CHELSEA

Running back and forth between Stone Hollow and Angel Grove daily was a great work-out, but Chelsea knew she needed to get Logan to come back home with her. He was doing much better, but he was still too ashamed to face his brother.

It had been two weeks since the attack on Eltar. Things were getting crazy in Stone Hollow. The new Rebels were attacking frequently. Lido was missing in action, although Andie insisted he was fine. Allie and Ingrid were still out of town, causing Raffitty to become increasingly aggressive in his attacks because he was convinced the Rangers had kidnapped his precious Tulpa Girl. Pierce and Darcy were becoming a more obvious couple every day. Andie and Ivan had apparently rekindled the romance of their past. Greg was spending almost as much time in Angel Grove as Chelsea was because he kept visiting Mena. Word had finally reached them that only one survivor had been pulled from the Counsel Building, and that was Mena's best friend Nessa, whose father was apparently a traitor. Eltar was starting to recover, but the survivors were still hiding on Earth until it was deemed absolutely safe for them to return. Andie and Darcy had played clueless when the police told them about Andie's father being killed in what they deemed "a drug deal gone wrong." He was dead and buried and, thankfully, Andie seemed to be coping with that better than one might expect. With all of this, Chelsea couldn't shake the feeling that something big was coming...

"We're going out today," she told Logan.

"Um... Alright. Where?" Logan asked a bit nervously.

"Shopping in Raven's Glen."

"That's an hour away... You know, for me," he teased her. Chelsea could probably run there in about fifteen minutes.

"It's closer to Stone Hollow... Baby steps. Besides, they have the coolest art store... I'm low on supplies."

"Okay," he agreed. Chelsea knew he was afraid to leave Angel Grove, but she sensed they were running out of time... Raffitty had separated the brothers for a reason, and Chelsea knew somehow that Pierce and Logan had to be reunited soon or something horrible was going to happen.

They drove to the quaint town. Her parents had discovered it because their socialite friends had insisted the antique stores there were super trendy and they absolutely had to check them out, but Chelsea liked the place in spite of this. It wasn't the sort of busy urban place she usually enjoyed, but it almost felt like she was stepping into a painting every time she went. Raven's Glen was a place time had forgotten. Mom and Pop shops lined the streets. The people were friendly without being fake. There was a loyal community of artists who frequented the park in the center of the town that Chelsea had befriended when she first moved to California. She felt like she could be herself there without having to put on a show for anyone.

"It's beautiful here," Logan said as he parked his car.

"It really is," Chelsea agreed. She held his hand as they explored the town. She restocked her supplies before dropping her purchases in Logan's car and bringing him to her favorite cafe. They ordered their food and talked. Chelsea laughed, smiled, and reached across the table to hold his hand.

"Chelsea?" A male voice asked in surprise.

I have the worst luck ever, Chelsea thought. She looked up and saw her parents watching her with horror. "Oh... Hi, Guys," she said pleasantly. The only time her parents noticed her unless they wanted to show her off to their friends was when she did something that might be considered scandalous by their country club friends.

"What are you doing here?" Her father demanded.

"I needed art supplies," she said. "And I wanted to show my boyfriend around."

Her father's eye twitched at the word boyfriend. Chelsea half-expected steam to start coming out of his ears. Her mother looked completely disgusted. "Chelsea, this boy is far too old for you!" She said disapprovingly.

"Logan's twenty-two. You've set me up with your friend' sons who were older than that," Chelsea pointed out. "It's okay, Mother. You can say what you mean. We both know you meant to say he's too Black for me." She smiled at her mother sweetly.

Her mother made an indignant noise. "I... I never said..." She stuttered.

"Mom, you're a quiet racist, but you're still a racist."

"I am not racist! I have friends who are Black, Chelsea! Samantha and Winston are-"

"The token Black couple at your country club and the whitest Black people ever. That 'I have friends who are Black' line is so stereotypical I'm not even going to touch it. It's fine. You don't have to like Logan... I do. And you can't say anything without people realizing the real reason you object. By the way, only taking an interest in my life when you find out I'm dating a Black guy doesn't count as parenting. Enjoy your lunch." She took Logan's hand and led him away, leaving her parents staring after them in shock.

Logan's expression mirrored that of her parents. "What?" She asked innocently.

"Did you really tell your mom I was too Black for you?" He burst out laughing, which made Chelsea laugh, too.

"We all knew it's what she was thinking!"

"You're amazing," he said.

"That racist bullshit doesn't fly with me, and they don't get a say in who I date." She kissed him. Then, she approached a tougher subject. "Logan... It's time for you to come with me to Stone Hollow."

"I can't, Chelsea... What if I hurt someone?"

"You won't. If you were still a psychotic killing machine, you'd have slaughtered my parents. I might not have objected, either... But, you know, I would have had to stop you after that." She smirked at him.

Logan shook his head. "I know I'm in control now, but... Every time I saw my brother, I flew into unstoppable rages and tried to kill him. What if it happens again?"

"Then I'll stop you... But it won't happen, Logan. You're not Neptune anymore. Neptune is dead."

"Neptune is dead," he repeated softly. It was a mantra they'd been using for the last few days. It seemed to help him stay grounded.

Chelsea looked into his eyes. "You can do this, Logan... And you owe it to Pierce to try," she said.

Logan sighed before nodding. "Okay, but... But not alone. You have to be there to supervise."

"I'll play referee if it gets ugly. Darcy will probably be around, too. They've been spending a lot of time together. You'll be fine."

They began driving back to Angel Grove, just to pick up the few belongings he currently had and to tell Dr. Hope that he was ready to leave. Chelsea sent a quick warning ahead to Pierce.

Be prepared, it read. Your brother's coming home.

PIERCE

He didn't know how to prepare for Frankie's return. For six years, Pierce had desperately wished to see his brother again. He'd dreamed that it was all a big mistake and Frankie was fine. He'd wanted nothing more, even though he had to stop letting himself believe it would ever happen. Now, he had no idea what was going to happen or what either of them would do once they were reunited.

In spite of this, Pierce tried to get ready. He decided his current residence wasn't neutral enough territory, so he did the only logical thing and suggested they meet in the woods, where no one would see them should things get out of hand. Then, he called Darcy. She was supposed to meet up with him anyway, and she didn't mind doing this instead of just hanging out.

Two hours later, he stood with Darcy in the woods. He sensed they were not alone and said, "You might as well come out and show yourself, you old asshole."

Amos stepped into view. "Hello to you, too, Little Fish," he said pleasantly. "And Darcy! You look lovely today, my fiery friend. Anyway, Little Fish, I thought you and your brother could use some support."

"How the hell did you-? Never mind. I should be used to you just knowing every detail of my life." Pierce rolled his eyes, but honestly, he was glad Amos was there.

A few minutes later, a car parked nearby. Pierce could feel them coming before he saw them. Chelsea appeared first, and right behind her was...

"Frankie..." Pierce whispered as six years of thinking his brother was dead hit him again. He had faced Frankie since finding out the truth, but his brother's face had been covered by the mask the Rebels wore. This was the first time in six years that Pierce was able to look into Frankie's eyes.

Suddenly, Pierce was ten years old again. He flung his arms around Frankie's neck and started sobbing, unable to control himself. He could hate himself for that later. Right now, all that mattered was that he was back with his brother.

