Griffocalibur met Naganata as the foes clashed. Hayden snarled behind his mask as he felt the overwhelming strength of the lion begin to bare down upon him. With all his strength, Hayden shoved Goldar back and leaped away as the sword came smashing into the ground. The moment he landed, Goldar was already upon him with another fatal slash. Spinning back and away, Hayden parried the strike wide while using the momentum to finish with a roundhouse. The blow barely seemed to bother Goldar as he charged right through it and slashed Hayden hard across the back.

He let out a painful cry as sparks splashed against the ground and rolled away into the still smoking rubble. Quickly, he returned to his feet as Goldar's lion-like roar shattered what windows still remained around them. He was a master of the One Handed Long Sword and Griffocalibur was tuned perfectly to his body. With such skill and amazing weapon, it was like trying to defeat King Arthur while wielding Excalibur.

Hayden quickly rose as they began to circle one another now. "Even after what I went through with Hades, Goldar seems to match me stride for stride… Did the Abyss really change him that much?" Hayden thought and gasped as Goldar surged forward. Hayden met him stride for stride and dodge rolled beneath Goldar's slash and quickly slashed him down the back. With a snarl, Goldar whirled around, smashed away a second strike and slashed Hayden down the chest. The Gold Ranger pushed through the pain and kicked out but Goldar slap-blocked it and slashed him across the stomach now. Staggering away, Hayden snarled angrily and gathered his strength again. "Dragon Staff: Energy Orb!" With a quick spin and quick slash, he sent the sparking, golden orb at Goldar, but to Hayden's horror, the Lion split in two with a mighty slash. Before he could move, dark red energy arced along the blade and Goldar blasted Hayden squarely in the chest.

"AUGHNN!"Hayden let out a painful shriek as he spiraled backwards and smashed into the ground with a sickening thud.

"I should thank you for what you did in the Abyss of Evil… Your destruction of those souls, the murder of Hades? You've granted so many of us a chance at freedom!" Goldar howled and began to laugh. "But now, I'm afraid you've out lived your usefulness! All that misery you went through and this will be your only reward…"

Hayden slowly began to stand but fell forward onto his staff. "I-Is this w-what Hades meant? D-Did his death cause a-all this?" He thought and slumped forward, unable to keep himself standing any further.

Before Goldar could bring down the final strike, Saizo appeared between them. Hayden looked up wearily as his suit faded away before finally collapsing to the ground. The Dragon snarled at his Gold General before turning to Goldar. For a long moment, Dragon and Lion stared each other down before Goldar lowered his blade.

"I can sense your power… Fighting you would be fruitless; I'd gain nothing from it." Goldar snarled and crossed his arms. "You may be stronger, but you are just as evil as Rita was… Alright, Dragon, I'll listen to your offer. After all, if you were here to destroy me, I'm sure you would have done it by now."

"Smart… It appears your time in the Abyss was unfortunate, but well spent. You are one of many who have suffered at the hands of the Power Rangers… Join me and together we will bring them to their knees…" Saizo offered as he walked past Goldar and looked back at the downed Hayden. Reaching out, dark tendrils rose up from the ground and pulled Hayden into the portal. "What say you, Great Lion?"

A low rumble escaped Goldar as his sword vanished in a lance of scarlet energy. With a sharp nod he answered, "I accept. I've been waiting a long time for this…"

With a snap of his draconic fingers, dark portals pulled Goldar and Saizo into the ground…

XXXXXX

The Wind Ninja academy was alive with activity as Shane, Dustin and Tori oversaw the various students. They were fully fledge Wind Ninja Masters and with their sensei looking on approvingly, they began to train the newest generation of Ninja's. Ever since Lothors defeat Cam had been working vigorously to get the Ninja Storm academy back on line and to find some way to replenish the depleted power discs. But even the best of techs new the only possible way to do that… was to find some kind of access to the Morphing Grid. So for now, they had to rely on their instincts and inner Ninja power.

And during their time as the Ninja Storm Rangers, it had served them well – especially with the guidance of the Sensei. In the end, it helped them to defeat Lothor and seal him away into the Abyss of Evil. Though, ultimately, he was destroying by Mesogog, but none mind as to how it went down. And it had helped them protect the world from his insane rule. They had even helped the Dino Thunder Rangers to put an end to Lothor and his goons once and for all.

