I was originally going to skip this episode. It's too much of a filler for me, but it invested into a subplot line that could change the outcome of future stories in this series.


"So Leanbow is preventing the Master from rising?" Black Lance asked.

"Yes, but he isn't working alone," said Sculpin. "The Lake of Lament showed two significant magical signatures."

"Do we know who is assisting him?" Itassis asked.

Sculpin shook his head. "Nor do we know where they are hiding," he admitted. "We must find out."

"But how?" Black Lance asked.

"I have a plan," said Sculpin, chuckling darkly. "We shall see to it that Leanbow and his hidden accomplice fall before the day is through."

~X~

Kali looked up as Maddie and Vida sidled up either side of her at the cash register. "Uh-oh," she mumbled, looking back at the account booklet. "When you two get that look in your eyes, it usually means I'm in trouble."

"We just wanted to know if you're okay," said Maddie. "We heard that you moved out of Nick's sister's."

"Yep," Kali nodded.

"You're staying at Root core?" Vida asked.

Again, Kali nodded.

"What's it like?" Maddie asked.

Kali shrugged. "It's like camping, just without the tent and supplies," she said. "Daggeron's pretty good company; he knows when to leave me alone and when to distract me."

"This is all because you have feelings for both Nick and Xander?" Vida asked.

Kali sighed. She should've guessed that the conversation wasn't just about her current living quarters. It was obvious the strain that her current relationship status was putting on the team, and she should've seen it coming that Maddie, Chip, and Vida would soon get involved.

"We don't mean to pry," said Maddie.

"Yes, we do!" Vida said.

Maddie shot her sister a warning look and Kali laughed.

"It's okay, Maddie," Kali said, shaking her head. "I should've expected this. Am I going to get a conversation with Chip, too?"

"Chip's much too scared to approach you," said Vida, shaking her head. "He's waiting on our report."

Kali rolled her eyes. "Then I'll tell you what I told them," she said. "I am confused about what has happened, what has been said, and I need time to process everything. It's not fair on Xander if I'm living with Nick, and I can't process my feelings for Nick if he's only a few feet away from me at night. This way, I am fair to both of them and myself.

"Sounds like a reasonable decision," said Maddie. "But, I didn't come over here to know all that. I genuinely wanted to make sure you were okay. You're looking a little sad."

"I'm mad at myself," Kali admitted.

Maddie cocked her head to the side.

"I know at the end of all this, I'm going to need to make a decision and choose between Xander and Nick," said Kali. "Which means, I'm going to end up hurting one of them."

Vida nodded. "That usually happens, yeah," she said.

Maddie shot her sister a second warning look.

"I know what it's like to be hurt by someone you have feelings for," said Kali. "I swore I would never do that to anyone. Rejection isn't a nice feeling, nor is it easy to deal with, and apparently, I've done it to Nick our entire lives."

"Then he should be used to it if it happens again," said Vida.

Kali turned to her friend, her mouth agape in shock.

"Vida!" Maddie scolded.

"What?"

Kali shook her head. "The one thing I love the most about you, V, is the fact that you don't beat around the bush," she admitted. "But that's cold."

Vida shrugged and pushed away from the counter. "You said it yourself that you're going to hurt one of them in the end," she defended. "I'm just capitalising on that. If Nick is used to you rejecting him, then he should be numb to it by now. If he isn't? Then he's a sucker for punishment."

Maddie squeezed Kali's shoulder as Vida wandered away. "I know it's a hard decision," she said. "But I'm sure you'll make the right one in the end. You have to consider your feelings, too, Kali, and not just pick a guy based on theirs. You want someone who will treat you right, someone you can be yourself."

Kali smiled. "Thanks, Maddie," she murmured.

"Any time."

~X~

Sculpin looked out across the dark, icy waters as he stood on the shore of the Lake. The selecting ceremony had chosen Megahorn to terrorise the city and bring down the Power Rangers, but Sculpin had very little confidence that he would be able to do so.

