

"Oh, honestly, Didi, don't be such a child! He's an incubus. It's not as if you wouldn't have enjoyed it."

Didi stared at her mother in surprise. "I'm your daughter. Don't you care that someone you consider an ally just tried to rape me? Daddy killed anyone who even looked at me wrong! No one ever would have pulled this on me on Onyx!"

"Dark Specter wasn't your father. Stop idolizing him. He's dead and gone. Master Vile was your true father, and he didn't care to know you. I've been good to you, Child. You're overreacting. Taking care of Reyzzo's needs is fun. Suck it up, Didi." She cackled as she added, "Literally!"

Didi couldn't believe her mother could look at the shape she was in and crack dirty jokes. She wanted to cry. Instead, she said, "I'm going for a walk."

"Oh, fine! I'll find someone to tend to Reyzzo tonight. You're missing out!"

Didi ran from the base. She kept running until she hit the edge of town, not really sure where she was going. No one seemed to notice her. It was late and very few people were around. She didn't know what to do, but she knew she couldn't go back home. Not yet. Not until Reyzzo had fed and her mother let it go.

She was too tired to run anymore, so she slowed down to walking rapidly with her arms crossed over her chest in an attempt to cover herself up.

Just keep walking. You'll be fine as long as you don't stop moving, she told herself as she held back tears.

COOPER
He'd stayed late at the Dojo to handle some of the paperwork. That wasn't abnormal. Cooper usually helped Jo out. Her father was too sick to handle running the Dojo most of the time and Cooper had been treated as part of the family since he started working there at sixteen. He didn't mind helping out. It kept Jo and her sister Randi from getting overwhelmed.

He sensed something and knew it was trouble. "Jo, I gotta head out," he said. "Something came up. Are you good?"

Jo nodded, waving her hand dismissively as she handled an issue on the phone.

"Goodnight, Randi," Cooper called.

"Bye, Cooper!" Randi replied cheerfully as he walked outside.

Sure enough, a couple of blocks away, he spotted Didi from behind. She was walking rapidly and seemed nervous.

"Didi!" He called. "Wait up!"

Didi froze in place. Cooper hurried toward her. He was about to demand to know why she was there when he got a good look at her torn shirt and bruised wrists.

"Who the fuck did it?" He demanded.

Didi was trembling. She shrank a bit at his tone. Cooper softened. "Didi..." He tried again. "I'm not going to hurt you. You know I don't hurt girls. What happened?"

"It was... It was my fault," she blurted out. "I should have realized he'd be rabid and couldn't control himself, but he's my friend, and I trusted him, and he... He tried to... But I hurt him. And I ran, but Mommy was so angry I didn't help him. She said it's no big deal and I should have just let him feed on me. I should have just done it, right? He's our ally, so I should have let him do whatever he needed to do. I'm stupid. I should just go back and-"

Cooper was somehow able to follow her ramblings. He sighed before taking off his leather jacket and wrapping it around Didi's shoulders. Cooper was very tall and muscular, while Didi was short and very thin. As a result, his jacket was huge on her and she hugged it to her body gratefully.

"I know the Guild has an incubus," Cooper said. "It was him?"

"Yes... I should have just done what he wanted. Mommy said so. I was bad, Coopie," Didi said. She was still trembling.

Cooper ignored the awful nickname. "You weren't bad, Didi," he said gently. "It's your body. You have the right to say no to that. Your mother has no right to tell you otherwise."

"She's the Witch... Did they tell you yet?"

"I heard. It doesn't matter. She isn't the one who gets to make that call. Only you can give consent."

"Cooper... Reyzzo scared me," she admitted.

Her use of his real name worried him. "Come with me," he said with a sigh.

"Where?" She asked in surprise.

"My apartment. You can crash for the night."

Didi had tears in her eyes. "You'd do that for me? But we're not on the same side anymore."

"I don't care which side you're on. No one deserves to go through that. I'll keep you safe tonight, I promise."

She jumped up and flung her arms around his neck. Her feet dangled in midair as he held her.

"Thank you," she whispered, sobbing into his shoulder.

"No problem," he replied. He led the way to his apartment. It was cloaked with magic so no one could detect who was inside. He knew Didi would be safe there.

He got Didi settled before there was a knock on his door. Cooper tensed. "Stay here," he said, leaving Didi to eat the Hot Pockets he'd microwaved for her.

Cooper looked through the peep hole and saw no one. He had his kendo stick at the ready, just in case, as he opened the door.

"Are you an idiot, Cooper Cates?" A cranky voice snapped.

Cooper looked down and spotted Tazzan, who wasn't tall enough to reach the peep hole. He put down his kendo stick.

"Not generally," Cooper replied dryly. "Why do you ask?"

"You brought that girl here! Do you understand who she is?" Tazzan asked harshly.

"Yes. She's Didi Vile. What, are you stalking me or something? It's none of your business who I invite to spend the night at my apartment, Tazzan. I'm an adult."

"Are you fornicating with her?" Tazzan demanded. "Your hormones are no excuse for poor judgment!"

"Whoa! Get your mind out of the gutter, Tazzan. First of all, who I do or do not have sex with is not your concern, but no. Didi and I grew up together on Onyx. She's like my kid sister. I have never looked at her inappropriately and I never will."

"That girl is the Witch's daughter!"

"I'm aware of that. I don't care. Tonight, she's a terrified girl with the mind of a kid who got assaulted by an evil incubus and realized her mother doesn't give a damn about what he did. She needs a place to lay low for a night. I'm not sending her back there like this, Tazzan."

"She is the enemy, Cooper! She made her choice to ally herself with them and must live with the consequences."

"I thought the Power Rangers were supposed to be the good guys! She was walking around aimlessly with her shirt torn and her wrists bruised. Was I supposed to just leave her like that? If that's my job as a Power Ranger, then fuck you all, I quit. I don't care who she is... No one deserves that."

Tazzan hesitated. To Cooper's shock, he looked like he was considering his words. "Very well," he said after a minute. "Offer the girl sanctuary if you must, but be mindful that she's as unstable as her mother and might stab you in your sleep."

"Coopie... Do you have any stuffed animals? I forgot my teddy bear and I can't sleep without something to snuggle," Didi called with a sniffle.

"I think I can handle her," Cooper said to Tazzan, rolling his eyes. "Get out of here, Tazzan."

Tazzan sighed. "Be careful, Cooper. I truly hope you know what you're doing," he said before leaving.

Cooper pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. "Hello?" Patti answered cheerfully.

"Hey, Patti, it's me," Cooper said a little awkwardly. He'd spent a lot of time alone with Patti lately trying to teach her how to fight. She was slowly getting a lot better at it.

