Author's Notes: This story takes place right at the beginning of Season 2, right after Snide is introduced, and replaces what comes after.

~DC~DC~DC~

Normally Kendall Morgan would have been thrilled to see the museum so jammed packed. While it had a decent attendance that brought in enough cash to allow her to continually work to expand and improve it that didn't mean that she'd turn down a full house. The gift shop was booming as kids pulled their parents inside to get a toy or a shirt. The Cafe was bustling with Tyler and Shelby hard at work bring out all the orders Riley was making (with Ivan doing all he could to assist though mastering a hot grill was still something the knight needed time to learn). Koda and Chase were hard at work unloading cracks and boxes filled with new artifacts and fossils to display.

The only downside?

"Hey! Get down from there!" Kendall shouted at two 14 year old boys who'd decided to pretend to be Fred Flintstone riding on the back of a model triceratops. "I mean it!" She glared at the boy's parents, her hands on her hips. "Could you PLEASE ask your children to get off the display?"

"In a moment," the mother of the boys said, holding out her cellphone. "Jimmy! Smile big for me! Wait till grandma see this!"

"In a moment? In a moment!" Kendall snapped, her eyes wide in shock and rage. She took a step forward only to be pulled away by Prince Phillip. The future ruler of Zandar had, for once, gone without his customary suit and was wearing dress slacks and a gray button-up shirt, a lanyard hanging around his neck letting people know he was a VIP.

"Come now, Ms. Morgan, leave the little... well, I would say monkeys but that would be an insult to well behaved primapes... alone."

Kendall took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down. "Thank you, Phillip." With the Prince being incognito while he was staying at Amber Beach Kendall, along with the rest of the team, mentally had to remind themselves not to use his royal title. "I just... I can take out a squad of Snide's Vivexes but dealing with some of the people that come in here..." She grit her teeth as she watched the two boys clamor down, one of them knocking over a baby triceratops model as he hurried over to his mother, whining about wanting a pop. "Is it wrong that I REALLY want to get my Dino Blaster out right now?'

"I doubt good Keeper would approval of such usage of our weapons," Phillip said with a smirk, fiddling with his cuffs. "Ms. Morgan, I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds by asking but have you considered having a security guard to help prevent ... rambunctious acts? My father kept me surrounded by such men and I can attest that it does work."

"I thought of that but I haven't been able to find someone I can trust to do the job." When Phillip looked at her questioningly she gestured towards his energem, which he had hanging around his neck. "A security guard would be on the lookout for any suspicious activity and all of us would set off red flags within a day."

"Then why not have one of the other rangers act as a security guard? We all fight monsters and protect the innocent; protecting a few museum exhibits shouldn't be that difficult."

Kendall frowned. "Already tried that."

~FLASHBACK~

"Yeah, I'm from New Zealand," Chase said, leaning against a pillar as he flirted with two girls. "Just like Russel Crowe." He was so busy trying to win a date with one of the lovely ladies he didn't notice that a visitor had flickered a cigarette butt into a trash can... and set it on fire.

~FLASHBACK~

"Give it back!" Riley shouted, trying to snatch a plastic dino egg two teen were playing keepaway with. "Come on, respect the badge!"

~FLASHBACK~

"Ivan, what are you doing?" Kendall asked. The knight had cleared out the Cafe and was hovering over a table.

"Stay back, fair Ms. Morgan! I believe this is an 'extosive device'!"

"First off, it's explosive and second that's an alarm clock from the gift shop."

~FLASHBACK~

"They said you'd authorized it," Tyler said weakly, a laser tag gun in his hand. A young girl ran by and 'shoot' him, causing the sensor Tyler was wearing to wail. "Aw man!"

~FLASHBACK~

"KODA! GET DOWN!" Kendal shouted.

"But... they want to know... how you kill Mastodon!" Koda said, his hands still wrapped around the spear that he'd jammed in the mastodon display.

~FLASHBACK~

Kendall stared at Shelby; the young woman was dressed like a clown and was standing beside the destroyed remains of a steagsaurs skeletal display. She had a pizza in one hand and a supersoaker in the other. "I... I don't want to know."

~DINO CHARGE~

"...she was dressed as a clown?" Phillip asked.

"Don't go down that path, it only leads to madness," Kendall stated. She paused, considering Prince Phillip. "Would you-?"

"Oh my no!" Phillip said with a laugh. "Pardon me for saying so but... I am far too use to giving orders to people who actually listen."

"Right," Kendall said, realizing that idea was doomed from the start. While the Prince had mellowed out she could see him reverting back to his old snooty self if put in the position of keeping watch on the museum visitors. "I suppose we'll just have to go guardless for now."

"I could always give it another shot," Chase called out as he and Koda brought a crate over. Kendall motioned for them to bring it off to the side, away from the visitors, while Prince Phillip followed after having not much else to do. "I mean... chicks dig a man in uniform."

"Well, speaking as a chick, I dig a man who can actually do the job," Kendall stated. "Now, where did I put that crowbar..."

"Let... me," Koda said, reaching down and easily ripping the nailed-on lid of the crate off with his bare hands.

"I say, my friend, you certainly do come in handy," Phillip said, smiling at his own little pun. He looked down at the crate, brow furrowed. "Perhaps I am mistaken but those certainly don't look like fossils."

"That's because they aren't," Kendall said with a grin. "After the success of the Stone of Zandar Exhibit I decided we should bring in some new and different special exhibits. This," she ran her fingers over the crate's surface, "will be part of our upcoming 'Legend of the Sunset Kid' exhibit."

"The Sunset Kid?" Chase asked. "What, did he run around with Butch Cassidy?"

Kendall snorted. "Hardly. The Sunset Kid was an infamous criminal and thief, best known for attempting to steal some prized gemstones from Stone Canyon. He was one of the worst outlaws in the old west." She removed some of the packing material from the crate and pulled out some photos of Stone Canyon that had been taken in the very late 1800s. "Most of the gemstones were recovered and we're going to show them off. They are rather impressive."

"And I suppose this is the ruffian known as the Sunset Kid?" Phillip asked, picking up a black and white photo of a light-brown-haired man in his late 20s. He wore a canvas cowboy hat and a brown leather coat and his face, while handsome, seemed stern thanks to his frown, which was framed by a full beard. "Certainly looks like a rather dangerous fellow."

Kendall nodded. "They say he was one of the fastest draws during his day."

"Please, not as fast as me!" Chase said.

"I said his time, Chase."

Phillip narrowed his eyes, pulling the photo close to his face. "Koda, do my eyes deceive me... or is that..."

The caveman took the photo and stared at it, his eyes going wide and he spotted what Phillip had seen. "Kendall! Look!"

Kendall and Chase moved to either side of Koda and stared at the photo, picking up exactly what Koda and Phillip had seen. There, hanging from a piece of twine around the outlaw's neck, was...

"An energem!" the four called out.

POWER RANGERS

DINO SUPERCHARGE

'THE BALLAD OF THE SUNSET KID'

"So what, do you think this is the Silver or Aqua Energem?" Tyler asked as he and the other rangers entered their command center.