The cold water rippled under the cover of darkness. The only light source was that of a sheltered moon, high above the carved cavern.

"I call upon the Lake of Lament," Sculpin called, his voice echoing off the walls. "Show me the ones that guard the Master." He slammed his staff into the water and a torrent exploded out from the centre. When it cleared, it showed Leanbow in his Koragg armour.

Sculpin looked around, waiting for the second guardian to appear. They didn't.

"Why have you summoned me?" Leanbow asked.

"Where is your accomplice?" Sculpin asked. "I know there is more than just you here."

"The Shadow Warrior only appears when it is deemed necessary," Koragg answered. "You can direct any questions to me."

Sculpin scoffed. "I just thought you would like to know that the surface world is about to be destroyed," he said, lowering his staff towards the lake's surface.

It shimmered as an image appeared in the water. It showed Megahorn in the city of Briarwood.

"I will not abandon my mission," Leanbow said.

"Very well," Sculpin grunted. "Do pass on my regards to the Shadow Warrior."

~X~

"... when I am done, the surface world will be nothing but a wasteland," Megahorn roared.

"You're all bark and no bite!" Kali shouted as she and the others arrived in the Manticore Megazord.

Megahorn hissed.

"Rangers, we have to be careful!" Daggeron said. "I've fought Megahorn before, and couldn't make a dent in that armour of his."

"If Daggeron couldn't beat him?" Xander asked, unsure.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Vida asked.

"I'll tell you what we don't do," said Kali. "We don't give up. He's got to have a weak spot."

Chip and Maddie nodded.

"Then let's get him," said Nick.

"He's too strong," said Daggeron. "We need a plan."

"Here's the plan," said Nick.

"Legend Striker, Spin Attack!" the team shouted, firing their most powerful attack at the dragon.

Megahorn laughed as the fire fizzled out. "That tickled," he said.

"No way!" the team cried.

Extending his wings, Megahorn flew into the air and unleashed a barrage of fireballs at the team. The Lion and Firebird Zords disengaged and ejected the team from their cockpits.

"Rangers!" Daggeron yelled.

"So long, losers!" Megahorn called, flying off.

Kali clenched her hand into a fist and forced herself to her knees. She snapped open her Morpher and punched in the familiar three digits.

Galwit Mysto Prifior!

"Mystic Titan! Hellhound!" Kali yelled, towering over the city and stopping Megahorn mid-flight. "Not so fast! Where do you think you're going?"

The city quaked as Megahorn landed before the Hellhound. She was roughly the same height as him if only a little bigger. He had heard stories about her and her powers and was eager to see if she could live up to the legends. He blasted her with a fireball and almost laughed as she absorbed it.

This was going to be fun.

"Let's help her out!" said Nick

The others nodded and morphed into their own titan forms.

"How about we do this dragon-to-dragon?" Kali asked.

The others nodded and created the Mystic Dragon. Nick kicked his leg over their side and seated himself in the centre, before flying into the air. The team circled Megahorn, unleashing a trio of fireballs at him.

As two out of three fireballs were deflected, Nick jumped into the air and booted the third directly at Megahorn. He caught it and tossed it back at the red ranger, knocking him out of the sky.

"Nick!" Kali called.

"Kali, focus!" Xander yelled.

Kali looked around as Megahorn blasted flew around them, slashing at their sides with his claws. The Rangers dropped their altitude to avoid him, but he followed up with a fireball which hit them directly in the side.

The dragon shuddered and ejected the Rangers, sending them crashing back to the ground where they demorphed from the lack of energy and power.

Kali coughed and forced herself to sit up, wrapping an arm around her middle and tucking a leg beneath her as she scoped out her friends. Maddie and Vida were closest to her, and both looked just as battered as she felt.

"Guys!" Nick called, racing over with Daggeron. He checked on Chip and then placed his hand on Kali's back. "You okay?" he asked, kneeling beside her.

Kali nodded as she looked up at him. "Nothing a warm bath couldn't fix," she said, smiling lightly.

Nick chuckled.

