Hi Guys! Look who's back!
So yeah, the promised and long-awaited follow-up to "Shadow Line" is here. Before we begin, two timeline notes:
1. The story is taking place, simultanously, at many different planets. Each planet has its own time zone. Therefore, morning on Angel Grove is still nighttime in Kyota. You don't have to break your head over the time differences: the scenes are following in linear order, and the time for each of them is given in local time.
2. "Ghosts Through The Prism" takes place after "Tomorrow's Rain" (the last chapter of "Shadow Line"), but before the epilogue. Think sometime in June, July tops.
Also, would anyone care to guess where I got the story's title from?
And now, without further ado, presenting the first part of "Ghosts Through The Prism": "Family Ghosts".
Ghosts Through The Prism
Follow up to the Shadow Line Trilogy
Part 1: Family Ghosts
Earth, Angel Grove, early morning
She ran across the street. Three months were too short a time to believe, and the fears were still enough to drive her nearly mad with worry whenever she was away for too long. Knowing that in actuality there was nothing to fear made it possible for Shiera to leave the house; it did not stop her from running as fast as she could on her way back. She halted abruptly mere meters from the gate.
Dew-wet herb plants on the windowsill; embroidered curtain drown open, moving slightly with the breeze; the kitchen, warmed by the sunlight spilling all over it; and the skinny twelve-years-old sitting at the table, her back to the window, studying the cereals box intently as she ate, milk dripping from her spoon every now and then.
There is nothing to fear.
She inhaled deeply, calming down her racing heart as she watched the normal and miraculous scene of her sister having breakfast. Her sister moving was a sight Shiera could not get enough of, and her eyes drank it hungrily and deeply like desert plants may drink rainfall after a drought.
She's all right.
Relief swept over her in huge waves. Being away for too long always made Shiera fear that something may happen to Emma in her absence. She always came running, whether from the park or from the next room, to find Emma unhurt. The relief was the same each time.
She's home.
Emma was only home for a week. A week was too short a time to adjust. Part of the driving force behind Shiera's frantic run came from the fear that she'd only been dreaming, and that Emma was still in the hospital. But there was Emma, visible through the flapping curtains.
She's awake.
This was the biggest, greatest miracle of all, the one that nearly made Shiera's knees collapse. That Emma was awake; that finally, after four years, Shiera finally had her sister back. She walked, quite wobbly, the remaining distance, and forced the gate open with a hand that shook far too much.
Fears are irrational.
She heard a chair pushed back and small feet running. Emma came around the corner, looking at the sun-framed figure in the doorway.
"I woke up and you weren't here", she said.
"Sorry, sweetie" Shiera hugged Emma, picking her up: Emma was skinny and Shiera was strong. "I thought I'd get back before you wake"
"I woke early"
"So I noticed" Shiera carried Emma to the kitchen; it was hardly comfortable to any of them, but both were just as reluctant to break contact. "Why'd you wake up so early?"
"Couldn't sleep" Emma craned her neck to keep eye contact with her elder sister as Shiera grabbed a pitcher and a glass. "So I watched cartoons till I got hungry. Where were you?"
"In the park" Shiera gulped down the water. "Sparring"
"With Carlos?"
"With Carlos"
"Is sparring something boyfriends and girlfriends do?"
Shiera laughed out loud. "Not normally, no"
"Why?"
"Because most people don't spar at all"
Emma thought this over as she hunted marshmallow animals with her spoon. "You didn't spar once, too", she said thoughtfully. "When'd you start?"
Shiera froze momentarily. "I'd rather not discuss this over breakfast", she said finally.
"Why?"
"Let's just don't, okay, Emma?"
"It's not a good thing?"
"Not a good thing", confirmed Shiera.
"But you like Martial Arts. So why is this not a good thing?"
"Emma…" sighed Shiera. "I'd rather not, really, sweetie, okay?"
"Okay" said Emma. "But we're going to the fair today"
In a quiet corner of her heart, Shiera sighed with relief. "And I'll win you another teddy bear"
Emma squealed. Shiera heaved another mental sigh.
Kerova, Kyota, hours before dawn
In another kitchen, light years away, a blond teenager was sitting at the table, pouring over data pads and reaching, once in a while, for the steaming mug of hot cocoa floating next to her left hand.
Two columns of light, red and silver, shot into the kitchen. The mug dropped, but the blond managed to balance it and float it the table faster than most people could blink. When the light faded she was already on her feet, ready to hug the two haggard young men who just teleported in.
"Andros! Zhane! Finally!"
There was little Andros could do save choke. Zhane, the taller of the two, managed to whisper hoarsely "Karone, we're gonna need those necks later!"
"Oh, you!" she said, letting go of her brother so she could put both her arms around her boyfriend's neck and pull his head down for a very long kiss. "I missed you so much!"