"It can't be Silver because then the Titanio Zord would have awoken," Chase stated.

"Except that would only happen if it bonded with him," Riley stated, "and I doubt an outlaw would be the type of person an Energem would bond with."

"Don't be so sure," Ivan said gravely. "Energems bond to those with great bravery and courage... I fought foes who, to me, were dangerous and vile but to those they served they were just... and I was the villain."

"So maybe the Titanio Zord is out there... maybe it's trapped," Kendall said, remembering when they had helped save a trapped zord.

Shelby, however, shook her head. "It's not the Silver or Aqua Energem."

"What do you mean?" Phillip asked. "It has to be one of those two. All the other Energems were discovered by us."

"Well, save mine," Chase stated, "I got mine but I doubt my Energem migrated from the West to New Zealand."

"It's not yours either," Shelby said, grabbing the photo and slamming it down on the table.

"CAREFUL!" Kendall cried out. "That is the only known photo of the Sunset Kid! It's priceless!"

"Well if it doesn't cost anything then it doesn't matter what I do with it." When Kendall glared at her Shelby rolled her eyes. "Joking. Anyway, I know for a fact this isn't any of the known Energems."

"How?" Koda asked, leaning over to inspect the photo.

"My brother Marcus is really into photography and likes to colorize old photos; you know, like how they do with old movies? Anyway, I helped him out last summer and he taught me how to tell what color something originally was." She pointed at the Sunset Kid's shirt. "I can tell that shirt was blue. And the Energem isn't Aqua or Silver... it is Orange."

Tyler frowned as he looked over the photo. "But there isn't an Orange Energem... right?"

"I am afraid there is," Keeper said, causing the rangers to jump a bit. "All of you please gather round... it is time I told you more of the story of how I came to be on your planet." The rangers quickly gathered chairs and sat around Keeper. Ivan graciously offered his chair to Prince Phillip while Chase decided to sit on one of the work stations. Riley and Tyler sat next to Phillip while Koda and Shelby took the floor; if anyone noticed that Shelby was leaning against Tyler's legs they didn't comment. Kendall, for her part, moved to stand next to Keeper. "Millions of years ago my home planet discovered the Energems and an order was selected to protect them, so that they would never fall into evil's hands. The Elders of my planet had heard of the desires of the likes of Flurious and Moltor, who sought the Corona Auroa, Master Vile, and the dreaded Ivan Ooze, and knew that the Energems had to be protected. The ten Energems that Sledge sought from me were merely one group of many that were scattered across the cosmos by my fellow protectors, to be placed on planets that radiated great amounts of good energy."

"But Keeper," Riley said, "if these other Energems were scattered across the universe how did this Orange Energem end up on Earth?"

"The Orange Energem was part of a group of ten held by Guardian, another protector of the Energems. During his travels he was attacked by a foe who, to this day, I do not know the identity of. Guardian managed to make it to this planet and send a distress call before succumbing to his injuries." Kendall reached over and placed a comforting hand on Keeper's shoulder. "Thank you. I was on my way to the planet Eltar when I received the distress call and knowing the danger that would come from Guardian's energems falling into the wrong hands I made my way here. Unfortunately Guardian's call was also heard by Sledge."

"So you are saying that there could be another 10 Energems scattered across the planet?" Ivan asked.

"Great! We have a hard enough time finding our ten!" Shelby exclaimed.

Tyler smiled. "Come on, Shelby, don't think like that! We've found eight Energems so far and we can find these other ten."

"We don't know, since Guardian passed before he could fully protect them, if they've bonded with any prehistoric beasts," Kendall said, mind racing as she thought about different theories, "so it is possible they have become completely dormant."

"But there is also the chance that they have bonded with some dinosaurs," Phillip stated.

Chase frowned. "Or something else entirely."

"Indeed Chase," Keeper said. "Without one of my order to guide them it is possible the Lost Energems waited thousands if not millions of years to find a beast to bond with."

"So... how do we... find Orange Energem?" Koda asked.

"We start with what we know about the Sunset Kid," Kendall said, going over to her station and giving Chase a shove, sending the Black Ranger to the floor. She quickly began to type away, pulling up a few websites. "Okay, so the story goes that Alan Gregger-"

"That's the Sunset Kid?" Tyler asked.

"Yes. Alan Gregger came to Stone Canyon back in 1896 claiming to be a lawman. The town made him Sheriff and for three months things were pretty quiet. Then, on March 15th, a wagon caravan headed towards Angel Grove stopped off at Stone Canyon with a collect of rare gems. Witnesses claim that Alan was obsessed with the treasure and the next morning the townsfolk found him with one of the gems in his hand. He claimed he had found it and was putting it back but the next day one of his deputies found him asleep clutching the gem, which is described as 'a cylinder of orange, like the dying light of the sun, with a cap of stone on both ends'."

"The Orange Energem!" Shelby exclaimed! "He must have sensed its power and stolen it!"

Kendall nodded, continuing the tale. "His deputies tried to arrest him but Alan fled into the mountains and was never caught, taking with him a sack of stolen gems. For years people would seek him and his treasure out but could never find him. He got the name 'Sunset Kid' because weary treasure hunters claimed that as they were leaving the mountains they would see him standing on a rocky ledge, watching them as the sun set before disappearing."

"So his dastardly thief absconded with the Orange Energem!" Ivan declared.

"And it will be up to us to recover it," Prince Phillip stated. "Surely, if it had left those mountains we would have heard of it. The Orange Energem is still out there."

Tyler leapt up and grinned. "Guys, you know what this means? Treasure hunt!"

Riley stood up and held out his hands, asking for calm. "I hate to be a wet blanket but before we get excited we should remember that people have been looking for the Orange Energem for over a century and no one has come close." He turned to Kendall. "How are we supposed to find it?"

"By using something all those other treasure hunters never had." She walked away from the group only to return moments later holding three gun-like objects.

"The Zord tracker!" Shelby exclaimed.

Kendall grinned. "That's right. I took your notes for the last one, Shelby, and have spent the last few weeks modifying it to work with Energems. They won't give us an exact reading but they will give us enough of an advantage to find that lost Energem."

"Alright, California road trip," Chase said with a grin, nudging Ivan. "You know what they say about California girls, don't you?"

"They are from this California?" the knight said in confusion.

Keeper gazed at the rangers with pride. "I have faith in all of you that you will recover the Orange Energem. But remember to be careful... Snide only knows of the ten energems and if he were to learn that more of them were out them he was spread his forces out to find them. Be careful rangers."

"We will, Keeper."

~DC~DC~DC~DC~

"Careful, careful!" Kendall called out as Riley and Tyler worked to load a crate into Tyler's jeep. "Please be careful, that is very sensitive equipment!"

Hidden from the sight of the rangers, the galactic criminal known simply as Heckyl watched with interest as the eight rangers loaded up Tyler's jeep, the museum's transport truck, and Kendall's car with all manner of strange gear. Crates marked 'FRAGILE', camping gear, mountain climbing equipment... Heckyl watched as they were packed away along with the Rangers' suitcases and dufflebags.

"Now that is interesting," the meglomaniac muttered. He grunted as he felt the tattoo on his neck flash and he reached down and pulled out his pocket watch.