"You are no match for me," Megahorn yelled, appearing nearby. "Time to perish! This is going to be easy!" He stumbled back as an energy ball collided with his chest, taking him by surprise.

The team gasped and looked around, searching for the source of the attack. They found a strange individual in full blue armour and a headpiece shaped like a snowflake standing not that far away.

"Snow Prince?" Kali asked.

"You know him?" Vida asked.

"Read about him," Kali replied.

"Isn't he like the main guru of all the Mystics?" Chip asked.

Kali nodded. "Just be thankful he's on our side," she said.

"I see I must take matters into my own hands," Snow Prince sighed, standing before the team and facing Megahorn. He paused and glanced back over his shoulder. "Daggeron, you disappoint me."

The team shared looks as Daggeron looked crestfallen.

"Get away from them, wretched beast," Snow Prince warned, circling Megahorn.

"Says who?" Megahorn growled.

"I, the Ancient Mystic of the Icy North - the Snow Prince."

Kali rolled her eyes. "Does all royalty speak like that?" she asked.

"Are you asking for personal reasons or general?" Xander asked.

"I may be from royalty, but I refuse to speak like that," said Kali.

The others chuckled as Snow Prince and Megahorn started their battle. For the first half of the battle, Snow Prince faired well against the dragon, he knocked him down time and time again, but Megahorn just kept getting back up.

"Why won't he just stay down?" Vida asked.

"He thinks he's indestructible," said Xander.

The team gasped as Megahorn finally caught Snow Prince in his grasp and tossed him to the ground. He tried to stomp him, but the Snow Prince rolled aside at the last second and got back to his feet.

"My skills are weaker in this dimension," said Snow Prince, shaking himself down. "We'll go to my battlefield. Ancient Spell Seal!" " He crossed his arms and called upon his magic, conjuring an icy snowflake and blasting it at Megahorn.

The dragon hissed and roared as he was sucked inside.

"Rangers, I may need your help," said Snow Prince, turning to the team. "Will you fight alongside me?"

"Of course we will," Xander grinned. The others nodded and disappeared through the portal.

~X~

As she stepped through the portal, the first thing Kali noticed was the mountains of snow all around, the ice sculptures weaved here, there and everywhere, and there was also snow falling from a blacked-out sky.

"This place is amazing," said Maddie, looking around with a child-like wonderous look.

"Winter Wonderland has got nothing on this place," said Kali, grinning.

"Where's Daggeron?" Chip asked, noticing the Knight's absence as Nick and Snow Prince finally arrived.

Nick shook his head as the others looked around at him. But before he or Snow Prince could reply, Megahorn burst out of a snow mountain and stormed towards them.

"I'll bring you down in any dimension!" Megahorn roared. He blasted a fireball at them, but the Snow Prince froze it and threw it back. The ice ball hit the dragon and shattered into millions of snow particles.

Snapping open his Morpher, Nick turned to his team. "Ready?" he asked.

"Ready!"

"Legendary Source, Mystic Force!"

"Rangers, we need to combine all of our magic," said Snow Prince, summoning his icy magic to the surface.

"You got it!" Nick said. "Come on, guys!"

"Mystic Lion Staff, Code Two!" the team yelled, holding up their staffs. They joined them at the ends, behind Snow Prince, and amplified his magic with their own.

"Mystic Force Fury!"

Megahorn stumbled as he was covered in ice, but it melted soon after. "Was that supposed to hurt me?" he asked.

"Our combined powers didn't work!" Maddie cried.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Kali gasped. "This guy cannot be that strong!"

Megahorn looked around and shook off the show that collected around his shoulders. "This place is boring," he said. "I'm leaving!" He made a fist and pounded the ground, sending shockwaves throughout the whole dimension.

~X~

"Whoa!" the team cried in alarm as they landed amongst the rubble. They picked themselves up and looked around, realising they were back in Briarwood.

"What happened?" Vida asked.

"Megahorn must've broke through the enchantments of Snow Prince's dimension," said Kali. "It's the only way we'd be back here."

