MASTER VILE

He could no longer stand his daughter's incessant screaming. "What is wrong with this child?" He demanded. "She has done nothing but shriek for days!"

"The child cries for her mother," the midwife, who was now the nanny, replied. "She still remembers her."

"Well, make her stop!"

"Babies cry, my Lord. It cannot be helped."

"Very well... I shall age her! Yes, brilliant!" He began the spell to make his daughter older. Before his eyes, Rita grew from a tiny infant into a young girl. His magic gave her basic knowledge any child her age should know including language. He hoped if she could speak, she might stop screaming.

Now seven years old, Rita looked at her father. "Where is Mother?" She asked.

"You have no mother," Master Vile replied.

"Yes I do. Everyone does. I want to be with my mother!" She screamed the last part.

"Curses... She still shrieks..." He mumbled.

"You scare me! I want Mother!"

Master Vile threw up his hands in frustration. "Your mother left us. She does not want you. Let go of her now."

Rita looked hurt. "She does not want me?" She asked softly.

"No, my daughter... But I do. This is your home, Rita. Do not be sad. You will want for nothing." He didn't love her. Love was a concept Master Vile could not comprehend. He did, however, value her as his heir. His legacy would continue through her. That counted for something. He would give her the finest tutors. She would train in magic until she was a true force to be reckoned with. She would rule other worlds one day. For now, however, she was still quite young and would require some level of nurturing. Master Vile would need to learn to be patient with her and hope it paid off in the end.

"Go play now, Daughter. Explore the worlds a bit," he said, putting a necklace around her neck. It had once been Morgana's. It would both protect the girl and make it easier for him to track her and make sure she stayed out of trouble. At least sending her off meant she was out of his hair for a bit.

RITA

The world was terrifying, but in a good way. Rita could hardly believe her eyes! There was so much to see, and it was all brand new to her. She explored the forest her father had sent her to, taking in every tree and unusual creature she crossed paths with. She found a creek and sat beside it, fascinated as she watched the water move.

A stag came to stand beside her. Rita eyed it nervously as it bowed its head and began to lap up water with its tongue. Rita giggled and reached down to touch the water. It felt funny as it rushed through her fingers. She removed her hand and was surprised as a bubble formed and rose from the creek, following her hand. Rita moved it every which way and smiled as the water followed her movements perfectly.

"How wondrous!" She proclaimed. She finally released the water back into the creek. That was when she noticed the cat watching her. "Here, Kitty..." She called. "It's alright... I won't harm you."

The cat came closer. Rita laid down on the grass on her stomach so it wouldn't be as afraid of her. It came up to her face and sniffed her before rubbing its face on hers. Rita giggled as the cat licked her face with its rough tongue.

For the rest of her time there, the cat followed her. She enjoyed having a companion. It made her feel less lonely.

She left the woods, which were thick with trees, to enter a meadow filled with flowers. Rita began to touch the beautiful plants, sniffing them along with her cat. Nature was magical. She really liked this place.

As she walked further, she saw a strange structure. It had an opening in it and it looked dark inside. Her cat refused to enter. "I'm curious," Rita told her. "You can stay if you want to. I'll be back." She kissed her cat on her forehead before wandering into the thing her newly informed mind told her was a cave.

Slowly, Rita crept deeper. This place was dark, but there were so many things to see... Crystals covered some of the walls, and their beauty was what kept Rita walking further into the cave. "How amazing..." She whispered, touching one. She continued to explore until her foot got caught on something. She struggled to free herself until suddenly, she was falling down a deep hole. Rita let out a shriek as she wondered how deep it was and how much it might hurt when she finally landed.

She landed in water, which softened it. She was relieved as she stood up, until she realized she could hear a strange sound. She looked up and saw several waterfalls surrounding her. They were beautiful, but the rising water was another story. Rita's father had not given her the knowledge of how to swim.

Rita let out another shriek as a bat flew by her head. It was followed by several others. They perched nearby, seemingly watching her. She wished they would help her instead of just watch her.

