TAMIRA

She wasn't sure how she'd gotten to the woods. The last thing Tamira remembered, she had been in bed, falling asleep. Had she been sleepwalking? Was she dreaming? What was going on?

It was really dark out, which was even more true beneath the thick trees. Tamira knew she needed to get out of there. She was wearing the clothes she'd gone to bed in, yellow plaid pajama pants and a Harry Potter t-shirt. She was barefoot, which made walking through the woods more difficult. She didn't have the replacement cell phone her dad had gotten her, either. Not only did that mean she had no way to call for help, but she didn't even have a flashlight.

"Hold up... Who needs a flashlight when I've got superpowers?" She asked aloud. She began to sing, and she felt better as light appeared in the woods.

You have a lovely voice, child, a voice whispered in her head. I do apologize. I had to be certain you were the one. It's nothing personal, my dear, but you are quite a bit more dangerous than you know. I am afraid I must snuff out that light of yours before it is too late.

"What the heck?" Tamira asked aloud. Something about the man whispering in her mind terrified her, but she tried not to panic.

Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind blew at her. It felt like she was hit with a tornado as the wind knocked her through the air. She screamed as she felt herself being flung over the edge of a cliff. As she flipped through the air toward her certain death, Tamira frantically reached out for anything that might help. She managed to grab onto a branch that dangled over the raging ocean beneath her. The branch was already starting to give and Tamira knew it wouldn't hold her for long.

"I'm so screwed..." She mumbled. She knew she couldn't give up, but it wasn't looking good. In an act of sheer desperation, as she tried to keep her grip on the branch, Tamira screamed, "Help!" It was a solid plan, but unfortunately, she was fairly certain no one was around to hear her.

ZEDD

He refused to sit around doing nothing. After being trapped for so long, Zedd needed to move around a bit. The prison had certainly been larger than Rita's space dumpster, but it was basically the size of a house, and that had eventually begun to feel extremely claustrophobic.

He didn't know what drew him into the woods that day. Perhaps it was the glow he noticed coming from deep inside. Or maybe it was something far worse.

Zell, he thought. He could feel him nearby. The bastard hadn't noticed him yet, but he had to be around for a reason. Zedd knew he should turn and run, but he had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that he couldn't ignore.

When he heard a scream, he tried to ignore it. He was evil. He wasn't supposed to care... But then he heard her frantic cries for help.

Tamira, he realized. That's why the woods had been glowing.

Without stopping to think, Zedd raced toward the sound of her voice. She was crying when he found her, dangling from a branch that was starting to crack. The moment it did, she'd fall and either drown or be crushed upon the rocks below.

Walk away, he told himself. Let the girl perish. It's what evil does.

He shook his head. No! You couldn't save Raven. Save his descendant!

She'll only die later, the evil told him. You spared Raven once. Zell still killed him in the end. Maybe a building will mysteriously collapse on her head, too.

Tamira let out another scream as the branch nearly broke completely. "This little light of mine! I'm gonna let it shine..." She sang, desperately trying to soothe herself as she struggled to swing her body into a safer position. Her voice cracked as she nearly fell.

"Child! Don't let go!" Zedd shouted before he reached toward her.

"Zedd?" She asked in confusion.

"Take my hand, Tamira!"

She tried, but she couldn't reach him. She screamed as she nearly slipped. "I can't!" She cried. "It's too far!"

Her light dimmed in her panic. Zedd knew she was going to fall. "Keep singing, Tamira," he told her. She tried and the light brightened. Zedd tried to reach her using his staff. "Take it," he told her.

"I can't! I'll fall if I let go!"

"Do you trust me, Child?"

"Yes," Tamira replied without hesitating. That surprised him.

"Then trust that I will never let you fall."

Tamira nodded. Slowly, she reached toward the staff with one hand. She let the other one go and started to slip. Tamira let out a startled cry. Zedd reacted quickly, using magic to levitate the child up toward him. When he finally pulled her onto solid ground, Tamira wrapped her arms around his neck as she cried.

"You saved my life!" She said as she finally calmed down. She stared at him in wonder before hugging him.

He was startled. Hugs were not something evil entities often received. "You are hugging me..." He mumbled.

"Yeah," Tamira replied.

"Why?"

"Because you saved my life." She hugged him tighter.

Zedd felt something stir within him. The hug almost felt... Good. He couldn't feel good things, so it translated to something almost painful, but he was coming closer than he had in ages to feeling something other than hatred, rage, pain, and loneliness. "Yes I did. Why was it necessary?" He asked.

"I woke up here. Then some guy apologized and said he had to snuff out my light because I was dangerous." She shivered.

Zedd realized the child was barefoot and in a t-shirt. He knew she must be freezing. "That man is a monster. If you ever hear him again, ignore him... And reach out to me. I will protect you from him."

"I told my dad you're not evil."

"I am evil, Tamira. Extremely evil. But I will not harm you."

"Why?"

He sighed. "Because I owe Raven that much... And the man who attacked you killed him."

She looked frightened then. "Why is he after me?" She asked.

"It doesn't matter. He will not get you." He scooped her up in his arms. "I am bringing you home." With that, he carried her through the woods and back to the hotel she was living in with her father.

ZACK

The knock on his door woke him up. The last thing he'd expected was to open it to find a cloaked figure carrying his daughter. As the man removed his hood, Zack panicked. "Zedd? Let her go!" He shouted.

"Daddy, stop!" Tamira cried as Zedd set her down.

"Do be more cautious with her," Zedd said.

"You monster! What did you do to her?" Zack demanded.

"He saved me, Dad! I almost fell to my death, but he saved my life," Tamira insisted.

"What?" Zack blinked at her, not sure what the hell to think.

"Sleep well, Tamira," Zedd said. He turned to leave.

Tamira hugged him. "Tammy! We do not hug evil beings from other planets!" Zack said.

"Chill, Dad. He's not so evil," she said. "Goodnight, Zedd." She let him leave.

"What the heck is going on?" Zack demanded.

"You remember how Raven died heroically in battle?"

"Of course I do."

"The guy who killed him somehow put me in the woods... Maybe I was sleepwalking, maybe he teleported me... I have no idea... But he told me he had to snuff out my light and he sent me flying off a cliff, and I grabbed a branch, but it started to snap, and I thought I was gonna die, but Zedd showed up and he rescued me, so can you back the heck off? Because it's been a long night and I have school in the morning."

"I... My God, Tammy..." Zack shook his head and pulled her into his arms. He had been trying so hard to protect her, and this psycho had still gotten to her. The hardest part of this was knowing he couldn't protect her, but the second hardest part was definitely having to accept that in her hour of need, it had been Zedd who saved her.

My old enemy is my daughter's new hero... There's so much wrong with that, he thought. Still, he couldn't fully hate Zedd now. Not only had he been kind to her when Merkhet meant for him to do unspeakably horrible things to her, but he'd just saved her life. For all she'd been through, Tamira was still innocent. She was still a little girl. She hadn't lost that purity, and Zack knew that was entirely because, for whatever reason, Zedd had chosen not to harm her.

THE NEXT DAY.

TAYLOR

He was sitting in the park killing time. Taylor really didn't want to go home. He'd nearly gotten expelled for fighting. Half of the football team had declared open season on Josh, and one had hit his head. That's when Josh had snapped, fighting back wildly like he had no idea where he was. Apparently, that was because he still had damage from the explosion that head injuries could trigger.