"We were only gone for two days", muttered Andros. He only allowed himself to say it because he thought his sister was too busy kissing his best friend. He was wrong. Karone's first breathless words when she and Zhane broke off were "I missed you for years"
"You're being an insensitive jerk, Andros", said Zhane, just as breathlessly. He kissed Karone's nose. "I missed you like crazy"
"You are crazy", said Karone with a definite pout. She kissed him on his lips, briefly, and turned to Andros, hand on her hips. "Are you saying you didn't miss me?"
His only answer was to hug the air out of her – a gesture she returned with vengeance.
A pillow floated from the living room and dropped itself on Zhane's head.
"Ow!" he sputtered. "What was that for?"
"Stealing Karone's hot cocoa" said Andros.
"Admit it, you wanted to steal it yourself"
"Boys", groaned Karone. With a wave of her hands and two swirls of purple, two more mugs appeared, right in front of Andros and Zhane's respective noses. "Here"
Both grabbed the mugs and dropped into chairs, tiredness finally setting in.
"Did you stay awake just for us?" asked Andros.
"I had work to do" Karone picked her own mug and pointed at the data piles. "I'm running some economic predictions"
"Since when are you an expert on economics?" asked Zhane.
"Since yesterday" answered Karone shortly. "I didn't like not having a clue on what those economists are saying, so I decided to study it myself"
"My girlfriend, the genius" said Zhane proudly. Andros tried to glare at him but failed miserably, as he felt pretty much the same: whatever topic Karone set her mind to, she mastered with remarkable speed.
"So how was the raid?" asked Karone.
"Good" said Andros.
"Only good?" she asked.
"Not really" shrugged Zhane. "There were a few surprises"
"Such as?" asked Karone, frowning.
Andros smiled over the ream of his mug. "We captured Divatox"
"You're joking!"
"Andros? Joking? Never" said Zhane in-between careful sips; the cocoa wasn't hot, it was scorching. "We took a detour through Netherie and dropped her on Hurán's lap"
Karone giggled. "I can imagine…"
"Karone?" drifted a sleepy tired voice from the upper floor. "Who're you talking to?"
"No-one, Kirrie" called Karone as softly as she can. "Go back to sleep"
"I thought I heard…" Zhane's younger sister ignored the stairs and jumped downstairs. The three teenagers in the kitchen braced themselves. They were not disappointed. Kirrie's squeal when she saw Andros and Zhane probably woke the entire neighbourhood.
"Zhane! Andros! You're home! I knew it! Mom, Nita, THEY'RE HOME!"
Doors flew open and closed with a crash. Two pairs of feet thundered downstairs.
"Zhane!" Nita, the older of Zhane's sisters, threw herself at her brother's neck. At fifteen years of age, she was almost as tall as her brother, and still growing. "You were going to wake us when?"
Andros tried to edge back. Nita noticed this, and reaching out with her arm, dragged him for a three-way hug.
"I do believe they weren't going to", said Rya, Zhane's mom, dryly. "He and Andros must have had the misguided idea that we would rather sleep"
"Sorry, Rya" said Andros meekly.
"Nonsense. Come here". She crushed both her boys for a short hug, planting kisses on their forehead. "You're home safe, and that all that matters"
Earth, Angel Grove, late morning
Late morning hours on an Angel Grove summer day: the heat settled in and would not be ignored. Some people dealt with it by remaining sheltered in their air-conditioned houses and offices. Others went swimming.
Considering that we have both a seaside and a lake, thought Carlos, irritated, you could think the pool wouldn't be so packed. In actuality, the pool wasn't nearly crowded, or Shiera wouldn't have a lane all to herself – Carlos could see her in his peripheral vision, cutting across the water with her usual grace. His focus wasn't on her, though: he was trying to remind Emma how to swim, and failing. The pool wasn't crowded, but there were enough people there to throw Emma off: she simply couldn't concentrate with other people around.
"Come on, Emma, give it another try"
"I don't wanna", said Emma. "Can't we just leave it?"
Twelve may be her age, but mentally, Emma was an eight-years-old. Carlos had to keep reminding himself of that.
"You can do it just fine, Emma", he said patiently. "You managed great a few minutes ago. Let's try again, okay?"
"I don't want to swim" she insisted. "I want to go home and play"
"You need to be active so you can recover your strength and your coordination" explained Carlos. "Swimming is a good for you, and it's more fun than any other activity in this heat"
Emma wrinkled her nose. "The doctors said I'll need months of therapy just to be able to walk again, but I started to walk on my own two weeks after I woke up"
"I'm not going to say that your recovery was anything short of miraculous, but you've also been slowing down to a more normal rate lately"
"I'm just fine. Can't we go home?"
Carlos counted quietly from ten to one. He was hardly the best person to do this, but Emma refused flat-out to spend any time with strangers – be they physiotherapists or swimming instructors – and Shiera could not push Emma for the world. Therefore, as Shiera' boyfriend and Emma's surrogate brother, he was handed the task of teaching Emma to swim, play ball, and generally drag her out of the house.
"Hi Carlos!" something pink flashed over their heads, crashed into the water, and resurfaced with a big smile.
"Hi Sylvie" said Carlos.