But now…?

"I can't believe Blake asked me to marry him!" Tori said excitedly as she looked down at the diamond ring on her finger. Ever since his Motocross Career had taken off, he seemed to be rolling in the dough. Though, in the end, even his bike couldn't tear the loneliness out of his heart.

"Dude, I saw it comin' from a mile away!" Dustin countered with a matter of fact nod. "I mean, you two started dating after we defeated Lothor and… well… you two don't exactly hide your feelings for each other!"

"Yeah, and after you and Blake had lil Aila, that only served to push the two of you further to-…" Shane paused suddenly and looked around the academy. Tori and Dustin stopped and looked back at their former leader. His eyes had gone misty, like he was trying to activate some far off power and he looked… confused? Exchanging worried glances, Tori gave Shane a little shake to bring him back to reality.

"Shane? Shane, what's wrong?" Tori asked worriedly and she shook him again.

"I… I can sense something…" Shane responded softly and looked around. "I can sense something incredibly evil. It feels… familiar?"

Tori and Dustin took a step closer to their leader and began to look now. They expanded their senses outwards – sound, sight, smell – to the forest protecting the school. The gently flowing river grew louder than before and the shifting steps of their students became crisp. They could see deep into the forest, through the trees, the air and moister itself while the scent of sweat became almost putrid, but they quickly pushed it away. Yet… they saw nor felt anything.

Until…

Until a dark streak of energy slammed into a group of nearby students and unleashed an explosion that ripped away the ground and instantly incinerating the surrounding area. The dying screams of the ninja's shook the Ninja Rangers to their core when suddenly they just vanished. And there, crouched in the crater with fist to the ground, was Lothor…

"Lothor? No, that's impossible!" Shane shouted as the Dark Ninja began to rise.

"Nothing… is impossible any longer." Lothor hissed as he flexed his razor sharp claws. "I will see to it… that you pay for what you did to me."

The Ninja Rangers fell into stance as Lothor vanished and appeared only feet away from them. His body crackled with dark energies as he slowly rose from his crouch and turned to face them. The Rangers tightened their stances as Cam and Sensei Watannabe came rushing up to them.

"Lothor…?" Sensei spoke disbelievingly. "No… In this age my eyes must be betraying me…"

Lothor let out a fierce roar and began to laugh. "No brother, your eyes deceive you not! You… you all made a mockery of me and for that I will SEE TO IT that you PAY! And I will start with YOU!" Lothor screamed and thrust his hand out. A javelin of dark energies sizzled through the air and before any could react, it pierced through Sensei's chest.

"Father!" Cam cried as he reached out to his falling dad… but it made no difference: he was dead before he hit the ground. Cam captured his father in his arms as he looked down at his Father's pale face and the blood that dripped slowly from his mouth. His once pristine robes were now stained with blood as the energy javelin crackled once, twice and then faded away… "Father, no…"

"Sensei!" The Rangers shouted and whipped around just as Lothor attacked.

None of them stood a chance. Being the closest, Tor was the first to try… and the first to die. She attacked with a vicious slashing kick but it seemed to pass right through Lothor's body. But Lothor's hand didn't… The sound of tearing flesh and snapping bones filled the air as Lothor plunged a knife edge through her heart. As the Dark Ninja ripped his hand away, a nearby scream alerted his attention. There, with a wide, horrified look on her face was a suffering little brown haired girl.

"MOMMY!" Aila screamed as she clutched her tear stricken face.

"Aila, run!" Shane shouted but Lothor Ninja Streaked towards her. "LOTHOR! NOO!"

As the fist descended, a lance of blue energy struck him in the chest and blasted him backwards into the crater. The Ninja's looked up to see the Blue Dino Thunder Ranger rush to them.

"Ethan, get her out of here!" Shane shouted but gasped when Lothor appeared before them again. He attacked with a vicious punch, but the Dark Ninja whirled around, slapped it away and clutched the Red Ninja Rangers face with his sparking hand. Before Dustin and Cam could react, an explosion blasted away Shane's skull and ripped away his body as what remained crumbled to the ground in a smoking heap.

