CHELSEA

She hadn't slept. How could she? The guy she'd been crushing on had turned out to be Pierce's not-so-dead older brother, who just happened to be a scary, homicidal maniac.

"Wow, Chels... You sure know how to pick 'em," she mumbled. Sure, Logan... Neptune... was hot, but he was also a killer. How had she not realized something was off about him? Had he been using her? He must have known who she really was... Why else would he have led her on unless he was just spying on her?

He didn't out you. He didn't try to kill you. If he'd told them your identity, you'd know... Give him a chance, her mind argued.

"He murdered innocent people," she said stubbornly. Still, the Neptune she'd seen in battle, the brutal monster she'd seen in the woods, had been nothing like Logan... And after she'd met Logan, anytime she'd gotten near Neptune, even if he was going after Pierce, he backed off... He had refused to hurt her.

"Goddamnit, Logan..." She mumbled. "Why'd you have to go and make me fall for you?"

"Chelsea..." A voice said.

"Pierce's friend," Chelsea said as she recognized her.

"Most people call me Doctor Hope."

"Is... Is he okay? Lo... Neptune? Frankie? Whoever he is?"

"Not really... I broke the mind control, Chelsea. He's not Neptune anymore... But he's broken. He hates himself for everything they made him do. I'm worried about him with how depressed he is... But he lights up whenever we end up on one subject."

"Which is?"

"You."

"Me?" She asked in surprise.

"He loves you, Chelsea... And not because someone told him to. He is clinging to that... I think it would help him to see you, if you're willing. He doesn't know I'm asking. You can refuse-"

"Let's go."

"Right now?"

"Yes," Chelsea said firmly. "He's still in there, right? If that's true... I have to help him."

Dr. Hope smile. "Come on. I'll drive."

"I'll get there faster if I run. Give me the address."

Dr. Hope nodded. "Good luck... I promise it's safe. He doesn't want to hurt anyone except himself."

"I know he won't hurt me. He's had plenty of chances... Thank you, Doctor Hope. I'll see you later." Chelsea sped off, running faster than she ever had. It didn't take her too long to reach Angel Grove. She found the house easily, and although she could feel magic protecting it, the barrier dropped to allow her inside.

He looked up in confusion. "Chelsea?" He asked.

"Hey there, Wolverine," she said casually.

"Why are you here? I... I figured you'd hate me."

"I can't hate you. None of this was actually your fault... And not in the Van way, either. You literally had no control over your actions. They brainwashed and programmed you."

"Van's a good kid. His dad put him in a bad situation."

"I know that. Look, Wolverine... I heard you're not dealing with things too well. I'm here to help."

"You have no idea what you did for me... Jesse Quick. You were my sanctuary... The one choice I made that was actually mine... I love you, Chelsea... Even though I wasn't supposed to... Even though I knew who you were... I fell for you."

Chelsea hadn't expected that. She kissed him. He kissed her back, his intensity both surprising her and exciting her. Chelsea didn't stop to think... She just went after what she knew they both wanted. She could tell he needed this.

"Chelsea... Are you sure this is okay?" He somehow managed to ask seconds before things went from Rated R to NC17.

She paused. "What do you want me to call you?" She asked.

"Logan," he said immediately. "I want to be Logan, and no one else."

"Logan... I want this. I'm sure. I want you." She kissed him and shifted so things could progress, then quickly lost herself in bliss.

Afterward, as they lay panting and naked with their bodies still tangled, Chelsea whispered, "I love you, too."

"You... You do?" Logan asked.

"I don't know how this happened... But yes, Logan. I do." She kissed him quickly before resting her head on his chest, enjoying feeling his entire body wrapped around her. Eventually, however, she caved and got dressed. So did he.

"Chelsea... I don't know how long I'll be like this... I'll probably always be screwed up in the head... Damaged," he said.

"We're all damaged and screwed up, Logan... That's what makes us human," she replied.

"I can't face my brother... Not after everything I did."

"Pierce loves you, Logan... Even knowing about the attack on Eltar. All he wants to do is help you."

"I deserve to be hated..."

"No you don't. You deserve a second chance... I know you'll prove what type of guy you really are... The guy I already see."

"I'm not good enough for you."

"Wow, Wolverine really does suit your emo ass." She cracked a smile so he'd know she was only teasing. "You're having a hard time, Logan... The people who matter will stay by your side and help you through it, including me."

He nodded, then pulled her closer to him. Chelsea liked the way he held her possessively, almost like he was trying to shield her from any invisible threats that might be lurking. "I love you, Jesse Quick," he whispered so softly that she barely heard him. Chelsea smiled to herself. She could definitely roll with this. She and Logan would figure out who he was together.

MENA

She was slowly getting used to being on Earth, but it was a pretty unusual planet. Mena focused on playing leader to the other survivors. They were all older than her, but she was the daughter of the Prime Minister, and she'd led them all to safety. They all looked to her for guidance now.

"Mena? Are you well?" The Mayor Elect asked.

Mena supposed he was the Mayor now, since the last one had been assassinated. "Of course, Mayor," she said politely.

He smiled kindly. "That is not official yet, Mena... And even if it were, you may address me as Sabree."

"The last Mayor demanded to be addressed as such."

"I am not him." Sabree sighed. "I always intended to make changes and bring Eltar's governing body into the modern era, however, I am deeply saddened by the Mayor's passing. We may have disagreed on politics, but... He did not deserve to die like that."

"None of them did..."

"I am so sorry for your loss, Mena. The Prime Minister was a very good man."

"Thank you," she replied numbly. Everyone kept offering their condolences , but that wouldn't bring her father back.

She was alone in the world. Her mother had been dead forever, but now her father was gone, too. They hadn't had any communication with the rescue mission yet, but she knew Nessa was probably dead, too. Everyone Mena cared for the most was gone... Everyone except...

Mena let out a shriek as Greg landed at her feet. "Greg!" She said with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I... I don't know," he admitted. "I was thinking about you and I just..."

"Sneezed?" Mena teased him softly.

Greg cracked a smile. "At least I landed in Angel Grove and not on Eltar," he said. "This is the first time I've teleported from one place on Earth to another."

