Jared was up for hours in HQ typing away at the computer models. His eyes darted from screen to screen as he frantically tried to track his friends down.

"This is my fault," He thought to himself.

He replayed the trap he and his friends had fallen into over and over. Then, his mind casted itself to one year before. "What good is my power?"

He recalled the times when he used his strange ability.

Young Jared's eyes glowed red and Daniel's soul gate appeared. He remembered the moment he thrust his hand into the blue portal, his vision flashed.

He found himself in a black and white world. He saw young adult Daniel with a beautiful woman with raven black hair. He wrapped his arms around her and pecked her cheek. He rested his hands on the woman's bulging belly which housed a developing baby. Another vision flash and Jared saw the two taking a stroll in the park.

Daniel said the the woman, "She'll be coming soon."

The woman nodded. She said excitedly, "In a few days, we're gonna be parents!"

"So we agree? It'll be Emily?"

"Emily." The Woman said.

What happened next came to fast. A vampire attacked them and drained Daniel's wife of her blood.

"Vivian!" He shouted. "No!" He picked the vampire up and threw it at a tree. The sharp branch dusted it.

Jared felt sad... then the scene froze. A red and silver light appeared in front of him. The light became a silver stake. Jared grabbed it. His vision flashed back, and he pulled the stake out of Daniel's soul gate.

~Flash~

Jared's mind then wandered to when he pulled out Callum's shield.

When his vision flashed, he found himself in Callum's home. A young Callum was taking care of his sick mom.

"I'll protect you, mom. I'll take good care! I promise you!"

"I'm glad I have someone like you, Callum."

The scene froze, and the sphere appeared in front of Jared.

~Flash~

After, Jared's mind went to when he pulled the sleek sword out of Rachel.

In the black and white world, he saw Rachel running away from these demon looking creatures. From the looks of her clothes, Jared knew she had been running for days, maybe even weeks. She was so young, yet she used a pistol like a master. When there was one demon left, her bullets ran out. She kept running until she saw a metal pipe in the ground. She pulled it out and beat the demon to death.

She screamed, "This is for hurting my daddy!"

The scene froze, and the short sword appeared in front of Jared. He grabbed it without hesitation.

~Flash~

Jared's mind then went to Noah. When he stuck his hand inside Noah's Soul Gate, the black and white world was a series of things.

A young Noah, maybe about 6 or 7 years of age, was sitting on the shoulders of a man. The man gleefully said, "See the fireworks, Noah?"

Noah looked on in awe.

In another flash, a slightly older Noah was learning to ride his first bike under the guidance of the same man.

~Flash~

A ten year old Noah is given a camera by this man. "Woah... thanks, dad!"

"With this camera, I hope you can record your world as you go on adventures. Just like your old man."

~Flash~

Twelve year old Noah watched his dad leave the house from a work call. A strange artifact was found outside the country and Mr. Ryder was needed.

"I promise, dad... I'll take those pictures. Come back as fast as you can..."

Two things appeared in front of Jared. A tricked out blue and silver camera, and a blue orb. Jared grabbed the blue orb. Flash, Jared pulled Super Speed right out of Noah.

~Flash, Reality~

Kayla and Rachel watched as Jared worked and worked.

"He's been at it all night," Rachel commented.

"Yeah, he's bent on finding the others."

"I just hope he can make it in time."

-Cue Theme-

Noah woke up in a containment tube. His friends were in separate tubes.

"Where are we?" He asked. The room they were in was strange. The area was about the size of the inside of a factory conveyor belt room. It was surprisingly multicolored. There were dark purples, greens, yellows and blues mixing together to form a demented looking mix of shades.

He saw Medusa, Callum and Vladmir standing in the middle of this room.

"And soon he will come?" Medusa asked.

"Oh, he will, but the time he finds us, the hearts of his friends will be gone." Vladmir said.

Callum continued. "And when their hearts are gone, their spirit powers will take full control and they will become powerful Phantoms."

-HQ-

"Jared, please don't beat yourself up. Rest for a bit." Iris suggested.

"No, I can't! I have to find my friends! I have to!"

"Friends?" Rachel asked. "I thought they weren't your friends?"

"I was..." Jared trailed off. "Scared... of losing them. But I know they trust me now. I have to find and save them no matter what."

The main screen flashed, and showed Vladmir's face. "Hello, Slayer."

"Vladimir!" Jared said. "Where're my friends?!"

"Right here!" The screen shifted and showed the four rangers trapped in the tubes.

"Guys!" Jared shouted.

