"You know better than anyone how powerful I am," said the Green Ranger, "why don't you just give up the fight?"
"That's the one thing I'd never do," Tommy responded. He backed off as well as he was able, but his leg had been hurt by that last fall and Green Ranger was looming over him. Tommy ended up with his back up against something.
"Then I guess this is over." Green Ranger moved into a fighting stance, the dragon dagger ready.
This wasn't how Tommy had ever imagined dying. With all the dangers he faced in his normal life, he hadn't thought he'd be killed by ghosts of his former powers. He probably should have considered the possibility, since the Green Ranger had been resurrected before and tried to kill him. Strange though his end might be, he would face it. He'd been through too much to end cringing or begging.
"You passed the test." Green Ranger stepped forward, but instead of striking with the dagger, he offered Tommy his hand. He accepted it, deciding that this was definitely a better offer than certain death, however confusing it might be. He allowed himself to be helped to his feet.
"Test? What test?"
"You haven't been fighting us. You've been fighting for your life."
"And you've proven that your will to live is stronger than any Ranger power."
The Red and White Rangers appeared from out of the ruins, walking to stand on either side of Green Ranger. Tommy was still too shocked to think of a reasonable response to their arrival or their announcement.
"I don't understand," Tommy said.
"We are all still inside you," said Green Ranger.
"Our power is never completely gone," added White Ranger in the same voice, Tommy's voice.
"The Power resides inside every Ranger, no matter how long ago they surrendered their abilities," said Red Ranger.
"Call on us when you need us," Green Ranger said.
"We will answer," spoke all three. They held out their hands towards Tommy, each holding a piece of the missing Dino Gem.
"This is yours, Black Ranger."
Still incredibly confused, Tommy reached out to take the pieces, feeling the power tingle in the palm of his hand as the pieces fused together.
"Once a Ranger," the three said.
"Always a Ranger," Tommy finished in a mutter, opening his eyes.
For a moment, he lay staring at the ceiling, not quite sure what had just happened. Then someone landed on his legs and he paid attention to his surroundings. He supposed having Kat land on top of him wasn't the worst way to wake up, but it was made significantly less pleasant by the silver-eyed man she was fighting.
Kat stood and dealt a firm kick to the man's stomach. He stumbled back a step, then a sweeping stroke of a sword severed his neck and his body toppled, revealing Hunter.
Across the other side of the room, Tommy could see the twins. They stood motionless, right hands clasped, a golden light glowing around them. Beside them, Hayley was struggling with another silver-eyed soldier of the enemy. Kat rushed across and punched the guy. This, combined with Hayley's struggles, caused him to fall.
Tommy was hurrying out of the hospital bed to go and help, but it seemed there was no need. The golden light vanished and a short knife appeared in Will's hand. He moved quickly, the knife momentarily lengthening to a sword as it cut through the man's flesh and cut off his head.
Tommy stood, feeling lost and confused and somehow terrified of his own hope. He looked at the boy, a mere child holding a knife that was dripping with blood. The knife was an exact copy of the form the sword took for Trina.
"Will?" Tommy asked, not daring to believe.
The boy turned and looked at Tommy. His eyes gleamed still, but only with an ocean's worth of tears. There was no trace of silver there.
Tommy rushed across the room and flung his arms around Will. Then he grabbed Trina and pulled her into the crushing embrace as well. Both children hugged him back, shaking and sobbing.
Tommy didn't care about the how or the why. All he knew was that his children were here and healthy and with their souls intact. At that moment, he didn't care about anything else. When Kat joined them in the hug, the world was perfect.