Frankie was crying, too. "I'm so sorry..." He whispered as he held Pierce, trying to soothe him like he had when they were younger.

"No... No, I'm sorry!" Pierce replied.

"I couldn't save you!" They said in unison.

"I almost drowned... Amos pulled me out of the water, but I lost consciousness for two days and by the time I woke up, you were gone... I wanted to save you," Pierce said.

"I was trying to protect you... I couldn't keep dealing with what was happening at home, but I wasn't going to leave you there... I would never have left you alone with him, Pierce... I'm so sorry," Frankie said.

"It's my fault... It should have been me they took..."

"It's my fault you got hurt... If I hadn't tried to run away..."

"You were trying to protect me. I just wish I could have saved you from Raffitty and Company."

"Stop. You're not to blame. I'm the oldest-"

"But I-"

"It's all my-"

"Does anyone have the number of a good shrink?" Chelsea asked lightly, effectively shutting them both up.

"Neither of you should be apologizing," Darcy said firmly. "Your father is to blame for his choices and the Rebellion is to blame for what happened to Frankie."

"Logan," Chelsea corrected her.

"You're going by your middle name?" Pierce asked as he tried to pull himself together.

"Yeah... When Chelsea asked my name, Logan was the first one I thought of... And I like it. I'm not Neptune... Neptune is dead... But I can't go back to being Frankie, either... Frankie never made it out of the water that day."

Pierce fought back fresh tears. The words might be harsh, but he understood. He hadn't been the same person after that day either. "Fra... Logan. I don't care what you're calling yourself as long as you're safe," he said.

Logan... He'd get used to calling him that somehow... Logan touched his arm gently. That was when sparks began flying. Pierce and his brother jumped apart.

"Oh, good!" Amos said cheerfully. "It's already starting. That's why I needed to be here, by the way, Little Fish."

"More info, you crazy old man," Pierce said. "We can't all read your mind to figure out what the fuck you're talking about."

"The sparks, of course! That's the start of the powers coming out... The magic is reborn!"

"What powers? I don't have any magic," Logan said.

"You do, my boy! Raffitty most likely had Felina bind it, but reconnecting with your brother was all it took to unlock your abilities! The prophecy shall be realized!"

"Prophecy? Pierce... Who is this guy?"

"An asshole," Pierce said. "But he knows his shit. He's saved my life a few times now, so I guess I'm obligated to put up with him."

"Come here," Amos said. "Let's see what happens..." He grabbed them both and touched their hands together.

At first, nothing happened. Then, rather suddenly, lights and shadows began dancing together, creating a flow of energy so powerful, the others could clearly see it. Images appeared before their eyes... Animals, mystical and mundane, ran through the woods in excitement. Flames popped up around them, dancing on a river of water, somehow working in perfect harmony. As a rabbit made of pure light hopped over to them and sniffed at their feet, Pierce and Logan broke their hands apart. Everything returned to normal.

"Okay... I'm just gonna voice what we're all thinking," Chelsea said. "What the actual fuck was that?"

"The power of the brothers, uniting," Amos said.

"So Pierce plus Logan equals LSD?"

Darcy frowned. "It's not an acid trip," she said. "It's the uniting of two energies that are complete balances to each other... Their magic is exceptionally strong, and so is their connection... And this is bad."

"Bad? It was freaking awesome, Darcy! Do it again, guys!"

"I've seen it before, Chelsea," Darcy said.

"Where?" Pierce asked, concerned by her reaction.

"In my nightmares." She took a deep breath. "The only other set of brothers to display this kind of magic together weren't from here... They were from Eltar. It was Zell... Zell had a brother."

"You're telling me there's two of him?"

"No... Because his brother isn't around anymore... And I think Zell killed him."

Chelsea stared at her. "What?" She asked.

"I don't know how I know... But I think that's part of what Serafine and Ash figured out, and it led to everything else. I have to look into it more. Greg's got Ash's message... Maybe that will tell us the whole story. The point is, until we know more, you guys need to be careful. This is dangerous. If Zell was willing to kill his own brother over this, I don't want to know what he'll do to you."

"Zell is a maniac," Logan said. "The one thing Raff drilled into my head about him was never to trust him. He makes pretty promises, but he always betrays you in the end."

"Is Raff afraid of him?" Chelsea asked.

"I think so. Felina, on the other hand, worships the ground he walks on. She'd do anything for him. She wants to be his Number One again. She keeps trying to convince the Rebels to work with him, but Raff refuses. He knows it would be suicide. Zell's a powerful ally, but a deadly enemy, and the line blurs too easily for Raff's liking. I think Garron wants to work with Zell, and Zydia goes where the power is, but Captain Smith has enough sense to know better."

"Who are they? The new people?" Pierce asked.

"Some of them. Garron's the head of the Nevada Rebellion. He's older than Raff and is one of the only original members of the Rebellion left. He's really dangerous when he wants to be. Zydia's a bloodthirsty nut-bag. She was the head of Amber Beach, but-"

"The assholes who attacked my sister and Ivan?" Darcy asked.

"Yeah. Her lackeys were killed on Eltar, but she survived. Zydia's tough. She also nearly makes Felina look civilized compared to her bitchiness. She likes to manipulate discarded monsters who end up on Onyx to do her bidding."

"And the other guy?" Pierce asked.

"Captain Smith is in charge of New York and New Jersey. He's not as bad as the others. He may do some questionable things, but at his core, he's a good man. He and Raff go way back. They're best friends, but they run things very differently. I spent some time with them before..." Logan hesitated.

"What is it?" Pierce asked.

"Before we attacked Eltar... I... I insisted Sophie let me leave, and I was suddenly in New York with orders in my mind that it was time... Captain Smith's people picked me up and took care of me before bringing me into battle. Before I... I..." His voice cracked and he refused to look at any of them.

"It's not your fault, Logan," Pierce said. It was so strange to call his brother that, but he could tell he needed to claim this new identity.

"I hate myself... I hate what they turned me into... What I did..."

"I know... But you're in control now," Pierce said, looking to Chelsea for confirmation. She nodded. "You'll never have to do those things again."

Logan nodded, taking a deep breath. "My point is, Captain Smith is kind to his people. He genuinely cares for them. I don't think he's using them for personal gain at all... They have a mutual respect, a family bond. It's not like that with Raff... He hates Felina with a passion. He beats the hell out of Insu if she doesn't do exactly what he wants. He's good to Lido, but that's because Lido's more powerful than any of us and he knows if he ever pisses him off enough, the Aviary can destroy us all. He's using Tegus for his technological skills and he exploits his grief over his dead wife. That keeps Tegus loyal, and it gives Raff access to Van... Van's a really good kid, but his dad raised him to be a perfect soldier."

"Until he met Scott and all bets were off," Chelsea said.

"And if he ever finds that out, Van is as good as dead."

Amos tensed. "We must go somewhere safer. My shield will weaken soon, and Zell must not be allowed to detect you boys," he said. "Darcy is correct. There is no telling what he will do to you. I must train you... Make you stronger, help you gain control... Only then can you face him."

"Where will that be safe?" Logan asked.

"The Reservation," Pierce guessed.