"Perhaps you and I are connected," Mena said. "I was literally just thinking about you and you appeared."

"Mena... I found something out."

"What is it?" She was concerned by his tone and worried expression.

"You know how Serafine and Daphne reincarnated as my friends Darcy and Andie? Well... They're not the only ones who came back."

"Tell me."

"I was the brother... I'm Ash." She could tell how hard it was for him to say that aloud.

"I suspected that might be the case. It makes the most sense."

"I agree, but... I couldn't admit it to myself. I was scared."

"You were not ready, Greg. The soul remembers these things when the time is right."

"There's more... I'm not human. I mean, not fully, anyway. My mom was from here, but my dad... He was Eltarian. And my grandparents were part of the Eltarian Guard. Gram says her name's actually Eleanor-"

Mena stared at him. "Lady Eleanor is your grandmother? No wonder you are so afraid of her! How remarkable... She is a legend on Eltar."

"Yeah, apparently that's why Lido ran off when he heard her voice. Anyway, I'm half-Eltarian... Which is insane... But it means I'm more like you than I thought."

She smiled at him. "You have a kind heart, my friend... That is the only thing that matters, no matter where that heart comes from."

He blushed slightly. Then, he turned serious again. "Has there been any word?"

"Not as of yet..."

"Maybe I should go-"

"No! Greg, if you are truly the brother... Ash... You will be hunted. Eltar is unsafe at the moment. You need to stay safe... You... You cannot leave me, too, Greg!" She hated the panic she heard in her voice.

Greg wrapped her in a tight hug. "I'll stay," he promised. "I'm not going to leave you, Mena."

She blinked back tears and kissed his cheek. He blushed brighter and Mena laughed slightly. Everything was falling apart. Both of their lives had been turned upside-down... Yet Greg was still the sweet boy who blushed easily and teleported as naturally and uncontrollably as most people blinked. She wasn't sure of much anymore, but at least she knew that she could trust him.

INSU

She was terrified. She knew a man she'd hoped never to see again had come to Earth. He'd escaped from the Counsel Building with the others.

Insu was walking through town, something she rarely did. She blended in well enough. Raffitty had taught her the glamour to make her skin appear pale white instead of blue. Her long, dark brown hair hung plainly but neatly in a perfect braid. The eyeglasses she required provided a nice barrier to keep the world out, and that often made her feel safer. Insu was shy by nature, the polar opposite of her sister. She was fragile and scared easily, so Raffitty had always kept her safely hidden whenever possible.

"Insu, right?" A young woman asked her.

Insu tensed as she turned to look at her. "My name is Ingrid," she said in as casual a tone as she could manage. How did this stranger know her? Insu waited for her to show the sign of the Rebellion, but that didn't happen, making Insu even more nervous.

"Okay... Ingrid. My name is Hope... I have been helping a few of the people who are connected to you... Neptune and Lido, specifically."

"You know where Lido is?" Insu asked in spite of herself.

"Yes... Lido is safe, and he will not be returning to the Rebellion."

"What are you talking about? He must... Raff will be furious..." She prayed she wouldn't have to be the one to deliver the news to him.

"Ingrid... I am here to help you. Both Neptune and Lido insist that you're a good person trapped in a bad situation. I can help you and your sister get out of the Rebellion."

"I am loyal."

"Ingrid-"

"Vide piel virit. I. Am. Loyal." Insu repeated the words in Eltarian and English, a mantra to keep her grounded.

"You are, yes... But is the Rebellion loyal to you?"

Insu paused. "Of course they are. Raff raised me as his own! He rescued me."

"I'm sensing a theme when it comes to Raffitty... Neptune claims to owe him a debt because he saved his life. He rescued you when you were a young orphan, right? He gave Lido a purpose after Lido had lost everything and had spent nearly three centuries alone in the woods. According to Neptune, Raff promised Tegus justice for his wife's death and gave him a reason to fight when he wanted to die. Tell me, what did he do for Felina?"

"Nothing. They are both extremely powerful on their own, and each has their own agenda. They have a mutual understanding that working together makes them stronger."

"But every other member of his group is fiercely and blindly loyal to him because of what he did for them or promised them. Yet, the truth is, Raff had Felina make the storm that nearly killed Neptune. He stole him from his brother and turned him into a killer. He allowed the boy to be tortured to keep him from remembering his true identity. Raff also kept the information Tegus wanted from him, holding it just out of reach to keep him loyal. He can't do much to Lido, but... He hurts you, Ingrid. I can see it in your eyes."

"He protects me," Insu insisted.

"From everyone except himself... Ingrid, Raff caused Neptune's situation. Your family was killed on so-called reliable information from an anonymous tip... What if Raffitty was the one who gave them the tip?"

Insu's eyes widened in horror. "No! Raff would never have done that to me!" She shook her head. It couldn't be true. Raff had rescued her after her family was executed. He had insisted it shouldn't have happened.

"Your tulpa power is the sort that runs in families, Ingrid. If he knew it ran in your maternal line, he might have wanted easy access to you and your sister. He probably insisted that even the younger of your brothers be killed because he only wanted the girls."

"They killed her..." She whispered. She shook her head as images of her dead baby sister flashed through her mind.

"I'm guessing that was an unplanned accident. What happened to your family is horrible, Ingrid... But I need you to consider if what I'm saying makes sense."

"It doesn't... Raff would never hurt me!"

"He hurt Allie, Ingrid... I know things because of my magic, and I know he hurt her. It's why she ran away. If you don't believe me, ask her... And then think about this... If Raff loves you, how could he hurt her?" She handed Insu a business card. "Call me when you're ready."

She was terrified, but she called Allie to her. She had to prove this woman was just a liar. "Hey, Ingrid," Allie greeted her cheerfully. "Are you okay?" She must have known Insu wasn't doing well, because she hadn't fought being summoned.

"Tell me why you ran away, Allie," Insu said firmly.

"I..." Allie hesitated.

"Please, Allie. I need to know the truth."

"Raff attacked me," Allie admitted. "He told me I couldn't tell you... But he ordered me to feel... And then he..." Allie wouldn't look at her.

