Nocturne

One: Whispers in the Dark

By Silver Phoenix Ranger

Disclaimer: Power Rangers and all affiliates belong to Saban and Disney. They are being used without permission and no profit is being made from this.

A/N: Nocturne is a three-part series: Whispers in the Dark, Night Falls, and Breaking Dawn (which, btw, is not in any relation to the Twilight Series). Everything before and thru Dino Thunder can be considered cannon (MMPR: The Movie is not cannon, while Turbo: A Power Ranger's Movie is). I haven't seen much beyond MMPR season 3, and most of Dino Thunder so please excuse my creative liberties.

Summary: A/U MMPR/DT—the original Morphin Rangers are called together by a mysterious stranger who evokes memories of Zordon and his legacy. They discover that Zordon's sacrifice--while noble in all intent--as failed. An old evil as resurfaced and the Rangers must call upon old Powers to fight a new battle. Along the way they discover how much they have missed in each others lives and that old friendships--and relationships--must start anew. Can they come together after they have grown so far apart? Meanwhile, the most recent team of Rangers is coming to terms with losing their powers. Can their unlikely friendships continue now that the one thing that brought them together is gone? Will new feelings confuse old relationships? What happens when they realize their battle isn't quite over? And when the two teams unite and their separate battles merge, all the Rangers are forced to one horrifying conclusion: The price of victory is one they never thought they would have to pay.

Warning: This story contains scenes of violence, profanity, some slight adult situations (nothing graphic) and character death. Read at your own discretion.

Part One: Coming Together

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the weather couldn't have been more beautiful—it was the perfect day.

And the first Pink Ranger knew that perfect days always ended up ruined.

Kimberly frowned at the package on the table. She had come into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee when she saw the box and envelope sitting in the center of her kitchen table—she knew it hadn't been there the night before. The small black velvet box screamed jewelry and she wondered if Bryan had snuck into her apartment and left her this gift. The thought disturbed her on multiple levels. After spending more than he could afford on a lavish engagement ring—the second after their first engagement went south—and his insistence that they pay for their own wedding, Kim didn't think it wise that Bryan was spending so much on extravagant items when they had more important bills to pay.

She chewed her bottom lip and fought the voice of her younger self that screamed to forget all logic and open the box: whatever it was, it was bound to be beautiful. Bryan spared no expense when it came to spending money on Kim.

Which led to her second concern: The jewelry, the expensive gifts, and grand gestures would never make up for it all. Not for the failure of their first engagement after he suddenly decided he wanted to take some time to travel the world alone, and not for the failure of her relationship with Tommy. Granted Kim knew she couldn't really blame Bryan for that; she accepted responsibility for her own decisions and she knew that Bryan's only fault was being a good friend who tried to heal the part of her that broke when she left Angel Grove. She was the coward who wanted the quick fix to alleviate her fears instead of trusting in the bond she shared with everyone back home.

She tentatively reached out for the box and then decided it was more appropriate to open the envelope beside it first. She opened the pink package and slowly pulled out the paper inside and frowned when she realized it had not come from Bryan. Her heart beat faster as she realized that someone—a stranger—had been in her apartment undetected. Kim instinctively looked over her shoulders and reassured herself that she was a former Power Ranger. Despite the fact that it had been almost ten years since she had donned a Ranger uniform, she was still fairly confident in her abilities to defend herself against most threats. She turned her attention back to the letter in her hand and her heart stopped as she read the few words scrawled in neat, precise handwriting across the pink parchment:

July 1st, 2004

Where it all began

Remember Zordon

Kim felt faint as she read the words for the first time. The room began to spin and Kim quickly pulled out a chair and placed her forehead against the cool wood of her kitchen table. Her chest ached with the thought of Zordon and she didn't even try to stop the tears from coming. He had meant so much to her and she very much doubted that the scars his loss left her with would ever heal; no Ranger who had known Zordon would. She allowed herself to wallow in grief for a few moments before bracing herself for what would come next.

Her fingers trembled slightly and she closed her eyes and held her breath as she opened the box. She told herself that nothing so small could be that bad, so she squared her shoulders and opened her eyes.