"What is going on?" Snide asked, his form appeared where the watch's face should have been.

"The rangers are going on a trip it would seem," Heckyl stated.

"They must be after an Energem!" Snide declared.

Heckyl rolled his eyes. "Of course they are, you brainless brute! If you were able to figure that out you think I couldn't?"

"Watch your tone, you fancy dandy!" Snide growled.

"Or you'll what? Stab me?" Heckyl smirked. "If you brought a mirror you might live long enough to see my stunned reaction before we both keeled over. Remember, my uncoth other half, there are no threats you can make against me."

"For the moment, Heckyl, for the moment," Snide snapped. "Now what are you going to do about this?"

"Nothing," Heckyl stated, knowing that the statement would anger his monstrous other side.

He wasn't disappointed. "Nothing?! Nothing?! They are going after another Energem! We must get to it first! How can you just sit here and let them get it!"

"I said WE would do nothing; I didn't say I would let them get it." Heckyl sighed. "Snide, my dear friend, that is the problem with you... we have all these monsters jumping at the chance to serve us and you want to take matters into our own hands? We will let Wrench send a monster to deal with the rangers. Better yet reanimate an old one; why waste the new talent so soon in the game? Meanwhile we will lay low and continue to work towards our endgame: all the Energems!"

"We should cut the Energems from their bodies and be done with it!"

"And that is why you are stuck in the pocketwatch most of the time," Heckyl said, snapping the watch shut. "No... I think a more subtle touch will be needed here."

~DC~DC~DC~

"I still don't see why we could have spent the day at the hotel," Chase said as he checked the straps on his backpack. "The Orange Energem has been out here for over a century... one more day wouldn't hurt."

Kendall blew a strand of hair away from her face. "We want to find the Energem as quickly as we can, Chase, before Snide or any of his goons realize we are out here."

Chase, however, wasn't convinced. "Come on, think about it! A nice pool, a drink in your hand... lovely ladies... Koda, don't you-" Chase looked to his right, only to find that Koda had kicked off his sandals and was clamoring up some rock, looking utterly delighted, "-Riley, doesn't that sound great?"

"We can relax all we want when we find the Energem," the green ranger stated. "Think of it as motivation."

"Tyler, I know you are on my side!"

The red ranger merely laughed. "Sorry Chase, but I am looking forward to this. I love spelunking!"

"Do not look to me," Ivan stated as he looked over a pickaxe Kendall had handed him. "I am a knight of Zandar and we do not sit idly by in some Keep waiting for danger to come to us!"

"Shelby, you have to be on my side!" Chase pleaded. "You could lay out by the pool, listening to that boy band you like, watch the rest of us make fools of ourselves in the water..."

Shelby glanced over at Tyler, taking a moment to mentally envision him in a speedeo as water dripped down his bare chest, before shaking her head. "Sorry Chase, but everyone else has a point. Look, even Prince Phillip is getting into the swing of things!"

Phillip, who had gone out and bought the newest in hiking gear, was grinning ear to ear as he looked at the canyon. "I have done some rock wall climbing but was never allowed to do something like this! Not befitting a Prince, my father said. Well, that may be but it is fitting for a Power Ranger! Onwards!"

Kendall placed a hand on Phillip's chest and gently spun him around. "Hold on there. I'm all for getting started but we need to have a plan." Riley brought over a crate and Kendall opened it up, taking out four of the new Energem Trackers and some walkie talkies. "Alright, so we will split up in groups of two and each take a path."

"Shouldn't the trackers guide us right to the energem?" Tyler asked as he took a tracker.

"The problem is it only gives us directions in two dimensions," Kendall said. "The gem is most likely deep in some cave and the network of tunnels is pretty complex. Most of them are marked for hikers but we will be going off the beaten path and the true entrance will probably be hidden." She held up the walkie talkie, which looked like a standard one that had been modified. "I've given these enough power to get signals through bedrock, so we should be able to keep in contact. I'd rather not have us morph and use our comms if possible. Now, most of us are use to caverns and caves so pairing ups should be easily. Tyler, why don't you and Ri-"

"I'll go with Tyler!" Shelby said, grabbing a walkie from Kendall and flashing Tyler a grin. "We make a great team, right?"

"Yeah, totally!" Tyler said, returning the smile. "Come on, let's go!"

Kendall pursed her lips. "Okay... Riley, why don't you and Ivan make up team two."

"I would be honored to search with a fellow master of the blade," Ivan stated. Riley shrugged and grabbed the equipment, figuring it would be safer for him to carry it lest Ivan try to use the tracker as a club should they encounter anything dangerous."

"Prince Phillip, I think you should stick with me," Kendall said. "And Chase, you are with Koda." With that she turned and began to make her way towards her path, leaving Chase standing behind her with his hands held out.

"Come on... no one likes the pool?"

"Chase! You are... falling behind!" Koda called out, the caveman having managed to already scaled up 30 feet. Chase let out a sigh before taking out some hiking rope and heading towards the rock face.

~DC~DC~DC~

"Ms. Morgan," Phillip said as they exited another cave. It was the fifth one they had explored and it had turned out to be a dead end. Stone Canyon's Tourist Board had done well to make sure that the mountain's cave network was well lit and labeled and the two of them had not found any secret passageways; rather they'd found some teens sneaking in some heavy kissing and a few hiking nuts walking through the tunnels.

"Please, call me Kendall, Prince Phillip."

"Only if you refrain from using my title." Kendall nodded and the Graphite Ranger smiled. "I was merely curious what caused you to become interested in your current line of work." Kendall glanced at him and Phillip quickly added, "I am not claiming that because you are a woman that you can't do this... I merely find it interesting. i had no choice in my profession... I know that I will be the King of Zandar one day. But you were able to choose and I am curious what caused you to find your passion."

"Its okay, Phillip, I'm not offended." The trail had grown less groomed as they made their way forward, the hard firm stone giving way to cracks and cuts that had filled with loose stone, making the way harder for the two to navigate. "When I was little my Aunt Kendrix was selected as the science officer for Terra Venture."

"I remember that," Phillip said. "That was the space colony, correct?"

"Yeah. Anyway, before she left she gave me one of her favorite books, Jurassic Park. She liked it because of all the computers and cutting-edge technology..."

"But you loved it because of the dinosaurs."

Kendall nodded as she circled around an overgrown wild bush that had begun to spread over the path. She was so focused on keeping her footing that she didn't notice the WARNING sign that had become half-covered by the foliage. "There was something so majestic and powerful about them... I was small for my age, still am, and there was something so appealing about those giant monsters."

"And now you not only run a museum about them but you are connected to them."

Kendall grinned, pulling out her Energem. "Yeah, that's why I was so disappointed when I kept missing out on finding an Ener-"

She never got to finish as, at that moment, Kendall's foot stepped on a crumbling part of the path and she found herself pitching forward as the trail gave out from under her. Her Energem flew out of her hand and Prince Phillip tried to pull her back but ended up losing his balance and the two of them toppled over the edge. After a few seconds the two of them landed hard on a small outcrop that jutted from the mountain, barely big enough for the two of them to stand. 40 feet down Kendall heard the Energem Tracker smash to bits against the hard stone and she tried to press herself as tight as she could to the mountain face. The outcrop, however, let out an ominous groan and Phillip nearly pitched forward when the stone shifted.