"You can tell me," Insu promised.

"He was making me have sex with him... I didn't know I had a choice, but then I met Freddy, and... And I fell in love with him, and I didn't want to do that with Uncle Raff anymore... He got so angry... Told me I had no say because... Because I'm not real."

Insu stared at her in horror. "Yes you are, Allie. You're real," she insisted.

Allie softened her tone. "It's okay, Ingrid. I know the truth... But I'm okay. Raff tried to kill me... But my friends saved me. They believed in me enough to make me strong... Especially Freddy. I'm okay."

"He told me he didn't hurt you... That he just scared you a little bit."

"He lied, Ingrid. He tried to destroy me... And he almost succeeded." Allie looked vulnerable as she added, "My friends believe in me... They believe I can refuse him... That I can make my own choices... But... You made me loyal to him, Ingrid... He's a core part of me, right? That's why he was able to hurt me."

Insu's heart broke. Raffitty had betrayed her in the worst way possible. .. If Hope was right about this... What if she was right about what had happened to her family, too?

"Allie... You are real... I promise, because you are real to me, and you always will be. You don't have to be loyal to Raff anymore. You can make your own choices... You have to be safe, Allie... No matter what," Insu said. "I love you, Allie... With everything that I have."

"I love you, too, Ingrid," Allie replied.

Insu sighed. She had to make a choice, but how could she possibly choose to leave Raff? He'd raised her... She'd been with him for twelve years, and without him, she never would have survived. The one time someone had tried to harm her, he'd handled it swiftly, removing her from the situation. The man who'd dared to cross her had never been seen again. After that, Raff had home-schooled Insu, which made her more lonely, but at least she'd been safe. Raff protected her with everything he had. He cared for her like she was his own daughter, and he'd never been even vaguely sexually inappropriate with her, even if his temper made him physically violent at times. She couldn't imagine Raff ever forcing himself on Allie because she knew how much he despised the act of rape... But Allie was telling the truth. She knew that without a doubt. Somehow, Raff had turned into a monster.

Maybe he's been one all along, she thought. It hurt to think such disloyal thoughts, but how could she deny it was possible when she could feel the fear that filled Allie as she told her the truth?

"I didn't know, Allie..." She whispered. "I had no idea he was doing that to you. I'm so sorry..."

"It's okay, Ingrid," Allie said. "It's not your fault."

Insu shook her head. It was her fault. She'd created Allie with no ability to refuse Raff... If Insu hadn't trusted him, she could have explained to her sister that she had the right to say no to things like that. She sighed. "I'm getting you out of this... Somehow. A woman offered to help us... I believe that she means well... She may be our best option."

"Option for what?"

"For leaving the Rebellion... For leaving Raff. I won't let him keep hurting you, Allie... I can't."

Insu picked up her cell phone, then thought better of it. The phone was under Raff's name. So was Allie's, but she'd managed to block the GPS from being activated, making it impossible for the Rebellion to track her after she'd run away. Insu suspected Van had done that for her. He was good with technology, just like his father.

"Allie... Do you think one of your friends will let me use their phone?" Insu asked.

"Sure. Why wouldn't they?" Allie asked.

"Get me to someone you know you can trust... Anyone except Van. Raff would think to check his phone activity."

Allie took Insu's hand and led her to a boy. He stood in the park, playing a musical instrument. "Freddy!" She cried, running into his arms.

Freddy easily wrapped Allie in his arms after carefully placing the instrument on a bench. "Allie," he said with a smile.

Insu knew this must be Allie's boyfriend. He was tall, dark, and mysterious. There was an intense brooding quality about him that made him a bit intimidating, but the love he felt for Allie was clear in his eyes. Insu knew her sister had fallen for a good guy.

"Freddy, this is my sister, Ingrid," Allie said.

"It is nice to finally meet you," Insu said.

Freddy nodded at her in acknowledgement. "Can she borrow your phone? It's an emergency," Allie said.

He handed the cell phone to Insu after unlocking it. "What's the emergency?" Freddy asked.

"She wants to leave the Rebellion, Freddy! Isn't that great? But we need help to do it."

Insu frowned. "You told him about us?" She asked.

"I trust Freddy completely... And he saved my life, Ingrid. He deserved to know the truth."

Insu let it go, dialing the number on Hope's business card. Hope didn't seem surprised to hear from her. They worked out details before Insu hung up.

"We are going to have to leave Stone Hollow for a bit," Insu said.

"But... I can't," Allie protested.

"We'll come back. I promise... But we need to go to Hope, and she is in Angel Grove."

Allie frowned. "Freddy..." She said softly.

"It's okay, Allie," he said gently. "I'll be here when you get back... And I'll keep believing."

"And Scott, Chelsea, and Van?"

"Team Allie won't give up on you," he said soothingly. "We love you, Allie... We believe in you."

She nodded. She looked at Insu before turning back toward Freddy. She kissed him quickly, and Insu saw the way he seemed to melt.

"I love you," he said softly.

"I love you, too," Allie said. She finally moved away from him, joining Insu. "Let's go."

"He's great," Insu said as they made their way toward a vehicle. Ignatius was a very good driver, and he was happy to serve his mistress. Insu had created him in case she needed to be driven somewhere in an emergency where teleporting would draw too much attention. She rarely used him, so he was excited to have been summoned at all.

"He really is," Allie agreed, a dreamy expression on her face.

Insu smiled. It made her happy to see her sister so happy. "I'm glad you found him, Allie." She hoped that things would work out and Allie could be reunited with her beloved Freddy, but Insu knew there was a good chance Raff would destroy her for this betrayal, and if she died, so would Allie. The thought of her own death didn't bother her, but she couldn't let Allie die... Especially not now that she was so close to being her own person. She couldn't help her baby sister before, but Insu was determined to save Allie now.

LIDO

He had waited patiently for word to come. Now, Lido sat in a ritual space with Sage and Zedd. "Why is Lord Zedd here?" He asked suspiciously.

