Sweet Dreams

Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers in any way, shape or form.

The moon was hanging high in the night sky in Ocean Bluff. Wind blew through the trees softly. All seemed silent and calm. Everywhere—except for Dai Shi's sleeping chamber. He was tossing and turning back and forth in his sleep. He seemed very restless and was sweating greatly. His breathing came in strained breaths. He was having some sort of a nightmare, and it was tormenting him. He grasped his black blankets trimmed in gold tightly in his fists—as if he was trying to fight off what his dreams were producing. But he saw it plain as day. He saw all of the good deeds that Jarrod had done in his life while he was in control. Big things and small things. Whether it was raking the stray leaves in his neighbor's yard, or aiding students that were struggling at Pai Zhuq at the time. He could feel Jarrod struggling to break free from his grip, wanting to be free to complete more good deeds once again, but Dai Shi wasn't about to let that happen. He couldn't. The voices from his once proud past rang loudly in his head. He jerked to try and awaken—but couldn't.

"Step off of this path of evil, Jarrod…"

"Jarrod's good will is an antidote to your poison, and one day Jarrod will cast you out!"

"Jarrod…Jarrod!""Jarrod!!"

The voices grew to a point where they were so loud, that it caused him to jump awake. He cried out in fear as he shot up into a sitting position. He took a quick glance around the cold and empty room. The only sounds that filled the quiet air was his quivering breaths. He felt beads of sweat trickle down his face. He saw when he looked down that his hands were shaking. He paused and ran his fingers through his hair trying to fathom what had just happened. His thoughts were quickly interrupted when he felt a small light hit his face. He shielded his eyes as he watched the door to his room open. Framed in the doorway was Camille. She glanced over at him with concerned eyes.

"Dai Shi? Are you alright?" she asked, walking over to him. She sat at his beside. Dai Shi gave a shaky nod without looking at her. "What is it? Did you have a bad dream?" she asked. Dai Shi then finally looked at her. His eyes were a way she had never seen them before. He looked…frightened.

"More like a nightmare." He answered staring back to his sheets. Camille sighed softly then placed her hand on his gently. For a moment, Dai Shi basked in the softness of her touch, but after a moment, he jerked away quickly and his glance turned cold.

"What're you doing wandering around the temple at this hour Camille?" He asked glaring meanly at her. Camille withdrew her hand and placed it in her lap.

"I was just trying to tie up some loose ends around here before I went to sleep. I wanted to make sure that everything was in order for you. That's when I heard you calling out in your sleep." She explained, hoping that his sweet eyes would return.

It didn't. "Well, cancel whatever it was you were doing." Dai Shi snapped as he scrambled out of bed. He headed for the door, grabbing his black cloak off of a metal hook, draping it around his shoulders. "I need a monster to defeat the rangers for good." He said quickly turning around to face her once more. Camille stood and ran over to his side.

"Do you have anything in particular in mind?" She asked carefully. Dai Shi paused and gave her a menacing look.

"Follow me." He said with an evil grin, leaving the room. Camille followed close behind him. Dai Shi led her to the wing of the temple where all the Rin Shi warriors were held until Dai Shi needed them. He passed cage after cage. The Rin Shi inside practicing their moves for the time Dai Shi would find them useful. Dai Shi walked slowly with his arms behind him. Camille strode beside him. "Tonight my sleep was interrupted by a string of what seemed like endless nightmares…that gave me an idea." Dai Shi explained, still passing the cages. Then came to a sudden stop.

"Being?" Camille asked looking at him with curious eyes. Dai Shi then turned to face her. An evil smile was spread wide across his face.

"We destroy the rangers…using nightmares." He said sounding proud of himself.

"Ooh!" Camille said with an excited swoon. "If we destroy them when they're asleep, they'll be destroyed forever. Very sneaky, Dai Shi." She said excitedly. "But which Rin Shi has the ability to attack the rangers in their dreams?" she asked. Dai Shi then gestured to the cell beside them. When Camille peered inside it, she saw a lone monster sitting on the floor. His whole body was wrapped in a black cloak that was ragged on all the ends. The sleeves were too long to see any signs of hands. The hood covered most of his face. When Dai Shi saw this he grinned happily. Camille on the other hand was the opposite, this Rin Shi gave her an eerie feeling, one that she didn't care for.

"What's his animal spirit?" she asked in a frightened tone.

"No one knows. It's hidden underneath his cloak. He truly is one of the most evil of all the Rin Shi." Dai Shi stated proudly. Camille took a step back.

"W-well what's his name." She stammered.

The question made Dai Shi smile. "DarkMare." Then, as if on cue, DarkMare's head rose slowly. A bright shining green eye glowed from the hood of his cloak. The other was shrouded by long white hair.

"How may I be of use to you, Dai Shi?" DarkMare asked in a low voice. A voice that only emerged as a whisper. Camille's eyes grew wide when she heard the eeriness in his voice. She felt her hands shaking a little. Dai Shi, however didn't seemed the least bit phased, he just leaned casually against the bars of the cell.

"I want you to destroy the rangers in their dreams. Your nightmares should do the trick." Dai Shi said. DarkMare paused for a moment.

"That I can do. Any particular nightmares you want me to inflict on them." DarkMare whispered, tilting his head to the side. Dai Shi thought of his own horrible nightmare. The mere thought of in made his body fill with fear again. He forced himself to shake it off. This gave him his answer.

"Prey on their greatest fears. Don't hold back." Dai Shi said evilly. His nightmares from earlier still left him with a shaken feeling.

"Very well." DarkMare stated pulling a pearl about the size of a bowling ball from deep within his cloak. He placed the pearl in front of him on the floor. It resembled a crystal ball. "All we have to do is wait for them to fall into their slumbers." DarkMare told them.

"Excellent." Dai Shi hissed. Camille glanced over at him. She didn't like this plan and she didn't like the evil it brought out in Dai Shi. She glanced over at the strange pearl wondering what powers it held.