Taylor had immediately joined in the fight to defend Josh. Together, they'd put two football players in the hospital, and they'd beaten the rest of them pretty badly, too. The principal had wanted to put Josh in detention and blame the entire thing on Taylor, whose record was much worse than Josh's. Instead, Josh had convinced them to call Tommy, who'd brought Tanya and mentioned the word "lawsuit." Josh got off with a warning and a visit to the hospital to make sure he was alright. Taylor, thanks to his "Aunt Tanya," got detention instead of being expelled.

Immediately, his mother had started texting him things like, What's wrong with you? What were you thinking? I don't need this. I can't handle you acting like this. Taylor had finally turned his cell phone off.

He felt eyes on him now. He half expected to see the damn horse again, but instead, he saw his father. Taylor stiffened, ready to fight even if he had no chance against his father, but nothing happened. Finally sick of being watched, Taylor demanded, "What the hell do you want?"

His father seemed surprised he'd seen him. "Taylor," he said.

"Yeah. That's my name. Were you expecting someone else? Are you surprised I'm still alive?"

His father laughed. "Not really. You're resourceful."

"No shit. Did you come here for a family reunion or to kill me?"

"Neither. I didn't know you were here."

"Great. Well, this was fun. Bye."

His father kept staring at him. Finally, Taylor snapped and asked, "What?"

After a moment, his father said, "It really is uncanny... I know this is Xia's doing... She put all of my light into a new vessel... But it's a bit unnerving..."

"If you're done rambling, Old Man, I've got better things to do. Either kill me and get it over with or leave me alone."

His father picked up a sword and Taylor felt panic kick in. Bad choice of words, he thought. To his shock, however, his father did not attack him.

"I wonder..." His father said. He tossed the sword at Taylor. "Run me through," he said.

"What?!" Taylor demanded in shock. "Are you out of your mind?"

"I just want to see if it will work... If you might be the one who can finally do it."

"You're nuts! No!"

"Pick it up, Taylor. Be a man! You hate me. I tortured you. I tortured your mother, and your sisters. I tried to rape Angeline. I scarred Tye for life."

Taylor felt anger taking control of him. He picked up the sword. It felt natural in his hands. He could do this. He could put an end to the monster he called his father once and for all. He could make the bastard pay for everything he'd ever done.

"Yes... Do it, Taylor... Kill me," his father said.

Taylor looked at him, unarmed and kneeling on the ground, waiting. He was defenseless. Taylor could kill him with no real effort... Except that, looking into his father's eyes, Taylor couldn't bring himself to do the deed.

He threw the sword at his father's feet. "No," he said firmly. "I'm not doing that."

His father shrugged apologetically. "It was worth a try," he said simply. He picked up the sword and vanished.

Taylor was shaking. He couldn't even begin to process what had just happened. He turned his cell phone on and immediately regretted it as a dozen or so more messages came in.

He was overwhelmed. He had just faced his father telling him to kill him, and now he had to face his mother's disappointment and guilt trips, too? His chest felt tight. He felt completely alone. Things at home were only getting worse. His mother couldn't "handle" him about ninety-nine percent of the time, even when he wasn't doing anything wrong. She'd told him more than once that he needed to leave her alone when all he did was say hello to her. Mostly she ignored him, but when she didn't, it was almost worse.

I can't go home... Not tonight... She's going to flip on me, he thought. The problem was, he had nowhere else to go.

He was starving, both for food and for energy. He hadn't been feeding his incubus side as often as he should because when he was healthy and strong, his mother got upset and accused him of being just like his father and Tanner. Taylor was weak, hungry, and thanks to his father, more confused than ever.

Why didn't he just kill me? He wondered. He'd have been doing me a favor.

He was positive he was going to collapse when someone came up to him. "Taylor?" Zeke asked. "Are you okay, bro?"

"I'm fine," Taylor said automatically.

"Dude, you're really pale."

"I'm Black. I can't be pale," Taylor reminded him.

"You're light-skinned for a black kid. I guess your dad used to be white when he had skin. But that's not the point. Your skin's lighter than usual. You look sick."

"I just need to-" He paused. "Never mind."

"Is this an incubus thing?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, I'm not going to offer to sleep with you because you're not my type," Zeke said with a laugh, "but can I help in some other way?"

"I can feed on happiness or magic, too... Not just sex."

"Then why haven't you?"

"Mom hates it... She thinks feeding it makes me evil."

Zeke frowned. "Well, too bad for Aisha. You can't just starve yourself, Taylor." Zeke helped him walk because Taylor was honestly too weak to do it without risking collapsing.

There were kids running around the playground. "There. Happiness," Zeke said. "It won't hurt them, right?"

"No," Taylor said. "They won't be affected. Happiness isn't like their life force. They can easily make more. They're playing. It's an endless supply right now."

"How do you do it?"

"Just sit me in the middle of it. I need to touch someone to do it."

"Teenagers touching kids on the playground is kind of frowned upon..." Zeke paused. "I have an idea. Guys! Who wants to play duck, duck, goose?"

"What's duck, duck, goose?" Taylor asked as the kids cheered.

"Sit and find out," Zeke said. The kids sat around him. Taylor was still confused, but sitting in the circle of small people was oddly comforting. Their pure happiness surrounded him.

Zeke walked around the circle touching everyone gently and saying, "Duck... Duck... Duck... Duck..." He went around twice before leaning in and telling Taylor softly, "Chase me." Then he touched Taylor's back and shouted, "Goose!"

The children cheered and giggled as Taylor chased Zeke around the circle. Taylor barely had the energy to run, but he tried, and he finally caught Zeke, who let out an overdramatic scream as Taylor touched him.

"Your turn," Zeke said. "Just do exactly what I did." He sat in the center of the circle, because apparently, the goose had captured and imprisoned him? Taylor wasn't really sure about that part. This game didn't make much sense.

Taylor realized Zeke had just given him a way to make contact with each and every happy little person in the circle. He touched them gently, careful to take only a little bit of energy from each of them. He knew it wouldn't hurt them in the slightest, but he also knew his mother would consider this proof that he was evil. They were innocent children and he was using them.

They're fine, he reminded himself. This wasn't sexual and they would feel nothing. He was literally drawing energy from the joy they'd already released into the universe. Still, in his head, he could see his mother's face staring at him with disapproval.

"Dude, pick a goose already," Zeke said with a laugh.

Taylor selected the kid with the most energy, who chased him eagerly. The goose ultimately caught him with a giggle and a final burst of pure joy that gave Taylor what he needed. He'd be good for a couple of days at least. Taylor sat in the center of the circle with Zeke and they remained there until the game ended.

"Thanks," Taylor said when he and Zeke were alone.

"No problem. I let you catch me, by the way. I'm actually undefeated in duck, duck, goose. No one could ever catch the ADHD goose!" He laughed.

"You saved my ass," Taylor admitted.

"Look, Taylor... I like your mom. She used to be one of my dad's best friends... But if she's hurting you-"

"She's not. She didn't do anything to me."

"She made you feel like you had to starve yourself. That's not okay. Just... If you need help-"

"It's no big deal, Zeke. She just doesn't understand. I'll be okay." Another text rang through on his phone. He sighed.

"Are you hungry?" Zeke asked.

"Huh?"