Lothor moved again into a block as Dustin's foot crashed into his forearm. Quickly, the Yellow Ninja Ranger weaved back from the clawed swipe… but a brutal palm smashed into his face, shattering his jaw and breaking his nose in several places. Rocked and staggered from the blow, Dustin collapsed to his knees in pain… but he would have no time to recover. Lothor clutched Dustin's throat and lifted him towards the sky.

"Let him go!" Cam screamed as he called upon his inner ninja and unleashed a wave of raw green energy… but Lothor slapped the energy away. Cam attacked again, striking at Lothor with an arching kick, but the Dark Ninja used Dustin as a shield and let him absorb the blow. "Dustin!" He shouted but gasped as a lance of scarlet energy passed through his chest. Woozily, Cam looked down at his smoking chest… and fell backwards to the ground for the final time.

"C-C-C-Cam!" Dustin sputtered but he was silenced as Lothor plunged a clenched fist through his stomach and tearing out the back.

"That… was it?" Lothor snarled as he tossed away Dustin's body to the ground. Once more he turned to face the Blue Dino Thunder Ranger with shaking hands. "Haha… hahaha…!" He cackled and clutched his broken ninja mask. "A-All this time… and THIS… THIS IS HOW IT ENDS?" However, that chilling laughter soon turned into a angry roar. "No… No, I will let no more Power Rangers exist! You will DIE Dino Thunder Ranger!"

Ethan gasped as Lothor Ninja Streaked to him, but only a desperate summoning of his Tricera shield saved his life. Lothor's energy filled fist exploded against the shield as the force carried Ethan, and Aila, backwards into the ground. The little girl cried harder as she clutched her throbbing shoulder. Lothor appeared before her again, but another bolt of blue energy blasted him backwards. Ethan quickly jumped in front of Aila as he raised his shield.

"Girl, go! You have to run!" Ethan shouted as he heard another Ninja Streak. He blocked again as a kick crashed his shield. Ethan pushed it away and quickly swept the shield around to block a fist and tackled Lothor to the ground. "AILA! RUN!" Ethan shouted as the girl cried harder and finally began to run…

Lothor snarled and kicked Ethan away as he quickly stood up. He moved for the girl, but Ethan slashed his legs out and caused him to fall. Quickly standing, he aimed a kick for the rising Lothor, but the Dark Ninja forearm blocked the kick and then jabbed Ethan hard in the stomach. He staggered backwards and gasped as dark energy struck him in the chest and blasted him away…

XXXXXX

Blake had been on his way to the Ninja Storm academy when he heard the explosions and the sounds of fighting. In a frantic pace to get there, he'd nearly missed his crying daughter hidden in the bushes nearby. He came to a sliding stop when he heard the sob and could see her brown hair and eyes in the shadows of the trees.

"Aila?" Blake breathed as the little girl looked up. "Aila! What's wrong?"

Aila screamed again and came rushing out of the bushes into her father's open arms. "D-Daddy! Oh, Daddy!" She sobbed and nuzzled his shoulder affectionately. "M-Mommy… M-Mommy, she's dead!"

Blake felt his blood run cold and looked down at his daughter. At first Blake believed he simply misheard her, but… the tears on her face and the pain in her eyes said he had not. Blake swallowed the lump his throat, felt his mouth run dry and tears well up in his eyes as well. "Aila honey, how did she die?" Blake asked softly as the little girl looked up at her.

"S-Some e-evil man… h-he… Daddy, mommy's dead!" She cried again and hugged her father tightly.

"Evil Man?" Blake thought and hugged Aila tightly but quickly whirled around when he heard the snapping of twigs. There, standing in the shadows, was Lothor. He flexed his razor sharp claws as he began to cackle dryly once more. Aila only began to cry harder now. "Lothor? It can't be!" Blake hissed and pushed his daughter back. "Aila, go! Run!" He ordered and turned to face Lothor, but she just grabbed his leg.

"Daddy, no! Please! I-I don't want you to die!" She cried and hugged his leg tightly.

Blake pried her away and shook his head. "Aila, I won't… I promise. Go! To the river! I'll meet you there!"

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Power Ranger!" Lothor hissed and Ninja Streaked towards her.

Blake intercepted the Dark Ninja and punched him away with all his strength. "Aila, go!" Blake shouted and tackled the rising Lothor.

In a fit of fright, Aila screamed again and began to run once more…

Today was the fall of the Ninja Storm Rangers…