"Is she your sister?" asked Sylvie. "She doesn't look like you"
"Naw, she's my girlfriend's sister. Emma, this is Sylvie. Sylvie, Emma"
"Hi" said Sylvie cheerfully.
"Hi" answered Emma cautiously.
"You wanna play?" asked Sylvie.
"I'm kind of busy, Sylvie"
Sylvie snorted. "I didn't ask you, I asked her. You wanna play, Emma?"
Emma glanced up at Carlos.
"I'm supposed to learn to swim", she said.
Carlos forced back a triumphant smile: for Emma this was progress – in all past encounters with other girls, Emma said that "they were just going home".
"You can play if you want", he said. "I'll stay right here and watch you"
One heartbeat, two heartbeats, three…
"Okay" said Emma.
Sylvie's smile widened.
Kerova, Kyota, shortly after dawn
They didn't close the hangings properly before they fell asleep, and so Zhane and Karone's faces were illuminated with narrow strips of pale dawn sunlight. It wasn't enough to wake them; neither was the whisper of their opening door, or Andros quiet breathing as he stood there and watched two-thirds of his heart sleep peacefully.
He'd never quite noticed before how beautiful they both were. Sure, he knew his sister was pretty, he knew the girls just adored Zhane, but he never quite saw it; not like this. Both his best friend and his sister were reserved people, hardly letting anyone – even him – see more of themselves than they intended. In their sleep, they wore their hearts on their faces: Zhane was bone-weary, and Karone older than her years, but the love they excluded was almost tangible, and the trust on their faces made Andros stop breathing. It should have disturbed him, to see his sister lying like this with any man, even it was the one Andros would trust above all others; still he could not help but admire the way their hair and complexions matched perfectly, the way they wrapped themselves around each other like they were meant to be one, not two. Standing like that in the doorway, he knew such love was too precious to be frowned upon – even by an over-protective and slightly neurotic brother.
He swallowed.
Perhaps this was not a good idea; perhaps he should have left the note on the table in the hall, or even on their closed door… But no: if he was going to do this, he had to look at them again; to memorize their faces.
Because deep down in his heart, he did not know if he would be coming back.
He gulped, and steeled himself.
He tiptoed into the room, as quietly as he could, holding his breath: both were light sleepers. He made it to Zhane's bureau, put down the note – the paper scratched – and scampered outside as fast as he could while still maintaining complete silence. He reached the door.
Sheets rustled.
Turning his head, he saw Karone moving in her sleep, muttering something. She settled almost immediately. Before something could go wrong, Andros wrenched his head from the peaceful scene and stepped outside.
He never saw Zhane opening his eyes, or the fear on his face as he caught the red glow sifting under the door.
"Andros!"
Zhane leaped out of bed – Karone's staff materialized in her hand as she woke with a start – and yanked the door open.
The corridor was empty.
"Andros?"
"He's not there, Zhane"
He turned around to face her, his eyes troubled. "That's the problem, Karone. He's not here. I saw his teleportation light under the door"
"Are you sure?" she asked, but before he could answer her, she caught sight of the note on the bureau, and her breath caught in her throat. She held out her hand. The note disappeared in sparks and appeared in her hand.
"It's for both of us", she said shakily, putting away the staff. "Why, Zhane?"
"I don't know, sweetheart" he crossed the distance back to the bed and set by her side, pulling her close. "I honestly don't know"
Earth, Angel Grove, around noon
"Why not?" asked Carlos.
"Because they've had enough ice cream", said Shiera firmly.
"You're the only one who thinks so", said Sylvie, and promptly hid behind Carlos' back. She needn't have bothered - Shiera did not as much as spare her a glare.
"You don't think two cones are dessert enough?" she asked.
"They're growing girls", pointed Carlos. "Come on, stop going all Adam over them, and then we can go a couple of rounds"
Shiera's brows shot up. "Going all Adam?" she repeated.
"Yeah, you know, 'you are what you eat' and all that. Come on, tell me he didn't give you that lecture at least twice a week"
"He gave it to me once, and didn't have to say it again" But Carlos knew he won. "Fine. But that's the last". She took Emma's hand.
"We can go alone", said Sylvie indignantly. "It's just around the bend"
This time Shiera did glare at her, and Sylvie fell silent. Later, though, when Carlos and Shiera were sparring again, and the two smaller girls set on the grass eating their ice cream, Sylvie said: "What's up with her? Even my mom doesn't fret so much"
"She's worried about me getting hurt"
Sylvie snorted. "Yeah, but why?"
"Because" said Emma. "How come you and Carlos are such friends?"
"He babysat me once"
"Once?"
"I sort of stuck to him", admitted Sylvie. "It was just after Denis died, and…" She stopped.
"Denis is your brother?" asked Emma after a few moments of silence.
Sylvie nodded.
Emma looked away. "I was hurt in a monster attack, four years ago", she said.
Sylvie waited.
"I was comatose since then. I only woke a couple of months ago". Emma paused. "I guess that's why she's so anxious about me"
"But there aren't monster attacks anymore"
Emma shrugged.
