A/N: Sorry about the hiatus folks, crazy times here. I'm compiling some thoughts on how exactly I intend to wrap this up in time for the new season beginning next week. While I have your attention though, I thought I'd give you all some fair warning.

Residing outside the US, I have mainly been relying on streamed video from the internet for my access to episodes. As many of you know, there have been a lot of efforts to chase down these recordings and delete them, even more so than normal. Just rest assured, that I still writing, and I do have every intention of following the season and posting my own version of it, just...don't be surprised if it may take me a little while longer than expected.

In the Netherworld, Master Xandred was sitting, quaffing excessively huge quantities of medicine, even more than usual. He had been amassing power for a while, attempting to recover from the significant loss of resourced he had suffered as a result of his defeat at the hands of the combined efforts of the Samurai and RPM Rangers. The loss of General Gut and his personally trained Moogers had been quite a blow. In hindsight, lending them to Professor Cog had been a mistake. Sending them prematurely against the Rangers when they had the back-up of the RPM team had led to them being destroyed. The only saving grace was that Professor Cog had saved him the effort and gotten himself destroyed in the battle.

Now though, the Rangers had consolidated their position. They had used the time that Xandred had been out of commission to recover and increase their own power. They now had a new Black Ranger in the form of their mentor, something that the Samurai had not had for centuries, and after the failure of Octoroo's plan to acquire the Black Box, he was sure that they were closer than ever to uncovering its secrets.

He now knew that if he didn't strike soon, that he was going to lose the opportunity to keep them from strengthening their position further. His own power continued to grow, and his Nighlock were getting stronger, but he still needed something of significant power to break the deadlock, and prevent the Rangers getting the strength edge they needed. He had sent many of his forces in search of the only Nighlock he could think of that had proven to be strong enough to contend with the Rangers and send them scattering.

"That damned Arachnitor." He growled as he rubbed his forehead with a pained expression on his face. "What hole did he crawl into?"

He had mutated the treacherous Nighlock with his excess power, increasing his already formidable strength, and simultaneously turning him into a mindless beast. It had meant that he was easier to deal with; he simply pointed him at the Rangers and unleashed him. Unfortunately, it also meant that he was uncontrollable. Once the Nighlock had disappeared from battle, he had all but disappeared. Occasionally there would be a sighting of him, but other than that, Arachnitor had pretty much just gone to ground on his own uncontrolled rampage.

"I keep telling you, we're doing all we can to locate him." Octoroo told him, standing in a corner.

"All you can eh?" Xandred growled. "I suppose that's why you're spending all your time watching that Gap?"

"It is important, I assure you Master." He replied. "I have seen something of some interest."

Xandred strode across and shoved Octoroo out the way, staring through the gap. He backed up, glaring at Octoroo.

"This is vital?" He asked him.

"I'm keeping an eye on..."

"You're watching the other Earth Samurai training those two idiots!" He bellowed.

"But sire, I'm observing..."

"I know exactly what you're observing!" He interrupted Octoroo harshly. "I do not keep you around to allow you to be a voyeur noodle-face!"

"Sire, you don't understand." Octoroo implored him. "I think this is something you may find of interest. I sensed a great source of residual power entering the city a couple of days ago."

"I sensed that too." Xandred commented.

"Well, I believe I may have found the source." Octoroo told him. "Just watch this."

Xandred returned to the gap and watched on.

Back at Bulk and Spike's place, they were finishing up by sparring. Serena had spent some time with both Spike and bulk. She had pushed Spike hard, trying to showcase the best of his abilities. All things considered, the kid was progressing well, and she wanted to show Kimberly that her lessons were far from those of a well-intentioned amateur. Although she was reluctant to do so, Serena had agreed to finish up by sparring with Kimberly. She only did so after Spike and Bulk had both assured her that Kimberly had trained under both Tommy Oliver, and Jason Lee Scott, names well known in the Martial Arts game years ago.

She had to admit being impressed. Kimberly's style was indeed unique, completely unlike anything she had ever seen. Despite being older, she moved incredibly quickly, so fast that Serena was sure she'd give Antonio a run for his money. Her swordsmanship was largely rudimentary; her technique with the sword being far from fancy, but it was backed up by an acrobatic and flamboyant attack form that meant Serena hardly ever knew where the next strike was coming from.

She managed to parry another couple of blows, before they spun away from each other. She finally held up a hand, indicating that it was time to stop. She was sure that Kimberly didn't want to spend all her time in town attacking her with a shinai.

"Alright, I think that's enough for today." Serena told them.

"Serena, we've got some great sweet and sour." Bulk told her. "You're welcome to join us if you like."

"I'd..."

"I'm sure you'd love to." Kimberly interrupted her. "It'll give us time to discuss where you learned all this."

"Um...alright I guess." She replied a little nervously. "Stephen's working late at the Apple store, so I guess I don't need to hurry back."

"I'll just get cleaned up." Spike told her, before running off. Bulk gathered up the equipment, pulling it back inside to get started on dinner, leaving Kimberly with Serena. The former Yellow Samurai took a long drink from a bottle of water as Kimberly approached her.

