AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys. Sorry it's been a bit. The chaos of the world kind of sent my Muses in a different direction for a little while, but I finally managed to write a pretty intense chapter. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you're all safe and doing well during these crazy times.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ELOISE
She woke up nauseous and dizzy. Eloise wasn't a fan of vomiting, but she couldn't stop herself from getting sick. She was surprised when Lady Eleanor opened up the door and silently moved her hair aside as Eloise continued to get sick.
"Easy now," Lady Eleanor said soothingly.
When Eloise finally felt better, Lady Eleanor helped her to her feet and cleaned her up. "Ugh..." Eloise mumbled. "Thanks, Lady Eleanor. Sorry about upchucking like that... Maybe it's a delayed reaction to being stuck outside of the time line while dying for several millennia." She smiled apologetically.
Lady Eleanor looked concerned. "Eloise, dear..." She began. Then, she seemed to change her mind about whatever she'd intended to say. "Come. I'll give you some crackers and make some tea to soothe your stomach."
"Actually, oddly, I'm craving the heck out of pancakes and bacon... Do we have any?" Eloise asked.
"Of course, dear. I'll make you some breakfast."
"Oooh, and strawberries! I need strawberries in my life right now! And maybe some ice cream... Jeez, why am I starving?"
Lady Eleanor's expression turned unreadable as she led Eloise downstairs. Once there, she began cooking before excusing herself to make a phone call. Eloise savored the smell of the frying bacon until she returned. As Lady Eleanor set a plate in front of Eloise, she hesitated before sitting down with her.
Eloise immediately dug into her breakfast. "Eloise... I just spoke to Sage," she said.
"Did they have any luck with Liza yet?" Eloise asked between bites of food.
"Unfortunately, no, but that's not why I called her. I had my suspicions she could answer a question for me, considering she healed you when you arrived here."
"What question?" Eloise asked as she munched on a piece of bacon like she'd never eaten food before in her life.
"Eloise, dear... Before Zell tried to kill you, did you have any nausea, fatigue, or dizziness?"
"No, not that I can think of..." Eloise paused. "Is something wrong with me?" She thought of a million different health issues that might have been caused by eternally dying outside of the time line for millennia.
"Not precisely..." Lady Eleanor began. She offered up a small smile as she added, "Congratulations, Eloise... You and Jeirmi are going to be parents."
Eloise's mouth dropped open. She closed it quickly, trying to swallow the food she'd shoveled in before hearing those words and nearly choking. "I'm sorry, we're what?" She asked.
"You're pregnant, Eloise. Sage detected the baby as she healed you and she saved you both. She was waiting to tell you until you and Jeirmi had a chance to adjust to being here."
Eloise stared at her in disbelief. "Holy moly..." She mumbled. She touched her stomach. "You must be one tough kid, Little One..." She'd barely survived Zell's attack. It seemed impossible that she hadn't miscarried, if only from blood loss and trauma.
A new thought occurred to her. "Holy horsefeathers... How am I supposed to tell Jeirmi this right now?" She asked. She stared at her food, unable to process the news that she was honest-to-God knocked up and they were in the middle of the fight of their lives.
"Eat, dear," Lady Eleanor said gently. "You need your strength."
"Right... Everything is copacetic..." Eloise tried to convince herself. "It's Jake."
"Jake?" Lady Eleanor repeated.
"Sorry. That's Flapper slang for 'great.' It's great."
"You'll be fine, Eloise. A child is a wonderful gift, even when unplanned."
"I take it you never intended to have children?"
"No, I did not. As a warrior and the leader of the Eltarian Guard, I believed that would not be my path. However, when I learned I was pregnant with Gregory, I was determined to protect him... And I did, for too brief a time, with all that I possessed." She looked haunted, and Eloise immediately felt sorry for her. The woman might be the toughest person alive, but she'd lost her son and her husband. That would mess anyone up, even if Lady Eleanor hid it well.
Eloise leaned over and hugged Lady Eleanor. She tensed, seeming quite surprised, but then she hugged her back. "I'm alright, Eloise," she said softly. "And you shall be as well."
"I kind of wish my mom was around right now," Eloise said. Then, she paused. "Wait, Mom's Eltarian! I know that, realistically, my dad's gone by now, and I'm trying not to dwell on that, but... Mom is probably still out there somewhere."
"I'm sure it would do her heart some good to see her daughter again," Lady Eleanor said. "You should search for her, Eloise. A first-time mother needs that kind of support. I didn't have my mother, but Matthew's mother was a wonderful woman. She was extremely helpful when I had no idea what to do."
"Did you ever tell her what happened to Sir Matthew?" Eloise asked softly.
"I couldn't. She perished when our son was a teenager. It was a horrible event. The twins did not survive either." She shook her head.
"Twins?"
"Matthew's younger brother and sister, Paul and Jane. They were good people."
Eloise couldn't ignore her curiosity as she cautiously asked, "What happened to them?"
Lady Eleanor turned a bit colder then. "They were murdered," she replied. "By the Rebellion of Eltar."
"What? Why would the Rebels kill Sir Matthew's family?"
"Lara, his mother, and Jane both worked as healers. Paul was one of the Peacekeepers. The Rebels targeted a gathering of some of Eltar's upper class. Mayor Freyst was there, and I remain convinced he was the primary target, but he escaped and managed to survive. From what we were told, after the initial attack, Lara and Jane were brought to offer medical assistance and Paul was there with the Peacekeepers to help search for survivors. The Rebels attacked a second time, killing everyone who was present, including the innocents who were only trying to help."
Suddenly, Eloise fully understood why Lady Eleanor seemed to hate the Rebellion so much. "That's awful," she said. "Sir Matthew must have been devastated."
"He was. His family meant the world to him." Lady Eleanor changed the subject so quickly, Eloise nearly got whiplash. "I need to check on my Rangers and my grandson. Please don't hesitate to call if you need anything, dear." She quickly left the room.
Suddenly, as she was about to start eating again, time moved through Eloise. She saw a future that didn't look too promising.
Mistress Cheetah stubbornly refused to be saved. Lily's heart was too broken. As Casey, RJ, and Sage attempted to restore her light, she was unable to accept it. Without Theo, she could never find herself again.
"Well, crap... Looks like we have a problem," Eloise mumbled.
"Problem?" Jeirmi asked from the doorway. He looked a little groggy, but he'd already showered, shaved, and gotten dressed, and he had a cup of coffee in his hands. Eloise was still in her pajamas and fuzzy bunny slippers.
"Morning, Handsome," Eloise said cheerfully.
"Good morning... What's the problem?" He replied like a dog with a bone.
"Nothing we need to worry about yet... I just need to take a little stroll..."
"Eloise-"
"Trust me, Jeir... I need to do something."
"What is it? Let me do it instead-"
"Jeirmi... You don't want to know, and you'll want to tell me no... But this is too important. I have to fix something before we have a full-blown apocalypse on our hands."
"Ellie... You're really worrying me."
She kissed the tip of his nose. "You worry too much," she said. "I'll be back in no time!" She wolfed down the last of her breakfast and chased it with juice before ducking into the timeline. Jeirmi had no time to object, but she heard him give an exasperated sigh as she vanished.
"Imagine how he'd have reacted if he knew about you," she said to the baby. "Don't worry... I'll tell him as soon as we make it back home from this not-at-all troubling, super-duper dangerous mission that, if I time it wrong, could kill us both... Man, I'm an idiot... But this needs to be done, and no one else can pull it off."
She stood by the exit, waiting to re-enter the timeline at the exact right moment. Nervously, Eloise watched the scene unfolding inches away from her like she was was watching a film.
"Theo... Oh God..." Lily whispered. "We'll get you help. Come on..."
"Lily, you can't move me," Theo said weakly. Eloise noticed he was fatally injured. He was right. If Lily moved him, he'd only bleed out faster.
"Of course I can. We're getting out of here," Lily said stubbornly.
"The room is sealed, and that's the one thing protecting everyone below it, Lily. The Cogs will kill them all. We have to stop them," Theo insisted.
Lily examined the room. "I have an idea," she said. "That pipe up there will spill a ton of water in here very quickly. It'll short the Machine Empire out... The pressure of it will probably crush them all. Divatox planted a bomb up there. I can set it off."
"That's a great plan, honey, but there's one problem... You'd have to detonate the bomb while still in the room."
"I know," Lily said.
"No... Lily, no!"
"I'm not leaving you, Theo, and I can't move you, and we need to stop the Cogs... I'm okay with this. I can do this."
Eloise's heart broke for Lily. I'd have done the same thing, she thought. That poor girl...
"No, damnit! You're not doing that," Theo said firmly.
"It's the only way, Theo!" Lily replied.
Theo sighed. He pulled her closer. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Lily... Do one thing for me," he said.
"Of course," she said. "Anything."
He kissed her. Then, he put his hand over the button to unseal the door. "Live," he said. He unsealed the door, shoved Lily through, sealed it again, and fired off a shot to set off the bomb.
Eloise had a split second to react after the shot was fired. She reached into the timeline, grabbed the severely wounded Theo, and yanked him out of time at the exact moment that the bomb detonated.
Theo was dying. There was no denying that. He was also stuck outside of the timeline and, like Eloise, couldn't get any worse.
"Who the hell are you?" Theo asked in confusion.
"I'm a girl who's about to be in a lot of trouble for changing the timeline... Again." She giggled. "Most people call me Ellie, or Eloise. Nice to meet you, Theo."
He stared at her in confusion. "Eloise... Am I dead?"
"You were... And it massively screwed up your wife, who sort of became an evil overlord and took over Onyx... It's a long story, Theo, but the short version is that Zell turned Lily evil, and promptly lost control of her, and she took over Onyx and tried to take over Eltar, and now she's been captured, but without you, Lily's not going to let them fix her, and that's a major threat to society and she's so heartbroken and I would be, too, and I wanna help so I jumped back in time to save you after you decided to sacrifice yourself to save everyone else including Lily, which was so brave by the way, and now here we are!"
Theo blinked at her.
"Sorry... Was I talking too fast again?" Eloise asked.
