The Last Master of the Morphin Grid

By: PernDragonrider

Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers or anything to do with that wonderful program. I do claim ownership of the plot for this story. No money is being made on this fictional work.

A/N: This story has been sitting on my hard drive for two years with just the working title of "Story Premise". I just sort of rediscovered it and I'm doing a little editing and polishing as I change it into chapter formats for posting. I don't know where this idea originally sprang from; but I hope you enjoy the tale and as always please leave a review to let me know what you think. Pern. "thoughts" "telepathic communication"

Chapter Two – Prophecy Foretold and Fulfilled

When Jason finally awoke, three days later, both Lerigot and Xraxtoz had arrived on Phaedos and were deep in conversation with Dulcea when Jason slowly walked out of the underground area he'd been housed in. Dulcea was the first to notice him and the confusion that showed plainly on his face.

"Good morning, or rather good afternoon, Jason." Dulcea greeted him with a smile as she steered him toward the tree line. "Go and take care of necessary things and then come back by the fire. I've got a good hearty stew cooking and you need to eat. Introductions can wait for later. I know you've already met Lerigot once before, but he's here not as someone needing Zordon's help; instead he's going to be one of your teachers. Go on and use the bushes, Jason. You've been sound asleep for three days now."

Jason, looking rather bewildered, lost, and still carrying an air of great sadness about him went and did what Dulcea had told him to do very reluctantly. He returned to the area near the fire, sat down on a large stone, and ate the large wooden bowl of stew Dulcea handed him without saying a word.

"It is strange for Zordon to have chosen this pathetic excuse for a being as his replacement, Dulcea." Xraxtoz commented without realizing that Jason also heard his telepathic thoughts to the Master Warrior.

"You think I'm pathetic?" Jason said with anger instantly replacing the confusion and sadness as he jumped to his feet and set into a loose ready stance. "I don't think I've ever seen someone as butt ugly as you are and that includes that huge blue monkey in gold armor that called itself Goldar. You've got orange skin, cat eyes, fangs like a vampire, and a face like a rabid bulldog as well as being so skinny I could snap you in half without even thinking about it. So step up and I'll show you just how pathetic I am!"

"Jason!" Dulcea said sharply as she glared angrily at the alien before her. "Sit down and eat, Jason. Xraxtoz, that comment does not become the Morphin Master you are. Jason is Zordon's replacement and he will be treated with all the respect and dignity you gave to Zordon and that you still give to me and to Lerigot. If you cannot do that then you will no longer be welcome here on Phaedos."

"His reaction was all I could wish for, Dulcea. Please forgive me for being so harsh and crude, but Zordon himself tasked me with challenging his choice of replacement. I was following Zordon's wishes in this matter, Master Warrior." Xraxtoz replied with a very chagrined mental tone even though his facial expression did not change at all.

"It's all right, Dulcea." Jason said in a calmer tone of voice. "I don't know why I reacted that way either and I apologize to you and to Xraxtoz too. I shouldn't have gotten that angry, but following Zordon's orders or suggestions is a habit I've never gotten out of. He, or whatever that wave was, chose me for this and I'll be hanged if I will let anyone speak like that about Zordon or his choices, ever. He is, was, a very good man with a purpose. His purpose was protecting Angel Grove and Earth from the forces of evil. The way I see it if he hadn't have been kind enough to come there in the first place; I wouldn't be sitting here at all but a slave to Rita as would everyone on my world be too. I will learn what all of you have to teach me, but for some reason my emotions are all over the place." He quits speaking and reaches up to wipe away tears that sprang into his eyes when speaking of Zordon in the past tense.

"Your emotions will settle into something close to normal in a few days, Jason." Dulcea said as she looked at Lerigot and he nodded. "There are things that we can do to help you get them under control faster, but Lerigot and I both are reluctant to do that unless absolutely necessary. If you find yourself getting out of control emotionally, walk away until you have regained your composure. It will be easier on you and on us, your teachers."

"I will, Dulcea." Jason said as he sat back down and finished the bowl of stew quietly.