Vladmir said, "As we speak, their hearts are being drained away. Soon, they will become Phantoms. But, I want to give you a fighting chance. I will send you the coordinates. Maybe you can save them!" With that, the screen went black.

The screen glowed green and the map appeared. A red dot glowed, showing the location.

"Got'em!"

"Wait, Jared." Colton said approaching them. "That was too easy. It has to be a trap. Take Devon with you. In a pinch, he can get you out."

"Fine. But don't worry."

Devon grabbed Jared's shoulders. "I just hope we can make it out alive."

Devon focused on the location and in a swirl of blue and white lights, the two were gone.

"Good luck..." Rachel said. Suddenly, a darker swirl of blue appeared and two figures stepped from it. Rachel, and her team, recognized them.

With her eyes widened, Rachel asked, "Why're you here?!"

-The Unknown Location-

Jared snuck into the building from above.

"Stay here, Devon. When I free the others, get them out."

"And what about you?"

"I'll be fine..."

"Do you have a plan?"

"Yep. Forgive me for this." Jared's eyes glowed red and he looked at Devon.

He pressed his hand into Devon's soul gate, and his vision flashed.

In this black and white world, he saw Devon in a vet. He was with a woman who appeared to be his mom. He was helping his mom tend to many animals.

"You're really helpful, honey." His mom complimented.

~Flash~

Jared saw Devon in a hospital, helping his dad tend to a patient.

"Son, you really know your stuff. You're a great doctor!"

"Thanks, Dad!"

~Flash~

Devon was walking across the street when a giant truck lost control. In a matter of seconds, Devon was crushed to death. His deeds tending to both humans and animals caused him to be reborn as a Light-Watcher.

The scene froze and a white orb appeared in front of Jared. He took the orb into his palm.

His vision flashed, and Jared pulled out the white orb and let it sink into his chest as he pressed it there. He teleported to the ground.

When the flash of blue and white orbs faded, Jared stood tall with a stake.

"Let them go!" Jared commanded.

"How bold, Slayer. Striking first."

"I'll say it again. Let. Them. Go."

Medusa then said, "Or else what?"

Phoenix and Slade appeared from a cloud of black mist. "You're outmatched," Slade laughed.

Jared looked at Callum and said, "I'll take out each and every one of you."

Callum shook his head, "Not if I kill you first. You don't get it Jared. You of all people SHOULD understand... My mother... my death broke her heart! My funeral? She was in pieces. I knew I couldn't approach her the way I was because it'd pain her even more! This is your fault, Jared. ALL YOUR FAULT!" With that, Callum, and all the other villains, charged.

Jared ducked under Callum's punch and rolled to the side. Medusa came down with her staff and Jared back flipped away.

"Biomerge, Spirit Legend!"

-Jared Morphing Sequence-

Jared threw the stake, but Slade kicked it into the air, causing it to get stuck in the ceiling. Jared summoned his sword and fought back. He parried a strike from Phoenix, kicked Medusa away, rolled under Vladmir, blocked Callum, punched him, then kicked him away, then he jumped into the air and entered a fast paced exchange of fists with Slade. Slade eventually kicked Jared into a wall.

"Give it up, Jerry." Callum said. "Just let me kill you."

"Callum, I'm sorry... I am... But the past is gone... and I have to stop living in fear from it." Jared jumped into the air and grabbed the ceiling stuck stake. Using Power from Within, he flashed in front of Callum and staked his heart.

"I'm sorry, friend."

"I'm sorry too, Jared. Thanks for freeing me."

Jared dematerialized his helmet and locked eyes with his friend for the last time. Callum's eyes shined with gratitude as he faded away into dust.

Jared flashed his helmet back on and took a stance.

"You're next." He threatened.

His friends watched on as their leader fought his hardest.

"Don't give up, Jared!" Alicia encouraged.

"Keep fighting, Jar!" Noah yelled.

Jared kept getting beaten down. By Phoenix's fire, Medusa's snakes, Slades ruthless hits, and Vladmir's vampiric powers.

As Jared fought back, he thought to himself, "I can't live in the past anymore. I have to move on. I have to fight for my friends and the world!" As Jared was kicked into a wall, he started to glow.

"What's happening?" Liam asked.

~Flash~

Jared found himself in a familiar white space. It was the space where he joined with the spirit of fire. The cloaked figure with red trimmings was behind him.

"Spirit of Fire?" He asked.

The Spirit lifted its arm and pointed. Jared turned his head again and saw another cloaked figure. It had grey trimmings. It stepped forward and held out its own hand. When Jared took it into his own. He realized who it was.

Jared said, "The Spirit of Steel." And he was back in reality.

