Tales from the Rebellion

by PinkAtHart

A series of one-shot stories about the Eltarian Rebellion. If you've read my other Power Rangers fics, you're familiar with the Rebels. Here you'll find bits of history from the Eltarian Rebellion as well as the stories behind what made the Rebels end up following the paths they did. Featuring all of the Rebels you know from the Chosen fics universe and some new ones.

18. Chapter 18: Reckoning (The Circle)

EIGHTEEN: RECKONING(Featuring the Circle. Also featuring Zell, Artemisia, Felina, Zutan, and others...)

The Circle was never meant to exist. At least, not originally. There were no prophecies foretelling of their creation, nor did Zell see the unusual group in his many journeys through the timeline. As such, they had an excellent opportunity to plot to bring him down. Surprisingly, Zordon beat them to it. However, their story did not begin there, nor did it end.

The very year Zell was born, so was another powerful being. Hezzo of Eltar was an exceptionally strong Warlock. His dark powers were evident from the time he was an infant, as he'd use them to harm those who displeased him by failing to feed him quickly enough or not entertaining him with their existence. His family was delighted and proud.

For a time, the two existed entirely separate from one another. As Zell grew and quickly gained a reputation for being the greatest force of Good Eltar had ever seen, Hezzo gained a different sort of reputation. People stayed as far away from the known Warlocks as possible, fearing the rumors were true and they stood against everything Eltar was meant to be.

Both boys were barely teenagers when Zell began to be treated as Eltar's unofficial leader. His power was undeniable, and he used it to help as many Eltarians as he could. Of corse, that was not all Zell was using his power for, but no one knew that then.

As a major celebration was held to honor Zell's heroic efforts to save an entire village from being destroyed in a storm, Hezzo rolled his eyes, scowling cynically. "Can you believe these fools?" He asked Ling, his only true friend. Ling was also a Warlock. He was a year younger than Hezzo, and they'd grown up together.

Ling smiled brightly as he took a moment to stop chewing on one of the treats the crowd had passed out. "What was that, Hezz?" He asked pleasantly with his mouth still a bit full.

Hezzo sighed. "You're not buying into his act, too, are you?" He asked.

"What act? I just like sugar," Ling replied, still grinning. Ling was perhaps the worst Warlock ever to walk the streets of Eltar. He was exceedingly kind and pleasant, and although he possessed incredible power, he refused to use it to harm others. His family hoped he'd grow out of it eventually, but so far, not a shred of evil had touched that boy's heart. It made him the only Warlock Hezzo considered trustworthy.

"He's calling himself a Wizard, you know. I won't deny he's exceptionally gifted with magic, but he was born to be a Sorcerer like his brother. No one has ever possessed both titles, but he says he does... He claims he trained under a powerful clan of Wizards and received the official title from them. I don't buy it. If they were so powerful, where are they, and why have they not claimed him as one of their accomplishments?"

"Why would he lie, though?" Ling asked curiously.

"Why wouldn't he lie? He's addicted to the praise and attention he's been given since he was born. He's probably trying to make himself sound even more accomplished so everyone will make a bigger fuss over him. It's pathetic."

"You really don't like Zell, huh?"

"I don't know him... We've never directly met. I just hate the way these idiots buy into what is clearly an act. He's no more impressive than Elgan, but you don't see him running around seeking the praise of others."

"Yes, however... Elgan's seven, Hezz. He's a little young to do that, isn't he?"

"Says who? I know Warlocks who looked for attention and praise even younger than that."

"Yes, however, Warlocks are evil. Zell and Elgan are great forces of Good. It's not a proper comparison." He grinned again before asking, "Would you like some? This is delicious." He offered Hezzo a bit of his snack.

Hezzo glared at him. Ling didn't seem to notice as he kept smiling. "Suit yourself. More for me," he said pleasantly.

"I don't even understand why this warranted a celebration. He stopped a storm. Who cares?"Hezzo asked.

"No one died, Hezz. He saved the entire village from being wiped off of Eltar. Most of the damage wasn't even that bad. It's impressive work," Ling said between bites.

"Oh, please," Hezzo replied. "He probably created the storm himself. He can do that, you know. It's easy to stop a storm when you're the one who sent it in the first place."

"You're such a cynic. Why do you even care, Hezzo?" Ling paused. "Does the idea of Zell deceiving innocents upset you?" He asked hopefully.

"I am still evil, Ling. Through and through. That's never going to change, so stop dreaming of me suddenly becoming more like you. I do not care what happens to these idiots... I simply find Zell's existence annoying."

That would continue to be Hezzo's stance for a few years. Zell was a nuisance, but he didn't especially interest the young Warlock. Then, one night, everything changed.

Artemisia was the most beautiful girl Hezzo had ever met. When she smiled, all of his troubles seemed to fade away. She was not a Warlock, but she was a talented Sorceress who was respected for keeping a neutral attitude toward all Eltarians. She would help anyone despite their social class, political views, or magical title. She even showed kindness to the Warlocks. She worked in her father's magical supply shop and had known Hezzo since they were quite young. He'd had a bit of a crush on her from the time he was six, and he still flirted with her shamelessly. They'd stolen kisses before in private, and he wanted to do more than that, but they could never officially be together. After all, neither of their families would approve, and Hezzo didn't want to have to slaughter them all just because the young Sorceress inspired such lust in him.

His favorite thing about her was that she didn't take his nonsense. Hezzo was hostile to everyone he met, happily pushing them around because they were unworthy of better treatment, but Artemisia pushed back. She wasn't afraid of him, and because of this, she was the one person who could get him to talk about his deepest thoughts other than Ling.

When Hezzo went to the store that day, he was surprised to see Artemisia looking deeply shaken. She smiled at him, but it did not reach her eyes. "Artemisia? What troubles you?" Hezzo asked.