"He thinks of Zordon, Dulcea." Lerigot thought and was very careful not to broadcast his thoughts to where Jason could pick up on them too. "He is reviewing his time as a Power Ranger under Zordon's guidance as well as remembering his time as a pawn of Maligore's evil too."

"I know, Lerigot." Dulcea replied quietly. "Were it possible I'd have us all communicate verbally, but for now you and Xraxtoz must communicate by telepathy. Normally only one other Morphin Master teaches the replacement for one of our number, but this is a special circumstance." Dulcea motions Xraxtoz over to where her and Lerigot are. "Zordon didn't have the time to prepare Jason for his change. The change was forced upon Jason by the wave of power Zordon's death released. We must watch him carefully for we three are his teachers as well as the only source of support for his mind at this time. Andros and the Astro Rangers are scouring Earth to discover, if they can, the one or ones needed that can and will support Jason as he will need to function as a Morphin Master."

"He should make the quest for the Great Power, Dulcea." Xraxtoz told them quietly and this time kept his thoughts to just Dulcea and Lerigot. "I know it is unnecessary for him to make that quest, but by doing that he will learn control and have more support once he has his Ninjetti spirit released. I know that Zordon made the trek millennia ago when he first became a Morphin Master and I sense in this one a deep respect for that which his mentor/friend/surrogate father accomplished for himself and for Jason's world of Earth. His making the trek from here to the monolith will also allow us to monitor him and the strength of his connection to the Morphin Grid too. Until that is known we will not know how much support he will need. IF his connection is as strong as Zordon's was then perhaps it would be more of a kindness to place him into the same support system that Zordon was forced into."

"I can assure you that his connection to the grid is just as strong, if not stronger, than the connection Zordon had, Xraxtoz." Lerigot said quietly in his singsong high-pitched voice. "I can see the Grid's aura around him and that aura is bright, strong, and multicolored. It is almost as if he is unconsciously already giving a team of Rangers the energy to morph."

Just as Lerigot finished speaking a small communications device Dulcea had tucked into a pouch on her waist chirped quietly. She took it out and spoke into it quietly. "Dulcea here."

"Sorry, Dulcea." Andros' voice came over the device. "We got ambushed by what looks to be a bunch of King Mondo's Quadrafighters the Wave missed somehow. We had to morph to keep ourselves alive because of a hull breach. How is Jason?"

"Sitting here eating a healthy portion of stew, Andros." Dulcea replied with a pleased smile that conveyed over the circuit to the worried Astro Ranger. "He is showing no signs of strain, but power down as quickly as you can. He shouldn't channel the power for too long until after he treks to the monolith and strengthens his connection to the grid. For now, he is unconsciously doing what is necessary, but if he thinks about it, it could break your connection to the powers of the grid. Get someplace where it's breathable and make your repairs as quickly as possible."

"That won't be necessary, Dulcea." Jason said surprising all three of the other Morphin Masters at his quiet approach to where they stood. "Apparently Zordon's spirit implanted a whole lot of information in my brain before he gave up possession of my body when we arrived. They won't lose their connection because I won't let that happen."

"Sit with us, Jason." Dulcea said as she patted the ground next to her. "I am very sure that Zordon's spirit implanted much information for you before he passed into the Grid, but we are here to teach you how to use that information and the power you now possess in the correct manner. Did Zordon ever speak of any prophecies during you time as a Ranger with him?"

"Just the one when Tommy joined us the first time, Dulcea." Jason said as he took a seat facing Lerigot, Xraxtoz, and Dulcea. "That's the only prophecy I can remember him ever mentioning."

"I will tell you of the prophecy that foretold not only Zordon's demise but exactly who would be taking his place; however you have to realize that at the time this prophecy was given that Zordon wasn't trapped and was much different from how you and the others on Earth saw him." Dulcea said quietly. "I would have Xraxtoz or Lerigot speak of it, but until you have been trained completely in the use of your recently acquired telepathic abilities, I will be doing most of the speaking. Xraxtoz and Lerigot do not speak as you and I do and both of their races are more given to telepathic communication. They will communicate with you while teaching you control of your powers, but until then I get to do all the talking. Right now you will also hear our conversations, but try not to take offense at anything you hear. You will learn to block it out unless directed at you eventually."