"It's just Zedd. He dropped the Lord part when I restored his light," Sage replied. "Zedd's an incubus. He can help keep my energy up for the ritual... It gets very draining... "

"Are you certain it will work?"

"It worked on Zedd, and that was way more complicated because he was tricked into giving up his light willingly. It should be easier to fix you. Also, I don't have to regrow your skin, so that's a perk."

"Regrow my skin?" Lido repeated.

"I touched the Zeo crystal right after I turned evil. I was hoping it would kill me," Zedd explained. "I couldn't tell my friends the truth as long as I was evil, as part of the deal with Zell. I knew if I died, I could go to Caius, who could see the dead, and warn them that Zell had betrayed us. Since Zell cursed me with immortality, it was my only chance... But it didn't kill me. It burned off all of my flesh and left me in eternal pain. If Caius hadn't found me and treated the worst of it, I'd have suffered for all of eternity... I did anyway, but not in a physical way..."

"That was a noble attempt," Lido said with respect.

"It was an act of foolish rebellion, but it was the only idea I had," Zedd said lightly. "Anyway, Sage healed me fully... It's why I look nothing like the monster everyone knew. She's good at what she does, Lido, and she's stubborn. Even if she's told it's impossible, she won't stop until you're fixed."

He nodded. "Shall we start?"

"Soon. First... I need Zuzu here," Sage said.

"Zuzu! Come," Lido called. The phelinx landed gracefully on his arm.

"What a stunning animal," a new voice said.

"Caius! Welcome to the party," Zedd said.

"Caius is immortal because Zell cursed him to be," Sage explained. "He was one of the original Chosen. Since your immortality is tied to service to Zell, I'm going to switch it to Caius."

"You wish to place me and Zuzu in eternal service to a man we just met?" Lido asked with a frown.

"I will never demand services from you," Caius reassured him. "I know what you have been through, Lido. The bond will simply connect your lifespan to mine."

"How can I be sure he is trustworthy?" Lido asked Sage.

"Zordon trusts him unconditionally," Sage replied. "So do I."

Lido nodded. Zordon's faith was good enough for him. "You may proceed," he said.

Sage nodded. "One more minute," she said. "Our last participants just got here."

Lido looked up in surprise as he saw two familiar faces. "The Green Ranger and the Mystic?" He asked.

"Pierce and Amos," Sage clarified. "Amos is here to help me. Pierce is still a baby Shaman. He's here to observe, because there aren't many chances to see how something like this is done."

"I have tried to kill this boy and his friends more than once."

"Sage says you can be saved and turned into a good guy," Pierce said. "If it means one less person trying to kill us, I'm all for it."

"And you, Mystic?" Lido asked.

"Shaman," Pierce corrected him.

"He has been around since they were called Mystics."

"Amos, seriously, how old are you?" Pierce asked.

"Older than the Aviary, Little Fish. I remember him from before he turned," Amos replied. "He was a pure soul, even if the people of Eltar misunderstood him."

"But... Lido's older than Zordon."

"Indeed he is! Moving on..."

"Why is that enough to warrant your involvement?" Lido asked.

"Because, He with the Spirit of the Bird... Your father was not the man who abandoned you. Your mother was of Eltar, but your father... He was from my tribe. He had a bird's spirit as well. I knew him well, and although he died before he could find you, I vowed to protect you should the opportunity ever arise... And now it has! How wonderful! Let's go!"

"You... You knew my family?"

"Your father, yes. I only met your mother once. I will tell you one day, my boy... For now, we must fix you before it is too late."

The ritual began after that. Lido was fine at first, but then the pain hit. At first, it was a physical pain, and he didn't cry out or show any sign of it. Lido was perfectly capable of dealing with physical pain, no matter how severe... When several millennia of grief overwhelmed him, however, he let out a cry of absolute anguish.

It was as though he had lost them all again... Serafine... Ash... Daphne... His heart ached for them, and the sense that he had failed his only true family consumed him.

Zuzu echoed Lido's cries. Birds came toward the sacred space, surrounding them, frantically responding to Lido's pain.

"What the hell is all this?" Pierce asked.

"The Aviary is sacred to the birds. They cry for his pain," Amos explained.

"It's like that Alfred Hitchcock movie... Look how many birds there are!"

The birds are in distress, Lido thought. I must calm myself. He couldn't, however. His grief was too strong. He'd lost his only true family... He'd failed them... And he'd taken too many lives to count in the time since.

Suddenly, he felt something he hadn't felt in years. Daphne, he realized. She is seeing through my eyes... Our bond... It still exists... As children, they'd been able to connect to each other, especially in times of distress. It was similar to his bond with Zuzu. Sometimes, they simply shared experiences. It comforted him in a way nothing else could have. Lido began to cry, something he hadn't done since turning evil. Some of the tears were from grief, but others were simply from the joy of feeling that bond again.

"Is he okay?" Pierce asked.

"Crying's a natural reaction to this," Zedd said. "I spent several days having a nervous breakdown after Sage saved me. He'll be alright."

"So it worked?"

"It worked," Amos confirmed.

Sage looked dizzy, but unharmed. "Okay," she said. "Time for a nap. That wasn't so bad, though. Zedd took a lot longer."

"Sage..." Lido said softly.

"Don't thank me," she said. "Just don't waste this. Get yourself together, and then get on the right side. If you do anything evil, I'll sever your tie to Caius and you and Zuzu will rapidly age and die."

Lido bowed his head. "I shall serve those I love... Daphne and Serafine. I shall protect them with all that I have."

"Ash is back, too," Sage said as she yawned. "He's Greg."

Lido was horrified. "I attacked him..." He said.

"You weren't yourself and you didn't know. He'll forgive you."

"Apologize to him for me," Lido said to Pierce. "Please... Ash is gentle and kind, yet I threatened him... I made Zuzu attack him. I tried to hurt him..."

"Lido... We all do things we would never do when our light is stolen," Zedd said. "I repeatedly tried to destroy Zordon and everything he held dear. I tortured people... The things I did to Aisha..." He shook his head.

Sage put a hand on Zedd's arm. "That wasn't your fault," she reminded him. "With the terms of Galaxia's spell, you had to reproduce with someone from her line in order for Taylor to happen. Since Aisha was supposed to be good and you were evil, consent was unlikely."