You are going to die, a voice told her. Rita wasn't sure what that meant, but she suspected it was nothing good.

GALAXIA

She was about to head inside when the cat found her. It began meowing frantically. "Shhh, my friend... Calm yourself. What is the matter?" Galaxia asked.

The cat informed her that there was a young child trapped in a nearby cave. "Zordon! I am leaving the farm," she said.

"What for?" Zordon asked as he rushed over.

"This cat's new friend is in danger. A little girl is trapped in a cave."

Zordon looked skeptical. The cat meowed again urgently. "Believe me or don't. I am going either way," Galaxia said. She began to follow the cat.

"Xia!" Zordon called. Reluctantly, he added, "Wait for me."

Together, they raced to rescue the girl. Once they hit the cave, the cat stayed outside. "Hello? Is anyone here?" Galaxia called.

She thought she heard something. "Hello?" She tried again.

"Help!" Someone shrieked. That time, both she and Zordon heard it. They ran toward the sound. They reached the hole, which was rapidly filling with water, just as the child vanished beneath the surface.

"Can you swim?" Galaxia asked Zordon.

He replied by diving into the water to find the child. Galaxia followed suit. She had to come up for air several times, although Zordon resurfaced only twice. The second time, he had a very still form in his arms. Galaxia pulled herself out of the water so he could hand the girl to her before pulling himself out.

"Is she breathing?" Zordon asked.

"No," Galaxia whispered in horror.

Zordon took the child back and began focusing on her. Galaxia watched in surprise as he pulled the water from her lungs. After a minute, the girl began to cough.

The girl stared at Zordon with wide eyes. "You're blue!" She said in wonder.

Zordon laughed. "Right now, so are you," he replied. "Xia, we must get her something warm."

Galaxia easily manifested a coat. That sort of magic was simple for her. She wrapped the girl in it. "There, that's better," she said. "Whatever were you doing in here?"

"I was curious," the girl replied.

"She was curious..." Zordon shook his head. "Where are your parents?"

"Father told me to play. I have no mother." She looked terribly sad suddenly.

"We should bring her home," Galaxia said. "She needs to change into dry clothes."

"You may leave me in the meadow. The sun shall warm me," the girl said.

"I would rather not leave you alone."

"Please... Father will be cross I wandered off."

Galaxia sighed. She supposed the meadow was safe enough, as long as the cat stayed with her. As they brought the girl back out of the cave, she saw that the cat had indeed waited for them.

"Kitty!" The child cried. She pulled the cat up into her arms.

Zordon and Galaxia walked the girl back to a safe spot in the meadow before leaving. "Do you think she will be safe?" Galaxia asked.

"Safer than she was, certainly," Zordon replied. Galaxia supposed that would have to do.

CAIUS

He had left the farm. He knew Zell didn't want them doing that on their own yet, but Caius needed privacy. He found a quiet place and set to work on the task at hand.

The rose in his hand gave him strength as he lit the candle. "Rose..." He whispered. "My beloved, darling Rose..."

He didn't know if she could hear him. He'd seen so many souls when the power had exploded from him, but Rose had not been one of them. He wasn't sure if that meant the Underworld God had destroyed her, or if she just couldn't risk appearing to him. He prayed with all he had that it was the latter.

He closed his eyes and allowed his tears to fall. "It should have been me, my love. It was my time to go... Not yours..." He looked to the sky and cried, "Why? Why did you choose this? Why did you leave me here to live without you?"

The sky opened up. Rain began falling down, as though the sky wept with him in his grief. Somehow, it did not extinguish the candle. One of the petals of the rose fell off and landed on the ground. Suddenly, a beautiful rose sprang up from the earth.

Caius began to weep harder, knowing that somehow, his love was with him now. "I miss you," he whispered. "With every breath I draw, I wish only to restore yours instead."

It stopped raining. Caius clutched the original rose to his heart. "I love you..." He whispered. "I shall always love you, and only you."

He stayed there until the flame finally extinguished on its own. Only then did he allow himself to stand. Rose had believed he was meant for more. It was time to prove her sacrifice had not been in vain.