"Right you are, Little Fish! Come. We must get to work. You boys are not safe." Amos paused. "Speeding Cheetah and my Fiery One, you may come as well if you wish." Amos led the way. Pierce stood between Darcy and his brother and reality began to set in.

He's alive, Pierce thought. He's really here... This is actually happening. For the first time in a long time, Pierce allowed himself to hope that life would not completely suck for eternity.

NESSA

Her father's execution had been that afternoon. Nessa had refused to go see him to say goodbye. There were no words that would magically make this okay. She loved her father, but he'd gotten several people killed, including her family and the children on the trip... Nessa wasn't ready to forgive him for that. This didn't mean, however, that she wanted to watch them cut off his head.

Instead, she'd spent the afternoon with Troy, looking over a stunning lake and trying to process things. She felt significantly better once it was over. Waiting had been the hardest part. Now, perhaps, she could begin to move on.

"So, Anise is quite popular with the people," she commented casually.

"Yeah. Zordon was very proud when they chose her to be the next Prime Minister," Troy replied. "I mean, I think it will be hard for him to be on Earth with her so far away, but he's proud of her... And he's ready to go back."

"Are you?"

"I miss my mom."

"But the sadness in your eyes... Earth put it there."

"I lost two members of my team... I failed them. It's been very hard to deal with. I-"

"Get over it."

"Excuse me?"

"You didn't fail them, Troy. You saved Zordon. You protected the innocent. You did your job. You lost them, and it sucks, but what good will beating yourself up do? I lost my baby brother, my aunt, my mom, and officially as of today, my father. I am entirely alone in this world, but do you see me crying? Locking myself up and breaking? Blaming myself for their deaths? Hell no! So get over yourself, Troy. Seriously. Sometimes, bad shit just happens, but you're still here. Crying and freaking out and debating killing yourself are a shitty way to pay your friends back for giving their lives for your collective cause."

He stared at her. "I... I never said I was suicidal..."

"You didn't have to. It was obvious. Talk to Gia sometime. The poor girl's been worried sick about you. Now, will you move on?"

"But they were my team and I-"

Nessa gently whacked his arm. "I'm going to smack you every single time you feel sorry for yourself until you stop, " she said with a laugh. "Grieve their loss, Troy... But live your life to honor them. Otherwise, you're just emo, and emo leads to... Smack!" She whacked him again.

He laughed. "I'm sorry. You lost everything. If you can keep going and still be pretty upbeat and functional, I have no excuse... But no one's called me on how bad I've been until now. Not really. They always back off and let me get lost in the pain."

"That's not how I operate." She smiled at him. "Today was a shit day. Let's go clubbing!"

"Clubbing?" Troy repeated. "Are you serious?"

"Did you think Earth was the only planet that had dance clubs? Come on. It'll be fun. We can bring Gia."

Nessa practically dragged Troy back to the others. "Gia, want to go to an Eltarian nightclub?" Nessa asked her without preamble.

"Hell yeah I do!" Gia replied. Then, she paused and looked at Zordon. "I mean... Is that okay? Do you guys need me?"

"Go on, Gia. The three of you have certainly earned a night off to relax," Zordon replied.

"I'll bring my communicator, and you can call us the second anything happens," Gia promised. She was bouncing off the walls, but stopped as she said, "Wait... I didn't exactly pack club clothes for this trip."

Nessa grinned. "Don't worry, Guys. I've got you covered," she promised.

An hour later, they were dressed to kill. Nessa had bought outfits for all three of them. "We look amazing," she declared.

"I could get used to Eltarian fashion," Gia said with approval.

Troy didn't say anything. Nessa studied him and said, "Look how sexy your team leader looks. These clothes are so... Form-fitting."

Troy blushed and Gia joined in on the teasing. "Yeah, Troy... Jake might have some competition," she said. "I mean, look at those muscles!"

"Look at that ass," Nessa added.

Troy looked like he was about to run screaming. Nessa burst out laughing. "He can handle thousands of monsters attacking a poor, defenseless town without so much as flinching, but mention he's got a cute butt and he's done!" She said as she laughed even harder.

"Well, he's a Red Ranger... Clearly, his face is just trying to master every single shade of red that's out there!" Gia said with laughter of her own.

"Are you guys done?" Troy asked. He sounded annoyed, but his face betrayed his own amusement. "I believe we have somewhere to be?"

Nessa smiled at him sweetly. "It's good for you not to take everything so seriously all the time," she said. "And you've got a brilliant smile. I'd like to see it more often. Come on, guys. The club is this way."

They spent their time dancing, laughing, and trying to forget the traumas of their pasts. Gia showed off her amazing dancing skills with Nessa for a bit while Troy, the shy wallflower, watched from a safe distance. Finally, Nessa dragged him onto the dance floor herself. After a couple of minutes, he started to loosen up.

Near the end of the night, Troy stunned Nessa by leaning down and kissing her. He tried to break it off quickly, but Nessa pulled him back, taking control. Eventually, he stopped holding back and Nessa realized how much she was enjoying kissing him.

"Finally!" Gia shouted. They stopped kissing to look at her. "What? You guys have had a ton of romantic tension between you since you met. It's about time you do something about it! Carry on!" She waved at them before walking away with a huge smile on her face.

"Sorry about her," Troy said awkwardly.

"Gia's great. Don't worry about it," Nessa said with a laugh. "Besides, she's right." She kissed him again.

"Nessa... I don't know what will happen if we keep this up... I mean, you know I have to leave soon-"

"It's a kiss, Troy, not a marriage proposal," Nessa teased him. "Besides... I think I want to go to Earth with you all."

"What?"

"I literally lost everything, Troy. There is nothing left for me on Eltar, and the stigma of being a traitor's daughter is going to be impossible to escape. Earth has Mena... And you... And it's a place where I might be able to get a fresh start and live a relatively normal life."

Troy took her hand in his. Nessa wasn't even sure he realized he'd done it. "I get it," he said. He looked into her eyes. "And I'd really like to have you there with me," he added shyly.

Nessa was happy he had agreed, but she'd have done it either way. She meant what she said. There was no reason for her to remain on Eltar anymore. Moving to Earth might be the only way she'd find happiness again. She might not dwell on her grief, but being surrounded by constant reminders that her family was gone was a bit much for her to handle. This was the right path. She knew that in her heart.

"We're going to have a lot of fun, Troy," she promised him. He smiled at her and she felt better. She could definitely get used to looking at that smile every day. When he turned around to check on Gia, Nessa spanked him. He jumped and blushed. Nessa laughed and repeated, "A lot of fun."

GREG

He sat with Mena, Darcy, and Andie. They were going over everything Greg had found on Eltar and rereading his message. "The book of art..." Mena said. "I am so terribly foolish! Of course!"

"What is it, Mena?" Greg asked.

"Do you have my grandfather's art book?"

Greg grabbed it. "Of course I do. Why?"

"Is it not obvious? This was what the br- Ash figured out! My f... My father... He told me I am related to Zordon. He was his cousin... I assumed they were second or third cousins, but if the Great Wizard had a brother... It makes sense! Zell is my grandfather's brother!"

"She's right," Darcy said softly.

"How do you know?" Greg asked.