"Come over to my place... Dad's ordering from the best Italian place in Angel Grove."

"I don't have any money to eat out."

"You're my guest. I'll cover the food. And you can crash after. It'll be fun. We have a comfy couch, unless you're my dad, whose back can't handle it."

Taylor realized Zeke was making this offer purely so he didn't have to go home for the night. "Okay," he said. "I am pretty hungry."

"Great." Zeke smiled and said, "Follow me."

They got to the house and Taylor hesitated as Zeke opened the door. A tiny ball of energy ran to Zeke, flinging her arms around him before looking at Taylor.

"Hi," she said cheerfully before hugging him. Taylor had to steady himself as her energy hit him like a truck. "I'm Lilly."

"Um... Hi," Taylor said awkwardly. "I'm Taylor."

Lilly bounced away. Taylor looked at Zeke and tried not to let the fact that he knew the truth show. "Dude... You know, don't you?" Zeke asked. "It's pointless to lie to you about her."

"Zeke..." Taylor sighed. "I'm really sorry... What Tanner did to you was beyond cruel. I've known since the first time you touched my arm... But I didn't want to make things worse by bringing it up."

"It's okay, Taylor," Zeke said quickly. "You're not the one who should be sorry." He hesitated before putting an arm around Taylor's shoulder. "Come on." He led him inside.

"Zeke, finally," Rocky said. "Where were you? I was worried." He hesitated when he saw Taylor.

"Dad, can Taylor crash tonight?" Zeke asked.

"Well, it's not like I can say no with him standing right there," Rocky replied with a laugh. "Sure... Just, um, let me-"

"I've got dinner tonight," Zeke said quickly.

"Zeke, no-"

"I brought an extra mouth to feed. Don't argue." Zeke handed his father a wad of cash. "What do you want to eat, Taylor?"

"I'm not picky," Taylor said. "Just get me whatever you're getting."

"Cool. Hang on, okay?" He pulled out his cell phone and sent a text. "I told Maddie to tell your mom you're crashing."

"Wait, did Aisha not approve this?" Rocky asked.

"Dad," Zeke said firmly. "Taylor needs to crash tonight... Okay?"

Rocky raised an eyebrow at that, but nodded. "Okay," he said.

Taylor looked at Zeke gratefully. Not only had he given him a way to avoid going home, but he'd also made sure Taylor didn't need to call his mother. "Thanks, Man," he said.

"Anytime," Zeke said. "Now, onto the important stuff... Food!"

THE NEXT DAY.

SKULL

Things were starting to fall apart. The cops were looking to push Bulk through to his trial, and Skull knew he was going to be found guilty. The look on Lieutenant Stone's face told him they were out of time.

"Skullovitch... They've set a trial date. It's going to be a death penalty case," the Lieutenant said sadly.

"But... They can't... He can't... It's Bulk, Lieutenant Stone," Skull said frantically.

"I know, Skullovitch... Believe me, I know." He sighed. "We did everything we could."

"No! I refuse to believe there's no more hope for him!" Skull picked up a paperweight and tossed it across the room. It put a hole in the wall.

"Dad? Is everything okay?" Spike asked nervously as he came inside.

Skull couldn't cry in front of his son, so he put on a brave face. "No, but I'm gonna fix it, Spike," he promised before excusing himself.

Once he was alone outside on the grass, Skull repeated, "I'm gonna fix it... I am going to fix this!" He had to, after all. This was Bulk. Without Bulk, who was Skull? They were brothers, even if they shared no blood.

He picked up his phone and dialed the only person he still had faith in. "Hello?" She answered cheerfully. God, he loved her voice... It was so comforting, even now.

"Kimberly..." He said. He couldn't hold his fear in any longer, and his voice cracked. "Kimberly, they're going to kill him."

"Skull? Skull, slow down. What happened?"

"The trial is starting and they're seeking the death penalty and we're out of time, Kimberly! I failed him..."

"Oh God... No. We're not going to let that happen. We have the proof, but... But it's a little complicated to make it admissible."

"We need it, Kimberly... And fast."

"I know... Look, Skull, I'll make this right. I promise."

He believed her. If anyone could pull off a miracle, it was Kimberly. "Okay," he said softly. "But please hurry."

"I will."

Skull hung up and desperately clung to the last of his hope.

KIMBERLY

Bulk was going to be put to death for a crime she knew he hadn't committed. Kimberly knew they were out of time. She raced upstairs to Billy. "Have you had any luck with the lawyer?" She asked.

"We're making slow progress," Billy said. "Apparently, it's very hard to prove you're alive once you've been declared legally dead. I could be caught up in red tape for the next year."

"Bulk doesn't have a year, Billy. They're ready to sentence him to death."

Billy looked horrified. "Kim... We can't let that happen. He's innocent! And... And he saved my son."

"I know... So I have an idea. Tell Lieutenant Stone you're alive."

"He's retired."

"He's still been doing everything he can to help Bulk. If you tell him you're alive and get him the evidence, maybe you can help him understand it so he can testify."

Billy nodded. "Okay. I'll do it."

Kimberly hugged him. Then, she dialed his number. Twenty minutes later, Lieutenant Stone walked in the front door with Skull and Spike right behind him. "Okay, Kimberly," the Lieutenant said. "You said you had something to show us?"

"I do," Kimberly said. "I have to warn you, this is going to shock you all... Billy's alive."

Lieutenant Stone looked sympathetic. "Oh, Kimberly, honey... I know we all wish that were true, but the explosion-" he began.

"Didn't kill me," Billy said from the stairs. He walked closer. Skull screamed, which caused Spike to follow suit.

"Billy?" Lieutenant Stone asked in complete shock. He stared at him, clearly not comprehending how this was possible.

"Yes, Lieutenant Stone. It's really me," Billy replied.

"But... But Bulk said..." Skull mumbled.

"Bulk couldn't find me because the explosion was actually an implosion. A device I was studying with my son imploded and it sucked me in, but the force caused an outward reaction and that knocked Josh back and brought the house down. I was trapped inside when a very powerful and very evil woman took the device and fled the house, leaving Josh for dead... If Bulk hadn't risked his life to run inside and start digging, Josh would have been killed." Billy took a deep breath. He was shaking. Kimberly cautiously slid her hand into his, soothing him as well as she could. After a minute, Billy was calmer.

"Where were you for all this time?" Lieutenant Stone asked.

"I spent three years as her prisoner. I was rescued by... The White Ranger. I had some issues at first... Instructions drilled into my head to hurt everyone I cared about... Every person I'd ever loved was in danger, so I had to stay hidden. Kimberly got me through it. At first, I stayed with Jason, but Tommy insisted I stay here because he had custody of Josh. Being around my son helped me find myself, and Kimberly kept me grounded until I got full control of my mind." He paused. "I'm in the process of legally proving I'm alive, but it's not as easy as you'd think."

Apparently, Lieutenant Stone was over his shock. He pulled Billy into a hug. "It's damn good to see you, Billy," he said.

Billy looked surprised, but he hugged the Lieutenant back. Kimberly saw that Skull was chewing on his fingernail nervously. Spike mirrored the behavior. Only when Skull noticed this did he stop doing it.

"Billy was able to analyze the crime scene evidence," Kimberly said. "Bulk is innocent. A monster killed that poor little girl, and he found DNA to prove it."