"Sort of... Did you just say that Lily is evil? That's impossible."
"Zell has these flames... When he pushes someone into them, they lose their light completely. Most become loyal to him, but somehow, Lily fought that."
"Of course she did. Her spirit is too strong for him to control... We have training most others don't." Theo paused. "I have to save her, Eloise."
"That's the plan... But first, I have to save you." She paused thoughtfully. "I'm a fair healer, but this is beyond my skill level. I need to bring you to someone who can help... Someone who can heal anything."
"Like who? Sage or Troy?"
"Nope... Sage has too much going on already with Liza missing, and Troy's been working himself too hard. I don't want to overwhelm him. Besides, the second you step back into time, you'll bleed out..." She considered her options. "Amello," she said finally.
"Who?"
"He's an Eltarian. He's insanely good at healing. Not only can he heal fatal wounds, he can cure terminal illnesses. That takes a lot out of him, so he can't do it often, but injuries are easier. He can save you. I just need to figure out where he is." She reached through time, searching for an opportunity. "There! The whole group of them is there, but if anyone can keep a secret, it's the Circle. I'll hide you in... Scotland in 1467 until it's time to bring you to Lily. No one will find you there, and I'll go back for you."
"Scotland? I thought you said he was an Eltarian."
"The Circle travels from place to place. I saw them during my travels through time, and I went to several of Tinny's parties while I lived on Eltar. They're friends. You can trust them."
Theo seemed to realize it was Scotland a few centuries in the past or death. "Alright," he said. "They save me... And then, I save Lily."
"Exactly! Hold on. It's time to jump." Eloise took his hand and pulled him toward their destination. When she found the right time, they stepped back into the timeline. Theo promptly collapsed and rapidly began bleeding out at Amello's feet.
"Oh, my..." Amello mumbled before immediately starting to heal him.
"Ellie, Lass!" Tinny said grandly. He pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her cheek. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"
"I sort of stole a previously dead man from his destiny so he could be saved and cure his wife who was turned evil by magic," Eloise replied.
"You've had a productive day, Lass," Maegus said with a laugh.
"Interesting ensemble you're wearing, Ellie," Branz commented. "I especially love the bunny slippers."
She laughed. "I didn't have time to get dressed," she said.
"Would you like to stay for lunch?" Ling asked with a warm smile.
"I'd love to, but I need to get back... I'll come back for him soon. Protect him with all you've got, and don't tell anyone, okay?" Eloise asked.
"For you, anything," Hezzo replied. "Go on, Ellie. He's safe here."
"Thanks, guys." She smiled at them before heading back to present day Angel Grove.
Jeirmi was waiting for her. He looked incredibly nervous and adorably frustrated. She'd missed that. "My mission was a success," she said cheerfully.
Jeirmi wrapped her in his arms. "Don't do that, Ellie... Don't run off of me. Not after what happened. Take me with you next time. I don't ever want to be separated from you again," he said as he held her.
"There's one other thing... Um..." Eloise stared at her bunny slippers.
"Eloise... What's going on?" Jeirmi asked, clearly bracing for the worst.
"It's not bad news, Jeirmi... It's actually really amazing news. I'm kind of, sort of, a little bit pregnant." She raised her eyes to his face nervously.
Jeirmi stared at her with his jaw dropped. "Pregnant? How?"
"Well, see, when a man and a woman-"
"Eloise!" Jeirmi blushed. Eloise giggled. He shook his head. "I meant how could a baby have survived what you've been through?"
"I don't know... We've got ourselves a tough little kid here..." She paused. "Jeirmi, I want to find my mom. She should still be alive."
"Okay... So where do we look?"
"Well, in the 1920's, she was here in Angel Grove... But Eltarians move around a lot because they don't appear to age, so she could be anywhere."
"What's her name, Ellie? You never really talk about her."
"I missed her too much, so I tried not to think about her. Besides, Mom likes her privacy. She ran away from Eltar, remember? I can't even say for sure that it was her real name... But she went by Maryanne. That's not very Eltarian, is it?" Eloise laughed.
"Okay, so the first thing we need to do is figure out what name she might be living under now, and where she'd go."
"She talked about how it was easier to hide in big cities... Angel Grove was actually kind of quiet for her, but she fell in love with my dad, and this is where he was."
"Big cities on Earth... Let's see... Well, if she stayed in California, there's Los Angeles, or San Francisco..."
"She'd have to go further than that if she didn't want to risk being recognized... New York, maybe. Mom loves the Arts, and she's a big fan of the theater. I could see her settling down in New York, and it's the sort of town where no one would notice her not aging, because New Yorkers are used to weird things."
"Isn't Captain Smith from New York?"
"Yeah, that's where his Chapter is based..." Eloise smiled. "I have a photo of my parents in my locket, along with one of you... It's upstairs. I could show it to them and see if any of them know her. Talking to a New Yorker seems like the best bet."
"The best bet for what?" Someone asked from the doorway. Chelsea stood there with Logan.
"I'm sorry, but this is a private conversation," Jeirmi said a little harshly.
"A private conversation about you needing a New Yorker... Which you happen to have standing in front of you," Chelsea replied with a casual shrug. "But if you don't want my help, whatever."
"Wait!" Eloise said. "Stay." She ran upstairs and grabbed her locket, returning quickly. "Do you recognize the woman in this photo?" She asked hopefully. It was a long-shot, but so were a lot of things. It was worth a try.
Chelsea examined the photo for a moment before pausing. "I don't exactly know her, but I know of her," she replied. "She goes by Madame Matilda. She's a fortune teller in the East Village. She's got quite a reputation. I used to see her picture in the Village Voice, back when it was still around."
"What's that?" Eloise asked.
"A newspaper, sort of. They catered to the alternative crowd, but they covered a lot of political and community issues, too. Anyway, people advertised in the back all the time... A lot of them were random job listings or ads for sex workers, but psychics advertised, too."
"Sex workers?" Jeirmi repeated. "What sort of newspaper was this?"
"Like I said, it wasn't your typical newspaper. Anyway, I remember her photo because her reputation was so strong. Most of the psychics were scam artists, but not Madame Matilda."
"Chelsea... Would I be able to find a copy of this newspaper?" Eloise asked.
"The archive is probably still online. I'm not sure if the ads would be included, but you could try and Google it."
"Google?"
"It's a search engine... On the Internet..." She shook her head and pulled out her cellular phone. Eloise watched as Chelsea initiated a search for Madame Matilda in New York. Several results came up immediately.
"This is her, right?" Chelsea asked, showing Eloise a photo.
Eloise smiled. "That's my mom," she said proudly. "She was a really strong seer... Among other things. I'm not surprised she did so well as a fortune teller."
Chelsea grabbed a notebook off of the counter along with a pen and wrote down the address and telephone number listed. "Here you go. Hopefully, the information's current," she said. "Logan and I are heading out."
"Our teams are helping with the effort to search for Liza," Logan added, speaking for the first time.
"Do you need any assistance?" Jeirmi asked dutifully.
"I think we've got it for now," Logan replied.
"Thank you, Chelsea," Eloise said, flinging her arms around her.
Chelsea seemed confused by the hug, but she shrugged in response. "No big," she replied casually. "Good luck."
Logan and Chelsea quickly left. Eloise looked at Jeirmi. With a grin, she asked, "Fancy a trip to New York City?"
ANDIE
It had taken some serious work on Lido's part, but Andie had finally agreed to see Ivan. He stood in Lido's hut now. Lido took A'Vah outside. "We'll be close," he promised before he left.
Andie nodded. "Thanks, Lido," she said softly. She looked at Ivan when they were alone. "Ivan... I'm sorry I ran off on you," she began.
"It's alright, M'Lady... Sir Trerry and I had a rather interesting discussion, and now I know why you did," he replied softly.
"He told you?"
"He did... And although I cannot recall much... I have caught glimpses of the past."
"I'm so sorry..." Andie said, trying not to cry. "He killed you because you tried to help me, and I wouldn't even let you do it..."
"You were frightened, M'Lady, and with reason. Lygus understood that, just as I do. All he wanted was to protect you. I'm so sorry that I failed..."
"You failed? You were the one who got killed, Ivan. You died years before Daphne did."
"M'Lady... It wasn't your fault. Not even slightly." He pulled her closer to him and kissed the top of her head.
Andie took a deep breath. "Now I know why I jumped into those flames," she said with a sad smile.
"Indeed... You kept your promise to me, M'Lady... You saved me from the one thing I truly feared, turning evil... And I love you even more for it."
"I love you, too... But I'm terrified he's going to kill you again. This is why he hates you so much."
"I'm not afraid, M'Lady. If that's how I'm meant to die, then so be it."
"Please don't say that."
"I don't plan on dying anytime soon, Andie... Remember, my Energem protects me in ways Lygus wasn't protected. I'm not so easy to kill this time."
"Daphne blamed herself... And when she finally figured out what happened, she was going to take Zordon and run."
"That's when she decided to leave him?"
"Yes... Because she realized what a monster he really was... And because everything else he'd done sort of fell into place for her then." She paused. "She loved Lygus as much as I love you, Ivan... She just didn't understand that until it was way too late. She was so blinded by everything with Zell, and she thought that's what love was... But it wasn't. The way Lygus treated her... The way she felt about him... That's love."
"I found you again, M'Lady..."
"Yes, as Isobel... And she lost you, too. I don't want this to be the third time I lose you, Ivan. I don't think I can handle going through that again."
"They say the third time is the charm, correct? Let's prove that right! I shall not leave thee, M'Lady." He kissed her lips this time, and Andie relaxed slightly. "Don't push me away, Andie... It shall not work. I'm not going anywhere."
"Well, you are stubborn," she said with a slight smile. "That's how we ended up together in the first place. I wasn't exactly on Team Ivan in the beginning."
"Indeed! However, I rather enjoy a challenge," Ivan replied with a smile of his own. "No more running away... Are we in agreement?"
"Okay," Andie replied. "We're in this together... And we'll be stronger for it."
"Precisely!" He paused. "Will you return home now?"