The Spirit of Steel was filling him with strength. Silver fluid flowed over his Spirit Sword and solidified. His sword was bigger and wider.

Medusa said, "He acquired another Spirit... We must get it." She charged forward, but Jared took one swing and sent her flying.

Phoenix and Slade ran at him, and Jared swung his left arm. Metallic needles sailed at the duo and struck them. The Slayer jumped into the air and sent down a wave of red energy, sending the two flying back.

Vladmir flew up to him. "You will fall, Slayer!"

"No... it's you who will fall." Jared lifted his sword and brought it down on Vladmir, sending the vampire to the ground at high speeds.

Jared landed, and swiftly freed his friends. However, something was wrong. They all fell to the ground unconscious.

"Devon!" Jared shouted.

The Light-Watcher teleported in and tried to heal them. "It's no good." He informed.

"What?!" Jared asked.

Vladmir laughed. As he started to fade into dust, he said, "Suffer, Slayer. For your friends will turn into Phantoms and serve King Cepheus! HAHAHA!" With that, the vampire was a dust pile.

Jared looked over at the three Phantoms, who were struggling to get up.

The Slayer demorphed. "Their hearts were absorbed... This makes me wonder..."

Devon knew what Jared was getting at. "Jared... I know what're you're trying to do."

Jared lifted his sword and used the Spirit of Steel to reshape it back to its original form.

"I need to Devon. They're my friends."

"Jared, NO!"

Jared's eyes turned red. Silver ribbon like structures whirled around his sword. The red symbol appeared beneath his feet. He stuck the blade out, turned it in his hand, and struck his own heart. The sword glowed and sunk into his chest. Out of his soul gate came one golden sphere. It divided itself into four and sank into Noah, Alicia, Liam and Sonia. When this happened, four orbs came out of the containment tubes and re-entered their original hosts. The four woke up as they saw Jared fall.

"Jared!" They shouted. Noah got to him first and held the Slayer's head in his lap. "Jared, speak to me."

Alicia grabbed both his hands. "Jared, wake up."

However, he didn't. Jared burst into millions of red lights and faded.

"Jared!" Noah shouted.

"No!" Sonia yelled.

"Come back!" Liam shouted.

Phoenix laughed. He, Slade and Medusa got up.

"That fool is gone. And now, it's just the four of you."

"Jared... no..." Alicia said.

Noah stood up. "You Twilight freaks will pay dearly..."

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

"Biomerge, Spirit Legend!"

-Four Way Morphing Sequence-

Sonia and Liam fought Phoenix, Alicia fought Medusa and Noah fought Slade.

The battle raged on, neither side letting up.

Jared felt himself falling in an unknown space.

"I'm falling... into darkness..."

Sonia low swept Phoenux, but he jumped into the air. Liam sent green shield discs at him and knocked the Phantom out of the air. Sonia charged up her power. "Lightning Crash!" The bolt struck Phoenix and he held his ground with crimson fire.

"Earth Breaker!" Liam sent a boulder at the Phantom sending him into a wall.

Alicia and Medusa exchanged punches and kicks. The two were evenly matched. Alicia kicked the Phantom into the air.

"Hurricane Wave!" The wind blast knocked the Phantom into the ceiling.

"Spirit Bow!" Alicia fired a round of arrows above her striking Medusa repeatedly.

Noah used his super speed to send rapid punches at Slade, who was barely blocking them all. The Blue Ranger then zipped behind Slade and held out his hands. "River Rush!" The burst of water sent Slade straight into Medusa and Phoenix.

The four rangers lined up with their X-Swords and X-Defenders and charged them with Power from Within.

"Spirit Slash and Blast!" The attacks nailed the Phantoms.

Slade teleported away. Medusa and Phoenix stood up.

Phoenix said, "It's far from over." He snapped his fingers and said, "Now, these Phantoms will kill you!"

The two teleported away as well. New Phantoms of all shapes and sizes flooded the room.

"Stand strong, guys." Noah said. "Just like Jared."

The four proceeded to fending off numerous attacks from all directions.

Alicia was knocked into a strange looking machine. A giant Phantom that looked like a ghoul was going to smash her, but a red, bipedal, armored lion looking Phantom slashed the ghoul into nothing with blazing claws. The Phantom turned to her with eyes that looked human.

Alicia gasped, "Jared?"

The Phantom roared, turned and went on taking out numerous Phantoms. When they were gone, it was just the rangers, the Phantom Jared and Devon.

"Jared, is that you, buddy?" Noah asked.

"Can we bring him back?" Liam asked.

"I don't know." Devon replied.