ZEDD

He ached everywhere. He'd never been so hungry in his life, and it was more than a physical hunger. He needed to feed his incubus side or he would die.

His father was pleased with himself. He could hear him standing outside of the room, mocking him. Sometimes, he'd come in and beat him, just to add to his pain. Zedd was too weak to defend himself, but that didn't stop him from sarcastically thanking his father for his kindness.

It'll be over soon, he told himself. Either he'll release you or you'll die... Either way, it will end.

The only comfort he had was thinking about Galaxia. He'd never been so smitten with a girl before. There was something about her that called to him in ways no one had before.

I'm in love, he realized. I barely know the girl, but I'm in love with her... Oh, what a fool I am! Galaxia was pure of heart. She was all that was good in the worlds, while he was a pathetic incubus who didn't have the courage to leave his family so he could finally be free.

The door to the room opened. Zedd waited for his father to attack him again, but instead, he dragged him out of it. "Have you learned your lesson?" He demanded.

"Yes," Zedd replied. "I learned that drawing on the walls in my own blood helps pass the time quite nicely."

His father looked furious. "Insolent boy! I shall teach you! You shall never defy me again!" With that, his father attacked. His claws slashed at Zedd's face. It wasn't enough for him this time. He pulled something out.

"What is that?" Zedd demanded.

"A chemical that will make this lesson stick, Boy!" His father said. He poured the substance over Zedd's face. Zedd screamed in agony as it burned his flesh. His father kept going, beating him with his favorite weapon, leaving welts and bruises all over his body while Zedd was too injured to even attempt to fight back. The pain in his face was too much to process. He lay whimpering on the floor long after his father stopped beating him. He was barely alive, and he wasn't sure he could survive.

You must leave, he told himself. You can stay here no longer... You will not survive.

Zedd pulled himself up off the floor somehow. He was bleeding from too many places to count. He forced himself to keep moving even though the pain was excruciating. Somehow, he found the strength to teleport out of there, but he could think of only one place to go.

He landed on the farm and fell onto the grass, unable to balance himself. He was trembling and began sobbing, unable to stop himself. Even crying hurt, as his tears ran over the open wounds on the left side of his face.

He sensed Galaxia nearby. With the last bit of energy he had, he cast a glamour on himself so she wouldn't see his wounds. He stood, trying to be strong. Suddenly, he heard her voice. "Zedd?" She asked happily. As his legs gave out and he fell to his knees, she ran to him. "Zedd! Zedd, are you alright? What happened to you?"

She knelt beside him. He looked at her and tried to smile, but his power failed him, and he felt his glamour drop. Galaxia covered her mouth in horror. "My God... What did he do to you?" She asked. She reached out to touch his face.

Zedd pulled back. "Don't," he whispered. He was crying again. "Don't... I'm a monster."

"You're no monster," she told him. She touched his face gently, careful not to put pressure on the wounds. "Let me help you."

"I cannot heal this... He used some chemical... It will scar. My magic will not heal it."

"Your other wounds-"

"Leave them. He made his point. I knew I would be punished. I brought this on myself."

"Zedd... You do not deserve such cruelty."

"I am meant to be evil. Now I look it."

She touched his cheek, running her thumb over his wounds and closing them. She could not heal them either, but he stopped bleeding. It was an improvement. "You could not be evil if you tried... And you are still beautiful," she told him.

"How can you say that?"

"Because it is true." She kissed him, and he couldn't help but feed. He was too weak. He should have died. Only stubbornness had kept him alive for that long. She allowed it, giving him her magic instead of her life. It took a while, but eventually, he felt stronger.

"I wish I could stay..." He whispered. "I cannot go home... Not now. He will see me dead."

"Then stay."

"Xia, I cannot. I do not belong here. I can feel this is a place of great power, but it is not meant for me."

"So be our stable boy." She grinned at him. "The horses like you now."

"I do not believe the one who owns this land will like that." Zedd knew who Zell was. Everyone in the greater universe did.