"Yeah... I'm ready to go back home. Just let me say goodbye to Lido and A'Vah."
"But of course! How is the little one?"
"She's good. Lido's got her speaking more English, and her Eltarian's even better. I think she's happy here."
"Good. And how does Lido feel about his tiny guest?"
"I think he's getting attached to her. She's good for him. I'm glad they have each other."
They walked outside so Andie could say goodbye. She gave A'Vah a tight hug and promised to return soon. When she hugged Lido, she said, "Thank you for stopping me from doing something incredibly stupid."
"You would have come to your senses eventually," Lido replied. "However, I'm always happy to be here for you, Andie."
He bent down so she could kiss his cheek. Then, Ivan took her arm. Together, they headed home.
KEVIN
The Samurai Rangers were training harder than ever. Kevin didn't mind that. He knew how important it was to remain prepared for the coming battle. Besides, Spike needed the extra training time to catch up with the rest of the team.
Lauren had stuck around, to Kevin's surprise. He was pleased to have her there. Her levels of focus and discipline were impressive, and she made an excellent mentor for Spike. The more time Kevin spent with Lauren, the more attached he became. He wasn't the sort to form strong personal attachments because training had always come first, but he admired Lauren, and he was coming to realize how much he enjoyed their conversations. Lauren probably understood him better than the others. He was starting to wonder if there might be more to his feelings than he was admitting to himself.
They were out searching for clues as to where the Alliance might have set up their new base of operations when they got attacked. Three Eltarians wearing full armor came toward them. They had two massive machines with them.
"It's the Italians," Jayden said. "Be careful, Guys. From what Zeke told us, they're pretty fierce, and their machines are deadly."
"Should we use our Zords?" Kevin asked.
"Not yet... Let's see where they're planning to take this before we show them our own secrets. These particular Eltarians don't know us."
"What should we do, Jayden?" Emily asked.
"Emily and Antonio, stay close to me and hold the center down. Mia, Spike, take the left. Kevin, you're with Lauren. Stay right."
Kevin immediately headed right with Lauren by his side. The leader, whose name if he remembered correctly was Arabella, went for Jayden, Emily, and Antonio first. The female, Katrice, took on Mia and Spike. That left the rather intimidating-looking man... Gabritto.
Gabritto came toward Kevin and Lauren with one of the machines. Kevin immediately morphed as he sensed the rest of his team doing the same. Lauren followed suit. As Gabritto came at them with unnatural strength and far too many weapons, they worked together to hold him off.
Magic filled the air. At first, Kevin thought it was just Arabella, who was known to be a Sorceress, but he quickly realized someone else had joined them. His magic made Arabella's even stronger as they teamed up against Jayden, Emily, and Antonio.
"We have to help them," Kevin said to Lauren.
"Jayden said to hold down the right. We need to trust him," Lauren said. "If he needs backup, he'll let us know."
The man working with Arabella laughed as he launched an attack against Antonio. Kevin watched in horror as Antonio's morph failed and he began to twitch on the ground. "Antonio!" Jayden and Emily shouted in unison.
Gabritto came at Kevin while he was distracted. Lauren jumped in front of him, blocking the attack with one of her own. Kevin stared at her in wonder. "Thank you..." He said softly.
"No problem," Lauren replied.
"Let's finish the boy off," the man said.
"Not yet, Jezzeff... I'm having so much fun," Arabella protested. "Let's play with him a bit... Break his mind as well as his body..."
"Great Zell instructed us to get this done quickly," Jezzeff reminded her. He pulled out a sword as Jayden tried to attack him. Without even looking at Jayden, he deflected the attack and nearly impaled Jayden. Emily pulled Jayden to safety just in time. "You three are wasting time," Jezzeff continued as though he hadn't even noticed Jayden's attempt.
"Who is he?" Kevin asked.
"Trouble, clearly," Lauren replied. "Come on." She led Kevin behind some trees so they could regroup as Gabritto busied himself with preparing his machine for an assault.
Kevin looked toward the others. Mia was still morphed, but Spike wasn't. He was bleeding from the head, but the wound didn't appear to be too serious. He stood in front of Mia bravely, ready to absorb Katrice's attack despite being unmorphed as Mia was preparing to attack Katrice. Kevin knew they were in trouble and that if Spike got hit, it might just kill him.
"What should we do, Lauren? I humbly defer to you," Kevin said respectfully.
"I want you to summon as powerful an attack as you can using Water... Aim it at his tank. I think that, combined with a strike from my sword, should short the entire thing out," Lauren replied.
"That's clever," Kevin agreed. "I'm ready when you are."
Lauren took a deep breath and nodded. "Go!" She said.
Kevin began preparing his attack. He'd never focused so hard in his life. As he released the water toward the tank, Lauren hit it hard with her sword, which was radiating with the essence of Fire. The tank immediately began to spark. Seconds later, it exploded. Gabritto was flung into the air. He landed hard, his body visibly burned.
"Gabritto!" Katrice cried in alarm. She ran toward them, leaving Spike a chance to recover from her attack as Mia checked his injury. "I'll kill you, Bastardo!" Katrice shouted at Kevin. She had her sword raised and her machine was coming toward them.
"Think you can pull that off again?" Lauren asked.
"I can try..." Kevin said. The truth was that the attack had taken a lot of his energy, but what choice did he have? He began to raise a second attack.
Just as Kevin was about to release the attack, a sword was shoved through him from behind. He hadn't even sensed Jezzeff moving, but he stood over him now.
"Kevin!" Lauren shouted. She raised her sword, ready to fight against Jezzeff.
Jezzeff raised an eyebrow at Lauren. "Oh, my... How brave you are, Miss Shiba," he said in an oddly polite tone. "I'm not here to harm you, Lauren Shiba. Zell doesn't currently have any interest in whether you live or die. I am merely trying to protect these imbeciles before they get themselves slaughtered by your friends. Cease your attack and allow me to send Arabella, Katrice, and Gabritto home and no further harm shall come to you." Something about his words was deeply convincing, but Kevin chalked that up to the amount of blood he was rapidly losing.
"You just impaled one of my friends, so forgive me if I don't trust you," Lauren replied.
"I didn't hit anything vital... This time. If you agree to a ceasefire, I'll allow him to escape with his life. If not, I'll finish him off before you can even attempt to strike me with your sword."
Lauren took off her helmet and stared him in the eye. "Jezzeff... I don't believe a word you say," she said firmly. She put her helmet back on and began to fight against him with her sword. Lauren was good, but Jezzeff was unlike any swordsman Kevin had ever seen.
Realizing a sword fight was not one she could win, Lauren quickly began casting Kanji after Kanji. Most were fire-based attacks, but some were shields. As Kevin began to feel the bleeding slow down, he knew she'd also cast a healing Kanji. She fired off one after the other, not stopping.
"Lauren, you'll kill yourself if you keep this up!" Kevin cried in alarm. Even she only had so much energy to spare before she collapsed, and Jezzeff was healing almost as quickly as she was injuring him. It wasn't until a drop of Jezzeff's blood landed on the ground beside Lauren that Kevin realized what she was going to do.
Lauren removed her helmet again and carefully set it aside before she touched the blood and used it to draw another Kanji as she looked Jezzeff in the eye again. This attack connected directly with Jezzeff's body, causing fire to burst from within him. He screamed in agony as he burned.
"I can't beat you with a sword," Lauren said as she panted from her efforts, "but you can't beat me when it comes to the magic of the Samurai."
Jezzeff stared at her in shock. "Touche," he said as it began to downpour. The rain put out the fire. "Well done, Little Samurai. You have my respect, Lauren Shiba. I hope we meet again." With that, he vanished, taking Arabella, Katrice, and the severely wounded Gabritto with him.
"You're incredible!" Kevin declared. He was fully healed now and he knew it was entirely thanks to Lauren that he'd survived at all. Lauren smiled at him before she suddenly collapsed into his arms.
"Lauren!" Jayden cried. "Is she hurt?"
"She used an enormous amount of power to defeat Jezzeff," Kevin said. "I think she'll be alright with some rest. Is Antonio okay?"
Antonio offered Kevin a weak thumb's up and a smile as he leaned on Jayden and Emily to help him walk. "A healing Kanji will fix him in no time," Emily said.
"How are you feeling, Spike?" Kevin asked.
"Oh, I'm alright. A little embarrassed Mia had to save me, but I'm used to her being tougher than me," Spike said with his trademark nervous laugh. He was holding a cloth to his head where he'd gotten injured.
"Kev, can you handle carrying her back?" Jayden asked.
"Of course, Jayden. It would be my honor," Kevin said. He carefully shifted Lauren so he could move easier while he held her.
"Samurai Rangers... Victory is ours... For now," Jayden said. "Let's count our blessings, because that was almost really bad. This Jezzeff guy is no joke, and we weren't prepared to handle him. We need to consult with the Eltarians and find out everything we can about him as soon as possible. Let's go." He began walking again, still supporting Antonio and Emily as they moved.
They'd survived, but Jayden was right. If Lauren hadn't managed to pull off a bit of a miracle, they wouldn't have. She was the bravest person Kevin had ever met. I've never had a crush before, he thought. Was that what this was? He'd always been too busy training to think about girls, but Lauren wasn't just an ordinary girl. As he carried her back to their current home, he found himself studying her face and smiling to himself. Looking at her gave him a sense of peace. He liked that feeling. He wasn't sure what any of this meant for him, but for now, just having her close was enough.
BAX
He had never been good at following rules. Bax stood in the one place Zell had told them all to avoid, convinced he must be hiding something important there. As he snuck inside, he was stunned to discovered a girl covered in blood and bruises. It was clear she'd been tortured, but she was still taking shallow breaths. She's a fighter, he thought.
"Come to... Take your turn... With me?" The girl asked between labored breaths.
Bax froze. "Holy shit... Liza?" He asked softly.
"Obviously," Liza replied with enough of an edge to her sarcasm for him to know it really was her.
"What the hell did he do to you?" Bax asked in horror.
"Exactly what you're probably here to do... Go ahead... It doesn't matter... I won't scream, or... beg, or cry... Not for you... Not for him... Not for... anyone," Liza said firmly.