"Well, I have to admit that I'm surprised." Kimberly told her. "You're good, probably as good as Tommy."

"Thanks." Serena answered with a little bit of a smile. She was studying palaeontology online under Tommy Oliver, and he along with Hayley had helped her in her quest to retrieve Kasamune. She knew all about his past as a Ranger. "I've been training since I was a kid."

"Well, in my experience just about any time a Ranger team shows up, every two-bit nobody who thinks they know Martial Arts starts taking money for lessons." Kimberly told her.

"Yeah, I've heard hospital admissions go up whenever a Ranger team shows up." Serena told her, pulling out the fake certificates that Ji had prepared for her, and handing them to Kimberly. "I can assure you I'm qualified. I don't blame you for being nervous; I've seen some pretty questionable teachers around town."

She started so shift a little.

"You mentioned you trained under Tommy Oliver." Serena commented.

"I did a lot more than that." Kimberly commented. "We dated at one time."

"Well, he's teaching my online palaeontology course." Serena informed her. "I've talked to him a few times."

"Well, that's a nice little coincidence." Kimberly stated, before looking to Serena. "Look, I can see you're good."

"You are too." Serena replied.

"Thanks." Kimberly put down. "Look, I'm just worried about Spike. He's never done anything like this before."

"To be honest, I kind of think he isn't used to having friends." Serena commented. Kimberly just looked at her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kimberly asked coldly, crossing her arms. Serena realised that it had to sound a little like a shot.

"He...kind of explained what it was about." Serena told her. "He has some friends at school..."

"I've met them." Kimberly interrupted her.

"Well, he said that they're kind of...well...to put it delicately, they're kind of the school's favourite targets." She stammered. "He said that he kind of got fed up watching them getting picked on. What he did...he did to make a point and get the bigger kids to leave them alone."

"And I guess you're suggesting that's my fault?" Kimberly asked her. Serena had to admit that in some ways it did sound like a shot at Kimberly. If she was entirely honest, she had to admit that a part of her kind of admired Spike's motives if not his methods. There was also a part of her that did believe that Kim should shoulder at least some of the blame. Mal, Jimmy and Vicky were the first real friends he'd had in years, it was only natural that he wanted to help them, but he just didn't know how.

"No, Spike's mistakes are his own." Serena said semi-truthfully. "I guess I'm just saying...well...have you ever had a group of friends that you were so close to that you'd do anything for them? Even if you knew it was wrong?"

"I guess when I was his age, I did have a group." Kimberly mumbled. "And I guess going to his school had to have been pretty humiliating for him."

"Look, I know you don't like the thought of him being bullied, but do you maybe think this is just something that he should face?" Serena asked her.

"What? It's a natural part of growing up?" Kim asked her coldly. "Let me guess, you were the alpha bitch at your school."

"Actually my little sister went through a lot of the stuff Spike did." Serena corrected her. "I spent a lot of time sorting out her problems for her, but I couldn't do that forever. Eventually she stood up for herself, now she's stronger than even I am. Not that I'd ever tell her that of course."

"I guess not." Kimberly responded. "I know it's probably not your fault. I just...I want to do what's best for Spike."

"I know you do." Serena replied. "I guess it's natural to not want to see the ones we love hurt. But if you just wrap them in cotton wool..."

"They never learn to take care of themselves." Kim sighed. "I guess it's too much to hope for that everyone he meets is going to be nice to him."

"You know, Bulk's cooking is pretty good." Serena told her. "And he should be pretty close to being ready."

"I guess so." Kimberly replied. "I hate to admit it, but I can see why that restaurant was a success."

"So, you knew Dr. Oliver from back in the day?" Serena asked her. "So what was he like?"

"Boy, could I tell you some stories." Kimberly responded with a little smile. She wasn't entirely convinced that Serena was telling her everything, but she had to admit having gained a certain respect for her after the match.

Back in the Netherworld, Master Xandred pulled away from the gap, looking back to Octoroo.

"This new woman, she is the source of this energy?" He asked as his tactical advisor rummaged through some books.

"I believe so." Octoroo told him. "Damn it, I know I've seen something like this before."

"The power, it seems shielded or faded somehow." Xandred responded. "We have seen that she was a match for the Earth Samurai."

"Despite her age." Octoroo added. "Those humans do have such fleeting lives."

"Indeed they do." Xandred stated. Octoroo then pulled up a book and his tentacles started to twitch excitedly.

"Ha, I knew we had felt something like this!" He screamed. "We were still sealed away, but I remember it now!"

"What is it?" Xandred asked him. Octoroo showed him a sketch book.

"Someone harnessed the energy of the ninjetti." He reminded him. Xandred smirked.

"Ninjor." He replied. "Hearing that he was gone was the best news I heard in centuries."

"Well, it seems that those with the power of the ninjetti, it was connected to their life force." Octoroo told him. "While the bulk of the powers were lost to the ages, it seems that traces of it still exist."

"Well, that does give me an interesting idea." Xandred replied. "Say what you will about her nature, Dayu was a dangerous warrior. When she left, she did reduce our forces. Perhaps it is time to think towards her replacement."