"Is that what happened earlier when I got so angry?" Jason asked with a small frown of concentration on his face.

"Yes it is." Dulcea said and smiled. "There is much to teach and a short amount of time to teach it in Jason. For now, listen to what was foretold millennia before you were even born and centuries before Zordon was imprisoned."

Jason nodded and he along with the others got comfortable and waited for Dulcea to get her thoughts in order. A few minutes later she started speaking. "The prophecy was handed down through the ages from one Morphin Master to another and each of those Masters passed it along to their successors until Zordon of Eltar became a Master of the Morphin Grid. The Grid, as you probably know, was created eons ago by a race of beings that no one has any idea who or what they were. There were, at one time, nine beings that each channeled the power for a specific spectrum of the Morphin Grid. Over the eons, as these first nine passed into the Grid; their powers were split up between the remaining Masters until there was only one of the original Masters left. He was ancient, even then, and he was the one that produced many of prophecies the various groups of Rangers have been told over the ages. It is believed that these original nine Morphin Masters were the creators of the Grid and research by various species here and there has shown that they did create the Grid and were the first to channel its power. For what reasons we do not know, but the last of the original nine was the one that created the first morphers and gave them to a group of five people. These five people, what race or planet they came from no one can remember, became the first Power Rangers. The Master was the conduit for the powers they used and it has been that way through the ages now."

Dulcea stopped and took a drink of water from the water-skin at her feet and she passed it to Jason and the others too. "When the last of the original Masters passed into the Grid, upon his death, the five people he chose as Power Rangers were each granted a portion of his power. Twenty millennia ago, Kaianita of Mirinoi passed into the grid and instead of her powers going to another, they were distributed among the remaining four living Morphin Masters. Zordon of Eltar, Lerigot of Liana, Xraxtoz of Catena, and myself; we became the last four living Masters. It was discovered, by Zordon, that Kaianita had never empowered a group of Rangers from her world because Mirinoi was a peaceful planet tucked into an out of the way arm of the galaxy. Kaianita did create a way for those she would one day choose as Rangers to access her powers, but she was murdered by the being that would eventually became known as Scorpius before she was able to choose. Since her power was never shared with anyone, her powers rippled through the entire Grid and then settled into the four remaining Masters. The devices she created for her Rangers remain on Mirinoi to this day. They are called the Quasar Sabers and each is imbedded to the hilt in a stone on that world. She left a legacy should future generations ever need to call forth Rangers to protect that world. None of us ever thought of the prophecy until Rita entrapped Zordon in that dimensional time warp about twelve millennia ago."

Dulcea again stopped and took a short drink from the water-skin before she continued in a serious tone, but her voice was distant as if she were looking into the past and deep into her memories. "The prophecy, which has since come true, was written thusly.

In the darkest hour when evil bands together the trapped Master shall fall.

The energies freed will purify most of the Universes and birth a new Master.

One battle seasoned in red, but tempered with gold.

This one shall become the last living Morphin Master.

Thus completing the circle that began with me, the last of the beginning.

That was the prophecy that was unfolding before our eyes. Xraxtoz, Lerigot, and I have never empowered a group of beings; well any that are still living to pass our power onto. When we pass into the Grid, on our deaths, our powers, as Morphin Masters will transfer to you Jason of Earth. You are the fulfillment of that long ago prophecy and Zordon knew that the day you were able to accept the Gold powers from Trey of Triforia. None of us have any plans to pass anytime soon, but we want you to know the truth and to be prepared for that day. Zordon, in this arm of the galaxy, was the one who channeled the powers for the Rangers of Aquitar, the Rangers of Earth, the Astro Rangers, as well as always knowing that he would also have to channel the powers for the Mirinoian Quasar Sabers should they ever be needed. Even when your friends came here to Phaedos to gain the Great Power, their connection to use and access the Morphin Grid came through Zordon, from me. The Turbo powers that Lerigot designed were also channeled through Zordon from Lerigot. When he was trapped, each of us gifted Zordon with a portion of our powers so that he might continue to function as a Master. Had we not, Zordon of Eltar would have perished millennia ago. We discovered, accidentally, that in order for a being to function as a Master that they would need the support of one or more other people. Lerigot's support is his wife, Xraxtoz has his mates, and I have the support of the spirits of the Ninjetti. Zordon had support until his entrapment in his wife, Amalthia. He lost that support when he was entrapped, but the very place that he was trapped in gave him the support he would need. Support is different for every Master and every race of being that becomes a Master."