Suddenly, the true horror of everything he'd put Liza through came back to him. "Liza..." He said softly. "I'm sorry." He moved a few strands of bloody hair out of her face.
"Bullshit," Liza spat.
"Look, I know I did unforgivable things to you, and you didn't deserve them. You were still basically a kid... But I've been an evil asshole for as long as I can remember, and until extremely recently, I didn't care."
"Like you do now?"
"I do, because I remembered something... Something from a very, very long time ago... I know this is the wrong path, Liza, but I can't figure out how to get off it. I'm in way too deep... But I want to help you."
Liza paused. "Right... Then... Let me... Go..."
"I wish I could... He'd know the second I tried, and you can't get out of here in the shape you're in anyway. You need a healer, and I'm not great at that... I can only do the basics, Liza... But..." He paused before he began to send Air into her lungs. Zell had taught Zutan to steal Air from the lungs of his enemies, but Zutan had always possessed the ability to send it into the lungs of others. It was even easier because Bax knew Liza's energy extremely well. He inflated her lungs fully, willing them to heal themselves. After about a minute, Liza's breathing began to even out on its own.
She stared at him. "Why did you do that for me?" She asked. "What are you playing at? I'm completely vulnerable right now. I can't do much to protect myself because I'm so injured. You could have had your way with me or even killed me... But you fixed my lungs instead."
"I told you... I want to help you, Liza. I owe you that much and more than I can ever really do... But this is a start. I know I put you through hell. I'm sorry. If I could heal the rest of your body, I would, but Air is sort of my thing."
"I remember... You were a hell of a kisser because of that. It was like you'd suck the air out of my lungs and then breathe it back in with this massive intensity... I won't give you any other compliments, but even I can't deny that was an interesting experience."
"Listen to me, Liza... I'll find a way to get you help. I'll get word to them somehow... In the meantime, try not to piss him off."
"My existence pisses him off, Nine."
"Fair point... But I'm sure your charming way with words doesn't help."
Liza actually managed a weak smile. "You're not wrong. Whatever. I always figured my mouth would get me killed one day."
"You're not going to die. I'll make sure they find you before that happens."
"Promises, promises..."
"I'm sure they're looking for you. Zedd's probably strong enough to save you."
"Zedd would be walking into a trap. I know damn well I'm bait for him. Why do you think I won't reach out and let him know where I am? Zell's going to kill him the minute he shows up." She paused. "What changed... Bax?" She asked, cautiously using his real name.
"I remembered my past life... A life in which I was basically Zell's bitch and I made all the wrong choices and the one person I cared about more than anyone else in the world ended up dead."
"You cared about someone other than yourself? Or did he kill you?"
"He didn't kill me. I got myself killed... Because Zell would have done it anyway, so I provoked someone into doing it before Zell could. But because I died, that bastard moved in on her."
"Her?" Liza asked with obvious interest. Even half-dead, Liza couldn't resist the promise of good gossip. "So this is about a girl? Did she break your poor little non-existent heart?"
"She was my sister, not my lover. I saved her life when she was an infant and my family adopted her... And when I died, Jezzeff moved in on her and preyed on her in her grief. They got married, and he ultimately killed her. I tried so hard to save her, but I couldn't... And I can't let it happen again, Liza. I just... Can't."
Liza paused. "You have changed," she said after a minute. "Keep this up and I just might have to learn to tolerate your existence. Micky won't like that."
Bax tensed slightly at the mention of Micky. He'd massively underestimated that kid the last time they'd faced off and he'd ended up dead. He didn't want to repeat that. Besides, he couldn't die. Not yet. Not as long as Zizi was still in danger.
"Go on, Bax. Get out of here," Liza said. "If he finds you with me, he'll kill you before you can blink."
Bax sighed. "I feel like shit leaving you here like this... But there's nothing else I can do."
"Exactly. So go. I'll be fine, Bax. I'm always fine," Liza said with confidence Bax knew she didn't feel. The unshakable Liza was terrified, but she'd never admit it.
He didn't know what he could possibly say in that moment, so he left. When he was safely off the grounds they were using as their base, he sighed. "I have to get word to someone without Zell realizing it... That's going to be nearly impossible," he said aloud. There were very few entities who Zell couldn't easily read. A name occurred to him. "No way... I can't. He'll kill me on sight!" He objected.
Going to him will prove how desperate you are, and he'll see that, Zutan thought in his mind. He's the only one who can help that Zell won't see coming, and he can get word to Zedd. Besides... He can help us. He can put us on the right path. He was our friend once.
"Damnit..." Bax mumbled. "I am so screwed." He knew he had no other choice. He went in search of the last person he should be looking for.
STONE
He was sitting with his Chapter trying to relax in front of the fireplace. Something felt terribly wrong. "He's gaining power," he mumbled.
"No kidding," Jessa said. "I don't have to be a Seer to know that."
"What do you feel, Stone?" Leela asked.
"His Alliance grows stronger every day... They're radiating with power," Stone replied.
"Should we head to Angel Grove?" Annabrooke asked.
"Not yet... However, we need to be ready to go at a moment's notice. This could escalate very quickly."
"Does that mean-" Boom began.
"We can-" Blast added.
"Blow some of his allies up?" The twins finished in unison.
Stone shook his head. They really were like two hyperactive toddlers with an unhealthy fondness for explosives. "No," he said simply. They pouted in unison but didn't protest.
"Stone... Do you know who else he's brought back?" Aylane asked a bit nervously.
Stone guessed why she was concerned. "He can't bring him back, Aylane," he promised her. "Not without resurrecting the rest of the Twelve, and only three were loyal to him. That would be a very bad plan, especially since we know two of them came to regret becoming his allies."
"Yes. Two of them..." She repeated softly.
Aylane had been forced to kill her fiance, Kenton, when she realized he was responsible for the deaths of most of his closest friends. She'd stopped a monster, but at far too high a cost. Only Aylane and Bartello were supposed to know the truth, but Stone had figured it out over the years. Killing Kenton had taken a significant amount of power. Between that and her grief, Aylane had lost the baby almost no one had known she was carrying. Stone had kept that secret for her and had never called her on it.
"Don't worry, Lanie," Annabrooke said cheerfully. "If there's any sign of that asshole, we'll kick him straight back into the millennia he belongs in!"
"Guys... Someone is hurt," Wynter said suddenly. "I sense... An unusual life force outside."
"Unusual?" Ace repeated in concern.
"Yes... I sense damage, but not the sort I can heal... I'm... Confused by this."
"Let's go check it out," Ace said. He stood up.
Stone nodded. "I'll go with you," He said. "The rest of you, stay here until I tell you it's safe."
Stone and Ace walked outside of the house. At first, they saw nothing. Then, Stone noticed the smoke. "Quickly," he said to Ace as he moved toward it.
The massive heap of parts looked like it was completely destroyed. It was on fire, and probably had been for quite some time, yet it hadn't melted. "I suspect this was stuck outside of the timeline at some point," Stone said as he looked it over. "The energy feels... Unusual, like it's traveled through time and space."
"What is it, Stone?" Ace asked.
"The damage is severe... It's hard to say for certain."
"Why would Wynter think a bunch of pieces of metal could feel pain?" Ace wondered. "She's rarely wrong when she senses this sort of thing."
A very weak moan came from one of the pieces. Stone was startled to sense someone looking at him. "It's alive..." He mumbled. "And it feels... Familiar. It's just so damaged, I can't recognize it..." He sighed. "Ace... Call Bartello and ask him to portal here immediately. He may be the only one who can help us with this."
"I'm on it," Ace promised, running back toward the house.
The air seemed to shift once Stone was alone with the destroyed machine. He sensed someone else watching him and spun around. That was when he noticed a bunch of leaves floating in the air. They danced in spirals around him before blowing away.
For a split second, Stone thought he was about to face the very last person he wanted to see. Instead, a different Eltarian moved into his line of sight. One look in his eyes told Stone that he was exactly who he'd suspected to begin with.
"Zutan..." He whispered.
The boy he assumed was Zutan's reincarnation put his hands up in surrender. "I just came here to talk, Stone," he said quickly.
"I have nothing to say to you," Stone said firmly.
"I need your help, Stone... Please... I'm desperate."
"You have a lot of nerve coming here, Zutan."
"I sort of go by Bax now, but I'm sure you don't care... Stone... Please... You're the only one who can help me."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because I had the nerve to face you and ask?"
"You sold Talon out to that bastard! You're the reason I lost my little brother! Do you really think I'll help you now?" All of his rage was coming back. A storm was forming in the sky.
Bax looked terrified as the storm began to get out of control. "Stone, please... It's not about me. It's about Liza. Please just listen to me."
Stone hesitated. "The missing Power Ranger?" He asked.
"Yes. She's also my ex girlfriend, but that's not why I'm here. I know where he has her, Stone, but I can't help her. She's severely injured. Even if I freed her, she can't escape in that condition, and if I try to move her myself, he'll stop us."
"Why would you want to help her?"
"Because... I fucked up, Stone. I fucked up so bad... Again. But I remember who I was now... And why I have to fight him. I don't want to work for him anymore, Stone, but he's so deep in my head... In Zutan's head... I was just a kid when he got to me and convinced me to be his puppet, and I betrayed everyone I loved. Everyone except Rosemary... I couldn't do it. He wanted me to kill her. I let her go and I told you what I'd done so you'd kill me instead. If I was dead, I couldn't be forced to hurt her."
Stone froze. The storm got worse as he struggled not to give in to his rage. He was overwhelmed by other emotions that were equally distressing. You killed him, his mind shouted at him. You killed Zutan, the youngest of you, instead of trying to find out why he'd betrayed you all. You didn't do it quickly... You beat him to death, slowly, painfully, and kept going even after he was dead. You nearly destroyed Eltar with a storm. You're about to do the same thing to Earth! You're a monster! He's right! He was still a kid when Zell turned him into this! You should have saved him, but instead, you killed him!
The storm continued to rage out of control. It cleared the last of the smoke from the area. Stone was about to snap completely.