"Nothing, Hezz... I'm well," she replied too quickly.

"Do not lie to me, Temi. You are horrible at it."

"I have seen something," she admitted softly.

"A vision?"

"Yes... A vision of devastation unlike any Eltar has ever seen... There is a great evil rising to power."

"Is it me?" Hezzo teased her.

She remained serious. "No, Hezzo... This is true evil. He cannot love, and if he comes close, he shall destroy the one who affects him. His only true love is power..." She was trembling.

"Artemisia, do not be frightened... I shall protect you," he promised.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, which terrified him. Artemisia rarely cried. She was incredibly brave and generally happy. "He's too powerful, Hezzo... And no one knows what he truly is. They trust him unconditionally..."

"Who is he, Temi?" He knew. Deep down, it was obvious to him. Still, he needed to hear her say it before he dared to act.

"I cannot, my dearest Hezzo... It would only endanger you."

"I can take him, Temi."

"No... You can't. Not alone. No one can take him alone." She kissed him suddenly, and he briefly forgot what they were talking about. He loved the way her lips felt against his own. Artemisia satisfied a need in him he tried to deny existed. They could never be together, therefore, he could not admit such a terrible weakness even to himself.

"I love you," she whispered as she broke the kiss.

He stared at her. "I loved that kiss," he replied, for he could never say those words about a person. He was a Warlock. He was evil. He was incapable of...

You love her, his mind insisted. Just tell her, you fool. Tell the world! Let all of Eltar know the truth! Who cares?

Hush with that nonsense, he argued. He couldn't love her. True evil did not feel such foolish emotions. Love was for those like Ling... The happy, light people who didn't run around slaughtering the innocent for power. Hezzo did that routinely. He performed the darkest of spells and did not care who he hurt in the process. His only concern was his own well-being.

And Ling's, his mind taunted him.

It was true that Hezzo had saved Ling's life more than once when the Warlocks deemed him too weak to survive. He argued on his friend's behalf, pointing out it would be a waste of Ling's great power to simply kill him. That nearly always convinced the Warlocks to give the boy another chance, and when it didn't, Hezzo killed one or two of them to force them to listen to him.

"Hezz... You should go," Artemisia said softly. "You're expected at the ritual."

"You remembered."

"I remember everything you tell me." She smiled at him sadly. "Be safe, Hezzo. And when the threat rises, be strong."

"Perhaps I should stay... I do not like leaving you when you are upset."

"I will be well, my dearest Hezzo... Do not worry for me. I have my own role to play tonight." She kissed him again, deeper than the last time, almost like she needed his lips to bring her strength.

He hesitated in the door. "Temi..." He began.

"Go on, Hezz. You must leave now. I love you."

"I'll come by later to check on you."

She nodded. Hezzo left. He did not know that within minutes, Zell arrived. He greeted Artemisia with a pleasant yet dark smile. "Hello, my dear Artemisia," he greeted her. "Good day to you."

"Good day, Zell," she replied evenly.

"You know, of course, why I have come."

"I do."

"It is quite unfortunate you have seen things you were not meant to, my dear. I was always fond of you."

She knew there was no point in running. Zell would still kill her in the end. Her death was destined, and it was the only way to save Hezzo from the dark path he believed he had to follow. She decided to die with dignity.

Zell waved his hand and flung Artemisia toward the back wall of the shop. Potions and jars of spell ingredients crashed to the ground and shattered. She lay crumpled on the broken glass, struggling to get her bearings.

He laughed as she tried to find the strength to stand despite the fact that she was rapidly losing blood. Artemisia knew he was distracted by his own arrogance. She used that to focus her energy on casting a powerful spell with her blood.

Be safe, my love, she thought as she cast a powerful protection charm on all of Eltar. It would not stop Zell, for as she'd told Hezzo, no one could do that alone. It would, however, give the Eltarians a fighting chance at survival.

All things must have a balance, Artemisia thought. Zell's was meant to be Elgan, but that would not be enough to stop him. Elgan was a good soul, but the boy was young, and his loyalty to his beloved older brother blinded him to the truth. Artemisia's blood would ensure that more balances would come in the future. It might take several millennia, but one day, an army would rise that would be strong enough to destroy Zell for good. His day of reckoning would come and he would answer for all of his crimes. Somehow, she knew Hezzo would be on the front lines of that battle. That was what helped her make peace with her inevitable demise.

She was too wounded to escape as flames spread through the shop. Zell calmly walked out, leaving her to die. She desperately wanted to escape, but deep down, she knew it was impossible. After a while, the heat and the smoke caused her to perish.

Hezzo knew in his very soul that something was wrong. He raced to the shop as soon as he could leave the ritual and found it in flames. "Artemisia!" He shouted. He had always had a strong affinity for "winter" magic. Hezzo could freeze anything he wanted. He froze the shop. Instead of the flames vanishing, they turned to solid ice.

They're magical flames, he realized. A normal fire would have melted the ice and been put out by the water that act produced. Only a powerful spell would have reacted to his magic like that.

"Artemisia! Temi, answer me! Where are you?" He called desperately as he walked through the shop. The powerful wards on that building should have protected it even if the fact that it was treated as a neutral space no one violated hadn't. Hezzo knew only one entity with enough power to get by Artemisia's protection spells.

He found her then, buried under the rubble of part of the roof that had collapsed from the flames. He quickly unburied her and pulled her into his arms, desperately checking for a pulse. There was none.

"No... No, you cannot do this, Temi... You cannot leave me..." He said in horror. He tried in vain to revive her, but no spell or physical remedy could make her draw a breath.

"Don't go..." Hezzo whispered. For the first time in his life, he felt tears streaming down his cheeks. "Don't go... I love you..."