"Great," said Chip. "What do we do now? How can we stop him?"

Megahorn laughed as he appeared nearby. "Face it, Rangers, you don't," he bellowed. "Just admit defeat. The reign of the terrors is at hand. It's time to get rid of you!" he blasted them with his sword.

"We must keep fighting," Snow Prince said, recovering first. "Be brave, Rangers!"

Kali braced herself against the ground and managed to push herself back to her feet. She reached for her magi staff but paused as Megahorn exploded with sparks, and stumbled back in alarm.

"What?" Kali murmured, looking around for the source. She almost laughed as she spotted Daggeron swooping in on his carpet. He dismounted and landed beside the Snow Prince.

"I told you to stay out of this," Snow Prince said, marching over. "You dare disobey an order from me, an Ancient Mystic?"

"Yes, I do," said Daggeron. "Sometimes you just have to follow your gut. I learned that from you, Nick," he added, looking back at the Red Ranger.

Nick nodded and gave Daggeron a thumbs up.

"Now I remember why I retired," Snow Prince sighed. "Some students are just slower to learn than others."

"I now see the wisdom in your methods, teacher," said Daggeron. "Forgive my pigheadedness."

Kali rolled her eyes. "I'm glad you learned your lesson, Daggeron, but can we skip the whole Hallmark moment thing and finish him already?" She pointed at Megahorn as he geared up for another attack.

Much to Daggeron's surprise, Snow Prince laughed. "She is right," he said. "Go teach him a lesson."

Daggeron nodded and morphed as he faced down Megahorn.

"Bring it!" the dragon hissed.

"Oh, I will," Daggeron promised.

The battle between the two commenced, with each one firing blow and blow at the others. For the most part, they seemed evenly matched, before Daggeron upped the antics and morphed into a higher level of power - his Ancient Mystic Mode.

"Yeah, go Daggeron!" Chip cheered.

Firing off several fireballs, Kali gasped as one collided with the back of Megahorn's neck and he lurched forward. "Hey, that made an impact!" she said, watching as small ripples of energy rolled down Megahorn's scales. "Daggeron, the back of his neck!"

Daggeron nodded and rushed forward, evading the blasts that Megahorn threw at him.

"He has learned well," said Snow Prince. "Now I must return to my dimension. Good luck, Rangers."

"Thanks," the team replied.

Snow Prince snapped his fingers and disappeared.

"Check it out!" said Nick, nodding in Daggeron's direction. The team cheered as they watched Daggeron take his sword to the back of Megahorn's neck, before delivering a powerful strike down his chest and finishing with a kick.

With Megahorn down, the team regrouped with Daggeron.

"Way to go," Xander said.

Daggeron nodded and turned to Nick. "Guess this teacher still has a lot to learn," he said. "Thanks, Nick."

"No problem," Nick said.

As the Rangers celebrated, Megahorn recovered and summoned his magic to grow taller than before. He roared causing the whole area to quake. "Time to crash this party!" he growled.

"If that's how you want it, come on!" said Nick, taking the lead.

"Legendary Source!" the team yelled, morphing to their own higher level of power.

"Code Three! Legend of the sky - Mystic Firebird!" Nick called.

"Code Four! Legend of the Jungle - Mystic Lion!" the others called.

The six of them combined to form the Manticore Megazord, as Daggeron called on Jenji and the two created the Solar Streak.

"I'll take you both on," Megahorn roared.

"You'd think he'd stay down now that we know his weak spot," said Xander.

Kali stiffened. "Wait, something doesn't feel right," she said, looking towards the skies.

"What do you -?" Nick broke off as thunder crashed overhead, turning the blue skies black.

"What's happening?" Maddie asked.

The darkness cleared and Black Lance appeared beside Megahorn. "How about a little help?" he asked.

"What?!"

"What are you doing here? I had them!" Megahorn hissed.

"Two Terrors are better than one."

Megahorn looked thoughtful and then nodded. "Very well," he agreed, turning back to the Rangers. "Let's get them."