She was wrong.

She dropped the box and the gold coin fell to the ground, rolling a few feet away from her. It came to rest in the sunlight from her small window and as the light reflected, she caught a small shimmer of pink. She slowly rose to her feet and took the few tentative steps towards the coin. She knelt next to it but refused to touch it. The emblem of the Pterodactyl was carved into its face and the Pink Ranger realized that this was her first Power Coin. But that was impossible; it had long been destroyed.

"It's just a copy." Kim tried to convince herself, "A perfect copy of a magic coin that only a handful of people have seen."

She finally decided that she looked rather silly squatting on her kitchen floor and staring at a useless coin. She reached to pick up the coin and as her skin barely brushed against the warm metal, a familiar sensation washed through her very being and Kim wanted to laugh, scream, and break down weeping all at once. It was indeed her first coin and it was once again filled with Power.

She held it firmly in her grasp and the words of the letter once again whispered in her mind. The date, Zordon's name, leaving her Power Coin: it could only mean one thing: She was being asked to once again take up the mantle of the Pink Ranger.

She shook her head and shoved the coin back into its box and tossed it into one of her cabinets. "Out of sight, out of mind." She reassured herself, "I'll just never use those plates again."

Kim scolded herself for her cowardice, but the thought of being a Ranger again was too terrifying after all the lengths she had gone through to stop dwelling in the past and look towards her future. She had just started accepting the path she had chosen for herself all those years ago and the past needed to stay in its place. She had struggled to bury emotions that had threatened to haunt her until the end and managed to rebuild bridges that had once been burned. She had finally managed to find happiness and contentment in the life she had settled for; she couldn't afford to risk everything just to go back and face what she had lost—what she had given up. She had little to gain and so much to lose.

She left the kitchen and walked into her small office, glancing at the calendar above her desk. The First of July is only a few days away; you should book your flight now. She shook the thought from her head and she insisted that she wasn't going anywhere. On July 1st, she would stay locked inside her apartment and wait for the 2nd to come. Her resolution crumbled a bit when she glanced at the locked filing cabinet that held all her most prized possessions from her days as a Ranger: Her communicator, pictures of her and her friends in uniforms, the diary she kept from the moment she became the Pink Ranger until the moment she boarded the plane that took her from Angel Grove, and the letters she had received from her friends, including Tommy. There were letters from before and after the break up and she cherished every one of them. They had all kept in contact through the years as they wrote to each other every few months, her last connections to the life she had thrown away.

Again she glanced at the calendar and tempting thoughts flitted through her brain. Who else had received these packages? Who sent them? Who would go on the First?

Would Tommy be there?

Just thinking about the former White Ranger made Kim forget all the time she had spent trying leave the past behind. For a few minutes, her heart cried out louder than any logic her brain tried to reason with and she picked up the phone and started dialing. After two rings Kim couldn't help but smile as the person on the other end answered, "Hello?"

"Trini!"

The first Yellow Ranger paused just outside the coffee house, gazing inside the window and sucked in a deep breath. Jason sat in an intimate booth and she grinned when she noted that ten years had hardly changed his fashion sense. He still wore a simple red t-shirt and blue jeans, and she guessed that he had a brown leather jacket for the cooler days in Angel rove. It was nice to know that some things never changed.

In that thought, Trini caught her own reflection in the glass and her grin faded. Her hair, now chin-length was the most obvious change but she also saw ashen skin and dark circles under her eyes from years of burying herself in her work, trying to find something to preoccupy her thoughts whenever they strayed to certain times and places that evoked memories she would much rather forget. She had avoided Angel Grove like the plague, telling herself there was very little here to justify more than a customary visit to her relatives, though even they preferred to visit her in Chicago. Her friends were scattered across the U.S. and only Jason still resided in their hometown. She could imagine the hurt on his face when he received her message, telling him she had been in Angel Grove for almost a week already and she hadn't once called him until she had to. She hadn't wanted to avoid the former Red Ranger, but she knew that meeting him would lead to conversations that would only make her miserable. She had wanted to get through her vacation unnoticed until someone forced her hand.