"And she went mad and turned evil."

"That had more to do with Liza's father and Zell than with you. Stop arguing with me. I'm tired."

"Of course. I'm sorry, Sage." Zedd looked at Lido. "Others will forgive you. The hard part is forgiving yourself."

Lido nodded, knowing Zedd was the only one who fully understood what he was dealing with.

"Zedd, you must get Sage somewhere she can rest," Amos said. "And it is past my Little Fish's bedtime."

"I do not have a bedtime, Asshole," Pierce snapped at him.

"Shhh, Little Fish. You are still young. You need your rest, and this ritual drains everyone involved. I will take you home." He looked at Caius. "Stay with the Aviary, my friend. He needs someone to keep watch until the reversal has fully settled. He has much to process and should not be alone."

Caius nodded. "Of course," he said.

The others left. Lido became overwhelmed again. He sat against a tree, petting Zuzu's beak as he tried to get through the latest wave of emotion. It was going to be a long night.

ANDIE

She sat up in bed sobbing. She'd thought the vision of Lido was just a dream at first, until the connection had fully sealed. She realized she was actually seeing through his eyes and feeling his emotions. She pulled her knees to her chest and wept harder.

"Oh God, Lido... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry he did that to you," she whispered.

I'm sorry, Daphne, Lido thought. I failed you... I failed you all... I turned into a monster...

"I forgive you," she said softly. She was overwhelmed by Daphne now, but she didn't care. Lido needed to know she didn't hate him. She couldn't possibly hate him, not after all he'd done for her through the years...

Darcy walked in without knocking. "I thought I heard sniffling... Bad dreams?" She asked.

"No... Maybe... I'm not sure how, but... I've been in Lido's head, Darce..." She had to struggle not to call her Sera. "He's not evil... It was Zell... He turned him, but someone saved him tonight... And he's devastated... I want to go to him. I just want to hold him and tell him it's okay."

"You want to hold him?" Darcy repeated. "That's not like you."

"Daphne wants to hold him... To comfort him... But I'm not far behind. I feel his pain, Darcy... And all I want to do is make it go away."

Darcy climbed onto the bed and held her. "Let's start by making you feel better."

"I'm such a mess... Why couldn't this be an Isobel problem? She's easy to handle."

"Since when?"

"Since the funeral in Amber Beach, but honestly, she was always the easier of the two. She's the low-maintenance past life. She doesn't send me into complete meltdowns. Isobel may have lost her parents and the love of her life, but she wasn't overly traumatized. She was strong, and relatively happy, even if she never got over Ivan."

Darcy raised an eyebrow at her. "You're starting to fall for him," she said matter-of-factly.

"What? No I'm-"

"Andie, you didn't hear yourself say his name... And you don't see the way your eyes look. You're into him."

Andie blushed. "Okay, maybe... Maybe a little bit... We got closer on that trip. He stopped putting on any acts and just... I saw the real Ivan, Darcy... The one he tries to hide behind the perfect knight."

"Are you saying he's not a perfect knight?"

"Actually, he is... The knight is a huge part of who he is... But behind that is someone more vulnerable... A funny, smart, sometimes kind of awkward guy who has a lot of pain he hides behind a very big smile."

"A handsome smile," Darcy teased her.

"Alright, fine... Ivan's attractive... But now I know he's more than that, and... I remember Isobel, Darcy. I remember loving Ivan... And maybe it's not just memories causing me to feel something, but it's so hard to tell."

"So give him a chance and see if the feelings are yours or just hers."

"I don't date."

"There's a first time for everything. Ivan's a good guy, Andie. I know he won't hurt you... And I want to see you happy."

"I don't need a guy to make me happy."

"Damn right you don't... But sometimes, it's nice to have someone anyway..."

"Like you and Pierce? "

"You noticed that?"

"You guys aren't as subtle as you think." She laughed. Darcy joined her. This helped calm Andie's nerves. Things would work out... She had to believe that. No other option was acceptable.

THE NEXT DAY.

INSU

Zedd was not nearly as intimidating as Insu had expected him to be. He gently examined her energy, trying to find a way to safely use it to make Allie real without harming Insu, but he wasn't having much luck.

"Maybe if she just focuses hard enough..." Hope wondered aloud. "What if she does it long-term and you just regenerate her energy to sustain her?"

"I tried it for an hour," Zedd said. "Allie is still a tulpa... An extremely powerful tulpa, but not truly her own being. Doctor Hope... The only other option is..." He let the sentence trail off.

"I have to die," Insu said bluntly, since Allie was currently out of earshot.

"It won't come to that," Hope argued. "I won't allow it to."

"If I kill myself, I can pour all of my power into Allie... I can sacrifice my life to give her one."

"There must be another way... You don't deserve to die," Zedd argued, but his eyes said he knew she was right.

"And Allie doesn't deserve to be completely vulnerable to the suggestions of someone who will hurt her," Insu said firmly. "I will not allow my sister to be subjected to that sort of abuse."

"Her friends can keep her safe."

"Not forever... Raff will find a way. Please... I have to protect her. I have to save her... She's my sister. I must give her this gift."

"We'll keep trying," Hope insisted. "Allie is safe for now... I know I have to send you back eventually or Raffitty will get suspicious, but you can protect yourself, Insu. Your power is extraordinary. You can create an army to keep yourself and Allie safe. He won't be able to hurt you again... Either of you."

Insu nodded, but she didn't believe she could do it. She'd never be able to take Raff on. He was too strong, and she owed him too much... Instead, she began planning for the worst. One way or another, Allie would survive this, even if it meant that Insu did not.

ANDIE

She felt uneasy but wasn't sure why. She was walking by the edge of the woods when she heard a voice call, "Andrea!"

Andie froze. Panic seized every inch of her body, but she took a deep breath and kept walking. She picked up her pace, refusing to look in the direction of the voice.

"Andrea, wait!" Her father said. He grabbed her arm.

Andie jerked away from him violently. "Don't touch me," she said sharply.