"It won't support us for long," Prince Phillip said, looking about for some other handhold for them to grab onto. "Perhaps I could morph-" he reached for his Energem but the stone outcrop cracked and groaned with even the slightest of movements. "Well, as you Americans say... 'not good'."

"There must be something we can do!" Kendall exclaimed.

"Stand still, both of ya!"

Phillip and Kendall shared a look, realizing that never of them had given the command.

"Just stay put for a moment, would ya miss? Fella, keep the little lady calm! I'll get ya both back up!' They heard someone on the trail above them grunt and growl to himself before what looked like at first to be a brown snake slithered down to them. It took Kendall a moment to realize she was looking at a bullwhip. "Alright, fella, I want ya to knot the end of that to your backpack. I assume them straps are sturdy?"

"They are! Top of the line!" Phillip called out, doing as the stranger asked even as more of the outcrop crumbled under their feet.

"Good!" the strange shouted. "Now little lady, wrap your arms around your boyfriend and have him do the same. Nice tight lover's embrace!"

"He's not my boyfriend!" Kendall shouted. "Not that I wouldn't mind if you were..." she added quickly.

"No no, I understand-"

"Well just pretend for now, would ya?" the stranger called out impatiently. "That stone ain't gonna hold! Now just cling ta each other and let me do the rest! Hold on!" Kendall and Phillip held on tight as the bullwhip went taunt and after a few agonizing seconds their feet lifted from the outcrop and they were slowly pulled back up towards the trail. Once or twice they feared they might be sent toppling down but their savior was strong and sure handed and soon Kendall and Prince Phillip were back on solid ground. "Sweet sarsaparilla, don't ya'll read the signs? This trail has been closed for a year now! Ya'll are lucky I came by when I did!"

The first thing that struck Kendall about their savoir was his height. She was use to most people being taller than her but the stranger easily towered over her and made Prince Phillip seem short. His boots put him up to 6'3" and his canvas cowboy hat with its gray band with cooper discs added another inch. He wore a tangerine-colored shirt under a brown leather coat and had a gray bandana covering his mouth.

"My thanks, good sir," Phillip said, offering his hand. The stranger glanced at him as he coiled his bullwhip back up but when Phillip went to lower his hand the stranger grasped the prince's hand and gave it a shake.

"No sweat, fella. Just doin' what anyone else would do. Now, what are ya folks doin' out here for? I'd say you were looking for a private little spot but ya claim you and pretty Miss..."

"Kendall, Kendall Morgan."

"Pretty Miss Kendall aren't a couple." The stranger looked them over for a moment before let out a huff. "Sweet sarsaparilla, ya'll are treasure hunters, aren't ya?"

"We are searching for something, yes," Kendall said firmly, not liking how the stranger seemed to be mocking them.

Their savior let out a weary sigh. "Miss Kendall, let me give ya and and yar fella a piece of advice: there ain't now treasure in these mountains." He turned away from them, hooking his bullwhip to his belt. "Trust me on that... the treasure is nothing more than the tales of liars and traitors."

Phillip started after the stranger as he began to head up the path. "And what makes you so sure of that, sir? I will tell you that I have see impossible things in my lifetime and have found that an open mind-" the stranger's hand shot out, stopping Phillip short. "See here! There is no reason to get physical!"

"Don't move," the stranger said, his tone not threatening but rather fearful. Kendall and Phillip froze, senses on alert for some new danger. The stranger seemed to be in another world, his eyes focused on the trail as he whispered, "Another one... how? How can there be another one?"

Kendall peered around the stranger and Phillip. "What are you... oh!" She darted forward, her eyes locking on her Energem, which had landed far up the trail when she'd lost it. Her forward momentum was stopped when the stranger grabbed her and holding her against his chest. "Hey! Let me go!"

"Miss Kendall, do NOT take another step forward!" the stranger declared. "You are in grave danger." He nodded towards her Energem. "You won't believe me but that little bobble is dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Phillip said in surprise. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own Energem. "Hardly, my friend."

The stranger stared at him, eyes wide in shock. Kendall wiggled free and retrieved her Energem, finding it odd how their rescuer cringed at the sight of her holding the purple Energem. Her eyes narrowed as she considered what he had said. "Why do you think this is dangerous?"

"First hand knowledge, I'm afraid... something you will learn soon enough." He swallowed, his eyes flickering with sadness. "I swear, if I could I'd have stopped ya but now... I hate to be the one to break it to ya but those little bobbles are cursed."

"Cursed?" Phillip asked, staring at his Energem.

"They ruin your life... and make sure said life is a long one." The stranger reached up to his neck and pulled at a cord that hung down under his shirt. Pulling it free he held up the Orange Energem. "Ya'll won't believe me... but I've been cursed for nearly 130 years."

"No..." Kendall whispered, walking up to the stranger. She raised her hand and gently pulled the bandana from his face. The stranger stepped back, his coat shifting to reveal a Dino Morpher holstered on his hip. "You're him... you're the Sunset Kid!"

~DC~DC~DC~

"What is the tracker saying?" Shelby asked as she reached into her pack and pulled out a granola bar.

Tyler looked at the device, tilting his head as if he expected that to make the readings change. "It's weird... I swear we are going in the right direction one minute and then this thing is saying we are headed the wrong way!"

"Maybe Ms. Morgan goofed it up," Shelby asked, sitting down on a rock. Tyler soon joined her, accepting a granola bar from her while he fiddled with the dials and buttons on the tracker.

"I don't know, Shelby," Tyler said, "it looks like... it looks like the Energem is moving."

"Maybe Ivan and Riley found it," Shelby said.

"They should have walkied us if they did," Tyler said, setting the tracker aside.

"We haven't heard from anyone since Chase told us Koda had made friends with a hawk," Shelby reminded him. "There is probably a lot of interference... I know Ms. Morgan said these walkie talkies were good but we didn't field test them so there could be issues."

"I suppose," Tyler said.

Shelby leaned back, staring at the bright blue sky. "At least it is nice out. Been like going on a hike in a park."

"Yeah, it has been fun," Tyler said. "I do a lot of outdoor stuff, you know, looking for my dad and all, but it is always more fun to have someone else along."

Shelby smiled. "Yeah," she said softly. "It is."

"Too bad!" a voice called out as Vivixes surrounded the red and pink rangers.

Tyler leapt to his feet, only to strain when it suddenly felt like he'd been caught in quickdry cement. His eyes darted over to find Shelby and he saw she too was stuck in place. "I... I can't move! What's going on?"

"Oh, you don't remember me?" the voice called out, stepped from behind a rock. Tyler and Shelby's eyes went wide when they saw the familiar monster. "Now... you are going to help me get the Energem that is hidden out here!"