"It does not matter... You cannot go home, Zedd. You have nowhere else to go. I shall find a way to convince him to allow it."

Zedd kissed her. He was mildly surprised she didn't flinch. It wasn't an act. She really wasn't horrified by him. He whispered the words he was too afraid to say. "I fear I may love you, Xia..."

"As I love you, Zedd," she replied, stunning him. He had assumed his feelings were one-sided.

He had too many emotions inside of him. He'd held things in for so long. His father's abuse had been constant for as long as he could remember. Now, finally, someone knew the truth and actually cared. His tears refused to stop.

Galaxia held him. "Shhhh..." She whispered. "Go on. Get it out, Zedd. You never have to return to that evil man. You shall stay here, with me, and that is that."

He hoped that somehow, Galaxia would be able to convince Zell to let him stay. She was certainly a difficult girl to say no to.

ZELL
He did not expect Galaxia to come barging into his workspace. Neither did Alpha, who let out a startled cry. "Oh! Galaxia. It is you," Alpha said with relief.

"Have we met?" Galaxia asked him.

"Not in person. I am Alpha, loyal assistant to Zell."

"Oh. Well, then, it is a pleasure to meet you, Alpha. Zell, may we speak?"

"Certainly, Galaxia. What may I do for you?" Zell asked.

"Say there was someone who really needed help... Might you consider extending him an invitation to stay here?"

"Of course not! This place is a secret for a reason, Galaxia. We must guard the team until you are ready."

"Well, see, he sort of already knew about the farm. His father is sort of evil, and sent him here, but he did not wish to harm me..."

"There is an intruder here and you did not tell me?"

"He is not an intruder. He's simply a boy, Zell... A boy who needs our help."

"Bring him here immediately, Galaxia."

She left and returned moments later. Zell looked at the boy. "Incubus," he said harshly. "Tell me your business here."

"His name is Zedd, actually, not incubus," Galaxia said just as harshly.

"I mean no harm, Great Zell," Zedd said respectfully. He bowed his head.

"Zedd, you say?" Zell asked with sudden interest. "Son of the mighty-"

"Yes, my father is the evil mastermind you are thinking of. I assure you, I am nothing like him."

Zell had not expected the boy to come to him so soon, but he had known their paths would eventually cross. "What are you hiding beneath your glamour?" Zell asked suspiciously.

Zedd sighed before dropping it. Zell was startled by his appearance. This boy was as emotionally scarred as any of the others there, and he had the physical scars to go along with that. "Did your father do that to you?" Zell asked gently.

"Yes, Sir..." Zedd replied, not looking at him.

"My boy..." He shook his head. "Welcome to our home. You may stay as long as you need, so long as you protect our secret."

Zedd looked startled. He also looked like he might cry, but he managed not to. "Thank you, Great Zell... Your kindness can never be repaid, but I shall try."

"You will be expected to help out on the land... Do you have any skills for a farm?"

"I have learned to ride a horse... Perhaps I can care for them as well."

"That will do. Go on now."

"I told you he would let you stay," Galaxia said cheerfully. "Come, Zedd. I shall find you a room." She practically dragged the boy away.

"That was very kind of you, Zell," Alpha said. "The boy needed our help."

"Indeed he did," Zell agreed. "He shall be safe here, Alpha. That is what matters." He didn't add that he had greater plans for Zedd. All would be revealed in time.

ZORDON

Training his charges was proving to be difficult. None of them knew what the hell they were doing in a real battle except for Dimitri. It seemed Dimitri's fatal flaw was he tried too hard, but Zordon suspected this was because he was the only one who understood the true weight of what they were facing.

"So, who are our enemies, anyway?" Raven asked. "Who is it we train to fight?"

"Father has only told me a great evil is coming, and you are destined to destroy it. Before it shows itself, however, you will likely face many lesser evils..." He hesitated. "It is even possible you shall eventually have to face Master Vile."

Morgana stiffened. "I cannot," she said.