Jason looked down at his watch and Trini realized that she had been staring for far too long. She opened the door and smiled as Jason stood up from his seat and greeted her with a warm hug. "Long time no see." she nodded in agreement as she sat down. "I was surprised to get your message saying you were already in town." There it was, a bit of hurt evidenced in his tone. "What brought you to Angel Grove?"

"I guess I was just being nostalgic." Trini played with her mug as she refused to meet Jason's eyes, "I haven't taken a vacation in such a long time, everyone in the firm practically packed my bags for me." She laughed, "Mom and dad have been begging for me to come home, so I finally caved. It's been nice." Her smile faltered and Jason gave an understanding nod and the words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them. "I just wish everyone else was here too." Jason had always been easy to talk to because he knew how to just listen; it reminded her that not every memory of her past was hurtful.

"Everyone meaning Billy, right?" When did Jason become so perceptive?

Trini pursed her lips, "I understand why he went to Aquitar; I would hate to think what could have happened..." she trailed off for a moment and shuddered, "I don't understand why he had to stay. He had plenty of reasons to come home."

The first Red Ranger placed his hand over hers and squeezed it comfortingly, "I'm sure he had his reasons." Jason then steered the conversation away from Billy and towards the reason they had decided to meet abruptly, "So, you didn't receive your message until after you were in Angel Grove?"

Trini nodded in affirmation, allowing herself to get sucked in to Ranger mode, "It was just a coincidence that I was already here. I woke up and there the coin and letter were, laying on the nightstand in my hotel room." She paused, "Whoever sent it must be tracking our every move."

"You're probably right. Have you heard from anyone else?"

"I just got off the phone with Kim; she's booked her flight and will be here later tonight."

Jason raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, "Zack too. He called earlier and gave me his flight information. We should have Kim meet him at the airport and they can share a car."

"I'll call her later." Trini agreed, "Anyone else?"

Jason shook his head, "If Rocky, Adam or Aisha got any messages; they would probably call each other. Kat would contact Tanya first and vice versa."

Trini frowned, "What about Tommy?"

"Haven't heard from him yet, but he'll call me if he gets one."

"So far it looks like four of the five original members got the message and Tommy probably got one too" She paused, "I think that's who is going to be there."

Jason looked at her quizzically, "You think the six original Rangers are being called back together?"

Trini shrugged, "Five, I don't see how they could have gotten in touch with Billy." She didn't hide the bitterness in her voice well, so she pushed past it hoping Jason wouldn't notice. "Look, we received the original Power Coins with this message; besides the six of us only Rocky, Aisha, and Adam have used the Dino coins. It's possible they may be there too, but their coins were destroyed and ours haven't had power since we left—except for that Red Ranger mission and that was a temporary flux of Red Power from the Grid that allowed you to do that."

"But Kim's coin was destroyed, too." Jason pointed out, "I guess I'm not so much concerned with how our coins are recharged. I'm more concerned with how this person snuck into my sock drawer, found my coin, recharged it and put it in a fancy box on my coffee table without me being the wiser."

"Well, how freaked out do you think I was? I left my coin back in Chicago—and I'm not even going to tell you which drawer I kept mine in!"

Jason laughed and took a sip of his coffee, "Well, Kim and Zack are flying in tonight and it's only the 29th. What do we do until the 1st?"

Trini smiled and decided to let go of her fears and forge ahead. Jason was a steady rock that quelled her fears about the past and reminded her that the future was still in her power. "Catch up."

"Well, are you going to go or not?" Haley casually questioned.

"I don't know." Tommy paused as he fingered the Dragon Dagger, "I don't know who else will be there."

There was silence on the other end for a moment and Tommy knew Haley was trying to be tactful. "I thought you kept in touch with everyone?" Tommy knew that 'everyone' translated to Kim. "What would be so bad with seeing them?"

Because the letters allowed me to hide behind a piece of paper; being in person is a totally different story. The Black Ranger knew that wasn't an acceptable answer in Haley's book; in fact, there wasn't a good reply. Still, he tried a cop-out answer any way. "I just don't see a reason to go."