"Because I see the name on the art, Greg... Elgan... And..." Darcy was trembling. Suddenly, Greg could see her control slipping away. "He was a good man!" She declared in a voice that was a bit different from her own. "Elgan took a liking to me. He respected the ways in which I used my magic and was in awe of the level of magic I possessed. He was kind to me... We grew very close... It was clear I would marry Zell one day, and Elgan accepted me as family. I even attended Elgan's wedding, and was there the day his son was born. The brothers were close... Their parents died together, in their sleep, when Zell was thirteen and Elgan was seven. Zell described it as tragic but very romantic. He raised Elgan himself after that, and they were extremely loyal to each other. Then, one day, Elgan was just... Gone. The authorities said it was a tragic accident, but... It did not feel right. I became suspicious, and I began looking into things. I realized a high number of people with strong ties to Zell ended up dead, and I began to think something impossible... I wondered if my lover... The man everyone adored and worshiped and trusted unconditionally... Was actually evil."

"Darcy?" Greg asked softly.

She turned to him, her eyes filled with love and sadness. "No, my brother... Not quite," Serafine replied. "I turned to you to help me prove the impossible truth... I knew no one would believe me, but you did. You always did. There was no one else I could trust with my theories. Daphne and Lido were still too young. Besides, Brother... You were always by my side. You were even born exactly one year after me. We shared a bond normally only seen in twins, and you were the only one that I knew would believe me."

Ash overwhelmed Greg. He began to cry. He allowed Serafine to wrap him in her arms. "I am so sorry," he whispered. It was the first thing Ash had said since the day Serafine was killed. "I tried to save you... The paralysis spell was too strong. I could not move. I could not even look away... He made me watch as he..." His voice cracked and the weight of his grief knocked him to his knees.

"Greg!" Mena cried.

"Oh, Ash..." Serafine said sadly, kneeling beside him. "You are not to blame... That monster is. Shhhh now... I love you, Ash. Please do not weep."

Andie sat beside them. She pulled them both into her arms. "I know it's hard, guys," she said, "but try to hold on to the present. Darcy, Greg... You have to be the ones in control. And I'm a hypocrite because I have not one, but two past lives who take control away from me, but that's why I know how important it is to hold on to your current selves. Please... Just try to breathe through this and remember who we've all become."

Greg felt his body calming down as Ash backed off a bit. "Thanks, Andie," he said softly.

"Darcy... Are you... You?" Mena asked.

"Not quite, Mena of Eltar, Daughter of Rey, Granddaughter of Elgan," Serafine replied. "This involves you as well, so please stay."

"Does the Great Wizard know about me?" Mena asked nervously.

"He has known about you since before you existed. He is truly that powerful... But the story you know is only half of the truth. You deserve to know why your grandfather was murdered by his own brother."

Mena was obviously hooked. Greg was, too, and Andie was paying careful attention to Serafine's words.

"Tell us, Sera," Andie said softly. "Please."

Serafine looked at her with adoration and deep sorrow in her eyes. "Certainly, Little Sister," she said fondly. "The true Prophecy of the Brothers was hidden... Zell only shared half of it with the universe. Ash and I discovered the full prophecy."

Greg nodded. "I found it in the sketchbook," he said. "I just didn't know what it meant." He pulled it out and began to read it aloud. "Two brothers... One light, one dark... Neither what they appear. One shall bring about the other's demise. Divided, one shall fall and seal the fate of the other. When the cosmos are right, the cycle shall repeat. Two brothers... One light, one dark... Neither what is expected. United, they shall be undefeatable. Divided, neither shall survive."

"The second part was the only part any of us ever learned," Mena said. "This changes things... What does it mean? What could the Great Wizard and my grandfather have done if they worked together?"

"Anything," Serafine replied. "But Zell desired to be the strongest being in the universe. He would do anything to accomplish this... Including murdering his little brother, the boy he himself had raised, just so he could control all of the power and not have anyone to balance and potentially stop him. He thought he could keep the power for himself if he was the only one alive to possess it. However, even the so-called Great Zell was not powerful enough for that. The universe could never allow him to control it all, so while he did get stronger, he could never access the full power. Part of it remains locked away. It is meant to be wielded by two people... And now, the powers have appeared in a second set of brothers. They shall be unstoppable no matter which side they fight on, so long as they are together. The darker brother can be tempted to turn evil, but the one who possesses the light cannot be corrupted. If they have each other, they will choose to use the powers for Good in the end... However, if Zell learns of their fate, he will most certainly try to eliminate them. The best outcome would be for Zell to use the brothers to finally control the powers himself by controlling them. If he cannot do that, he will destroy them, just as he destroyed his own brother. Your friend is not safe. He must be protected... Please protect him. My current self is rather fond of the boy, and she has far better taste in men than I do." Serafine suddenly vanished. Darcy slumped forward. Andie steadied her.

"Are you okay?" Andie asked.

"I think so," Darcy replied, but she didn't look so sure.

Greg touched her arm gently. "We have to talk to Pierce," he said.

Darcy nodded. "I know. Let's head back and talk to him and Logan."

Mena trembled slightly at the mention of Logan. "He's not Neptune anymore," Greg reminded her gently. "The Rebellion brainwashed him and programmed him to do what he did. He feels horrible about it."

"I know," Mena said. "But he still murdered my father... And he was one of the most infamous assassins the Rebellion had. I can't bring myself to trust him yet."

"Trust has to be earned... Just don't be scared, okay? I won't let anyone hurt you, no matter who they are."

Mena smiled at him. "You are a kind boy, Greg. You shall never know what your existence means to me. I am very glad we met."

"Because I sneezed?" He joked.

"Exactly." She kissed his cheek. "Go home. Warn the brothers. And please... Please be safe."

"We will be. I'll see you soon."

They left together. Greg had figured out that if he held someone's hand, he could teleport them with him, so he held Andie and Darcy's hands as he focused on going home.

"She likes you," Darcy said as they arrived safely.

"Of course she does," Greg said. "We became close friends on Eltar."

"You're so adorably clueless about girls, Greg." Darcy grinned at him. "Mena's crushing on you. Hard."

"What?" Greg cried in surprise. He felt his cheeks burning. "No way... Mena's great. Why would she like someone like me? Girls don't like guys like me."

"You're a nice guy, Greg," Andie said. "Maybe Mena's just smart enough to see how lucky she'd be to have you."

"You guys are nuts..."

"You like her, too," Darcy realized. "You should tell her, Greg. Life's too short."

"She just lost her father. She doesn't need me to complicate our friendship by admitting that I like her."

Andie smiled. "So we're right then," she said. "Trust me, Greg... It's better to be honest. I nearly lost Ivan... Again... Before I could tell him how I felt about him. There is no time like the present."

Greg had no idea how to tell a girl he liked her. He'd never even had a crush before, and what he felt for Mena was stronger than some passing attraction. He didn't really understand things like romance. "We have more important things to worry about," he insisted. He was embarrassed to be the focus of this conversation. Thankfully, the girls let it go. They had to focus on Pierce and Logan and warn them before it was too late.

RAFFITTY

He was nervous. "Raffitty, something must be done," Garron said firmly. "Neptune has been reunited with his brother, the Green Ranger. Allie and Vancello both refuse to come home. And now, Insu has gone missing!"

"I have worse news," Felina said. "It would appear that Lido has defected to the other side."

"What? Impossible!" Raffitty said. "Lido cannot defect... He was turned!"