"Hi, Cooper! Why the late call? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah... I just have an odd request and didn't know who to ask."

"I'm your girl. What do you need?"

"Can you bring a stuffed animal by my apartment? It can be anything, as long as it's big enough to snuggle."

"Feeling lonely?" Patti asked lightly.

"I have an unexpected house guest and she has trouble sleeping without stuffed animals."

"Sure, no problem. I've got a ton of them. She can have one." She paused. "Oh my God, that makes me sound like such a dork..."

Cooper laughed softly. "It's okay, Patti. I'm not judging you. I appreciate your help."

"I'll be over in a half an hour."

"You're a life saver. See you then." He hung up.

Didi had finished eating when he reached her. "Did you hear me about my teddy?" She asked.

"I've got a friend bringing you a substitute," Cooper replied. "Are you still hungry?"

"No, I'm okay... Just tired."

He nodded before going to his room to grab a black t-shirt. It would look like a dress on Didi, but he figured it would be good enough for her to sleep in.

"Here," he said, passing it to her. "I'll get you a proper shirt to wear tomorrow, but you can sleep in this."

She nodded. She was trembling again as she finally took his jacket off. She nervously began to remove her torn shirt, so Cooper turned around to give her privacy. A minute later, she softly said, "I'm dressed."

Cooper turned around. The shirt fell to her knees. She was more covered than usual and seemed to feel better that way.

"Coopie... Will you brush my hair? Like when I was little?" She asked shyly.

"You're still little, Shrimp," he teased her. He grabbed a brush and sat behind her, gently combing her hair.

You're insane, he told himself, but you're doing the right thing.

THE NEXT DAY.
B'DANNA
She began to come around slowly. B'Danna forced herself to remain perfectly still as she took in her surroundings with her eyes still closed.

Her sword was missing. She was strapped to a bed. She was fully clothed and didn't feel injured.

There were people speaking nearby. "Treyvaz Treygan is dead!" A girl declared.

There were enthusiastic cheers from nearby. "Excellent work, Anzella. He was unworthy of the Treygan name," a voice B'Danna recognized replied.

Percival, she registered. I must be with the Coalition.

"He was only twelve, Percival," a male said in an almost bored tone. "He could have grown into it. You Treygans are so impatient."

"He declared his loyalty to Keilah, Dexter," the one Percival had called Anzella replied sharply.

"Keilah melted Aphell," Dexter reminded her. "What twelve-year-old wouldn't ally themselves with her? Hell, I thought that was pretty damn cool and I'm twenty-five."

"Your IQ is lower than a twelve-year-olds," a new girl said softly. B'Danna was surprised by her tone. She risked a quick glance and saw a blonde girl still looking at an ancient book as she smirked. She looked harmless but B'Danna sensed she was anything but.

"Ouch, Heather," Dexter replied. "Way to hurt a guy's feelings." He looked more amused than hurt. B'Danna quickly closed her eyes again.

"So how long are we supposed to babysit the prisoner?" Another girl asked.

"T'Dania said she's a guest, not a prisoner," Anzella reminded the girl. "She was very specific about that, Thyme. I assume she hopes to recruit her."

There's no chance in Hell of that happening, B'Danna thought.

"Fine. How long are we meant to watch the guest?" Thyme corrected herself.

"Until she awakens," Heather replied.

"So, until about three minutes ago?" Dexter asked lightly.

"What?" Percival demanded.

"She regained consciousness a few minutes ago. She's been listening to us and probably thinking of ways to escape ever since. Isn't that right, B'Danna of Eltar?"

B'Danna knew it was pointless to lie. She opened her eyes and stared at her captors fearlessly.

"Well, well, well... The Legendary B'Danna of Eltar!" Percival said with a sadistic smirk. "You've gotten quite a reputation in your short time alive."

"I assure you I have earned every bit of that reputation," B'Danna replied sharply. "Cross me and learn the hard way."

"So full of fire... No wonder T'Dania has chosen to keep you alive."

As if on cue, T'Dania entered the room. "You've awakened," she said. "Excellent. Scatter, Children." She clapped her hands together twice. Even Percival, who was certainly no one's idea of a child, immediately left the room.

T'Dania sat down in a chair she manifested beside B'Danna's bed. She smiled at her darkly. "Now, B'Danna, we may have that talk I mentioned earlier," she said.

"I will not join the Coalition," B'Danna said firmly. "My loyalty is to Captain Smith, the former Rebellion of Eltar, and the Power Rangers. I stand with Keilah and Prime Minister Anise, and I am prepared to give my life if I must in defense of theirs. If you try to turn me by force, I shall fall upon my blade before I betray them."

"My, my, aren't you certain of things?" T'Dania asked with a slight laugh. "I am not here to forcibly turn you, B'Danna. That's how Jezzeff and the Witch awaken people. I prefer to help them find their way to my side of their own choice."

"Then you're wasting your time. I'm not interested."

"Your father was a soldier in the Eltarian Guard, yes?"

B'Danna tensed slightly. "He was," she confirmed.

"I understand he was quite cruel to you... He beat you for the slightest things... And he and his friends tried to-"

"I'm not interested in a trip down memory lane. I killed them all. That's what matters."

"You killed your own father... That takes incredible strength."

"He was no father. I don't want to discuss this. Make your point."

T'Dania tilted B'Danna's chin up and forced her to look into her eyes. B'Danna stared into her eyes, still fearless, ready to face whatever this bitch was plotting.

"Lovely," T'Dania said softly. "You have my eyes, you know. That burning strength and fierce determination are excellent qualities. You're exceptional, B'Danna... Finally, after all these millennia, I have found someone worthy of this gift."

"Whatever you're giving away, I don't want it."

"You already have it, B'Danna, my dear girl... It is the gift of life. And I am the one who gave it to you."

B'Danna stared at her. She searched her face for signs that this was a lie, but there were none.

"My mother is dead," B'Danna said firmly. "I never knew her."

"Not dead, darling... Just otherwise occupied. I am very proud of you, B'Danna. Now, it is time for you to become unlocked."

"Unlocked?"

"Your magic, darling. I bound it when you were still in my womb. You're starting to awaken, but only I can fully release you from my spell." She put one hand on B'Danna's forehead and the other over her heart.

"Don't touch me!" B'Danna snapped at her.

Suddenly, incredible pain surged through her. B'Danna's head felt like it was going to split open. She couldn't breathe. Every inch of her body felt like it was on fire.

The ropes binding her to the bed burned away. B'Danna felt sick. She sat up and immediately bent over and vomited.