Sylvie chewed on her lower lip. "My parents have been more worried about me ever since Denis got sick", she said thoughtfully. "And it's only gotten worse after… Maybe it's kind of the same thing. Only you got better"
"Yeah". Emma drew her knees to her chest. "I don't know why, though"
"Uh?"
"I was brain dead. I wasn't supposed to ever wake up – the chances were, like, one in a zillion. And then one day the damage was just gone and I woke up and I started talking almost straight away, and I started walking after a couple of weeks and it should have taken me months just to be able to sit"
"A miracle; good for you"
"Miracle is what everyone keep telling me"
Sylvie blinked. "That's what it's called"
Emma looked at her seriously. "Promise not to tell?" she asked.
"Sure"
"Promise promise. I never told this to anyone"
Sylvie barely hesitated. "I swear", she said solemnly.
Emma's nails dug into her palm as she stared to the horizon again. "I remember dreams", she said very quietly. "There's a girl, Shiera's age, with lots of red her, and she puts her hand to my forehand and tells me to wake up; and there are other dreams, with that redhead and Shiera talking, but I can't understand what they say because my hearing is like a badly tuned radio; and there's this guy who's friends with Shiera and Carlos, Jason, and sometimes he shows up in my dreams and he's always screaming like somebody' trying to kill him and then the building fall again" she spoke the last sentence very rashly, and ran out of breath. "And once Shiera brought home a friend of hers who looks just like the redhead from my dreams, and I asked her if I met her before and she said I didn't, but I'm sure that's her and that she and Shiera lied when they said I never met her"
Sylvie was chewing her lip again, looking at Emma intently. "Ever told Shiera about the dreams?" she asked.
"No, I told you you're the first person I tell about this"
"Well, maybe you should tell her, too"
"I don't know"
Sylvie shrugged. "You want her to tell you the truth, you should tell her the truth also", she said simply.
Emma blinked. "But she's my big sister"
"You told me and we just met. She loves you"
"You think?"
Sylvie looked at Emma incredulously. "You kidding?"
Emma shrugged. "She spends so much time with Carlos"
"Doesn't mean she doesn't love you. It's like that stupid question people always ask, who you love better, your mom or you dad"
Emma thought it over. "Okay", she said; then, after a pause: "Sylvie? Are we friends?"
"Sure we are". Sylvie held out her hand.
Emma shook her solemnly.
Netherie, the Gardens, midnight
I kneel by the fountain, and dip my hand in the water. It's a hot summer day, and I am thirsty. The water surface is glistening, reflecting the light; it hurts my eyes to look at it, so I narrow them.
I raise my hand from the water. My palm is cupped, but the water slip through still. The rational part of my mind tells me, that the water molecules are so small that they can pass where even light can't. The irrational part of me holds a different opinion. The water in my hand, it tells me, wish to return to their origin.
I know that the water will vanish soon. I drink as fast as I can. One, two, three mouthfuls, and then my hand runs dry. My lips are dry, too, as if I drank nothing. As if they've been scorched by something more terrible than the light.
The wind beats into my face, full of sand and dust. Its taste is foul in my mouth, like toxics and malice. My fingers are dipped into the sand, instead of water. The grains are parched and their color muted, gray, so different from the bright water, so different from the fertile soil they once were.
The grains, too, slip through my fingers. There are neither will, nor life, in them. They fall, for gravity has a hold on them, and I can't fasten my trembling hands. It's not that they can't be held: it is I, who cannot retain what I hold…
Melissa's eyes flew open. A dream, she reminded herself. Breath after breath, she forced her racing heart to slow down, her muscles to calm. Just a dream. Strange, that a mere dream could frighten her so: she, who had seen her family massacred before her eyes when she was four years old; she, whose sister killed herself so that Melissa could live; she, who's been a warrior since she was twelve. What she's seen filled her every nightmare, and all her dreams were nightmares; until this dream.
If only I could sleep! She rolled over. She hasn't slept for three days and nights, now. At times, she could go for a week without sleep. She's barely slept for years, and it never bothered her: quite on the contrary. Lately, though, she found herself yearning for more rest. The power of The Light was no longer enough to sustain her.
The thought came unbidden. Pity Ashley lives on Earth. The bearer of Hope never failed to guard Melissa's sleep, but Ashley lived on Earth, and had her life and her commitments there. Of the little family Melissa had, only Hurán lived on Netherie – but he had his missions and she had hers, and their schedules rarely met. I should be stronger than that.
No-one should be alone.
Go away! Melissa chased away the gentle voice she knew so well, that voice which sounded just like hers, the voice the preserved her sanity during her lonely years as Phoenix: Oshra's voice. Leave me be…
No-one should be alone…
But the voice faded into a whisper, and was gone. Melissa was still mistress of her own mind. Oshra's presence was comforting, but also dangerous: Karone mentioned, more than once, that at times she found it hard to differentiate between the two – and Melissa had no intention of becoming Oshra; none at all.