"Be calm, Morgana," Zordon said. "You shall not face him any time soon, and when you do, you shall be ready, and you shall not be alone."

"Please... Anyone except him."

"I shall protect you, Morgana," Dimitri promised. "He shall never see you."

"Father did not want me to tell you that. He thought it would frighten you... But you have a right to know, to prepare. How can he expect you to fight if you are unprepared?" Zordon asked. "Morgana, you have my word, I will not allow him near you." He felt for the girl. She was so terrified, and it was clear Master Vile had put her through a special form of hell.

"You do not like your father much, do you, Zordon?" Galaxia asked.

"Of course I do. He is my father. I love him, and I am loyal to him... However, I do not always agree with his decisions. I fear he is a bit out of touch with things of an emotional nature."

"Why is he in that tube?" Quintus asked.

"Father is too powerful to exist fully in this time. He exists outside of the bounds of time and space, and the energy tube allows him to stay in one place. He can exit it periodically, but only for short spans of time."

"So you don't get to see him in his body?" Raven asked.

"It is rare. Father left the tube to ensure my mother conceived me. He stayed with her for a time, until he no longer could, but he came back frequently until..." Zordon looked away.

"Until what?" Galaxia asked.

"Until my mother perished."

"I am sorry... How did she die?"

"A creature came in the night, cloaked. I never saw his face... He cast a spell upon me so I could not move and I was forced to watch as he slaughtered her. I was six."

"Zordon..." Morgana said in horror.

"It was years ago. I have moved on. Father came and kept himself on Eltar after that. He was in the tube most of the time, but every few weeks, he would take time outside of it and spend genuine time with me." He paused. "Do not feel sorry for me. I have my father. I am fine."

"You were too young to lose your mother," Dimitri said.

"As were you, Dimitri. There is never a good age to lose one's mother." He took a deep breath. "Back to training, everyone! There is no time for this now."

He refused to allow himself to think of it. He still had nightmares about the night he'd lost his mother. He had been helpless, and she had been brutally killed before his eyes when he was too young to understand exactly what was happening. All he'd known was someone was hurting his mother, whom he adored, and that he could not save her. Afterward, when the beast had left, he'd slowly gained the ability to move again. He had crawled to her and tried to wake her. When that had failed, he had simply curled up beside her and wept, crying for her to answer him. A neighbor had discovered him in that very spot, two days later, refusing to leave his mother. That was when his father had been notified, and he had finally come home.

Everything had been as well as it could be for a boy with no mother and a part-time father, but Zordon had managed. He had friends. He had hobbies. He had a life. That was until his father, in his infinite wisdom, had seen that he was needed elsewhere. He'd left Zordon behind for three months, promising to return. When he had, he'd dragged his son to another planet to babysit children who were older than he was. To say this displeased Zordon was an understatement. He loved his father, but that man had some nerve!

"Zordon..." Caius called gently.

"Yes, Caius?" Zordon asked, returning to the present.

"You are here to protect and guide us. I know this... However, should you ever need someone to confide in... I shall gladly listen."

Zordon was surprised. "That is kind of you, but I am fine."

"Your kindness that first day is not forgotten. I will happily repay you for it."

"Thank you, Caius. I am well. Do not worry about me."

Caius nodded, accepting his dismissal. Zordon smiled sadly. Caius was a good soul. That much was clear. As much as Zordon was displeased to be saddled with these charges, he was beginning to see them as more than a burden. Morgana was stronger than she knew and cared deeply for others. Dimitri was an impressive and loyal warrior. Raven's light was so strong it soothed even his pain. Quintus was extremely funny and it was hard to be upset around him. Galaxia was trouble, certainly, but he admired her spirit and enjoyed talking to her. Perhaps these people could be more than simply his responsibility. Perhaps they could be his friends. Zordon really missed having friends. It might not be what his father had intended, but what was the harm in letting them in a bit? He deserved to have people to talk to other than his father and Alpha.

GALAXIA

Since she'd taken the room furthest into the hallway, Galaxia had an empty room beside her. That's where she had set Zedd up. She liked having him so close.