T'Dania rubbed her back soothingly. B'Danna wanted to tell her to fuck off, but it actually helped the nausea pass. After a minute, she sat up fully.

"What did you do to me?" B'Danna demanded.

"As I said, I unbound you. I'm sorry it was so harsh... You are a Treygan, darling. An enormous amount of power runs through your veins. It's a lot to adapt to, but you'll feel better soon."

B'Danna stood. Her legs were slightly shaky, but they didn't collapse beneath her. "I'm leaving," she said sharply.

"You're welcome to, Daughter. I've unbound you and told you the truth of your heritage. Now, I shall wait and see what you do with it. When you're ready to learn to control your powers, you will return to me. Until then... You are free to go."

T'Dania opened a portal. "How do I know this isn't a trap?" B'Danna asked.

"If I trick you now, you'll never trust me. It wouldn't benefit me. Go on, B'Danna. I shall see you soon."

B'Danna trusted her instincts and entered the portal. It took her to Earth. She looked around and immediately knew where she was.

The horn from the Staten Island Ferry surprised her, but she took a deep breath and tried to relax. "Battery Park..." She mumbled. "Why am I in Downtown Manhattan? What game is she playing?"

The flashbacks began to hit her out of nowhere. Sitting along the water, watching the ships come in early in the morning... Seeing tourists come by the thousands to head to Ellis Island. Looking at the Statue of Liberty and thinking about how badass she seemed, almost like a mother Goddess protecting the people of New York as she watched them from her island. She'd witnessed countless festivals and events, watched artists create drawings for tourists or musicians try to make ends meet by performing around a hat on the ground. Battery Park was truly a magical place, full of strange people and wonderful things. B'Danna had tried to act unimpressed, but there was a spirit that lingered there that was unlike any she'd encountered before.

And through all of those memories, one thing had remained the same... Draze had always been by her side.

Draze had loved the culture and beauty of New York City. Although California's laid-back nature suited him better, B'Danna had been born for a place like New York. The jaded New Yorker attitude came naturally to her. Draze was all sunshine and peace, a stark contrast to most of the people in New York. Still, he'd embraced the city and fallen deeply in love with its people. Seeing Draze happy had helped B'Danna be happy. His smile was infectious at times, and even though she was rarely the smiling sort, he brought it out in her.

"Stop it," she scolded herself, forcing the memories back. "He's gone, B'Danna. Move on."

She couldn't stop seeing his smiling face. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. "I miss you," she admitted softly. "I'm sorry, Draze."

She realized a storm had begun to roll in. Panicked tourists began running for cover as rain poured down around them. The sea grew violent, rocking boats back and forth perilously. The rain fell around her, but she remained remarkably dry.

"What the fuck is going on?" B'Danna mumbled.

The sea rose up to meet her. The wave that crashed down parted around her. B'Danna's eyes widened in shock. Lightning began striking around her in a circle. It should have scared her, but it made her feel stronger. Suddenly, fire burst from her hands.

"Oh, shit!" B'Danna cried in surprise. She jumped backward. The fire vanished. The wind picked up around her, nearly knocking her off her feet until she adjusted to it. Then, it simply felt... Good.

"Am I doing all of this?" She asked aloud. It was the obvious answer, but how was it possible? She'd never had magic before other than the most basic ability to assist with spell work. Could she really have this much power inside of her? More importantly, how was she supposed to stop it from destroying New York?

Breathe, B'Danna, she told herself. She'd spent enough times around the Rebellion's Sorcerers to know how magic worked. If she gave in to her emotions, it would only get worse.

She closed her eyes, took several deep breaths, and focused on calming herself down. When she opened her eyes again, the storm was retreating out to sea. B'Danna relaxed slightly.

She finally remembered her communicator. "Denni? Merrick? Can anyone hear me?" She asked.

There was no answer. B'Danna sighed. Somehow, T'Dania must have shorted out her communicator. Left with no other choice, she went to the one place she knew she'd be safe until she could figure things out. She walked into the subway station and hopped the turnstile since she had no money on her. She quickly boarded the train and headed Uptown. Being on the subway was soothingly familiar to her, and she tried to take comfort in being back in the city she'd come to consider home.

She reached the building the New York New Jersey Rebellion had used as their base. The doorman stood dutifully at his post as if no time had passed. "Miss Beatrice! How wonderful to see you," he said politely. He'd been bewitched for a long time, but the Rebels treated him very well. Captain Smith paid his staff incredibly well and made sure they had time to be with their loved ones whenever they needed or wanted it. They simply had a spell on them that kept them from asking too many questions or telling anyone about anything strange they witnessed. This kept them from questioning why the Rebels never appeared to age.

"Hey, Rico," B'Danna replied politely. "How are you?"

"I'm well. Will the others be returning? Should I prepare the penthouse?"

"It's just me for now. I'm not staying long. I just needed to stop by and take care of a few things."

"Of course. Have a wonderful day!" He called the elevator and sent her up.

The elevator attendant nodded his head at her politely but didn't speak. He never did. Either he'd realized B'Danna hated small talk or he just didn't care to make conversation with what he probably viewed as an angry goth girl. Either way, B'Danna enjoyed the silent ride upstairs before she entered the penthouse.

"It's nice to be home," she said softly. They had left over a year ago after rescuing Chelsea, who'd barely survived using an unstable portal to Central Park after Katherine tried to kill her. If Tedius and Kizzie hadn't healed her, she would have died. When they'd brought Chelsea home, they'd decided to join the Power Rangers in their battle against Zell. At the time, B'Danna had been following orders. She'd never expected to grow to like the Power Rangers, let alone to become one, but she was happy to have a purpose in her life again. She'd lost that after Draze's death.

She took a shower first. She felt better afterward, especially after changing into clean clothes she'd left behind in her room. The next thing she did was pick up the phone. Surprisingly, the landline was still working. She assumed Captain Smith intended to return to New York eventually. She quickly dialed a number.

Captain Smith answered the phone with a hesitant, "Hello?"

"Captain Smith... It's me," B'Danna said.

"B'Danna, thank goodness! We were worried sick. Denni said she left you and your teammate to rescue someone from the Guild and neither of you have answered when she attempted to contact you. We were about to organize a rescue mission ourselves."

"I'm sorry for worrying you, Captain... We were caught by surprise. The Huntress has Kris... I don't know if he's alright. It sounded like she wasn't planning to kill him outright, but I didn't like what she was hinting at."

"How did you escape?"

"Someone else took me. I was on Eltar with members of the Coalition. The woman who had me..." She paused. How was she supposed to tell him this when she didn't even believe it herself? "Sir... The woman claims to be my birth mother... The one who's supposed to be dead."

"I see. Do you believe her?"