"I am still connected to Zell, Raff. He's furious because someone broke his connection to Lido... The meddling Mystic, no doubt. Regardless, Lido has left us."

Raffitty wanted to argue, but he could feel the truth in her words. His very first recruit had abandoned them. The teenagers had gone on strike. The prophecy he'd tried to stop by taking Neptune was happening anyway... And now, Insu, his most powerful weapon, his adopted child, was missing. Everything was falling apart.

"What should we do?" Raffitty asked Garron.

Garron smiled. "I have an idea," he said.

Raffitty knew that look. He nodded. "Let's hear it."

"The Rangers are mere children, and children need their parents. If we threaten those they love, they will surrender to us willingly."

Felina rolled her eyes. "Please tell me you are not borrowing the failed schemes of the likes of Lord Zedd," she said. "Either he or his wife tried that on the original Rangers, and it failed miserably."

"My plan is not to kidnap their parents, Felina," Garron said. "I intend to slaughter them in front of their children if the Rangers resist."

Felina nodded with approval. "I do love a good slaughter."

"Now, logistics... The Red and Pink Rangers are sisters, correct? Two for one!"

"Pink is just their foster child," Felina clarified. "Her own parents are both dead... The father recently, as you know. I do believe she is quite fond of Red's parents, however."

"Excellent. Felina, you and I will handle them. I want to bring the team leader down myself, and I have noticed your dislike of the Pink one. Raffitty, you and Tegus can go after the Black Ranger's family."

"It is only his father," Tegus said as he joined them. "The boy's mother killed herself when he was barely a toddler. You'll have no luck with the others. Yellow doesn't seem to be especially close with her parents. Green's father is facing charges of abuse and his mother has been deemed negligent. He currently lives with the team's mentor, her boyfriend, and the Knight. He also seems to spend a lot of time with the old Mystic. As for the Blue Ranger... Well, if Lido's report was correct, he is protected by Lady Eleanor and Sir Matthew of Eltar. We cannot touch them. It would be suicide."

"If we get Red, the others will come. We'll get to as many of them as we can, but the rest will come to us," Garron said confidently.

Raffitty nodded. It was a fairly solid plan. "Alright," he said. "Let us begin."

TEGUS

He was not thrilled with this plan. It was risky. The attack on Eltar had been bad enough, and his son was refusing to speak to him because of it. What if this went wrong, too?

Still, as they arrived at the home of the Black Ranger, he forced himself to move forward. It was not his place to question Raffitty's strategy. They rang the doorbell, a bold move.

The man who answered the door greeted them pleasantly enough. "Is there something I can do for you gentlemen?" He asked.

"We need to speak with you about something very important, Sir," Tegus replied.

The man looked them over curiously before saying, "I've already found God, but have a wonderful day."

He was about to close the door when Raffitty shoved his foot in the way. "We are not here to convert you," he said harshly.

"Oh, I'm sorry! With your friend's suit, I assumed you were Jehovah's Witnesses. So, what is this about?"

"Your son."

The man stiffened. He seemed to sense there was something off about Raffitty and Tegus. "What's going on?" He asked, his pleasant attitude gone.

"We need to speak with him," Tegus said. "Is he home?"

"No, I'm afraid he's not."

"Pity," Raffitty said. "Would you please deliver a message to him?"

"That depends on the message."

"Of course. Tell him..." Raffitty punched the man in the gut, causing him to double over in pain. "That the Rebellion is looking for him."

"What do you want with my son?" The man demanded as Raffitty began attacking him more aggressively.

"Your son is a Power Ranger. Didn't you know?" Raffitty laughed as he continued to attack the stunned man.

"Raff, slow down. He's human" Tegus said. "He can only take so much."

"Who cares? Killing him delivers the same message. Give me a blade, Tegus."

Tegus reluctantly did as he'd been ordered. He watched Raffitty slice up the man. "Tell us where your boy is," Raffitty demanded.

"Never," the man said.

"Give him up and I shall spare your life."

"There is no way in hell I'm letting you hurt my son!" The man was severely wounded but still fighting. Tegus understood. A good father would do anything to protect his son.

I have to make things up to Vancello, he thought. He loved his son. He was all he had left in the Universe... But the Rebellion was starting to come between them. He couldn't lose Vancello. He had to find a middle ground between loyalty to the Rebellion and loyalty to his son.

"Shut up!" Raffitty spat at the man. He slapped him across the face. "You are lying! You will sell him out to save yourself! If it's a choice-"

"I will always choose my son," the man said firmly.

Raffitty became irrationally enraged by this. He put the blade to the man's throat. "Family is a lie! You do not love him more than you love your own life!" He insisted.

"Raff-" Tegus began.

"He's pathetic! I know he will give in and betray the boy in the end!"

"Raffitty, this man is not your father," Tegus said urgently. "Do not confuse the two."

Raffitty shook his head. "If he will not cooperate, he is of more value to us dead than alive," he said. Before Tegus could stop him, he slit the man's throat. Then he tossed him aside as he began to bleed out slowly. The wound wasn't deep enough to kill him outright, but he wouldn't last long. Raffitty grabbed Tegus by the arm and dragged him away, leaving the man to die alone.

SCOTT

He was in Van's car when he arrived home. The front door was open. Scott stood, but Van grabbed his arm. "Something's wrong," he said. "Let me go first. I feel Raffitty here... And my father."

"Then you shouldn't go first. They'll flip if they catch you with me," Scott said. "Stay here. I'll be okay." He pulled out his Stone, just in case. Then, he headed toward the house. What he saw made him freeze. There was a trail of blood leading inside.

"Dad!" Scott shouted, running into the house. "Dad, where are-?" He froze when he saw his father lying in a pool of blood in the hallway. He wasn't moving. "Dad! Dad, oh my God... Dad, please... Please don't be..."

Van came running inside at the sound of Scott's screams. "What's wrong?" He asked. Then, he saw the reason for Scott's panic.

Scott knelt before his father. He fought back tears as he desperately checked for a pulse. "Please..." He whispered. "Please, Dad..."

"Scott... He's breathing," Van said with obvious relief. "Barely, but he is. Let me try to help."

"We need an ambulance!"

"There's no time for that." Van placed his hands over Scott's father.

"Van, you said your primary talent isn't healing-"

"It's not... But we're out of time, Scott. You already lost your mom. I won't let you lose your father, too." Van took a deep breath. "Come ground me. Don't let go of my hand."

Scott took Van's left hand while Van used the right one to try to save his father's life. Slowly, the bleeding stopped and his wounds began to heal. After several tense minutes, his father was left with bruises and a couple of minor cuts, but the potentially fatal wounds had vanished.

"He's going to be fine," Van said weakly.

"Thank you..." Scott whispered. He kissed Van quickly before looking back at his father. Then, he heard a thud.

"Van!" Scott cried, seeing that his boyfriend had fainted. He carefully moved Van to the couch, hoping he would be alright. He'd seen Andie faint from using too much of her healing magic and she was usually fine after she got some rest. Hopefully, the same would be true for Van.

His father groaned and began sitting up. Scott rushed to his side. "Dad! Oh God... Oh my God..." Scott said. He took several deep breaths as tears finally started to fall from his eyes. "Take it slow," he said to his father as he tried to calm down. "You're okay, Dad... You're safe now... I love you..."