"Don't give me that crap Thomas Oliver." Haley snapped and Tommy winced and pulled the phone away from his ear, "You said yourself that the whole thing with Kim was in the past, so what's the problem? Besides, you and I both know that something pretty big must be happening if that coin has power again. You aren't the least bit concerned that the fate of the world may hang in the balance?"

Tommy rolled his eyes, "I understand that, Haley, I really do. And you're right, Kim is in the past. I don't hurt to think about her—and I want it to stay that way."

"Then keep it that way." Haley offered simply, "It's been almost such a long time, Tommy. You're both adults and you've moved on with your lives; it's time to prove it to yourself. Go there, see Kim if she's there, be her friend, do whatever it is you guys are being asked to do, then come home and move on to the next stage of your life."

"You make it sound easy." Tommy smiled.

"It is easy. Tommy, we both know you've moved on from Kim years ago. Don't let this irrational fear—because you know that's what it is—prevent you from doing this. You haven't seen any of these people in such a long time and I know you miss all of them."

Tommy picked up the Green Power Coin and smiled, knowing in his heart that Haley's words were true. He knew Kim would always be a treasured part of his past, but he also knew that the feelings of regret and anger no longer resided in that part of his heart. What was he so afraid of then?

"I'm going." He stated firmly.

"Of course you are." Haley replied with a smug tone. "Now that my work is done, I need to get back to the lab."

Tommy smiled, "Now, by lab do you mean Mark?"

"I don't know what you're talking about?" The furious indignation in Haley's voice was enough to confirm Tommy's suspicions. "You know perfectly well that this trip to Hong Kong is strictly professional and just because I ran into an old flame isn't going to change that."

Tommy laughed, "Of course. Get back to work and tell Mark hello."

He hung up before Haley could respond and leaned back in his recliner. His smile faded as he stared at the Dagger and coin sitting on his coffee table. The green paper was still sitting on his floor where he had dropped it in his shock. The words burned through his brain like a mantra as he stood up and made a bee-line to his room. He pulled out a small black suitcase before changing his mind and pulling all of them out. It was very likely that this would be a long trip and though Tommy hated packing, he kept repeating the words written on the green parchment over and over as he stuffed his belongings into the bags with little care.

Satisfied that he had packed enough, he made a quick call to the Mercer household to inform Anton that he would be leaving town for a while.

"Sorry Dr. O." Trent's voice rang over the phone, "Dad's been feeling sick lately, but I'll give him the message. Do you want me to tell Kira and the guys too?"

Tommy paused, that would save him a phone call. Though Reefside was safe, old habits died hard and he wanted the last team of Rangers to keep an eye on things while he was gone. "That would be great, Trent. Tell you're dad to get better."

Tommy grabbed the coin and dagger and placed them in the glove compartment of his jeep. As he turned on to the main highway towards Angel Grove, he dialed Jason's number in hopes that he would have some clue as to what was going to happen next.

With the holiday fast approaching, the tiny airport at Angel Grove was bustling as staffers and security guards struggled to compensate for the extra visitors that filled its corridors. Kim began to feel claustrophobic as she stepped off the ramp and into the gate and yet she felt a rush of warmth and relief through her being just at the thought of finally coming home. What had taken her so long to come back here?

She pulled out her cell phone and read her latest text message from Trini, detailing Zack's flight information. Her smile growing wider in anticipation, Kim hoisted her white duffel bag over her shoulder and headed over towards Zack's gate. Flights in and out of Angel Grove were rarely delayed and Zack would be landing in a matter of moments. According to Trini's latest message, Zack was still unaware that the first Pink Ranger would be there to greet him and Kim relished in the opportunity to surprise one of her oldest friends.

Kim was practically jumping out of her sandals in excitement as everyone began to filter off the ramp. Zack finally bounced out the door and Kim opened her mouth to shout out to him. The words quickly died in her throat and her jaw hung slack as a tall, blue-eyed, blonde, former Pink Ranger followed right behind him—their arms tangled together.