"Andrea, please, talk to me," her father said.

"No. Legally, I don't have to without a social worker present. Go away."

"You're my daughter, Andrea! Give me a break and just hear me out."

"You lost the right to call me that when you tried to kill me." She was shaking violently, but she kept her voice steady and cold.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that! I'm trying to be civilized-"

"I'm leaving. If you follow me, I'll call the police."

"You won't be leaving today, Andrea... I've come to recruit you to work with my friends."

"You don't have friends... Just drinking buddies who rip you off when you're passed out." She shuddered, refusing to think about the other things his so-called friends had done while he was passed out drunk.

"Oh, I have friends, Andrea... Powerful ones."

"Joining a gang is a parole violation... And if you joined a cult, I'm not interested. Now leave me alone."

She tried to walk away. He grabbed her and painfully turned her toward him. Digging his nails into her shoulders, he laughed in her face. His smelled like beer and cigarettes and Andie had to fight off the flashback that nearly induced. If I could morph, I could get out of this, she thought. She couldn't, though. Her father was just an asshole, not an Eltarian Rebel. She couldn't expose her secret to him. It was a rule.

Andie tried to focus on how their bodies were positioned. If she applied the right amount of force, she could hurt him and make him release her.

To her shock, her father reached into her pocket and grabbed her stone. How could he have known? She wondered in horror. He flung it several feet away from them before saying, "Hail the Rebellion!"

Andie felt like all of the air had been sucked out of her lungs. "No..." She whispered. "That's impossible."

"Who do you think got me released from prison?" He asked with a laugh. "Join us, Andrea! The life they offer is worth it. All the beer, food, and prostitutes I could want... Whatever you want, they can get it for you... And my freedom, of course. All I have to do is deliver you to them. You're finally worth something!"

Andie brought her foot down against his shin. He cursed and released her. She tried to reach her stone, but her father recovered quicker than he should have. Obviously, the Rebellion had enhanced him. He grabbed her and flung her against a tree with impossible force. Andie barely managed not to hit her head, but the rest of her body was in severe pain. Still, she fought as he tried to grab her.

"Join us, Andrea! Or I'll fucking kill you," he said too calmly. He meant that literally.

Andie was out of options. She couldn't morph, but maybe the power of Spirit would work anyway? Maybe she could use that. And do what, Andie? Heal him? What good is Spirit in a battle? She wondered. Still, she had to try something or he was going to kill her.

I'm not dying today, she told herself firmly. Declaring that had worked for her in the past. She closed her eyes as her father beat her with his fists, forcing herself to ignore the pain and focus on her element. Element of Spirit... Powers of the Soul... Help me now. Help me fight. Give me the strength to survive this... She silently prayed.

Help is coming, Andie, a voice promised. She knew that voice... It was part of her.

Isobel? She asked in wonder.

Yes. Keep fighting. The Rangers will feel you soon enough. Until then, Ivan already does. He is on his way. Just fight, Andie. We can do this!

Andie felt energy wrapping around her. Her father hit her head and she could feel blood dripping down her face, but she knew she couldn't stop. Follow your instincts, Andie, Isobel said. Form a Shield of Souls.

How? What is that? Andie asked.

Call on the Rangers who have perished over time... Their spirits shall assist you... And working together, you shall form a shield to protect you until it is safe.

Andie took a deep breath before shouting the words that were coming to her. "Lost Rangers, hear the cry of one of your own!" She felt them beside her almost instantly. More came every second until they stood around her, invisible but powerful. "Help me now! Rangers, Unite as One!" She felt rude making demands of dead Rangers she'd never met, so she politely added, "Please."

The spirits of the Rangers were happy to oblige. They came together, invisibly at first, until Andie saw swirls of rainbow surrounding her. Each soul had a specific color, and Andie knew these were the colors they'd worn in battle.

"What the fuck is that?" Her father demanded, backing away rapidly.

"My family," Andie said firmly. All of the emotions of the souls began hitting her at once. She was overwhelmed. It was too much... Too many teams, too many stories... She couldn't focus.

She felt several spirits slip free from the swirls. They came to her more closely, manifesting so she could see them. Each put a hand on Andie, and she could feel them.

"Focus on us," a woman in yellow said firmly.

"We're one team," a man in blue said.

"We fought together, and we died together," a man in red added.

"Hold on to our story," a woman in white and pink said.

"We can ground you," a man in black finished.

"Your entire team is dead?" Andie asked, the horror of that hitting her hard.

"Except for Merrick, but he's different," Red said.

"The core team all died in the battle for Tommy," Yellow added.

"And we'd do it again," White added.

"In a heartbeat," Blue agreed.

"You're one of them," Black mumbled.

"One of who?" Andie asked.

"One of the ones they came looking for. Be careful... Don't trust the flowers!"

"What flowers?"

"Danny was a florist," Yellow explained.

"It's more than that... You're in danger. I found the species by accident... That's why they killed me," Danny insisted.

"The people who had Tommy? Why would they kill you over flowers?" Andie asked.

"They didn't. It was an Eltarian. One of them specifically showed up just to kill me... Please, Pink Ranger..."

"Andie."

"Please, Andie... Don't trust them. They'll make you sick. You won't be able to fight. Promise me!"

Andie had no idea what was going on, but this Ranger was terrified enough to convince her. "Okay," she promised. "I won't trust the flowers."

She felt the shield start to fail. You have to let them go, Andie, Isobel told her. The shield can only take so much, especially with you being so new to this power. You must release them before you collapse.

"Thank you," Andie said. "Thank you all. I unbind this shield... I release you! Go in peace!"

The shield dropped almost instantly. The souls left, but Danny turned to look at her. "Remember..." He said before leaving with the rest of his fallen teammates.

Her father seemed to realize he had an opening. He charged at her. Andie tried to fight, but she was weak and dizzy from blood loss. Her father pinned her against a tree and held a blade to her throat.