"I don't want to, but... I'm not sure. It's complicated. She was able to unlock magic in me, Sir... Magic I didn't know I had."

"Are you alright, B'Danna? Are you injured?"

"Physically, I'm fine. I'm just confused. She sent me through a portal to Battery Park. I wasn't exactly expecting that, but that was where this magic started manifesting."

"Tell me what happened. It's alright, B'Danna. I'm here to help."

"I know you are..." She sighed. "I started thinking about Draze, and I got upset. All of a sudden, this storm moved in. There was heavy rain and lightning, but neither touched me... And a wave crashed down on me, but it literally parted around me so I didn't get wet. I've never witnessed anything like that. It was as if..."

"As if you controlled the sea?"

"Yes. I've never done that before. And then, fire burst from my hands, but only for a second... And the wind whipped around me, like it was responding to me, too."

"You have elemental magic."

"I don't know... I guess? It seems that way." She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Captain. The last thing I want to be is a burden, but I have no idea what I'm doing... Or how to control any of this. I... I need help."

"You are not a burden, B'Danna. You're family. Stay at the penthouse. I'll have Kizzie open a portal so she and I can return to help you."

"Thank you, Captain."

Moments later, Kizzie and Captain Smith entered the penthouse via portal. "Oh, Luv... You look rather shaken up," Kizzie said sympathetically.

"I've never had magic before, Kizzie. It kind of freaked me out," B'Danna admitted.

"Of course it did. Don't worry. All will be well. We'll help you get the hang of it."

Captain Smith studied her. "What else is troubling you, B'Danna?" He asked.

"She wants me to join her... T'Dania," B'Danna replied. "She's convinced I'll run back to her begging for her help, but that's not my style."

"T'Dania?" Captain Smith asked, his eyes widening. "The same T'Dania we spoke about when Zizi came to us?"

"Yes... She says she's my mother and... Well, I have to admit there are physical similarities."

"You mean you're a Treygan?" Kizzie asked in shock.

"Ugh... No. I'm B'Danna of Eltar, with no proper surname, and I like it that way. I don't want anything to do with the Treygans."

"They're not all bad," Captain Smith pointed out. "Keilah is an incredible soul, and we're lucky she's on our side."

"She's in the minority, Captain... I'd rather not be associated with the likes of Aphell and Percival."

"Alright... I'm going to send for some tea. In the meantime, show us what you can do, B'Danna," Kizzie said.

"It's too dangerous to use inside," B'Danna objected.

"We'll help you, Luv. It's perfectly safe. I'll create a barrier to keep you from damaging the structure of the building or doing anything else that might cause harm to others."

B'Danna knew it was pointless to protest. Either Kizzie and Captain Smith trained her, or she'd be forced to go to the mother she still couldn't accept. The latter wasn't an option she was willing to entertain, so she took a deep breath and forced herself to focus on the task at hand.

LACHLAN

The roses were a surprise. Lachlan looked at the flowers scatted in front of his path in confusion. He followed the trail until he reached a wooded area. Maybe he shouldn't have been following roses from an unknown source, but his curiosity propelled him forward.

He walked through bushes until he found himself in the middle of a small clearing. A body lay in the center, with the flowers forming an outline around it.

"Oh God..." Lachlan whispered in horror. He moved closer to the body and knew the girl was dead.

He jumped when he heard someone running toward him. Lachlan looked up, ready to fight, when he realized it was Elliot. "I... I had a vision," he said softly. "I was too late."

"We both got here too late," Lachlan replied. "Who was she, Elliot?"

"I don't know..." He sighed before moving closer to the body. He picked up a purse and pulled out her wallet. "Her ID says her name was Megan Caplan..."

"What did you see in your vision?"

"I saw members of the Coalition kill her... I didn't recognize them, but at least one of them looked like a college girl. She seemed hesitant... But the man with them insisted she had to die. The girl called him Mezdan. He was scary, Lach... Intense and very evil. It was obvious he was intelligent and extremely dangerous."

"Why would they kill her? She seems human."

"She is," a man said, startling them both. Lachlan only relaxed when he realized it was Lieutenant Jerome Stone. He shook his head. "I'll need to call this in... Was it monsters?"

"Coalition members," Lachlan replied.

"Same thing. I know who she was... Megan Caplan, brilliant college student and granddaughter of Mr. Caplan of Angel Grove High fame."

"Who's that?" Lachlan asked.

"He was the principal of the school back in the nineties and early two-thousands. He retired a few years back. He's a good man. This is going to break his heart."

"Why would the Coalition want to assassinate the granddaughter of a random principal?" Elliot asked.

"I'm guessing there's more to it than that. I guess we'll find out, but for now... I'll call someone I know can handle the weird cases. Her family needs to be notified."

"They surrounded her with flowers..." Lachlan said.

"It was the girl's doing... She has Earth magic," Elliot replied. "I saw her leave the trail of roses as a sign of remorse. I told you, she didn't want to hurt Megan."

"What do we do now?" Lachlan asked.

"You boys go on back to your team... I'll take care of this," Lieutenant Stone promised. "Stay safe."

Lachlan shook his head as he and Elliot walked away. "It doesn't make any sense. I feel like we need to figure this out, Elliot."

"I agree. I had this vision for a reason. Megan Caplan is important," Elliot replied. "Besides... The Coalition may like chaos and destruction, but everyone they've targeted on Earth has been connected to the battle somehow, even if they didn't know it. She must be, too."

"Do you fancy heading back to my place with me so we can research her? There must be a clue somewhere."

"Sure, I can do that. I was supposed to meet up with Cooper to train a bit, but he texted me that he's busy and asked to reschedule, so I'm free anyway."

Lachlan nodded, glad to have a plan. He led Elliot back to his house. As soon as they got upstairs, he opened up his laptop and started looking up Megan Caplan. He pulled up the first page he saw. Megan was in a photograph with two other girls.

"That girl..." Elliot said. "That's the one who left the roses." He pointed at one of the two girls.

"She's pink," Lachlan said in surprise.

"What do you mean?" Elliot asked.

"I see through glamours... I can even see Laby's true eyes when he shifts them. I saw the spirals as a kid. This girl has pink skin and purple hair. She's not human."

"Well, we knew she was part of the Coalition, so..."

"Eltarians are generally some shade of blue, even if it's only slight. I've never seen a pink one."

"She must come from another planet..." Elliot looked at the caption. "This says her name is Ivy. Ivy Phair."

"It looks like she and Megan were friends."

"Yeah, them and... Kleo Johnson. That's the blonde's name."

"I think we'd better look into Megan's friends."

"You're right. I guess we have some serious investigating ahead of us."