"You can't do that!" Kali yelled.

Black Lance snorted and called forth his chariot as Megahorn took to the skies and started to attack the Solar Streak. He climbed aboard the carriage and urged his mighty steads towards the Manticore.

"No one can beat the strength of my mighty chariot," said Black Lance, crashing into the Rangers. He swerved around and raised his lance, holding it parallel to the team and surging forward again, spearing them in the chest.

"He's too fast!" Chip said, stating the obvious.

Black Lance swerved around for a second time and rode towards the team.

"He's coming again!" Nick called. "Everybody, hold on!"

Black Lance hefted his lance onto his shoulder and prepared to throw it at the Manticore, he laughed as he grew closer only to swerve at the last second as a black and purple portal appeared in his path.

"What?" the Rangers gasped.

"Is that -?" Nick asked, spotting a familiar figure nearby.

"Koragg?" Vida asked.

Koragg looked up, meeting the gaze of the Manticore Megazord. "I wear the armour of Koragg," he announced. "But my heart is that of Leanbow."

"He is alive," said Chip, surprised. "Udonna was right."

"Who's that with him?" Maddie asked, noticing a second figure astride Catastros with Koragg.

Kali shook her head as she looked the second figure over. Her armour was similar to that of Koragg's, except it was coloured black and silver, and had a hellhound emblem instead of a wolf's.

"Mom," Kali whispered.

The Shadow Warrior dismounted Catastros and unsheathed her sword, pointing it at Black Lance. "You dare to interfere!" she yelled, rolling the staff over between her hands, each swiped contracting an electrical current until the blade rippled with black energy.

Black Lance laughed and threw his lance through the air.

The Rangers watched as the Shadow Warrior took a running leap and raised her sword above her head. "Darkness Wave!" she called, slashing down and unleashing a wave of dark energy at the Terror.

Black Lance cried out as he was hit; the blast knocking him from his chariot.

"Uthe Mejor Catastros!" Leanbow called, combing with his stead as Black Lance made it back to his feet, and the Shadow Warrior sheathed her sword and stepped back.

Black Lance gasped as he got back to his feet.

"Behold the power of good magic," said Leanbow, holding up his double-ended sword. He twisted it through the air, forming a perfect circle, as both ends glowed golden. "Mystic Spell Seal!"

The seal hit Black Lance, knocking him into the side of a mountain. He panted as the Shadow Warrior approached and grasped his shoulder, hauling him to his feet as Leanbow joined her.

"Carry on the fight, Rangers," Leanbow said, looking over at the Manticore Megazord. "I'm proud of you!"

"Wait!" Kali and Nick yelled, forcing the Megazord to its feet. By the time they're regained their footing, however, Leanbow, the Shadow Warrior and Black Lance had gone.

Daggeron struggled as Megahorn collided with him, pushing back into the mountainside. "Rangers!" he called. "His weak spot!"

Kali shook herself and turned to Nick. "We still got a job to do," she said. "Daggeron needs help."

Nick sighed and nodded.

"Give it all you've got," said Daggeron, forcing himself up and turning Megahorn so that the back of his neck was exposed to the others.

"Right!" the team said.

Kali tightened the grip on her Lion staff and held her free hand over her console. The intricate symbols glowed and she felt a surge of power rush through her and into the Manticore.

"Legend Striker, Spin Attack!" the team called, blasting the back of Megahorn's neck.

The Dragon howled in pain and rage as he stumbled away from the Solar Streak.

"Finish him, Daggeron!" Kali called.

"Furnace Blast!" Daggeron yelled, opening the chest plate of his Megazord and sucking the terror inside. "Good job, Rangers. Another terror has fallen."

The Rangers cheered.

~X~

Gekko shook his head and turned away from the stone in frustration. "I can't believe Megahorn lost," he grumbled. If someone has indestructible as a dragon could lose against the Rangers, what chance did he or any of the others have against them?

Sculpin chuckled and also turned his back.