"Dad... Please don't..." She whispered. "If you ever loved me, please don't do this. My friends and I can protect you from the Rebellion... Please just let me help you." It was strange to realize that she meant her words. Andie might not ever trust her father again. She had suffered several years of abuse at his hands... But at his core, her father was just a weak man with a lot of demons. Addiction might not excuse his behavior, but it explained it, and even if she never wanted to see him again, Andie couldn't just leave him in the middle of this mess... Her mess. The Rebellion had obviously only brought him in because he was her father. He meant nothing to them, and they'd kill him the second he lost his usefulness. She couldn't let that happen no matter what he'd done to her... Not if there was even a chance that he had a shred of good in him.

Her father raised the knife. He stabbed her in the side and Andie got her answer. He would never change. He'd been aiming for her chest, but she'd dodged that. He stabbed her again and Andie knew she had exactly one option left.

Ducking away and diving, she finally grabbed her stone. "Stone Power! Rose Quartz! Activate!" She cried. She morphed, but it was unstable. She knew one strong hit from her father would knock her out of it. She was too weak.

Her father came at her again. They struggled, but she was losing too much blood, and her morph failed. She was certain she was going to die. That was when her father was ripped off of her.

IVAN

"How dare you harm a lady?!" Ivan demanded. He was filled with a rage unlike any he'd felt before. Andie was bleeding severely, and Ivan knew exactly who this vile fiend was.

"She's my daughter, and this doesn't concern you," Andie's father said harshly. He tried to move toward Andie again, making Ivan snap. Ivan pulled out his sword and prepared to battle the monster.

His sword met the coward's weapon several times. This man was no warrior, but the power of his greed and the strength of the Rebellion fueled him. Ivan wasn't concerned. He knew he could take him down.

"Ivan!" Andie shouted.

"M'Lady?" Ivan replied.

"The Rebellion's here!"

Indeed they were. Ivan nodded, mentally preparing for the new additions. "Fear not, M'Lady!" He said grandly. " ' Tis nothing I cannot handle!" That might have been an exaggeration, but his beloved was bleeding out slowly. She needed reassurance that all was well, and he fully intended to make good on his word.

The battle intensified. Ivan quickly realized that he and Andie were surrounded. He worked his way closer to her. She was in bad shape. He was pretty sure she couldn't defend herself.

"Kill the knight!" Felina cried. "Do as I command, Puppet!"

"Lady, I ain't nobody's puppet," Andie's father said.

Felina said, "Dance." The next thing Ivan knew, the man was demonstrating a perfect Irish jig.

"I... Stop that!" Andie's father cried with alarm.

"Kill him and don't ever forget your place again."

He didn't argue. Instead, he pulled out a weapon unlike any Ivan had ever seen. "Like it?" He asked Ivan mockingly. "It's bigger than yours."

"The size of the weapon has little to do with the outcome of the battle," Ivan replied. "A man wields his sword with skill and with honor, no matter what... Only a foolish boy focuses on the size."

"It's Eltarian... Some magical shit. I'll bet it could kill you with no real effort on my part." He lunged at Ivan, raising the blade to take off his head.

Ivan dodged the blow easily. "Thy arrogance shall be thy downfall," he proclaimed.

"Not before I cement my place... I"ll kill you both." He raised his sword toward Andie.

Everything happened too quickly for Ivan to process it. He reacted to the sight of the sword perilously close to Andie's neck and thrust his own sword straight through her father's chest. Andie let out a scream as her father's blood splashed across her. Ivan stared at the monster he'd just slain and realized with horror that, for the first time in his life, he'd killed a man.

Sure, he'd gone into battle before. He'd wounded many men, and saved many others... But he'd never murdered someone before. Monsters were one thing, but this was a human, in the most technical sense. He'd murdered a man today.

As he caught a glimpse of a nearby monster's eyes, Ivan got lost in his own mind. Every death, every sacrifice, every single time he'd failed to save someone played through his mind on an endless loop. Young knights who were just like him, killed before many of them ever truly lived... Older knights who fought with honor and lost their lives... Power Rangers uniting because it was the right thing to do, only for many of them to perish... James... Shelby... And now, worst of all, this man... The father of his beloved... Had he deserved it? Perhaps, but... Ivan found no honor in murdering someone... It had been too easy. All he'd had to do was impale him upon his blade... The man had stood no chance.

"Ivan!" He heard a voice calling in the distance.

Andie... He thought. He wanted to reach her, but he couldn't... The memories started flashing through his head all over again.

He vaguely registered arrows shooting around him. He knew Andie was protecting him, but she shouldn't be... She was hurt... This could kill her... He had to snap out of it...

Joseph, his mind taunted him. Remember him? He was your closest companion, and you watched them slice his head clean off his body! You were useless!

No! Ivan silently screamed. I tried to save him... I was too far away, but I tried! I tried to save them all!

You failed, his mind replied. Ivan felt anguish wash over him as he became completely trapped in his own memories. He became lost in the darkness and knew in his heart he would never find his way out.

PIERCE

He'd been on the phone with Sage when he realized something was wrong. At first, he only knew that Andie was hurt, but soon, he sensed Ivan's panic. Sage told him to take his team and go and promised to send Amos to them and meet them there herself.

He got there as the rest of the team arrived. Chip and Vida were there as well. They were still outnumbered by Rebels. Apparently, they'd brought some friends back from Eltar.

"We're screwed," Chelsea said. "There's too many new people."

"What's wrong with Ivan?" Greg asked, noticing that the Knight was frozen in fear and seemed to be in a trance.

"It's got to be bad if my sister has to be the one protecting him," Darcy said.

"Look out!" Scott cried, knocking a Rebel back as he got too close to Pierce.

"Thanks," Pierce said. "Duck!" He swung at a Rebel who was ready to take Scott's head off.

"Guess we're even," Scott said with a laugh.

As Amos arrived, Pierce saw the look on his face and knew it was bad. "Hold them off, Pierce," Amos said. "I must assist Andie."

Pierce fought with all he had. His team did the same, and after several tough minutes, most of the Rebels fled.

"Andie!" Darcy cried. She ran toward her sister, kneeling beside her.

Andie wasn't moving. "Amos... Is she okay?" Pierce asked nervously.