"That's great!" Skull declared. He was so overcome with relief that he hugged Billy, too. Now, Billy looked truly stunned. Kimberly couldn't help but crack a smile.

"The problem is that, legally, I'm still dead," Billy said. "That means my testimony-"

"Would be inadmissible in court," Lieutenant Stone finished for him.

"But... But he found proof, Lieutenant!" Skull protested.

"Dead men can't testify in court, Skullovitch."

"But you can," Kimberly said. "If we can have Billy explain it to you..."

"They'd still require an expert to testify. I'm not one." He paused. "They might consider a delay, though... If I explain Billy's in the process of proving he is, in fact, very much alive, and that his testimony can provide real answers, they might delay the trial, and they'll certainly delay any plans to execute."

Skull paled. Kimberly realized he was shaking. "It'll be okay, Skull," she promised gently. "Bulk's not going to die for a crime he didn't commit."

Skull nodded, but he didn't speak. Kimberly took his arm and led him to the kitchen. She poured him a glass of water. He drank it in silence before asking, "Do you have anything stronger?"

Kimberly touched his hand gently to comfort him a bit. "If you really want it, yes, but should you be drinking with your son here?" She asked.

"No," Skull admitted. He flashed her a smile. "Actually, I'm nineteen years sober. I haven't had a drink since the day Spike was born." He shrugged. "I wanted to be a good father to him, not like my old man. He's a good kid. Too good for me."

Kimberly was surprised. "You had a drinking problem?" She asked.

"Oh yeah. I drank a little in high school, but Bulk sort of knocked that out of me... Told me I didn't want to be a fuck-up like my dad and when I drank, I got too much like him. Bulk caught me driving drunk one night and actually kicked my ass... I woke up hung-over, sore as all hell, and totally clueless as to how I ended up tucked under a blanket on his couch. My car was outside. My keys were not. He didn't give them back until I swore I'd never be that stupid again." He laughed sadly, which sounded very different from his usual laugh.

"Skull, I had no idea..."

"No one did... Except for Bulky. He took care of me when I was too dumb to do it myself. Anyway, I went off to college, and we weren't together anymore, and I started cracking under the pressure and drinking... It was a lot worse than it was in high school, probably because I could legally buy it myself... I gave myself alcohol poisoning at least twice. I have no idea how I graduated, but I did, and I went on to have my amazing career. The thing was, my coworkers were all drinkers, too, and there was a lot of socializing... I was really out of control... Not like my dad. I never hit my wife or anything... I hate guys who do that. I'd never put my hands on a woman... But I was pretty much a drunk moron twenty-four-seven. And then, my wife got pregnant, and I was still drinking a lot... But the moment I saw Spikey... The moment I looked into those eyes... I knew I had to stop. I had to get sober for him, because no one else would ever understand that kid like I would, and he needed me."

"That takes a lot of strength," Kimberly said.

"Spike is my strength. He's my world, Kimberly. All I have to do is look at him and any urge to drink goes away... Anyway, my wife left when Spike was a kid. She couldn't handle us, and she liked me more as a drunk moron than a sober one. It doesn't bother me, though. Spike and me are good on our own. We just need each other. But I'll tell you... Anytime things got hard, the first person I called was Bulk. He's my brother, Kimberly... That's why I can't fail him now."

"You won't. This will work, Skull."

"I never should have left him... I moved pretty far away. I ran, really... I had to get away from my father."

"Did he hurt you?" Her heart broke for him.

"All the time. If I moved at the wrong time, or if I was practicing the piano and my music made his hangover worse, or if I protected my mom... Anything could set him off, really. I guess that's why I was such a little asshole in school. Everything was so bad at home. I couldn't protect myself... But at school, I was the big man on campus. Okay, maybe not... That was Bulk... But Bulk let me be his sidekick, and that was the only time I felt normal... Happy... Safe. I know I picked on you guys, but I actually really liked you. When I heard about Kat and Casey... That really upset me. The same with Billy. And Bulk... Bulk still has nightmares about that day, but I didn't tell you that."

Kimberly nodded. "I think we all still have nightmares about that day," she said. Even now, with Billy sleeping beside her every night, Kimberly still occasionally had them. The only reason they didn't break her was because when she woke up, Billy was safely by her side.

"Kimberly... I just want to thank you."

"For what?"

"For being you. Never change, okay?" He kissed her cheek before saying, "We should get back to the others."

She nodded, and they headed back. Kimberly couldn't believe what she'd just learned. In all the years she'd known Skull, she'd never understood him as she did now. Sometimes she forgot that in life, nothing was black and white.

THE NEXT DAY.

KATIE

She was feeling sick again. As Katie opened the bathroom door, she heard the laughter again. She slammed the door shut, determined not to go inside. Instead, she ran out of her house as the laughter in her head got louder.

"Leave me alone!" She screamed. She suddenly wished she hadn't sent Jayden to discuss training with Dustin. Her father was out, too, helping Alpha with something. Kimberly was grocery shopping, Josh and Kenny were in school, and even Billy was out trying to help Lieutenant Stone prove Bulk wasn't a killer. She was alone, and suddenly, she didn't feel safe.

Katie, go back inside the house, she heard someone whisper. She knew it was Casey, somehow reaching out, but she couldn't move. The house is protected! Get inside!

By the time Katie could think clearly enough to try to listen to her aunt, she felt arms grab her. She reacted, trying to free herself, but this entity was more powerful than any she'd ever felt before.

"Let me go!" She shouted.

"Shhh, my dear girl... I shall not harm you. Please, relax," he said gently.

His voice was hypnotic and soothing. Katie found herself wanting to listen to him. As the world she knew faded away and she was pulled into another realm, Katie realized how much trouble she was in.

"Katie... You wonderful girl..." He said.

"Who are you?" Katie demanded.

"I am Zell, Great Wizard of Eltar... But you already knew that in your heart, my dear." He smiled. "I can read you."

"What do you want from me?"

"I want you by my side, Katie... I can nurture you in ways no one else can. You want that, don't you?"

Suddenly, Katie wasn't sure what she wanted. Her head was too fuzzy... Nothing made sense. "I... No. No... I need to go home."

"You will go home, Katie... You are mine, and I will bring you home... You only have to say yes."

"What?"

"Just say yes, Katie. One simple word, and you will be home."

Katie hesitated. He sounded so genuine... He would never lie to her. If she said yes, this would be over... She'd be home... But what was she saying yes to again?

"Katie... Say it. Say yes, and all will be as it should be."

Before she even registered she was doing it, Katie whispered, "Yes." Immediately after, her mind became completely fuzzy as she was led to her new home... Her home with her master.

SAGE

She knew something was very wrong. Sage closed her eyes and felt out for her cousin. Almost immediately, she knew Katie was in trouble. Trying to read the energy around her, Sage gasped.

"Zell..." She whispered. Then, she cursed. She knew she couldn't rescue Katie. Zell had bonded her to himself.

He tricked her, she realized. Somehow, Zell had managed to manipulate Katie into agreeing to this.

Sage knew there weren't many options. Zell was too powerful for most of the others. Caius couldn't take him alone. Zordon wasn't prepared to face his father yet. The younger generation of the Chosen were completely unprepared.

"You're insane," she told herself as one name popped into her head. She sighed. She really had no other choice, and her gut was telling her this was the only way to save Katie. "Damnit..." She mumbled. She cleared her mind and summoned the last person she should. "Zedd!" She said, putting as much power into his name as she could.