The memories rustled at the back of her head, anxiously trying to get her attention, but Melissa closed the lid on them firmly. She was going to sleep, now, and she was going to sleep until dawn – peacefully; dreamlessly. Once a night, she told herself, is enough. Now I will sleep.
Phaedos, not far from Dulcea's camp, dusk
"I'm not an enemy!" Andros raised his hands, so that the cloak's sleeves fell off and revealed his morpher.
Even under the hood, Dulcea's glare was evident.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
"Andros, red Astro Ranger" he said, hands still raised.
She withdrew her staff and lowered her hood. "If you are here for the Great Power of the Ninjetti, turn back now. You cannot quest without your team"
Andros got up and dusted himself somewhat. "I'm not here to quest", he told her, "But I am here to be tested"
"Explain"
"It would take time"
She stood unmoving, her eyes boring into his.
He averted his gaze.
"Please", he whispered. "I didn't know who else to turn to. If you send me away…"
Her eyes softened, but he couldn't see it.
"Why would you ever wish to be tested, Andros of Kerova, now that you have won your war?"
His head turned sharply, and he met her eyes again. "I did not win my war. The war my team just won was for everyone"
He wasn't sure, but he thought he saw her head tilt slightly to the side. "I think I understand", she said, almost to herself. "It only makes sense. Let's go, then". She pulled her hood back up. "The camp is that way. Follow me"
Phaedos, Dulcea's camp, shortly afterwards
The fire was already burning when they reached camp. Dulcea shook her head when he made to speak, silencing him. She gave him a pot and pointed him to a spring without a word. When he returned, a few moments later, she had the vegetables and the herbs for the soup chopped and ready. They did not exchange a word while she stirred the soup, or even when she poured it into two bowls. Only when they were halfway through their second serving did Dulcea break the silence.
"Why are you here, Andros?" she asked, her voice quiet enough not to startle him. "Why do you think that you should be tested?"
He looked down at his spoon. "Do you know about the Ejernor family?" he asked.
"Yes"
"Do you know that I am an Ejernor?"
"The hair gives you away" she said, amused. "The three stripes are typical to the men of the Ejernor line"
He blinked, but continues as he intended to. "Have you ever heard of the Light Bearers?"
"Yes, I have". Now was her turn to look away for a moment. "I was there. I told her she was wrong, to let a bearer be who was evil"
"So you would understand why I'm here". He lifted the red crystal so she could see it. "The memories, they're driving me crazy. I… I don't know – I don't think it's right – for me to be a Ranger like this. It's like… it's as if I'm lying to everyone… about what I am"
She looked at him seriously over the rim of her bowl. "You're not him, Andros", she told him. "You are not Kaylan, and you are not evil. I would have known – even if no one else would have"
"I still feel tainted". His eyes dropped down to his hands. "I still feel wrong"
She was silent for quite a while.
"Maybe I should test you", she said finally. "If that's how you feel"
"Thank…."
She raised her hand. "Don't thank me yet", she warned. "You'll be given three chances, Andros. If you succeed in any of them the test will terminate. If you fail the first or the second chances, you can still quit: you will retain you life, but not your powers. If you fail the third, too, you will die. The spirits of the Ninjetti will test you, and they make no exceptions. Do you understand, Andros?"
He answered without hesitation. "Yes"
She took a sip from her soup. "First we finish dinner", she said. "Then the test will begin"
Earth, Angel Grove, evening
The chimes over the door rang. Emma ran to the door.
"Mom!" she called happily, throwing herself at her mother.
"Hi, baby girl", laughed Amanda Karlson, picking up her daughter and kissing her on the cheek. "How was your day, sweetheart?"
"Okay", said Emma. "We went to the pool, and I met this girl called Sylvie and we played and…"
"You made a new friend? How great"
"Yeah, she's a friend of Carlos' too"
Amanda frowned as she set on a kitchen chair, pulling Emma to her lap. "How old is Sylvie, dear? Hello, Shiera"
"Hi mom"
"I don't know, mommy"
"She's nine", answered Shiera, who was peeling potatoes by the sink. "Carlos babysat her a couple of times"
Amanda's face brightened. "Well then, that's just great. What else did you do today?"
"We went to the fair and Shiera won me three prizes!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, but I gave one of mine to Sylvie because Carlos won her only one. Well, actually, he won two, but he gave one to Shiera"
Amanda laughed. "Where's your dad, girls?" she asked. "Shouldn't he be home by now?"
"He arrived home about an hour ago", said Shiera. She dropped the last peeled potato into the bowl and wiped her hands on the apron, turning around. "He started on dinner but then realized we were a couple of things short, so he jumped to the store and left me with the potato peels"
"He left you with the potatoes", corrected Emma. "You made the peels"
"Same difference" shot Shiera, but her smile was wide and genuine, and there was no hostility in the tone of her voice – only playfulness. This was a Shiera Amanda believed long gone.
Thank you so very much, o Lord, thought Amanda, drawing Emma slightly closer to her, for giving me both my daughters back when I thought I lost them both.