"She fought bravely and quite fiercely tonight," Amos said. "With her wounds, it was too much for her. She lives, but I must heal her. The act of summoning her soul's weapon and firing off shots to protect Sir Ivan drained what little life she had left... She will survive, but she must rest."

"And Ivan?" Vida asked.

"Ivan looked into the eyes of the Tulpa called Reflector. He became trapped in his deepest pain. He needs time as well... But for now..." Amos waved a hand in front of Ivan's face.

Ivan snapped out of his trance. Tears were streaming down his cheeks. For a moment, he seemed confused. Then, he quickly recovered, wiping away the tears and standing up tall. "Andie," he said. "Where is she?"

"She is here," Amos said gently, motioning toward the very unconscious Pink Ranger.

Ivan said nothing as he scooped her up easily into his arms. Andie stirred slightly, resting her head on his chest. Somehow, Pierce knew she was grounding herself to Ivan's heartbeat.

Sage arrived to see everyone standing around. "Get somewhere safe," she said.

"What are you going to do?" Pierce asked.

"Cover up the fact that Ivan did this... I'll use a different weapon to disguise the wounds. This asshole wasn't exactly an upstanding citizen. No one will question him getting himself killed. They'll write it off as a deal gone wrong."

"Thank you, Lady Sage," Ivan said humbly.

"For you? Anytime. Just take care of Andie. I've got this." She squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "All of you need to get out of here."

"We can go back to our place," Chip suggested.

"Not tonight... Amos, can you...?"

"I shall bring them to the Reservation. It is safe and no one can follow us there," Amos agreed. "Including the police. They need to go through our police force to come after anyone on our land." He smiled reassuringly at everyone. "You will enjoy the visit. I'll feed you my specialty."

"Which is what, exactly?" Pierce asked.

"A surprise, Little Fish!"

That didn't exactly reassure him, but he knew the Reservation was the safest place for them for now.

IVAN

He had opted not to eat. It wasn't that Amos had offered up a poor meal, but Ivan wasn't hungry. Instead, he stayed in a guest room with Andie and watched over her as she slept. Whatever Amos had done had spared her nightmares, a fact Ivan was grateful for.

After a couple of hours, Ivan felt her hand on his arm. "M'Lady..." He said softly. Would she hate him for what he had done? The thought broke his heart, but he faced her bravely anyway. He owed her that much after murdering her father.

To his great surprise, Andie sat up and wrapped herself in his arms. He realized with alarm that she was crying. "I am so sorry, M'Lady..." Ivan said.

"Don't apologize," she said. "You saved me, Ivan. No one has ever saved me from him... I never had anyone to help me... I didn't have a decent family until Karen, Kyle, and Darcy took me in. They gave me everything by being so kind and patient... But he got out of jail, and he was trying to rip me away from them, and I thought... I thought he was going to kill me for real this time... But you saved me..."

"You did most of the work yourself, Andie... You fought impressively hard. I could tell just from looking at you... And Amos told me how much magic you used trying to defend yourself and, ultimately, me. Had you not been able to hold the Rebellion off long enough for the other Rangers to arrive, I would have perished... So I believe I owe you my gratitude as well... I did not intend to kill him, Lady Andie... I pray you can forgive such an unspeakable act."

"I wanted to save him," she admitted, "but he was beyond saving, Ivan. Sometimes, a person just doesn't want to be saved. There's no telling what he would have done after he killed me... What they would have used him for. You stopped him before that could happen."

"I could not let him harm you, M'Lady... I... I simply... I had to save you." He nearly blurted out that he loved her, but he stopped himself. He'd promised not to push her, and he intended to stick to that.

"Ivan..." She sighed. "I remember, Ivan."

"You remember what, M'Lady?"

"You. You, Isobel, and everything in-between. I remember loving you... I remember losing you, and finding out I... She... was pregnant the same day she lost you." She paused before adding, "I remember our son... He was so much like you, Ivan... You would have been proud of him."

Ivan felt a thousand emotions at once. He felt joy at the news of his son being a good man. He felt grief at never having had the chance to know him. He felt relief that Andie finally understood who she'd been to him. He also felt anguish as he thought about his beloved Isobel raising their son alone.

Andie looked deeper into his eyes before she said, "I was confused at first... But now, I know, Ivan... I know what I feel, not just what Isobel feels... " She leaned in closer before shyly pressing her lips against his.

Ivan gasped, not having expected that. He was overwhelmed as their energies seemed to recognize each other. Finally, he was truly alive again. He had his beloved back... She might be Andie now, but her heart remained the same, and nothing felt as natural to him as kissing her did.

When Andie broke the kiss, she looked at him with confusion in her eyes. "That felt so... Familiar," she said. "Like I'd kissed you a hundred times and wanted to kiss you a hundred more... I don't get like that... I'm not really the making out type..." She seemed embarrassed. "I'm sorry. You and Isobel were obviously lovers, because you had a son... I want to be with you, Ivan, but... But I can't do that. Not yet. I can barely believe I just kissed you... Anything more intense would be way too much, and you probably don't want to put up with a girl who's not ready, but-"

She was rambling nervously. Ivan cupped her face in his hands lovingly and looked into her eyes. "I came here seeking my lost Isobel, and found you instead," he said. "You were Isobel, yes, but as I have come to know you, I realize that you are Andie now, not just in name, but in experiences... And I love you all the more, Lady Andie." He smiled at her sweetly before adding, "I would wait an eternity to become more physical if that was what you needed from me. Simply having you in my life is more than enough. Never question that." He paused. "Would you grant me another kiss, M'Lady? The choice, of course, is yours-"

Andie kissed him as he finished his sentence. His heart was filled with pure joy. For a moment, he remembered nothing of his pain and grief. "I love you..." He mumbled softly into her hair. He didn't think she heard him until she spoke.

"I love you, too," she whispered against his cheek. He felt tears in his eyes as he heard those words. He continued to hold her. If she noticed, she was polite enough not to mention his emotional state.

They were both physically and emotionally exhausted. Andie fell asleep in Ivan's arms, which was exactly where she belonged. They would go on fighting the forces of evil in the morning, but for this one night, the rest of the world didn't exist.