Stone, stop it! Avona shouted in his mind. You don't have to give in to this. You are not your darkness, and you are not a monster.
Yes I am... I killed him... I killed Zutan... He thought.
He provoked you because he knew he was dead anyway, and because he was afraid he'd hurt Rosemary. You did what you had to do. Please, my love, calm down, Avona begged.
It's all happening again... We can't escape from this cycle... It's just going to repeat... Stone thought in a panic. He hadn't been this overwhelmed in a long time. Lightning rapidly began striking in a circle around him.
Stone! A new voice shouted. Knock it the fuck off!
Stone opened his eyes and was stunned to see a dragon coming straight toward him. It opened its mouth and fire came out, scorching the ground at Stone's feet. That made Stone stop for a moment and stare in shock.
"Oh, fuck..." Bax mumbled. "Tell me that's not Talon..."
"It's not Talon," Stone said softly as he finally managed to stop the storm. "Just a friend of his." He gently pet the dragon's nose. It bumped its nose against his hand a couple of times before taking off and flying away. Stone felt tears in his eyes. He turned away from Bax. That was when a smaller dragon approached him. The baby dragon blew a puff of smoke toward Stone, making him smile sadly. "Thank you, Little Brother," he whispered. "I'm okay now. You don't have to send anyone else." The baby dragon nodded at him before hopping toward Bax. It flew into the air and blew several puffs of smoke in Bax's face, making him have a coughing fit that knocked him onto his butt. Then, it did something that surprised Stone. The baby dragon hopped into Bax's lap and curled up there, apparently deciding to take a nap.
"Talon... What on all of Eltar are you trying to say?" Stone asked softly.
You already know, Brother, Talon replied. Help him. If you give him a chance, he just might get it right this time. And if he doesn't, you have my full permission to kill him all over again.
He killed you, Talon, Stone protested.
No. Zell did that, remember? Zutan was just too naive to realize Zell was using him the entire time... He made bad choices, Stone... But the kid's trying to make the right ones now, and he's a lot better as an ally than an enemy. The last time I suggested giving him a chance, he saved an infant's life. I wasn't wrong then, and I'm not wrong now.
Do you really want me to forgive him? He betrayed you... He killed Adina! He framed Plurri for all of it!
I don't want you to forgive him, Stone. I just want you to give him a chance to prove that the sweet, dorky, slightly pathetic kid we used to know is still in there somewhere. Zell destroys everything he touches... Don't let him win this one. Save Zutan. If there's anything still worth saving in there, find it, and help him.
Stone sighed. "Very well," he said softly.
"What?" Bax asked as he looked at the tiny dragon in his lap with a mixture of fear and affection for the cute little creature.
"I'll help you... For Liza's sake. However, if you betray us again, what I did the last time will be nothing compared to what you'll face this time."
Bax nodded. "Thank you," he said softly. "I don't deserve it."
"No, you don't... But perhaps you might eventually. Tell me where Liza is. I'll get help to her immediately."
"She's beneath a mostly abandoned building at our base of operations... In Stone Hollow, where Raff's Chapter of the Rebellion used to live. I think Zedd's the only one who can help her, but I couldn't go to him directly without Zell figuring out what I was up to."
Stone nodded. "I'll make sure Zedd knows where she is," he promised. "As for you..." He sighed. He began to cast a shield around Bax's mind. "Zell won't be able to read anything beyond the surface thoughts I'm about to have Aylane plant in your head. If you truly want to change, you now have the free will to prove it."
Bax actually had tears in his eyes. That stunned Stone. "Thank you, Stone," he said softly. "And I'm sorry... About Adina... And Talon... And everything else I did."
Stone nodded. "Time will tell if that's true. Go now. Aylane doesn't have to be near you to do this. You'll be safe to be around Zell in a couple of hours, after I've had a chance to speak with her."
Bax carefully shifted the dragon out of his lap. It continued to nap on the grass as Bax left. Ace returned a minute later, forcing Stone to focus as he spotted Bartello right behind him.
"Bartello, thank you for coming so quickly," he said.
"Of course. What can I do for you, Stone?" Bartello asked.
Stone pointed to the pieces on the ground. Bartello examined them for a moment. "Oh, my..." He said softly. "I believe this may be what remains of Alpha Prime."
"No one has seen him since the Blue Turbo Ranger's son was abducted by him," Stone said. "He didn't return with the boy."
"He must have been at the base when Scarlet attacked," Bartello said. "I'd say this damage was done by a mix of dragons and being trapped beneath the rubble as the building collapsed... My guess is Zell tried to send Alpha out of time but couldn't help him or control where he ended up... He probably flew forward and landed here."
"Is he dead?" Ace asked.
"Technically, Alpha's not actually alive... He's a machine," Bartello said. "However, he's nearly completely fried. He can register he's damaged, but he can't function enough to do anything about it or even communicate properly."
"Can he be fixed?"
Bartello looked the robot over. "I believe I can fix him, if I have the right technology... The repair is going to be quite extensive."
"He's working for Zell," Stone said.
"Alpha Prime is loyal to Zordon and the original Chosen... He just doesn't remember that. Chances are that the boy reprogrammed him while Zell had control of his mind. I'm positive Prime would choose differently if he had a choice. If I can repair the physical damage, I can work on repairing the damage to his programming and help him remember which side he's on."
"Bartello's not just an incubus. He has an affinity for technology," Stone reminded Ace. People tended to forget about that. "He's the best chance of getting Alpha Prime back online and back on our side."
"Ace, do me a favor and call my brother. Have him bring me my tools," Bartello said.
"Sure," Ace said, hurrying off.
Once they were alone, Bartello turned to Stone. "Are you alright, Stone?" He asked quietly.
"I'm fine," Stone lied.
"Stone... I've known you for a very long time. I consider us good friends. I think you know you can tell me the truth."
"Zutan has been reincarnated... As a boy called Bax."
"Baxzon? The annoying little Rebel who was foolish enough to disrespect Vitella?" Bartello shook his head. "It figures. Zutan was a cocky little cretin, too."
"He says he wants my help... He told me where Zell is holding one of the Power Rangers. He asked me to help him stay on the right path this time."
"What did you say?"
"Initially, I damn near wiped out Nevada with my outrage... Then, my brother asked me to help him."
"Talon wants you to help the bastard who betrayed him?" Bartello asked in surprise.
"He always had a soft spot for Zutan... And he believes that his new incarnation genuinely wants to make better choices... So I agreed to help, assuming he proves he's worthy. The moment he steps out of line, it's over."
"How can I help?"
"Just focus on fixing Alpha Prime for now. If you succeed, and if Bax is somehow telling the truth, that will be two allies of Zell's we've taken from him."
"Two more, you mean. After all, you have the twins," Bartello said with a slight laugh.
"Yes, I certainly do." Stone shook his head. "They're not so bad, really. They're overzealous when it comes to blowing things up, but they're not bad kids. Garron nurtured their killer instincts a bit too much, but there's hope for them. They're also smarter than they seem. They're brilliant with weapons."
"Garron wouldn't have taken them under his wing if they weren't," Bartello replied.
Ace returned with Zee and the tool kit. "Oh, cool!" Zee said, looking at Alpha Prime. "Looks like we're staying for a bit, huh, Barty?"
Bartello rolled his eyes. "Go keep the Sisterhood company, would you? You're too distracting and I need to focus. This is delicate work," he said.
"Family reunion!" Zee said cheerfully, running back into the house.
"That boy has energy for days," Ace said with a laugh.
"Days? Try millennia," Bartello replied. "I would never want to see him lose that, though," he added fondly. "He's hyper and distracting, but I adore him anyway."
"Come, Ace. Let's leave Bartello to his work," Stone said. "We should prepare something for everyone to eat, and I need to get in touch with Zedd." He led Ace back to the house, trying not to question whether or not he'd made the right choice about Bax. Only time could answer that question now.
ZEDD
He was going out of his mind trying to find Liza. Everything in him was screaming. He knew she was in horrible danger, but there was nothing he could do until he figured out where the hell that monster had hidden her.
The last thing he expected was to receive a phone call from an unknown number. "What?" He answered angrily.
"Greetings, Zedd," a voice said. "This is Stone, of Eltar."
Zedd was confused. "Well, that's a surprise... Can I help you with something?" He asked.
"Actually, I'm calling to help you. Someone provided me with information you need... Your girlfriend's location."
"What? Where is she? Who found her?"
"A member of Zell's Alliance is having doubts... And while he may have lied to me, I don't believe he did. She's at Raffitty's old base in Stone Hollow. Do you know the location?"
"Stone Hollow... How did we not think of that?" Zedd asked. "That's probably where Felina went. And yes, I know it."
"Good. Judging from how distressed my source seemed, I suspect she's in very bad shape. I also suspect Zell is expecting you. Please use caution, Zedd."
"I will. Thank you for this, Stone." He hung up, not knowing what else to say. Nothing mattered now except getting to Liza.
Zedd grabbed his sword and the very armor that had once been melted into his flesh. Sage had saved it when she'd regrown his skin, and it gave him courage now. He was about to run into the lion's den. He needed all the courage he could find. Liza needed him to be strong.
It was surprisingly easy to get to the base. No one was waiting for him. He knew that didn't mean anything. Zell would come the moment he sensed him there. Still, Zedd continued to the building where he faintly sensed Liza.
As soon as he entered the area where he sensed Liza was hidden, a dozen spells shot toward him. Zedd dodged most of them, although one connected, sending him flying into a wall. It didn't hurt too much, and he was able to get back on his feet after a minute.
"I knew you'd come," Zell said with a cruel laugh. "Even after all this time, you are terribly predictable, my boy."
"I'm not your damn boy," Zedd snapped.
"Such hostility. Are you angry with me, Zedd?" Zell asked with another laugh.
"Where is she, you son of a bitch?" Zedd demanded.
"You mean my little pet? Oh, she's just beyond that door. I think you'll find I've taken very good care of her."
Zedd didn't take the bait as he sensed something about Zell's energy. "You're not in your true form," he said.