Shiera must have noticed her mother's thoughts, for her smile softened. Before she could say anything, though, the door chimes rang again.
"I'm home!" yelled Ethan Karlson from the door.
"I'm done with the potatoes!" yelled Shiera, drowning her mother's welcome. Amanda flinched – she could never understand how Shiera packed lungs like Pavarotti's into that thin frame of hers.
"You may want to shout louder, I think there are a couple of people on the other side of town who didn't hear you" suggested Ethan, coming into the kitchen and dropping the supplies on the table. "Hi hon" he kissed his wife on her cheek, "How was your day?"
"Okay. How was yours?"
"Fine. Well, don't just stand there, Shiera, slice the things!"
"Why can't I do the sauce?" complained Shiera as she picked the knife.
"Because you cut hard, un-boiled potatoes like most people cut butter", he answered shortly, but kissed his daughter's cheek – or tried to: Shiera evaded him. "And because you're the best sauce-burner I've ever had the misfortune of meeting"
Ethan's eyes caught Amanda's – and she saw that they reflected her feelings perfectly. She blinked away tears, planting a kiss on Emma's head. We're so lucky, she thought.
"Mom! Stop!" Emma squirmed away and set on her own chair. "Enough kissing me!"
Amanda laughed. "But you're so sweet!" she teased.
"Mom!"
Laughter rang across the kitchen.
Emma slid off her chair and went over to Shiera.
"Shiera?" she asked tentatively. "Would you answer me a question?"
"Sure thing"
"Promise to?"
Shiera looked down at Emma; her hands continued to slice potatoes.
"What's this about, Emma?" she asked.
"Promise?"
"I promise. What you wanna ask?"
"Want to, Shiera" corrected Amanda.
"Why do you always wear green?" asked Emma. "I hate green"
Shiera's hand slid; blood stained the potatoes. Shiera put down the knife, staring at Emma. "Maybe we should all sit down" she said, her voice forcibly calm. "This would take while"
"First we fix your finger", said Ethan firmly. "Put it under the water while I get the bandages"
Mutely, Shiera raised her hand for him to see.
"It's already clotted", she said quietly. "In five minutes it would be completely gone. Will you please sit down?"
Staring, Ethan set.
"You too, Emma"
"Come here, dear", said Amanda. Emma set on her mother's lap.
Still standing by the sink, Shiera looked at them.
What are those shadows in her eyes? Wondered both her parents.
"Mom, dad – Emma", began Shiera. "I'm the current green Ranger"
Phaedos, Dulcea's camp, night
"You want to sit comfortably", said Dulcea. "There's no knowing how long it will take"
Andros nodded, settling. "I'm ready"
Dulcea picked some powder from a pouch on her waist, and sprinkled it on the fire; the flames rose high.
"Look into the fire", she told him quietly. "And into your heart. Concentrate…"
For Andros, the world disappeared in a flash of red.
Earth, Angel Grove, evening
"I'm the current green Ranger", said Shiera. "Carlos is black. The rest of the gang, except for Karen and Melissa, are Rangers too"
Ethan's eyes were wide. "You're a Power Ranger?"
"Did you have to be green?" asked Emma, at the same time Amanda asked: "Why green, of all the colors?"
"I didn't choose my color", said Shiera.
"If it was the only color left, couldn't you switch with someone, just so you wouldn't be green?" asked Emma.
"How's you get the power from the evil one?" asked Ethan.
"What evil one?" asked Emma.
"When the current green Ranger first appeared, they were evil", explained Amanda quietly. "Then they disappeared for a while, and when they appeared again, they were good". She looked at Shiera questioningly.
"The morpher was given to me - " began Shiera. She was holding the sink behind her. Her knuckles were white.
"What's a morpher?" Interrupted Ethan.
"It's the tool used to transform into a Power Ranger – to morph, as we call it". She raised her right hand. "This ring is my morpher". She took a deep breath. "It was given to me by Astronema"
Seconds ticked by.
"Astronema?" asked Amanda shakily. "Wasn't she the woman the Rangers were fighting?"
"Yes"
"What?" exploded Ethan. He was heard even above Emma's scream of pure terror.
"What do you mean, she gave it to you?" demanded Amanda. "Surely you didn't fight for her?"
"I did. You see…"
Emma screamed again.
"How could you?" cried Amanda, hugging Emma close. "How could you ever, Shiera?"
"Mom, you don't understand…"
"We understand well enough", said Ethan frostily.
Shiera looked at them. Her mouth opened, as if to say something…
"There can be no explanations", said Amanda.
Shiera exited the kitchen. They could hear her steps on the stairs.
Amanda and Ethan exchanged worried glances above the head of a sobbing Emma.
The realm of the Ninjetti spirits
The world disappeared in a blaze of red, and appeared again. The place where Andros found himself looked very much like Dulcea's camp, but it wasn't: Dulcea wasn't there; there was no pot over the fire, and no bowls; everything more than ten feet away from the fire was only darkness; and a dagger hung on Andros' belt.