"I'm up for it if you are."

"Caffeinate me and I'm good."

Lachlan smiled. "Ma!" He called.

"Aye, Lach! When did ya get in? I didna' hear ya come home," his Ma replied from downstairs.

"Just a wee bit ago... Ma, I brought a friend over to work on a research project. Could you bring us up some soda please?"

She stuck her head into his room, carrying the requested caffeine. "Hello," she greeted Elliot. "Welcome to our home! What's ya name, Laddy?"

"Elliot, Ma'am," Elliot replied politely.

"There'll be none of that! I'm not quite old enough to be a Ma'am, so just call me Ma like Lach does." She grinned at him. "Let me make you boys a snack. I'll be back in a pinch." She quickly excused herself.

"Your mom's pretty nice," Elliot said.

"When she's in a good mood," Lachlan replied with a laugh. He downed his soda quickly, allowing the caffeine to wake his mind up a little bit. "Come on. We've got work to do!"

KRIS
He awoke to a woman straddling him as his hands were bound above his head. That in and of itself was mildly alarming, let alone the fact that he had no idea where he was.

"Such a handsome face... Muscular, too," the woman taunted him. He realized with horror that it was the Huntress.

"I work out," he said lightly, trying not to panic.

"Tell me, Kristopher... What frightens you?"

"People calling me Kristopher. It usually means I'm in trouble."

"You are in trouble, Pet," the Huntress replied. She traced a blade along his chest. She put just enough pressure to draw a bit of blood at the end. That was when she licked the blood up.

Great. This bitch is kinky, Kris thought.

"Where's B'Danna?" He asked.

"Don't worry. She's being well taken care of," the Huntress replied.

Kris didn't like the sound of that. Then again, he knew B'Danna could take care of herself. She'd probably roll her eyes if she knew he was worried. Still, he couldn't help it. They were teammates, and he genuinely liked her.

The Huntress began playing with her knife again. She cut him a little deeper this time. Then, she slashed his shoulder open. He couldn't stop himself from screaming in pain, which seemed to excite her. She smiled and did it again.

Focus, Kris scolded himself. He knew his morpher was missing, but she couldn't take his animal spirit from him. He forced himself to connect to his shark spirit. It gave him strength and helped him endure the torture the Huntress continued to unleash.

He embraced the pain, not allowing it to break his spirit. As he stopped screaming and giving her the reactions she wanted, the Huntress increased the torture. Eventually, Kris lost too much blood. He refused to scream until he blacked out from blood loss.

AIYANA

She was having trouble breathing. The Witch had woken her up with a brutal beating, and the others had joined in. Even Drakaina had been forced to watch, although she hadn't participated. Now, she found herself alone and possibly on the verge of death.

The door to her room opened. Aiyana tensed in fear as Tadd entered. He looked at her with no emotion on his face. "You're a mess," he said. He automatically began cleaning her up, tending to her wounds and wiping away some of the blood.

Dale entered next, making Aiyana feel slightly better. "Oh, Aiyana..." He said sadly. He started to heal her. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

As Tadd moved to step away from her, Aiyana gently touched his arm. "Wait," she said.

Tadd looked at her in confusion. "Why?" He asked suspiciously.

"Tell me about yourself."

"There is nothing to tell. I am T. I serve the Witch, as well as the Guild and the Coalition. I am a soldier for the Witch."

"You're a soldier, T... But not for the Witch."

"Aiyana... Don't," Dale said. "T is dangerous. He'll hurt you."

"No," she said. "He won't. You know me, T... And more importantly, you know you."

"I told you who I am," Tadd insisted. "I am T. I serve the-"

"The Eltarian Guard," Aiyana said. "You are a soldier of the Eltarian Guard, and one of their finest ever, in fact. Your name is Tadd."

He stared at her. "What did you call me?" He asked.

"Tadd. Tadd, beloved warrior of Eltar, loyal to Zell, and proud member of the Prophecy Boys."

He froze as if her words almost got through to him. "No..." He said. "No, I am T. I serve the Witch, as well as-"

"Tadd, listen to me. I'm a Shaman... A Mystic. Do you know what that means?"

"You have powers... You are very in touch with the Underworld and the realm of the dead. You heal people and help people with your magic."

"Yes. I also have the ability to work with Spirit, which comes from my soul... My name was Daphne once, and you knew me."

"Daphne..." He repeated softly.

"I was Sera's little sister."

"Serafine..." Tadd whispered.

"Yes. Serafine was so close to the five of you. All of you were devastated when she died... She worked so hard to help you all, especially Braydee... Because Braydee was still a minor when you all met, and she promised his mother she'd watch over him."

"Is all of that true?" Dale asked. "Is that T's real history?"

"Yes... I know who T really is, Dale... And I have to help him. He doesn't belong here as nothing more than the Witch's puppet. He's too good for that."

"I am T... I am... I..." Tadd was shaking. "I'm confused," he admitted. "I remember nothing before waking up with the Witch telling me I was her soldier..."

"I think you died, T... And the Witch resurrected you. Zolan made everyone forget about the Boys to protect the others, but he didn't know you were alive. I'm certain he would have gotten you help if he knew."

"If this is true... Why don't I remember?"

"She must have made sure you couldn't. I can help you, T. I can reconnect you to your memories. As a Shaman, I can access things others can't. Will you allow me to try?"

"I'm sick of not knowing who I am... And the Boys you spoke of... I met them, I think. They said the same things you're saying, and they called me Tadd... And I felt something, but I couldn't make sense of it."

Aiyana looked at Dale. "Help me sit up?" She asked.

"I shouldn't be helping you," Dale said. "They'll be angry."

"If this works, you may not have to worry about that, Dale. Please?"

He sighed, but he helped her. Aiyana looked at Tadd before gently placing her hand over his heart. She closed her eyes and left her body, sending herself into his consciousness. It was black and terrifying, his mind a blank slate designed only to follow orders, but a tiny light lurked all the way in the deepest corner. She ran toward it.

His memories were there, but they were completely shattered. Aiyana focused, touching each one gently before willing it to piece itself back together. She felt relief flood through her as it began to work.

You can break my body, Witch, but you can't break my spirit... I'm a Shaman. I can still do this, she thought.

It felt like it took hours, but it was probably mere minutes before Aiyana had pieced all of Tadd's memories back together. With a final burst of power, she released them into the rest of his mind.

Aiyana slammed back into her own body. She gasped for air for a moment before she adjusted. "Easy, Aiyana," Dale said. "You expended a lot of energy. I can feel how weak you are."

"I'll be alright," Aiyana replied.