She managed to snap her mouth shut before either of them saw her and Kim's shock gave way to excitement as Zack finally caught her eye. Kat released his arm as the Black Ranger drove straight towards Kim, threw his arms around her, and hoisted her into the air. "Oh wow, Kim! I had no idea you were going to be here!"

Kim smiled as she shared a tight embrace with Kat, "Trini thought it was a good idea."

Kat's smile seemed to beam brighter then Kim could ever remember, "This is just great! I'm so glad she thought of this."

Zack nodded eagerly in agreement, "I'm assuming you're staying at the Angel Grove Inn?" Kim nodded the affirmative, "Fantastic. That's where Trini and Tommy are staying too."

Kim's heart skipped a beat at the mention of her ex-boyfriend's name, "So Tommy's going to be here?" She tried to sound casual as her heart pounded in her chest.

Kat's gaze was perceptive, "Have you spoken to Tommy recently?"

Kim shrugged, "As much as everyone else, I guess." She suddenly realized--looking at Zack and Kat's entwined hands--that she may not have known as much about her friends as she once thought. "Should we go get our luggage and car then?"

"Well, definitely the luggage." Zack started slowly as he shared a knowing glance with Kat, "But since I didn't know you were going to be here, I called Tommy to see if he could pick us up on his way into town."

Kim felt an easy smile grace her features and she realized that she was indeed ready to see Tommy again, and the possibilities that meeting may bring. "That sounds great." And it was the truth.

So the three hustled through the airport while exchanging small talk; they all agreed that they would save the big events of their lives for when they were all together the next morning.

"So of course I called Tanya who called Aisha who talked to Rocky who spoke to Adam." Kat ticked off the names, "So we thought we'd crash your impromptu reunion—we don't need mysterious invitations to have fun."

Kim giggled, "This is just awesome." She was practically skipping down the hallway and she suddenly felt sixteen again. "I can't believe everyone is going to be here!"

They turned the corner towards baggage claim. "No kidding." Zack paused to help Kat adjust her carry on, "I was kind of disappointed when Jason said he thought it was only going to be five of us. I knew when Kat didn't get the same message that it was just the originals being called back together."

Kim and Kat nodded in agreement as they reached their final destination. "Well, let's keep an eye out for Tommy." Kat craned her neck around the crowd. "Is that him?" she asked disbelievingly.

Kim followed her gaze and she recognized him in an instant. Her mouth dropped slightly and she felt her cheeks flush—he was still as gorgeous as ever! His now short hair accented his strong face and chiseled jaw. Her eyes were immediately drawn to his and she still found herself drowning in the chocolate brown orbs. Since he hadn't noticed them yet, she allowed herself to take in his physique. He wore a tight black t-shirt that showed off every muscle in his body and his dark jeans fit so perfectly and Kim had to make sure she wasn't drooling.

"Hey Tommy!" Zack yelled and Kim snapped back to attention, suddenly realizing Tommy may not have been as excited to see her.

The Black Dino Ranger jogged towards them, his smile faltering at the sight of Kim and Kat and the first Pink Ranger's stomach began to twist into tight knots. "I didn't realize you two would be here." He pointed to the Pink Rangers, "It's so good to see all of you." Kim sighed in relief at his genuine smile and the sincerity in his voice. She paid little head to the hope sprouting in her chest as Tommy stepped closer to her.

She and Tommy embraced and the knots in Kim's stomach untied. "Have we really gone this long without seeing each other?" Kim whispered as she locked eyes with Tommy.

Silence settled between the four of them as they dwelled on her words. They gathered their luggage and all struggled to make it fit in Tommy's jeep. Kim raised her eyebrows in surprise at the sight of Tommy's numerous suitcases, "I thought you hated packing?" she wondered aloud.

Tommy shrugged, "I do. I didn't really know how long we would be here, so I just threw all of my clothes in suitcases." He paused and frowned, "I'm pretty sure I forgot my underwear."

Laughing, they took their seats with luggage crammed between them. Kim turned back to the second Pink Ranger. "So Kat, how did you get roped into all of this?"