Dulcea stopped again and took a drink from the water-skin and passed it around to the others again. Lerigot and Xraxtoz were respectfully quiet and all three allowed Jason to process Dulcea's words and to come to the conclusion they knew he would.

"I need someone that can support me, don't I?" Jason asked ten or fifteen minutes after Dulcea finished speaking. "What does supporting me entail and how do I go about finding someone to be that support?"

"Support, as I said, is different for each race, Jason." Dulcea said with a soft smile playing about her lips. "For some races, like Lerigot's it is enough to have a mate to love and with whom you can discuss your plans, hopes, fears, and worries. Xraxtoz's people, due to their culture, have more than one mate and for them just one person wouldn't be enough. I had my two lovers and my bonded mate, Ninjetti all, until they joined the spirits over eight millennia ago. Since their passing I've been supported by their spirits and by the Great Power I protect. What works for you will be what is needed by you. You might find that you have one to ease the needs of your body with, but that same person isn't enough and you need another to share your thoughts with. It is different for every Master and always has been. Some Masters must leave the worlds they've called home all their lives because whom they need for support goes against the mores of their home world. Zordon only needed Amalthia; however I needed not only the man I was bound to for life, but two others as well. One was a female and my closest friend the other was the brother of my life-mate. I had two male lovers in my life-mate and his brother and a female lover in the form of my best friend. They were my support, my life-line to sanity, for the powers that course through a Master, when a team of Rangers morph, are a thousand or more times more powerful than what goes through your body when you use a device to morph into a Power Ranger."

"Is that why I could hear, see, and feel what Andros and the others were going through on the Megaship just a little while ago?" Jason asked them. His tone was filled with wonder yet that wonder was almost lost in the solemn, thoughtfulness that accompanied it.

"Yes." Lerigot replied seriously.

"So right now I only have to channel the energies for the six members of Andros' team?" Jason asked with a bit of confusion in his still thoughtful and solemn tone that had lost the wonder of moments before.

"Actually you could be called upon to channel the energies, at any time, for the Aquitain Rangers, the Astro Rangers, The Phantom Ranger, The Gold Ranger, and or the Quasar Sabers of Mirinoi, Jason. When any team Zordon provided the morphers for or channeled the powers for would morph for a battle, you would be called upon to channel the energies that morph them. It could be one, two, or even all of them at once. That is where being supported comes in to play. Just channeling the energies for a single team is not that draining on you, but the more teams you channel the energies for the harder it is for you to keep control of who and what you are; your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sense of self. The one or ones that would be supporting you would be there to help keep you intact and not let you get lost in all of the others that are drawing power through you to them." Dulcea replied very seriously.

"Now you know why support is essential to a Master and why you must, before you can be allowed to return to Earth, be supported by your own kind." Lerigot said with compassion and truthfulness in his tone.

"Lerigot is right, Jason." Dulcea sighed with a slight sadness in her sigh. "Until the one or ones that are capable of supporting you can be found, you are as trapped and bound to Phaedos as I. Even bringing forth your animal spirit and then having you trek to the Monolith for the Great Power wouldn't be enough support for you I'm afraid. I was human, just like once were before being changed into a Master, and I needed three others to keep me sane. You might need just one more or you might need three or four, Jason. It differs for everyone that's changed into a Master."

Jason looked up with tears glistening in his eyes, but his tone was even and held concern more than anything else. "Do I get a choice in who I need for this support or is the choice made for me by someone or something else?"