Tadd was trembling as he looked at her. "Daphne..." He whispered. "My God... I hurt you... I hurt everyone."

"It wasn't your fault... Are you alright... Tadd?"

He nodded slowly. "Tadd," he replied. "I'm definitely Tadd."

"Welcome back." She smiled at him.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know... I didn't remember anything."

"I know. It's okay, Tadd. None of this is your fault, do you understand me? But now, I need your help."

"Anything. Name it."

"We need to get out of here... All three of us."

"Aiyana, I can't," Dale protested.

"You aren't a monster, Dale. You don't belong here... And I think I know at least a piece of where you come from."

"You started to tell me that before. The Witch attacked you for it."

"I believe your father may have been my son when I was Daphne."

Dale stared at her. "Zordon?" He asked. "You think I'm Zordon's? There's no way... I couldn't possibly be... I'm too dark, Aiyana."

"I sense the darkness within you. I believe it comes from Jezzeff's flames... However, I also sense great light."

He looked so sad it broke her heart. "I don't feel light... I'm always in darkness."

"I know. That's why I need to get you out of here... And I think Tadd can help us."

"If he's Daphne's grandson, of course I'll help him," Tadd replied.

"Thank you."

"Do you have a plan?"

"How well do you know the layout of this building?"

"Extremely well. I helped the Witch and Jezzeff set it up. I know every inch, probably better than either of them do."

"Perfect. Do you think you can get us out of here undetected?"

He considered this. "Jezzeff sticks to a routine unless we're under attack. I know where he'll be and when. The Witch is harder to predict. She never does what's expected. Currently, however, she's trying to find her daughter, Didi. She ran off late last night... I think Reyzzo may have attacked her."

"What?" Dale asked in horror. "Is she alright?"

"The Witch said she wasn't really hurt... Reyzzo was severely injured by one of the Power Rangers. I don't think he meant to attack Didi, but he probably couldn't help it. That boy turns feral when he gets too weak. All thought and reasoning goes out the window and he's just pure, raw need and desire. Didi's good at surviving. I'm sure she's fine, but the Witch doesn't want her running around on her own for too long."

"Does she care for the girl?" Aiyana asked.

"No... Not exactly. She calls her Traezzunee. Didi thinks it means her mother views her as a treasure, but she's wrong... The Witch is careful how she words it... She says that inside of Didi is her greatest treasure. I believe she's referring to the Crystal of Darkness that Didi's energy is made of. The Treygan family had it once... It belonged to Rinton when he was a boy, and it ultimately passed down through other owners until it found its way to the girl the Witch would one day use as a vessel. When she consumed that girl's soul, the Witch's energy replaced hers, so Didi is very much her daughter... But she also comes from the crystal, and from Master Vile."

"Is Didi pure evil?"

"She's pure darkness... But that's not quite the same thing."

"Didi's like a child," Dale said. "She just wants her mother to love her... And she'll do anything the Witch asks if she thinks it will keep her happy. She's naive in a lot of ways. She acts evil, but left to her own devices, she might make different choices."

"Tadd, how long do you think we have before the Witch notices we're trying to escape?" Aiyana asked.

"If we're careful, I could get us out of here before she notices. Unless she finds Didi, she won't be back before we can escape," Tadd replied. He paused. "How did you know I'd help you?"

"For one, I know you're a good man... For another, I reached out to a friend, Amos... He said help would come to me in an unexpected way. You're the last person anyone would expect to free me from this place. It just clicked in my head that this must be what he meant."

Tadd nodded. "Come on... Jezzeff is in his ritual room right now. It's down the hall and to the left. We're going to the right. There's an exit that will lead us to the garden, which should cover us until we can get beyond the magic blocking this place."

"It won't be that easy," Dale said. "They'll realize what you're up to."

"Then we'll deal with that when we must," Tadd replied. He offered his hand to Aiyana. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," she replied, taking it. She looked at Dale. "Come with us... Please. I promise I'll help you, Dale. You shouldn't be here."

"The Witch protected me... She raised me," Dale said. "I owe her everything."

"Aiyana's right, Dale. You're not evil. You don't belong here," Tadd said.

"I can't. The idea of leaving is making my chest hurt... I have to stay. I have to do what they want. I owe them."

"You don't owe them anything, Dale. Please come with us. They'll hurt you if they realize you let us go."

"Then so be it. I have to remain here."

"Dale-"

"Aiyana... There's no time to argue with him," Tadd said stoically. "We have to leave now, before we can't."

She sighed. "Alright," she agreed. "I'll find a way to free him after... And I'll cast protection spells to keep him safe until I do."

"Come on." Tadd led her from the room.

They nearly made it to the exit when a wall of fire blocked their path. Reyzzo stared at them, smirking sadistically. "Going for a stroll?" He asked.

"I don't want to harm you, Reyzzo," Tadd said, "but I shall if left with no other choice."

"Oh, please, T. You're not strong enough to hurt me on your own. I'm an incubus. You can't take me... The Witch won't appreciate this betrayal, though. I can't wait to see what she does to her little pet!"

Suddenly, Tadd smiled, surprising Aiyana. "You're right, Reyzzo. I can't defeat an incubus on my own... But I'm not alone."

"Your little Mystic is no match for me. Ask her about the hours we spent together and how intimately I got to know every inch of her and tell me why I should be afraid of her." He laughed.

Aiyana forced herself not to panic, but Tadd clearly sensed the truth in his words as she shrank slightly behind him, feeling safer in his shadow then in front of Reyzzo. The rage began to radiate off of Tadd. "You bastard!" He practically spat.

"Tadd, he's baiting you. Don't fall for it," Aiyana said.

"Is it true? Did he touch you?"

"None of that matters right now. Please, Tadd, we're so close. Don't let him distract you."

He softened slightly. "On my honor, I will get you out of this place safely," he vowed.

"You talk a lot of shit for someone who's all alone," Reyzzo taunted him.

"I already told you, Reyzzo... I am not alone."

Suddenly, the exit door caught on fire. It proceeded to fly off of its hinges and nearly hit Reyzzo. He ducked just in time.

"Way to make an entrance, Ezz!" A familiar voice said cheerfully.

Vallen, Aiyana realized. They're here... The Boys are here.

"I heard you loud and clear as soon as your memories were restored, Tadd," Zolan said. "We're here to help."

"I knew you would be," Tadd replied. He looked at Braydee sadly. "Can you ever forgive me, Bray? I can't believe I hurt you..."

Braydee flung his arms around him. "None of that! It's all forgotten and forgiven. Now, Boys... Let's kick some ass, shall we?" He asked cheerfully as he released Tadd.

"This is what you call a rescue party?" Reyzzo asked with a laugh. "A bunch of misfits?"