Kat placed her head against Zack's shoulder and smiled wistfully, "Well, Zack decided to propose…" She lifted her left hand and the diamond sparkled in the moonlight.

Kim exchanged a shocked glance with Tommy, as they were becoming more and more aware of just how far apart they had all drifted.

"And I made the mistake of mixing up the box with the ring and the box with my coin." Zack finished, "It was awkward…"

Laughter rang from the jeep as they pulled up to the hotel. "Wow." Kat glanced at her watch, "We made better time then I thought."

"No kidding, Mr. Oliver here was actually on time for a change." Zack clapped his hand against Tommy's back, who smirked in return.

"Actually, it's Dr. Oliver, thankyouverymuch." He instinctively reached over and helped Kim pull out a suitcase that had gotten lodged in the door. Kim let the suitcase hit the pavement as she shared a surprised expression with Zack and Kat. Tommy smiled slightly as he reached and picked up the suitcase and grabbed the rest of Kim's luggage. He turned to walk back to the hotel, leaving his stuff behind for a second trip. "I got my PhD in paleontology."

"Wow, congratulations." Kim whispered watching as he carried her luggage to her room, which was fortunately next to his and a few doors down from Kat and Zack's. The reality of how much they had all missed in each others lives was finally sinking in. They all stood out in the hallway for a moment letting that thought fester between them. As they bid each other goodnight, they did so with a silent promise to change all of that.

Tommy had much to think about as he marched back out to his jeep to grab his luggage. His quick pace slowed with each step as the events of the past hour finally settled in.

After almost 10 years, Kimberly Ann Heart walked back into his life and his world was turned upside down—just not in the way he had expected it. Tommy had anticipated feeling a slew of emotions ranging from anger to shock to pure unadulterated love, but he wasn't really sure what to expect. So when he finally caught his first glimpse of the woman who had once been the girl who stole his heart—and gave it back to him in unrecognizable pieces—Tommy was dumbfounded by the lack of, well, anything. He had no desire to rip her to pieces, nor did he want to sweep her off her feet and steal a kiss.

His first thoughts of Kim involved appraising her appearance; she still wore pink though her style had matured from the childish choices of her youth. Her hair was longer though unremarkable and her smile was just as warm, though slightly wary. Tommy didn't count that against her since he was certain she had expected a cold reunion. Tommy thought the moment they hugged he would finally feel something; that some spark, good or bad, would be ignited. Still, there bodies meet and Kim's breath brushed against his neck and the only feeling Tommy could muster was relief that there was no tension between them.

"So what happened?" Tommy muttered aloud to himself as he pulled open the back door of his jeep.

"I don't know bro, why don't you tell us?"

Under any other circumstances, Tommy would have cursed himself for letting his guard down but the familiar voice quelled all concern and Tommy spun around to face the first Red and Yellow Rangers. "Why do you always need to know my business?" Tommy teased, "Stop eavesdropping and get a life of your own."

Jason laughed and offered his hand and Tommy took it heartily, "Don't judge me; you were the one talking to yourself."

Tommy shook his head and then embraced Trini, who felt she owed Tommy some sort of explanation. "Jason was just dropping me off, my rental car broke down and I don't really want to bother with it tonight. He was just going to drop me off when we saw you."

Jason leaned over Tommy's shoulder and peered into the backseat of his jeep, "Pack enough?"

Tommy shook his head, "You should have seen it with Zack, Kat, and Kim's stuff crammed in here."

Jason's eyebrows furrowed, "Kat's here?" making a clear attempt to avoid the more painfully obvious question.

"Came with Zack—they're engaged."

Trini gave a knowing smile, "Zack did a lot of networking in Europe during the conference and he spent a lot of time over there when we were finished. I know when he heard Kat was in London he wanted to meet her—he really missed his Ranger connections."

Jason appeared dumbfounded, "Still—ENGAGED?"

Tommy shook his head, "You could have knocked me over with a feather." He paused, "How did none of us know this?"

Jason shook his head and Trini seemed to appraise Tommy carefully, "How was Kim?"