~DC~DC~DC~

Kendall and Phillip took a seat next to the small fire Alan Gregger had going in the cave that he called home. The cowboy lived deep in the mountains, the path to his home hidden by bushes. The fire wasn't just for light but for warmth; even though it was warm outside inside the deep cave the air was cool and Kendall shivered slightly and leaned closer to the fire. She let out a yelp when Alan came up behind her and draped his coat over her shoulders.

"I'm fine," she said firmly.

"Ya ain't. Ya don't have ta deny a good gesture just ta prove yar strong." Alan took a seat next to them, hunching over with his hands next to his face and his fingers threaded together. The firelight flickered off his face and made his eyes look like glowing embers in the shadows cast by his hat. "Ya'll have some questions, I'm sure... I admit I have some of my own. You know somethin' about this cursed bobble, from what I gather." The Orange Energem seemed to pulse and Kendall got the impression that Alan's Spirit partner wasn't happy being called 'cursed'. "So why don't we have a bit of back and forth?"

Phillip looked about the cavern. "You've been living here all by yourself for the last century or so?"

"Yeah... comfy enough, I suppose, and after what happened in Stone Canyon I've sought out solitude." He jerked his head towards a stack of magazines and books that lay on a card table. "I do get out. Go down to Angel Grove, pick up things ta read and eat. I hunt a bit but otherwise I go to the store like most folks. I suppose ya'll thought for a moment I was ignorant of the outside world... I know all about what has gone on since I was cursed."

"Your Energem is not a curse," Phillip said firmly.

"Energem? That' what this hunk of rock is called? Suppose that's nicer than some of the names I've called it."

Kendall decided to let that comment slide for the moment. "How did you end up with the Energem?"

"And how did you end up out here?" Phillip added. "You stated that the stories told about you weren't true..." While the man might be lying Phillip didn't get the sense that Alan was the dreaded thief and criminal the legends portrayed him as.

"They ain't," Alan said fiercely. "Stone Canyon was young then, just a small town with some miners. I'd been sheriff for a while and even managed to find a few young men ta be my deputies. I went out looking for a wolf that was snackin' on some of Old Man Jones' chickens and ended up chasin' it into its den. Well, I thought it was its den." The cowboy rubbed his chin. " 'cept instead of a wolf I find the bones of this monstrous lookin' thing and this here Energem. Never forget that skeleton... long tail, big ol' sucker, with these bony ridges running up its skull like a V-"

"A Dilophosaurus!" Kendall exclaimed.

"Well, whatever it was it weren't a beast I'd ever seen." Alan shrugged, hunching over a bit more, the firelight dancing in his eyes. "Well, I get back and all my deputies are just starin' at this thing, wantin' to have a look. Should have just givin' them the dang thing but I was more possessive back then. Anyway, after a few days I walk up and there is the head of the caravan that had come into town standin' over my bed, screamin' about how I was a thief. I told him off and thought I'd get some backup but my deputies-" Alan spat on the ground, "-turns out they'd been boughten. The caravan owner wanted to pocket the money for himself so he set me up and got them boys to side against me." He clenched his hands together, jaw working like he was gnawing on a bone. "Chased me out of town and into these mountains. They probably wanted me to die but I know these caves well and... well, the curse saw fit I wasn't about to die yet. I tried a few times to go down, to get some people to listen... even had one or two of those lyin' polecats admit the truth but it wasn't good enough. The story spread and in the end all I could do is watch as each and every person that had turned on me passed away. Till weren't a single person I knew that was still alive. What does it matter if your name is mud if there ain't no one alive to remember what you once were? After that... just easier to stay up here. Kinda hard to explain me never getting wrinkles."

"How have you managed this long without people finding out about you?" Kendall asked. "I mean, there are the legends of the Sunset Kid's ghost..."

"Easy enough, I suppose," Alan said. "I'll go down into the town proper every once and a while, do some odd jobs. Always someone that needs somethin' built or help with a project. I work quick and mind to myself... people like that and I like bein' left alone. My turn now; what is an Energem and why is it so important ta all ya'll?"

It was Kendall that answered. "The Energems are 10... though I suppose now 11... alien relics." She held out her hand, calling forth her Dino Morpher.

"Huh, so that's where this fella came from," Alan said, patting his own charger. "Woke up one day and found it beside me."

"That is a Dino Charge Morpher. When combined with our Energems it allows us to become Power Rangers."

"Power Rangers are heroes of good, who fight the forces of evil," Phillip added.

"Fella, I know who the dang Power Rangers are. Kinda hard not to notice'em when they are havin' battles in my back yard." He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. "Heck, I was there the day Astronama came down and nearly conquered the whole dang planet. Me and this here peashooter took out a few of them robits before that strange wave of energy wiped them out." He held up his Energem, studying it for a moment. "So this here bobble can make a fella a Power Ranger? Suppose I should be more surprised but considerin' how long I've been kickin'... this thing is responsible for that?"

"Correct," Kendall said. "When you bond with the Energem, and you clearly are bonded, it freezes you in time, as it were. You never age."

Alan scowled at them. "You two look excited about that."

Phillip, startled by the venom in Alan's words, raised an eyebrow. "Well, I do admit there is an appeal to staying youthful and never knowing the pains of age-"

"And what about your ma and pa?" Alan asked, cutting the Prince off. "What's it gonna be like for you ta watch them get old and fade away?" He looked at Kendall. "And what about your sweetheart, if'n ya got one? You stay all young while he gets old and weak. You ready to watch your friends end up in the ground? Your kids? No parent should have ta bury their child but that is what ya'll are gonna have ta do." Alan jabbed his finger at the ground. "This entire country, maybe even this entire world, is going to slowly die and the three of us-"

"Ten... eleven now," Phillip said.

"Sweet sarsparilla," Alan said, rubbing his forehead. "Well, I suppose all eleven of us can sit around and enjoy watching everyone we know and love die."

"You're bitter, you know that?" Kendall said.

"I ain't bitter, Miss Kendall... you and I are on the same path, I'm just a few miles ahead. Talk to me in a 130 years." He stood up, brushing some dirt from his jeans. "Now, if'n ya'll don't need anything else, I think its time ta get movin'. I thank ya for lettin' me know about this here bauble and when ya'll come to your senses you can come see me."

Phillip leapt to his feet. "Did you not hear what we said? With that Energem you can become a Power Ranger!"

"...and why would I want to do that?" Alan asked. "Save the world? Fella, the world done nothin' for me but betray me. I don't owe it a dang thing."

"You can't think that," Phillip said firmly. "it is your duty-"

Kendall put her hand on Phillip's shoulder. "Don't... he's made up his mind." The Prince glared at Alan, his jaw set, before turning away. Kendall removed Alan's jacket and tossed it to him. "You're a liar, you know that?"

"Say that again?" Alan said, crossing his arms over his chest, his jacket flopped at his boots.

"You are a liar. You claim you don't care about the world, that you don't want to help, that you won't. You want to pretend that what happened to you turned your heart to stone but that is a lie. You know how I know?" Alan merely shrugged. "Because if you didn't care then why did you save me and Phillip?" The cowboy merely stared at her and Kendall huffed. "You've been using your pain as an excuse for so long that it's become second nature. But I think you haven't given up... I think you are just scared to take the plunge. People you trusted hurt you and now you're scared to be around them again. To have allies. Because you think it will happen all over again." She looked down at his Energem. "Maybe, someday, you'll have the courage to be the man you should be."