"Hey! We happen to be a bunch of misfits who destroy Beyzans and kick evil minions' asses for fun, for your information!" Ezzex corrected him.

"And we're a lot tougher than you think!" Braydee added.

"You're an incubus... A very powerful one, but still one who was created, not born... By my grandfather, I suspect," Reyzzo said to Braydee. "I'm stronger than you, Little Incubus."

"Probably," Braydee admitted. "Bartello sure as hell was, but few others are... Anyway, even if you're stronger than me, I know something you don't."

"Oh? And what's that?"

Vallen's guitar hit Reyzzo's head hard, knocking him to the ground. "Even incubi can get concussions," Braydee replied with a laugh.

Reyzzo wasn't moving. "It's damn good to see you boys," Tadd said softly.

"We missed you, Tadd," Vallen said. He hugged him. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Aiyana of Eltar... And also of Earth. She's a Mystic... And, once upon a time, she was Daphne."

Vallen softened as he studied her. "Miss Daphne... It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you, too, Vallen," Aiyana replied softly. "My name is Aiyana now... Or Aiya, if you prefer. You were very dear to Daphne. I have no issue with you using my nickname."

Vallen smiled at her. "Miss Aiya," he agreed.

"Come on, Boys. We need to get out of here before the pissed off incubus wakes up," Zolan reminded them.

Suddenly, a girl approached them. Aiyana didn't recognize her, but she sensed incredible power within her. "Trixie..." Reyzzo groaned from the floor as he began to come around.

"Stay down," the girl replied. She held her sword in front of her with both hands on the hilt as she touched the blade to the floor, and stared at them intensely. It took Aiyana a moment to realize why the glare was familiar. Talon had often had the same look in his eyes when he was on the edge of transforming.

"Dragon!" She cried out in warning just before Trixie changed form.

"Holy shit! I didn't know anyone but Talon and Trex could do that!" Ezzex cried in alarm.

"Who the hell is this girl?" Zolan demanded.

"Trixie's part of the Coalition. She's one of the girls the Huntress recruited. She's very powerful, but none of us know anything else about her," Tadd explained.

"I think we might want to run," Braydee suggested.

"Good idea," Vallen agreed. "Miss Aiya, would you protest if one of us carried you? I wouldn't want you to stumble and hurt yourself."

Aiyana might have been offended, but she was just as clumsy as the rest of her incarnations, and she knew Vallen wasn't trying to make fun of her. "I suppose it might be safer," she agreed.

"I've got her," Ezzex volunteered.

"Then who'll catch Bray when he trips and falls?" Zolan joked. Aiyana recalled Braydee was a bit clumsy himself.

"I'll carry her," Tadd said. He scooped Aiyana up in his arms without waiting for anyone to agree and started to run toward the exit.

Flames were flying everywhere as Trixie breathed fire. "Ezz!" Braydee cried as his pants caught on fire.

Ezzex quickly put Braydee's pants out. "Tadd, lead the way. Zo, alert us if anyone else is coming," he said. "Val, Bray, head to the exit and stay out of my way..."

"What are you going to do, Ezz?" Braydee asked.

"Talon used to spar with me in his dragon form... He'd breathe fire, I'd control it and send it away from where he was unleashing it. I've got this... Just get each other out. I'll be right behind you."

"Jezz is on the move," Zolan said. "We need to hurry."

The building was shaking as the fire began to cause structural damage. "The whole place is becoming unstable," Vallen said.

"Get out! I mean it, Boys!" Ezzex said.

"I'm not leaving you to get crushed by a building!" Braydee protested.

"I know what I'm doing! Vallen, get him out of here!"

Vallen sighed before grabbing Braydee and dragging him toward the exit. Tadd rushed in the same direction, carrying Aiyana until they made it outside. He passed her into Zolan's arms. "Take her," he said.

"Tadd-" Zolan began.

"Someone needs to help Ezzex. Get Aiyana and the others to safety. I'll get Ezz out of here." He ran back inside.

Braydee was a hysterical mess. Vallen refused to release him. "Bray... Breathe," Zolan said soothingly. "They'll be okay. They can do this."

Aiyana could feel Jezzeff tossing magic around trying to attack Tadd and Ezzex. She looked at the others before saying, "There are other people in there... We have to help them. If the building collapses, they'll all be killed."

"They're bad guys, right?" Zolan asked.

"It's complicated with some of them... Bourbon's actually Jozzuah, and he's not exactly evil. He tried to help me. And Drakaina is Sera, and they don't know she's playing double agent... She might be inside. I can't tell... And Dale... I have to protect Dale. Bourbon and Drakaina will run if they have to, but Dale... He's blindly loyal. It's like the Witch programmed him. We tried to get him to leave with us, but he couldn't bring himself to do it."

Before she could run back inside, the building collapsed. Aiyana felt panic overwhelm her. "No..." She whispered.

"Ezzex!" Braydee screamed.

Seconds later, the dust settled, and Ezzex and Tadd limped toward them. "I'm okay, Bray," Ezzex said as he tried to catch his breath. "I used telekinesis to take out the last support beam that was keeping the place standing... I don't think it'll kill Dragon Girl or even the incubus, and I know it won't kill Jezz, but it bought us time to escape. They're all down for the count."

"What about everyone else who was inside?" Vallen asked what Aiyana couldn't bring herself to.

"I felt portals opening up left and right," Tadd replied. "I think they fled. Hopefully they all made it out. I know Drakaina and Bourbon went through a portal as soon as they realized what was happening."

"Where will they go?"

"They'll likely scatter until Jezzeff calls them back. This isn't their only base, but they won't go to the others unless they know it's safe."

"Tadd... Did you feel Dale leave?"

"Yes. I think Drakaina grabbed him before her and Bourbon fled together. Don't worry. Bourbon's magic is really powerful. They'll be okay."

Aiyana nodded with relief. "Well, that was eventful," Ezzex said with a laugh. "Now, where do we take this lovely young lady?"

"I can't go back to school... The campus is closed for Winter break," Aiyana replied. "I have a place to stay, but they probably know where it is. I don't want to go to the Reservation... I can't bring trouble back to them after all this time."

"You could stay with us," Vallen offered.

"Yeah, we'll take care of you," Braydee agreed.

"I appreciate the offer, but... I don't think that's where I need to be. Just bring me to the other edge of Angel Grove. I think I'll find sanctuary there... I feel it," Aiyana said.

"Alright, we can do that," Zolan agreed. "Tadd... You'll be staying with us, right?"

"I... I suppose," Tadd replied nervously. "If you still want me around."