"You have a choice and you do not have a choice, Jason." Dulcea said with an even tone as she reached out and gave Jason's shoulder a soft squeeze. "You have the right to choose just as the one or ones chosen have the right to refuse being chosen. However the choice can sometimes be taken out of your hand by circumstances beyond your control too. Andros and the others on the Megaship have passed the word to the Rangers on Aquitar as well as to Trey on Triforia that morphing should be done as sparingly as possible right now. We three, your teachers and fellow Masters, are prepared to offer you the support needed during your time here on Phaedos."

"So I have the three of you, for now, but I will need someone or some others after I've learned." Jason said sadly and yet his voice was complacent as well. "I can deal with that, for now. One question though; how the heck does the people on the Megaship have any idea who I'll need for this support you keep talking about when I don't even know yet?"

"They don't." Lerigot said with a smile in his voice. "No one, other than another Master, could ever know what support was needed, but they are your friends and they want to help you; so they are doing the only thing they can now. They're headed back to Earth to speak to your former teammates to get them to come to Phaedos and see if any of them might be all or part of the support you'll need."

"We'd prefer if you had your support in place during the learning process, Jason." Dulcea said, also with a smile in her tone. "It will make it easier for you to learn what we have to teach. Having our support as we teach you will be harder on all concerned. Having your own support makes our position as teachers easier and it also stops you from relying too much on us in any given situation. You have already proven your merit as one of Zordon's rangers twice over. Now is the time for you to prove your merit to the Grid. It's the same but it's also vastly different as well. You did very well earlier tonight when you provided those on the Megaship with the power to morph and sustained it very well too. However you probably didn't block your thoughts or theirs as well as you could have. You cannot afford to become distracted by one team when another might need you more."

"That I understand, but I'm still confused about this support thing somewhat." Jason replied thoughtfully.

"Perhaps I can make it clearer for you Jason." Xraxtoz told him telepathically. "You need someone that can blend their mind with yours while you are empowering a team or teams of Rangers. This person is there with you, but their only concern is to keep you from getting lost or displaced in the minds of those you're giving power too. This same person or a completely different person is there to support your need for close companionship. Does that clear it up for you somewhat?" Xraxtoz made sure that both Dulcea and Lerigot also heard what he'd just told Jason.

"So I need one person that can do both or two people that each have a distinctive place in my life from now on." Jason said out loud, but he was mostly thinking and not realizing he was speaking.

"You might need more than just two people, Jason." Dulcea said with understanding and compassion in her voice. "For now, while you are here learning on Phaedos, you have us and the spirits of the Ninjetti as well as Zordon and the other past Masters to help. Once you leave here, for any reason, you will need your support in place and accustomed to what is needed by you. That is why having them here during your learning process is so important to the three of us."

"They need to learn as I learn." Jason answered and then looked up at the three very diverse beings before him and sighed. "I can't think of anyone I want to tear my friends away from their lives on Earth. I didn't want this, but Zordon chose me for this, so I'm going to do the best I can. Maybe I'll be the exception to the rule and won't need supported, but I would like to see or talk to my friends again soon."

"Maybe you just might be, Jason." Dulcea said with a knowing tone. "I thought I was the exception to the rule until the energies of the Grid, channeled through me, taught me otherwise. For now, know that you have the support you might need in the form of us and leave it at that. I will see about getting you in touch with your friends back on Earth tomorrow. For now, you need to rest again and also to prepare for the trek to the Monolith. I cannot go for I can't leave the plateau. Lerigot is not equipped to deal with the perils of the Neola Jungle below; so Xraxtoz will accompany you as you face the trails all seekers of the Monolith face on their journey to the Great Power. I am going to bid all of you good night. Go and rest, my friends."

Both Jason and Xraxtoz looked at each other with equal startled expression as Dulcea rose and walked away to the group. Nothing more was exchanged and before too long everyone had migrated to where they slept and were resting for the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that were sure to come.

XXXXX End of Chapter 2 XXXXX

Author's Ending Notes: I apologize for the long delay in updating this tale. A huge case of writer's block and then real life complications has kept me away from it for longer than I'd have wished. Please, leave a review and let me know how I'm doing. A very special thanks to Allie351 for doing the beta read on this. Thank you my friend.

As always, May the Power Protect You!

Pern