Zedd appeared before her. He stared at her in confusion, looking around like he expected the rest of the team to show up and attack him. When it was clear they were alone, he asked, "What the hell do you want?"

"Your help," Sage replied. It was hard to say that to him. Technically, Zedd had killed her mother, but she knew it hadn't been his fault. The Underworld God had made sure to sever her mother's tie to her body as soon as she'd left it. Zedd hadn't actually been intending to kill her.

Zedd paused. "Why would I help you?"

"Because we share a common enemy... Zell."

Zedd stiffened. "I'm not getting between you and him if you were foolish enough to piss him off."

"He has Katie, Zedd. He took her out of this realm."

"Good! One less Power Ranger!" His words said one thing, but his tone told Sage she had hit a nerve and he was listening.

"He tricked her, Zedd... Just like he tricked you."

Zedd froze in place. "He tricked her?" He repeated.

"Yes, into becoming bound to him. She agreed... I can't help her, but I think you can."

Zedd's energy betrayed his emotions, and Sage was startled to realize that he had them. He couldn't feel love or other things, but his remorse and grief were so strong, they nearly overwhelmed her.

Evil doesn't feel remorse, she thought. Somehow, something huge had changed inside of Zedd.

"I can break his bond to her," Zedd said after a minute. "As an incubus, I can bind her to me instead... But I can't just break it when I do. She'd have to stay bound to me for a bit."

"I understand. Just help her. Please."

"Aren't you concerned I'll use the bond to make her destroy you all?"

Sage looked at him and said, "No. I'm not."

"Because you doubt my power?"

"Because, right now, you feel sorry for her... You understand the way he tricks people. You won't hurt her, and taking advantage of your bond would do that."

He didn't reply. Instead, he said, "I will find her and bring her somewhere safe." He vanished before Sage could so much as thank him.

ZEDD

He found the White Ranger easily enough. She didn't look like a threat. Her eyes were blank as she followed Zell's orders, powerless to resist anymore. Zedd hadn't been this close to Zell in a long time, and he'd wanted to keep it that way, but he couldn't leave her there... Not with him.

Zedd waited for Zell to leave the room for a moment before revealing himself to Katie. She was about to alert Zell to his presence when Zedd grabbed her and kissed her. Katie didn't resist him. Instead, she instantly relaxed. He poured a massive amount of power into her as he drained Zell's energy from her. He fed on the bastard's energy, figuring it was a fitting punishment anyway, and waited for Zell to return.

Katie was shaking as Zell returned. "Zedd?" Zell demanded in confusion. "Impossible!"

"Clearly not, since I'm standing right here, you son of a bitch!" Zedd tried to directly drain Zell. He only managed to get a little of his energy before Zell laughed at him.

"She is my blood, Zedd! You cannot take her from me!" He said.

Zedd stared at him. "What do you mean?" He demanded.

"This is my granddaughter, you foolish boy."

It had been a long time since anyone had called Zedd a boy. He didn't appreciate it. "And she belongs to me now," Zedd replied. He grabbed Katie and vanished before Zell could stop them. He fled to one of the safe houses he'd set up for when he inevitably needed to get away from his wife, Merkhet, and the minions.

Katie stared at him adoringly as he placed her safely down on a bed. "Are you okay?" He asked her.

"Yes, Master," Katie replied.

Zedd cringed. "Zedd," he corrected her. "You do not need to address me as Master."

Katie tried to kiss him. He pulled back, forcing himself not to take advantage of her obedient state. "Don't you want me to?" She asked. She tried to climb into his lap.

You could do this, Zedd thought. Take her and make her your toy, like you did to Aisha. He felt something unfamiliar then... Shame at what he'd done. Xia would hate me for what I did to that girl, he thought. And to the children...

He forced the thought from his mind as he looked at Katie. He tricked her, he told himself. Zell has put her through more than enough. I will not harm her.

You're weak, his mind taunted him.

No, he thought. I'm just sick of his methods. I will not do what he would do, or handle this as my father would.

"Katie... Let's talk instead," Zedd suggested.

"Talk?" She asked in confusion.

"Yes, talk. Let me tell you a story."

She smiled at him. "Yes, Zedd," she said tonelessly, still sitting in his lap.

Zedd gently moved Katie out of his lap and into a chair beside him. He began talking, not really sure what he was going to say. It surprised him when the truth came out.

"Once upon a time, several centuries ago, there lived a boy who was destined to be evil. Born of the strongest incubus line to ever walk the Earth, his father ordered the boy to do many horrible things. One day, he sent the boy to a farm with orders to seduce a beautiful girl and turn her evil. The boy went to the farm, but as soon as he met her, he knew he could never harm her. Instead, he asked her to teach him how to ride a horse. The boy's father was furious. He threatened to punish the boy in the cruelest of fashions, so the boy agreed to return to the farm. He saw the girl again, and again, he could not harm her. He spent the day with her and decided being with her was worth any punishment he might face. When he returned to his father, he was nearly killed, but the boy didn't care. He loved this girl, and she would always be worth the price." He paused, nearly feeling something he couldn't quite identify.

Katie was watching him intensely as he spoke. He continued. "The boy barely escaped with his life. He fled to the beautiful girl and the farm. His face was burned and scarred from his father's cruel punishment. Even as an incubus, he could not heal his wounds." Zedd automatically touched his face. The scars were gone, taken away when the Zeo crystal burned off his flesh, but he could still feel them. Sometimes, when he looked in the mirror, he still saw them.

Katie reached toward his face. Zedd flinched before she touched him. He closed his eyes before continuing. "To his shock, the beautiful girl still loved him. When his glamour fell because he was too wounded to maintain it, she tried to heal him. She failed, but she helped heal something else... His heart. From that day on, he became the farm's stable boy. He cared for the horses, and he helped maintain the house. He even cooked for those who lived there. They were powerful warriors, looked after by a great and powerful wizard and his son. One day, the boy learned his new family was in danger. He took his horse and rode into battle to help them. From that day, he joined them in secret. The wizard would not have approved. For a time, everything was perfect. Then... It all changed."

His anger began to grow, and he wanted to stop telling the story, but Katie looked at him adoringly and asked, "What happened?"

Zedd sighed. He might as well finish it. "The boy was poisoned by his father. The wizard found out what he'd been doing. He was furious, but he saved the boy's life with the help of one of the others. The beautiful girl pled for the wizard to make the boy one of them, and he agreed... When they were alone, the wizard showed the boy a horrible vision. In it, he was killed quickly. The girl he loved was then brutally tortured... Beaten, violated, and ultimately, completely broken... And then murdered. If the boy became one of them, this would be her fate. If, however, the boy became evil, his beloved would survive and live a long, happy life. He could never be with her again, but she would be safe. Once more, the boy knew this girl was worth any price. He agreed. Only when it was too late did he realize the monster who would have killed her was the wizard. He had tricked him, but it was too late to reverse it... The boy was evil, and evil he would remain until the day he died. To ensure the boy could never be free, the wizard turned him immortal."

"What happened to him?" Katie asked softly.

"He could no longer love, but he was cursed to remember that he had once. He saw his former beloved and tried to warn her what the wizard had done. Then, he fled... The next day, he tried in vain to kill himself by touching the most powerful thing in all the worlds, the Zeo Crystal. It didn't kill him, but it burned away all of his flesh. Finally, he looked as evil as he was."