Even those words did not revive his precious Artemisia. Hezzo had no choice but to accept that she was dead... And he knew exactly who had stolen her from him.

His tears stopped. He kissed Artemisia's lips a final time before saying, "You shall be avenged, my love." Gently, he released her, casting a powerful protection spell on her remains. He had failed to protect her in life, but no matter what happened, she would be safe in death.

He stood and exited the shop. Then, he gave in to his rage. A blizzard moved in rapidly. Everything began to freeze. Snow rushed around him in powerful drifts as the wind blew furiously. His eyes glowed ice blue as his power spilled out of him. He refused to hold back. Everyone would pay for his pain!

A figure moved with great effort toward him some time later. The man struggled to reach him, moving deliberately but not very quickly because it was impossible to easily navigate in the storm. Finally, a familiar face looked at him with both confusion and sympathy.

"Hezz! You have to stop this storm!" Ling cried desperately.

"No," Hezzo replied coldly.

"You'll freeze the entire planet at the rate you are going!"

"Your point, Ling?"

"Hezzo, everyone will die."

"I don't care!"

"Hezz-"

"Everyone includes him!"

"Him who? What has happened?"

"She's dead, Ling!" He motioned toward the shop.

Ling suddenly understood. "Oh, Hezz... I am so sorry, my friend..." He looked at the damage. "It was a fire... A tragedy, to be certain, but-"

"It was murder! The flames were magical. He killed her deliberately because of her vision! And I... I left her here... I suspected he'd killed before, but I still left her. I thought she would be safe here for a short time and that I had time to think of a plan to protect her."

"Hezz, this is not your fault. You had every reason to believe the wards would protect her. Besides, no one would dare harm this shop... It was a sacred, neutral space. We all respected that."

"He didn't."

"Who did this, Hezzo?"

"There is only one being with the power to accomplish this..."

"Hezz... Do you... Do you mean...?" Ling asked in shock.

Hezzo knew he understood. "Put this in the back of your mind. We must keep surface thoughts in front of our true thoughts, so he does not learn what we know." Both young Warlocks had learned long ago how to guard their minds from even the strongest of telepaths. It was the only way to survive among Warlocks who would betray you in a heartbeat for an extra ounce of power.

Ling nodded, looking uncharacteristically serious. "What do we do now?" He asked.

"We stop him... No matter how long it takes. I shall avenge her."

"I am with you on this... But how do we accomplish it?"

"We do things he shall not see coming... Make choices he would never expect... Deviate from our previously destined paths."

"What do you mean, Hezz? How do we change our destinies?"

Hezzo took a deep breath. With great effort, he stopped the blizzard. He calmed his breathing so most of what he'd frozen began to slowly thaw out. "I become a force of Good," he said softly. "That's how."

Ling smiled. "That is an excellent plan," he said.

"Ling... I am not certain I can accomplish that. I have been evil since I was conceived. I am not meant to be good... I may fail at this spectacularly."

"You were never fully evil, Hezzo. If you were, you would have helped them kill me ages ago... I know you love me, Brother... As I love you. True evil cannot love. In addition to this, I know how you felt for our dear Temi..." He wiped away a few tears of his own at that. "You can do this, Hezz. I believe in you... And I shall remain by your side to help you continue to make the right choices."

"We'll need allies. Artemisia told me no one can do this alone, and she was correct. The key is finding powerful people we can trust who he would never expect us to work with."

"Like who?"

"Sorcerers and Wizards... A mix of both, and none of them must know each other. We shall form a magical circle unlike any that has ever been seen before, made up of complete strangers."

"How do we find them?"

"Research. We must travel to various villages and cities and listen to tales of their local legends. We shall observe them, and if they prove worthy, we shall recruit them... However, I cannot be in charge. Wizards and Sorcerers alike will not trust me. Besides, the power may tempt me to revert to my evil ways. There must be someone above me."

"Do you have someone in mind?"

Hezzo nodded. "I do... But, first, I must tend to my beloved Artemisia..." He walked back into the shop, allowing it to thaw out as he carried her corpse outside, holding her in his arms lovingly. "An accident..." He said firmly. "A horrific, tragic accident... Just as he wants the people to believe." He let the rest of the shop burn to the ground as he carried her to her home.

He told her father he'd found the shop on fire and been unable to save her. The kindhearted man wept for his only kin and questioned nothing. When Zell "investigated" the cause of the fire, he ruled it the result of Artemisia somehow knocking candles over during a deep meditation. Hezzo hated that the bastard blamed it all on Artemisia, but he knew that wasn't the battle he needed to fight, so he let the people believe the ridiculous lie. The community was heartbroken by her death and quickly raised funds to help pay for her funeral and to build a new shop for her father. He was devastated, but he named the new shop Artemisia's and ensured it remained a safe place for all Eltarians.

Hezzo and Ling slowly began wandering around Eltar in search of potential recruits for their mission. Their first stop was the village that would one day become home to Serafine, Ash, Daphne, Laby, Lido, and many others. That would not be for another two centuries or so. Hezzo had often heard tales of a powerful Wizard who lived in the village named Maegus. The man was legendary even though he was only about a decade older than Hezzo.

Maegus of Eltar had been abandoned at birth. He father was a criminal and had been arrested for a number of crimes while his mother was pregnant. Unwilling to live with the stigma of raising a criminal's child, the young mother had left the infant in the hands of the Eltarian Peacekeepers. They'd found a local family of Wizards to adopt him who never held his origins against him. Maegus was known to be a fair, unbiased man who treated everyone with respect regardless of their history. He was beloved in his village and never seemed to let his power get to him.

Maegus was walking through the woods when Hezzo and Ling approached him. Hezzo's expression was intense and stoic, but Ling was smiling and snacking on a local delicacy he'd picked up along the way.