Jason seemed to straighten and caught Tommy's eye, indicating that he was just as interested in Tommy's answer. "She seemed good." Tommy replied as honestly as he could.

"How do you feel?" The end of the question—'about her'--was deliberately left off, but still hung in the air.

After a few seconds of mulling and trying to decide just exactly how he did feel, Tommy answered honestly, "I don't really know. I saw her—nothing. I hugged her—nothing. We talked—nothing. I don't get it, after all that we shared and all the emotions I had invested in that relationship how can I now feel so little?"

"How did you manage to get over Kim and start going out with Kat?" Trini asked.

Tommy bit his lower lip and thought for a moment, "I didn't." He absorbed those words and their ramifications for a second before continuing, "I couldn't get over Kim. Like I said, I put so much of myself into our relationship and there was no way I could ever go back to a time pre-Kimberly."

The air around them was starting to cool and a slight breeze picked up around them, despite his current thoughts it didn't escape Tommy's eyes that Jason had placed his jacket around Trini's shoulders. A potentially innocent gesture from one friend to another, but the possibility of something else didn't escape Tommy's interest. "Keep going." Trini's voice had softened slightly, a bit of confusion in her eyes as she wrapped the jacket around her tightly—was she confused about the meaning of the gesture, or her feelings about it?

"After the entire Muranthias experience, I knew that my feelings for Kim were as strong as ever. I almost walked up to her that day at the tournament in some desperate attempt to win her back. But then I realized I had to make a choice." Tommy paused and Jason motioned for him to continue, "I had been going out with Kat, but our relationship had never really gone anywhere and it was then that I understood why: I hadn't moved on. I had let my feelings for Kim linger and as I saw her there, happy and content with the life she had chosen, I decided I had to make my own choices."

Jason crossed his arms, "What was that."

Tommy thought long and hard and finally came to his answer, "I had to just not feel anymore—at least, not towards her. A part of me had always thought that when I saw Kim again, I could convince her that she wasn't happy, but she came back and I saw the truth that had always haunted me and I had to let go. I was worried that any emotions for Kim—both good and bad-- would have ruined my relationship with Kat. Instead, I took everything I loved and hated about Kim and just kind of repressed it. I guess after ten years, it's finally gone."

"Is it really gone?" Trini noted wryly, her eyes still on the luggage in the backseat and Tommy gave her a look of confusion, "I just find it odd that you came here with four sets of luggage and four sets of hands, and somehow your luggage gets left behind for a second trip.

Damn Trini was perceptive.

Tommy's eyes sought out Jason, who was grinning wickedly, "So who had the empty hands?"

They both laughed when Tommy didn't answer.

The room was suffocating him. Every breath of oxygen that entered his lungs burned as if the air was poisoned against him. His body burned with fever as something alien—and yet intimately familiar--tried to claw itself out from his very insides. He tore at his sheets; ravaging the fabric much like this parasite was destroying his body—his humanity.

Anton had woken the night before to the sound of a deep voice chanting in a foreign tongue; one that he had never heard uttered once in all his travels. He dismissed it as the last remnants of a dream he had already forgotten and turned to ensure that he had not disturbed Elsa. She had still been lost deeply in dreams of her own, her brows creased with frustration and Anton wondered if once again she was dreaming of the life she shared before—the life she could never remember as dreams faded and reality set in just as the sun would rise into the sky.

It frustrated him to no end that he could not help her. He could not ease her fears and confusion—and perhaps merge the life she once had with the life she was living now. It was the one thing keeping them from sharing complete happiness.

How she looked at him with such compassion and love was beyond all his understanding; after all, he was the one to blame for all her loses. Yet, she held no grudge and reminded him daily that Mesogog and Anton Mercer were not one and the same.

Anton wasn't so sure that was true.

Even now, he was sure this illness—if that's what it could be called—was in fact fate's way of punishing him for the wrongs he had committed against humanity. He had created all that Mesogog had used to wreak havoc upon humanity; even Mesogog himself came from the very mind of Anton Mercer.