His father gently pat him on the back. "I'm okay," he said weakly. "Calm down, Scott. Everything's okay."

"This is my fault," Scott said. "The people who did this to you were after me because... Because..." Scott struggled to think up a logical explanation to give his father that wouldn't out his secret identity.

"Because you are a Power Ranger," his father finished for him.

Scott stared at him in shock. "Dad... I can explain."

"They told me," his father said.

"I'm so sorry, Dad-"

"Don't you dare apologize. Power Rangers protect this world from things most of us can't even imagine. I am proud of you, Scott."

"But they tried to kill you because of me! There's no other reason they would have."

"They tried to kill me because they are evil, Scott. This was their choice. You didn't cause it."

"I... I thought I lost you..."

His father offered up a weak smile. "I'm tougher than I look." He paused. "I am curious, though... How am I partially healed?"

"Van. He's got powers, Dad."

"Is he a Ranger, too?"

"No... Van is half-Eltarian... The ones who attacked you are Rebels from Eltar. Van's not like them, but his dad... He sensed his dad here. I'm so sorry, Dad..."

"Stop. I'm okay, Scott. The only thing that matters is that you are, too. Where is Van now? I'd like to thank him."

"Van's a little unconscious at the moment. Healing you took a lot out of him. He usually sticks to healing smaller wounds than what you had."

His father nodded. "I need to shower... I don't like being covered in my blood. Keep the front door locked, and when I'm done, you can tell me everything... The whole truth... You can help me make dinner, too. Van is staying. Hopefully he'll be awake by then. We'll get this all sorted out. Okay?"

Scott nodded, but before his father could walk away from him, he flung his arms around him. "I love you, Dad," he whispered.

"I love you, too," his father replied. He indulged Scott with the hug for a minute before finally going upstairs.

Scott sat down beside Van and pulled out his cell phone, holding it with one hand and holding Van's hand with the other. "Darcy, it's me," he said as she picked up. "Our parents are in danger. Raffitty and Van's dad attacked my father... If Van hadn't healed him, he'd be... He'd... I'd be an orphan," he finally got out.

"Holy shit..." Darcy replied. "Is he alright? Are you?"

"He's okay now... Van's out cold, though. And as for me? No, I'm absolutely not okay, but my dad is, so I'll deal. Are you home? Are your parents with you?"

"I'm home," Darcy confirmed. "They're here. Everything's fine, but I'll keep an eye out. I'll call Pierce, Chelsea, and Greg and warn them, too. Andie should be back here soon. Be careful. Stay with Van and take care of him and your dad. I'll let Vida know what's going on and we'll take it from there."

Scott nodded. "Okay. Be safe, Darce."

"You, too."

They hung up. Scott looked at Van and whispered, "Everything's going to be okay." He kissed his forehead and tried to believe his own words.

ANDIE

Ivan held Andie in his arms a final time as they reached her home. That's what this place truly was now, her home. No one was threatening to rip her away from it anymore.

Andie offered Ivan a shy, chaste kiss before saying, "Go on. Karen and Kyle will worry if they see me kissing some guy on the front porch."

Ivan nodded. "Indeed, M'Lady. Be well. I love you," he said. He bowed to her.

Andie laughed at how over-the-top Ivan always was. "I love you, too," she said softly. "Now get going."

Ivan left and Andie and she walked into the house. That was when she sensed that something was off...

"Darcy?" She called. There was no answer. "Karen? Kyle? Where is everyone?" She walked deeper into the house and found all three of them asleep in the kitchen, passed out on the table.

"What the hell...?" She wondered aloud. Andie walked closer. That was when she felt the magic. "Felina..." She whispered.

Felina showed herself with a laugh. A man was with her. Andie recognized him as the leader of the second group that had come to town, the one with the twins who enjoyed blowing things up. He had a knife pressed against Karen's throat.

"No!" Andie cried. "Don't hurt her! Please... Don't hurt any of them."

"Garron's actions depend on yours, Daphne," Felina said harshly.

"What do you want?" Andie demanded.

"Turn yourself over to us and we shall let the mortals live. We require only you and the Red Ranger."

"No. You can have me if it keeps them safe, but you're not taking Darcy. She stays safe or the deal is off."

Garron pressed the blade a bit harder and drew a little blood. "You misunderstand who has the power here," he said with a cruel laugh.

Darcy, wake up... God, please wake up... I need you, Andie thought desperately. Then, another thought occurred to her. Sera! Serafine, there is no way Felina's magic is stronger than yours! Wake, Sister... Please...

Darcy began to stir. Felina and Garron did not notice. Andie was not sure what to do, so she stalled. "I will go with you," she promised. "Just please let Karen and Kyle go. They're innocent. They don't know anything about this."

Andie saw Darcy nod at her slightly. Andie put some distance between herself and the Rebels, understanding somehow what Darcy had planned. Suddenly, Garron's leg was on fire. He let out a startled cry and dropped the knife, trying to put himself out.

"Fool..." Felina mumbled. She used her own magic to practically drown him in water until the flames went out.

Garron cleared his throat and shook off the extra water. "Thank you, my dear," he said.

Darcy and Andie were ready to fight. The girls morphed, hoping to gain an advantage. At first, the fight was going well, with Andie taking on Felina and Darcy fighting Garron. Then, Raffitty and Tegus arrived. They needed backup and they didn't have it.

Darcy added Raffitty to her target list. Her fighting background helped her keep pace with the two chapter leaders. Andie focused on Tegus as Felina metaphorically licked her wounds. Then, things went horribly wrong.

"Mom!" Darcy shrieked as Felina slashed Karen's chest open. The wound was deep. Karen would die quickly.

Felina then stabbed Kyle repeatedly. "No!" Andie screamed. She kicked Tegus in the groin and ran toward Darcy's parents... The only decent parents Andie had ever known.

"Stop!" She shouted at Felina, who was still stabbing Kyle. "Stop. I'll go with you, I swear... But only if you let me heal them."

Felina grinned wickedly. "Andie, no!" Darcy cried. "You can't."

"I can't let them die after everything they've done for me!" Andie argued. "I won't let you lose them, Darcy. They're out of time. There's no other way." She knelt beside them, already beginning to heal their wounds.

"I'm coming with you," Darcy said firmly. "You're sacrificing yourself to save my family, but you're my family, too. Where you go, I go. We're in this together, Sis."

Andie knew there was no arguing with her. They were out of options, but whatever happened, Karen and Kyle would survive. That was all that mattered. The sisters would have to find a way out of this situation later.

It took a lot out of Andie to heal two fatally wounded people, but she stayed conscious. As Karen and Kyle began to slowly stir, Andie took Darcy's hand. "Let's go," she said.

Garron led the way, clearly delighted by the success of their plan. Andie looked at Darcy, whose eyes seemed to say, Don't worry. We'll figure it out. She hoped that was true.

GREG

He knew in his very soul that something was extremely wrong. Greg tried to call Darcy, first, then Andie. When neither one answered, he rushed to their house. He found obvious signs of a struggle. There was blood everywhere. Darcy's parents appeared to be in some sort of daze. They were uninjured, but very confused.

Greg looked at them. "There was a robbery," he said. "Darcy and Andie chased off the thieves, but are fine. They're with the police. You are not worried."