Andros looked down, not touching it: the blade was red, stained with darker red. It was the dagger Andros gave to Shiera, Kaylan's dagger, looking as it did before it was purified by Shiera's will.
Throwing it away would require Andros to touch it.
"I am your first test", said a familiar, chilly voice.
Andros raised his eyes, the voice having filled his heart with dread. Across the fire stood Astronema, staff in head. She was dressed in her armor, but her makeup and her hair were different: her makeup was ghostly pale and lighter, making her seem more like Karone, and her hair was neither Astronema's usual curls nor Karone's elegant blond – it was blood-red, unnaturally straight and chin-length.
"You will either kill me", she continued, "Or be killed by me". And without further ado, she stroke.
Andros leaped aside, barely escaping the purple lightning. "Karone", he pleaded, rising into a stance. "Listen to me…"
"I am not Karone", she said, jumping easily over the fire and aiming another energy blow at him. "Karone is no more. I am Astronema"
He ducked behind a boulder and reached for his morpher –
"Blast"
"Missing something, red Ranger?"
His morpher was gone.
He took two deep, calming breaths. "Karone…" he began again.
"I told you", she said. "I am not Karone". Her voice was directly above him.
Again, he rolled aside just in time.
"I don't want to hurt you", he said.
"Pity", she said. Her smile sent shivers down his spine. "I have every intention of hurting you"
She charged.
He ducked under her blow, and tried a kick –
She knocked him off balance and took a step forward –
He managed to flip over, rather than fall, and aimed a punch –
She diverted it with her staff, nearly breaking his arm, and tried to stab him –
He tried to pull the weapon out of her hands –
He succeeded.
They stood there, panting, looking at each other.
She leaped, sending a flying kick to his head –
He was not used to a staff, but he managed to sidestep. He aimed a flat blow to her back –
She was too fast. She landed with a roll and charged right in again, trying to get her weapon back –
Andros reached out, instincts faster than though –
He skewered her. Shocked, he dropped the staff. Girl and staff fell together.
"Karone?" he asked, kneeling by her side. "Karone, I'm so sorry…"
But she was already dead.
"I'm sorry", he whispered brokenly.
The staff vanished. Astronema's body shifted, and suddenly a red-clothed man whom Andros didn't know was lying on the ground, looking at Andros sharply.
"What do you think the test was?"
"I had to kill her", said Andros.
The man set up. "Was that all the test was about?"
Andros shook his head. "No – I had to kill her, because she was Astronema; even that she was my sister"
The man shook his head. "That was not the test", he said. "Therefore, you fail. If you quite now, you will leave with your life. Do you wish to quit the test?"
"I won't quit", said Andros.
The man nodded and was gone; Andros's robes turned white. He walked back to the fire, looking around warily as he did so: if Astronema was the first test, he hated to think what might attack him next. It took him a few minutes to realize that the shock of killing Karone's look-alike wasn't the only thing making him shaky – color withdrawal was already setting in, slowing his reflexes and dimming his senses: not good, considering that…
A monster walked in from the darkness surrounding the campfire. Andros cursed - this was the monster that nearly had him three years ago: the one that put Zhane in cryosleep when he saved Andros from it.
The monster aimed and shot. At first Andros thought it missed, as the discharge hit somewhere behind him. Then he turned around – and saw Zhane tied to a rock, apparently unconscious, or…
He can't be dead! Thought Andros frantically as he ran the short distance to his friend. He put his fingers to Zhane's neck and breathed in relief as he found pulse.
The monster shot again, this time from a shorter distance. Andros covered Zhane's body with his. For some strange reason he wasn't knocked out, but merely shocked and disoriented; and the monster was coming closer still. A few more steps, Andros knew, and the monster would simply pry him aside and break Zhane's neck. Steeling himself, Andros waiting until he could feel the monster's presence right behind him.
He turned around and thrust Kaylan's tainted dagger right into the monster's midsection.
The monster, the dagger, the rock and Zhane all disappeared.
The circle of light around the campfire was suddenly filled with animals.
A red lizard, as large as a person, looked around. Does he pass? It asked.
He does not, said the dear, shaking his antlers. Were it not for his friend, he wouldn't have acted.
His heart is pure, argued a crane, and his cause is just. Let him pass.
We cannot just "let him pass", said the owl, the rules must be kept.
A large snake raised his diamond-shaped head. If he passes now, it hissed, he will not understand and therefore will not be satisfied. If he leaves here unsatisfied and a Ranger, then we fail our charge.
Let me talk to him, asked a hauntingly familiar voice from the flames.
The lizard that spoke first looked at the flames, cocking its head. And what will you say?
Nothing you would not say yourself answered the voice from the fire.
The lizard nodded. Is there anyone who objects? None of the animals answered. Then let it be, said the lizard.
The animals were gone.
Melissa was sitting across the fire from Andros. He stared at her.
"Melissa?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"Oshra?"
She shook her head again. "I will tell you" she promised, "But first I must speak with you"
"It was you, who spoke from the fire"
"Yes", she confirmed. "Do you understand why you failed the second try, Andros?"