Katie's jaw dropped. "You were trying to kill yourself?" She asked in horror.

"I never said the boy was me."

"Zedd..." She shook her head. "I always wondered why you did something that stupid, but it makes sense if you were trying to end your life."

"I knew death would free me... And I could warn them. Caius could see the dead... I was evil, but I wanted to save them."

"You weren't fully evil."

"Not yet. It was still settling. A lot has changed since then."

"You're not fully evil now, either."

"That's the bond talking. The magic is clouding your judgement."

"If you were evil, you wouldn't have saved me."

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Today, anyway."

"You'd still have slept with me. You had no reason not to."

"Did you consider that perhaps you're not my type?"

"That wouldn't have mattered. You'd have done it for the power." She touched his chest where his heart was. "You're not good, Zedd... But you're not as evil as you were, either."

He shook his head. "You won't be saying that when we slaughter all of you."

Katie looked sad. "Maybe it doesn't have to come to that," she said.

"You know that it does." He didn't want to admit that, right now, he didn't want to have to hurt Katie any more than she wanted to hurt him.

JAYDEN

He had been pretty upset when Sage told him his girlfriend was being "protected" by Lord Zedd of all people. Jayden understood that Katie had been in danger and Zedd had been her best hope, but he didn't have to like it.

"Ji, what am I supposed to do?" Jayden asked as he spoke to Ji on the phone.

"Katie is strong, Jayden," Ji reminded him. "She will be okay."

"But she's bound to Zedd, Ji! He could literally do anything to her right now!"

"You said Sage trusts him not to harm her, right?"

"Yes, but-"

"Do you trust Sage?"

"Of course I do."

"Then trust that Katie is safe. Sage would never endanger her cousin."

Jayden sighed. "You're right... But what am I supposed to do while Katie's with him?"

"What you do best, Jayden. Train. Protect her team."

"Dustin's doing a great job training them."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind a little help. It will be good for you, Jayden."

Jayden knew Ji was right. "Thanks, Ji," he said. "Give my sister my love?"

"Of course."

They hung up and Jayden forced himself to go find Dustin. If he was stuck waiting around while Katie was relying on her mortal enemy to protect her, the least Jayden could do was help her team.

MADDIE

She was in battle one minute, and not the next. Maddie looked around in confusion. "I was in the Megazord," she mumbled. She'd felt her Zord get ripped out of the formation. She knew the Megazord had fallen apart, and suddenly, she was somewhere else. She was determined to figure out what had happened when she heard it again. Crimson...

"Get your eyes checked," Maddie said. "It's Yellow."

"No, my dear... You're much more than that," the voice said. It took Maddie a minute to realize he was physically there and speaking aloud. "The blood of every single Chosen line runs through you."

"That's impossible."

"Your father descends directly from Morgana and Dimitri. Your mother is a descendant of the Campbell line. That's why she and Aisha are as connected as they are, they're distant cousins. She is also descended from Raven's brother, and from one of the many descendants of Quintus. Jason's mother descends from Zedd's uncle and Caius's sister."

"What? No, no, that doesn't make any sense..."

"I never saw it coming, my girl, but every single Chosen line finally came together in you. You are the Crimson Chosen, Maddie..." He touched her forehead and everything went black.

SAGE

It had been a long day. Sage knew it wasn't going to get any easier. They'd barely defeated the monster who'd attacked and grown to several times its original size when the Megazord had fallen apart and Maddie had vanished.

"We have to find her!" Jason said frantically.

"I need a little time, but I can go after her," Sage promised.

"No, Sage... It's too dangerous. You can't take Zell by yourself."

Sage stared at him. "Really? After everything I've done for you, you still doubt me? Jason, I'm stronger than you think."

"I know, but this isn't your fight... It's the Chosen's."

"And none of them are prepared yet. Besides, he made it my fight when he went after my team. He kidnapped Katie! I had to make a deal with the devil to save my cousin! And now, he's taken Maddie! No! I'm done!"

Jason shook his head. "It's too dangerous, Sage! I... I can't lose you, too. I can't take any more losses!"

Sage felt his panic. She automatically tried to soothe him, and as usual, Jason fought her. "Jason, let me help. Please."

"I'm fine..."

"You need to rest."

"I'm not sleeping until my daughter is home safe in her bed," Jason said stubbornly.

Sage could feel how badly he was draining her energy. She was hemorrhaging energy because of him and she could feel herself slowly fading away. If she didn't rest soon, she'd kill herself. "Fine! I'll have her home in an hour or two."

Before Jason could stop her, Sage went after Maddie with no plan, no energy, and no more patience.

It helped that Zell wasn't expecting her to show up. Sage was able to get her first attack in before he ever saw her coming. With every ounce of strength she had left, Sage attacked him repeatedly, draining as much of his energy as she could.

To say Zell was angry would be an understatement. He tried to fight back, but Sage grabbed Maddie and ran before he could. She dropped her slightly injured friend at the Command Center before trying to teleport home. She missed her mark and collapsed a few blocks away.

KODA

Instinct told Koda someone was in danger. He'd run all the way to Angel Grove, not really sure what he was there for. His team of Dino Charge Rangers was back home, and he rarely left them. As an actual caveman from the past, Koda didn't have the social or verbal skills to blend in on his own.

He stopped suddenly, sensing trouble. He looked around and spotted a girl who wasn't moving. Koda rushed to check on her and realized he recognized her.

"Sage..." He registered. Her uncle, Tommy, had helped his team a couple of times, and he'd brought Sage along once. Without hesitating, Koda picked her up in his arms and began to carry her home. He was a very good tracker and easily found her house.

Sage wasn't breathing right. Koda held her closer, willing her to stay with him. He might not know a lot about science, but he knew death when he felt it, and Sage was dying. "Stay..." He whispered. "Stay, Sage."

After a moment, Sage's breathing became normal again. She opened her eyes and stared at Koda in shock. "Koda?" She asked. "What's going on?"

"Sage not breathe. Koda help," he replied.

"I... Okay, but why?"

He was confused. "Sage Koda's friend. Koda helps friends."

Sage smiled at him. "Thank you... And you can put me down now."

"No. Sage hurt. Koda protect."

Sage pulled out some keys and Koda brought her closer to the door so she could unlock it. He carried her up to her room before finally putting her down on her bed. "Sage sleep," he said. "Koda watch... Keep safe."

Sage nodded. "Okay, but food first. I'm starving."

Koda's belly roared in response. He was hungry, too. Sage laughed. "What do you want to eat?" She asked.

"Koda likes burgers," he said eagerly.

"Okay. Go downstairs. I'll have my brother make us a couple of burgers."

The night was looking better. Not only had Koda saved Sage, but he was getting a burger out of it. He smiled, glad his instinct had led him to a friend in need... And food.

THE NEXT DAY.

JASON

He'd been relieved when Maddie called to tell him she was safe, but he was worried about Sage. When she finally called him, he wasn't expecting the fight that followed.

"I did it, in spite of your lack of faith in me," Sage snapped. "And now... Jason, I can't keep doing this. I'm literally killing myself trying to help you. My heart actually stopped last night when I got back!"

He felt like she'd kicked him. "Your heart?" He asked in horror. "Are you alright?"