"Greetings, Maegus of Eltar," Hezzo said. "I am-"

"Hezzo the Warlock. I am aware of your reputation, Friend. Who is your companion?" Maegus asked.

"I am Ling," Ling replied as he swallowed his latest bite of food. "That's really good..." He mumbled. "Would you like some?" He offered it to Maegus.

The Wizard laughed. "Thank you, I'm well for now. Tell me, Friends, what brings you to Terrio Vas?" The name of the Village was Eltarian for Place of Tranquility. It fit well at the time, two centuries before the horrific events that would take place there occurred.

"We must speak in a private, secure location," Hezzo said.

Maegus seemed to understand the urgency. "Come," he said. He led them to a small building not far from the woods which radiated magic. "This is my sanctuary. No one can enter unless I allow it, and it is warded by ancient Wizardry. What is it we must discuss?"

"You would allow Warlocks you have never met into your sanctuary?" Hezzo asked in surprise.

"Your energy field says you are as evil as they claim, Hezzo... However, it also shows me you have a deep desire to change. Something drastic must have occurred. You have sought me out. The least I can do is listen," Maegus replied.

And so, he did. Hezzo and Ling explained the truth of what had happened to Artemisia. They did not name Zell directly as they tried to see how Maegus was reacting. Only when he was certain Maegus believed them did Hezzo say, "Only one entity could accomplish this, Maegus... Zell."

Maegus nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose that makes sense," he admitted calmly.

"You hardly react..." Hezzo commented.

"I have been suspicious of that boy since the day we first met," Maegus replied. "You learn things about a person when you train together."

"You trained with him?" Ling asked in surprise.

"Briefly. I was completing my advanced Wizardry training when he began his as a child. He's gifted, certainly, and his passion is undeniable, however there was something... off about the boy. I could never quite explain what it was. The Three only take on one or two students at a time. He had to be extraordinary to warrant their attention."

"The Three?" Ling repeated.

"The Three are an elite secret society of exceptionally powerful and wise Wizards. They have lived since right after Eltar's creation and were the first of our kind. They generally hide from society and live in the woods, selecting only those who prove they are absolutely worthy to study beneath them. I still do not understand why they chose me."

"So he truly is a Wizard in addition to a Sorcerer... I thought he made the claim up," Hezzo admitted.

"The Three definitely trained him at some point. I cannot say whether he completed that training. I have not seen them since I completed mine. As I said, they do not socialize much. They simply teach a precious few students their ways so they will live on in future generations."

"He is the only one to hold both titles..."

"That's not quite true. She never flaunted it, but one other being was trained in both. M'Telda."

"The Mad Sorceress?" Ling asked in surprise.

"From what the Three claim, she was not mad at all. She was the daughter of the eldest Wizard and the first Sorceress to exist on Eltar. Her parents both trained her. No one knew her origins, for her safety."

Hezzo filed that information away for later, suspecting it might become important.

It was decided that Maegus would seek out the Three. After all, if they had trained Zell, they might know how to stop him. Maegus began his quest eagerly. He never imagined he would find an unthinkable horror awaiting him.

The second-born of the Three, Tezzos, was the first one Maegus found. He'd been dead for quite some time from a cause that was unclear, but it was still visible that his face was frozen in unimaginable terror. Nothing scared the Three. It would have taken something truly horrifying.

Maegus could not allow himself to grieve as he knew how urgent it was he find the others. The youngest of the Three, M'Gah, lay in a pool of her own blood. It was clear she had gone down fighting. Her magic still lingered in the air, even though it had obviously been a while since her demise. Maegus suspected Zell must have jumped in and out of the time line to accomplish it. M'Gah was no pushover.

Finally, Maegus found Tylan. The eldest and arguably the most powerful of the Three was trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building. He was crushed severely and unrecognizable but Maegus identified him by the ring on his hand. He had always worn it, and Maegus knew if it fell into the wrong hands, it would be dangerous. Gently, he removed the ring and put it in his pocket.

"Forgive me, beloved mentor," he said softly. "If only I had sensed you were in peril sooner..." Finally, the weight of his grief hit him and he allowed himself to weep for what Eltar had lost. He would carry that ring with him at all times until he found Tylan again. He knew that the Three would reincarnate eventually, if only to see justice done.

He buried the Three in secret, knowing they would prefer to die just as they had lived. Hezzo and Ling stood by his side, the only witnesses to the horrible truth.

"How could three such powerful beings perish in this way?" Ling asked softly. "Two of them were clearly extraordinarily strong... I cannot get a sense of the energy of the other, yet the fear on his face tells me he died horribly."

"Zell drained his life force," Hezzo said. "Almost none of his power remains. It is an incredibly painful way to die unless one is tranced. Zell clearly did not offer him such a kindness." He shook his head. "If he ever returns, he will have a large hole in his energy field. Either this will leave him weak or, as I suspect, it will bring about a new power... One which grants him the ability to drain the gifts of others."

"Tezzos would never harm an innocent," Maegus said.

"I never said his targets would be innocent." Hezzo smirked. "I believe he'll be more creative than that." Hezzo could occasionally catch glimpses of the future, and the man he saw returning to Eltar appeared to target only people who harmed others.

After that day, the unlikely friends would spend the next two centuries or so gathering new members of what they were calling the Circle. To join, each member had to prove they were worthy. None of them knew they were being tested until they passed and received their invitation to join the exclusive and unique group.

The first to join was Grayzee. He was a beloved Sorcerer who specialized in magic connected to thunderstorms. Although his power could be quite terrifying, he often ended storms by manifesting beautiful rainbows to soothe frightened children. He'd occasionally break out that parlor trick to impress women as well. Grayzee was always flirting and was quite popular among Eltar's most eligible ladies. One day, Zell manifested a powerful storm. It tore through an entire village, leaving nowhere untouched. It was Grayzee who calmed the storm and found survivors. The strength of his magic as well as the strength of his heart more than proved he would make an excellent member of the Circle.