He was stunned when they nodded. "Go get some rest. Everything will be fine when you wake up," Greg told them. Darcy's parents obediently went to bed, and Greg immediately called Chelsea.

"Get to Scott's house," Chelsea said. "I'll be there in two minutes... Maybe less."

They met up at Scott's. Mr. Wu insisted they eat while they planned things out. Apparently, he now knew the whole truth, and he was being remarkably calm about things. Van woke up as the food finished cooking.

"Where's Pierce?" Scott asked.

"On the Reservation with his brother, in a sacred space. No cell phones," Chelsea said. "I left him a voicemail."

"We have to go after them," Greg insisted. "I know where they are... I... Ash can feel his sisters."

"You'll be walking into a trap," Van said.

"My best friend and her sister are missing, Van," Scott said. "I have to go after them. Besides, these bastards tried to kill the only parent I've got. They have to be stopped."

"I never said not to go," Van clarified. "You guys wouldn't be heroes if you sat back and did nothing... Just be careful. And I'm going with you."

"Van, you can't! If your cover is blown-"

"So be it. They have to be stopped, and I know them better than anyone."

Chelsea nodded. "He's right. We need his help," she said.

"Dad... We have to go," Scott said awkwardly.

"I know, Scott," Mr. Wu said. "Go save your friends so you can save the world... Just be safe. I love you." His father hugged him.

"I love you, too, Dad," Scott replied.

"Let's go," Greg said. He knew they had very little time left.

FREDDY

He had just been minding his own business when a freak in a costume kidnapped him. Freddy didn't know what was going on at first, until the freak told him, "You turned her against us. You're going to suffer for it."

"You're Raff," Freddy guessed.

"Allie was loyal. She never questioned me until she met you," Raff said coldly.

"I know what you did to her, you bastard," Freddy replied. "You drove her away." He wanted to kill this guy, but he knew it was a bad idea. Freddy was strong, but Raff was apparently an alien, and Freddy was no Power Ranger. Realistically, attacking the guy would only get him killed. It was still tempting. The bastard had hurt Allie. He deserved to pay for that.

The sound of familiar voices nearby stopped him. "When I find these fuckers, I'm going to beat their asses New York Style," someone said.

Chelsea, Freddy registered. He could hear Scott and Van, too, talking to that nerdy kid... Greg, he was pretty sure. Maybe he'd be saved after all.

Raff shoved Freddy into a cell, slamming the door shut. "Excuse me for a moment, won't you?" The creep asked politely before vanishing.

"Asshole..." Freddy mumbled as he waited to see what would happen next.

RAFFITTY

He was pleased the Rangers had walked right into the trap. "Use the spell to knock them out," Raffitty whispered to Felina. She did as he asked. He watched them collapse before walking toward them to collect everyone. He spotted Blue and said, "Take that one to the house the girls are in. Let's see how powerful these former siblings are." Felina nodded, lifting the boy easily.

Yellow and Black were next to each other. Black was holding someone's hand. Raffitty frowned and flipped the mysterious person over. Then, he gasped. "Traitor! He must pay for this!" He declared, grabbing Vancello by the throat. "Garron, take those two to the dungeon. Lock them away with my new pet, in their own cells. I must handle this one myself." He dragged Vancello away to his favorite interrogation chamber.

CHELSEA

She awoke confused. Taking in her surroundings, Chelsea realized she was in a prison cell of some sort. She saw Scott, still unconscious, in the next cell. "Scott... Scott, wake up!" She called. "Come on, Emo Boy. There's a hot guy walking by," she teased him.

"Van..." Scott groaned.

Chelsea looked for him and found Freddy instead. "Freddy?" She asked.

"Hey," Freddy offered in response.

"Alright then... Have you seen Van or Greg? They were with us, and then we were unconscious." She didn't bother asking how Freddy had ended up there. It didn't matter. No matter what, his life was now in danger, too.

"No... But I heard that guy Raff say he was going to handle Van."

"Oh God..." Scott said. "We have to get out of here! Raffitty's going to kill him!" The desperation was clear in his voice.

"Panicking won't help, Scott," Chelsea pointed out. "We'll get him back... I promise... But first, we need to get ourselves out of here."

Chelsea began searching for a weakness in her cell. There was none. She started drumming on the bars absentmindedly before fully bursting out the lyrics, "Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage..."

"Seriously?" Freddy asked dryly.

Chelsea shrugged. "Drumming clears my head, and the lyrics seemed pretty fucking fitting given our current situation, so bite me." She continued drumming and screaming along to the lyrics, channeling her frustration at their situation into the song.

"Chelsea, you have super speed... Can't you, like, phase through the bars or something?" Scott asked desperately.

"I'm a Power Ranger, not the fucking Flash, Idiot," she said, although that would have been pretty damn cool.

"Allie." Freddy said out of nowhere.

"What about her?" Chelsea asked. "Come on, Big Guy. Give us more words."

"We need Allie to get us out."

"Allie's out of town and unreachable."

"Allie is a tulpa. If we all believe she's here... Won't she just sort of... Appear?"

Chelsea was shocked no one else had thought of that. "Freddy, you're brilliant!" She said. "It will take all of us. Are you in, Sir Emo?"

Scott took a deep breath. "We have to do something... I'm in," he said with determination.

"Okay... So let's all focus on our girl and picture her appearing in the middle of the room. If we start there, we can figure out the rest," Chelsea said.

They focused. Chelsea forced herself to believe the plan would work because it was the only one they had. After nearly three minutes, Allie appeared in the room. "Guys? What's going on? Why are you all in cells?" Allie asked.

"The Rebellion has Van!" Scott cried out.

"What? Oh my God..."

"And, you know, us, Darcy, Andie, Greg... Pretty much everyone but Pierce," Chelsea added.

"We don't know where they took the others. We came after Darcy and Andie together, with Greg and... And Van. He insisted, even though he knew how dangerous it would be," Scott said.

"Allie... I know you can free us. I believe in you," Freddy said.

"We believe in you, Allie," Scott and Chelsea echoed in unison.

"You've got this, Girl," Chelsea added alone.

Allie was glowing. She smiled. "I appreciate the power boost, but I can do one better... I know where Raff keeps the keys. Sit tight, I'll be right back!" She hurried off.

"They're okay, right?" Scott asked. "They have to be..."

"They better be alive, or I'll kill them," Chelsea said. She meant that, even if it made no sense. She hadn't ever had close friends before, but this group... They'd grown on her when she wasn't looking. She refused to lose any of them.

"I swear to God, I'll make the bastards pay for this," Scott said.

"That's the spirit, Scotty-Boy! Now you sound like a fucking Power Ranger! Time to man up and drop the emo. The world needs saving, and so do our friends."

Allie reappeared triumphantly holding the keys. She released Freddy, then Chelsea, then Scott. "Let's go," she said.

"Allie, it's not safe-" Chelsea began.

"I just saved you guys. Van's family and he's in danger. I'm done hiding. I'm coming with you. They can't hurt me anymore."

Chelsea nodded. "Let's do this then," she agreed.

"Stop!" A frantic voice cried. A portal opened and someone dropped in.

"Ingrid?" Allie asked.

"Allie, you aren't safe here... None of you are," Ingrid said. "Let me have this tulpa open up a portal so we can go somewhere safe."