"Thank you, Xia," Zedd said. "For all you have done for me."

"You can repay me," she said mysteriously.

"Certainly. How?"

She pushed him down on his bed and kissed him hard. They were alone with no need to worry about someone discovering them. She took advantage of that and began going further. Galaxia was insanely attracted to him. It wasn't simply that he was a handsome incubus, although he certainly was. Zedd understood her in a way others did not, just as she understood him. She had never connected to someone as quickly or as deeply as she had connected to Zedd.

Always one to go for what she wanted, Galaxia began to go further. Zedd moaned as she touched him. He sighed her name, which only fueled her passion. Soon, their bodies came together and it was the most intense thing she had ever felt. She might hardly know the boy, but nothing had ever felt so right in her life.

Zedd proved to be quite the talented incubus. Galaxia enjoyed herself even more than she'd expected to. When they finally separated, they lay beside each other, sweaty and naked. She looked into his eyes.

"I love you," she said firmly. "Be mine forever?"

He laughed. "Is it not a bit soon for that?" He asked, trying to catch his breath.

"It is. I do not care. Just say it, Zedd. Tell me you feel as I do."

"I do, Xia... I love you. I want to stay with you always." He smiled at her sadly. "This is well worth the price of my father's wrath."

"I am sorry he hurt you." She felt terrible about that. She'd encouraged his behavior knowing his father might harm him.

"I am not. It is you who finally gave me the courage to leave, Xia. You are everything I want, and you are worth suffering a bit of pain."

"It was quite more than a bit, Zedd."

"It no longer matters. We are together."

"That we are." She kissed him again, and things picked up from there. Galaxia couldn't remember the last time she'd been that happy.

RITA

She was playing in the meadow again. She liked it there. It continued to bring her peace. It was quite unexpected when a monster jumped out at her.

"Hello..." Rita said cautiously. "Who are you?"

"I am HammerAx! I have come to destroy you!" The monster replied.

"Destroy me? I do not understand. Why would you destroy me?"

"You are in my path! I destroy all in my path!"

Rita frowned. Then she walked up to the monster, got on her tiptoes, and as he leaned down to get in her face, she kissed his cheek. The monster's eyes went wide, and then he shrank back and giggled shyly. Rita smiled.

"Better?" She asked.

"Awww, what was that for?" HammerAx asked.

"You needed a kiss. Want a hug, too?"

"Okay!"

Rita hugged the monster. He seemed much happier now. That was when her father appeared. He blew the monster up.

"Why did you do that?" Rita asked in horror.

"You were supposed to attack the monster, Rita, not befriend it!" Her father said.

"I did not know that! He did nothing, Father!"

"It was a test. You are quite powerful, my daughter. I was hoping to see a demonstration from you, but instead, you kissed him!"

"It calmed him."

"Rita, my dear girl, you are evil. You must learn to embrace that." He shook his head. "Perhaps I must make you older, so you can understand."

"You wish to age me?"

"Yes. Seven is too young. You are innocent and pure... You must outgrow that." He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her back to his realm, not noticing the cat, who she'd tucked into her bag before he showed up. The cat was her dearest friend, and she was glad she'd been able to sneak her into her home.

The spell he cast made her skin tingle. After a few minutes, Rita began to grow. Her mind was filled with new knowledge that hit her so fast, she could not even figure out what she knew. When she finally stopped growing, she stared at her reflection.

"There! You are thirteen, my daughter. You will begin your magical training immediately, and you will be more powerful than ever," her father said.

Rita continued staring at her reflection once she was alone. She supposed she was pretty, although she could not be certain. Her hair was long and dark and her eyes were still filled with wonder and magic. She looked very different, and no one would recognize her, but barely anyone had met her before anyway.

She looked at her cat. "Do you know who I am?" She asked. The cat meowed in response before rubbing her face against Rita's. Rita smiled. "Good kitty!" She hugged the cat to her chest and decided that as long as her cat still recognized her, everything would be fine.