"Very good, my boy! That's correct, Zedd. Unfortunately, I had something more important to attend to, so my main form is elsewhere. I'm a lesser form, but don't think that means I can't destroy you. Trust me, I can." He smiled sadistically. "Just like I've destroyed your precious little Campbell."
Zedd felt his rage threatening to overwhelm him. He took a deep breath before coming up with a plan. "Don't you talk about her like that!" He shouted. Zell watched him in amusement, which was what Zedd had been counting on. If Zell focused on his outbursts, he wouldn't see the strike coming... "I'll kill you if you touch her!"
"Your words are brave, yet meaningless, Zedd. You can't hurt me."
"Really? I did it before, you arrogant son of a bitch!"
"You caught me by surprise. I won't be that foolish again."
"I'm not just a scared kid anymore, Zell!" Zedd declared. "In fact-" He shoved his sword through the side of a very stunned Zell. "I'm pretty sure you'll be fooled again after all." He pulled his sword out, shoving it into Zell again and drawing a significant amount of blood.
Zell howled in pain. "You'll pay for this! I'll kill you both!" He shouted.
Zedd grabbed his arm and drained as much of his life force as he could in one shot. Zell paled significantly as his energy poured out of him. "Not if I kill you first, you fucking asshole," Zedd said with a sarcastic smile on his face. He let Zell go so he could raise his sword again, bringing it down against Zell's neck and swiftly decapitating him.
As Zell's head rolled onto the ground, Zedd looked at the stunned expression on the severed head's face and said, "You really need to stop underestimating me." He kicked Zell's head away from him just because he could. Then, he ran to the door. It was sealed, but with so much of Zell's energy flowing through him, Zedd easily broke the spell. He raced into the room, but froze when he spotted Liza.
She was lying motionless. She was still breathing, but she was covered in too many injuries for Zedd to count. As he looked at her face, his heart stopped for a split second. "It was you..." He whispered in horror as realization dawned. "My God... It was never Xia... It was you!" Lying in front of him was the exact vision Zell had shown him millennia ago to convince him to allow the monster to turn him evil to save his beloved Galaxia from an unspeakably horrible fate.
Zedd broke down in hysterical tears as he knelt beside Liza. He stroked her hair gently. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry, Liza..." His tears continued to fall, landing on Liza's forehead and cheeks.
Liza's eyes slowly fluttered open. To Zedd's shock, she smiled at him. "I knew you'd save me," she said weakly.
"Liza..." He said softly.
"Kiss me," she whispered.
"Perhaps I should heal you first so we can get out of here."
"Zedd... Please," she said, desperation in her eyes. "I... I need to feel you."
Zedd already knew what had happened to her. As an incubus, he sensed that sort of thing easily. Still, it broke his heart to realize how close to breaking her Zell had gotten. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her deeply. Liza responded immediately, kissing him back hard and passionately, not holding back as she tried to lose herself in his arms. As he continued to kiss her, Zedd began healing Liza. He could feel how severely Zell had beaten her and how much her body had broken down. He healed everything he sensed, not breaking the kiss even for a moment because he desperately wanted to take all of her pain away.
The physical wounds were healed after a couple of minutes. The emotional ones would take longer, but looking into Liza's eyes, Zedd knew she was strong enough to survive this. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you, too," she replied. She took a deep breath. "Now... Let's get the fuck out of here."
He scooped her up in his arms. They both knew she was perfectly capable of walking at that point, but that didn't matter. She was perfectly happy to be in his arms, and right now, he needed her there as much as she needed to be there.
As soon as they were off the property, Liza looked at Zedd. "Where to?" She asked.
"My room," he said.
"Sounds good, Handsome," she replied. She opened a portal.
"Are you sure you're up for that?" Zedd asked with concern.
"As long as I don't have to keep it open for long," Liza replied. She laughed as she added, "So hurry up."
Zedd dutifully carried her through the portal. He proceeded to place her on the bed and examine her for any injuries he might have missed. "Zedd..." She said softly.
"I know," he replied, not needing her to ask. He carefully undressed her, gently caressing every inch of her flesh as he made sure she was fully healed. She pulled him on top of her, and things continued from there. Only when they were done did Liza finally begin to cry.
"It's okay," he said softly. "It's over, Liza. You're safe."
"I know," she said through her tears. "I knew I would be, because I knew you'd find me." She looked at him. "I'd really like a shower. Will you stay with me? Just outside? I'd invite you in, but then I wouldn't get any real showering done," she added with a slight laugh. Beneath that, he could see her fear.
"Of course I'll stay with you," he replied. "Always."
Liza showered. She sat with him in the kitchen as he prepared some food. Cooking was still soothing to him, even after all these millennia. He made sure she ate before carrying her back to his bed. It was barely after dark, but she was exhausted, and so was he. Zedd curled up beside Liza, holding her until she fell asleep. Zedd couldn't sleep, but he stayed with her, just as he'd promised he would.
SAKURA
It was time to attempt the impossible. Elgan's soul had recovered as much as it could without access to his proper powers. He looked fairly healthy and kept a peaceful smile on his face. "Are you ready, Elgan?" Sakura asked.
He nodded slowly. "I am," he replied stoically.
"Good. Close your eyes and hold on tight." She began the ritual that was meant to grant him a brand new body that looked identical to the one he'd had before. The body formed easily enough. The tricky part would be making it draw breath and getting Elgan inside of it.
It took several minutes before the body was ready to actually be inhabited. Sakura gently pushed Elgan inside of it, hoping this would work. No one had ever attempted something this complicated before in the Soul Society, but there was no turning back now.
"Breathe, Elgan," Sakura said softly. "Come on... Breathe... Just breathe..."
Just when she was starting to truly worry, Elgan's chest began to rise. It fell and rose again until he began breathing evenly. "My God... I think it worked!" Sakura cried in excitement.
"Did you have doubts?" Captain Unohana asked. She'd come along to assist where she could.
"I did," Sakura admitted, "but not many. I was fairly certain this would work."
Elgan's eyes slowly began to open. He smiled at her as he cautiously sat up. "It appears to have been a success..." he said softly. "I must say, it's odd to have a physical body again after all this time..."
Sakura smiled brighter than she had in ages. "Welcome back, Elgan of Eltar," she said. "I'd like to keep you here until you adjust, but I think I need to bring you back into your realm. I'll stay with you and shield you so no one stumbles across you before you're ready."
"Thank you, Sakura. For everything you have done," Elgan said kindly.
"Are you ready to face your brother? I know this isn't easy for you, given what he did."
"I love my brother," Elgan replied. "I always will... But he has become something that cannot be allowed to continue to terrorize the universe. If I can restore balance by agreeing to return, then it is my duty to try."
"Then come on," Sakura said. "It's time to return to your realm."
KIZZIE
The air seemed thick with magic. Kizzie knew something was going on. "Brace yourselves," she said to the people gathered on the beach around her. The Stone Warriors, Sir Ivan and the Dino Charge Rangers, the newly re-branded Mythical Guild Rangers, B'Danna, Tedius, Vida, Chip, and the rest of the Mystic Force team and their companions, looked at her in alarm. "There's something coming," she explained. "I sense it in the air."
"I feel it, too," Mena said with concern. "She's right."
"What is it?" Chip asked.
"Magic, Dummy," Vida said with a playful smirk. "Seriously, though, what are they up to?"
"I think the Alliance is close by... And they're about to summon a great deal of power," Kizzie said.
"Should I alert Captain Smith?" B'Danna asked.
"He's with Charleigh and her father. Their safety is very important to him. I don't want to disturb him unless it's absolutely necessary," Kizzie replied.
The earth began to shake violently. "Greg? Are you doing this?" Scott asked in alarm.
"It's not me," Greg replied.
"Incoming!" B'Danna shouted as a magical assault came straight toward them. She knocked Greg, Scott, and Van out of the way just in time.
"Neighbelle..." Kizzie said, practically hissing her name. "Everyone, Neigh's magic is powerful. Be careful! Shield yourselves if you can, and don't engage her."
Sure enough, Neighbelle appeared. She smiled at Kizzie sadistically. "Hello, Kizzie, dear. Out for a stroll, are you?" She taunted her.
"Back off, Neigh. You can't handle all of us alone," Kizzie replied.
"Maybe not... But I'm not alone."
Micah, the Alchemist, the Warlock, Brittera, Nedezzo, Lang, Lun, and the entire Greek Chapter of the Rebellion stood behind her. At least a few of them had some serious magic on their side. They began launching attacks before Kizzie could even shout a warning to the others.
"Daggeron! Watch out!" Madison shouted. She dove in front of him, taking a nasty hit from Brittera.
"Maddie!" Vida shouted.
"I'm okay, Sis," Madison replied. She was injured, but it didn't look too serious. "I had to protect my future husband." She motioned toward the ring on her hand.
"That's a heck of a way to tell us you got engaged!" Vida said in shock. "What the hell, Madison?"
"Awww, congrats, Maddie!" Chip said cheerfully.
"Yay!" Clare added enthusiastically. "You guys are so cute together!"
"I ship it!" Chip chimed back in as he dodged an attack from Lang and sent lightning at him in return.
"You ship everyone," Vida said, rolling her eyes as she kicked Lun in the chest.
"Thanks. We can celebrate later," Madison replied.
"I'll buy the champagne!" Xander announced as he wrapped vines around the weapon Micah was trying to fire and yanked it away from him. "Nice... Thanks, Mate. I think I'll keep this. The name's Xander, by the way..."
"This truly is a wonderful occasion," Udonna said as she used magic to shield Madison from another attack from Neighbelle.
"Congratulations," Leanbow added as he attacked Micah to keep him from getting to Xander.
"Thanks, everyone," Daggeron said. He looked happier than Kizzie had ever seen him before.
"When did you even have time to propose?" Vida asked.
"We were walking along the beach earlier and he dropped to his knees and the next thing I knew, he had a ring in front of him," Madison said with a big smile on her face.
"That's lovely, but perhaps we should discuss it later, Luv?" Kizzie suggested. "Congratulations, both of you."