"Sculpin, this is funny to you?" Hekatoid asked.

"Megahorn was a hothead who deserved to lose," Sculpin snapped, turning to the toad. "I have something more important now. I have confirmation on who Leanbow is working with to stop the Master from rising, and that scale will tell me where to find them both. Soon they will be in our grasp."

~X~

Kali yawned tiredly as she stepped out of the bathroom. She had pulled on a pair of her comfiest shorts and a black t-shirt and was in the process of winding her damp hair into a ponytail when Rachel walked in through the front door.

"Hey, you're back!" Rachel grinned.

"Hey," Kali said. "Uh, no, not exactly. I was just using your shower."

Rachel nodded and set her work back on the table. "Everything okay?" she asked. "Nick didn't tell me much about why you decided to move out. Can I ask where you're staying?"

"I'm staying with a friend," Kali answered.

"Does this friend have a name?"

Kali licked her lips. How could she explain that she was now living on a magical tree with a knight and talking cat? Rachel would surely think she was either crazy or on drugs, and given her history and friends that she used to hang out with, Kali wouldn't have blamed Rachel if she had believed it.

"Can you just believe me when I say that I'm safe?" Kali asked.

"Okay," Rachel said, although she looked like she wanted to argue. "Now the reason why you moved out? Did you and Nick fight?"

"Of sorts," said Kali, nodding slowly. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I kissed one of our friends. Xander."

"The tall bloke with an Australian accent?"

Kali nodded.

"He's cute."

"Hmm," Kali murmured. "Anyway, after that, Nick told me how he feels about me."

Rachel gasped and then grinned. "Finally!" she said. "I thought he was never going ..." she trailed off as she noticed Kali's face fall. "Wait, you don't feel the same way, do you?"

"No, I do, and that's the problem," said Kali.

"You have feelings for both of them."

Kali nodded as guilt bubbled in her stomach. She felt the usual flush of anger and tears flooded her eyes as she clenched her hands into fists.

Rachel rounded the table and pulled Kali into her arms. Ever since her family had adopted Nick, and the Briar had adopted Kali, she had treated them both like her siblings. She had always known there was a special connection between the two of them and had called it a long time ago that they would end up together.

"I don't know what to do," Kali admitted as Rachel guided her towards the couch and sat her down. "I have always loved Nick. First as a brother and then as a best friend, but somewhere along the way that changed into something else. Then there is Xander, and everything is new and unknown, and..."

"Aw, honey," Rachel said, wiping the tears that slid down Kali's face. "Love sucks, I'm not going to lie. I wish I could help you choose, but I'm afraid I would be a little bias. I have watched you and Nick grow from babies to the adults you are now, and I have seen the love you have for each other grow in strength day-by-day."

Kali took a shuddering breath. "I just don't want to hurt anyone," she admitted.

Rachel nodded. "Do you remember my friend Megan?" she asked.

"Megan Caleb? Didn't she marry that billionaire Paul Drew, or something?"

Rachel chuckled. "Yeah, that's the one," she said. "Back in high school, she was in a similar situation to you, and the choice was hard for her, too. So, I finally convinced her to tell her mother who had some surprising advice. You want to hear it?"

"If you're going to tell me that I should choose the second person -"

Rachel laughed and shook her head. "I'm not going to say that," she said, taking Kali's hand and squeezing it. "Megan's mother told her, told us that if we ever find ourselves caught in a tough decision, we should just close our eyes."

"How does that help?" Kali asked.

"Because when you close your eyes, everything else disappears," said Rachel. "Everything but that one person. The one person you care about more than anything. The one person that you can't stop thinking of."

Kali swallowed hard. "It doesn't do much to quell the feelings of guilt," she muttered.

"But, at least you know who your heart truly belongs to."

Kali smiled and met Rachel's gaze. "Thank you," she said.

Rachel enveloped Kali in a hug and pressed a kiss to the side of her head. When they parted, she grinned. "You know, if that doesn't work, you can always flip a coin," she teased.

Kali snorted.