"Expecting him to follow us?" Phillip asked once Kendall rejoined him.

"No," Kendall said. "Yes... i don't know. This isn't what I expected."

"Obviously the Energem still views him as worthy, or else it wouldn't remain bonded to him," Phillip pointed out as they ducked under a small rocky arch and exited Alan's cave home. "It is hard for one to change and Mr. Gregger has been alone for over a century."

Kendall wrapped her arms around herself. Even though the sun was out and it was warmer outside than in the cave, she suddenly felt very cold. "Do... do you think he was right though? Do you think we will end up like him?"

"No. Because we have our friends." Phillip pulled out the walkie talkie. "Speaking of, perhaps we should let them know we found the Energem."

"Right." Kendall clicked on the walkie. "Tyler? Can you hear me?"

"Yes... yes... I... can," Tyler said, his voice strained.

Kendall frowned. "Why are you talking like that?"

"I'm... not... talking… funny. This... stupid... red... ranger... is... fighting... my... control."

Kendall's eyes went wide. "Spellbinder!"

"Spellbinder?" Phillip asked.

"He can control people, force them to do his will," Kendall said. "Tyler, where are you?"

It was Tyler who said the words but not the one who thought them. "I...am... with... the... rest... of... your... team. If... you... want... to... see... them... again... come... to... the... North... Pass... in... 30... minutes... Kendal, don't it's a trap! Kendall!"

The walkie went to static.

~DC~DC~DC~

"Now see, this is just wonderful," Heckyll said, watching on a monitor as Kendall and Phillip hurried towards Spellbinder's location. He was relaxing in a laz-e-boy he'd 'liberated' from a local store, the footrest up and his seat reclined. Poisandra, Wrench, Curio, and Fury were seated just behind him in folding chairs while a select few monsters were seated on the ground around them, looking like kindergarteners waiting for Show-And-Tell to begin. The Vivexes were moving about the crowd dressed as 1920s Cigarette Girls, their trays loaded with popcorn and large sodas. "They say that cinema is dead, that all you get is generic action pictures yet you can still find some hidden gems"

"Oh, what are we watching? What are we watching?" Poisandra asked, clapping her hands. "I hope it is a romantic comedy. Love and tender emotions and a couple falling in love as they brutally defeat their enemies!"

"I want a musical!" Curio said, accepting a big bucket of popcorn from one of the Vivex.

"Something to tug on the heartstrings!" Wrench added.

Fury huffed. "Violence and destruction would make for a great film."

"You think too small, my dear minions." Heckyll swept his hand towards the screen. "Today, for your viewing pleasure, I give you a good ol' fashion western starring the Power Rangers." His mouth twisted into a feral grin. "And I have a feeling this movie won't have a happy ending." A Vivex handed him his popcorn and soda, Heckyll looking at the goodies. "Where are my Milk Dudes?" His hand began to spark as he gathered up energy. "I said... I need Milk Dudes... when I go to the movies!" The Vivex pointed to Heckyll's left, where a second footsoldier was holding out the candy in question. Heckyll instantly grinned. "Oh... I saw that the entire time. Just testing you." He wagged his finger at the Vivex before turning his attention to the screen. "Oh look, here comes Ms. Morgan..."

~DC~DC~DC~

Kendall and Phillip raced to the meeting place, staring in horror at the sight before them. Spellbinder was standing before her, watching her with interest, while the rest of the Dino Charge Rangers stood rigid beside him, their Dino Blasters (and in Ivan's case his Ptera Morpher) out and pointed at each other. Kendall could tell they were struggling to fight Spellbinder's magic but were failing miserably.

"What in the world has he done to them?" Phillip asked.

"I've made them my puppets!" Spellbinder cackled. "When Wrench and Master Snide resurrected me my power grew a hundred fold. Where before I could only just manage to take control of a few of you rangers now I can hold these six with ease!"

"Mr. Morgan, run!" Riley managed to get out. Spellbinder merely waved his hand and Shelby was forced to fire at Riley's feet, nearly striking him.

"Another word and I won't make her miss!" Spellbinder declared before focusing on Kendall. "Now, while it would be ease enough to take control of you and make you just give up your Energem I think we should make this a bit more exciting!"

~DC~DC~DC~

"What is that feather-brain doing?" Fury snarled. "Just make the rangers destroy each other and take the Energems!"

"Oh Fury," Heckyll said, slipping on some old fashion 3-d glasses. "You simply have no sense of flair! Spellbinder is a showman and showmen must be given a chance to shine." Heckyll popped a few pieces of popcorn into his mouth. "Besides, if he messes up I'll just destroy him... and a few of you, if I'm really frustrated."

~DC~DC~DC~

"What did you have in mind?" Kendall asked, glaring at the monster.

Spellbinder walked over to Chase and took his Dino Charge Morpher, inspecting it with a critical eye. "Well, I've been inspired by our locale... I think we'll have a duel." He gestured towards the trapped rangers. "We walk ten paces, turn, and fire. If you can hit me I'll release your friends. Oh, and we'll do this unmorphed... make it more interesting."

Phillip shook his head as Kendall summoned her Morpher. "You know he's up to something. We can't risk it."

"We don't have a choice," Kendall said. Louder she called out, "Do we?"

"No, you don't," Spellbinder said as he approached her. "You play my game or I force your friends to fire upon each other."

Kendall squared her shoulders and turned her back to Spellbinder. She merely looked at Phillip, the Prince nervously stepping away from Kendall. "Alright... ten paces."

"Ten paces," Spellbinder confirmed, his back pressed against hers.

Kendall took a deep breath before taking her first step. "One...two...three..."

Spellbinder paced with her, but on three he casually waved his hand. The other rangers felt their bodies move against their will and struggled to fight the monster's control as he forced them to turn and aim at Kendall's back.

"Four...five...six..."

Phillip tried to open his mouth only for several Vivixes to grab him and cover his face, muffling his warnings.

"Seven...eight...nine..."

BANG!BANG!BANG!BANG!BANG!BANG!

Kendall whipped around, her blaster aimed at Spellbinder, but rather than take the shot she stared at the monster and the other rangers, all of them rubbing their hands. The Morphers lay on the ground, well out of reach.

Clu-cuh Clu-cuh Clu-cuh Clu-cuh Clu-cuh

"Now, it seems ta me that you ain't actin' like a proper gentlemen," Alan said as he walked towards Spelbinder, the sound of his footfalls echoing against the stone walls of the wide canyon, "forcin' a pretty little filly like Miss Kendal here to take ya on." He reached up and carefully pushed up the brin of his hand with his free hand, the other still clutching his blaster. "Now, if'n ya'll were both bein' fair and honest then I couldn't hold much of a grudge but it seems ta me that you, ya snake-oil sellin' piece of walkin' talkin' trash, didn't give her much of a choice. Not quite sure what ya did to these nice folks but I'm guessin' they ain't willin' participants. Then ya had ta go and try and pull a fast one?" Alan clicked his tongue as he stopped next to Kendall. He glanced at her before he began rolling his head back and force, the bones in his neck cracking. "So I suppose it's up ta me ta show ya some manners."