"No"
"Truth be told, it was not entirely by the rules", she admitted. "This is why I was allowed to speak with you, even that I am not your spirit guardian"
"You mean the one I spoke with before…
"Yes. Andros, why do you think that we agreed to test you? Because you may not be worthy of being a Ranger?"
He stared at her. "You mean this was not your reason?"
"No, it was not"
"I don't know, than"
"Think of the two tests you've been through so far. Take your time"
Andros set down. It must have been fifteen minutes, in the least, before he spoke again. "The first time, I failed flat out. The second time, you had to discuss it"
The Ninjetti spirit said nothing.
"It was because of the dagger", said Andros after another long while passed. "The second time, I used the dagger"
She nodded. "What does this tell you?" she asked.
He mulled it over shortly. "The end justifies the means?" he suggested.
"Do you believe that statement?"
"No", he admitted. "Not the answer?"
"Not the answer", she confirmed. "Care to try again?"
This time it took his even longer to think; the color withdrawal was really taking its tall on him, now.
"Not every end justifies any means", he said finally, "but the statement may be true in some cases"
"If I tell you that the usage of the dagger was not necessary for you to pass, but rather a hint you were granted, would it help you understand?"
"A hint?" he asked.
She smiled.
He frowned.
"Zhane was another hint", she added gently.
The frown deepened. "I was more willing to save Zhane's life than my own". His head shot up and he stared at her. "And you consider this a bad thing?"
"The Crane did note that your heart is true", pointed the Ninjetti spirit in front of him. "Can you make the case for why most of us weren't satisfied with this?"
"No"
"What have you told Zhane, each time he risked his life to save yours?"
"That it's not worth it"
"What did he reply?"
"That to him, it is"
She cocked an eyebrow.
Andros sighed. "Okay, I see your point. His life means more to me than my own, just like my life means more to him than his. And your point it?"
Her eyebrow remained raised.
"I'll give you another hint", she said after a long while passed, and yet he said nothing. "Ashley"
"Ashley?"
"Yes"
He blinked, and tried to think through the haze. If he won't finish this quickly, he knew, he would fall unconscious. "It's the same with her as with Zhane, and – and it would be the same with the Karone, and with the rest of the Rangers" Was it his imagination, or was the spirit smiling slightly? "They would not want me to sacrifice myself for their protection, just as I wouldn't want them to sacrifice themselves for me. To be self-sacrificial… it's not exactly immoral, but it's certainly irresponsible". He groaned. "Oh man, I must have hurt them so much by leaving like that"
"If you were to survive this test, only without your powers", asked the spirit, watching him intently, "What would you do with your life?"
He almost answered I don't know but though better of it. "If you would have asked me a few moments ago", he said, "I would either say dedicate myself to some other form of public service, or that I don't know. Now, though… well, I still don't know", he admitted, "But it's because I'd like to take a good long pause before making my mind"
She was truely smiling now. "Would you care to guess again why you did not pass?"
"One mistake", he said slowly, "Was that I valued my life below other people's lives, while all lives carry the same value. The other mistake…" he paused. "I had to kill her, but not because she was evil – but because I had to keep myself alive first" He looked at the Ninjetti spirit sitting across from him. "You agreed to test me because I didn't value my own life", he said. "Because a Ranger who doesn't value their own lives are danger to their teams, and morally wrong"
She didn't have to tell him he was right; he knew it because his robes were red again.
"True", she said simply. "Would you now like me to tell you who I am?"
"Yes, if you will"
"I am the spirit of the Phoenix", she said, getting to her feet. Andros followed her. "I look like your cousin for the same reason that she looks like your common ancestor; there had to be at least two of them, you see…" And with that, she vanished.
The men in red appeared next to Andros.
"Don't you ever worry me like that ever again", he warned Andros, waving his finger in the Ranger's face. "Half the time I thought you were going to fail"
"Sorry", answered Andros sheepishly.
The man shook his head disgustedly, but his eyes were twinkling warmly. "I am the spirit of the red Salamander" he informed Andros, "As you ought to have guessed"
"And you're my spirit Guardian"
"Yes" Salamander studied Andros intently. "You know why?"
"No"
"Because Salamanders are creatures of fire, Andros. We posses it, but are not possessed by it. Therefore, a Salamander will not fall to the flames of temptation; rather, we would emerge unscathed, sometimes even stronger and more powerful than we were before". This time, the spirit smiled with more than his eyes. "Does this answer the question with which you came to Dulcea?"
"Yes, it does", answered Andros honestly. Then, he smiled, a true and happy smile the like of which he haven't smiled since his first kiss with Ashley. "Thanks a lot, for everything"
The spirit put his hand to Andros forehead. "I'm always here for you", he said simply. "Now, walk into the fire, and go home. They are missing you" He vanished.
Andros stood there unmoving, for a minute longer, before he shook himself.
"Thank you" he whispered to the air, "To all of you"
And, without the slightest hint of hesitation, he walked into the heart of the fire.