"No thanks to you, yes. You're literally sucking away my life force because you ask for help but fight it, Jason. I'm in bad shape... And if Koda hadn't found me, I'd be dead."

"Who's Koda?"

"My friend the caveman. He's a Power Ranger from another team. He saved my life last night."

"Sage-"

"I need time away from you, Jason. Troy will keep helping the boys, and I'll do what I can for them, but I can't keep giving you all of my energy... It's going to kill me."

Inside, Jason was screaming. He'd been holding onto Sage like she was the last shred of light in his life. She was the only one who provided him with any relief from his crippling depression and grief. He loved that girl dearly, however, and he knew he had to let her go to save her before he got her killed, too.

"Okay," he managed to say. "If that's what you need." With that, he let her leave, and struggled not to completely shatter as his grief hit him all over again.

THE NEXT DAY.

OLLIE

He woke up feeling lost. He knew what day it was, but he didn't know how to feel about it. Every year, no matter what was going on at work, his mother made it home for their birthdays. Now, Ollie was fifteen, but she wouldn't be there when he left his bedroom.

He somehow opened the door anyway. Luke greeted him with a box. "Happy birthday, bro!" He said cheerfully. Ollie was surprised, but opened it. Inside was a pretty awesome baseball cap with his favorite team's logo on it.

"Thanks, Luke," he said, giving his brother a hug. "It's great." He put the hat in his room and followed Luke downstairs.

They found their father at the breakfast table. He looked like he hadn't slept again. Luke greeted him first. "Morning, Dad! So, what are we gonna do today?" He asked.

"Huh? Oh... Morning, Boys," their father replied.

"So... Plans?" Luke asked again.

"Um... Actually, I just asked Troy to take you guys out for the day."

"Dad, I thought we could spend today together," Ollie said cautiously.

"Not today, Ol, okay? I'm... I'm not feeling well," his father replied.

Ollie realized his father had no idea what day it was. "But Dad, it's-" Luke began to protest.

"Forget it," Ollie said, feeling extremely hurt. "It doesn't matter." Ollie walked out of the room fairly certain his father didn't even notice.

When Tamira texted him an enthusiastic message wishing him a happy birthday and asking if he wanted to hang out, he texted her back that he didn't feel up to celebrating. He got dressed and left with Troy and his brothers. He didn't tell anyone it was his birthday.

TROY

After a long day out with Jason's boys, Troy was ready to leave them at home. When Jason opened the door, however, everything changed.

Jason reeked of alcohol. He must have started drinking the moment they left, and he hadn't stopped. He was swaying and looked annoyed to have been interrupted. Ollie looked horrified. Troy suddenly flashed back on the drunk foster father who'd put him in a coma.

Genuinely afraid for the boys, Troy said, "Come with me, guys. We're going to see my Uncle David on the Reservation."

"Wait! You can't just take them," Jason protested.

"You're drunk, Jason. I'm not leaving them here with you." He guided them to the car.

Ollie hesitated. "How could he?" He whispered.

"Are you okay, Ollie?" Troy asked.

"Yeah. Let's just go."

Troy knew he wouldn't get anything else out of him, so he drove them to the Reservation instead. At least he knew they'd be safe there.

CAIUS

He was surprised when Sage showed up. "Caius... I don't mean to overstep, but you need to start leading," she said.

"What do you mean?" Caius asked.

"The Chosen need training. My team can't do it. We have our own battle to fight. You're meant to train them."

"I've been waiting for a sign... But I fear it is time." He sighed. "I'm sorry if they were a burden for you. I'm ready, and I think they are, too..."

"It's safe for you to be with Caleb," she reminded him gently, reading his thoughts.

"Yes," he said. "Thanks to you."

"Neither of you deserved what that creep of a deity did."

"Your actions are still very much appreciated." He smiled at her kindly. "I will gather the Chosen tomorrow and begin training them. The time has come."

"Thank you, Caius."

"There is no reason to thank me. This is my role now." He tried not to think about the fact that being the sole survivor of the original Chosen had pushed him into the role of mentor to the new generation. Even after all this time, he still missed the others terribly. Occasionally, he saw their spirits, but that only provided a small amount of comfort. He knew they'd inevitably vanish and he would be alone again.

"Caius? Are you okay?" Sage asked.

Caius shook off his thoughts and forced himself to come out of his memories. "Yes, Sage, I'm well," he replied.

She looked at him skeptically in a way which reminded him of how Rose always seemed to see into his very soul. "Are you sure?" She asked.

"I just have much on my mind," he said. "I will be fine." He meant that. Even though it hurt him terribly, Caius always forced himself to keep going. He really had no other choice.

At least you still have Zordon, he thought. And he's not stuck inside the energy tube. You can see him whenever you want. You can even touch him. You are not alone in this world... He paused. He wasn't alone, of course. He had his son, who he was about to finally be able to spend time with. That scared him more than anything. Giving Caleb up had been the hardest thing he'd ever had to do.

"I need to see Caleb before the others," Caius said. "We should speak privately... He doesn't know me. Our first real encounter shouldn't be in front of everyone else."

"He's usually with Thorn. You can come by tonight and see him," Sage suggested.

"Thank you. I think I will." He was nervous, but he knew this was the right move.

TAYLOR

He was walking Josh home when he sensed trouble. Instinctively, he pulled Josh behind him. Two seconds later, his grandfather appeared.

"Hello again, Boy," his grandfather greeted him.

"That's not my name," Taylor said. He was looking for any way to escape, but there weren't many options. He felt Josh tense up behind him.

"Come with me. We have business."

"Not happening."

"You will come with me, now, or I will make you."

Taylor rolled his eyes. "And how are you gonna do that?" He asked. He was stalling, desperately trying to find a way to get out of there with Josh safely.

Suddenly, his grandfather vanished and reappeared behind them. He grabbed Josh before Taylor could react. The monster pulled Josh against his body and began to touch him. Taylor felt sick. "Leave him alone!" He shouted.

Josh only panicked for a moment before the older incubus had him in a trance. "I can make him do anything I want, you know," his grandfather told him. "He's powerless against me."

"Don't touch him!" Taylor cried out. He dared to get closer to them.

"I can play with the boy and make him relive the worst of his traumas while I do... Or I can just make him walk in front of a car. I could instruct him to kill himself, and he'll do it."

"Stop it!" Taylor looked at Josh and said, "Josh... Josh, fight him. You can do it."

Josh hesitated for a moment before he began to struggle. Taylor's grandfather laughed. "Well done!" He said. "You are strong! To break my hold on someone is quite impressive. My boy, we can do wonderful things together. Fight at my side, where you belong."

"Never!" Taylor replied.

"What is it you fight for? Your sisters? They are weak. Your mother? She doesn't even love you!"

Taylor stiffened. That hit him too hard, and he hadn't expected it. His grandfather continued, sensing he'd hit a nerve. "Or is it for this boy? Well, I'll just have to get rid of the problem." He attacked Josh with his staff, hitting his head hard. Josh screamed in pain.

"Josh!" Taylor shouted.

His grandfather laughed and attacked Josh again. "Cooperate with me or I'll keep this up. I'll destroy him, physically, psychologically... However I must. The boy has so much trauma for me to play with... I can make him relive it all and then introduce him to even more as I make him my toy." He mumbled something and Josh began to whimper and fight off some invisible threat. Taylor knew he was having a flashback.