"Hey, this is a private party!" Spellbinder declared, waving his hand at the cowboy. "Who do you think you are?"

"I am Alan Gregger, duly appointed Sheriff of Stone Canyon and protector of this here mountain range. And I don't take kindly ta varmits like you hurtin' people I've takin' a shinin' too."

"What are you doing?" Kendall hissed.

"Well Miss Kendall..." Alan reached up and removed his hat, plopping it on her head before he took a step forward and narrowed his eyes. "I'm bein' the man I was meant ta be."

"And what's to stop me from taking control of you?" Spellbinder demanded, trying to lock eyes with Alan. To his frustration the cowboy refused to give him a chance.

"Because if ya do it proves you are nothin' but a coward. Proves ya can't beat me without your fancy little magic tricks."

Spellbinder growled at that. "Name your game then, sheriff!"

The grin Alan flashed the monster was chilling. "You wanted to have a duel but ya see that ain't how we handle things out here. In Stone Canyon, ya have a showdown!" Alan spun his blaster for a moment before holstering it. "Pick up one of them there guns, varmit." Spellbinder cautiously stepped forward, glancing at Alan in case the cowboy decided to attack. "I ain't like you, ya yellow-bellied coward. I don't shoot a man, or whatever the heck you are, when he ain't ready." Spellbinder picked up Tyler's Dino Morpher and Alan nodded. Kendall, realizing there was nothing she could do to stop this, stepped back, Alan's hat still on her head. "Now... here is how this is going to go. You have a gun in your hand, I have one in my holster. Ya have two choices here: first, you drop that weapon, let these people go, and I consider lettin' ya walk. That is your best option."

"And my other?" Spellbinder snapped.

Alan slowly reached up and pulled his bandana over his mouth before dropping his hand back to his side. He flexed his fingers, clearly waiting. "You try and outdraw me. But be warned... the moment I see ya twitch I'm gonna-"

Spellbinder's hand shot up, the blaster training on Alan. But before the monster could get off a shot the cowboy had his weapon out and fired three quick shots, knocking the gun once more out of his hand while the other two struck him in the chest, sending him flying.

"-put ya down," Alan said calmly, blowing on the barrel of his blaster.

"Whoa!" Shelby cried out, the two blasts having freed the other rangers. "That was... wow!" She ran over with the rest of the group, Koda giving Kendall a hug to make sure she was okay while Chase slapped Alan's shoulder. "That was some fancy shooting!"

"Ain't nothing," Alan said, glaring at the two footsoldiers that were still holding Phillip. The Prince merely thrashed forward, sending them flying off in opposite directions. "Just didn't like him messin' with Miss Kendall here."

"I am glad you came to our aid once more, Mr. Gregger," Prince Phillip said. "We are in your debt."

"Fella, I'm in yours." He smiled at Kendal. "This little miss talked some sense inta my thick skull and got me ta snap out of my funk."

Tyler just shook his head. "I still can't believe it... we were saved by the Sunset Kid!"

"Don't talk about being saved just yet!" Spellbinder roared, a mob of Vivexes surrounding him. "I think it is time I bust out some bigger tricks!"

Alan checked his blaster carefully while the Rangers used their Energems to call back their weapons. "Alright then, seems like we got ourselves a nasty fight." He took a step forward only for Tyler to stop him.

"Wait... I think it's time you learned how we fight."

Chase nodded. "That's right, mate... these Energems can do more than summon fancy weapons."

The cowboy tugged the Orange Energem free from his neck. "I always said this dang thing was a curse... but I suppose it is time for me to find out why all the rest of ya think it is a god-send."

Riley grinned. "Then I say we morph."

"My new comrade, would you lead us off?" Ivan asked.

"Alright then," Alan declared, holding out his Energem. "It's time ta get a morphin'!"

"Uh... it's 'Moprhing Time'," Kendall said.

"Whatever."

The rangers spun their Morphers, inserting their Energems. "Dino Charge, Power up! Unleash the power!"

The nine rangers fired off the raw energy of their energems, their suits forming around them while the ghostly forms of their spirit dinosaurs curved around them before forming their helmets. The regular eight rangers all turned, taking in the newest ranger.

"Lordy," Alan said, looking down at his hands. His suit was the same as the rest of the main team save for it being a brilliant orange. Over his left pec was the image of the Dilophozord's head. His helmet was orange as well, with a yellow trim around the visor that resembled teeth and green eyes on the sides. Most striking were the two silver ridges that ran up from his forehead and over the top of the helmet, forming a V shape.

"Awesome!" Tyler said, patting Alan's shoulder. "You look amazing!"

Alan let out a laugh, still staring at his hands. "Miss Kendall, my apologizes... I get why you see these Energems as a blessin'."

"You can apologize later," Kendall said as Spellbinder sent the Vivexes at them. "Now we deal with these creeps!"

The rangers spread out, attacking the footsildiers and firing blasts at Spellbinder when they could. Riley called for his Dino Saber and began to hack away at the Vivex while Phillip and Koda punched any foe that got near them. Tyler and Shelby were tagteaming, swapping back and forth against their opponents to keep them confused. Kendall had taken to the highground, tricking the Vivex to come climbing up only for her to kick them down. Ivan swiftly moved through the ranks, the blade on his Ptera Charge Morpher cutting down his foes.

"So, I hear you are a hotshot," Chase said as he moved back to back with Alan, drawing his blaster. "I'm pretty good myself!"

"Then I'm glad... be nice to have another gun watchin' my back!" Alan said, firing at several Vivex that had been trying to sneak up on Shelby.

Chase merely grinned. "Works for me!" The Black and Orange Rangers opened fire on the Vivex, sending a good half of the mob flying. "You think that's something, cowboy? Hey Tyler!"

"What's up, hotshot?" Tyler asked as he kicked a Vivex in the stomach.

"I think it's time we show the cowboy here our steel!"

"Sounds good to me!" Tyler answered. "Dino Steel!"

The five original rangers ran their Morphers along their arms, summoning their Dino Steel armor and weapons.

"Ptera Saber!" Ivan shouted, drawing forth his own signature weapon.

"...Miss Kendall, tell me I can get me one of those!" Alan called out, firing at the Vivexes while the others went after Spellbinder.

"I agree with our new friend," Prince Phillip said, slamming his fists into one of the footsoldiers and sending it rolling into three of its comrades. "I would love to have this Dino Steel as well."

"I'll work something up," Kendall said with a nod. "But first, let's finish off Spellbinder! Everyone, tag team!"

The Rangers nodded and leapt into action. First Phillip launched himself at Spellbinder, a flurry of punches staggering the monster. Then Kendall, Alan, and Chase fired their weapons, a shower of sparks blossoming from the magical alien. Shelby, Chase, and Koda each got in close to add their own touch to the beatdown before Tyler finished with a T-Rex Punch that caused Spellbinder to fall to his knees.