Tinny was next. He was a Sorcerer from the other side of Eltar. The large, pleasant man was gifted with magic and was always the life of the party. He was a bit rough around the edges, but it seemed he mostly enjoyed having a good time. After an impressive display of magic at a party during which he lifted the mansion into the air and floated it for the entire evening like it took no effort whatsoever, Tinny was approached by Ling. He offered up a kind smile and a delicious snack. Tinny happily accepted the food and heard Ling's offer out. "You had me at food... However, destroying that corrupt monster sounds like a fun time as well," Tinny replied with a hearty laugh and an amused grin.

Davi was the next recruit. The Wizard was skilled in magic, but what caught the attention of the Circle was his gift for hand-to-hand combat. Davi could master any style of fighting after observing it for mere minutes. He adapted to anything thrown his way. From the shadows, Hezzo, Maegus, and Ling watched him training. He switched between magic and physical combat as easily as most people breathed. They knew he'd be an incredible asset.

Hudzon was the first recruit who had a personal reason to join them. When the boy was eleven years old, his entire family was slaughtered in a magical attack from an invisible force. The boy had watched in horror as his mother, father, three older brothers, and four older sisters were torn apart by whatever horrific hex had been cast upon them. The young Wizard had very little training and had been powerless to stop the attack. When the hex had tried to attack him, the spirits of his dead family members had surrounded him and protected him until the attack finally stopped. He'd fled to the woods, taking only his family's spell book with him. From there, he'd taught himself to become a powerful Wizard.

Hudzon knew in his heart that Zell, who his family had trusted deeply, was the one who'd killed them. His father, two of his brothers, and his eldest sister had been powerful Seers. They had sensed a great evil on Eltar and had begun to suspect it was their trusted friend, the Great Wizard. Hudzon vowed to fully master all of the family magic he'd inherited when they died and see to it the bastard paid for his crimes. He emerged from the woods at eighteen years of age and quickly gained a reputation as a powerful Wizard. His case history was reason enough to recruit him to the Circle.

Sezzon was a devout Sorcerer whose entire life was ruled by sacred spiritual laws. He knew everything about Sorcery and lived to help others. His wealth of knowledge was what attracted the Circle to him. The exceptionally Zen Sorcerer was quite disturbed when Maegus told him the things they suspected Zell of. "If he truly perverts spiritual law in such a way, I must assist you," Sezzon finally replied after taking it all in. He vowed to the Circle and to the Universe that he would help put an end to Zell once and for all.

Danzel was a gifted medium and necromancer as well as a talented Wizard. He loved bright colors, light, and other happy things. While he enjoyed using his Wizard powers, he was reluctant to use the darker magic he possessed. Spirits often overwhelmed and frightened him. Despite this, Danzel always used his powers to serve others. His fear never stopped him from helping the innocent, and that courage earned him a spot in the Circle.

Branz was a Wizard with a bleeding heart. He'd do anything to help others. He often burned through energy because he used it all to assist those in need. This endeared him to the people of Eltar. He was friendly and outgoing, and everyone trusted him deeply. He never minded draining all of his energy to help people, insisting he'd be fine after getting some rest and recharging. His energy regenerated quickly when he slept. His desire to help as well as his ability to gain anyone's trust proved he was an asset to the Circle. As soon as he heard Zell was harming the people who trusted him so unconditionally, Branz agreed to join them.

Vrennius was the youngest person to ever join the Circle. At just fourteen years of age, the gifted Sorcerer had already proven to be exceptionally powerful. When he was six, it seemed the Universe began trying to kill him. Freak accidents and natural disasters always found their way to him. Against all odds, Vrennius always managed to survive. It was clear to the Circle that, for whatever reason, Zell desperately wanted that boy dead. His ability to survive Zell's attacks proved he had great power, and the Circle knew he must be important. They sent Ling, the least intimidating of the bunch, to recruit him after he survived a building collapsing around him. The somewhat shaken but very brave young Sorcerer agreed to join their cause. The others became immediately protective of their young friend.

Nee was a Wizard who went out of his way to contribute positively to society at every turn. He was extremely humble, and no matter what special treatment was offered to him, he politely refused it. That integrity proved he couldn't be tempted by anything to become corrupt, and the Circle knew he'd make a valuable ally.

Hill was a Sorcerer who worked with faeries. This was a rare talent on Eltar. He specialized in assisting pregnant women and those who struggled with fertility issues. He also worked well with small children, connecting to even the most traumatized of them when no one else could manage it. His talents were not what Zell would expect the Circle to find useful, which was exactly why they recruited him. If nothing else, working with faeries had given Hill a talent for seeing through illusions, and it added access to unique magic Zell was unfamiliar with.

Keet was a Sorcerer who specialized in working with animals. He could communicate with them. If necessary, he could command armies of wildlife to assist him in battle. This rather unique skill made him a powerful and necessary ally for the Circle.

Amello was their final recruit. The Wizard had exceptionally powerful healing magic. He could also blend incredible potions. It was said that if left alone with someone, Amello could cure any ailment, even a terminal illness. The Circle tested that theory by having Maegus bring Vrennius to him after their youngest member had been diagnosed with a mysterious illness that was progressing rapidly. They had no doubt Zell had infected him with something. In a matter of minutes, Amello cured the disease and confirmed it had been magical in nature. Maegus took a chance and told him they believed Zell was responsible. Amello had suspected Zell of targeting others. He quickly agreed to join the Circle to try to stop him for good.