There was a soft knock on his bedroom door and Anton broke free from his reverie. "Come in." He rasped and was surprised by the deep tone in his voice and the way the words scratched against his throat. His son stepped slowly into the room and Anton was grateful the lights remained off; he didn't wish for Trent to see him like this.

If he hadn't been in so much pain, Anton would have laughed at that thought. Trent had witnessed his father in far worse condition and at the time Anton could have hardly cared for his son's opinions. Though his son looked up at him with respect and a hint of admiration; Anton only felt shame and disgust that his only son discovered that the man who had become his father and been a monster, both figuratively and literally.

"Are you feeling any better?" Trent's voice whispered with soft concern.

Determined to be strong, and perhaps because he was afraid of the truth; Anton lied to his son. "I'll be just fine." He managed to banish the rasp for a moment, "Shouldn't you be out with Kira and the boys?"

"I'm going out to find them now." Trent replied and Anton felt a rush of guilt when he heard relief in his son's voice. "I just wanted to check on you and give you a message from Dr. Oliver."

At the mention of his good friend's name, the creature inside sprung back to life; tearing even harder as it desperately tried to break free. Anton shook off the rage and hatred that flashed through his mind at the mention of Dr. Thomas Oliver. He was clearly delusional from the fever and still trying to shake off the remnants of the traumatic experience from the last year.

It would stop eventually.

"What did Tommy have to say?" Again, that name brought forth such anger that Anton's body began to spasm with real pain.

"He's going to Angel Grove for a while," he hesitated before adding, "He's got a reunion of sorts or something I guess."

Anton let out a loud cough that caused his whole body to shake and his hand instinctively latched onto his mattress, the sounds of his coughs muffling the sound of fabric shredding. "Are you sure you're okay?" Trent asked again, "I can stay home if you need, I don't think you should be alone while Elsa's chaperoning that field trip for the summer school students."

Anton commanded his body to be still and though he could feel his insides rebelling, he was able to relax his muscles just enough to be convincing. "I'll be fine." He repeated, "Go and have fun with your friends. You four have such a short time together before you leave for school."

There was silence in the darkness as Trent hesitated before reluctantly agreeing, "I promise I won't stay out late. Sleep well." And he shut the door behind him, the last bit of light leaving the room.

The moment the door latched shut, Anton inhaled and prepared to exhale a sigh of relief, but his throat closed shut. There was someone else in the room; it's claws digging into his chest, its rancid breath against his face and neck. He struggled to breathe as he fumbled with the lamp and bathed the room in its dim light. No one was there, but he could still feel a presence next to him. He could feel the blood pooling in his shirt as its talons sank deeper and he looked down and saw the crimson staining the torn fabric. He tried to let out a cry, but still his throat would not let him breathe. It was then he looked into the mirror and saw his tormentor.

It was himself—a twisted hybrid of Anton Mercer and Mesogog--hunched over his body with his open jaws hovering over the exposed flesh of his neck.

Anton struggled with the invisible force, trying desperately to push it away. Instead, the creature laughed perversely as it ran its tongue across his neck and Anton felt a chill down his spine as the saliva dripped down his throat, pooling with the blood on his chest. "You'll never escape me Anton." It hissed lovingly, "We are one and the same."

Suddenly, he was able to release his breath and his terror filled scream filled the entire empty household. The creature sunk its teeth into the tender flesh of his throat and the scream faded, but the world did not. Anton was forced to watch as the creature slowly faded from sight but the wounds it had created remained.His saw its twisted smile of triumph with the blood from his throat coating its pointed, yellow teeth. Curious as to why he was not dead he opened his mouth to ask, but the sound that came through his cracked lips was not human.

"Hisssssssssssssssssssss."

A/N: I've wanted to merge the Morphin Team and Dino Thunder team ever since I first saw DT, so that's where the basis of this story came from. It's quickly developed into quite a big story, but I'm excited to work on it! Also, for those of you who have read Honor and Sacrifice, I am diligently working on Legacy as well as Faith and Heroes. For those who are interested, the first part of Legacy will be posted very soon. Now, go read Chapter 2…we'll see more from the Morphin teams and the Dino Thunder gang makes their appearance.