The battle continued. Ivan and his team were struggling to hold off the Greeks. Andie was trying to heal anyone she needed to on the North side of the beach. Darcy and Greg stood together, with Mena, Nessa, and Pierce close by trying to help. Chelsea and Logan were battling side-by-side to the South. B'Danna was with the Dino Charge team, dueling against Niko directly. She was doing beautifully. Kizzie nodded with approval as the young warrior held her own against a Chapter Captain. Scott and Van stood with Freddy and Allie near the edge of the water.
Focusing her energy on joining the magic of everyone present, Kizzie cast a powerful spell that knocked all of the Alliance members into the ocean. "Damn, Kizzie... That was impressive," Nessa said with approval as the earth stopped shaking.
"Thanks, Luv," Kizzie said. She paused. "Everyone, stand your ground! This isn't over yet."
The Power Rangers, Clare, Tedius, B'Danna, and Kizzie braced themselves for another attack. At first, none came. Then, a storm began moving in. At the same time, Kizzie noticed the water rapidly rushing out to sea.
"Bloody hell..." She mumbled. "Everyone, get to higher ground!" She shouted.
"What's wrong?" Allie asked.
"It's a tsunami," Kizzie said, pointing at the water as it began to build back up in the distance.
Logan froze in absolute horror at her words. "Chelsea, get him out of here," Kizzie said. "Everyone needs to run, now! I'll hold it off as long as I can."
"Kizzie, no! That's suicide!" B'Danna protested.
"B'Danna of Eltar, I am a superior officer and I'm giving you a direct order. Get these people out of here," Kizzie said firmly.
"Kizzie..." She shook her head. "Be safe. Please." She hugged her tightly.
"I'll do my best, Luv... Tell Captain Smith I had no choice."
B'Danna began leading the others away from the beach. Chelsea couldn't get Logan to move as he watched the incoming water.
"He's in bloody shock... It's his water phobia," Kizzie said.
"I've got him," Van said. He picked Logan up and carried him fireman-style away.
As everyone began to flee, Kizzie focused all of her energy on the incoming tsunami. It was enormous and she knew there was no way she could stop it for long. "Please just give me the strength to give them time to get away," she said softly. If she put up a strong enough barrier, she could probably stop it from completely wiping Angel Grove off of the map, but a lot of people were still going to die, including her. At least it would be an honorable death.
Casting the strongest barrier spell she had, Kizzie attempted to turn the tsunami back into the ocean, hoping against hope that she had enough strength to hold off the worst of the damage.
PIERCE
He looked back at Kizzie and knew what he had to do. "Darcy... Go without me," He said.
"What? Pierce, no," Darcy protested.
"I have to help her."
"If you go back there, you'll die."
"If I don't, everyone will die," Pierce argued. "Kizzie can't do this alone, Darcy. Water is my element. I've got at least a decent chance of being able to stop this thing."
"Pierce, it's too dangerous! I refuse to just leave you here."
"Our friends are in danger, Darcy. Our team needs their leader. It's okay. I'll be alright. I just need you to believe in me."
"I do. You know I do."
"Then trust me. And help them get my brother out of here." He kissed her.
"You'd better not die on me, or I'll kill you," Darcy told him.
"I love you, too," Pierce replied.
"I'll tell you that when you come back to me."
"Deal."
With one last hesitation, Darcy allowed Pierce to leave. He ran back toward the water. Kizzie was doing a great job, but her nose was bleeding. She looked like she was going to collapse under the entire weight of the tsunami she was trying to hold back. He slipped his hand into hers, gripping it tightly. Kizzie looked at him in surprise as their magic joined together and intensified.
"I'm with you," Pierce said firmly. "We can do this."
Kizzie nodded. "Thanks, Luv," she said.
Pierce was stunned as a hand slipped into his free one. He looked to his left. Madison stood beside him. "I figured you might like some help," she said. "My magic's not as strong as yours or Kizzie's, but it's pretty darn powerful, too."
Pierce nodded. He was even more surprised as someone else joined them. Kevin took Madison's free hand. "I was walking on the beach to clear my mind," he said. "I've been here for a bit, and I sensed trouble, so I came to help."
Smiling, Pierce said, "We've so got this."
At first, it seemed to be working. The invisible wall Kizzie had created was stronger than ever, and the tsunami simply struck it and moved upward toward the sky instead of forward. Then, something changed. Zell appeared beside Neighbelle, levitating above the ocean thanks to her spell. He looked completely unstable in ways Pierce had never seen before.
"What's wrong with him?" Madison asked as she noticed this, too.
"His magic... It's trying to leave him," Kizzie said in confusion. "Some of it is trying to escape."
"What? Why?" Pierce asked.
"Because it never belonged to him to begin with... It's Elgan's powers!"
"Why would they try to escape now?" Kevin asked.
"Is it because of me? I mean, Logan and I basically have Elgan and Zell's powers," Pierce said.
"I think it's something else... It's almost as if... As if it senses its true host. I don't understand it," Kizzie said. "The problem is, the magic is tainted by Zell's energy. It needs to be cleansed."
As soon as Kizzie said this, a thick spiral of water escaped from the barrier and headed straight for Madison. Somehow, it cut her. Madison screamed in pain. "What's happening?" Pierce demanded.
"The magic's trying to purify itself... It needs a sacrifice of pure energy to restore it to what it was meant to be," Kizzie said in alarm. "Once it's cleansed, Zell won't be able to use it to hurt anyone ever again... Madison was hurt before she joined us... It went for the most injured person, the one it viewed as the weakest link."
"It's killing her! We have to do something!" Pierce said as Madison screamed.
Kevin looked at Madison. "Madison, stay with me," he said. "Listen to me... You're going to make a beautiful bride."
"How did you know?" She asked.
"I saw the proposal. I was nearby..." He smiled at her in a calming way. "Stay strong, Madison. You're going to be survive this. You're going to be fine." Before anyone realized what was happening, Kevin pulled out a blade.
"Kevin, what are you doing?" Madison asked in horror.
"Tell my team I'm sorry," he said before he slashed open one of his arms.
"Kevin! Kevin, no!" Madison screamed, but it was too late. The water that had been attacking Madison instantly switched to attacking Kevin instead. Kevin held his head high, refusing to scream even though it was clear he was in pain. As the water slammed into his body, he collapsed.
Madison was crying, but she continued holding Pierce's hand, her will to fight even stronger now that Kevin had sacrificed himself to save her. Pierce could feel the energy of the magic changing. As horrible as that had just been, it seemed to have worked. Only Neighbelle's magic was still directly attacking them.
The storm raging around them got worse as Zell lost complete control of his own powers. That strengthened the tsunami. "We can't hold it much longer!" Pierce said.
"Then we'll fight to the very end," Kizzie said with determination. Her nosebleed was getting worse.
Pierce was positive they were all about to die when something extremely unexpected happened. Someone took Kizzie's hand. Pierce followed her gaze as Kizzie looked up at the person who'd joined them. Felina stood gripping her hand firmly in her own.
"We can still do this," Felina said.
"It's damn good to see you, Luv!" Kizzie said.
As Zell collapsed and fell into the water, some of the others who'd been floating nearby dove after him to save him. "Get him out of here!" Neighbelle shouted. "He needs to recover. Get him to his energy tube."
"We've got him," Niko said. The Greeks and several of the others vanished, taking their unconscious leader with them. The Alchemist and the Warlock hesitated for a moment before they vanished, too.
"Neigh... Do you need me here? I've got your back," Micah said.
"I can handle this," Neighbelle said. "Get to safety and make sure those idiots take care of him."
Micah vanished seconds later, leaving only Neighbelle, the storm, and the tsunami behind. "Think you can stop me, Kizzie?" Neighbelle taunted her.
"I think the odds just got significantly better," Kizzie replied.
"We'll see about that!"
"Let's end this bitch," Pierce said.
"For once, we agree, Green Ranger," Felina said.
"Felina? Is that you? Where the hell have you been?" Neighbelle demanded. Then, she seemed to realize what was happening. "You? You betrayed Zell? Wow! I didn't think there were any surprises left in life, but I was wrong!"
"And you'll never get the chance to tell anyone about it," Felina said. She strengthened her magic.
Pierce was blown away by how powerful Felina actually was. He realized he'd never seen Felina at her full strength before. As Kizzie lent her more strength, Pierce followed suit. Madison joined them.
You can command the rest of it, his mind told him. He understood why. The magic that had killed Kevin had once been Elgan's. Now that it was purified, it would respond to him, at least temporarily, because part of Elgan was inside of him. Taking a deep breath, he reached toward the extra magic. It gave him a power boost unlike any he'd ever felt before.
Felina looked at him in surprise. "Not bad, Green Ranger," she said with a nod of approval. "Now, I need you to listen to me very carefully... Wrap all of that energy up at the barrier. Use it to strengthen the block you've all created. Blue Ranger, I need you to help him. Your magic is gentler, and it will help to calm what he commands."
"Of course," Madison said stoically.
"Kizzie... You know what to do," Felina continued.
"Absolutely," Kizzie agreed.
"On my count... One... Two... Three!" Felina shouted.
Pierce unleashed all of the power he'd tapped into. Madison's power joined his, forming an incredible shield that reinforced the barrier. At the same time, Felina and Kizzie turned the tsunami back toward Neighbelle.
"Impossible! You can't take control of my storm!" Neighbelle shouted.
"Kizzie's stronger than you on her own," Felina reminded her. "Imagine her natural power levels with mine added in and try that argument again."
"You're supposed to be on our side! You're his most faithful! He'll do anything for you, Felina! How could you betray him?" Neighbelle demanded.
"I haven't betrayed him," Felina said. "I simply decided I wasn't going to let another of my friends die because of him." She raised Kizzie's hand into the air. Then, they both raised their free hands up, causing Kizzie to let go of Pierce. That was probably better, as the two Sorceresses released an attack that would have most likely made Pierce and Madison collapse if they'd still been touching them.
Neighbelle screamed as the weight of the entire tsunami slammed down upon her. Her screams stopped abruptly and Pierce knew she was dead for good this time. Kizzie nearly collapsed as the storm vanished and the ocean grew significantly calmer.