"What do you want from me?" Taylor demanded.

"Join me. Give me your loyalty, do as I say, and I will not harm the boy."

Taylor looked at Josh, defenseless against his grandfather, and he didn't even hesitate. "Okay," he said. "I'll do it, just don't hurt him."

"You must understand, this means I will torture you. You will take his place as my toy until I feel you are worth more than that. You will do whatever I say. You will suffer greatly until it makes you stronger. You will learn your place, and that place is as my slave until you become worthy of being my grandson."

"I don't care!" Taylor said as his grandfather remained dangerously close to a whimpering Josh. "I'll do it! Just leave Josh alone!"

"Are you certain you can handle the torture I'll inflict on you? The price for his safety is going to be very, very high."

Taylor felt tears forming in his eyes as he watched Josh suffer. He had to help him. He had to save him. "Yes! He's worth it, alright? He's worth any price!"

ZEDD

He'd left Katie resting, hidden by protection spells. Zedd had needed to take a walk and clear his head. The girl was having an odd effect on him. The last thing he'd expected was to sense his father. To make matters worse, he saw his son.

He knew he shouldn't interfere. He avoided his father at all costs, and Taylor was currently uninjured. It was clear the Blue Ranger wasn't in good shape, but so what? Zedd didn't care about a Power Ranger in danger. He wasn't going to do anything at all, but then he heard his son's words.

"Yes! He's worth it, alright? He's worth any price!" Taylor cried out.

The flashback hit Zedd so hard, it nearly knocked him down. Xia, he thought. His reasoning for nearly everything he did was that protecting Xia was worth the price. He'd said those exact words on numerous occasions. He'd also used it as his logic for willingly turning evil the day Zell tricked him.

Before he could talk himself out of it, Zedd came out of the bushes. "Step away from my son," he said firmly.

Taylor stared at him in confusion. His father looked startled at the sight of him. "Hello, Father," he said calmly.

"The boy is coming with me," his father said. "He has agreed."

"Well, he's a child without the consent of a parent. I'm nullifying your deal."

"I'll have your head, Boy!"

His father attacked him, but Zedd was stronger than he was. He had been for a long time now. When his father attacked Taylor, something Zedd hadn't expected happened.

The beautiful white horse who came running in to the rescue was one he knew. "Winnie?" Zedd asked in absolute shock. That was impossible! His beloved horse would have died centuries ago. He'd know her anywhere, however, and it was obvious this was, in fact, the same horse who'd been his dearest companion when he was a boy. How was she still alive? "Xia," he realized. "Of course she did."

Winifred was between his father and his son. She attacked with her hooves as his father cursed. "Wretched beast!" He cried. "I shall destroy you once and for all!" He aimed his staff at her.

Zedd immediately attacked his father. Taylor was injured now, and he hid behind Winifred as he tried to get his bearings. The boy looked terrified as he struggled to steady himself so he could, presumably, get to the Blue Ranger.

His father fought back and knocked Zedd to the ground. For a moment, Zedd was stunned. He was defenseless as his father came toward him again. Winifred jumped between them, letting out a loud and defiant cry. She knocked his father back several feet. The horse looked at him before bowing her head toward him and nudging him with her face.

Zedd pet Winifred. "Good girl, Winnie," he said softly. He had assumed the horse would hate him for turning evil, but it seemed Winifred still wanted to protect him.

"Winnie? That thing has a name?" Taylor demanded as he still struggled to move.

"This is Winifred. She was my horse when I was a boy," Zedd explained, still petting her. It brought him the smallest bit of comfort to connect to his horse again.

"She's been stalking me."

"Winnie's a good girl, and a fierce protector to those she's loyal to... It appears she likes you, Taylor." He looked at the horse. "Protect him. It is time I finish this."

Winifred moved toward Taylor, who backed away automatically. Zedd turned his attention back to his father, who'd begun moving again. He gathered up all of his strength and touched his father, draining away his life force. He stripped his immortality from him before driving his father's staff through his chest. It seemed poetic to use the weapon he'd so often tortured Zedd with on him.

His father died a bit too quickly for his liking. Zedd was filled with power from what he'd drained out of his father. He would be unstoppable now! He had to hold on to it...

He saw Taylor crawling toward Josh. Both boys were injured, and Taylor was weak. It was clear he hadn't fed his incubus side in a bit, and fighting Zedd's father had taken too much out of him. Zedd sighed. He knelt beside Taylor, who began trembling, powerless to even attempt to fight him.

"Go on," Taylor mumbled. "Kill me. I can't stop you."

Zedd shook his head. "Not today, my boy," he said gently. He touched Taylor and began giving him all of the energy he'd pulled from his father. Taylor began to heal immediately. He was radiating so much light by the end of it that it became difficult for Zedd to look at him.

Confused, Taylor turned his attention to the Blue Ranger. "Josh... Josh, it's okay," he said. "You're okay... Please... Please come back to me."

Josh began to stir. He curled up on Taylor, still pretty hysterical, as Taylor tried to soothe him. With the excessive amount of power he currently had, he was able to calm the boy fairly quickly.

Seeing his son's backpack on the ground, Zedd picked it up. He began collecting the items which had spilled from it. He paused when he saw several pieces of paper which had ripped out of some sort of folder. Zedd stared at the drawings. They were done in pen on lined paper, a fact that horrified him on a personal level, but the art was actually quite good.

"You draw..." Zedd said as he studied his son's art.

"Yeah... So?" Taylor asked.

Zedd shook his head. Taylor truly was exactly like he had been. "On lined paper with pen? That is simply offensive... An abomination! You need real art supplies, Taylor."

"Yeah, well, this is what I have. It's no big deal. I just doodle when I'm bored in class or when I..."

"When you have too much on your mind?" Zedd suggested.

Taylor looked at him with surprise. "Basically," he admitted.

Zedd noticed several of the drawings were of the Blue Ranger. He has feelings for him, he realized. Stronger than just the impulsive whims of a boy protecting his friend... He would have traded himself to my father for him. He's in love... As I once was...

He carefully placed the artwork back in the strange folder and zipped the bag up before handing it back to his son. "They're good, you know," he said. He turned to leave.

"What the hell is your deal?" Taylor demanded.

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you help me? That was your father, right? And you just killed him. Why?"

"I have wanted that bastard dead for a very long time. Tonight was as good a time as any."

"I don't get you... You're evil. You're supposed to hate me. You tortured me and my sisters and my mom... And now you're saving my life? What the hell?"

"Your justification of your choice to sacrifice yourself made me act. That is all you need to know. Excuse me. I have somewhere to be. Go get him somewhere safe."

"I know you know he's a Power Ranger... Why aren't you attacking him?"

"Because he is important to you, and you have both been through enough tonight."

Taylor looked even more confused as Zedd walked away. Zedd was pretty confused himself. You should have destroyed them, he thought. That is what you're supposed to do.

He shook his head and decided he was going on a trip in the morning. He would buy the boy some proper art supplies. He told himself it was purely because he was disgusted, as an artist, to see someone using lined paper and pens to create art, but deep down he knew there was more to it than that. Zedd could never love. He could never be light or good again... But seeing his son fight to defend the boy he loved, Zedd had gotten the tiniest piece of himself back, and he wanted to repay him for that.