"I can't do that, Ingrid," Allie said.

"Allie-"

"Raff has Van! He knows about Scott. We can't just leave him behind."

Ingrid's face fell. Slowly, she nodded. "Of course... We'll get him back," she agreed.

Chelsea sensed that Ingrid had made some sort of decision. Whatever it was, she'd accepted her choice, but it left Chelsea nervous. What was going to happen? Could they trust Ingrid, or would she betray them all? There was only one way to find out.

"Move out," Chelsea said. She led the way.

VAN

He was bleeding, bruised, and broken. That didn't matter. "Tell me the weaknesses of the Rangers!" Raffitty demanded.

"No," Van replied again. That was all he'd said since waking up, bound and topless, on his knees and restrained by chains. He coughed up blood as Raffitty beat him again. He couldn't breathe right... Raffitty might have punctured a lung.

"Stop resisting, Traitor! How dare you betray us for that pathetic boy!"

"He's not pathetic!" Van said. "You are." He spat blood onto Raffitty's shoes to emphasize his point.

Raffitty slapped him so hard, his vision blurred. "You're still just a boy," he said. "This was a foolish mistake on your part, but if you cooperate, I will forgive you."

"I won't betray him. I won't betray any of them."

"Why not? What has the boy ever done for you?"

"He loved me. That's more than I can say for any of you."

"You would choose this boy over your own father, Vancello?"

"My father died with my mother. I don't know who that imposter is."

"Tell me how to defeat the Rangers, Vancello. Tell me and live... Or fail me and perish."

"I will never betray them."

Raffitty used the whip to beat him. His back was already raw. Van could feel only pain. He had never been so severely wounded in his life, and Raffitty enjoyed torture. He knew it wouldn't end any time soon.

When he switched from beating him to burning him with cigarettes, Van struggled not to scream, but that was becoming impossible. Raffitty switched between torture methods quickly until Van's mind couldn't take it anymore. He could hear someone howling in agony, but he barely realized he was the one doing it.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he heard his father gently say, "Raff... May I please just have a moment with him?"

"Very well," Raffitty said. "Perhaps you can talk sense into him." He left the room.

Van's father covered his mouth in horror. "Gods... Why, Vancello? Why won't you just do as he asks?" He asked as he took a wet cloth and tried to wipe some of the blood off of Van's face.

"I can't," Van said weakly. His throat hurt from screaming. "I love him... I'm in love with him."

His father stiffened. "Vancello, you're still just a boy. You don't comprehend the consequences of these actions," he said practically.

"You met Mom when you were my age," Van pointed out. Then, he started coughing up more blood.

For the first time in too long, Van saw a glimpse of something in his father's eyes that reminded him of the kindhearted, gentle man he'd been before. "You love this boy..." He said softly, as though trying to process the words.

"I do. He..." Van coughed again. "He makes me happy."

"I see." His father sighed and went back to trying to tend to his wounds. "These injuries are very serious... If left untreated, they could be fatal..." He shook his head. "I know you think otherwise, but I love you, Vancello. I do not wish to see you in this condition... I never believed Raffitty would harm you."

"He's a sociopath. There is no limit to what Raff will do when he feels betrayed or backed into a corner."

"I am truly sorry he hurt you."

Suddenly, a door burst open. Van watched as Scott, Chelsea, and... Was that Freddy? Burst into the room. Chelsea, being the fastest, was also the closest. His father reacted automatically, going for his weapon and aiming it at her.

"Touch her and it will be the last thing you ever do," Scott said firmly, rushing to Chelsea's side.

Allie and Insu walked into the room. "Tegus, stop!" Allie cried, jumping in front of the others. "We're just here to help Van." She looked at Van and tears formed in her eyes. "Oh God... Van..."

As Van's father lowered his weapon, Scott apparently decided Chelsea was safe. He ran to Van's side, kneeling beside him. "Oh my God, Van..." He said as he tried but failed to fight back tears. "It's okay," he promised. "You'll be okay now." He started to unchain him. Freddy silently came over to help. Together, they gently lowered Van's arms to the ground. Doubled-over, he began coughing up more blood.

"He needs a healer," Chelsea said. "Van, didn't anyone ever tell you that your blood belongs inside of your body?" Even through her sarcasm, Van could hear her fear. He must look as horrible as he felt if even the jaded New Yorker Chelsea was horrified.

Insu began whispering. Moments later, a gentle-looking monster in a nurse's uniform was standing next to Van. He wondered if he was hallucinating for a moment.

"Medica, I have named you. Save the boy. Heal his wounds," Insu said firmly. She pronounced the name med-dee-cuh.

The Tulpa began tending to Van's injuries. She had a gentle touch, but Van was trembling as pain continued shooting through his body.

"Tegus, please, we have to get him out of here," Allie said desperately. "Raff won't stop at this."

"I can fix things between them," Van's father said. "If Vancello will simply agree to come home-"

"Tegus..." Insu said gently. "Look at your son. Really look at what Raff has already done to him. You love Vancello as I love my sister, and it took seeing that Raff had hurt her to make me realize I had to take her and leave. This is your moment, Tegus. You have to make a choice."

Van's father sighed. "It is not so simple, Insu."

"I know you are a good man, Tegus. You have always been so kind to me, and to Allie. Your grief motivated your choices and made you an easy target for Raff to manipulate. I realize now that he did the same thing to me. Please come with us. My Tulpas can protect you both."

He shook his head, then looked at Van. Scott was stroking Van's hair soothingly as Medica continued to heal him, and Van watched as his father seemed to understand, finally.

"Attack me," his father said.

"Gladly," Chelsea said dryly. Then, she paused. "Wait, what? Are you serious?"

"Attack me, and make it look good. Then take my son." He looked at Scott directly. "Take my son and keep him safe. Protect him with the strength of all the love in your heart."

"Tegus, no! Come with us," Insu begged.

"I cannot, my dear Insu... I am simply not strong enough to leave this life... But I shall condemn my son to it no longer. Take him and go." He looked at Scott again. "Promise me you'll help him live a good, happy life."

"I promise," Scott said solemnly.

"Dad... Please... Please come with us," Van begged, knowing if he didn't that he might never see his father again.

"I love you, Vancello. With all that I have," his father replied. He kissed his forehead like Van was a little boy again. "Now, one of you, attack me before Raffitty comes back."

"We can't just attack you," Chelsea said. "You're obviously not the big bad asshole we thought you were. My morals are questionable at times, but they do exist."

"I won't have any part in harming you, Tegus," Insu said. "And neither will Allie."

"Black Ranger..." Van's father said.

"Scott," Scott said numbly.

His father smiled. "Scott. Please."

Scott hesitated, clearly not wanting to attack Van's father. To everyone's shock, it was Freddy who moved, knocking him over the head with a heavy wooden board. Van's father fell to the floor unconscious.

Everyone stared at Freddy. He shrugged. "Someone had to," he said simply.

Chelsea smirked and patted him on the back. "Good work, Freddy," she said with a slight laugh. She turned serious as she looked at Scott. "Can Van be moved yet?" She asked.

"I'm not sure," Scott said.

They could hear footsteps. "I'll manage," Van said. "Just let me lean on you and I think I can walk."

Together, they made their way out of the interrogation room. Van tried not to cry as he left his father behind.