"Are you stupid? Of course we do," Ezzex replied. "We thought you were dead for millennia, Tadd. It's about time you come home to us."

They headed to the edge of town. Aiyana took a deep breath. "This is where I need to be," she said. "Thank you all. I'll be alright from here."

"We can't just leave you out here," Tadd protested.

"It's alright. If nothing else, I sense where I can find Amos. I'll be safe here."

"Be careful, Miss Aiya," Vallen said. "Call us if you need anything." He handed her a piece of paper with a phone number written on it.

"Thank you, Vallen. I will," she promised.

The Boys headed off. Aiyana focused on her surroundings. She was about to go in search of Amos when she felt a familiar energy behind her.

She turned around and was stunned by the emotions that suddenly overwhelmed her. Everything hit her at once. She'd been kidnapped. She'd been tortured. She'd been raped by someone related to Daphne. All of it was too much, and she couldn't breathe suddenly. She began to sob, falling to her knees.

Zell was immediately alarmed. He knelt beside her and pulled her into his arms. "What troubles you, my dear?" He asked. He paused as he studied her. "Have we met before?" He asked softly. Then, he seemed to realize something as he looked into her eyes. "Who has harmed you?" He asked.

"Zell..." Aiyana sobbed, unable to think straight enough to reply with anything else. She buried her face in his shoulder.

"Aiyana..." He whispered as he suddenly recognized her. "I remember you, my dear one. How are you here? What happened to you? Who did this to you?"

She couldn't speak as she flashed back on everything that she'd just endured. He stroked her hair soothingly before standing up and scooping her up in his arms. He led her back to a house. Aiyana barely registered that they were moving before he set her down on a couch and wrapped her in a warm blanket. It covered her completely, and it helped her calm down.

"Safe..." She whispered. Zell had saved her as a child, and now, here he was again when she needed him the most.

"Yes," Zell replied softly. "You're safe here, my dear one. I shall never harm you."

She snuggled against him, taking comfort in his arms. She knew what Zell had done to Daphne, but she also knew it hadn't been his fault. She remembered how Daphne had taken comfort in his arms after Jezzeff began doing things to her he had no right to do. She also recalled, more than anything else, how safe Oralee had always felt in his arms. Oralee's emotions were soothing and helped ground her as she realized she was truly safe for the first time in she wasn't even sure how long.

"The Guild abducted me from school," she said softly. "The Witch wanted me to reach out to you for help, but I refused... I couldn't let you walk into a trap."

"You protected me?" Zell asked in surprise.

"I had to. I knew you'd come without hesitating, but I couldn't let them hurt you."

"Aiyana, my dear one... You are still young. It is I who should protect you."

"You already did, when I was a child. I would have died that day... And so would my mother."

"Where is she, Aiyana? What became of the two of you when I told you to hide?"

"We went to the Reservation. We lived there until I was thirteen... But the Witch found us... And..." She shook her head. "Etsi didn't survive."

"I am so sorry, my sweet Aiyana... I never intended for you to endure further suffering. I believed you would be safe."

"I have been, for the most part..."

"My dear one... I see the pain in your eyes. I know something horrible happened to you."

"I had to let him..." She whispered.

"Tell me, sweet girl... Please. Perhaps I can help you."

"He would have hurt Dale. I saw how scared he was... I couldn't let him harm him."

Zell stiffened. "You met Dale," he said.

"Yes. He tried to take care of me, when they allowed it... He's not evil, Zell, but he's brainwashed... And I believe he is-" She hesitated.

"It's alright, my dear one. I know. Let's just say a visitor from the future told me all about this boy. He is Zordon's son."

She nodded, relieved he already knew. "I had to protect him, even without knowing that. He was an innocent, and he was so scared."

"You did well, my brave Aiyana... No further harm shall come to you. I will protect you."

"I know... I trust you, Zell. I always have."

"Have you been fed? I could prepare something."

"I'm exhausted... I want to sleep... But I'm..." She paused.

"You're frightened," he guessed.

"Yes."

"Come with me, my dear one." He offered her his hand. She took it without hesitating. He seemed surprised by that, but he smiled kindly at her as he led her upstairs. "This is my bedroom," he explained. "It's protected by more spells than you can imagine. Nothing will harm you here. You may sleep in my bed tonight. In the morning, I'll create a proper room for you. I'll retire to the couch."

"Zell... Don't leave me? Please. I can't sleep alone. Not tonight. I don't know what will happen if I try, but I know it won't be anything good."

Again, he looked surprised. "Very well, my sweet Aiyana... I will remain at your side, in this chair." He pulled it closer to the bed. "I shall watch over you so you may rest safely."

"Thank you," she said softly.

He nodded. "Of course. Now... What do you like to sleep in, my dear one? I can conjure something comfortable for you."

"I usually just wear a t-shirt and pajama pants."

He smiled before waving his hand and making clothing appear on the bed. He pointed toward the bathroom attached to the bedroom. "You can take a shower if you like. I'll wait right out here for you to return."

"Thanks... I appreciate that." She wasn't sure how long it had been since she'd properly cleaned herself off. She picked up the clothes and walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Bathing was painful, but she was relieved to finally be able to wash away everything that had happened. When she finally finished, she dried herself off the best she could and put on the pajamas. They were surprisingly comfortable. The shirt was a shade of lavender and the pants matched it perfectly. She felt significantly better as she headed back into the bedroom.

She was nervous as she curled up in bed. Zell covered her gently before sitting beside her. "Zell... I remember Oralee, as well as Daphne... And I know a secret you keep from most people," she said shyly.

"Do you?" Zell asked with a bit of interest.

"I know how beautiful your singing voice is... I know you used to sing to Oralee when she was frightened, and it comforted her... And you'd even sing to Daphne, when you had full control of yourself and you saw she was upset."

He looked embarrassed. "I haven't sung in millennia, Aiyana," he said softly.

"Will you sing to me? Please? I think it will help me fall asleep."

His eyes looked sad as he nodded. "Very well, my dear one," he replied. He stroked her hair gently as he began to sing very softly.

Aiyana recognized the Eltarian lullaby. It was one of the less common ones, but in her opinion, it was also one of the most beautiful. As Zell sang it to her, she began to relax, knowing she was finally safe and that no harm would come to her that night. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep, knowing the battle was over, but the war had barely begun.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I wanted to wrap up a couple of things with this chapter because I'm going to be taking a hiatus from this fic until the beginning of December. November is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and I have a project I will be dedicating my attention to for the entire month. I promise I'll be back with more of this fic in December. I look forward to seeing you guys then! Thank you so much for your continued support. I appreciate you guys more than you'll ever know. I promise, there is a ton more to come in this story.