"We did it..." Pierce whispered in shock.
Madison looked at Kevin and began to cry. She pulled his body into her arms. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you so much..."
"I'll get him back to the Samurai team," Pierce promised. Years of both Martial Arts training and football practice had made him strong. He knew he could carry Kevin's body without too much trouble.
"He was incredibly brave," Kizzie said softly.
"I feel like this is my fault..." Madison said sadly.
"There was nothing any of you could have done," Felina said, stunning Pierce as she apparently decided to try to offer Madison some comfort. "Someone would have died no matter what. The boy nobly chose to rescue the Mystic Force Ranger. The Samurai are all about honor. They'll appreciate why he had to sacrifice himself."
"You saved us, Felina," Pierce said. "If you hadn't shown up, we would have lost." He paused before adding, "Andie was right about you."
"I did what I had to in the moment. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
"Luv, stay with us. Please. Captain Smith would welcome you with open arms, especially after you just saved my life," Kizzie said.
"I'm sorry, Kizzie. I can't," Felina replied. "Not yet. I just... I need time to figure things out. I only came to make sure you didn't get yourself killed out there. You're one of the few friends I still have. I'm not ready to lose you."
Kizzie hugged her tightly. "Our door is always open, Felina. Use it. Please."
Felina nodded. Then, she opened up a portal and vanished. "It was more than that, right?" Pierce asked. "She didn't just do this for you."
"She knew it was the right choice," Kizzie replied. "And she's finally starting to think for herself... She's just not ready to officially change her allegiance yet, but trust me... Felina's on our side."
"Considering what just happened, I'd have to agree with you," Pierce said.
"We should go now," Madison said softly, looking at Kevin.
"You're right," Pierce said. He lifted Kevin up and began to carry him, not sure how to break this horrible news to the Samurai team. They'd already lost so much.
Pierce, Kizzie, and Madison walked in silence until they reached the others who'd been on the beach. "Pierce!" Darcy cried. Then, she seemed to realize Kevin wasn't just unconscious. "Oh, God..." She whispered.
"He saved my life," Madison said. She proceeded to start crying again. Daggeron pulled her into his arms. Vida stroked her back soothingly.
"Then we owe him a great debt," Daggeron said softly.
"He isn't the only one," Pierce said.
"What do you mean?" Darcy asked.
"Felina helped us. If she hadn't shown up, we'd all be dead."
"Felina?" Andie repeated. "Is she alright?"
"She looked okay, and her power's definitely stronger than ever. She didn't stick around, but Kizzie thinks she's on our side now."
"Kizzie... Are you sure?" B'Danna asked.
"Felina's a tricky one to read at times," Tedius added.
"She helped me kill Neighbelle, Tedi," Kizzie said softly. "Trust me... She's on our side."
"Neighbelle's dead?" He repeated.
"Crushed beneath the tsunami, full-force... There's nothing left of her body to resurrect, and because the magic inside of the tsunami was her own, it destroyed her when it attacked her... There's not even a slither of her soul left. I don't feel her at all anymore."
"It's only Micah now..." Tedius said softly.
"They'll all be gone soon, Luv," Kizzie said soothingly. "For good this time."
"I need to bring Kevin back to his team," Pierce said to Darcy. "Vida, take your sister home. She needs to rest."
"Of course," Vida said. "I've got you, Sis."
"Come on. We'll go together," Darcy replied.
"Sir Pierce... Allow me to assist you," Ivan said.
"You don't have to, Ivan," Pierce said.
"I've had to deliver this sort of news many times myself, often with a fallen friend on my shoulders just as you carry this brave soul now. I know the burden you face. I insist on helping you with this."
Pierce nodded. "Okay," he said. He wasn't really sure how to face Jayden and his team anyway. Having someone with experience there might not be a bad thing.
"M'Lady..." Ivan began.
"Go on," Andie said. "They need you. I'll see you later." She hugged him.
As Pierce, Darcy, and Ivan continued walking, Pierce filled them in on the details of what had happened. It was the most depressing walk of Pierce's life, but he had to stay strong. He owed Kevin the dignity of bringing him home to his team, and if Kevin could sacrifice his life to save Madison, the least Pierce could do was hold himself together long enough to inform the people who'd meant the most to him.
JAYDEN
He knew something was very wrong. He could feel it in every inch of his soul. "Jayden, what's going on?" Emily asked him softly.
"Something happened..." He replied.
"What is it?"
"I'm not sure yet, Em... But it's bad."
The doorbell rang. Emily jumped. Jayden took a deep breath before standing up and heading to the door. Sir Ivan stood in front of the door. There were people on the steps behind him, but Jayden couldn't quite see them.
"My good Sir Jayden... I'm afraid we have come with rather distressing news," Ivan said.
Jayden braced himself for the worst. "What happened?" He asked.
"Perhaps you should sit down..."
"I'm fine. Tell me," Jayden said.
"Jayden... You should really sit down," Darcy said, peaking out from behind Ivan.
"Jayden? Who is it?" Emily asked.
Jayden sighed. "Come in," He said to Ivan and Darcy. He walked back inside and took a seat beside Emily.
"Is the rest of the team here?" Darcy asked from the doorway.
"Guys! Get in here," Jayden said. "Everyone's here except for Kevin. He said he needed some time to think. He's probably down at the beach."
The rest of the team hurried into the room. "What's going on?" Lauren asked as she noticed the serious look on Darcy's face.
"We have news, and it's bad," Darcy said.
"We're ready," Jayden said. "Please tell us what's going on." He had a feeling he knew where this must be going, but he didn't want to believe it. It couldn't be true.
"There was an attack on the beach," Ivan began. "Neighbelle, the Sorceress, triggered a tsunami with an earthquake and some of her other magic. Most of us were ordered to flee, but those with an affinity for Water remained behind to assist Kizzie in trying to stop the tsunami from destroying Angel Grove."
Jayden was positive he was right now, but he couldn't process it. He looked at the others, who still hadn't caught on. Then, he saw his sister, and he knew that she suspected the same thing he did. "What happened?" Jayden forced himself to ask.
"Pierce, Madison, and Kevin were giving it everything they had," Darcy said. "But..." She sighed. "I'm so sorry, guys..." She looked at the door. Pierce walked inside. He was carrying Kevin.
"Kevin!" Emily cried. "Is he... Is he hurt?" Jayden knew she suspected the truth but couldn't bring herself to believe it.
"What can we do?" Spike asked. Then, he noticed Mia was crying and shaking her head. "Mia? What's wrong? I know it's scary, but he'll be okay... I mean... It's Kevin. He's fine, right?"
"Not this time, Buddy," Antonio said as tears formed in his eyes.
"He died a hero," Pierce said softly. "Zell lost control of the magic that should have been Elgan's. In order to purify itself, the magic needed a pure source of water magic... A sacrifice... It attacked Madison because she was hurt. Kevin..." Pierce paused, taking a deep breath to compose himself. "Kevin sacrificed himself to save her life."
"Of course he did..." Lauren whispered. She was holding back tears, trying to be strong for everyone else, but Jayden could tell how devastated she was.
Numb, Jayden took Kevin from Pierce. He gently carried Kevin to his bedroom. He laid him down on the bed. "You died a hero, like a true Samurai," he said. "We will honor your memory and return you home as soon as we can." He knew the others were watching from the hallway, so he kept a brave face on. He couldn't stand to look at Kevin's body any longer. He turned and left the room, closing the door behind himself.
Emily had collapsed onto her hands and knees. Antonio was trying to comfort her, but even he could only do so much. Mia was sobbing in Spike's arms. Lauren stood, strong and brave as always. "Thank you for bringing him home to us," she said stoically.
"Of course," Pierce replied.
"If you guys need anything, we're here for you," Darcy added.
"It has been an honor to fight alongside this brave young warrior," Ivan said. "I offer you my most heartfelt condolences in this time of grief."
"Thank you, Sir Ivan," Lauren replied.
Jayden knew he should say something, but he had no words. Kevin was dead. Kevin. Another member of his team had perished, and Jayden hadn't even been there to try to stop it from happening. His chest hurt, and he couldn't stop himself from thinking about everyone else he'd lost. Mike... Mentor Ji... His father... And even Katie.
Emily was still sobbing, and that was what snapped him back into the present. Jayden took her from Antonio's arms. "Come on," he said softly. He led her to her bedroom and helped her clean her face off. He tucked her into her bed, covering her and stroking her hair until she cried herself to sleep.
When he was sure she was out cold, he left her room. Mia had passed out on the couch in Spike's arms. He watched her with affection in his eyes, but Jayden could tell his own grief was overwhelming him, too.
"Will you be staying tonight?" Lauren asked Jayden.
"I think I should go back home," Jayden replied. He couldn't break down in front of his team. They looked to him for strength. He needed to be allowed to grieve on his own.
"I understand," his sister replied. "I'm so sorry, Jayden. I know you were close to him."
"So were you," Jayden said as he hugged her. "Where's Antonio?"
"Right here, Buddy," Antonio said from the kitchen. He stuck his head out and tried to smile. "What do you need?"
"Watch over Emily tonight. She's having a rough time," he said.
"Of course," Antonio replied seriously.
"I'll be back to check on you guys in the morning... I just need a little time to process this."
"We understand, Jay. Take all the time you need," Antonio said. He gave him a hug.
"Thanks," Jayden replied. He left the house and headed back to his own. When he finally reached the front of the house, he found Kira and Dustin waiting outside.
"We heard," Kira said. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Jayden lied.
"If you need anything-" Dustin began.
"I don't. Thanks." He walked inside. He was grateful that Tommy and Micky weren't home as he hurried upstairs and closed the door to his bedroom. Once inside, Jayden slammed his fist on his bed. He was tempted to burn everything down, but he resisted the urge. Instead, he looked at the photo on his desk of the original Samurai team with Mentor Ji. Now, three of the people in the photo were gone forever. As the weight of that truth finally sank in fully, Jayden collapsed onto his bed and began sobbing softly into his pillow, knowing this was the one place where he didn't need to be strong for everyone else.