With fifteen members, the Circle was now complete. As soon as Amello joined them in casting a protection spell on Eltar, they knew it was true. Their magic flowed together like never before.

"What do we do now?" Hudzon asked.

"Now, we train... And plan," Maegus said. "We have a lot of work to do before we can stop him."

"Some of us must earn Zell's trust," Hezzo added. "That's the key to stopping him. He must not see our attack coming."

"I'll lead the spies," Maegus said. "As the leader of the Circle, it is my responsibility to keep my brothers safe."

"I can be one of the spies," Grayzee offered. "I'm charming and people easily trust me. Zell will never suspect me."

"People tell me everything," Branz added. "I can feed Zell false information and make him think I'm his trusted ally."

"Yes... The three of you are the ones best suited to deceive him," Hezzo agreed. "You must be cautious. He reads minds, so you must always keep your true thoughts hidden behind surface ones. Ling and I will teach all of you to perfect that skill. It has kept us alive and well for all this time."

"It's fun," Ling added with an enthusiastic smile. "Like a game, only the stakes are higher. We'll make you all into experts by the time we're done."

And so, their true training began. They each excelled at shielding their minds. Zell would never suspect their true intentions. Slowly, they began infiltrating his inner circle. Zutan was quick to trust Branz, just like most people were. After "casually" meeting the boy at one of Tinny's grand parties, he made it known he desired to work closer with Zell. After all, what better way was there to serve the community of Eltar? Zutan loved parties and Branz promised he'd be invited to every single event Tinny held if he helped him. Zutan eagerly got him a job at the Counsel Building doing community outreach, knowing he'd pick up information that might be useful to Zell that way. Slowly but surely, Branz hinted he wanted more out of life. He proved his loyalty to Zell again and again. Finally, Zell began to trust him with intelligence gathering missions. Branz began feeding him genuine secrets laced with just enough misleading information to protect the innocent while making it look like he was one of Zell's most loyal minions.

Maegus had an easier time joining the fold. He simply played on his time training with Zell when they were younger. "The Three believe you shall be the greatest of us all, my friend," he told him, forcing himself to speak as though they were still alive. They'd never claimed that, but Zell ate the compliment up. "I wish to walk with you on whatever path you shall follow."

Zell, in his arrogance, never questioned this. After all, Maegus possessed a wealth of information about Wizardry that few others ever had. Maegus suspected strongly that Zell had not completed his training as a Wizard. He'd most likely killed the Three for refusing to continue training him once they learned of his true nature. That meant the training he had was something Zell desperately wanted.

Grayzee joined Zell's allies by bluntly approaching him. "I know the things you're capable of," he said. "I crave such power. I would do anything to gain it."

Zell was a bit skeptical. He tried to pretend he had no idea what Grayzee meant. Grayzee knew he must prove himself. Using a powerful storm, Grayzee slaughtered two of Zell's main targets with little effort. The husband and wife had been angering Zell ever since he became aware of them two years prior. Of course, Zell had no idea that the couple were actually extremely powerful Tulpas created by Tinny, Danzel, and Hezzo. Their energy was so confusing when blended together it couldn't be traced back to them. After all, the Tulpas were made from a mix of Sorcery, Wizardry, and Warlock magic. For all intents and purposes, the Tulpas seemed like real people. Tinny, Danzel, and Hezzo had worked hard to ensure they routinely spoiled Zell's plans and ended up in his way, but because he couldn't make sense of their energy, killing them seemed impossible. When Grayzee succeeded and showed no remorse for killing "innocents," Zell immediately deemed him trustworthy and allowed him to join his allies.

The others focused on getting close to the people around Zell. Hill tended to Zell's girlfriend, Daphne, while she was pregnant with the twins. He worried deeply for the girl but tried to hide that as he ensured she and the babies remained healthy and safe. He also sensed Serafine attaching herself to the baby girl in an attempt to protect her and watch over her sister. His intimate knowledge of the pregnancy was the reason Hill knew immediately that Anise could not possibly have been stillborn as Zell claimed. It was hard for him not to tell Daphne the truth, but he knew she would never be safe if she learned that Zell had lied about their daughter's death. Unfortunately, he could not sense the child anywhere. Even the faeries could not find her.

Ling easily befriended Daphne, who sank into a deep depression after Anise's supposed death. She clung to Zordon, but her grief was clear. Zell could do little to comfort her except to marry her. It didn't fully bring Daphne's smile back because Zell had to be away so often. Ling took the opportunity to comfort the lonely girl. Zell kept her isolated from nearly everyone. She served the community magically, but she was allowed very few close companions. Gentle, jovial Ling managed to put a smile on Daphne's face even when she was at her most upset, and Zell appreciated that he could chase away Daphne's tears when he could not be with her. He allowed Ling into her life, and slowly, her smile returned. His own smile took a hit when Zell murdered Daphne six years later, but his friends helped him through the guilt of not being able to help the gentle girl stay safe. He vowed he would avenge her, adding her to the list of others, like her big sister, his old friend Serafine. He'd always liked Sera. Perhaps that was why he'd wanted to protect her sister so desperately.

Davi trained with Jezzeff, whose skill with a sword was legendary and who the three spies had learned was working for Zell. In keeping a close eye on Jezzeff, Davi was able to learn of some of Zell's plans and help the others put a stop to them.

Hudzon worked tirelessly to protect his circle of brothers. He'd lost one family and refused to lose another. The only time he was not focused on that was when he was with Reyna, a local Sorceress he'd fallen deeply in love with. The stunning Eltarian stole his heart and was endlessly patient when he had to run off for Circle business he could not explain to her.