~DC~DC~DC~

Heckyll stood up, the other monsters booing and throwing their popcorn at the screen. "The Western is dead anyway. I've always preferred the good old giant monster films. FIRE THE MAGNA BEAM!"

~DC~DC~DC~

The Rangers leapt back as Spellbinder grew in size, towering over them and laughing at this misfortune.

"Dang, these ones can get big too?!" Alan asked. "Tell me ya'll have one of them giant robots to fight it!"

"We do," Tyler said, taking out one of his Dino Chargers. "Chase, Riley, let's call forth the Megazord."

"Hold up," Riley said, putting a hand on Tyler's shoulder. "Let's give Alan a chance."

"What? Me?" Alan asked, pointing at himself.

"Yes, you should... summon your zord," Koda stated.

"Here," Ivan said, handing Alan a blank Charger. "Simply let your Energem charge it and then toss it into the air. Your Zord will awaken and come to you."

Alan pressed his Energem to the charger, letting out a gasp of surprise when the Charger glowed a bright orange. After a moment the blank had changed, the image of the Dilophosaurus now on it and the writing 00A on it. "Alright then," Alan said, pressing the button on the Charger and flinging it into the sky. "Come on out, big fella!"

DINO CHARGER ENGAGED!

A rumble filled their years and the mountains shook as a massive cave opening suddenly opened up unleashing the Dilophozord. At first glance the new zord resembled Riley's Raptorzord by the Dilophozord, other than being orange with the two silver ridges on its head, also sported a unique tail. A large chamber, which resembled an industrial fishing reel, was on the tail and the end split into two, forming a half circle. The orange zord let out a hooting cry as it ran next to Chase's Parazord, the two hurrying toward's Tyler's T-Rex Zord.

"It's about to get wild!" Tyler shouted, the rangers leaping into the zord. The moment the entered the T-Rex Zord they all inserted their Dino Charge Morphers into the command podiums and their Dino Drive Armor appeared on them.

"You folks sure do love your costume changes!" Alan declared as the Parazord and Dilophozords connected to the T-Rex Zord.

DINO CHARGE MEGAZORD ACTIVATED! PARA-DILOPHO FORMATION!

The Dilophozord's Arm Form, to the delight of the rangers, was a whip-arm. The end of the zord's tail formed the end of the whip and Tyler used it to lash out as Spellbinder, forcing the monster back.

"That is... powerful weapon!" Koda declared.

"Let's see what else it can do!" Riley declared. The rangers thrust their left arms out, the whip firing out. The half-circle end hit Spellbinder's arm and suddenly latched close, cuffing the monster to the whip.

"Ha!" Spellbinder laughed. "You think this can hold me? I'll just make a daring escape!" He tugged on the cuff only to howl as it tightened on his wrist. "Hey, this isn't part of the act!"

"Oh, but it is, mate," Chase said, drawing his blaster. "Sheriff, let's do this together!"

"Ya got it!" Alan said, thrusting out his left arm and slowly pulling it back.

"Stop! Stop it!" Spellbinder dug his heels in but found himself being dragged back towards the Megazord as the whip was reeled in. "Maybe I can just make a quarter appear behind your ear?"

"I think I'd rather us perform our own trick!" Shelby declared. "Let's make a monster disappear!"

The Megazord raised the Parazord arm, the cannon on the end charging up. Spellbinder fought hard but couldn't break the tether that was dragging him closer and closer to the Megazord.

"Alright, everyone, time to see Spellbinder off into the sunset!" Tyler declared, all the rangers raising their weapons. "3... 2..."

"Maybe I could pull a bunny from a hat?" Spellbinder whimpered.

"1!" all the rangers declared as the Megazord firing a blast of raw energy into Spellbinder. The monster thrashed as the shot pushed against him, the Megazord slowly lifting both its arms before unlocking the cuff. The result was Spellbinder flipping head over tail through the atmosphere, crying out the entire time as the blast launched him near the speed of light into the sun.

"Monster extinct," Tyler declared.

~DC~DC~DC~

Kendall smiled as she prepared to address the press that was gathered before her. She'd been working hard the last two weeks to get everything ready for this and she was looking forward to putting her, and the musuem's, stamp on recent history. She adjusted her glasses before stepping up to the podium.

"For almost a 130 years an injustice has been allowed to go unanswered. Many historians know of the legend of the Sunset Kid, the thief that stole the Stone Canyon Gems and escaped into the mountains, never to be seen again. It is an entertaining story, like Little Red Riding Hood or Tarzan. And just like those stories... it isn't true." Those gathered murmured and Kendall pressed on. "Recently my team and I made a startling discovering." She lifted up a worn leather journal. "The diary of the Sunset Kid himself. In his own hand he details the true story of how the caravan company charged with moved the gems and his own deputies sought to frame him for their own theft. Going through historical documents I have been able to find documentation and confessions proving that the Sunset Kid was not the thief but was an innocent man betrayed by his friends!"

Kendall hadn't actually found the confessions. Alan had himself retrieved them during his long life, keeping them purely as a way to remind himself that he wasn't the man some many believed him to be. It hadn't occurred to him that people might actually listen to his side of the story; the betrayal had left him unwilling to listen to others or seek out their aid.

"As such, I am proud to unveil our new, altered exhibit: 'The Sunset Kid: Justice At Last'!"

Koda and Chase pulled away a large curtain, revealing a display holding the gems along with paintings of Stone Canyon and a portrait of Alan with his bandana over his face riding on a horse against a sunset backdrop.

"Quite impressive," Phillip said once Kendall finished answering some questions and joined him, Ivan, and Tyler off to the side.

"Indeed," Ivan stated. "You have done a wonderful thing, Ms. Morgan."

Tyler nodded. "Absolutely! You didn't change history... you uncovered a truth and gave Alan his life back!"

Kendall merely smiled. "Oh, I suppose that's true... but I think it was something else to helped out Alan even more."

"Oh kids, smile for the camera!" The rangers turned to see the same family from last week had returned to the musuem; the two teens once more having leapt the velvet rope and clambered onto a display, this time of a sabertooth tiger.

Ivan and Tyler looked at each other, frowning before they turned to Kendall. "We'll handle this-" Tyler began only to see that Kendall was merely smiling. "Are you okay?"

"Perfectly fine. And don't worry, Tyler… with everything going on I decided it was time to hire some security for the museum."

"Alright, get closer together," the mother said, the two teens shoving each other and causing the display to rock.

"Excuse me, ma'am. I'm gonna have ta ask ya ta get your youngins down from there."

The mother turned, ready to complain and claim they were doing no harm, only to stop as she saw that this wasn't some young person with a plastic name badge but a handsome security guard, a cowboy hat perched on his head and a badge like a wild west sheriff pinned to his chest.

"See, pretty Miss Morgan over there? She runs this here museum and she does a fine job of it. But those boys? They are makin' a mess of things and that just makes more work for her." Alan tipped his hat up and smiled at the mother. "And I am sure you can relate to that, ma'am."

"Well… well yes," the one said, all at once charmed and a bit cowed by the new arrival. "Boys! Get down from there! Now!"

Kendall merely smirked and crossed her arms over her chest as the Sunset Kid began to bring justice to her museum.