Suddenly, about a hundred Shadowlites appeared.

Sonia noticed something. "Guys, Jared's hurt. We need to protect him."

Alicia nodded. "Jared... I'll protect you this time..."

Noah said, "We all will. Devon... get to high ground."

"Ok..." Devon teleported away.

At that moment when the all the Shadowlites rushed in at them. The five rangers made contact.

"Jared!" Alicia shouted as she wrapped her arms around the Lion Phantom. They glowed as the Shadowlites piled on them. Then, in a burst of light, the Shadowlites were sent flying away. The flash caused everyone to demorph. The Lion Phantom was no more. In its place, was Jared in his human form. His own arms wrapped around Alicia.

"Alicia... thank you..."

"Jared..." Alicia said smiling. They let go of each other.

"Thanks, guys. You really are great friends."

Liam said, "Don't mention it. It's what friends do."

"I don't wanna ruin this moment..." Sonia said, "But we still have a job to do."

"Alright." Jared said.

"Biomerge, Spirit Legend!"

-Morphing Sequence-

"Spirit of Fire: Red Legend Ranger!"

"Spirit of Water: Blue Legend Ranger!"

"Spirit of Wind: Pink Legend Ranger!"

"Spirit of Earth: Green Legend Ranger!"

"Spirit of Lightning: Yellow Legend Ranger!"

"Ancient Spirits Unite! Power Rangers: Next Legend!"

"Let's take them down in one strike." Jared said. He raised his right arm and summoned the Legend Burst Cannon. He set the mode to "Rainstorm."

"You guys ready?"

"Ready!"

"Legend Storm, Fire!"

They shot a golden ball straight up, and it burst into thousands of mini energy balls striking all the Shadowlites.

However, it wasn't over. Vladmir's dust pile glowed with black mist and it grew. The giant vampire no longer resembled a human. He was now a complete monster.

"Legend King Megazord, Rise Up!"

"Wolf Cannons, fire!" LK shot numerous beams of energy down at Vladmir. However, it didn't make him go down. Vladmir spread monstrous wings and charged the Zord. LK took flight and fired more. The rounds missed the vampire and the monster struck the zord's chest.

"Hang in there, guys!" Jared said.

"Legend King Sword!" LK summoned its sword and struck Vladmir in the chest. It then flew around and kicked the vamp to the ground.

"Take this!" LK drove its sword into Vladmir's heart and held its Wolf Cannons point blank.

"Legend Blast Finish!" In a big flash, Vladmir was gone...

Phoenix and Medusa watched from the distance.

"Tsk... It's not over." Medusa said, leaving.

"Far from it..." Phoenix said disappearing as well...

-HQ-

The Rangers teleported to HQ and walked down the halls.

Liam clapped his Red Ranger's back. "Great job, Jared! Unlocking a spirit."

Jared shook his head. "I wouldn't have gotten it if it weren't for you guys."

"Let's tell Dr. Wells and Rachel all about it." Sonia said.

As the six walked into the man room, they were shocked.

Iris, Kayla, Rachel, Colton and Luke were tied up... A man, a little older than them stared at the five. He had brown hair and green eyes that matched Rachel's. He wore a black best over a dark blue long sleeve shirt. He also wore black pants with black boots. Over it all, he wore a white robe. On the back of the robe was a number 2.

"So, the humans with the Ancient Spirits arrive. Such a waste."

Rachel said, "Brother, leave them out of it. You were here for us, so let's leave."

Another man, who was Jared's age said, "Ryan, let me test out their strength."

"Calm down, Ian." Ian had black hair and was Noah's height. He had tanner skin and wore the same uniform as Ryan, minus the cloak.

"Rachel is right. We have what we came for, so we leave."

"Rachel!" The others shouted.

Jared quickly morphed. "Oh, no you don't!" He charged forward with dual swords.

However, Ian stepped forward and summoned his own sword, which was rather big, and blocked Jared.

"Not on my watch, pal." Ian said.

"Stand down, Ian." Ryan ordered. The man waved his hand, and an invisible force knocked Jared into his friends.

"Man..." Ian commented. "He was sent flying by your wave? That's your weakest attack! Whatever..."

A portal appeared, and they were all gone.

"Where'd they go? Who was that?" Liam asked.

"I believe it is time for me to explain..." Came a voice.

The rangers turned to see a black cat. "My name is Raven. I shall explain everything."

"That cat... just talked..." Sonia said.

"Yeah, she did. You should get used to it." Dr. Wells replied appearing next to it. "We have a lot to talk about."


A/N: And there's that chapter! Next Chapter starts the "Infiltration Arc."