Sezzon focused on researching ways to put an end to a being like Zell. He searched for clues that had been left behind by others which might highlight his weaknesses. Talon, Serafine, Ash, the Brothers of Legend, and many others had worked hard to piece together evidence of his crimes, but the proof was hidden. Sezzon knew he'd have to fill in a lot of missing pieces on his own, but hoped to come to understand how Zell's powers worked. Countless prophecies were missing or incomplete, and he knew finding them might be the only way to understand what they were truly facing.

Danzel tried to find the spirits of Zell's victims and get answers, but most were impossible to find, and those he did locate were trapped in states on confusion. The best he could do was try to help them move on and heal from what Zell had done to them.

Keet used animals to spy on Zell. This actually provided a good amount of information on their enemy. They learned his habits, his hiding spots, and even how to spot when he was growing weak and would be vulnerable to attack.

Nee began responding first to any and all disasters to see if he could help. By doing this, he often arrived while Zell's magic was still wreaking havoc. He was able to analyze the way it worked and understand more about Zell's powers with every attack Zell claimed was a natural disaster.

Amello healed the Circle when they got injured. He was kept out of the line of fire unless they needed him to lend energy to protection spells.

Hezzo and Tinny often worked together to cast spells against Zell. Because their energies cloaked each other, he could never figure out where the attacks came from. The two were only seen together in public during parties. Both men enjoyed a good drink and were always quick to charm the ladies of Eltar, and they shared a love of dancing that made their mild public friendship make sense. Tinny was a large man but that never stopped him from dancing circles around other people. Only Hezzo could seem to keep up with him. They often incorporated this into their magic, drawing energy from their movements.

It was Vrennius who infiltrated Zell's circle of allies in the most unexpected way. He formed a deep attachment to Felina, the young girl Zell rescued from an abusive home and trained as a Sorceress. Vrennius had a soft spot for her. She was nearly killed by a wild beast when she was nine, and Vrennius heroically saved her life. Although as she grew, Felina turned cold and even hostile toward most people, Vrennius could get her to smile by being kind to her. He'd saved her, after all.

It was obvious to the Circle that Zell was grooming Felina to become a monster, but as far as Vrennius was concerned, she was still an innocent girl. He watched over her and tried to be her friend. Eventually, Felina turned inexplicably cold toward him when she was thirteen. She told him to stay away from her and he was forced to accept that choice.

By the time Felina was seventeen, her entire world revolved around Zell. Vrennius knew her last chance at redemption was coming. He reached out to her, asking her to meet him in the woods and telling her it was urgent. To his surprise, Felina accepted.

"Your words concerned me," she said. "What is the problem, Vrennius?"

He stared at the beautiful young woman before him. Felina had seemingly matured into an adult, and he realized for the first time that his attachment to her was changing. She's not a little girl anymore, he realized. Perhaps I failed to notice the way her eyes make me feel before because I thought only of her age...

"Vrennius? You asked to see me," Felina reminded him urgently.

"Felina... Are you happy?" He asked.

"Pardon?"

"Are you happy? Serving Zell?"

"Of course I am," she replied. "The Great Zell saved me, Vrennius. He is incredibly important to me."

"He drains you, Felina... He feeds on your power and holds you back."

"That is absurd. He cares for me. He is the one training me to control my magic. To imply he would hurt me, or anyone else, is practically Treasonous."

"Perhaps I misunderstand his intentions... But I must know, Felina... All I desire is to see you happy... Does this life truly satisfy you?"

She was saved from answering as the tree Vrennius was leaning against burst into flames. He jumped back, barely escaping the attack. A heavy branch came down and pinned him to the ground.

"Vrennius..." Felina whispered. Her concern was clear, but she was obviously torn.

"This is the seventy-fourth time he's tried to kill me," Vrennius said casually, ignoring the pain. He'd been keeping count for a while now. "Honestly, it's a weak attempt. He has done far worse to me."

"Your Treasonous words must anger him... You cannot say such things," Felina said softly. She wouldn't look at him.

"You care for me, Felina. I know this. Prove it... Help me."

Felina shook her head. "You are a liar!" She shouted. "I cannot care for a vile liar!"

Zell appeared then. "Yes, my dear... Vrennius has been working against me his entire life," he said. "That is why he must be destroyed. He is lying to you, my dear, just as he did when you were younger."

"Felina... I never lied to you," Vrennius said weakly as the weight of the tree branch seemed to increase. He understood now why she had pushed him away four years earlier.

Zell pulled out a sword. "Destroy him, Felina. Feel his blood on your hands," he said, handing her the weapon.

Felina looked horrified but recovered quickly. "My Lord... If I must..." She took the sword in her hands. Vrennius noticed she sliced her hand on the blade before shoving it straight through his heart. It looked like an accident, a simple slip of the sword in the hands of a girl who preferred wands to weapons, but he sensed her magic when she did it. He was confused, but had no time to think about that.

The attack hurt. Vrennius refused to scream. He watched Zell and Felina as they stared at him. Zell laughed. "Well done, my dear! I knew you had the strength within you." He put a gentle hand on her back and guided her away.

Vrennius wondered if he might actually die this time. The Circle was not with him, but if they sensed he was hurt in time, Amello might be able to save him. Instead of seeing his friends, however, Vrennius fell into a dream-like state. It felt like death. His heartbeat slowed down until it was undetectable. He stopped breathing. He was barely aware of his surroundings. When Zell returned and checked his pulse, he laughed again.

"She's done it," he said in wonder. "The very man who could have stolen that precious girl away from me was slaughtered by her instead... I never questioned Felina's loyalty, but I was uncertain she could do such a thing to a man she cared for. She truly understands love is weakness now." Zell pulled the sword from what he thought was the corpse of the man he'd tried so many times to kill and left.

Vrennius expected to bleed out. Instead, he realized his body began to heal. His drew several deep breaths and his pulse slowly returned to normal. Felina appeared some time later and used magic to pull the tree branch off of him.

"You saved my life once," she said coldly. "I am repaying that debt. Go now, and do not let him discover you draw breath or I really shall kill you next time."

He stared at her in surprise. "Do not forget who you are inside, Felina," he said. He kissed her hand softly. She drew it back quickly as though he'd struck her. "Thank you. I shall not forget this kindness."

With that, Vrennius left, allowing Felina to keep up the rouse that she'd killed him. He would remain hidden, the Circle's secret weapon, until the time was right to show himself again. A simple glamour kept him cloaked and he resumed life under a false identity, adopting the name Phoenix. After all, he was going to return from the dead one day.

Zell left for Earth days after that confrontation. Zordon soon followed. With both of them gone, the Circle prepared to make their move upon their return. They were ready. Zell's Day of Reckoning was about to begin.

Unexpectedly, Zordon beat them to the punch. He killed his father, saving Earth and some of his new friends from falling at Zell's hands. The truth about Zell came out. All of the Circle's hard work and careful planning had proven unnecessary.

"Well... That's a shame," Ling said with a shrug. "Who wants to get a meal to celebrate Zordon's success?"

"Excellent plan," Tinny agreed. "A feast fit for fifteen Kings."

"I suppose I can come out of hiding now," Vrennius added.

"And I can tell Zutan to rot in the fiery pits of the Underworld," Branz added with a laugh.

"No more double life for us," Grayzee agreed.

"We should not sever those ties too harshly," Maegus said. "He shall return."

"And when he does, we shall be ready for him," Hezzo vowed.

"Great plan, Lads!" Hill said cheerfully. "In the meantime, what should we do with ourselves?"

"Hmmm... Perhaps we need a new hobby," Nee said thoughtfully.

"We could start an animal sanctuary," Keet suggested cheerfully.

"Or use our powers to help those in need officially," Amello added.

"Or we could just throw some wild parties, get severely intoxicated, and have a grand old time for a bit," Tinny said.

"We've earned that, Friends," Davi agreed, "however we must remain vigilant as well."

"We'll drink in shifts," Hill said with a laugh.

"We'll drink at my wedding," Hudzon said firmly.

"Your wedding? Did you propose?" Danzel asked in surprise.

"Not yet. I was waiting until we accomplished our mission, but seeing as how that's been delayed..." Hudzon sighed. "Lads, with your permission, I wish to tell Reyna the truth about us. If I intend to invite her to spend a lifetime by my side, it seems only fair she know what she is agreeing to."

Everyone looked to Maegus, as their leader. He paused thoughtfully. "You trust her fully?" He asked.

"I do, Maegus. She is my love, however, you are my brothers. I lost my family, but you gave me a new one. If you do not approve, I shall not betray our brotherhood by telling her our secret."

"Your faith in Reyna is enough for me," Maegus said. "Tell her the truth, and if she will still have you as her husband, allow us to stand at your side as you are wed."

Hudzon approached Reyna that night. "I have something to tell you," he admitted.

"Tell me, Love," she replied soothingly, sensing his nerves.

"I am part of something, Reyna... A brotherhood made up of Wizards, Sorcerers, and even Warlocks. We call ourselves the Circle... They are my family, and our mission has been to see to Zell's destruction."

Reyna gasped. "You believed you could destroy him?" She asked.

"We did. We had an incredible plan that was two centuries in the making, and we were about to carry it out when Zordon stepped in and killed his father instead."

"Is that good or bad for you?"

"A bit of both. We have time now, however he will return, a long time from now. When he does, we must fight. In the meantime, I wish to stay with my brothers."

"You are incredibly brave... And I support you," Reyna promised. She kissed the tip of his nose. "How can I help?"

"Be by my side, Lady Reyna, Beautiful Sorceress of Eltar. I cannot imagine my future without you in it. I lost my family to Zell... You give me the courage to build a new one," he said shyly.

Reyna smiled. "I love you, Hudzon. I believe our love is destined, and there is no one else I desire to share a future with."

"Does that mean you will marry me?"

"Yes."

"Even knowing I intend to fight the biggest monster Eltar had ever seen?"

"Even still, my brave warrior." She kissed his lips.

Tinny and Danzel planned every detail of the wedding. It was the first joyous event Eltar saw after the news broke of the Great Wizard being evil. It brought hope back to the traumatized Eltarians.

Everything was calm and blissful after that. The Circle remained secretly as close as brothers. They continued practicing magic together as needed. Hudzon and Reyna had a stunning twelve children over the next hundred and fifty years or so.

When the Rebellion of Eltar began growing large after the slaughter of their innocent protesters, Hezzo began paying attention to them. He gathered the Circle for drinks at the bar he now ran and told them about the movement of brave Eltarians standing against corruption. "They sound like our sort of people," he said.

"What do you say, Lads? It could be fun," Maegus said.

"It sounds like a great way to kill a few millennia," Ling agreed.

"We have been dreadfully bored lately," Vrennius agreed. He knew Felina was a member, so he'd need to be careful to hide his identity and continue living as Phoenix, but that didn't bother him. It might be nice to see her again.

"As long as they enjoy a good party, we'll get along fine," Tinny said.

"I'll need to talk to Reyna," Hudzon said, "but she hates corruption as much as we do. I'm sure she will support this."

The rest of the Circle agreed. Maegus and Hezzo approached Vitella. She eagerly brought the Circle into the Rebellion. Vitella and Garron agreed to keep them in tact, functioning as their own very unique Chapter, moving from planet to planet as a unit. Reyna and the children joined the Rebellion as well, working with whatever Chapters were local wherever the Circle went. This kept the family together.

Life was good, and the Circle happily and patiently waited for the Day of Reckoning they knew was coming soon.